Data for: Butterfly eyespots exhibit unique patterns of open chromatin

How the precise spatial regulation of genes is correlated with spatial
variation in chromatin accessibilities is not yet clear. Previous studies
that analysed chromatin from homogenates of whole-body parts of insects
found little variation in chromatin accessibility across those parts, but
single-cell studies of Drosophila brains showed extensive spatial
variation in chromatin accessibility across that organ. In this work we
studied the chromatin accessibility of butterfly wing tissue fated to
differentiate distinct colors and patterns in pupal wings of Bicyclus
anynana. We observed that three dissected wing regions showed unique
chromatin accessibilities. Open chromatin regions specific to eyespot
color patterns were highly enriched for binding motifs recognized by
Suppressor of Hairless (Su(H)), Krüppel (Kr), Buttonhead (Btd) and Nubbin
(Nub) transcription factors. Genes in the vicinity of the eyespot-specific
open chromatin regions included those involved in wound healing and SMAD
signal transduction pathways, previously proposed to be involved in
eyespot development. We conclude that eyespot and non-eyespot bits of
tissue taken from the same wing have distinct patterns of chromatin
accessibility, possibly driven by the eyespot-restricted expression of
potential pioneer factors, such as Kr.