The molecular basis of scale development highlighted by a single-cell atlas of Bicyclus anynana butterfly pupal forewings
2024; Cell Press; Volume: 43; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114147
ISSN2639-1856
AutoresAnupama Prakash, Éric Dion, Tirtha Das Banerjee, Antónia Monteiro,
Tópico(s)Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
ResumoButterfly wings display a diversity of cell types, including large polyploid scale cells, yet the molecular basis of such diversity is poorly understood. To explore scale cell diversity at a transcriptomic level, we employ single-cell RNA sequencing of ∼5,200 large cells (>6 μm) from 22.5- to 25-h male pupal forewings of the butterfly Bicyclus anynana. Using unsupervised clustering, followed by in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, and CRISPR-Cas9 editing of candidate genes, we annotate various cell types on the wing. We identify genes marking non-innervated scale cells, pheromone-producing glandular cells, and innervated sensory cell types. We show that senseless, a zinc-finger transcription factor, and HR38, a hormone receptor, determine the identity, size, and color of different scale cell types and are important regulators of scale cell differentiation. This dataset and the identification of various wing cell-type markers provide a foundation to compare and explore scale cell-type diversification across arthropod species.
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