The long-term goal of this project is to understand the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic evolution. This includes discovering the genes responsible for phenotypic divergence, identifying which changes within these genes affect the phenotype, and determining how these changes alter molecular, cellular, and developmental processes. Preliminary studies using a combination of genetic mapping and transgenic analysis show that pigmentation differences between two closely related Drosophila species, D. americana and D. novamexicana, are caused (in part) by divergence within the tan gene. tan encodes an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of N-beta-alanyl-dopamine into dopamine, which is a necessary step for the production of dopamine melanin. Fine-scale genetic mapping identified a region of tan containing only non-coding differences, which suggests that divergent tan expression between species contributes to pigmentation divergence, and greater abundance of tan mRNA was observed in D. americana than D. novamexicana. The goal of the proposed project is to locate all divergent sites within tan that affect pigmentation and to determine how they alter pigmentation development. Specifically, the aims of this proposal are to: (1) identify nucleotide differences between species-specific tan alleles that affect pigmentation, (2) determine the phenotypic consequences of these changes in D. novamexicana and D. americana, and (3) determine how these sites affect tan mRNA and protein expression. Transgenic approaches used in this project allow direct comparisons between genotypes that differ for as little as one nucleotide, and the analysis of transgenes in multiple species allows cis- and trans-regulatory changes responsible for tan divergence to be resolved. When completed, this project will improve our general understanding of the genetic changes and molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic differences in complex traits.

Public Health Relevance

Many traits that vary within human populations are affected by changes in multiple genes, and understanding the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes for these complex traits is central to nearly all aspects of biology. This project will identify specific genetic changes underlying divergence in a complex trait as well as reveal how these genetic changes alter development to produce alternative phenotypes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM089736-03
Application #
8269782
Study Section
Genetic Variation and Evolution Study Section (GVE)
Program Officer
Eckstrand, Irene A
Project Start
2010-07-26
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2012-06-01
Budget End
2013-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$264,286
Indirect Cost
$90,541
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Lamb, Abigail M; Walker, Elizabeth A; Wittkopp, Patricia J (2017) Tools and strategies for scarless allele replacement in Drosophila using CRISPR/Cas9. Fly (Austin) 11:53-64
John, Alisha V; Sramkoski, Lisa L; Walker, Elizabeth A et al. (2016) Sensitivity of Allelic Divergence to Genomic Position: Lessons from the Drosophila tan Gene. G3 (Bethesda) 6:2955-62
Massey, J H; Wittkopp, P J (2016) The Genetic Basis of Pigmentation Differences Within and Between Drosophila Species. Curr Top Dev Biol 119:27-61
Kalay, Gizem; Lusk, Richard; Dome, Mackenzie et al. (2016) Potential Direct Regulators of the Drosophila yellow Gene Identified by Yeast One-Hybrid and RNAi Screens. G3 (Bethesda) 6:3419-3430
Cooley, Arielle M; Shefner, Laura; McLaughlin, Wesley N et al. (2012) The ontogeny of color: developmental origins of divergent pigmentation in Drosophila americana and D. novamexicana. Evol Dev 14:317-25