Involvement of the conserved Hox gene Antennapedia in the development and evolution of a novel trait.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hox proteins specify segment identity during embryogenesis and have typical associated expression patterns. Changes in embryonic expression and activity of Hox genes were crucial in the evolution of animal body plans, but their role in the post-embryonic development of lineage-specific traits remains largely unexplored. Here, we focus on the insect Hox genes Ultrabithorax (Ubx) and Antennapedia (Antp), and implicate the latter in the formation and diversification of novel, butterfly-specific wing patterns.

Results

First, we describe a conserved pattern of Ubx expression and a novel pattern of Antp expression in wing discs of Bicyclus anynana butterflies. The discrete, reiterated domains of Antp contrast with the typical expression of Hox genes in single continuous

SUBMITTER: Saenko SV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3108338 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature