scholarly journals Decision letter: Molecular basis of wax-based color change and UV reflection in dragonflies

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Uv Reflection

scholarly journals Molecular basis of wax-based color change and UV reflection in dragonflies

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Futahashi ◽  
Yumi Yamahama ◽  
Migaku Kawaguchi ◽  
Naoki Mori ◽  
Daisuke Ishii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Methyl Ketones ◽  
Body Color ◽  
Fatty Acid Elongase ◽  
Visual Signaling ◽  
Fine Structures ◽  
Uv Reflection ◽  
Long Chain

Many animals change their body color for visual signaling and environmental adaptation. Some dragonflies show wax-based color change and ultraviolet (UV) reflection, but the biochemical properties underlying the phenomena are totally unknown. Here we investigated the UV-reflective abdominal wax of dragonflies, thereby identifying very long-chain methyl ketones and aldehydes as unique and major wax components. Little wax was detected on young adults, but dense wax secretion was found mainly on the dorsal abdomen of mature males of Orthetrum albistylum and O. melania, and pruinose wax secretion was identified on the ventral abdomen of mature females of O. albistylum and Sympetrum darwinianum. Comparative transcriptomics demonstrated drastic upregulation of the ELOVL17 gene, a member of the fatty acid elongase gene family, whose expression reflected the distribution of very long-chain methyl ketones. Synthetic 2-pentacosanone, the major component of dragonfly’s wax, spontaneously formed light-scattering scale-like fine structures with strong UV reflection, suggesting its potential utility for biomimetics.

scholarly journals Author response: Molecular basis of wax-based color change and UV reflection in dragonflies

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Futahashi ◽  
Yumi Yamahama ◽  
Migaku Kawaguchi ◽  
Naoki Mori ◽  
Daisuke Ishii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Author Response ◽  
Uv Reflection

scholarly journals The thermal dependence and molecular basis of physiological color change in Takydromus septentrionalis (Lacertidae)

Biology Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. bio.058503
Author(s):  
Kun Guo ◽  
Jun Zhong ◽  
Lin Zhu ◽  
Fan Xie ◽  
Yu Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
G Proteins ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Pigment Dispersion ◽  
Thermal Dependence ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Takydromus Septentrionalis ◽  
System Body ◽  
Pigment Aggregation

One of the main functions of physiological color change is thermoregulation. This change occurs much more rapidly than morphological color change, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we studied the thermal dependence and molecular basis of physiological color change in lizards using Takydromus septentrionalis (Lacertidae) as the model system. Body color was thermally sensitive, becoming increasingly light as body temperatures deviated from the level (∼30 °C) preferred by this species. We identified 3,389 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between lizards at 24 °C and 30 °C, and 1,097 DEGs between lizards at 36 °C and 30 °C. Temperature affected the cAMP signal pathway, motor proteins, cytoskeleton, and the expression of genes related to melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and melanocyte-concentrating hormone (MCH). Our data suggest that the role of physiological color change in thermoregulation is achieved in T. septentrionalis by altering the arrangement of pigments and thus the amount of solar radiation absorbed and reflected. G protein-coupling system inhibits adenylate cyclase activity to transform ATP into cAMP and thereby causes rapid pigment aggregation. MCH deactivates the G proteins and thereby initiates pigment dispersion. This mechanism differs from that reported for teleost fish where MCH activates the G proteins and thereby causes pigment aggregation.

Renilla Bioluminescence: A Morphologic Approach to the Location of Photocytes

1974 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 208-209
Author(s):  
Ben O. Spurlock ◽  
Milton J. Cormier
Keyword(s):  
Excited State ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Light Emission ◽  
Chemical Basis ◽  
Electronic Excited State ◽  
Colonial Form ◽  
The Common ◽  
Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries ◽  
Catalyzed Oxidation

The phenomenon of bioluminescence has fascinated layman and scientist alike for many centuries. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries a number of observations were reported on the physiology of bioluminescence in Renilla, the common sea pansy. More recently biochemists have directed their attention to the molecular basis of luminosity in this colonial form. These studies have centered primarily on defining the chemical basis for bioluminescence and its control. It is now established that bioluminescence in Renilla arises due to the luciferase-catalyzed oxidation of luciferin. This results in the creation of a product (oxyluciferin) in an electronic excited state. The transition of oxyluciferin from its excited state to the ground state leads to light emission.

Androgen-induced plasticity at a “vocal” neuromuscular synapse

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 32-33
Author(s):  
Darcy B. Kelley ◽  
Martha L. Tobias ◽  
Mark Ellisman
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Sexual Differentiation ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Neuromuscular Synapse ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Intracellular Protein ◽  
Developmental Program ◽  
Androgen Action ◽  
Clawed Frog

Brain and muscle are sexually differentiated tissues in which masculinization is controlled by the secretion of androgens from the testes. Sensitivity to androgen is conferred by the expression of an intracellular protein, the androgen receptor. A central problem of sexual differentiation is thus to understand the cellular and molecular basis of androgen action. We do not understand how hormone occupancy of a receptor translates into an alteration in the developmental program of the target cell. Our studies on sexual differentiation of brain and muscle in Xenopus laevis are designed to explore the molecular basis of androgen induced sexual differentiation by examining how this hormone controls the masculinization of brain and muscle targets.Our approach to this problem has focused on a highly androgen sensitive, sexually dimorphic neuromuscular system: laryngeal muscles and motor neurons of the clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. We have been studying sex differences at a synapse, the laryngeal neuromuscular junction, which mediates sexually dimorphic vocal behavior in Xenopus laevis frogs.

A molecular basis for opiate action

1998 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 65-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Massotte ◽  
Brigitte L. Kieffer
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Basis

Color Change Can Be Earliest Sign of Melanoma

2005 ◽  
Vol 38 (22) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
TIMOTHY F. KIRN
Keyword(s):  
Color Change

Emerging Nutrition Gaps in a World of Affluence - Micronutrient Intake and Status Globally

2011 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred Eggersdorfer ◽  
Paul Walter
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
New Science ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Micronutrient Intake

Nutrition is important for human health in all stages of life - from conception to old age. Today we know much more about the molecular basis of nutrition. Most importantly, we have learnt that micronutrients, among other factors, interact with genes, and new science is increasingly providing more tools to clarify this interrelation between health and nutrition. Sufficient intake of vitamins is essential to achieve maximum health benefit. It is well established that in developing countries, millions of people still suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. However, it is far less recognized that we face micronutrient insufficiencies also in developed countries.

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