Expression patterns of leg genes in the mouthparts of the spider Cupiennius salei (Chelicerata: Arachnida)

Abstract

The leg genes extradenticle, homothorax, dachshund, and Distal-less define three antagonistic developmental domains in the legs, but not in the antenna, of Drosophila. Here we report the expression patterns of these leg genes in the prosomal appendages of the spider Cupiennius salei. The prosoma of the spider bears six pairs of appendages: a pair of cheliceres, a pair of pedipalps, and four pairs of walking legs. Three types of appendages thus can be distinguished in the spider. We show here that in the pedipalp, the leg-like second prosomal appendage, the patterns are very similar to those in the legs themselves, indicating the presence of three antagonistic developmental domains in both appendage types. In contrast, in the chelicera, the fang-like first prosomal appendage, the patterns are different and there is no evidence for antagonistic domains. Together with data from Drosophila this suggests that leg-shaped morphology of arthropod appendages requires an underlying set of antagonistic developmental domains, whereas other morphologies (e.g. antenna, chelicera) may result from the loss of such antagonistic domains.