A Pathway Analysis of Melanin Patterning in a Hemimetabolous Insect. Issue 1 (1st May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Jin; Lemonds, Thomas R; Marden, James H; Popadić, Aleksandar
• Is Part Of: Genetics. Volume 203:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 403
• Page End: 413
• Publication Date: 2016-05-01
• Subjects: Oncopeltus fasciatus -- insect pigmentation -- melanin patterning -- melanin-promoting factors -- melanin suppressors; Genetics -- Periodicals; 576.5
• DOI: 10.1534/genetics.115.186684
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-6731

Abstract

Abstract: Diversity in insect pigmentation, encompassing a wide range of colors and spatial patterns, is among the most noticeable features distinguishing species, individuals, and body regions within individuals. In holometabolous species, a significant portion of such diversity can be attributed to the melanin synthesis genes, but this has not been formally assessed in more basal insect lineages. Here we provide a comprehensive analysis of how a set of melanin genes ( ebony, black, aaNAT, yellow, and tan ) contributes to the pigmentation pattern in a hemipteran, Oncopeltus fasciatus . For all five genes, RNA interference depletion caused alteration of black patterning in a region-specific fashion. Furthermore, the presence of distinct nonblack regions in forewings and hindwings coincides with the expression of ebony and aaNAT in these appendages. These findings suggest that the region-specific phenotypes arise from regional employment of various combinations of the melanin genes. Based on this insight, we suggest that melanin genes are used in two distinct ways: a "painting" mode, using predominantly melanin-promoting factors in areas that generally lack black coloration, and, alternatively, an "erasing" mode, using mainly melanin-suppressing factors in regions where black is the dominant pigment. Different combinations of these strategies may account for the vast diversity of melanin patterns observed in insects.