The genetic control of aposematic black pigmentation in hemimetabolous insects: insights from Oncopeltus fasciatus.

ABSTRACT: Variations in body pigmentation, encompassing both the range of specific colors as well as the spatial arrangement of those colors, are among the most noticeable and lineage-specific insect features. However, the genetic mechanisms responsible for generating this diversity are still limited to several model species that are primarily holometabolous insects. To address this lack of knowledge, we utilize Oncopeltus fasciatus, an aposematic hemimetabolous insect, as a new model to study insect pigmentation. First, to determine the genetic regulation of black pigment production in Oncopeltus, we perform an RNAi analysis on three core genes involved in the melanin pathway, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopa decarboxylase (DDC), and laccase 2 (lac2). The black pigmentation is affected in all instan

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4156130 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature