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Li N, Dong R, Zeng H, Zhang Y, Huang R, Liu W, Cao F, Yu J, Liao M, Chen J, Zhang W, Huang Z, Wang J, Li L, Zhu S, Huang D, Li Z, Zhang X, Yuan D, Chen N, Fan Y, Wang G, Schal C, Pan Y, Li S. Two sex pheromone receptors for sexual communication in the American cockroach. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1455-1467. [PMID: 38523236 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2548-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Volatile sex pheromones are vital for sexual communication between males and females. Females of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, produce and emit two sex pheromone components, periplanone-A (PA) and periplanone-B (PB). Although PB is the major sex attractant and can attract males, how it interacts with PA in regulating sexual behaviors is still unknown. In this study, we found that in male cockroaches, PA counteracted PB attraction. We identified two odorant receptors (ORs), OR53 and OR100, as PB/PA and PA receptors, respectively. OR53 and OR100 were predominantly expressed in the antennae of sexually mature males, and their expression levels were regulated by the sex differentiation pathway and nutrition-responsive signals. Cellular localization of OR53 and OR100 in male antennae further revealed that two types of sensilla coordinate a complex two-pheromone-two-receptor pathway in regulating cockroach sexual behaviors. These findings indicate distinct functions of the two sex pheromone components, identify their receptors and possible regulatory mechanisms underlying the male-specific and age-dependent sexual behaviors, and can guide novel strategies for pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
- Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, 514589, China.
| | - Renke Dong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
- Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, 514589, China
| | - Huanchao Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
- Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, 514589, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Run Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Fengming Cao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Jincong Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Mingtao Liao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Jingyou Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Wenlei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Zejian Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Jiahui Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Li Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Shen Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
- Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, 514589, China
| | - Danyan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Zining Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Xiaoshuai Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Dongwei Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Nan Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Yongliang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Guirong Wang
- Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Coby Schal
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27695, USA
| | - Yufeng Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
| | - Sheng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
- Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, 514589, China.
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2
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Zheng L, Cui X, Jiang Z, Li H, Zhu Z, Dai X, Liu X, Zhang L, Huang X, Ren Q. Differential expression of sNPF in male and female eyestalk leading to sex dimorphism of AMP expression in Procambarus clarkii intestine. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 151:109735. [PMID: 38945414 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptide (AMP) is an important component of crustaceans' innate immune system. In this study, a short neuropeptide F (sNPF) gene (Pc-sNPF) and a Forkhead box O (FOXO) gene (PcFOXO) from Procambarus clarkii were identified. Analysis findings showed that the expression level of AMP genes differed between male and female P. clarkii. Furthermore, Pc-sNPF and PcFOXO were related to the sex dimorphism of AMP. Knockdown of Pc-sNPF in the eyestalk significantly upregulated the expression of PcFOXO and two anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (PcALF4 and PcALFL) in the intestine of P. clarkii. The expression of PcFOXO in the intestine of female P. clarkii was higher than in that of males. Results from RNA interference revealed that PcFOXO positively regulated the expression of PcALF4 and PcALFL in the intestine of male and female P. clarkii. In summary, our study showed that differences in Pc-sNPF expression in eyestalk of male and female P. clarkii leading to sex dimorphism of AMP expression in the intestine are mediated by the sNPF-FOXO-AMP signal pathway called the eyestalk-intestine axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangmin Zheng
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xinyi Cui
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zilin Jiang
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hao Li
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ziyue Zhu
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiaoling Dai
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiaohan Liu
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Lihua Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animals Breeding and Green Efficient Aquacultural Technology, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Qian Ren
- School of Marine Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Orr SE, Hedrick NA, Murray KA, Pasupuleti AK, Kovacs JL, Goodisman MAD. Genetic and environmental effects on morphological traits of social phenotypes in wasps. Heredity (Edinb) 2024:10.1038/s41437-024-00701-5. [PMID: 38918612 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00701-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Many species exhibit distinct phenotypic classes, such as sexes in dioecious species or castes in social species. The evolution of these classes is affected by the genetic architecture governing traits shared between phenotypes. However, estimates of the genetic and environmental factors contributing to phenotypic variation in distinct classes have rarely been examined. We studied the genetic architecture underlying morphological traits in phenotypic classes in the social wasp Vespula maculifrons. Our data revealed patriline effects on a few traits, indicating weak genetic influences on caste phenotypic variation. Interestingly, traits exhibited higher heritability in queens than workers. This result suggests that genetic variation has a stronger influence on trait variation in the queen caste than the worker caste, which is unexpected because queens typically experience direct selection. Moreover, estimates of heritability for traits were correlated between the castes, indicating that variability in trait size was governed by similar genetic architecture in the two castes. However, we failed to find evidence for a significant relationship between caste dimorphism and caste correlation, as would be expected if trait evolution was constrained by intralocus genetic conflict. Our analyses also uncovered variation in the allometric relationships for traits. These analyses suggested that worker traits were proportionally smaller than queen traits for most traits examined. Overall, our data provide evidence for a strong environmental and moderate genetic basis of trait variation among castes. Moreover, our results suggest that selection previously operated on caste phenotype in this species, and phenotypic variation is now governed primarily by environmental differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Orr
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia
| | - Nicole A Hedrick
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia
| | - Kayla A Murray
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia
| | - Abhinav K Pasupuleti
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia
| | - Jennifer L Kovacs
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia
- Agnes Scott College, Department of Biology, 141 East College Avenue, Decatur, 30030, Georgia
| | - Michael A D Goodisman
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia.
