scholarly journals Cooption of the pteridine biosynthesis pathway underlies the diversification of embryonic colors in water striders

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (38) ◽  
pp. 19046-19054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aidamalia Vargas-Lowman ◽  
David Armisen ◽  
Carla Fernanda Burguez Floriano ◽  
Isabelle da Rocha Silva Cordeiro ◽  
Séverine Viala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adult Stage ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Developmental Genetics ◽  
Biosynthesis Pathway ◽  
Color Patterns ◽  
Evolutionary Time ◽  
Water Striders ◽  
Red Color ◽  
Developmental Contexts ◽  
Pteridine Biosynthesis

Naturalists have been fascinated for centuries by animal colors and color patterns. While widely studied at the adult stage, we know little about color patterns in the embryo. Here, we study a trait consisting of coloration that is specific to the embryo and absent from postembryonic stages in water striders (Gerromorpha). By combining developmental genetics with chemical and phylogenetic analyses across a broad sample of species, we uncovered the mechanisms underlying the emergence and diversification of embryonic colors in this group of insects. We show that the pteridine biosynthesis pathway, which ancestrally produces red pigment in the eyes, has been recruited during embryogenesis in various extraocular tissues including antennae and legs. In addition, we discovered that this cooption is common to all water striders and initially resulted in the production of yellow extraocular color. Subsequently, 6 lineages evolved bright red color and 2 lineages lost the color independently. Despite the high diversity in colors and color patterns, we show that the underlying biosynthesis pathway remained stable throughout the 200 million years of Gerromorpha evolutionary time. Finally, we identified erythropterin and xanthopterin as the pigments responsible for these colors in the embryo of various species. These findings demonstrate how traits can emerge through the activation of a biosynthesis pathway in new developmental contexts.

A new species of Andean golden poison frog (Andinobates, Dendrobatidae) from the Eastern Andes of Colombia

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5047 (5) ◽  
pp. 531-546
Author(s):  
GIOVANNI A. CHAVES-PORTILLA ◽  
ERIKA NATHALIA SALAZAR ◽  
JOSÉ GIL-ACERO ◽  
ADRIANA DORADO-CORREA ◽  
ROBERTO MÁRQUEZ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
Color Patterns ◽  
Mitochondrial Markers ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Small Forest

A new species of Andinobates (Dendrobatidae) is described from the East Andes of Colombia, just 37 km away from the Colombian capital, Bogotá. Andinobates supata sp. nov., represents the second known species of yellow Andinobates, and can be distinguished from the other, Andinobates tolimensis, by an unique combination of ventral and dorsal color patterns. Our phylogenetic analyses, based on ≈ 1120 bp from two mitochondrial markers (16S rRNA and cytochrome b) showed that this new taxon is sister to a clade formed by A. cassidyhornae, A. bombetes, A. opisthomelas, A. tolimensis and A. virolinensis. The new species appears to be restricted to a handful of small forest fragments (<10 ha) distributed in no more than 5 km2, between 1800–2000 m elevation, where the human activity is high. In addition, more than 90% of the original forest has been logged at the type locality, and its watersheds receive considerable agrochemical discharges. Altogether, the evidence suggests that this new species should be listed as Critically Endangered and should receive immediate attention regarding basic research and urgent conservation measures.  

scholarly journals Gammaproteobacteria as essential primary symbionts in the striped shield bug, Graphosoma Lineatum (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naeime Karamipour ◽  
Yaghoub Fathipour ◽  
Mohammad Mehrabadi
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Light And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Evolutionary Analysis ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Stink Bug ◽  
Surface Sterilization

