Molecular Evolution of Phototransduction Pathway Genes in Nocturnal and Diurnal Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

• Main Authors: Gavin J. Martin, Sarah E. Lower, Anton Suvorov, Seth M. Bybee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Insects
• Subjects: arrestin-2; inaC; positive selection; vision; sensory niche
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/6/561

Most organisms are dependent on sensory cues from their environment for survival and reproduction. Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) represent an ideal system for studying sensory niche adaptation due to many species relying on bioluminescent communication; as well as a diversity of ecologies. Here; using transcriptomics; we examine the phototransduction pathway in this non-model organism; and provide some of the first evidence for positive selection in the phototransduction pathway beyond opsins in beetles. Evidence for gene duplications within Lampyridae are found in <i>inactivation no afterpotential C</i> and <i>inactivation no</i> <i>afterpotential</i> <i>D</i>. We also find strong support for positive selection in <i>arrestin-2</i>; <i>inactivation no afterpotential D</i>; and <i>transient receptor potential-like</i>; with weak support for positive selection in <i>guanine nucleotide-binding protein</i> G(q) <i>subunit alpha</i> and <i>neither inactivation nor afterpotential C</i>. Taken with other recent work in flies; butterflies; and moths; this represents an exciting new avenue of study as we seek to further understand diversification and constraint on the phototransduction pathway in light of organism ecology.