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4
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Sugiura K, Yoshida Y, Hayashi K, Arakawa K, Kunieda T, Matsumoto M. Sexual dimorphism in the tardigrade Paramacrobiotus metropolitanus transcriptome. ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2024; 10:11. [PMID: 38902818 PMCID: PMC11191345 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-024-00233-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In gonochoristic animals, the sex determination pathway induces different morphological and behavioral features that can be observed between sexes, a condition known as sexual dimorphism. While many components of this sex differentiation cascade show high levels of diversity, factors such as the Doublesex-Mab-3-Related Transcription factor (DMRT) are widely conserved across animal taxa. Species of the phylum Tardigrada exhibit remarkable diversity in morphology and behavior between sexes, suggesting a pathway regulating this dimorphism. Despite the wealth of genomic and zoological knowledge accumulated in recent studies, the sexual differences in tardigrades genomes have not been identified. In the present study, we focused on the gonochoristic species Paramacrobiotus metropolitanus and employed omics analyses to unravel the molecular basis of sexual dimorphism. RESULTS Transcriptome analysis between sex-identified specimens revealed numerous differentially expressed genes, of which approximately 2,000 male-biased genes were focused on 29 non-male-specific genomic loci. From these regions, we identified two Macrobiotidae family specific DMRT paralogs, which were significantly upregulated in males and lacked sex specific splicing variants. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis indicated all tardigrade genomes lack the doublesex ortholog, suggesting doublesex emerged after the divergence of Tardigrada. In contrast to sex-specific expression, no evidence of genomic differences between the sexes was found. We also identified several anhydrobiosis genes that exhibit sex-biased expression, suggesting a possible mechanism for protection of sex-specific tissues against extreme stress. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a comprehensive analysis for analyzing the genetic differences between sexes in tardigrades. The existence of male-biased, but not male-specific, genomic loci and identification of the family specific male-biased DMRT subfamily provides the foundation for understanding the sex determination cascade. In addition, sex-biased expression of several tardigrade-specific genes which are involved their stress tolerance suggests a potential role in protecting sex-specific tissue and gametes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Sugiura
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan
| | - Yuki Yoshida
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Kohei Hayashi
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan
| | - Kazuharu Arakawa
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, 403-1 Nihonkoku, Daihoji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-0017, Japan
- Exploratory Research Center On Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Takekazu Kunieda
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Midori Matsumoto
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan.
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5
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Li C, Li CQ, Chen ZB, Liu BQ, Sun X, Wei KH, Li CY, Luan JB. Wolbachia symbionts control sex in a parasitoid wasp using a horizontally acquired gene. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2359-2372.e9. [PMID: 38692276 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Host reproduction can be manipulated by bacterial symbionts in various ways. Parthenogenesis induction is the most effective type of reproduction manipulation by symbionts for their transmission. Insect sex is determined by regulation of doublesex (dsx) splicing through transformer2 (tra2) and transformer (tra) interaction. Although parthenogenesis induction by symbionts has been studied since the 1970s, its underlying molecular mechanism is unknown. Here we identify a Wolbachia parthenogenesis-induction feminization factor gene (piff) that targets sex-determining genes and causes female-producing parthenogenesis in the haplodiploid parasitoid Encarsia formosa. We found that Wolbachia elimination repressed expression of female-specific dsx and enhanced expression of male-specific dsx, which led to the production of wasp haploid male offspring. Furthermore, we found that E. formosa tra is truncated and non-functional, and Wolbachia has a functional tra homolog, termed piff, with an insect origin. Wolbachia PIFF can colocalize and interact with wasp TRA2. Moreover, Wolbachia piff has coordinated expression with tra2 and dsx of E. formosa. Our results demonstrate the bacterial symbiont Wolbachia has acquired an insect gene to manipulate the host sex determination cascade and induce parthenogenesis in wasps. This study reveals insect-to-bacteria horizontal gene transfer drives the evolution of animal sex determination systems, elucidating a striking mechanism of insect-microbe symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ce Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Economic and Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Chu-Qiao Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Economic and Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Zhan-Bo Chen
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Economic and Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Bing-Qi Liu
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Economic and Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Xiang Sun
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Economic and Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Kai-Heng Wei
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Economic and Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Chen-Yi Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Economic and Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Jun-Bo Luan
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Economic and Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China.
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6
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Peng J, Svetec N, Molina H, Zhao L. The Origin and Evolution of Sex Peptide and Sex Peptide Receptor Interactions. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae065. [PMID: 38518286 PMCID: PMC11017328 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-mating responses play a vital role in successful reproduction across diverse species. In fruit flies, sex peptide binds to the sex peptide receptor, triggering a series of post-mating responses. However, the origin of sex peptide receptor predates the emergence of sex peptide. The evolutionary origins of the interactions between sex peptide and sex peptide receptor and the mechanisms by which they interact remain enigmatic. In this study, we used ancestral sequence reconstruction, AlphaFold2 predictions, and molecular dynamics simulations to study sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions and their origination. Using AlphaFold2 and long-time molecular dynamics simulations, we predicted the structure and dynamics of sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions. We show that sex peptide potentially binds to the ancestral states of Diptera sex peptide receptor. Notably, we found that only a few amino acid changes in sex peptide receptor are sufficient for the formation of sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions. Ancestral sequence reconstruction and molecular dynamics simulations further reveal that sex peptide receptor interacts with sex peptide through residues that are mostly involved in the interaction interface of an ancestral ligand, myoinhibitory peptides. We propose a potential mechanism whereby sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions arise from the preexisting myoinhibitory peptides-sex peptide receptor interface as well as early chance events both inside and outside the preexisting interface that created novel sex peptide-specific sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions. Our findings provide new insights into the origin and evolution of sex peptide-sex peptide receptor interactions and their relationship with myoinhibitory peptides-sex peptide receptor interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhui Peng
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicolas Svetec
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Henrik Molina
- Proteomics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Zhao
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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7
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Hull JJ, Heu CC, Gross RJ, LeRoy DM, Schutze IX, Langhorst D, Fabrick JA, Brent CS. Doublesex is essential for masculinization but not feminization in Lygus hesperus. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 166:104085. [PMID: 38307215 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
In most holometabolous insects, sex differentiation occurs via a hierarchical cascade of transcription factors, with doublesex (dsx) regulating genes that control sex-specific traits. Although less is known in hemimetabolous insects, early evidence suggests that substantial differences exist from more evolutionarily advanced insects. Here, we identified and characterized dsx in Lygus hesperus (western tarnished plant bug), a hemipteran pest of many agricultural crops in western North America. The full-length transcript for L. hesperus dsx (Lhdsx) and several variants encode proteins with conserved DNA binding and oligomerization domains. Transcript profiling revealed that Lhdsx is ubiquitously expressed, likely undergoes alternative pre-mRNA splicing, and, unlike several model insects, is sex-biased rather than sex-specific. Embryonic RNA interference (RNAi) of Lhdsx only impacted sex development in adult males, which lacked both internal reproductive organs and external genitalia. No discernible impacts on adult female development or reproductivity were observed. RNAi knockdown of Lhdsx in nymphs likewise only affected adult males, which lacked the characteristic dimorphic coloration but had dramatically elevated vitellogenin transcripts. Gene knockout of Lhdsx by CRISPR/Cas9 editing yielded only females in G0 and strongly biased heterozygous G1 offspring to females with the few surviving males showing severely impaired genital development. These results indicate that L. hesperus male development requires Lhdsx, whereas female development proceeds via a basal pathway that functions independently of dsx. A fundamental understanding of sex differentiation in L. hesperus could be important for future gene-based management strategies of this important agricultural pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Joe Hull
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA.
