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Tian S, Asano Y, Banerjee TD, Wee JLQ, Lamb A, Wang Y, Murugesan SN, Ui-Tei K, Wittkopp PJ, Monteiro A. A micro-RNA is the effector gene of a classic evolutionary hotspot locus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.09.579741. [PMID: 38659873 PMCID: PMC11042203 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.09.579741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
In Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), the genomic region around the gene cortex is a 'hotspot' locus, repeatedly used to generate intraspecific melanic wing color polymorphisms across 100-million-years of evolution. However, the identity of the effector gene regulating melanic wing color within this locus remains unknown. Here, we show that none of the four candidate protein-coding genes within this locus, including cortex, serve as major effectors. Instead, a micro-RNA (miRNA), mir-193, serves as the major effector across three deeply diverged lineages of butterflies, and its function is conserved in Drosophila. In Lepidoptera, mir-193 is derived from a gigantic long non-coding RNA, ivory, and it functions by directly repressing multiple pigmentation genes. We show that a miRNA can drive repeated instances of adaptive evolution in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Tian
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore; Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Yoshimasa Asano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo; Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Tirtha Das Banerjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore; Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Jocelyn Liang Qi Wee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore; Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Abigail Lamb
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, The University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1085, USA
| | - Yehan Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore; Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Suriya Narayanan Murugesan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore; Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Kumiko Ui-Tei
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo; Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo; Chiba, 277-8561, Japan
| | - Patricia J. Wittkopp
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, The University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1085, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, The University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1085, USA
| | - Antónia Monteiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore; Singapore, 117543, Singapore
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2
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Orteu A, Kucka M, Gordon IJ, Ng’iru I, van der Heijden ESM, Talavera G, Warren IA, Collins S, ffrench-Constant RH, Martins DJ, Chan YF, Jiggins CD, Martin SH. Transposable Element Insertions Are Associated with Batesian Mimicry in the Pantropical Butterfly Hypolimnas misippus. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae041. [PMID: 38401262 PMCID: PMC10924252 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypolimnas misippus is a Batesian mimic of the toxic African Queen butterfly (Danaus chrysippus). Female H. misippus butterflies use two major wing patterning loci (M and A) to imitate three color morphs of D. chrysippus found in different regions of Africa. In this study, we examine the evolution of the M locus and identify it as an example of adaptive atavism. This phenomenon involves a morphological reversion to an ancestral character that results in an adaptive phenotype. We show that H. misippus has re-evolved an ancestral wing pattern present in other Hypolimnas species, repurposing it for Batesian mimicry of a D. chrysippus morph. Using haplotagging, a linked-read sequencing technology, and our new analytical tool, Wrath, we discover two large transposable element insertions located at the M locus and establish that these insertions are present in the dominant allele responsible for producing mimetic phenotype. By conducting a comparative analysis involving additional Hypolimnas species, we demonstrate that the dominant allele is derived. This suggests that, in the derived allele, the transposable elements disrupt a cis-regulatory element, leading to the reversion to an ancestral phenotype that is then utilized for Batesian mimicry of a distinct model, a different morph of D. chrysippus. Our findings present a compelling instance of convergent evolution and adaptive atavism, in which the same pattern element has independently evolved multiple times in Hypolimnas butterflies, repeatedly playing a role in Batesian mimicry of diverse model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Orteu
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
- Tree of Life Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Marek Kucka
- Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ian J Gordon
- Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda
| | - Ivy Ng’iru
- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki 10400, Laikipia, Kenya
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF 10 3AX, UK
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Eva S M van der Heijden
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
- Tree of Life Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Gerard Talavera
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB), CSIC-CMCNB, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ian A Warren
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Steve Collins
- African Butterfly Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Dino J Martins
- Turkana Basin Institute, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | | | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Simon H Martin
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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3
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Teng D, Zhang W. The diversification of butterfly wing patterns: progress and prospects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 61:101137. [PMID: 37922984 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Butterfly wings display rich phenotypic diversity and are associated with complex biological functions, thus serving as an important evolutionary system to address the genetic basis and evolution of phenotypic diversification. We review recent butterfly studies that revealed complex functions underlying diversified wing patterns and describe the genetic and environmental factors involved in wing pattern determinations. These factors lead to inter-specific divergence, genetic polymorphism, and phenotypic plasticity, which in many cases are decided by several key genes. We also summarize the research advances on gene co-option as an important origin of functional complexity and evolutionary novelty. These findings reveal a pattern of evolutionary innovation within a constrained developmental framework during butterfly wing morphogenesis, but further research is required to gain a systematic and comprehensive understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dequn Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Medog Biodiversity Observation and Research Station of Tibet Autonomous Region, Nyingchi 860711, China.
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4
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Sheikh SI, VanKuren NW, Kronforst MR. Butterfly mimicry rings run in circles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220680120. [PMID: 36649418 PMCID: PMC9942904 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220680120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia I. Sheikh
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
| | | | - Marcus R. Kronforst
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL60637
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5
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Wang S, Teng D, Li X, Yang P, Da W, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Liu G, Zhang X, Wan W, Dong Z, Wang D, Huang S, Jiang Z, Wang Q, Lohman DJ, Wu Y, Zhang L, Jia F, Westerman E, Zhang L, Wang W, Zhang W. The evolution and diversification of oakleaf butterflies. Cell 2022; 185:3138-3152.e20. [PMID: 35926506 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.06.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Oakleaf butterflies in the genus Kallima have a polymorphic wing phenotype, enabling these insects to masquerade as dead leaves. This iconic example of protective resemblance provides an interesting evolutionary paradigm that can be employed to study biodiversity. We integrated multi-omic data analyses and functional validation to infer the evolutionary history of Kallima species and investigate the genetic basis of their variable leaf wing patterns. We find that Kallima butterflies diversified in the eastern Himalayas and dispersed to East and Southeast Asia. Moreover, we find that leaf wing polymorphism is controlled by the wing patterning gene cortex, which has been maintained in Kallima by long-term balancing selection. Our results provide macroevolutionary and microevolutionary insights into a model species originating from a mountain ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Dequn Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xueyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Peiwen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Wa Da
- Tibet Plateau Institute of Biology, Lhasa, Tibet 850001, China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yubo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Guichun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | | | - Wenting Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Zhiwei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Donghui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; National Teaching Center for Experimental Biology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zhisheng Jiang
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qingyi Wang
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - David J Lohman
- Biology Department, City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA; Ph.D. Program in Biology, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA; Entomology Section, National Museum of Natural History, Manila 1000, Philippines
| | - Yongjie Wu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Linlin Zhang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Fenghai Jia
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China
| | - Erica Westerman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Wen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Institute of Ecology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Institute for Tibetan Plateau Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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6
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Komata S, Kajitani R, Itoh T, Fujiwara H. Genomic architecture and functional unit of mimicry supergene in female limited Batesian mimic Papilio butterflies. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210198. [PMID: 35694751 PMCID: PMC9189499 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It has long been suggested that dimorphic female-limited Batesian mimicry of two closely related Papilio butterflies, Papilio memnon and Papilio polytes, is controlled by supergenes. Whole-genome sequencing, genome-wide association studies and functional analyses have recently identified mimicry supergenes, including the doublesex (dsx) gene. Although supergenes of both the species are composed of highly divergent regions between mimetic and non-mimetic alleles and are located at the same chromosomal locus, they show critical differences in genomic architecture, particularly with or without an inversion: P. polytes has an inversion, but P. memnon does not. This review introduces and compares the detailed genomic structure of mimicry supergenes in two Papilio species, including gene composition, repetitive sequence composition, breakpoint/boundary site structure, chromosomal inversion and linkage disequilibrium. Expression patterns and functional analyses of the respective genes within or flanking the supergene suggest that dsx and other genes are involved in mimetic traits. In addition, structural comparison of the corresponding region for the mimicry supergene among further Papilio species suggests three scenarios for the evolution of the mimicry supergene between the two Papilio species. The structural features revealed in the Papilio mimicry supergene provide insight into the formation, maintenance and evolution of supergenes. This article is part of the theme issue 'Genomic architecture of supergenes: causes and evolutionary consequences'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Komata
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Rei Kajitani
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Takehiko Itoh
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Fujiwara
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
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7
