Molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution of color vision and color formation in dragonflies

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H02491
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 45020:Evolutionary biology-related
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Futahashi Ryo 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 生命工学領域, 上級主任研究員 (50549889)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: トンボ / 体色形成 / 色覚 / 変態 / 紫外線反射

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Dragonflies recognize their mates primarily by vision, and thus there is striking diversity in the coloration and markings between sexes and among closely related species. Although the molecular basis underlying color formation in dragonflies has been largely unknown, this study described the morphological changes during nymph-to-adult metamorphosis in various dragonfly species and found that local RNAi in the first half of the final instar nymphs can inhibit gene function with almost 100% efficiency, at least for epidermis. Using this method, we succeeded in identifying the three transcription factor genes that are essential for metamorphosis into adults and several genes that are important for color formation.

Free Research Field

昆虫分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、各種トンボ類が地味な体色の幼虫から色鮮やかな成虫へと変態する際の形態変化の詳細を記載し、変態の際に必須となる3種類の転写因子を特定することができた。これは昆虫の多様性を担う変態を制御する分子機構に関する新知見であり、完全変態昆虫で蛹の形質を規定する遺伝子が、昆虫間でどのように進化してきたかを理解する上で重要な発見である。また、トンボが分泌する特殊な紫外線反射ワックスに関して国際特許を取得できたので、新たな生物由来の素材として利用できる可能性がある。