Genomic adaptations to aquatic and aerial life in mayflies and the origin of insect wings

Isabel Almudi (), Joel Vizueta, Christopher D. R. Wyatt, Alex Mendoza, Ferdinand Marlétaz, Panos N. Firbas, Roberto Feuda, Giulio Masiero, Patricia Medina, Ana Alcaina-Caro, Fernando Cruz, Jessica Gómez-Garrido, Marta Gut, Tyler S. Alioto, Carlos Vargas-Chavez, Kristofer Davie, Bernhard Misof, Josefa González, Stein Aerts, Ryan Lister, Jordi Paps, Julio Rozas, Alejandro Sánchez-Gracia, Manuel Irimia, Ignacio Maeso and Fernando Casares ()
Additional contact information
Isabel Almudi: The CABD (CSIC-UPO-JA)
Joel Vizueta: Universitat de Barcelona
Christopher D. R. Wyatt: The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology
Alex Mendoza: The University of Western Australia
Ferdinand Marlétaz: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Panos N. Firbas: The CABD (CSIC-UPO-JA)
Roberto Feuda: University of Leicester
Giulio Masiero: The CABD (CSIC-UPO-JA)
Patricia Medina: The CABD (CSIC-UPO-JA)
Ana Alcaina-Caro: The CABD (CSIC-UPO-JA)
Fernando Cruz: Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST)
Jessica Gómez-Garrido: Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST)
Marta Gut: Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST)
Tyler S. Alioto: Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST)
Carlos Vargas-Chavez: CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Kristofer Davie: VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research
Bernhard Misof: Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig
Josefa González: CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Stein Aerts: VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research
Ryan Lister: The University of Western Australia
Jordi Paps: University of Bristol
Julio Rozas: Universitat de Barcelona
Alejandro Sánchez-Gracia: Universitat de Barcelona
Manuel Irimia: The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology
Ignacio Maeso: The CABD (CSIC-UPO-JA)
Fernando Casares: The CABD (CSIC-UPO-JA)

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The evolution of winged insects revolutionized terrestrial ecosystems and led to the largest animal radiation on Earth. However, we still have an incomplete picture of the genomic changes that underlay this diversification. Mayflies, as one of the sister groups of all other winged insects, are key to understanding this radiation. Here, we describe the genome of the mayfly Cloeon dipterum and its gene expression throughout its aquatic and aerial life cycle and specific organs. We discover an expansion of odorant-binding-protein genes, some expressed specifically in breathing gills of aquatic nymphs, suggesting a novel sensory role for this organ. In contrast, flying adults use an enlarged opsin set in a sexually dimorphic manner, with some expressed only in males. Finally, we identify a set of wing-associated genes deeply conserved in the pterygote insects and find transcriptomic similarities between gills and wings, suggesting a common genetic program. Globally, this comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic study uncovers the genetic basis of key evolutionary adaptations in mayflies and winged insects.

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-16284-8

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16284-8

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