Aphids may be first photosynthesising animal

Aphids may recharge their batteries as they sit in the sun.

A handful of animals live in symbiosis with photosynthetic microbes or plants, but none have been found that harness light directly. Now there are hints that aphids increase their production of ATP ? the biological energy molecule ? in response to light. While this doesn't prove they photosynthesise, it is an intriguing hint that they might.

Carotenoids are common in algae and some bacteria and fungi, where they harvest light for photosynthesis. Aphids are the only insects known to have the genes to produce carotenoids; the molecules give them their colour.

Maria Capovilla of the University of Nice in France and colleagues found that light boosted ATP production in aphids that have carotenoids, but not in lines bred to lack them.

Capovilla says this suggests the aphids may have the elements of a photosynthesis-like mechanism. Christopher Howe of the University of Cambridge points out that the experiment does not prove the existence of such a mechanism. Rather than driving the reaction, light could be playing an as-yet unknown and indirect role in the production of ATP.

Journal reference: Scientific Reports, doi.org/h6k

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