| | - Chan C Heu
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Roni J Gross
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Dannialle M LeRoy
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Inana X Schutze
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Daniel Langhorst
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Fabrick
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Colin S Brent
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
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8
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Peng J, Svetec N, Molina H, Zhao L. The Origin and Evolution of Sex Peptide and Sex Peptide Receptor Interactions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.19.567744. [PMID: 38013995 PMCID: PMC10680801 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.19.567744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Post-mating responses play a vital role in successful reproduction across diverse species. In fruit flies, sex peptide (SP) binds to the sex peptide receptor (SPR), triggering a series of post-mating responses. However, the origin of SPR predates the emergence of SP. The evolutionary origins of the interactions between SP and SPR and the mechanisms by which they interact remain enigmatic. In this study, we used ancestral sequence reconstruction, AlphaFold2 predictions, and molecular dynamics simulations to study SP-SPR interactions and their origination. Using AlphaFold2 and long-time molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we predicted the structure and dynamics of SP-SPR interactions. We show that SP potentially binds to the ancestral states of Diptera SPR. Notably, we found that only a few amino acid changes in SPR are sufficient for the formation of SP-SPR interactions. Ancestral sequence reconstruction and MD simulations further reveal that SPR interacts with SP through residues that are mostly involved in the interaction interface of an ancestral ligand, myoinhibitory peptides (MIPs). We propose a potential mechanism whereby SP-SPR interactions arise from the pre-existing MIP-SPR interface as well as early chance events both inside and outside the pre-existing interface that created novel SP-specific SP-SPR interactions. Our findings provide new insights into the origin and evolution of SP-SPR interactions and their relationship with MIP-SPR interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhui Peng
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicolas Svetec
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Henrik Molina
- Proteomics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Li Zhao
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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9
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Biedler JK, Aryan A, Qi Y, Wang A, Martinson EO, Hartman DA, Yang F, Sharma A, Morton KS, Potters M, Chen C, Dobson SL, Ebel GD, Kading RC, Paulson S, Xue RD, Strand MR, Tu Z. On the Origin and Evolution of the Mosquito Male-determining Factor Nix. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msad276. [PMID: 38128148 PMCID: PMC10798136 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The mosquito family Culicidae is divided into 2 subfamilies named the Culicinae and Anophelinae. Nix, the dominant male-determining factor, has only been found in the culicines Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, 2 important arboviral vectors that belong to the subgenus Stegomyia. Here we performed sex-specific whole-genome sequencing and RNAseq of divergent mosquito species and explored additional male-inclusive datasets to investigate the distribution of Nix. Except for the Culex genus, Nix homologs were found in all species surveyed from the Culicinae subfamily, including 12 additional species from 3 highly divergent tribes comprising 4 genera, suggesting Nix originated at least 133 to 165 million years ago (MYA). Heterologous expression of 1 of 3 divergent Nix open reading frames (ORFs) in Ae. aegypti resulted in partial masculinization of genetic females as evidenced by morphology and doublesex splicing. Phylogenetic analysis suggests Nix is related to femaleless (fle), a recently described intermediate sex-determining factor found exclusively in anopheline mosquitoes. Nix from all species has a conserved structure, including 3 RNA-recognition motifs (RRMs), as does fle. However, Nix has evolved at a much faster rate than fle. The RRM3 of both Nix and fle are distantly related to the single RRM of a widely distributed and conserved splicing factor transformer-2 (tra2). The RRM3-based phylogenetic analysis suggests this domain in Nix and fle may have evolved from tra2 or a tra2-related gene in a common ancestor of mosquitoes. Our results provide insights into the evolution of sex determination in mosquitoes and will inform broad applications of mosquito-control strategies based on manipulating sex ratios toward nonbiting males.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K Biedler
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Azadeh Aryan
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Yumin Qi
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Aihua Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Ellen O Martinson
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Daniel A Hartman
- Center for Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Atashi Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Katherine S Morton
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Mark Potters
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Chujia Chen
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Genetics Bioinformatics and Computational Biology PhD program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Stephen L Dobson
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40503, USA
- MosquitoMate, Inc., Lexington, KY 40502, USA
| | - Gregory D Ebel
- Center for Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Rebekah C Kading
- Center for Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Sally Paulson
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Rui-De Xue
- Anastasia Mosquito Control District, St. Augustine, FL 32092, USA
| | - Michael R Strand
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Genetics Bioinformatics and Computational Biology PhD program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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10
