Ectopic gene expression and homeotic transformations in arthropods using recombinant Sindbis viruses.
BACKGROUND
The morphological diversity of arthropods makes them attractive subjects for studying the evolution of developmental mechanisms. Comparative analyses suggest that arthropod diversity has arisen largely as a result of changes in expression patterns of genes that control development. Direct analysis of how a particular gene functions in a given species during development is hindered by the lack of broadly applicable techniques for manipulating gene expression.


RESULTS
We report that the Arbovirus Sindbis can be used to deliver high levels of gene expression in vivo in a number of non-host arthropod species without causing cytopathic effects in infected cells or impairing development. Using recombinant Sindbis virus, we investigated the function of the homeotic gene Ultrabithorax in the development of butterfly wings and beetle embryos. Ectopic Ultrabithorax expression in butterfly forewing imaginal discs was sufficient to cause the transformation of characteristic forewing properties in the adult, including scale morphology and pigmentation, to those of the hindwing. Expression of Ultrabithorax in beetle embryos outside of its endogenous expression domain affected normal development of the body wall cuticle and appendages.


CONCLUSIONS
The homeotic genes have long been thought to play an important role in the diversification of arthropod appendages. Using recombinant Sindbis virus, we were able to investigate homeotic gene function in non-model arthropod species. We found that Ultrabithorax is sufficient to confer hindwing identity in butterflies and alter normal development of anterior structures in beetles. Recombinant Sindbis virus has broad potential as a tool for analyzing how the function of developmental genes has changed during the diversification of arthropods.
Lewis
D L
DL
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 53706, USA.
DeCamillis
M A
MA
Brunetti
C R
CR
Halder
G
G
Kassner
V A
VA
Selegue
J E
JE
Higgs
S
S
Carroll
S B
SB
D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D002080:Butterflies / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D006257:Head / Q000196:embryology; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007814:Larva; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics; D011679:Pupa; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012845:Sindbis Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013909:Thorax / Q000196:embryology; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014231:Tribolium / Q000196:embryology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C066177:Ubx protein, Drosophila