Abstract Many members of suborder Heteroptra harbor heritable symbiotic bacteria. Here we characterize the gut symbiotic bacterium in Graphosoma lineatum (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) by using molecular phylogeny, real-time PCR analysis as well as light and electron microscopy observations. The microscopy observations revealed the presence of a large number of rod-shaped bacterial cells in the crypts. A very high prevalence (98 to 100%) of the symbiont infection was found in the insect populations that strongly supports an intimate association between these two organisms. Real-time PCR analysis also showed that the Gammaproteobacteria dominated the crypts. The sequences of 16sr RNA and groEL genes of symbiont showed high levels of similarity (93 to 95%) to Pantoea agglomeranse and Erwinia herbicola Gammaproteobacteria. Phylogenetic analyses placed G. lineatum symbiont in a well-defined branch, divergent from other stink bug bacterial symbionts. Co-evolutionary analysis showed lack of host-symbiont phylogenetic congruence. Surface sterilization of eggs resulted in increased pre-adult stage in the offspring (aposymbionts) in comparison to the normal. Also, fecundity, longevity, and adult stage were significantly decreased in the aposymbionts. Therefore, it seems that the symbiont might play a vital function in the host biology, in which host optimal development depends on the symbiont.

scholarly journals Comparative Mitochondrial Genome Analysis of Two Ectomycorrhizal Fungi (Rhizopogon) Reveals Dynamic Changes of Intron and Phylogenetic Relationships of the Subphylum Agaricomycotina

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
pp. 5167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Li ◽  
Yuanhang Ren ◽  
Xiaodong Shi ◽  
Lianxin Peng ◽  
Jianglin Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Intron Loss ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Trna Genes ◽  
Evolutionary Time ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Tree Topologies ◽  
Nuclear Genomes

In the present study, we assembled and compared two mitogenomes from the Rhizopogon genus. The two mitogenomes of R. salebrosus and R. vinicolor comprised circular DNA molecules, with the sizes of 66,704 bp and 77,109 bp, respectively. Comparative mitogenome analysis indicated that the length and base composition of protein coding genes (PCGs), rRNA genes and tRNA genes varied between the two species. Large fragments aligned between the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes of both R. salebrosus (43.41 kb) and R. vinicolor (12.83 kb) indicated that genetic transfer between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes has occurred over evolutionary time of Rhizopogon species. Intronic regions were found to be the main factors contributing to mitogenome expansion in R. vinicolor. Variations in the number and type of introns in the two mitogenomes indicated that frequent intron loss/gain events occurred during the evolution of Rhizopogon species. Phylogenetic analyses based on Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum likelihood (ML) methods using a combined mitochondrial gene set yielded identical and well-supported tree topologies, wherein Rhizopogon species showed close relationships with Agaricales species. This is the first study of mitogenomes within the genus Rhizopogon, and it provides a basis for understanding the evolution and differentiation of mitogenomes from the ectomycorrhizal fungal genus.

scholarly journals Life History of an Endangered Marine InsectHalovelia septentrionalisEsaki (Hemiptera: Veliidae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terumi Ikawa ◽  
Aika Nakazawa
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Rocky Shore ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
Marine Water ◽  
Marine Environments ◽  
Water Striders ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Japanese Coast ◽  
History Of

Halovelia septentrionalisEsaki is one of the endangered marine water striders found along the Japanese coast. It is of primary importance to investigate its life history in the field so as to develop conservation measures as well as to understand how this species has adapted to marine environments. We studied its life history in Misaki on the southern part of the Miura Peninsular near Tokyo, ca. 35°N, probably the northernmost locality not only forH. septentrionalisbut also for anyHaloveliaspecies, most of which are found in warm tropical or subtropical waters. The southern part of the Miura Peninsular has jagged coastlines with deep inner bays. Adults and nymphs were found skating along the rocky shore of inner bays with overhanging vegetation nearby. This species appeared to have at least 2 generations a year and to overwinter in the adult stage. We discussed its overwintering strategy in comparison to those of two other Japanese marine water striders.

scholarly journals Developmental genetics of color pattern establishment in cats

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher B. Kaelin ◽  
Kelly A. McGowan ◽  
Gregory S. Barsh
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Gene Expression Analysis ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Developmental Genetics ◽  
Color Patterns ◽  
Epidermal Thickness ◽  
Wnt Inhibitor ◽  
Cell Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Gene

AbstractIntricate color patterns are a defining aspect of morphological diversity in the Felidae. We applied morphological and single-cell gene expression analysis to fetal skin of domestic cats to identify when, where, and how, during fetal development, felid color patterns are established. Early in development, we identify stripe-like alterations in epidermal thickness preceded by a gene expression pre-pattern. The secreted Wnt inhibitor encoded by Dickkopf 4 plays a central role in this process, and is mutated in cats with the Ticked pattern type. Our results bring molecular understanding to how the leopard got its spots, suggest that similar mechanisms underlie periodic color pattern and periodic hair follicle spacing, and identify targets for diverse pattern variation in other mammals.

