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  • Novel Doublesex Duplication Associated with Sexually Dimorphic Development of Dogface Butterfly Wings.

Novel Doublesex Duplication Associated with Sexually Dimorphic Development of Dogface Butterfly Wings.

Molecular biology and evolution (2021-07-30)
Fernando Rodriguez-Caro, Jennifer Fenner, Shivam Bhardwaj, Jared Cole, Caleb Benson, Alexandra M Colombara, Riccardo Papa, Matthew W Brown, Arnaud Martin, Ryan C Range, Brian A Counterman
ABSTRACT

Sexually dimorphic development is responsible for some of the most remarkable phenotypic variation found in nature. Alternative splicing of the transcription factor gene doublesex (dsx) is a highly conserved developmental switch controlling the expression of sex-specific pathways. Here, we leverage sex-specific differences in butterfly wing color pattern to characterize the genetic basis of sexually dimorphic development. We use RNA-seq, immunolocalization, and motif binding site analysis to test specific predictions about the role of dsx in the development of structurally based ultraviolet (UV) wing patterns in Zerene cesonia (Southern Dogface). Unexpectedly, we discover a novel duplication of dsx that shows a sex-specific burst of expression associated with the sexually dimorphic UV coloration. The derived copy consists of a single exon that encodes a DNA binding but no protein-binding domain and has experienced rapid amino-acid divergence. We propose the novel dsx paralog may suppress UV scale differentiation in females, which is supported by an excess of Dsx-binding sites at cytoskeletal and chitin-related genes with sex-biased expression. These findings illustrate the molecular flexibility of the dsx gene in mediating the differentiation of secondary sexual characteristics.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-α-Tubulin antibody, Mouse monoclonal, clone B-5-1-2, purified from hybridoma cell culture
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Mouse IgG2a (γ2a), CF488A antibody produced in goat, ~2 mg/mL, affinity isolated antibody, buffered aqueous solution