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Jay P, Leroy M, Le Poul Y, Whibley A, Arias M, Chouteau M, Joron M. Association mapping of colour variation in a butterfly provides evidence that a supergene locks together a cluster of adaptive loci. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210193. [PMID: 35694756 PMCID: PMC9189503 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Supergenes are genetic architectures associated with discrete and concerted variation in multiple traits. It has long been suggested that supergenes control these complex polymorphisms by suppressing recombination between sets of coadapted genes. However, because recombination suppression hinders the dissociation of the individual effects of genes within supergenes, there is still little evidence that supergenes evolve by tightening linkage between coadapted genes. Here, combining a landmark-free phenotyping algorithm with multivariate genome-wide association studies, we dissected the genetic basis of wing pattern variation in the butterfly Heliconius numata. We show that the supergene controlling the striking wing pattern polymorphism displayed by this species contains several independent loci associated with different features of wing patterns. The three chromosomal inversions of this supergene suppress recombination between these loci, supporting the hypothesis that they may have evolved because they captured beneficial combinations of alleles. Some of these loci are, however, associated with colour variations only in a subset of morphs where the phenotype is controlled by derived inversion forms, indicating that they were recruited after the formation of the inversions. Our study shows that supergenes and clusters of adaptive loci in general may form via the evolution of chromosomal rearrangements suppressing recombination between co-adapted loci but also via the subsequent recruitment of linked adaptive mutations. This article is part of the theme issue 'Genomic architecture of supergenes: causes and evolutionary consequences'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Jay
- CEFE, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Manon Leroy
- CEFE, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Yann Le Poul
- CEFE, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Annabel Whibley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Mónica Arias
- CIRAD, UMR PHIM, F-34398 Montpellier, France.,PHIM, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, CEDEX 5, 34398 Montpellier, France
| | - Mathieu Chouteau
- CEFE, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France.,LEEISA, USR 63456, Université de Guyane, CNRS, IFREMER, 275 route de Montabo, 797334 Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Mathieu Joron
- CEFE, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France
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8
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Komata S, Lin CP, Fujiwara H. doublesex Controls Both Hindwing and Abdominal Mimicry Traits in the Female-Limited Batesian Mimicry of Papilio memnon. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:929518. [PMID: 38468762 PMCID: PMC10926503 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.929518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Papilio butterflies are known to possess female-limited Batesian mimicry polymorphisms. In Papilio memnon, females have mimetic and non-mimetic forms, whereas males are monomorphic and non-mimetic. Mimetic females are characterized by color patterns and tails in the hindwing and yellow abdomens. Recently, an analysis of whole-genome sequences has shown that an approximately 160 kb region of chromosome 25 is responsible for mimicry and has high diversity between mimetic (A) and non-mimetic (a) alleles (highly diversified region: HDR). The HDR includes three genes, UXT, doublesex (dsx), and Nach-like, but the functions of these genes are unknown. Here, we investigated the function of dsx, a gene involved in sexual differentiation, which is expected to be functionally important for hindwing and abdominal mimetic traits in P. memnon. Expression analysis by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and RNA sequencing showed that mimetic dsx (dsx-A) was highly expressed in the hindwings in the early pupal stage. In the abdomen, both dsx-A and dsx-a were highly expressed during the early pupal stage. When dsx was knocked down using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) designed in the common region of dsx-A and dsx-a, a male-like pattern appeared on the hindwings of mimetic and non-mimetic females. Similarly, when dsx was knocked down in the abdomen, the yellow scales characteristic of mimetic females changed to black. Furthermore, when dsx-a was specifically knocked down, the color pattern of the hindwings changed, as in the case of dsx knockdown in non-mimetic females but not mimetic females. These results suggest that dsx-a is involved in color pattern formation on the hindwings of non-mimetic females, whereas dsx-A is involved in hindwing and abdominal mimetic traits. dsx was involved in abdominal and hindwing mimetic traits, but dsx expression patterns in the hindwing and abdomen were different, suggesting that different regulatory mechanisms may exist. Our study is the first to show that the same gene (dsx) regulates both the hindwing and abdominal mimetic traits. This is the first functional analysis of abdominal mimicry in butterflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Komata
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Chung-Ping Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Haruhiko Fujiwara
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
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9
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Hanly JJ, Livraghi L, Heryanto C, McMillan WO, Jiggins CD, Gilbert LE, Martin A. A large deletion at the cortex locus eliminates butterfly wing patterning. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6517782. [PMID: 35099556 PMCID: PMC8982378 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
As the genetic basis of natural and domesticated variation has been described in recent years, a number of hotspot genes have been repeatedly identified as the targets of selection, Heliconius butterflies display a spectacular diversity of pattern variants in the wild and the genetic basis of these patterns has been well-described. Here, we sought to identify the mechanism behind an unusual pattern variant that is instead found in captivity, the ivory mutant, in which all scales on both the wings and body become white or yellow. Using a combination of autozygosity mapping and coverage analysis from 37 captive individuals, we identify a 78-kb deletion at the cortex wing patterning locus, a gene which has been associated with wing pattern evolution in H. melpomene and 10 divergent lepidopteran species. This deletion is undetected among 458 wild Heliconius genomes samples, and its dosage explains both homozygous and heterozygous ivory phenotypes found in captivity. The deletion spans a large 5′ region of the cortex gene that includes a facultative 5′UTR exon detected in larval wing disk transcriptomes. CRISPR mutagenesis of this exon replicates the wing phenotypes from coding knock-outs of cortex, consistent with a functional role of ivory-deleted elements in establishing scale color fate. Population demographics reveal that the stock giving rise to the ivory mutant has a mixed origin from across the wild range of H. melpomene, and supports a scenario where the ivory mutation occurred after the introduction of cortex haplotypes from Ecuador. Homozygotes for the ivory deletion are inviable while heterozygotes are the targets of artificial selection, joining 40 other examples of allelic variants that provide heterozygous advantage in animal populations under artificial selection by fanciers and breeders. Finally, our results highlight the promise of autozygosity and association mapping for identifying the genetic basis of aberrant mutations in captive insect populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Hanly
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama 0843-03092, Republic of Panama
| | - Luca Livraghi
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama 0843-03092, Republic of Panama
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Christa Heryanto
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - W Owen McMillan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama 0843-03092, Republic of Panama
| | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Lawrence E Gilbert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Arnaud Martin
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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10
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Livraghi L, Hanly JJ, Van Bellghem SM, Montejo-Kovacevich G, van der Heijden ESM, Loh LS, Ren A, Warren IA, Lewis JJ, Concha C, Hebberecht L, Wright CJ, Walker JM, Foley J, Goldberg ZH, Arenas-Castro H, Salazar C, Perry MW, Papa R, Martin A, McMillan WO, Jiggins CD. Cortex cis-regulatory switches establish scale colour identity and pattern diversity in Heliconius. eLife 2021; 10:e68549. [PMID: 34280087 PMCID: PMC8289415 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In Heliconius butterflies, wing colour pattern diversity and scale types are controlled by a few genes of large effect that regulate colour pattern switches between morphs and species across a large mimetic radiation. One of these genes, cortex, has been repeatedly associated with colour pattern evolution in butterflies. Here we carried out CRISPR knockouts in multiple Heliconius species and show that cortex is a major determinant of scale cell identity. Chromatin accessibility profiling and introgression scans identified cis-regulatory regions associated with discrete phenotypic switches. CRISPR perturbation of these regions in black hindwing genotypes recreated a yellow bar, revealing their spatially limited activity. In the H. melpomene/timareta lineage, the candidate CRE from yellow-barred phenotype morphs is interrupted by a transposable element, suggesting that cis-regulatory structural variation underlies these mimetic adaptations. Our work shows that cortex functionally controls scale colour fate and that its cis-regulatory regions control a phenotypic switch in a modular and pattern-specific fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Livraghi
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteGamboaPanama
| | - Joseph J Hanly
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteGamboaPanama
- The George Washington University Department of Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering HallWashingtonUnited States
| | - Steven M Van Bellghem
- Department of Biology, Centre for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation, University of Puerto RicoRio PiedrasPuerto Rico
| | | | - Eva SM van der Heijden
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteGamboaPanama
| | - Ling Sheng Loh
- The George Washington University Department of Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering HallWashingtonUnited States
| | - Anna Ren
- The George Washington University Department of Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering HallWashingtonUnited States
| | - Ian A Warren
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - James J Lewis
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | | | - Laura Hebberecht
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteGamboaPanama
| | - Charlotte J Wright
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Jonah M Walker
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Zachary H Goldberg
- Cell & Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, UC San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | | | - Camilo Salazar
- Biology Program, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Universidad del RosarioBogotáColombia
| | - Michael W Perry
- Cell & Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, UC San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | - Riccardo Papa
