RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Multiple roles for laccase2 in butterfly wing pigmentation, scale development, and cuticle tanning JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 858167 DO 10.1101/858167 A1 Ceili L. Peng A1 Anyi Mazo-Vargas A1 Benjamin J. Brack A1 Robert D. Reed YR 2019 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/11/28/858167.abstract AB Lepidopteran wing scales play important roles in a number of functions including color patterning and thermoregulation. Despite the importance of wing scales, we still have a limited understanding of the genetic mechanisms that underlie scale patterning, development, and coloration. Here we explore the function of the phenoloxidase-encoding gene laccase2 in wing and scale development in the nymphalid butterfly Vanessa cardui. Somatic deletion mosaics of laccase2 generated by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing presented several distinct mutant phenotypes. Consistent with work in other non-lepidopteran insect groups, we observed reductions in melanin pigmentation and defects in cuticle formation. We were also surprised, however, to see distinct effects on scale development including misorganization and complete loss of wing scales. This work highlights laccase2 as a gene that plays multiple roles in wing and scale development and provides new insight into the evolution of lepidopteran wing coloration.