Blister beetles(Coleoptera:Meloidae)are currently subdivided into three subfamilies:Eleticinae(a basal group),Nemognathinae,and Meloinae.These are all characterized by the endogenous production of the defensive terpen...Blister beetles(Coleoptera:Meloidae)are currently subdivided into three subfamilies:Eleticinae(a basal group),Nemognathinae,and Meloinae.These are all characterized by the endogenous production of the defensive terpene cantharidin(CA),whereas the two most derived subfamilies show a hypermetamorphic larval development.Here,we provide novel draft genome assemblies of five species sampled across the three blister beetle subfamilies(Iselma pallidipennis,Stenodera caucasica,Zonitis immaculata,Lydus trimaculatus,and Mylabris variabilis)and performed a comparative analysis with other available Meloidae genomes and the closely-related canthariphilous species(Pyrochroa serraticornis)to disclose adaptations at a molecular level.Our results highlighted the expansion and selection of genes potentially responsible for CA production and metabolism,as well as its mobilization and vesicular compartmentalization.Furthermore,we observed adaptive selection patterns and gain of genes devoted to epigenetic regulation,development,and morphogenesis,possibly related to hypermetamorphosis.We hypothesize that most genetic adaptations occurred to support both CA biosynthesis and hypermetamorphosis,two crucial aspects of Meloidae biology that likely contributed to their evolutionary success.展开更多
基金funded by the project“NOCLOT—NuOvi farmaCi anticoaguLanti dalla biOdiversiTàdei meloidi”financed by Regione Lazio(grant nos.A0375-2020-36555 and CUP F85F21003680009)co-funded by MIUR-Italy Grants of Departments of Excellence—L.232/2016—art.1 cc.314–337 awarded to the Department of Science of Roma Tre University(2018–2022 and 2023–2027)+3 种基金supported by the project PON—Ricerca e Innovazione(MURProject Code:999900_PON_RTD_A7-G-15023_SCIENZE)support of NBFC to the University of Roma Tre—Department of Science and Sapienza University—Department of Biology and Biotechnologies,“Charles Darwin”,funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research,PNRR,Missione 4 Componente 2,“Dalla ricerca all’impresa”,Investimento 1.4(Project CN00000033)supported also by Rome Technopole,PNRR grant M-4C-2Inv.1.5 CUP F832B22000040006 to MAB.
文摘Blister beetles(Coleoptera:Meloidae)are currently subdivided into three subfamilies:Eleticinae(a basal group),Nemognathinae,and Meloinae.These are all characterized by the endogenous production of the defensive terpene cantharidin(CA),whereas the two most derived subfamilies show a hypermetamorphic larval development.Here,we provide novel draft genome assemblies of five species sampled across the three blister beetle subfamilies(Iselma pallidipennis,Stenodera caucasica,Zonitis immaculata,Lydus trimaculatus,and Mylabris variabilis)and performed a comparative analysis with other available Meloidae genomes and the closely-related canthariphilous species(Pyrochroa serraticornis)to disclose adaptations at a molecular level.Our results highlighted the expansion and selection of genes potentially responsible for CA production and metabolism,as well as its mobilization and vesicular compartmentalization.Furthermore,we observed adaptive selection patterns and gain of genes devoted to epigenetic regulation,development,and morphogenesis,possibly related to hypermetamorphosis.We hypothesize that most genetic adaptations occurred to support both CA biosynthesis and hypermetamorphosis,two crucial aspects of Meloidae biology that likely contributed to their evolutionary success.
