Identification, mRNA expression and functional analysis of several yellow family genes in Tribolium castaneum

Arakane, Yasuyuki; Dittmer, Neal T.; Tomoyasu, Yoshinori; Kramer, Karl J.; Muthukrishnan, Subbaratnam; Beeman, Richard W.; Kanost, Michael R.

doi:10.1016/j.ibmb.2010.01.012

Cited by 73 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Assays in Drosophila have provided functional evidence associating ebony, yellow, and tan with body and wing pigmentation (Walter et al 1996;Wittkopp et al 2002b;Gompel et al 2005;True et al 2005;Jeong et al 2008). In addition, functional studies in Tribolium have also reported the essential involvement of ebony, black, and yellow Tomoyasu et al 2009;Arakane et al 2010), whereas the pigmented phenotype of aaNAT was reported only in Bombyx (Zhan et al 2010;Osanai-Futahashi et al 2012). A systematic functional profile of these melanin genes is lacking in any of the more basal hemimetabolous insect lineages.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The consequent adults, however, showed no effect in color patterns in the head, thorax, or abdomen ( Figure S7). This observation indicates that the NADA branch of the melanin pathway is not required for black patterns in these body regions.In addition to the preceding four genes within the NBAD and NADA branches, we also tested the function of yellow, another important gene that promotes melanin production (Wright 1987;Wittkopp et al 2002a, b;Jeong et al 2008;Tomoyasu et al 2009;Arakane et al 2010). Although this gene is not within the NBAD branch, its depletion in Drosophila causes a severe reduction in melanization across the whole body (Wittkopp et al 2002b;Jeong et al 2008).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…In addition, functional studies in Tribolium have also reported the essential involvement of ebony, black, and yellow Tomoyasu et al 2009;Arakane et al 2010), whereas the pigmented phenotype of aaNAT was reported only in Bombyx (Zhan et al 2010;Osanai-Futahashi et al 2012). A systematic functional profile of these melanin genes is lacking in any of the more basal hemimetabolous insect lineages.…”

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A Pathway Analysis of Melanin Patterning in a Hemimetabolous Insect

et al. 2016

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Diversity in insect pigmentation, encompassing a wide range of colors and spatial patterns, is among the most noticeable features distinguishing species, individuals, and body regions within individuals. In holometabolous species, a significant portion of such diversity can be attributed to the melanin synthesis genes, but this has not been formally assessed in more basal insect lineages. Here we provide a comprehensive analysis of how a set of melanin genes (ebony, black, aaNAT, yellow, and tan) contributes to the pigmentation pattern in a hemipteran, Oncopeltus fasciatus. For all five genes, RNA interference depletion caused alteration of black patterning in a region-specific fashion. Furthermore, the presence of distinct nonblack regions in forewings and hindwings coincides with the expression of ebony and aaNAT in these appendages. These findings suggest that the region-specific phenotypes arise from regional employment of various combinations of the melanin genes. Based on this insight, we suggest that melanin genes are used in two distinct ways: a "painting" mode, using predominantly melanin-promoting factors in areas that generally lack black coloration, and, alternatively, an "erasing" mode, using mainly melanin-suppressing factors in regions where black is the dominant pigment. Different combinations of these strategies may account for the vast diversity of melanin patterns observed in insects.KEYWORDS Oncopeltus fasciatus; insect pigmentation; melanin patterning; melanin-promoting factors; melanin suppressors P IGMENT patterns are among the most striking and variable features of insect morphology. An extraordinary diversity in coloration distinguishes species, populations within species, individuals within populations, and different body regions (Wittkopp and Beldade 2009). Most insights into the mechanisms underlying such diversity have come from studies on melanization in Drosophila (Wittkopp et al. 2003;Wittkopp and Beldade 2009). Melanization is the pigmentation process wherein precursors (catecholamines) are converted into pigment molecules that are incorporated into the cuticle (Wittkopp and Beldade 2009). These studies have helped to identify a network of melanin genes and their roles in body color patterning (Wright 1987;Wittkopp et al. 2003;Wittkopp and Beldade 2009). The core part of this proposed pathway is shown in Figure 1. The pathway begins with the conversion of tyrosine to dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). DOPA can then be used in two different manners: to produce DOPA melanin (black) or to be converted to dopamine, another precursor of black melanin. In the conversions from DOPA/dopamine to black melanin, the yellow gene is thought to play an essential role in promoting these processes. However, it is still unclear whether yellow plays a role in producing DOPA melanin, dopamine melanin, or both (question marks in Figure 1). Alternatively, production of dopamine melanin can be suppressed by converting dopamine to N-b-alanyldopamine (NBAD) or N-acetyldopamine (NADA). The NBAD bran...

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A Pathway Analysis of Melanin Patterning in a Hemimetabolous Insect

et al. 2016

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“…Yellow genes occur in insects as well as some bacteria and fungi, but they are curiously absent in all noninsect metazoans (36,37). The initially described yellow-y gene (Y-y) functions in cuticle pigmentation in D. melanogaster (38), but these genes have also been implicated in processes such as male courtship behavior (39), follicle cell function, and egg development (40).…”

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Draft genome of the globally widespread and invasive Argentine ant ( Linepithema humile )

Smith¹,

Zimin²,

Holt

et al. 2011

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

257

258

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Ants are some of the most abundant and familiar animals on Earth, and they play vital roles in most terrestrial ecosystems. Although all ants are eusocial, and display a variety of complex and fascinating behaviors, few genomic resources exist for them. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a particularly widespread and well-studied species, the invasive Argentine ant ( Linepithema humile ), which was accomplished using a combination of 454 (Roche) and Illumina sequencing and community-based funding rather than federal grant support. Manual annotation of >1,000 genes from a variety of different gene families and functional classes reveals unique features of the Argentine ant's biology, as well as similarities to Apis mellifera and Nasonia vitripennis . Distinctive features of the Argentine ant genome include remarkable expansions of gustatory (116 genes) and odorant receptors (367 genes), an abundance of cytochrome P450 genes (>110), lineage-specific expansions of yellow/major royal jelly proteins and desaturases, and complete CpG DNA methylation and RNAi toolkits. The Argentine ant genome contains fewer immune genes than Drosophila and Tribolium , which may reflect the prominent role played by behavioral and chemical suppression of pathogens. Analysis of the ratio of observed to expected CpG nucleotides for genes in the reproductive development and apoptosis pathways suggests higher levels of methylation than in the genome overall. The resources provided by this genome sequence will offer an abundance of tools for researchers seeking to illuminate the fascinating biology of this emerging model organism.

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“…Extensive molecular genetic and biochemical characterization of the yellow family of genes found in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, identified genes and proteins associated with the elytra, but not with eye color. One phenotype of T. castaneum appears visually similar to the mutation described here, glossy, but has not been characterized [7]. Correlation of elytra coloration with levels of toxic defensive compounds has been demonstrated in H. axiridis [8] [9] and Coccinella septempunctata [10].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Genetics and Characteristics of a Pigmentation Defective Laboratory Strain of the Lady Beetle, Coleomegilla maculata

Allen¹,

Ballenger²

2014

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Beetles in the family Coccinellidae, commonly known as ladybugs, lady beetles, or ladybirds, are easily identifiable and popular beneficial insects. Current research aims to support conservation efforts of beneficial insects in agroecosystems by exploring genetic processes related to nutrition. As a part of this research, colonies of Coleomegilla maculata have been maintained in culture and inbred over many generations since 2009. One result of this inbreeding has been the discovery of novel morphological phenotypes unique to laboratory strains or present in wild populations at such low levels that they have not yet been described. One such phenotype is described here. The strain described here, ye (yellow elytra and eyes) was characterized with classical Mendelian breeding and digital image analysis. This phenotype differs from wild populations by possessing yellow pigment in the elytra and pale grey to white eyes. In contrast, wild populations of C. maculata possess pink or red pigmented elytra with black spots, and black eyes. C. maculata is not known to exhibit polymorphism in the field. Inheritance is autosomal and recessive. This species was not previously known to exhibit the dramatic variation of color described here. The strain is stable in the homozygous recessive form, and retains laboratory rearing characteristics similar to the wild type laboratory strain.

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Identification, mRNA expression and functional analysis of several yellow family genes in Tribolium castaneum

Cited by 73 publications

References 46 publications

A Pathway Analysis of Melanin Patterning in a Hemimetabolous Insect

A Pathway Analysis of Melanin Patterning in a Hemimetabolous Insect

Draft genome of the globally widespread and invasive Argentine ant ( Linepithema humile )

Genetics and Characteristics of a Pigmentation Defective Laboratory Strain of the Lady Beetle, Coleomegilla maculata

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