Evolution of Opsin Genes in Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera)

Insects have evolved complex and diverse visual systems in which light-sensing protein molecules called "opsins" couple with a chromophore to form photopigments. Insect photopigments group into three major gene families based on wavelength sensitivity: long wavelength (LW), short wavelength (SW), and ultraviolet wavelength (UV). In this study, we identified 123 opsin sequences from whole-genome assemblies across 25 caddisfly species (Insecta: Trichoptera). We discovered the LW opsins have the most diversity across species and form two separate clades in the opsin gene tree. Conversely, we observed a loss of the SW opsin in half of the trichopteran species in this study, which might be associated with the fact that caddisflies are active during low-light conditions. Lastly, we found a single copy of the UV opsin in all the species in this study, with one exception: Athripsodes cinereus has two copies of the UV opsin and resides within a clade of caddisflies with colorful wing patterns.

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Publication Details

Journal
Genome Biology and Evolution
Published
2024-08-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evae185
Primary Topic
Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Evolution of Opsin Genes in Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera)

Ernesto Rázuri‐Gonzales, Jacqueline Heckenhauer, Ashlyn Powell, Paul B. Frandsen et al.
Genome Biology and Evolution
Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
article

Evolution of Opsin Genes in Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera)

Ernesto Rázuri‐Gonzales, Jacqueline Heckenhauer, Ashlyn Powell, Paul B. Frandsen, Ralph W. Holzenthal, Blanca Ríos‐Touma, Steffen U. Pauls, Ryoichi B. Kuranishi, Seth Bybee
article en

Abstract

Insects have evolved complex and diverse visual systems in which light-sensing protein molecules called "opsins" couple with a chromophore to form photopigments. Insect photopigments group into three major gene families based on wavelength sensitivity: long wavelength (LW), short wavelength (SW), and ultraviolet wavelength (UV). In this study, we identified 123 opsin sequences from whole-genome assemblies across 25 caddisfly species (Insecta: Trichoptera). We discovered the LW opsins have the most diversity across species and form two separate clades in the opsin gene tree. Conversely, we observed a loss of the SW opsin in half of the trichopteran species in this study, which might be associated with the fact that caddisflies are active during low-light conditions. Lastly, we found a single copy of the UV opsin in all the species in this study, with one exception: Athripsodes cinereus has two copies of the UV opsin and resides within a clade of caddisflies with colorful wing patterns.

Genome Biology and EvolutionVol. 16(9)
Brigham Young University (US), University of Minnesota (US), Chiba University (JP), Kanagawa Institute of Technology (JP), Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt/M (DE), University of the Americas (CL), Universidad de Las Américas (EC), LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (DE)
National Science Foundation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 87%
Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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