Evolution and genomic organization of the insect sHSP gene cluster and coordinate regulation in phenotypic plasticity

Abstract Background Conserved syntenic gene complexes are rare in Arthropods and likely only retained due to functional constraint. Numerous sHSPs have been identified the genomes of insects, some which located clustered close proximity. Previous phylogenetic analyses these sHSP limited a small number holometabolous insect species not determined pattern evolution genes (sHSP-C) or Arthropod lineages. Results Using eight from representative orders three non-insect arthropod we that cluster is hallmark most genomes. 11 Hymenopteran our refined sHSP-C Hymenoptera found order-specific with evidence birth-and-death hymenopteran lineage. Finally shown honeybee co-ordinately expressed marked by genomic features, including H3K27me3 histone marks consistent coordinate regulation, during ovary activation. Conclusions The present genomes, its conserved expression regulation implies it an integral component environmental response arthropods.