Molecular mechanism responsible for the unique pink coloration of the orchid mantis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23657162
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Evolutionary biology
• Research Institution: National Institute for Basic Biology
• Principal Investigator: MANO Hiroaki 基礎生物学研究所, 生物進化研究部門, 研究員 (80376558)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ランカマキリ / 色素 / 体色 / 酸化還元 / キサントマチン / 擬態 / 生化学 / 電子顕微鏡

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An excellent example of mimicry is the flower-mimicry of the orchid mantis Hymenopus coronatus with pink and white coloration and petal-like legs. Biochemical analyses indicated that the reduced form of xanthommatin contributes to the pink body coloration. However, xanthommatin is distributed widely among insects and it still remains unclear how the common pigment form the unique pink coloration of the orchid mantis. In this study, we identified three different types of xanthommatin isoforms and found that their composition varies in mantises having different body colors. We also found that pigment granules in the orchid mantis have unique ultra-structures, which may contribute to the unique pink coloration of the mantis.

Free Research Field

生物学