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Conservation, Duplication, and Divergence of Five Opsin Genes in Insect Evolution

Feuda, R; Marletaz, F; Bentley, MA; Holland, PWH; (2016) Conservation, Duplication, and Divergence of Five Opsin Genes in Insect Evolution. Genome Biology and Evolution , 8 (3) pp. 579-587. 10.1093/gbe/evw015. Green open access

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Abstract

Opsin proteins covalently bind to small molecular chromophores and each protein-chromophore complex is sensitive to particular wavelengths of light. Multiple opsins with different wavelength absorbance peaks are required for color vision. Comparing opsin responses is challenging at low light levels, explaining why color vision is often lost in nocturnal species. Here, we investigated opsin evolution in 27 phylogenetically diverse insect species including several transitions between photic niches (nocturnal, diurnal, and crepuscular). We find widespread conservation of five distinct opsin genes, more than commonly considered. These comprise one c-opsin plus four r-opsins (long wavelength sensitive or LWS, blue sensitive, ultra violet [UV] sensitive and the often overlooked Rh7 gene). Several recent opsin gene duplications are also detected. The diversity of opsin genes is consistent with color vision in diurnal, crepuscular, and nocturnal insects. Tests for positive selection in relation to photic niche reveal evidence for adaptive evolution in UVsensitive opsins in day-flying insects in general, and in LWS opsins of day-flying Lepidoptera specifically.

Type: Article
Title: Conservation, Duplication, and Divergence of Five Opsin Genes in Insect Evolution
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw015
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evw015
Language: English
Additional information: This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords: lepidoptera, arctiidae, butterfly, molecular evolution, adaptive evolution
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences > Genetics, Evolution and Environment
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10097253
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