Skip to main content
bioRxiv
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • ALERTS / RSS
Advanced Search
New Results

Firefly genomes illuminate the origin and evolution of bioluminescence

View ORCID ProfileTimothy R. Fallon, Sarah E. Lower, Ching-Ho Chang, View ORCID ProfileManabu Bessho-Uehara, Gavin J. Martin, Adam J. Bewick, View ORCID ProfileMegan Behringer, View ORCID ProfileHumberto J. Debat, Isaac Wong, John C. Day, Anton Suvorov, Christian J. Silva, David W. Hall, View ORCID ProfileRobert J. Schmitz, David R. Nelson, Sara Lewis, View ORCID ProfileShuji Shigenobu, View ORCID ProfileSeth M. Bybee, Amanda M. Larracuente, View ORCID ProfileYuichi Oba, View ORCID ProfileJing-Ke Weng
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/237586
Timothy R. Fallon
1Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
2Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Timothy R. Fallon
Sarah E. Lower
3Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Ching-Ho Chang
4Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Manabu Bessho-Uehara
5Department of Environmental Biology, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi 487-8501, Japan.
6Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 4648601, Japan.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Manabu Bessho-Uehara
Gavin J. Martin
7Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Adam J. Bewick
8Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Megan Behringer
9Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Megan Behringer
Humberto J. Debat
10Center of Agronomic Research National Institute of Agricultural Technology, Córdoba, Argentina.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Humberto J. Debat
Isaac Wong
4Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
John C. Day
11Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) Wallingford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Anton Suvorov
7Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Christian J. Silva
4Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
12Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
David W. Hall
8Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Robert J. Schmitz
8Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Robert J. Schmitz
David R. Nelson
13Department of Microbiology Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis 38163, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Sara Lewis
14Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Shuji Shigenobu
15NIBB Core Research Facilities, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Shuji Shigenobu
Seth M. Bybee
7Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Seth M. Bybee
Amanda M. Larracuente
4Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Yuichi Oba
5Department of Environmental Biology, Chubu University, Kasugai, Aichi 487-8501, Japan.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Yuichi Oba
Jing-Ke Weng
1Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
2Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Jing-Ke Weng
  • Abstract
  • Full Text
  • Info/History
  • Metrics
  • Preview PDF
Loading

Summary

Fireflies are among the best-studied of the bioluminescent organisms. Despite longterm interest in the biochemistry, neurobiology, and evolution of firefly flash signals and the widespread biotechnological applications of firefly luciferase, only a limited set of genes related to this complex trait have been described. To investigate the genetic basis of firefly bioluminescence, we generated a high-quality reference genome for the Big Dipper firefly Photinus pyralis, from which the first laboratory luciferase was cloned, using long-read (PacBio), short-read (Illumina), and Hi-C sequencing technologies. To facilitate comparative genomics, we also generated short-read genome assemblies for a Japanese firefly Aquatica lateralis and a bioluminescent click beetle, Ignelater luminosus. Analyses of these genomic datasets supports at least two independent gains of luminescence in beetles, and provides new insights into the evolution of beetle bioluminescence and chemical defenses that likely co-evolved over their 100 million years of evolution.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
Back to top
PreviousNext
Posted December 21, 2017.
Download PDF
Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv.

NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Firefly genomes illuminate the origin and evolution of bioluminescence
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
Firefly genomes illuminate the origin and evolution of bioluminescence
Timothy R. Fallon, Sarah E. Lower, Ching-Ho Chang, Manabu Bessho-Uehara, Gavin J. Martin, Adam J. Bewick, Megan Behringer, Humberto J. Debat, Isaac Wong, John C. Day, Anton Suvorov, Christian J. Silva, David W. Hall, Robert J. Schmitz, David R. Nelson, Sara Lewis, Shuji Shigenobu, Seth M. Bybee, Amanda M. Larracuente, Yuichi Oba, Jing-Ke Weng
bioRxiv 237586; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/237586
Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
Firefly genomes illuminate the origin and evolution of bioluminescence
Timothy R. Fallon, Sarah E. Lower, Ching-Ho Chang, Manabu Bessho-Uehara, Gavin J. Martin, Adam J. Bewick, Megan Behringer, Humberto J. Debat, Isaac Wong, John C. Day, Anton Suvorov, Christian J. Silva, David W. Hall, Robert J. Schmitz, David R. Nelson, Sara Lewis, Shuji Shigenobu, Seth M. Bybee, Amanda M. Larracuente, Yuichi Oba, Jing-Ke Weng
bioRxiv 237586; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/237586

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Subject Area

  • Genomics
Subject Areas
All Articles
  • Animal Behavior and Cognition (2530)
  • Biochemistry (4972)
  • Bioengineering (3482)
  • Bioinformatics (15212)
  • Biophysics (6897)
  • Cancer Biology (5390)
  • Cell Biology (7738)
  • Clinical Trials (138)
  • Developmental Biology (4530)
  • Ecology (7147)
  • Epidemiology (2059)
  • Evolutionary Biology (10227)
  • Genetics (7512)
  • Genomics (9786)
  • Immunology (4844)
  • Microbiology (13215)
  • Molecular Biology (5138)
  • Neuroscience (29435)
  • Paleontology (203)
  • Pathology (837)
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology (1463)
  • Physiology (2138)
  • Plant Biology (4748)
  • Scientific Communication and Education (1013)
  • Synthetic Biology (1338)
  • Systems Biology (4012)
  • Zoology (768)