Control of Pigmentation in the Wings of Lepidoptera

鳞翅目昆虫翅膀上图案的形成由遗传和 细胞过程，控制特定的合成模式 颜料. 拟议的调查试图 阐明参与模式化发展的机制 黑色素是翅膀中的三种主要色素之一， 构成图案所有黑色部分的颜料） coenia和Heliconius charitonia（鳞翅目：蛱蝶科）。 的 蛋白质合成的空间模式在连续几天在 发展中的翅膀精确地对应于随后的模式， 色素合成 酚氧化酶的模式化合成 预示着随后的黑色素合成模式。 的目的 拟议的研究是开发用于 酚氧化酶基因 将使用克隆的酚氧化酶探针 在随后的研究中， 图案形成 克隆的基因也将用于未来 研究模式化酶表达的控制。

Pattern formation on lepidopteran wings consists of the genetic and cellular processes that control the patterned synthesis of specific pigments. The proposed investigations present an attempt to elucidate the mechanism involved in the patterned development of one of the three major pigments in the wing, melanin (which is the pigment that makes up all black portions of the pattern) in Precis coenia and Heliconius charitonia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). The spatial patterns of protein synthesis during successive days in the developing wing correspond precisely to the subsequent patterns of pigment synthesis. Patterned synthesis of phenoloxidase thus presages the subsequent pattern of melanin synthesis. The aim of the proposed investigation is to develop molecular probes for the phenoloxidase gene. The cloned phenoloxidase probes will be used in subsequent studies on the role of the gene product in pigment pattern formation. The cloned gene will also be used in future investigations on the control of patterned enzyme expression.