1. The molecular basis of scale development highlighted by a single-cell atlas of Bicyclus anynana butterfly pupal forewings.
- Author
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Prakash A, Dion E, Banerjee TD, and Monteiro A
- Subjects
- Animals, Male, Insect Proteins genetics, Insect Proteins metabolism, Transcriptome genetics, Butterflies genetics, Wings, Animal metabolism, Wings, Animal cytology, Pupa metabolism, Single-Cell Analysis methods
- Abstract
Butterfly wings display a diversity of cell types, including large polyploid scale cells, yet the molecular basis of such diversity is poorly understood. To explore scale cell diversity at a transcriptomic level, we employ single-cell RNA sequencing of ∼5,200 large cells (>6 μm) from 22.5- to 25-h male pupal forewings of the butterfly Bicyclus anynana. Using unsupervised clustering, followed by in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, and CRISPR-Cas9 editing of candidate genes, we annotate various cell types on the wing. We identify genes marking non-innervated scale cells, pheromone-producing glandular cells, and innervated sensory cell types. We show that senseless, a zinc-finger transcription factor, and HR38, a hormone receptor, determine the identity, size, and color of different scale cell types and are important regulators of scale cell differentiation. This dataset and the identification of various wing cell-type markers provide a foundation to compare and explore scale cell-type diversification across arthropod species., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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