- Department of Biology, Centre for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation, University of Puerto RicoRio PiedrasPuerto Rico
| | - Arnaud Martin
- The George Washington University Department of Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering HallWashingtonUnited States
| | | | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St.CambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteGamboaPanama
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11
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Ellis EA, Storer CG, Kawahara AY. De novo genome assemblies of butterflies. Gigascience 2021; 10:6291117. [PMID: 34076242 PMCID: PMC8170690 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giab041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The availability of thousands of genomes has enabled new advancements in biology. However, many genomes have not been investigated for their quality. Here we examine quality trends in a taxonomically diverse and well-known group, butterflies (Papilionoidea), and provide draft, de novo assemblies for all available butterfly genomes. Owing to massive genome sequencing investment and taxonomic curation, this is an excellent group to explore genome quality. FINDINGS We provide de novo assemblies for all 822 available butterfly genomes and interpret their quality in terms of completeness and continuity. We identify the 50 highest quality genomes across butterflies and conclude that the ringlet, Aphantopus hyperantus, has the highest quality genome. Our post-processing of draft genome assemblies identified 118 butterfly genomes that should not be reused owing to contamination or extremely low quality. However, many draft genomes are of high utility, especially because permissibility of low-quality genomes is dependent on the objective of the study. Our assemblies will serve as a key resource for papilionid genomics, especially for researchers without computational resources. CONCLUSIONS Quality metrics and assemblies are typically presented with annotated genome accessions but rarely with de novo genomes. We recommend that studies presenting genome sequences provide the assembly and some metrics of quality because quality will significantly affect downstream results. Transparency in quality metrics is needed to improve the field of genome science and encourage data reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Ellis
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, 3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32611-2710, USA
| | - Caroline G Storer
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, 3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32611-2710, USA
| | - Akito Y Kawahara
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, 3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32611-2710, USA
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12
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Ramos RR, Francini RB, Habib MEEDM, Freitas AVL. Seasonal Patterns of Host Plant Use in an Assemblage of Heliconiini Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in a Neotropical forest. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 50:358-365. [PMID: 33683560 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-021-00855-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Insect-plant interactions involve physiological adaptations by insects to secondary metabolic compounds synthetized by host plants, which are considered essential for the determination of resources partitioning of these insects. Data on such phenomena are important to understand evolutionary and ecological processes. However, climatic factors also seem to play a key role in affecting these patterns. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of seasonal variation on patterns of host plant use (Passifloraceae) by Heliconiini butterflies (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) at a Neotropical site in Southeastern Brazil. A total of 12 species of Heliconiini were reported, with nine of them being resident and using five species of Passiflora (Passifloraceae) as larval host plants. Three host plant species accounted for 97% of the total use, and the use varied along the seasons highlighting the plasticity boundaries in Heliconiini and possible limiting factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Rogner Ramos
- Depto de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Univ Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Ronaldo Bastos Francini
- Curso de Ciências Biológicas, Lab de Biologia da Conservação, Univ Católica de Santos, Santos, Brazil
| | | | - André Victor Lucci Freitas
- Depto de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Univ Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
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13
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Evolution of sexual development and sexual dimorphism in insects. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2021; 69:129-139. [PMID: 33848958 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Most animal species consist of two distinct sexes. At the morphological, physiological, and behavioral levels the differences between males and females are numerous and dramatic, yet at the genomic level they are often slight or absent. This disconnect is overcome because simple genetic differences or environmental signals are able to direct the sex-specific expression of a shared genome. A canonical picture of how this process works in insects emerged from decades of work on Drosophila. But recent years have seen an explosion of molecular-genetic and developmental work on a broad range of insects. Drawing these studies together, we describe the evolution of sexual dimorphism from a comparative perspective and argue that insect sex determination and differentiation systems are composites of rapidly evolving and highly conserved elements.
