Butterfly wings shaped by a molecular cookie cutter: evolutionary radiation of lepidopteran wing shapes associated with a derived Cut/wingless wing margin boundary system.

摘要: SUMMARY Butterflies and moths show a remarkable diversity of specialized wing shapes, yet little is known about the molecular basis shape determination. To learn more this process we examined expression dorsoventral (DV) boundary candidate genes in developing wings several species Lepidoptera. We found that transcription factor Cut mRNA for signaling molecule wingless (wg) are strongly co-expressed discrete zone around larval disc margin. Surprisingly, wg clearly presages complex future adult including hindwing tails swallowtail butterflies, very early final-instar development. During pupal development cells undergo apoptosis, thereby defining actual margin wing. Comparison with gene beetle fly suggests delineation topologically independent running parallel to DV derived feature propose developmental decoupling determination formation was major innovation facilitated radiation shapes butterflies.