Bryconops magoi and Bryconops collettei (Characiformes:  Characidae), two new freshwater fish species from Venezuela,  with comments on B. caudomaculatus (Günther)

Zootaxa ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 1094 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
BARRY CHERNOFF ◽  
ANTONIO MACHADO-ALLISON
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Lateral Line ◽  
Color Patterns ◽  
Morphometric Characteristics ◽  
Gill Rakers ◽  
Freshwater Fish Species ◽  
Red Color ◽  
Amazonas State

Bryconops collettei and B. magoi  are described from the Caura and Miamo (Bolívar State), Iguapo (Amazonas State) and Moquete (Anzoátegui State) rivers, Venezuela.  These new species belong to the subgenus Bryconops, based upon apomorphies of the jaws and gill rakers and are compared with members of the subgenus.  Based on morphology, meristics and color patterns, B. collettei and B. magoi are distinguished from B. caudomaculatus, the closest species in the subgenus, by having a generally more slender body, pored scales of the lateral line extending beyond the hypural plate, and a diffuse ocellus partially filled with red color only on the upper lobe of the caudal fin.  Bryconops collettei is distinguished from B. magoi on the basis of meristic and morphometric characteristics.  B. caudomaculatus has been largely misidentified in the literature and we provide comments as a guide to its proper recognition.

scholarly journals On the Nature of Organs and Organ Systems – A Chapter in the History and Philosophy of Biology

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Minelli
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Body Part ◽  
Clear Distinction ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Developmental Genetics ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Organ Systems ◽  
Morphological Criteria ◽  
And Function

Contrasting definitions of organs based either on function or on strictly morphological criteria are the legacy of a tradition starting with Aristotle. This floating characterization of organs in terms of both form and function extends also to organ systems. The first section of this review outlines the notions of organ and body part as defined, explicitly or implicitly, in representative works of nineteenth century’s comparative morphology. The lack of a clear distinction between the two notions led to problems in Owen’s approach to the comparative method (definition of homolog vs. nature of the vertebrate archetype) and to a paradoxical formulation, by Anton Dohrn, of the principle of functional change. Starting from the second half of the twentieth century, with the extensive use of morphological data in phylogenetic analyses, both terms – organ and body part – have been often set aside, to leave room for a comparison between variously characterized attributes (character states) of the taxa to be compared. Throughout the last two centuries, there have been also efforts to characterize organs or body parts in terms of the underlying developmental dynamics, both in the context of classical descriptive embryology and according to models suggested by developmental genetics. Functionally defined organ are occasionally co-extensive with morphologically defined body parts, nevertheless a clear distinction between the former and the latter is a necessary prerequisite to a study of their evolution: this issue is discussed here on the example of the evolution of hermaphroditism and gonad structure and function.

scholarly journals The Microbiome of Neotropical Water Striders and Its Potential Role in Codiversification

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 578
Author(s):  
Anakena M. Castillo ◽  
Kristin Saltonstall ◽  
Carlos F. Arias ◽  
Karina A. Chavarria ◽  
Luis A. Ramírez-Camejo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Potential Role ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Core Microbiome ◽  
Water Striders ◽  
Microbiome Diversity ◽  
Host Identity ◽  
Phylogenetic Divergence ◽  
Evolutionary Consequences

