Day-night Gene Expression Reveals Circadian Gene As a Candidate for Diel-niche Evolution in Moths

Overview

Journal Proc Biol Sci

Specialty Biology

Date 2024 Aug 28

PMID 39194299

Authors

Yash Sondhi

Rebeccah L Messcher

Anthony J Bellantuono

Caroline G Storer

Scott D Cinel

R Keating Godfrey

Andrew J Mongue

Yi-Ming Weng

Deborah Glass

Ryan A St Laurent

Chris A Hamilton

Chandra Earl

Colin J Brislawn

Ian J Kitching

Seth M Bybee

Jamie C Theobald

Akito Y Kawahara

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Temporal ecological niche partitioning is an underappreciated driver of speciation. While insects have long been models for circadian biology, the genes and circuits that allow adaptive changes in diel-niches remain poorly understood. We compared gene expression in closely related day- and night-active non-model wild silk moths, with otherwise similar ecologies. Using an ortholog-based pipeline to compare RNA-Seq patterns across two moth species, we find over 25 pairs of gene orthologs showing differential expression. Notably, the gene involved in circadian control, optic lobe and clock neuron development in , shows robust adult circadian mRNA cycling in moth heads. is highly conserved in moths and has additional zinc-finger domains with specific nocturnal and diurnal mutations. We propose as a candidate gene for the diversification of temporal diel-niche in moths.

Citing Articles

Day-night gene expression reveals circadian gene as a candidate for diel-niche evolution in moths.

Sondhi Y, Messcher R, Bellantuono A, Storer C, Cinel S, Godfrey R Proc Biol Sci. 2024; 291(2029):20240591.

PMID: 39194299 PMC: 11351850. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0591.

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