Toll ligand Spätzle3 controls melanization in the stripe pattern formation in caterpillars

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1707896114
• Publication Date: 2017-07-18T01:00:34Z
• Authors: Yûsuke KonDo; Shinichi Yoda; Takayuki Mizoguchi; Toshiya Ando; Junichi Yamaguchi; Kimiko Yamamoto; Yutaka Banno; Haruhiko Fujiwara
• Keywords: Melanins; 0303 health sciences; Chromosome Mapping; Skin Pigmentation; Bombyx; 03 medical and health sciences; Phenotype; Toll-Like Receptor 8; Larva; Animals; Insect Proteins; RNA Interference; Amino Acid Sequence; RNA, Small Interfering

Significance A stripe pattern is widely observed among animals and often used for warning or camouflage in caterpillars. However, its genetic background largely unknown. This study showed that the Toll ligand Spätzle3 (Spz-3) responsible silkworm Zebra locus, which causes black stripes on anterior margin of each segment. Exhaustive knockdown experiments spz- Toll- related genes clarified spz-3 Toll-8 are involved melanin pigmentation another mutant. The Spz-3/Toll-8 signaling pathway suggested to induce stripe-specific expression gene yellow . sheds light not only unique aspect Spz/Toll functions but also, caterpillars through co-option a pathway.