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14
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Van Belleghem SM, Lewis JJ, Rivera ES, Papa R. Heliconius butterflies: a window into the evolution and development of diversity. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2021; 69:72-81. [PMID: 33714874 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Butterflies have become prominent models for studying the evolution and development of phenotypic variation. In Heliconius, extraordinary within species divergence and between species convergence in wing color patterns has driven decades of comparative genetic studies. However, connecting genetic patterns of diversification to the molecular mechanisms of adaptation has remained elusive. Recent studies are bridging this gap between genome and function and have driven substantial advances in deciphering the genetic architecture of diversification in Heliconius. While only a handful of large-effect genes were initially identified in the diversification of Heliconius color patterns, recent experiments have begun to unravel the underlying gene regulatory networks and how these have evolved. These results reveal an evolutionary story of many interacting loci and partly independent genetic architectures that underlie convergent evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James J Lewis
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA; Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Edgardo S Rivera
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Chairs of Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Bayern, Germany
| | - Riccardo Papa
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Molecular Sciences and Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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15
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Ruttenberg DM, VanKuren NW, Nallu S, Yen SH, Peggie D, Lohman DJ, Kronforst MR. The evolution and genetics of sexually dimorphic 'dual' mimicry in the butterfly Elymnias hypermnestra. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202192. [PMID: 33434461 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism is a major component of morphological variation across the tree of life, but the mechanisms underlying phenotypic differences between sexes of a single species are poorly understood. We examined the population genomics and biogeography of the common palmfly Elymnias hypermnestra, a dual mimic in which female wing colour patterns are either dark brown (melanic) or bright orange, mimicking toxic Euploea and Danaus species, respectively. As males always have a melanic wing colour pattern, this makes E. hypermnestra a fascinating model organism in which populations vary in sexual dimorphism. Population structure analysis revealed that there were three genetically distinct E. hypermnestra populations, which we further validated by creating a phylogenomic species tree and inferring historical barriers to gene flow. This species tree demonstrated that multiple lineages with orange females do not form a monophyletic group, and the same is true of clades with melanic females. We identified two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the colour patterning gene WntA that were significantly associated with the female colour pattern polymorphism, suggesting that this gene affects sexual dimorphism. Given WntA's role in colour patterning across Nymphalidae, E. hypermnestra females demonstrate the repeatability of the evolution of sexual dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dee M Ruttenberg
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Nicholas W VanKuren
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Sumitha Nallu
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Shen-Horn Yen
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
| | - Djunijanti Peggie
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Cibinong-Bogor 16911, Indonesia
| | - David J Lohman
- Biology Department, City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA.,PhD Program in Biology, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA.,Entomology Section, National Museum of Natural History, Manila 1000, Philippines
| | - Marcus R Kronforst
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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16
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Butterfly Conservation in China: From Science to Action. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11100661. [PMID: 32992975 PMCID: PMC7600441 DOI: 10.3390/insects11100661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
About 10% of the Earth's butterfly species inhabit the highly diverse ecosystems of China. Important for the ecological, economic, and cultural services they provide, many butterfly species experience threats from land use shifts and climate change. China has recently adopted policies to protect the nation's biodiversity resources. This essay examines the current management of butterflies in China and suggests various easily implementable actions that could improve these conservation efforts. Our recommendations are based on the observations of a transdisciplinary group of entomologists and environmental policy specialists. Our analysis draws on other successful examples around the world that China may wish to consider. China needs to modify its scientific methodologies behind butterfly conservation management: revising the criteria for listing protected species, focusing on umbrella species for broader protection, identifying high priority areas and refugia for conservation, among others. Rural and urban land uses that provide heterogeneous habitats, as well as butterfly host and nectar plants, must be promoted. Butterfly ranching and farming may also provide opportunities for sustainable community development. Many possibilities exist for incorporating observations of citizen scientists into butterfly data collection at broad spatial and temporal scales. Our recommendations further the ten Priority Areas of China's National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2011-2030).
