Regional patterning and regulation of melanin pigmentation in insects

Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2021 Jun 1;69:163-170. doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.05.004. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTInsects display an immense diversity in melanin pigmentation, which is generated by the interplay between the regulatory genes (that provide general patterning information) and effector genes (that provide coloration of the pattern). However, recent studies encompassing several different orders (Hemiptera, Blattodea, Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera) have shown that knockdowns of melanin producing genes alone can generate distinct region-specific patterns. This review surveys the most recent studies to further document the regional patterning of effector genes, and highlights the new advances and their implications for future research.PMID:34087530 | DOI:10.1016/j.gde.2021.05.004

Source: Current Opinion in Genetics and Development - June 4, 2021 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Aleksandar Popadi ć Despina Tsitlakidou Source Type: research