bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Дек. 15, 2024

Abstract Uncovering mechanisms by which sensory systems evolve is critical for understanding how organisms adapt to a novel environment. Astyanax mexicanus species of fish with populations surface that inhabit rivers and streams cavefish have adapted life within caves. Cavefish evolved system changes relative their counterparts, providing an opportunity investigate underlying evolution. Here, we report the role gene retinal homeobox 3 ( rx3 ) in eye We generated putative loss-of-function mutations using CRISPR-Cas9 determine this development species. These mutant fail develop eyes, demonstrating required development. Further, exhibit altered behaviors wild-type fish, suggesting loss eyes impacts sensory-dependent behaviors. Finally, cave-surface hybrid inherit allele from siblings allele, cis-regulatory variation at locus contributes size evolution cavefish. Together, these findings demonstrate that, as other species, A. . Moreover, they suggest plays reduction cavefish, shedding light on genetic response extreme environmental changes.

Язык: Английский