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17
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McMillan WO, Livraghi L, Concha C, Hanly JJ. From Patterning Genes to Process: Unraveling the Gene Regulatory Networks That Pattern Heliconius Wings. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
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18
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Van Belleghem SM, Alicea Roman PA, Carbia Gutierrez H, Counterman BA, Papa R. Perfect mimicry between Heliconius butterflies is constrained by genetics and development. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201267. [PMID: 32693728 PMCID: PMC7423669 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Müllerian mimicry strongly exemplifies the power of natural selection. However, the exact measure of such adaptive phenotypic convergence and the possible causes of its imperfection often remain unidentified. Here, we first quantify wing colour pattern differences in the forewing region of 14 co-mimetic colour pattern morphs of the butterfly species Heliconius erato and Heliconius melpomene and measure the extent to which mimicking colour pattern morphs are not perfectly identical. Next, using gene-editing CRISPR/Cas9 KO experiments of the gene WntA, which has been mapped to colour pattern diversity in these butterflies, we explore the exact areas of the wings in which WntA affects colour pattern formation differently in H. erato and H. melpomene. We find that, while the relative size of the forewing pattern is generally nearly identical between co-mimics, the CRISPR/Cas9 KO results highlight divergent boundaries in the wing that prevent the co-mimics from achieving perfect mimicry. We suggest that this mismatch may be explained by divergence in the gene regulatory network that defines wing colour patterning in both species, thus constraining morphological evolution even between closely related species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paola A Alicea Roman
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.,Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Humacao, Puerto Rico
| | - Heriberto Carbia Gutierrez
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.,Department of Mathematics, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
| | - Brian A Counterman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Riccardo Papa
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution, Panama, Republic of Panama.,Molecular Sciences and Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
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19
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Francois CL, Davidowitz G. Genetic Color Polymorphism of the Whitelined Sphinx Moth larva (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2020; 20:5893939. [PMID: 32809022 PMCID: PMC7433765 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieaa080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
For a trait to be considered polymorphic, it must fulfill both genetic and ecological criteria. Genetically, a polymorphic trait must have multiple heritable variants, potentially from the same female, in high-enough frequency as to not be due to mutation. Ecologically, in a single wild population, these variants must co-occur, and be capable of interbreeding. Polymorphism is frequently considered in the context of either geographical cause or genetic consequence. However, the incorporation of both in a single study can facilitate our understanding of the role that polymorphism may play in speciation. Here, we ask if the two color morphs (green and yellow) exhibited by larvae of the whitelined sphinx moth, Hyles lineata (Fabricius), co-occur in wild populations, in what frequencies, and whether they are genetically determined. Upon confirmation from field surveys that the two color morphs do co-occur in wild populations, we determined heritability. We conducted a series of outcrosses, intercrosses and backcrosses using individuals that had exhibited yellow or green as laboratory-reared larvae. Ratios of yellow:green color distribution from each familial cross were then compared with ratios one would expect from a single gene, yellow-recessive model using a two-sided binomial exact test. The offspring from several crosses indicate that the yellow and green coloration is a genetic polymorphism, primarily controlled by one gene in a single-locus, two-allele Mendelian-inheritance pattern. Results further suggest that while one gene primarily controls color, there may be several modifier genes interacting with it.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Francois
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - G Davidowitz
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
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20
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Timmermans MJTN, Srivathsan A, Collins S, Meier R, Vogler AP. Mimicry diversification in Papilio dardanus via a genomic inversion in the regulatory region of engrailed- invected. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200443. [PMID: 32345166 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymorphic Batesian mimics exhibit multiple protective morphs that each mimic a different noxious model. Here, we study the genomic transitions leading to the evolution of different mimetic wing patterns in the polymorphic Mocker Swallowtail Papilio dardanus. We generated a draft genome (231 Mb over 30 chromosomes) and re-sequenced individuals of three morphs. Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed elevated linkage disequilibrium and divergence between morphs in the regulatory region of engrailed, a developmental gene previously implicated in the mimicry switch. The diverged region exhibits a discrete chromosomal inversion (of 40 kb) relative to the ancestral orientation that is associated with the cenea morph, but not with the bottom-recessive hippocoonides morph or with non-mimetic allopatric populations. The functional role of this inversion in the expression of the novel phenotype is currently unknown, but by preventing recombination, it allows the stable inheritance of divergent alleles enabling geographic spread and local coexistence of multiple adaptive morphs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn J T N Timmermans
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK.,Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, UK.,Department of Natural Sciences, Middlesex University, London, UK
| | - Amrita Srivathsan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Steve Collins
- African Butterfly Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rudolf Meier
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alfried P Vogler
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK.,Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, UK
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