10.5061/DRYAD.MKKWH70VQ
Martin, Gavin
0000-0002-8989-2601
Brigham Young University
Lower, Sarah
Bucknell University
Suvorov, Anton
University of North Carolina
Bybee, Seth
Brigham Young University
Molecular evolution of phototransduction pathway genes in nocturnal and
diurnal fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
Dryad
dataset
2019
National Science Foundation
https://ror.org/021nxhr62
IOS-1265714,DEB-1655981
2021-07-26T00:00:00Z
2021-07-26T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12060561
222465580 bytes
8
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Most organisms are dependent on sensory cues from their environment for
survival and reproduction. Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) represent an
ideal system for studying sensory niche adaptation due to many species
relying on bioluminescent communication, as well as a diversity of
ecology. Here we examine the phototransduction pathway in this non-model
organism, and provide some of the first evidence for positive selection in
the PT pathway in insects. Duplications are found in calmodulin,
inactivation no afterpotential C, inactivation no afterpotential D, and
transient receptor potential. We also find strong support for positive
selection in arrestin-2, inactivation no afterpotential D, and transient
receptor potential, with weak support for positive selection in guanine
nucleotide-binding protein G(q) subunit alpha and neither inactivation
nor afterpotential C. This represents an exciting new avenue of study as
we seek to further understand these molecular players.