Whole genome analysis of toxic Papilionidae butterflies utilizing aristolochic acid, Pachliopta aristolochiae, and Byasa alcinous.

ABSTRACT: Several species of toxic butterflies are known, including those from the Troidini tribe of the Papilionidae, which accumulate aristolochic acid from their host plants in Aristolochiae. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in utilizing aristolochic acid remain unknown. Toxic butterflies often exhibit warning colouration to signal their toxicity to predators, a complex adaptive trait with toxin utilization. In this study, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the genomes of 2 toxic Troidini butterflies, Pachliopta aristolochiae (312.1 Mb, 13,497 genes) and Byasa alcinous (257.6 Mb, 14,669 genes), and conducted comparative genomics to identify genes involved in toxin utilization and warning colouration. Comparative analysis across 11 species revealed 31 gene families significantly expa

SUBMITTER: Komata S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12784068 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature