Evolution and expression plasticity of opsin genes in a fig pollinator, Ceratosolen solmsi.
Figs and fig pollinators have co-evolved species-specific systems of mutualism. So far, it was unknown how visual opsin genes of pollinators have evolved in the light conditions inside their host figs. We cloned intact full-length mRNA sequences of four opsin genes from a species of fig pollinator, Ceratosolen solmsi, and tested for selective pressure and expressional plasticity of these genes. Molecular evolutionary analysis indicated that the four opsin genes evolved under different selective constraints. Subsets of codons in the two long wavelength sensitive opsin (LW1, LW2) genes were positively selected in ancestral fig pollinators. The ultraviolet sensitive opsin (UV) gene was under strong purifying selection, whereas a relaxation of selective constrains occurred on several amino acids in the blue opsin. RT-qPCR analysis suggested that female and male fig pollinators had different expression patterns possibly due to their distinct lifestyles and different responses to light within the syconia. Co-evolutionary history with figs might have influenced the evolution and expression plasticity of opsin genes in fig pollinators.
Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Bo
B
Wang
Jin-Hua
JH
Xiao
Sheng-Nan
SN
Bian
Li-Ming
LM
Niu
Robert W
RW
Murphy
Da-Wei
DW
Huang
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D030681:Ficus / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D055355:Opsins / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D054817:Pollination; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors
D019476:Insect Proteins; D055355:Opsins