Research

Research

4) Molecular mechanisms of camouflage and mimicry

Variation of marking patterns on the body surfaces of animals is developed during evolution and useful for the lifestyle and behavior of each animal. In particular, marking patterns in insects are often used in mimicry and camouflage for protecting them from predators. We are studying the molecular mechanisms for larval body markings and wing patterns, using the silkworm mutant strains, swallowtail caterpillars which change their markings from bird dropping pattern to citrus leaves pattern during larval development, and Papilio polytes, which female shows typical Batesian mimicry.

Important papers are marked by yellow.

1) Fujiwara, H., Ninaki, O., Kobayashi, M., Kusuda, J. and Maekawa, H.: Chromosomal fragment responsible for genetic mosaicism in larval body marking of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Genet. Res. Camb. (1991) 57, 11-16.

2) Fujiwara, H., Yanagawa, M. and Ishikawa, H.: Mosaic formation by developmental loss of chromosomal fragment in a genetic mosaic, mottled striped of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Roux's Arch. Dev. Biol. (1994) 203, 389-396.

3) Fujiwara, H. and Maekawa, H.: RFLP analysis of chromosomal fragments in mottled striped strains of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Chromosoma (1994) 103, 468-474.

4) Fujiwara, H., Jindra, M., Newitt, R., Pallli, S. R., Hiruma, K. and Riddiford, L. M.: Cloning of an ecdysone receptor homolog from Manduca sexta and the developmental profile of its mRNA in wings. Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. (1995) 25, 845-856.

5) Kamimura, M., Tomita, S. and Fujiwara, H.: Molecular cloning of an ecdysone receptor (B1 isoform homologue from the silkworm, Bombyx mori, and its mRNA expression during wing disk development. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (1996) 113B, 341-347.

6) Kamimura M., Tomita S., Kiuchi M. and Fujiwara H.: Tissue-specific and stage-specific expression of two silkworm ecdysone receptor isoforms -- ecdysteroid-dependent transcription in cultured anterior silk glands. Eur J Biochem. (1997) 248, 786-793.

7) Fujiwara, H., Nakazato, Y., Okazaki, S. and Ninaki, O.: Stability and telomere structure of chromosomal fragments in two different mosaic strains of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Zool Sci. (2000) 17, 743-750.

8) Suzuki, Y., Matsuoka, T. and Fujiwara, H.: Ecdysteroid-dependent expression of a novel cuticle protein gene GCP1 of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. (2002) 32, 599-607.

9) Lobbia, S., Niitsu, K. and Fujiwara, H: Female-specific wing degeneration caused by ecdysteroid in the tussock moth, Orgyia recens: Hormonal and developmental regulation of sexual dimorphism formation. J. Insect Science (2003) 3:11(on line journal). 1-7 (insectscience.org/3.11).

10) Hwang JS, Kang SW, Goo TW, Yun EY, Lee JS, Kwon OY, Chun T, Suzuki Y, Fujiwara H.: cDNA cloning and mRNA expression of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase gene homologue from the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Biotechnol Lett. (2003) 25 (12):997-1002.

11) Futahashi, R. and Fujiwara, H.: Melanin-synthesis enzymes co-regulate stage-specific larval cuticular markings in the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus. Development, Genes and Evolution, 　in revision

12) Futahashi, H. and Fujiwara H.: Expression of one isoform of GTP cyclohydrolase I coincides with the larval black markings of the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus. Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 36, 63-70 (2006)

13) Futahashi, R. and Fujiwara H.: Regulation of 20-hydroxyecdysone on the larval pigmentation and the expression of melanin synthesis enzymes and yellow gene of the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus. Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 37, 855-864 (2007)

14) Futahashi, R. and Fujiwara, H.: Juvenile hormone regulates butterfly larval pattern switches, Science, 319, 1061 (2008).

15) Okamoto, S, Mita, K., Futahashi, R., Kojima, T. and Fujiwara H. Catalogue of epidermal genes: genes expressed in the epidermal cells during molt of the silkworm, B. mori. BMC genomics, 9, 396 (2008)

16) Futahashi, R., Sato, J., Meng, Y., Okamoto, S., Daimon, T., Yamamoto, K., Suetsugu, Y., Narukawa, J., Takahashi, H., Banno, Y., Katsuma, S., Shimada, T., Mita, K. and Fujiwara, H.: yellow and ebony are the responsible genes for the larval color mutants of the silkworm Bombyx mori. Genetics 180: 1995?2005 (2008)

17) Futahashi, R., Banno Y. and Fujiwara, H.: Caterpillar color patterns are determined by a two-phase melanin gene pre-patterning process: new evidence from tan and laccase2. Evolution and Development, 12: 157-167 (2010)

18) Shirataki, H. Futahashi, R. and Fujiwara, H.: Species-specific coordinated gene expression and trans-regulation of larval color pattern in three swallowtail butterflies. Evolution and Development, 12: 305-314 (2010)

19) Futahashi R., Shirataki, H., Narita, T., Mita, K. and Fujiwara, H.: Microarray-based Comprehensive Analysis for Stage-specific Larval Camouflage Pattern-associated Genes in the Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio xuthus. BMC Biol.10:e46. (2012)

20) Yamaguchi, J. Yamamoto, K. Mita, K. Bannno, Y., Ando, T. and Fujiwara, H.: Periodic Wnt expression in response to ecdysteroid generates twin-spot markings on caterpillars. Nat. Commun. 4, e1857 (2013)

21) Nishikawa, H., Iga, M., Yamaguchi, J., Saito, K., Kataoka, H., Suzuki, Y., Sugano, S. and Fujiwara H.: Molecular Basis of the wing coloration in a Batesian mimic butterfly, Papilio polytes. Sci. Rep. 3, e3184 (2013)

22) Yoda S., Yamaguchi J., Mita K., Yamamoto K., Banno Y., Ando T., Daimon T. and Fujiwara, H.: The transcription factor apontic-like controls diverse coloration pattern in caterpillars. Nat. Commun. 5, 4936. (2014)

23) Nishikawa H., Iijima T., Kajitani R., Yamaguchi J., Ando T., Suzuki Y., Sugano S., Fujiyama A., Kosugi S., Hirakawa H., Tabata S., Ozaki K., Morimoto H., Ihara, K. Obara M., Hori H., Itoh T. and Fujiwara, H.: A genetic mechanism for female-limited Batesian mimicry in Papilio butterfly. Nature Genetics47, 405-409. (2015)

24) Komata, S., Lin, C-P., Iijima, T., Fujiwara H. and Sota, T.: Identification of doublesex alleles associated with the female-limited Batesian mimicry polymorphism in Papilio memnon. Sci. Rep. 6, 34782. (2016)

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