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Activation of butterfly eyespots by Distal-less is consistent with a reaction-diffusion process

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Connahs, Heidi, Tlili, Sham, van Creij, Jelle, Loo, Tricia Y. J., Banerjee, Tirtha Das, Saunders, Timothy E. and Monteiro, Antónia (2019) Activation of butterfly eyespots by Distal-less is consistent with a reaction-diffusion process. Development, 146 (9). dev169367. doi:10.1242/dev.169367

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/dev.169367

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Abstract

Eyespots on the wings of nymphalid butterflies represent colorful examples of pattern formation, yet the developmental origins and mechanisms underlying eyespot center differentiation are still poorly understood. Using CRISPR-Cas9 we re-examine the function of Distal-less (Dll) as an activator or repressor of eyespots, a topic that remains controversial. We show that the phenotypic outcome of CRISPR mutations depends upon which specific exon is targeted. In Bicyclus anynana, exon 2 mutations are associated with both missing and ectopic eyespots, and also exon skipping. Exon 3 mutations, which do not lead to exon skipping, produce only null phenotypes, including missing eyespots, lighter wing coloration and loss of scales. Reaction-diffusion modeling of Dll function, using Wnt and Dpp as candidate morphogens, accurately replicates these complex crispant phenotypes. These results provide new insight into the function of Dll as a potential activator of eyespot development, scale growth and melanization, and suggest that the tuning of Dll expression levels can generate a diversity of eyespot phenotypes, including their appearance on the wing.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics
Q Science > QH Natural history
Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Biomedical Sciences
Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Butterflies -- Anatomy , Butterflies -- Color , Wings (Anatomy) , Pattern formation (Biology) , Butterflies -- Evolution , Morphogenesis, Butterflies -- Morphogenesis, Reaction-diffusion equations
Journal or Publication Title: Development
Publisher: The Company of Biologists Ltd.
ISSN: 0950-1991
Official Date: 9 May 2019
Dates:
DateEvent
9 May 2019Published
5 April 2019Accepted
Volume: 146
Number: 9
Article Number: dev169367
DOI: 10.1242/dev.169367
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Open Access
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
MOE2015-T2- 2-159Ministry of Educationhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002701
MOE2016-T3-1-005Ministry of Educationhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002701
RGY0083/2016Human Frontier Science Programhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000854
graduate research fellowshipYale-NUS Collegehttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100012693

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