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Niode NJ, Kepel BJ, Hessel SS, Kairupan TS, Tallei TE. Rhynchophorus ferrugineus larvae: A novel source for combating broad-spectrum bacterial and fungal infections. Vet World 2024; 17:156-170. [PMID: 38406375 PMCID: PMC10884581 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.156-170] [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: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern due to the growth of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, which makes it difficult to treat infection. Due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties against a diverse array of bacteria, both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus larval antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have demonstrated potential as antimicrobial agents for the treatment of microbial infections and prevention of antibiotic resistance. This study emphasizes the unexplored mechanisms of action of R. ferrugineus larvae against microorganisms. Among the most widely discussed mechanisms is the effect of AMPs in larvae in response to a threat or infection. Modulation of immune-related genes in the intestine and phagocytic capacity of its hemocytes may also affect the antimicrobial activity of R. ferrugineus larvae, with an increase in phenoloxidase activity possibly correlated with microbial clearance and survival rates of larvae. The safety and toxicity of R. ferrugineus larvae extracts, as well as their long-term efficacy, are also addressed in this paper. The implications of future research are explored in this paper, and it is certain that R. ferrugineus larvae have the potential to be developed as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent with proper investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurdjannah Jane Niode
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Sam Ratulangi University, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital Manado, Manado 95115, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
| | - Billy Johnson Kepel
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado 95115, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
| | - Sofia Safitri Hessel
- Department of Biotechnology, Indonesia Biodiversity and Biogeography Research Institute (INABIG), Bandung 40132, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Tara Sefanya Kairupan
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Sam Ratulangi University, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital Manado, Manado 95115, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
| | - Trina Ekawati Tallei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado 95115, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado 95115, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
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11
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Willink B, Tunström K, Nilén S, Chikhi R, Lemane T, Takahashi M, Takahashi Y, Svensson EI, Wheat CW. The genomics and evolution of inter-sexual mimicry and female-limited polymorphisms in damselflies. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:83-97. [PMID: 37932383 PMCID: PMC10781644 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02243-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Sex-limited morphs can provide profound insights into the evolution and genomic architecture of complex phenotypes. Inter-sexual mimicry is one particular type of sex-limited polymorphism in which a novel morph resembles the opposite sex. While inter-sexual mimics are known in both sexes and a diverse range of animals, their evolutionary origin is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the genomic basis of female-limited morphs and male mimicry in the common bluetail damselfly. Differential gene expression between morphs has been documented in damselflies, but no causal locus has been previously identified. We found that male mimicry originated in an ancestrally sexually dimorphic lineage in association with multiple structural changes, probably driven by transposable element activity. These changes resulted in ~900 kb of novel genomic content that is partly shared by male mimics in a close relative, indicating that male mimicry is a trans-species polymorphism. More recently, a third morph originated following the translocation of part of the male-mimicry sequence into a genomic position ~3.5 mb apart. We provide evidence of balancing selection maintaining male mimicry, in line with previous field population studies. Our results underscore how structural variants affecting a handful of potentially regulatory genes and morph-specific genes can give rise to novel and complex phenotypic polymorphisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Willink
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Kalle Tunström
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sofie Nilén
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Rayan Chikhi
- Sequence Bioinformatics, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Téo Lemane
- University of Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
| | - Michihiko Takahashi
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuma Takahashi
- Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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12
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Toyota K, Mekuchi M, Akashi H, Miyagawa S, Ohira T. Sexual dimorphic eyestalk transcriptome of kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus. Gene 2023; 885:147700. [PMID: 37572801 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Kuruma prawn (Marsupenaeus japonicus) is a benthic decapod crustacean that is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region. It is one of the most important fishery resources in Japan, but its annual catches have declined sharply since the 1990s. To increase stocks, various approaches such as seed production and aquaculture were attempted. Since the demand for important fishery species, including kuruma prawn, is expected to increase worldwide in the future, there is a need to develop new technologies that will make aquaculture more efficient. Historically, the eyestalk endocrine organ is known to consist of the X-organ and sinus gland (XO/SG) complex that synthesizes and secrets various neuropeptide hormones that regulate growth, molt, sexual maturation, reproduction, and changes in body color. In the current study, eyestalk-derived neuropeptides were identified in the transcriptome. In addition, most orthologs of sex-determination genes were expressed in eyestalks. We identified two doublesex genes (MjapDsx1 and MjapDsx2) and found that MjapDsx1 showed male-biased expression in the eyestalk ganglion with no sex-specific splicing, unlike insect species. Therefore, this study will provide an opportunity to advance the research of neuropeptides and sex determination in the kuruma prawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Toyota
- Noto Marine Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Ogi, Noto-cho, Ishikawa 927-0553, Japan; Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kanagawa University, 2946 Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Japan.
| | - Miyuki Mekuchi
- Yokohama Field Station, Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4 Hukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Akashi
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan; Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
| | - Shinichi Miyagawa
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Ohira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kanagawa University, 2946 Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Japan.
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13
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Otte M, Netschitailo O, Weidtkamp-Peters S, Seidel CA, Beye M. Recognition of polymorphic Csd proteins determines sex in the honeybee. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg4239. [PMID: 37792946 PMCID: PMC10550236 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg4239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Sex in honeybees, Apis mellifera, is genetically determined by heterozygous versus homo/hemizygous genotypes involving numerous alleles at the single complementary sex determination locus. The molecular mechanism of sex determination is however unknown because there are more than 4950 known possible allele combinations, but only two sexes in the species. We show how protein variants expressed from complementary sex determiner (csd) gene determine sex. In females, the amino acid differences between Csd variants at the potential-specifying domain (PSD) direct the selection of a conserved coiled-coil domain for binding and protein complexation. This recognition mechanism activates Csd proteins and, thus, the female pathway. In males, the absence of polymorphisms establishes other binding elements at PSD for binding and complexation of identical Csd proteins. This second recognition mechanism inactivates Csd proteins and commits male development via default pathway. Our results demonstrate that the recognition of different versus identical variants of a single protein is a mechanism to determine sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Otte
- Institute of Evolutionary Genetics, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Oksana Netschitailo
- Institute of Evolutionary Genetics, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Claus A. M. Seidel
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Martin Beye
- Institute of Evolutionary Genetics, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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14
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Paris V, Hardy C, Hoffmann AA, Ross PA. How often are male mosquitoes attracted to humans? ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230921. [PMID: 37885984 PMCID: PMC10598425 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Many mosquito species live close to humans where females feed on human blood. While male mosquitoes do not feed on blood, it has long been recognized that males of some species can be attracted to human hosts. To investigate the frequency of male mosquito attraction to humans, we conducted a literature review and human-baited field trials, as well as laboratory experiments involving males and females of three common Aedes species. Our literature review indicated that male attraction to humans is limited to a small number of species, including Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. In our human-baited field collections, only 4 out of 13 species captured included males. In laboratory experiments, we found that male Ae. notoscriptus and Ae. vigilax showed no attraction to humans, while male Ae. aegypti exhibited persistent attraction for up to 30 min. Both male and female Ae. aegypti displayed similar preferences for different human subjects, suggesting that male Ae. aegypti respond to similar cues as females. Additionally, we found that mosquito repellents applied to human skin effectively repelled male mosquitoes. These findings shed light on mosquito behaviour and have implications for mosquito control programmes, particularly those involving the release or monitoring of the male mosquito population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Paris
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Christopher Hardy
- CSIRO Environment, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Ary A. Hoffmann
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg 9220, Denmark
| | - Perran A. Ross
- School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg 9220, Denmark
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15
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Delanoue R, Clot C, Leray C, Pihl T, Hudry B. Y chromosome toxicity does not contribute to sex-specific differences in longevity. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:1245-1256. [PMID: 37308701 PMCID: PMC10406604 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02089-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
While sex chromosomes carry sex-determining genes, they also often differ from autosomes in size and composition, consisting mainly of silenced heterochromatic repetitive DNA. Even though Y chromosomes show structural heteromorphism, the functional significance of such differences remains elusive. Correlative studies suggest that the amount of Y chromosome heterochromatin might be responsible for several male-specific traits, including sex-specific differences in longevity observed across a wide spectrum of species, including humans. However, experimental models to test this hypothesis have been lacking. Here we use the Drosophila melanogaster Y chromosome to investigate the relevance of sex chromosome heterochromatin in somatic organs in vivo. Using CRISPR-Cas9, we generated a library of Y chromosomes with variable levels of heterochromatin. We show that these different Y chromosomes can disrupt gene silencing in trans, on other chromosomes, by sequestering core components of the heterochromatin machinery. This effect is positively correlated to the level of Y heterochromatin. However, we also find that the ability of the Y chromosome to affect genome-wide heterochromatin does not generate physiological sex differences, including sexual dimorphism in longevity. Instead, we discovered that it is the phenotypic sex, female or male, that controls sex-specific differences in lifespan, rather than the presence of a Y chromosome. Altogether, our findings dismiss the 'toxic Y' hypothesis that postulates that the Y chromosome leads to reduced lifespan in XY individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rénald Delanoue
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Nice, France.
| | - Charlène Clot
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Nice, France
| | - Chloé Leray
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Nice, France
| | - Thomas Pihl
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Nice, France
| | - Bruno Hudry
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Nice, France.
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16
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Chen B, Kou Z, Jiang Y, Luo X, Li P, Sun K, Wang W, Huang Y, Wang Y. Intersex is required for female sexual development in Hermetia illucens. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:901-911. [PMID: 36719198 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sex-determination pathways are extremely diverse. Understanding the mechanism of sex determination in insects is important for genetic manipulation of the pest population and for breeding of economically valuable insects. Although sex determination has been well characterized in the model species Drosophila melanogaster, little is known about this pathway in Stratiomyidae. In the present study, we first identified the Drosophila intersex (ix) homolog in Hermetia illucens, also known as the black soldier fly, which belongs to the Stratiomyidae family and which is an important insect for the conversion of various organic wastes. Phylogenetic analyses and multiple sequence alignment revealed that Hiix is conserved compared with Drosophila. We showed that Hiix is highly expressed in internal genitalia. Disruption of the Hiix gene using CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in female-specific defects in external genitalia and abnormal and undersized ovaries. Taken together, our study furthers our understanding of sex determination in insects and could facilitate breeding of H. illucens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bihui Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Zongqing Kou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuguo Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xingyu Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Peili Li
- Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Co., ltd., No. 19, Chengwan Street, Suyier Village, Sujiatuo Town, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiji Sun
- Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Co., ltd., No. 19, Chengwan Street, Suyier Village, Sujiatuo Town, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Co., ltd., No. 19, Chengwan Street, Suyier Village, Sujiatuo Town, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Yongping Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaohui Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
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17
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Hopkins BR, Barmina O, Kopp A. A single-cell atlas of the sexually dimorphic Drosophila foreleg and its sensory organs during development. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002148. [PMID: 37379332 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
To respond to the world around them, animals rely on the input of a network of sensory organs distributed throughout the body. Distinct classes of sensory organs are specialized for the detection of specific stimuli such as strain, pressure, or taste. The features that underlie this specialization relate both to the neurons that innervate sensory organs and the accessory cells they comprise. To understand the genetic basis of this diversity of cell types, both within and between sensory organs, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on the first tarsal segment of the male Drosophila melanogaster foreleg during pupal development. This tissue displays a wide variety of functionally and structurally distinct sensory organs, including campaniform sensilla, mechanosensory bristles, and chemosensory taste bristles, as well as the sex comb, a recently evolved male-specific structure. In this study, we characterize the cellular landscape in which the sensory organs reside, identify a novel cell type that contributes to the construction of the neural lamella, and resolve the transcriptomic differences among support cells within and between sensory organs. We identify the genes that distinguish between mechanosensory and chemosensory neurons, resolve a combinatorial transcription factor code that defines 4 distinct classes of gustatory neurons and several types of mechanosensory neurons, and match the expression of sensory receptor genes to specific neuron classes. Collectively, our work identifies core genetic features of a variety of sensory organs and provides a rich, annotated resource for studying their development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben R Hopkins
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Olga Barmina
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Artyom Kopp
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
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18
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Baird RB, Mongue AJ, Ross L. Why put all your eggs in one basket? Evolutionary perspectives on the origins of monogenic reproduction. Heredity (Edinb) 2023:10.1038/s41437-023-00632-7. [PMID: 37328587 PMCID: PMC10382564 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-023-00632-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction is ubiquitous in eukaryotes, but the mechanisms by which sex is determined are diverse and undergo rapid turnovers in short evolutionary timescales. Usually, an embryo's sex is fated at the moment of fertilisation, but in rare instances it is the maternal genotype that determines the offspring's sex. These systems are often characterised by mothers producing single-sex broods, a phenomenon known as monogeny. Monogenic reproduction is well documented in Hymenoptera (ants, bees and wasps), where it is associated with a eusocial lifestyle. However, it is also known to occur in three families in Diptera (true flies): Sciaridae, Cecidomyiidae and Calliphoridae. Here we review current knowledge of monogenic reproduction in these dipteran clades. We discuss how this strange reproductive strategy might evolve, and we consider the potential contributions of inbreeding, sex ratio distorters, and polygenic control of the sex ratio. Finally, we provide suggestions on future work to elucidate the origins of this unusual reproductive strategy. We propose that studying these systems will contribute to our understanding of the evolution and turnover of sex determination systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert B Baird
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK.
