scholarly journals apterous A specifies dorsal wing patterns and sexual traits in butterflies

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anupama Prakash ◽  
Antónia Monteiro

AbstractButterflies have evolved different color patterns on their dorsal and ventral wing surfaces to serve different signaling functions, yet the developmental mechanisms controlling surface-specific patterning are still unknown. Here, we mutate both copies of the transcription factor apterous in Bicyclus anynana butterflies using CRISPR/Cas9 and show that apterous A functions both as a repressor and modifier of ventral wing color patterns, as well as a promoter of dorsal sexual ornaments in males. We propose that the surface-specific diversification of wing patterns in butterflies proceeded via the co-option of apterous A into various gene regulatory networks involved in the differentiation of discrete wing traits. Further, interactions between apterous and sex-specific factors such as doublesex may have contributed to the origin of sexually dimorphic surface-specific patterns. Finally, we discuss the evolution of eyespot pattern diversity in the family Nymphalidae within the context of developmental constraints due to apterous regulation.Significance statementButterflies have evolved different wing patterns on their dorsal and ventral wing surfaces that serve different signaling functions. We identify the transcription factor, apterous A, as a key regulator of this surface-specific differentiation in butterflies. We also show a role for apterous A in restricting the developmental origin of a novel trait, eyespots, to just the ventral wing surface. Dorsal-ventral differentiation of tissues is not just restricted to butterfly wings but occurs in many other organs and organisms from arthropods to humans. Thus, we believe that our work will be of interest to a diverse group of biologists and layman alike interested in the role of development in shaping biodiversity.

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1873) ◽  
pp. 20172685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anupama Prakash ◽  
Antónia Monteiro

Butterflies have evolved different colour patterns on their dorsal and ventral wing surfaces to serve different signalling functions, yet the developmental mechanisms controlling surface-specific patterning are still unknown. Here, we mutate both copies of the transcription factor apterous in Bicyclus anynana butterflies using CRISPR/Cas9 and show that apterous A, expressed dorsally, functions both as a repressor and modifier of ventral wing colour patterns, as well as a promoter of dorsal sexual ornaments in males. We propose that the surface-specific diversification of wing patterns in butterflies proceeded via the co-option of apterous A or its downstream effectors into various gene regulatory networks involved in the differentiation of discrete wing traits. Further, interactions between apterous and sex-specific factors such as doublesex may have contributed to the origin of sexually dimorphic surface-specific patterns. Finally, we discuss the evolution of eyespot number diversity in the family Nymphalidae within the context of developmental constraints due to apterous regulation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Wang ◽  
Aiping Duan ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
Yuexian Xing ◽  
...  

AbstractElucidating transcription mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is crucial for understanding the role of glucocorticoids (GCs) in the treatment of diseases. Podocyte is a useful model for studying GR regulation because GCs are the primary medication for podocytopathy. In this study, we integrated data from transcriptome, transcription factor binding, histone modification, and genome topology. Our data reveals that the GR binds and activates selective regulatory elements in podocyte. The 3D interactome captured by HiChIP facilitates the identification of remote targets of GR. We found that GR in podocyte is enriched at transcriptional interaction hubs and super-enhancers. We further demonstrate that the target gene of the top GR-associated super-enhancer is indispensable to the effective functioning of GC in podocyte. Our findings provided insights into the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of GCs on podocyte, and demonstrate the importance of considering transcriptional interactions in order to fine-map regulatory networks of GR.


Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 201 ◽  
Author(s):  
María José López-Galiano ◽  
Inmaculada García-Robles ◽  
Ana I. González-Hernández ◽  
Gemma Camañes ◽  
Begonya Vicedo ◽  
...  

In a scenario of global climate change, water scarcity is a major threat for agriculture, severely limiting crop yields. Therefore, alternatives are urgently needed for improving plant adaptation to drought stress. Among them, gene expression reprogramming by microRNAs (miRNAs) might offer a biotechnologically sound strategy. Drought-responsive miRNAs have been reported in many plant species, and some of them are known to participate in complex regulatory networks via their regulation of transcription factors involved in water stress signaling. We explored the role of miR159 in the response of Solanum lycopersicum Mill. plants to drought stress by analyzing the expression of sly-miR159 and its target SlMYB transcription factor genes in tomato plants of cv. Ailsa Craig grown in deprived water conditions or in response to mechanical damage caused by the Colorado potato beetle, a devastating insect pest of Solanaceae plants. Results showed that sly-miR159 regulatory function in the tomato plants response to distinct stresses might be mediated by differential stress-specific MYB transcription factor targeting. sly-miR159 targeting of SlMYB33 transcription factor transcript correlated with accumulation of the osmoprotective compounds proline and putrescine, which promote drought tolerance. This highlights the potential role of sly-miR159 in tomato plants’ adaptation to water deficit conditions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengwei Duan ◽  
Xiaojian Ma ◽  
Lizhe Qin ◽  
Jizhuang Du ◽  
Guoliang Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:Coloring is an important external quality of ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) and there are two color patterns of apple peels, i.e., stripe and blush. The objectives of this study were to reveal the anthocyanin biosynthesis metabolic pathway in striped and blushed peels of Malus domestica using metabolomics and transcriptomics, to identify different anthocyanin metabolites, and to analyze the differentially expressed genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis.Result:The metabolite concentration and gene expression were profiled in the striped and blushed fruit peels of apple harvested at three ripening periods to elucidate the color formation mechanism. At the green fruit period, there were 83 DAMs,including 30 flavonoids, 674 DEGs (521 up-regulated and 153 down-regulated),including 3 MYB related genes (up-regulated, LOC103415449, LOC103421948, LOC103432338) and 2 bHLH genes(up-regulated, LOC103436250, LOC103437863) between striped and blushed apple.At the color turning period, there were 48 DAMs,including 20 flavonoids, 880 DEGs (274 up-regulated and 606 down-regulated), including 3 differentially expressed E2.3.1.133, HCT genes(down-regulated), 2 differentially expressed F3H genes (down-regulated), 1 differentially expressed BZ1 gene (down-regulated) and 2 differentially expressed ANS genes (up-regulated) and 2 up-regulated MYB related genes (LOC103411576, LOC103412495), 5 down-regulated MYB related genes(LOC103400953, LOC103408672, LOC103415404, LOC103420697, LOC103421948), 1 differentially expressed bHLH gene(down-regulated, LOC103400870). At the complete coloring period,there were 95 DAMs,including 34 flavonoids, 2258 DEGs (1159 up- and 1099 down-regulated), including 3 differentially expressed E2.3.1.133, HCT genes(down-regulated), 1 differentially expressed E2.3.1.133, HCT genes(up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed CYP98A genes (up-regulated), 4 differentially expressed CHS genes (up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed E5.5.1.6 genes(up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed CYP75B1 genes (up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed F3R genes (up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed ANS genes (up-regulated), 1 differentially expressed DFR genes (up-regulated), 2 differentially expressed BZ1 genes (up-regulated) and 1 differentially expressed MYB related gene (up-regulated, LOC103401575) .There were both 10 kinds of cyanidin in apple peel at color turning period and complete coloring period, Keracyanin and Cyanin were up-regulated at color turning period and Cyanidin-3-O-(6''-O-malonyl)glucoside was up-regulated at complete coloring period.Conclusions: Our researches provide important information on the anthocyanin metabolites and the candidate genes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways of Fuji apple in M.domestcia.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivam Bhardwaj ◽  
Kathleen L Prudic ◽  
Ashley Bear ◽  
Mainak Das Gupta ◽  
Bethany R Wasik ◽  
...  

