Shifting roles of Drosophila pair-rule gene orthologs: segmental expression and function in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.181453
• Publication Date: 2019-08-23T19:15:14Z
• Authors: Katie Reding; Mengyao Chen; Yong Lu; Alys M. Cheatle J...; Leslie Pick
• Keywords: Arthropod; Primordium

The discovery of pair-rule genes (PRGs) in Drosophila revealed the existence an underlying two-segment-wide prepattern directing embryogenesis. milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus, a hemimetabolous insect, is more representative arthropod: most its segments form sequentially after gastrulation. Here, we report expression and function orthologs complete set nine PRGs Seven Of-PRG-orthologs are expressed stripes primordia every segment, rather than other segment; Of-runt PR-like several also segment addition zone. RNAi-mediated knockdown Of-odd-skipped, paired sloppy-paired impacted all segments, with no indication register. We confirm that Of-E75A stripes, although it not this way Drosophila, demonstrating These findings reveal switch occurred regulatory circuits, leading to formation: while holometabolous insects 'Drosophila-like', using PRG for PR patterning, Of-PRGs segmentally Oncopeltus, basally branching insect. Thus, evolutionarily stable phenotype - formation directed by alternate pathways diverse species.