| | - Andrew J Mongue
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Laura Ross
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK
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19
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Wang JS. Evolving longer for a mate: A new scorpionfly (Mecoptera: Panorpoidea: Panorpidae) with exaggeratedly elongated male abdominal segments. Zootaxa 2023; 5264:109-118. [PMID: 37044960 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5264.1.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Male scorpionflies often evolve exaggeratedly elongated abdominal segments (EEAS) that are used as a sexual display to the females, and a combat weapon in intra-sexual disputes. EEAS have independently evolved several times since the Jurassic till the present day in at least eight genera and four families. In this paper, Neopanorpa exaggerata sp. n. with EEAS is described from Yunnan Province, China. Through comparisons among extinct and extant species, our current knowledge is summarized for the evolution, copulatory mechanism, and biogeography of the scorpionflies with EEAS. Also discussed are the trade-offs between the benefits of "looking sexy" and the negative impacts associated with a long abdomen. Additionally, further clarification is provided on the multiple origins of EEAS in Panorpoidea.
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20
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Wu WT, Xu LY, Yan ZJ, Bi N, Cheng CY, Yang F, Yang WJ, Yang JS. Identification and characterization of the Doublesex gene and its mRNA isoforms in the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Biochem J 2023; 480:385-401. [PMID: 36852878 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Doublesex (DSX) proteins are members of the Doublesex/mab-3-related (DMRT) protein family and play crucial roles in sex determination and differentiation among the animal kingdom. In the present study, we identified two Doublesex (Dsx)-like mRNA isoforms in the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana (Kellogg 1906), which are generated by the combination of alternative promoters, alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation. The two transcripts exhibited sex-biased enrichment, which we termed AfrDsxM and AfrDsxF. They share a common region which encodes an identical N-terminal DNA-binding (DM) domain. RT-qPCR analyses showed that AfrDsxM is dominantly expressed in male Artemia while AfrDsxF is specifically expressed in females. Expression levels of both isoforms increased along with the developmental stages of their respective sexes. RNA interference with dsRNA showed that the knockdown of AfrDsxM in male larvae led to the appearance of female traits including an ovary-like structure in the original male reproductive system and an elevated expression of vitellogenin. However, silencing of AfrDsxF induced no clear phenotypic change in female Artemia. These results indicated that the male AfrDSXM may act as inhibiting regulator upon the default female developmental mode in Artemia. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses revealed that the unique DM domain of AfrDSXs can specifically bind to promoter segments of potential downstream target genes like AfrVtg. These data show that AfrDSXs play crucial roles in regulating sexual development in Artemia, and further provide insight into the evolution of sex determination/differentiation in sexual organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Tao Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lian-Ying Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ning Bi
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cai-Yuan Cheng
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fan Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei-Jun Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jin-Shu Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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21
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Laslo M, Just J, Angelini DR. Theme and variation in the evolution of insect sex determination. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2023; 340:162-181. [PMID: 35239250 PMCID: PMC10078687 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The development of dimorphic adult sexes is a critical process for most animals, one that is subject to intense selection. Work in vertebrate and insect model species has revealed that sex determination mechanisms vary widely among animal groups. However, this variation is not uniform, with a limited number of conserved factors. Therefore, sex determination offers an excellent context to consider themes and variations in gene network evolution. Here we review the literature describing sex determination in diverse insects. We have screened public genomic sequence databases for orthologs and duplicates of 25 genes involved in insect sex determination, identifying patterns of presence and absence. These genes and a 3.5 reference set of 43 others were used to infer phylogenies and compared to accepted organismal relationships to examine patterns of congruence and divergence. The function of candidate genes for roles in sex determination (virilizer, female-lethal-2-d, transformer-2) and sex chromosome dosage compensation (male specific lethal-1, msl-2, msl-3) were tested using RNA interference in the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus. None of these candidate genes exhibited conserved roles in these processes. Amidst this variation we wish to highlight the following themes for the evolution of sex determination: (1) Unique features within taxa influence network evolution. (2) Their position in the network influences a component's evolution. Our analyses also suggest an inverse association of protein sequence conservation with functional conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Laslo
- Department of Cell Biology, Curriculum Fellows ProgramHarvard Medical School25 Shattuck StBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Josefine Just
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyHarvard University26 Oxford StCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Department of BiologyColby College5734 Mayflower Hill DrWatervilleMaineUSA
| | - David R. Angelini
- Department of BiologyColby College5734 Mayflower Hill DrWatervilleMaineUSA
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22
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Komata S, Yoda S, KonDo Y, Shinozaki S, Tamai K, Fujiwara H. Functional unit of supergene in female-limited Batesian mimicry of Papilio polytes. Genetics 2023; 223:iyac177. [PMID: 36454671 PMCID: PMC9910408 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Supergenes are sets of genes and genetic elements that are inherited like a single gene and control complex adaptive traits, but their functional roles and units are poorly understood. In Papilio polytes, female-limited Batesian mimicry is thought to be regulated by a ∼130 kb inversion region (highly diversified region: HDR) containing 3 genes, UXT, U3X, and doublesex (dsx) which switches non-mimetic and mimetic types. To determine the functional unit, we here performed electroporation-mediated RNAi analyses (and further Crispr/Cas9 for UXT) of genes within and flanking the HDR in pupal hindwings. We first clarified that non-mimetic dsx-h had a function to form the non-mimetic trait in female and only dsx-H isoform 3 had an important function in the formation of mimetic traits. Next, we found that UXT was involved in making mimetic-type pale-yellow spots and adjacent gene sir2 in making red spots in hindwings, both of which refine more elaborate mimicry. Furthermore, downstream gene networks of dsx, U3X, and UXT screened by RNA sequencing showed that U3X upregulated dsx-H expression and repressed UXT expression. These findings demonstrate that a set of multiple genes, not only inside but also flanking HDR, can function as supergene members, which extends the definition of supergene unit than we considered before. Also, our results indicate that dsx functions as the switching gene and some other genes such as UXT and sir2 within the supergene unit work as the modifier gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Komata
