Smith W C, Goldsmith T H
Yale University, Department of Biology, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.
J Mol Evol. 1990 Jan;30(1):72-84. doi: 10.1007/BF02102454.
The distribution of 3-hydroxyretinal (R3), a recently discovered retinoid used as the visual pigment chromophore in some insects, was investigated in the class Insecta using HPLC technology. We studied 138 species in 24 orders, sampling from a wide range of taxonomic groups as well as varied habitats. In addition to groups already known to have R3, we find this retinoid in Hemiptera (suborder Heteroptera), Plecoptera, Megaloptera, and Hymenoptera. We also find retinal (R1) in Hemiptera (suborder Homoptera), Mecoptera, and Trichoptera, groups previously thought to have only R3. The pattern of R3 occurrence indicates that this retinoid cannot be considered a phylogenetic marker, having a scattered distribution in the class Insecta as well as within some orders of insects. Several environmental factors that might influence the selection of chromophore have been considered, but none correlates with its distribution. The evolutionary reasons for the pattern of occurrence of R3 therefore remain unknown.
利用高效液相色谱技术，对昆虫纲中一种最近发现的类视黄醇——3-羟基视黄醛（R3）的分布情况进行了研究，R3在某些昆虫中用作视觉色素发色团。我们研究了24个目的138个物种，样本来自广泛的分类群以及不同的栖息地。除了已知含有R3的类群外，我们在半翅目（异翅亚目）、襀翅目、广翅目和膜翅目中也发现了这种类视黄醇。我们还在半翅目（同翅亚目）、长翅目和毛翅目中发现了视黄醛（R1），这些类群之前被认为只含有R3。R3的出现模式表明，这种类视黄醇不能被视为系统发育标记，它在昆虫纲以及某些昆虫目内分布零散。我们考虑了几个可能影响发色团选择的环境因素，但没有一个与它的分布相关。因此，R3出现模式的进化原因仍然未知。
