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Moris VC, Podsiadlowski L, Martin S, Oeyen JP, Donath A, Petersen M, Wilbrandt J, Misof B, Liedtke D, Thamm M, Scheiner R, Schmitt T, Niehuis O. Intrasexual cuticular hydrocarbon dimorphism in a wasp sheds light on hydrocarbon biosynthesis genes in Hymenoptera. Commun Biol 2023; 6:147. [PMID: 36737661 PMCID: PMC9898505 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04370-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) cover the cuticle of insects and serve as desiccation barrier and as semiochemicals. While the main enzymatic steps of CHC biosynthesis are well understood, few of the underlying genes have been identified. Here we show how exploitation of intrasexual CHC dimorphism in a mason wasp, Odynerus spinipes, in combination with whole-genome sequencing and comparative transcriptomics facilitated identification of such genes. RNAi-mediated knockdown of twelve candidate gene orthologs in the honey bee, Apis mellifera, confirmed nine genes impacting CHC profile composition. Most of them have predicted functions consistent with current knowledge of CHC metabolism. However, we found first-time evidence for a fatty acid amide hydrolase also influencing CHC profile composition. In situ hybridization experiments furthermore suggest trophocytes participating in CHC biosynthesis. Our results set the base for experimental CHC profile manipulation in Hymenoptera and imply that the evolutionary origin of CHC biosynthesis predates the arthropods' colonization of land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria C. Moris
- grid.5963.9Department of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Institute of Biology I (Zoology), University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany ,grid.4989.c0000 0001 2348 0746Laboratory of Molecular Biology & Evolution (MBE), Department of Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lars Podsiadlowski
- grid.517093.90000 0005 0294 9006Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change / ZFMK, Museum Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany ,grid.10388.320000 0001 2240 3300Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Sebastian Martin
- grid.517093.90000 0005 0294 9006Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change / ZFMK, Museum Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany ,grid.10388.320000 0001 2240 3300Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jan Philip Oeyen
- grid.517093.90000 0005 0294 9006Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change / ZFMK, Museum Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany ,grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Alexander Donath
- grid.517093.90000 0005 0294 9006Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change / ZFMK, Museum Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Malte Petersen
- grid.517093.90000 0005 0294 9006Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change / ZFMK, Museum Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany ,grid.10388.320000 0001 2240 3300High Performance Computing & Analytics Lab, University of Bonn, Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 8, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jeanne Wilbrandt
- grid.517093.90000 0005 0294 9006Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change / ZFMK, Museum Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany ,grid.418245.e0000 0000 9999 5706Leibniz Institute on Aging — Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Misof
- grid.517093.90000 0005 0294 9006Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change / ZFMK, Museum Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Daniel Liedtke
- grid.8379.50000 0001 1958 8658Institute of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Thamm
- grid.8379.50000 0001 1958 8658Department of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ricarda Scheiner
- grid.8379.50000 0001 1958 8658Department of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmitt
- grid.8379.50000 0001 1958 8658Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Niehuis
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Institute of Biology I (Zoology), University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
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Trabalon M, Garcia CF. Transport pathways of hydrocarbon and free fatty acids to the cuticle in arthropods and hypothetical models in spiders. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 252:110541. [PMID: 33285310 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2020.110541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cuticular lipids in terrestrial arthropods are not only essential for desiccation resistance; they also play an important role as chemical signals for intra- and interspecific communication (pheromones and kairomones, respectively). Most of the studies on cuticular lipid research was dedicated to one class of arthropods, the insects. This type of research on the class arachnids is poorly developed, and the majority of studies has listed the compounds present in cuticular extracts, and, in some cases, compared the lipid profiles of different life stages (juveniles, adults). Consequently, we reviewed in relation to lipids description, biosynthesis, and transport of spiders. To illustrate a novel concept of lipid transportation, a scheme is now presented to show the hypothetical transport pathways of hydrocarbon and free fatty acids to cuticle in spiders. These concepts are taken from the knowledge of different arachnids to obtain a general illustration on the biosynthesis and transport of hemolymphatic lipids to the cuticle in spider.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Trabalon
- Universite Rennes 1, UMR 6552 CNRS EthoS, 35042 Rennes, France
| | - C Fernando Garcia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquimicas de La Plata "Profesor Doctor Rodolfo R. Brenner", 60 y 120 s/n. La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Abstract
Oenocytes have intrigued insect physiologists since the nineteenth century. Many years of careful but mostly descriptive research on these cells highlights their diverse sizes, numbers, and anatomical distributions across Insecta. Contemporary molecular genetic studies in Drosophila melanogaster and Tribolium castaneum support the hypothesis that oenocytes are of ectodermal origin. They also suggest that, in both short and long germ-band species, oenocytes are induced from a Spalt major/Engrailed ectodermal zone by MAPK signaling. Recent glimpses into some of the physiological functions of oenocytes indicate that they involve fatty acid and hydrocarbon metabolism. Genetic studies in D. melanogaster have shown that larval oenocytes synthesize very-long-chain fatty acids required for tracheal waterproofing and that adult oenocytes produce cuticular hydrocarbons required for desiccation resistance and pheromonal communication. Exciting areas of future research include the evolution of oenocytes and their cross talk with other tissues involved in lipid metabolism such as the fat body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rami Makki
- Division of Physiology and Metabolism, Medical Research Council, National Institute for Medical Research, London, NW7 1AA, United Kingdom;
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Trabalon M, Blais C. Juvenile development, ecdysteroids and hemolymph level of metabolites in the spider Brachypelma albopilosum (Theraphosidae). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL GENETICS AND PHYSIOLOGY 2012; 317:236-47. [PMID: 22311802 DOI: 10.1002/jez.1717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Revised: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 12/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In the present work, juvenile development and physiological state of mygalomorph Brachypelma albopilosum were investigated by means of individual rearing under controlled conditions. Males required 4-5 years for development from first juvenile instar to adulthood, passing through 8 to 12 juvenile molts. Females developed to adults in 5-6 years with a variable juvenile molt number from 9 to 13. The development and growth of males and females took place in a similar way until the last juvenile molt leading to subadults. Ecdysteroids, total lipid, cholesterol, and protein concentrations increased along with the different development instars in both males and females. After the last juvenile molt, spiders presented morphological and biochemical sex differences. Subadult and adulthood males were smaller in size and weight than females; hemolymph levels of ecdysteroids, total lipids, cholesterol, and glucose were higher in males. These physiological and biochemical differences can be correlated to the different sexual development between males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Trabalon
- Department of Biology, Université Rennes 1, UMR-6552 CNRS Ethologie, Rennes, France.
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Olsen CA, Kristensen AS, Strømgaard K. Small molecules from spiders used as chemical probes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011; 50:11296-311. [PMID: 22034051 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201101599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2011] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Spiders are important species in ecological systems and as major predators of insects they are endowed with a plethora of low-molecular-weight natural products having intriguing biological activities. The isolation and biological characterization of these entities are well established, however, only very recently have these compounds been used as templates for the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of synthetic analogues. In contrast, the investigation of compounds responsible for chemical communication between spiders is far less developed, but recently new light has been shed onto the area of pheromones and allomones from spiders. Herein, we recapitulate these recent results, put them into perspective with previous findings, and provide an outlook for future studies of these chemotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian A Olsen
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Peroxiredoxin 5 confers protection against oxidative stress and apoptosis and also promotes longevity in Drosophila. Biochem J 2009; 419:437-45. [PMID: 19128239 DOI: 10.1042/bj20082003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Peroxiredoxin 5 is a distinct isoform of the peroxiredoxin gene family. The antioxidative and anti-apoptotic functions of peroxiredoxin 5 have been extensively demonstrated in cell culture experiments. In the present paper, we provide the first functional analysis of peroxiredoxin 5 in a multicellular organism, Drosophila melanogaster. Similar to its mammalian, yeast or human counterparts, dPrx5 (Drosophila peroxiredoxin 5) is expressed in several cellular compartments, including the cytosol, nucleus and the mitochondrion. Global overexpression of dPrx5 in flies increased resistance to oxidative stress and extended their life span by up to 30% under normal conditions. The dprx5(-/-) null flies were comparatively more susceptible to oxidative stress, had higher incidence of apoptosis, and a shortened life span. TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling) analysis revealed that the dprx5(-/-) null mutant had discernible tissue-specific apoptotic patterns, similar to those observed in control flies exposed to paraquat. In addition, apoptosis was particularly notable in oenocytes. During development the dPrx5 levels co-varied with ecdysone pulses, suggesting inter-relationship between ecdystreroids and dPrx5 expression. The importance of dPrx5 for development was further underscored by the embryonic lethal phenotype of progeny derived from the dprx5(-/-) null mutant. Results from the present study suggest that the antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities of dPrx5 play a critical role in development and aging of the fly.
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Trabalon M, Niogret J, Legrand-Frossi C. Effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone on cannibalism, sexual behavior, and contact sex pheromone in the solitary female spider, Tegenaria atrica. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2005; 144:60-6. [PMID: 15955534 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2005.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2004] [Revised: 04/15/2005] [Accepted: 04/25/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the effect of exogenously administered 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) on sexual behavior and on contact sex signals of adult females of the spider Tegenaria atrica. In untreated or control females cannibalism occurred in 36-47% of encounters, whereas no cannibalism at all was observed with 20E-treated females. The frequency of sexual receptivity was low (42%) in untreated or control females and high (100%) in 20E-treated females. Variability of female sexual behavior could be related to quantitative changes in web and cuticular compounds. We showed that 20E altered the production of polar contact sex pheromones on web and cuticle: methylesters and fatty acids are produced in higher amounts in 20E-treated females. Bioassays demonstrated clearly that methylesters and fatty acids of webs and cuticles were involved in attraction of males. Moreover, bioassays with synthetic substances showed that four fatty acids (myristic, pentadecanoic, hexadecanoic, and oleic acids) and one methylester (methyl stearate) are particularly effective in eliciting sexual behavior in males. In T. atrica, 20E inhibits cannibalism during sexual activity and changes sex pheromone production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Trabalon
- Physiologie du Comportement, CEPE, UPR-CNRS 9010, 54506 Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy Cédex, France.
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Abstract
We investigated the role of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) on the ovarian maturation and protein levels and pattern in adult females of the spider Tegenaria atrica. In unmated females, the ovaries did not initiate vitellogenesis and levels of proteins in the hemolymph and ovaries were low. Unmated females treated with 20E showed an increase in the total amount of proteins in their hemolymph and ovaries, comparable with that in untreated mated females. Vitellogenesis was observable histologically in 20E treated unmated females as in untreated mated ones. The electrophoretic analysis of total proteins revealed a 47 kDa band expressed in the vitellogenic ovaries and hemolymph of 20E treated unmated females and untreated mated ones as in newly laid eggs. We hypothesize that this 47 kDa protein could belong to the vitellogenin-vitellin complex. We describe in this paper, for the first time in a spider, the partial characterization of putative yolk protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégory Pourié
- Faculté des sciences, Laboratoire de Biologie et Physiologie du Comportement, B.P. 239, 54506 Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy Cedex, France
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Abstract
Two ecdysteroids were isolated from juveniles and adults as well as from eggs of the pycnogonid Pycnogonum litorale Ström and characterized by bioassay, thin layer chromatography, gas liquid chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography. One of the hormones could be identified as 20-hydroxyecdysone whereas the other behaves in HPLC in a way that is similar to but not identical with ecdysone. This unidentified ecdysone-like hormone exceeded 20-hydroxyecdysone in all developmental stages (1.67:1 to 3:1). Determination of moulting hormone titers by a radioimmunoassay showed highest amounts of hormones in juvenile females (150 ng/mg tissue dry wt). The results are compared with those obtained from other arthropods and are discussed in view of the evolution of hormonal systems.
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