In contrast to the important role of hormones in the development of sexual dimorphic traits in vertebrates [1], the differentiation of these traits in insects is attributed exclusively to variation in cell-autonomous mechanisms controlled by members of the sex determination pathway [2], such as doublesex (dsx). Although hormones can shape the development of sexual traits in insects, and interact with dsx to create dimorphisms, variation in hormone levels are not known to cause dimorphism in these traits [3]. Here we show that butterflies use sex-specific differences in 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) hormone titers to create sexually dimorphic wing ornaments, without the local involvement of dsx. Females of the dry season (DS) form ofBicyclus anynanadisplay a larger sexual ornament on their wings than males, whereas in the wet season (WS) form both sexes have similarly sized ornaments [4]. High levels of circulating 20E during larval development in DS females and WS forms cause proliferation of the cells fated to give rise to this wing ornament, and results in sexual dimorphism in the DS forms. This study advances our understanding of how the environment regulates sex-specific patterns of plasticity of sexual ornaments and conclusively shows that sex-specific variation in hormone titers can play a role in the development of secondary sexual traits in insects, just like they do in vertebrates.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ildem Akerman ◽  
Zhidong Tu ◽  
Anthony Beucher ◽  
Delphine M.Y. Rolando ◽  
Claire Sauty-Colace ◽  
...  

SummaryRecent studies have uncovered thousands of long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs) in human pancreatic β cells. β cell lncRNAs are often cell type-specific, and exhibit dynamic regulation during differentiation or upon changing glucose concentrations. Although these features hint at a role of lncRNAs in β cell gene regulation and diabetes, the function of β cell lncRNAs remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the function of β cell-specific lncRNAs and transcription factors using transcript knockdowns and co-expression network analysis. This revealed lncRNAs that function in concert with transcription factors to regulate β cell-specific transcriptional networks. We further demonstrate that lncRNA PLUTO affects local three-dimensional chromatin structure and transcription of PDX1, encoding a key β cell transcription factor, and that both PLUTO and PDX1 are downregulated in islets from donors with type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. These results implicate lncRNAs in the regulation of β cell-specific transcription factor networks.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 321-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine L. Iosue ◽  
Anthony P. Gulotta ◽  
Kathleen B. Selhorst ◽  
Alison C. Mody ◽  
Kristin M. Barbour ◽  
...  

Regulatory networks often converge on very similar cis sequences to drive transcriptional programs due to constraints on what transcription factors are present. To determine the role of constraint loss on cis element evolution, we examined the recent appearance of a thiamine starvation regulated promoter in Candida glabrata. This species lacks the ancestral transcription factor Thi2, but still has the transcription factor Pdc2, which regulates thiamine starvation genes, allowing us to determine the effect of constraint change on a new promoter. We identified two different cis elements in C. glabrata - one present in the evolutionarily recent gene called CgPMU3, and the other element present in the other thiamine (THI) regulated genes. Reciprocal swaps of the cis elements and incorporation of the S. cerevisiaeThi2 transcription factor-binding site into these promoters demonstrate that the two elements are functionally different from one another. Thus, this loss of an imposed constraint on promoter function has generated a novel cis sequence, suggesting that loss of trans constraints can generate a non-convergent pathway with the same output.


Nephrology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. A92-A92
Author(s):  
Takazoe K ◽  
Foti R ◽  
Hurst La ◽  
Atkins Rc ◽  
Nikolic‐Paterson DJ.

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent A. Mattingly ◽  
Eddie M. Clark ◽  
Kiara J. Weaver ◽  
Tim M. Emge ◽  
Chris K. Adair

2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Trierweiler ◽  
K Willim ◽  
HE Blum ◽  
P Hasselblatt

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