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Genetic Basis of Melanin Pigmentation in Butterfly Wings

Linlin Zhang, Arnaud Martin, Michael W. Perry, Karin R.L. van der Burg, Yuji Matsuoka, Antónia Monteiro, Robert D. Reed
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/102632
Linlin Zhang
*Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-7202
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  • For correspondence: lz355@cornell.edu antonia.monteiro@nus.edu robertreed@cornell.edu
Arnaud Martin
†Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052
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Michael W. Perry
‡Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003-6688
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Karin R.L. van der Burg
*Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-7202
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Yuji Matsuoka
§Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore
**Yale-NUS College, 138614, Singapore
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Antónia Monteiro
§Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore
**Yale-NUS College, 138614, Singapore
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  • For correspondence: lz355@cornell.edu antonia.monteiro@nus.edu robertreed@cornell.edu
Robert D. Reed
*Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-7202
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  • For correspondence: lz355@cornell.edu antonia.monteiro@nus.edu robertreed@cornell.edu
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Abstract

Despite the variety, prominence, and adaptive significance of butterfly wing patterns surprisingly little known about the genetic basis of wing color diversity. Even though there is intense interest in wing pattern evolution and development, the technical challenge of genetically manipulating butterflies has slowed efforts to functionally characterize color pattern development genes. To identify candidate wing pigmentation genes we used RNA-seq to characterize transcription across multiple stages of butterfly wing development, and between different color pattern elements, in the painted lady butterfly Vanessa cardui. This allowed us to pinpoint genes specifically associated with red and black pigment patterns. To test the functions of a subset of genes associated with presumptive melanin pigmentation we used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in four different butterfly genera. pale, Ddc, and yellow knockouts displayed reduction of melanin pigmentation, consistent with previous findings in other insects. Interestingly, however, yellow-d, ebony, and black knockouts revealed that these genes have localized effects on tuning the color of red, brown, and ochre pattern elements. These results point to previously undescribed mechanisms for modulating the color of specific wing pattern elements in butterflies, and provide an expanded portrait of the insect melanin pathway.

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Posted February 07, 2017.
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Genetic Basis of Melanin Pigmentation in Butterfly Wings
Linlin Zhang, Arnaud Martin, Michael W. Perry, Karin R.L. van der Burg, Yuji Matsuoka, Antónia Monteiro, Robert D. Reed
bioRxiv 102632; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/102632
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Genetic Basis of Melanin Pigmentation in Butterfly Wings
Linlin Zhang, Arnaud Martin, Michael W. Perry, Karin R.L. van der Burg, Yuji Matsuoka, Antónia Monteiro, Robert D. Reed
bioRxiv 102632; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/102632

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