Figure 1

Gene expression in the eyespot model Bicyclus anynana (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae). (A) Fore-(top) and hindwing (bottom) of 'wild-type' adult and larval wing discs visualized for Ubx (blue) and Antp (green). Ubx is detected throughout the hindwing, but not in the forewing (as is characteristic of insects), and is not associated with any colour pattern element (the bright spot visible in the forewing is an artefact). Antp is detected in the presumptive eyespot organizers in both fore- and hindwing. (B) Adult (top) and larval (bottom) hindwing of Cyclops venation mutant with altered eyespot number and shape [28]: Antp is upregulated in a single elongated organizer, matching the morphology of the adult eyespot centre. (C) Larval hindwings stained for Antp mRNA (left) and protein (right). Antp is detected in eyespot centres shortly after the last larval molt, prior to the extension of trachea into the vein lacunae (arrows) and before the upregulation of other organizer proteins (co-stainings of Antp, N and Dll in early wings are shown in Additional File 1). (D) Larval hindwings stained for hh and ptc mRNA. Absence of both transcripts in B. anynana eyespot fields (in contrast to J. coenia [33]) reveals genetic divergence in organizer determination. (E) Immunostainings in embryos of B. anynana (left) and J. coenia (right) at 30 to 40% development [63] show the typical pattern of Antp in thorax and abdomen. Proteins are shown in colours, mRNA in gray; numbers indicate individuals examined.