Publications [#229546] of H. Frederik Nijhout
search PubMed.Papers Published
- Nijhout, HF, Ommochrome Pigmentation of the linea and rosa Seasonal Forms of Precis coenia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae),
Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, vol. 36 no. 3
(January, 1997),
pp. 215-222, WILEY [doi] .
(last updated on 2024/10/02)Abstract:
Precis coenia exhibits a seasonal color polyphenism. Animals reared under long-day conditions develop a pale tan pigmentation on their ventral hind wing (the linea form), whereas animals reared under short-day conditions develop a dark reddish-brown pigmentation (the rosa form). This developmental switch is mediated by a shift in the timing of ecdysteroid secretion at the outset of adult development. In addition, a single recessive gene mimics the effect of short-day conditions and, when homozygous, produces a constitutive rosa pheno-type. This article analyzes the pigment composition of the ventral hind wing pattern of the linea and rosa forms. It presents a new thin layer chromatography system that separates ommochromes with high resolution. The linea pigmentation was found to be due to xanthommatin, while the rosa pigmentation is due to a mixture dihydro-xanthommatin and ommatin-D. Induction of the rosa form thus requires the synthesis of a new pigment (ommatin-D is a sulfate of dihydro-xanthommatin) and the stabilization of the reduced form of xanthommatin. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.