Insects host a highly diverse microbiome, which plays a crucial role in insect life. However, the composition and diversity of microbiomes associated with Neotropical freshwater insects is virtually unknown. In addition, the extent to which diversification of this microbiome is associated with host phylogenetic divergence remains to be determined. Here, we present the first comprehensive analysis of bacterial communities associated with six closely related species of Neotropical water striders in Panama. We used comparative phylogenetic analyses to assess associations between dominant bacterial linages and phylogenetic divergence among species of water striders. We found a total of 806 16S rRNA amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), with dominant bacterial taxa belonging to the phyla Proteobacteria (76.87%) and Tenericutes (19.51%). Members of the α- (e.g., Wolbachia) and γ- (e.g., Acinetobacter, Serratia) Proteobacteria, and Mollicutes (e.g., Spiroplasma) were predominantly shared across species, suggesting the presence of a core microbiome in water striders. However, some bacterial lineages (e.g., Fructobacillus, Fluviicola and Chryseobacterium) were uniquely associated with different water strider species, likely representing a distinctive feature of each species’ microbiome. These findings indicate that both host identity and environmental context are important drivers of microbiome diversity in water striders. In addition, they suggest that diversification of the microbiome is associated with diversification in water striders. Although more research is needed to establish the evolutionary consequences of host-microbiome interaction in water striders, our findings support recent work highlighting the role of bacterial community host-microbiome codiversification.

scholarly journals Evolution of bacterial steroid biosynthesis and its impact on eukaryogenesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (25) ◽  
pp. e2101276118
Author(s):  
Yosuke Hoshino ◽  
Eric A. Gaucher
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Cellular Membrane ◽  
Biosynthesis Pathway ◽  
Cellular Membranes ◽  
Steroid Biosynthesis ◽  
Archaeal Lineage ◽  
Sequence Reconstruction ◽  
Traditional Assumption ◽  
Bacterial Type ◽  
Insight Into

Steroids are components of the eukaryotic cellular membrane and have indispensable roles in the process of eukaryotic endocytosis by regulating membrane fluidity and permeability. In particular, steroids may have been a structural prerequisite for the acquisition of mitochondria via endocytosis during eukaryogenesis. While eukaryotes are inferred to have evolved from an archaeal lineage, there is little similarity between the eukaryotic and archaeal cellular membranes. As such, the evolution of eukaryotic cellular membranes has limited our understanding of eukaryogenesis. Despite evolving from archaea, the eukaryotic cellular membrane is essentially a fatty acid bacterial-type membrane, which implies a substantial bacterial contribution to the evolution of the eukaryotic cellular membrane. Here, we address the evolution of steroid biosynthesis in eukaryotes by combining ancestral sequence reconstruction and comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of steroid biosynthesis genes. Contrary to the traditional assumption that eukaryotic steroid biosynthesis evolved within eukaryotes, most steroid biosynthesis genes are inferred to be derived from bacteria. In particular, aerobic deltaproteobacteria (myxobacteria) seem to have mediated the transfer of key genes for steroid biosynthesis to eukaryotes. Analyses of resurrected steroid biosynthesis enzymes suggest that the steroid biosynthesis pathway in early eukaryotes may have been similar to the pathway seen in modern plants and algae. These resurrected proteins also experimentally demonstrate that molecular oxygen was required to establish the modern eukaryotic cellular membrane during eukaryogenesis. Our study provides unique insight into relationships between early eukaryotes and other bacteria in addition to the well-known endosymbiosis with alphaproteobacteria.

scholarly journals From simplicity to complexity: The gain or loss of spot rows underlies the morphological diversity of three Drosophila species

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Dion ◽  
Mujeeb O. Shittu ◽  
Tessa E. Steenwinkel ◽  
Komal K. B. Raja ◽  
Prajakta P. Kokate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Fruit Flies ◽  
Drosophila Species ◽  
Dopa Decarboxylase ◽  
Color Patterns ◽  
Evolutionary Time ◽  
Pupal Development

AbstractTo understand how novel animal patterning emerged, one needs to ask how the development of color patterns has changed among diverging species. Here we examine three species of fruit flies – Drosophila guttifera (D. guttifera), Drosophila palustris (D. palustris), and Drosophila subpalustris (D. subpalustris) – displaying a varying number of abdominal spot rows that were either gained or lost throughout evolutionary time. Through in situ hybridization, we examine the mRNA expression patterns for the pigmentation genes Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc), tan (t), and yellow (y) during pupal development. Our results show that Ddc, t, and y are co-expressed in identical patterns, each foreshadowing the adult abdominal spots in D. guttifera, D. palustris, and D. subpalustris.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document