Repository logo
 

A transposable element insertion is associated with an alternative life history strategy.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Woronik, Alyssa 
Neethiraj, Ramprasad 
Stefanescu, Constanti 

Abstract

Tradeoffs affect resource allocation during development and result in fitness consequences that drive the evolution of life history strategies. Yet despite their importance, we know little about the mechanisms underlying life history tradeoffs. Many species of Colias butterflies exhibit an alternative life history strategy (ALHS) where females divert resources from wing pigment synthesis to reproductive and somatic development. Due to this reallocation, a wing color polymorphism is associated with the ALHS: either yellow/orange or white. Here we map the locus associated with this ALHS in Colias crocea to a transposable element insertion located downstream of the Colias homolog of BarH-1, a homeobox transcription factor. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, antibody staining, and electron microscopy we find white-specific expression of BarH-1 suppresses the formation of pigment granules in wing scales and gives rise to white wing color. Lipid and transcriptome analyses reveal physiological differences associated with the ALHS. Together, these findings characterize a mechanism for a female-limited ALHS.

Description

Funder: Department of Zoology at Stockholm University; Erik Philip-Sorensens Foundation; The Academy of Finland,131155

Keywords

Animals, Butterflies, CRISPR-Cas Systems, Color, DNA Transposable Elements, Female, Gene Editing, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Genetic Loci, Homeodomain Proteins, Life History Traits, Male, Pigmentation, Pigments, Biological, Reproduction, Sex Factors, Whole Genome Sequencing, Wings, Animal

Journal Title

Nat Commun

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-1723
2041-1723

Volume Title

10

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council) (2012–3715)
Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse (Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation) (2012.0058)