Novel sex-specific genes and diverse interspecific expression in the
antennal transcriptomes of ithomiine butterflies
Abstract
The olfactory sense is crucial for organisms, facilitating environmental
recognition and inter-individual communication. Ithomiini butterflies
exemplify this importance not only because they rely strongly on
olfactory cues in both inter- and intra-sexual behaviours, but also
because they show re-emergence of macro-glomerular complexes (MGCs).
These specialized structures within the antennal lobe, lost in
butterflies, but present in moths where they enable the integration of
information from various types of pheromones, refining responses to
specific cues. In this study we present high-quality genome assemblies
for four Ithomiini species, investigating chemosensory evolution and
associating expression profiles with neuroanatomical differences. We
found that antennal transcriptomes across species exhibit profound
divergence, indicating distinct species adaptations in environmental
sensing. Noteworthy, sexual dimorphism is also characterised both in
chemosensory genes and non-chemosensory genes, suggesting their
relevance in behaviour. Lipid-related genes exhibit sexual dimorphism,
potentially linked to pheromone production or host selection. The study
broadens the understanding of antennal chemosensory adaptations in
butterflies, highlighting the intricate interplay between genetic
diversity, ecological specialization, and sensory perception with
neuro-anatomical differences. Insights into chemosensory gene evolution,
expression patterns, and potential functional implications enhance our
knowledge of sensory adaptations in butterflies, laying the foundation
for future investigations into the genetic drivers of behaviour,
adaptation, and speciation in insects.