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The evolution and expression of the moth visual opsin family
Pengjun Xu1, Bin Lu, Haijun Xiao
1State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
Plos One
|November 9, 2013
Summary
Moth visual genes, including long-wavelength (R), blue (B), and ultraviolet (UV) opsins, show adaptation to nocturnal environments. Environmental conditions influence their expression, suggesting moths possess color vision crucial for their ecology.
Area of Science:
- * Evolutionary biology
- * Molecular genetics
- * Animal vision
Background:
- * Visual gene evolution is influenced by photic environments.
- * Nocturnal moths and diurnal butterflies offer a model for studying visual system evolution.
- * Opsin genes (long-wavelength, blue, ultraviolet) are key to light detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the evolutionary functions of moth opsin genes.
- * To determine if moth visual genes are adapted to nocturnal, dim-light conditions.
- * To explore the role of the visual system in moth ecology.
Main Methods:
- * Cloning of long-wavelength (R), blue (B), and ultraviolet (UV) opsin genes from 12 moth species.
- * Examination of evolutionary functions under strong purifying selection.
- * Analysis of mRNA expression levels in response to dark-treatment (using Helicoverpa armigera) and diel cycles.
- * Comparison of expression patterns between wild-captured and lab-reared moths.
Main Results:
- * Strong purifying selection constrained opsin gene functions.
- * Dark-treatment upregulated R and UV opsins in Helicoverpa armigera, with UV faster than R; B opsins showed no significant change.
- * Opsin mRNA levels did not fluctuate significantly with diel changes within groups (wild or lab-reared).
- * Wild-captured moths exhibited significantly higher opsin expression than lab-reared individuals, indicating environmental influence.
- * Proportional opsin expression suggests moths possess color vision.
Conclusions:
- * Moth opsin gene expression is influenced by environmental conditions, particularly light.
- * The visual system plays a more significant ecological role in moths than previously understood.
- * Moths likely possess color vision, comparable in importance to that of diurnal butterflies.
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