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Shinichi Yoda
- NIBB Core Research Facilities, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Yûsuke KonDo
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Souta Shinozaki
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Kouki Tamai
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Fujiwara
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
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23
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Saccone G. A history of the genetic and molecular identification of genes and their functions controlling insect sex determination. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 151:103873. [PMID: 36400424 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The genetics of the sex determination regulatory cascade in Drosophila melanogaster has a fascinating history, interlinked with the foundation of the Genetics discipline itself. The discovery that alternative splicing rather than differential transcription is the molecular mechanism underlying the upstream control of sex differences in the Drosophila model system was surprising. This notion is now fully integrated into the scientific canon, appearing in many genetics textbooks and online education resources. In the last three decades, it was a key reference point for starting evolutionary studies in other insect species by using homology-based approaches. This review will introduce a very brief history of Drosophila genetics. It will describe the genetic and molecular approaches applied for the identifying and cloning key genes involved in sex determination in Drosophila and in many other insect species. These comparative analyses led to supporting the idea that sex-determining pathways have evolved mainly by recruiting different upstream signals/genes while maintaining widely conserved intermediate and downstream regulatory genes. The review also provides examples of the link between technological advances and research achievements, to stimulate reflections on how science is produced. It aims to hopefully strengthen the related historical and conceptual knowledge of general readers of other disciplines and of younger geneticists, often focused on the latest technical-molecular approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Saccone
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126, Naples, Italy.
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24
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Han C, Peng Q, Su X, Xing L, Ji X, Pan Y. A male-specific doublesex isoform reveals an evolutionary pathway of sexual development via distinct alternative splicing mechanisms. Commun Biol 2022; 5:728. [PMID: 35869175 PMCID: PMC9307624 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03664-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The doublesex/mab-3 related transcription factor (Dmrt) genes regulate sexual development in metazoans. Studies of the doublesex (dsx) gene in insects, in particular Drosophila melanogaster, reveal that alternative splicing of dsx generates sex-specific Dsx isoforms underlying sexual differentiation. Such a splicing-based mechanism underlying sex-specific Dmrt function is thought to be evolved from a transcription-based mechanism used in non-insect species, but how such transition occurs during evolution is not known. Here we identified a male-specific dsx transcript (dsxM2) through intron retention (IR), in addition to previously identified dsxM and dsxF transcripts through alternative polyadenylation (APA) with mutually exclusive exons. We found that DsxM2 had similarly masculinizing function as DsxM. We also found that the IR-based mechanism generating sex-specific dsx transcripts was conserved from flies to cockroaches. Further analysis of these dsx transcripts suggested an evolutionary pathway from sexually monomorphic to sex-specific dsx via the sequential use of IR-based and APA-based alternative splicing. An ancestral male-specific doublesex isoform, dsxM2, is identified via intron retention, with a masculinizing function weaker than the modern dsxM
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25
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Gao JJ, Barmina O, Thompson A, Kim BY, Suvorov A, Tanaka K, Watabe H, Toda MJ, Chen JM, Katoh TK, Kopp A. Secondary reversion to sexual monomorphism associated with tissue-specific loss of doublesex expression. Evolution 2022; 76:2089-2104. [PMID: 35841603 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Animal evolution is characterized by frequent turnover of sexually dimorphic traits-new sex-specific characters are gained, and some ancestral sex-specific characters are lost, in many lineages. In insects, sexual differentiation is predominantly cell autonomous and depends on the expression of the doublesex (dsx) transcription factor. In most cases, cells that transcribe dsx have the potential to undergo sex-specific differentiation, while those that lack dsx expression do not. Consistent with this mode of development, comparative research has shown that the origin of new sex-specific traits can be associated with the origin of new spatial domains of dsx expression. In this report, we examine the opposite situation-a secondary loss of the sex comb, a male-specific grasping structure that develops on the front legs of some drosophilid species. We show that while the origin of the sex comb is linked to an evolutionary gain of dsx expression in the leg, sex comb loss in a newly identified species of Lordiphosa (Drosophilidae) is associated with a secondary loss of dsx expression. We discuss how the developmental control of sexual dimorphism affects the mechanisms by which sex-specific traits can evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Jun Gao
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology, Yunnan University, China.,State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bioresources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, China
| | - Olga Barmina
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Ammon Thompson
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Bernard Y Kim
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Anton Suvorov
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kohtaro Tanaka
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Hideaki Watabe
- The Hokkaido University Museum, Kita-10, Nishi-8, Kitaku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Masanori J Toda
- The Hokkaido University Museum, Kita-10, Nishi-8, Kitaku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Ji-Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bioresources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, China
| | - Takehiro K Katoh
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology, Yunnan University, China
| | - Artyom Kopp
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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26
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Singh Brar G, Singh S, Nath Shukla J, Kumar V, Emyr Davies TG, Kaur G, Pandher S, Kaur R. doublesex homolog is sex-specifically spliced and governs the sexual differentiation process in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci biotype AsiaII-1. Gene 2022; 850:146929. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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27
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Kojin BB, Compton A, Adelman ZN, Tu Z. Selective targeting of biting females to control mosquito-borne infectious diseases. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:791-804. [PMID: 35952630 PMCID: PMC9372635 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are vectors for a number of infectious diseases. Only females feed on blood to provision for their embryos and, in doing so, transmit pathogens to the associated vertebrate hosts. Therefore, sex is an important phenotype in the context of genetic control programs, both for sex separation in the rearing facilities to avoid releasing biting females and for ways to distort the sex ratio towards nonbiting males. We review recent progress in the fundamental knowledge of sex determination and sex chromosomes in mosquitoes and discuss new methods to achieve sex separation and sex ratio distortion to help control mosquito-borne infectious diseases. We conclude by suggesting a few critical areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca B Kojin
- Department of Entomology and Agrilife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Austin Compton
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Zach N Adelman
- Department of Entomology and Agrilife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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28
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Komata S, Lin CP, Fujiwara H. doublesex Controls Both Hindwing and Abdominal Mimicry Traits in the Female-Limited Batesian Mimicry of Papilio memnon. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:929518. [PMID: 38468762 PMCID: PMC10926503 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.929518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Papilio butterflies are known to possess female-limited Batesian mimicry polymorphisms. In Papilio memnon, females have mimetic and non-mimetic forms, whereas males are monomorphic and non-mimetic. Mimetic females are characterized by color patterns and tails in the hindwing and yellow abdomens. Recently, an analysis of whole-genome sequences has shown that an approximately 160 kb region of chromosome 25 is responsible for mimicry and has high diversity between mimetic (A) and non-mimetic (a) alleles (highly diversified region: HDR). The HDR includes three genes, UXT, doublesex (dsx), and Nach-like, but the functions of these genes are unknown. Here, we investigated the function of dsx, a gene involved in sexual differentiation, which is expected to be functionally important for hindwing and abdominal mimetic traits in P. memnon. Expression analysis by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and RNA sequencing showed that mimetic dsx (dsx-A) was highly expressed in the hindwings in the early pupal stage. In the abdomen, both dsx-A and dsx-a were highly expressed during the early pupal stage. When dsx was knocked down using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) designed in the common region of dsx-A and dsx-a, a male-like pattern appeared on the hindwings of mimetic and non-mimetic females. Similarly, when dsx was knocked down in the abdomen, the yellow scales characteristic of mimetic females changed to black. Furthermore, when dsx-a was specifically knocked down, the color pattern of the hindwings changed, as in the case of dsx knockdown in non-mimetic females but not mimetic females. These results suggest that dsx-a is involved in color pattern formation on the hindwings of non-mimetic females, whereas dsx-A is involved in hindwing and abdominal mimetic traits. dsx was involved in abdominal and hindwing mimetic traits, but dsx expression patterns in the hindwing and abdomen were different, suggesting that different regulatory mechanisms may exist. Our study is the first to show that the same gene (dsx) regulates both the hindwing and abdominal mimetic traits. This is the first functional analysis of abdominal mimicry in butterflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Komata
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Chung-Ping Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Haruhiko Fujiwara
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
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29
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Chikami Y, Okuno M, Toyoda A, Itoh T, Niimi T. Evolutionary history of sexual differentiation mechanism in insects. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6618292. [PMID: 35820410 PMCID: PMC9290531 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing underpins functional diversity in proteins and the complexity and diversity of eukaryotes. An example is the doublesex gene, the key transcriptional factor in arthropod sexual differentiation. doublesex is controlled by sex-specific splicing and promotes both male and female differentiation in holometabolan insects, whereas in hemimetabolan species, doublesex has sex-specific isoforms but is not required for female differentiation. How doublesex evolved to be essential for female development remains largely unknown. Here, we investigate ancestral states of doublesex using Thermobia domestica belonging to Zygentoma, the sister group of Pterygota, that is, winged insects. We find that, in T. domestica, doublesex expresses sex-specific isoforms but is only necessary for male differentiation of sexual morphology. This result supports the hypothesis that doublesex initially promoted male differentiation during insect evolution. However, T. domestica doublesex has a short female-specific region and upregulates the expression of vitellogenin homologs in females, suggesting that doublesex may already play some role in female morphogenesis of the common ancestor of Pterygota. Reconstruction of the ancestral sequence and prediction of protein structures show that the female-specific isoform of doublesex has an extended C-terminal disordered region in holometabolan insects but not in nonholometabolan species. We propose that doublesex acquired its function in female morphogenesis through a change in the protein motif structure rather than the emergence of the female-specific exon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiko Chikami
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Miki Okuno
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, School of Medicine, Kurume University, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan.,Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Takehiko Itoh
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
| | - Teruyuki Niimi
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
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30
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Masculinizer and Doublesex as Key Factors Regulate Sexual Dimorphism in Ostrinia furnacalis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142161. [PMID: 35883604 PMCID: PMC9320909 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In animals, sexually dimorphic traits are ubiquitous and play vital roles in reproduction, courtship, and environmental adaptation, especially in insects. In this study, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system to generate somatic mutations of the Masculinizer (Masc) and doublesex (dsx) genes in the sex determination pathway of Ostrinia furnacalis. The OfMasc and Ofdsx genes are structural orthologs of the key sex regulation factors in Bombyx mori. Mutation of the OfMasc and Ofdsx genes induced abnormal external genitalia, adult sterility, and sex reversal of sexually dimorphic traits including wing pigmentation, gene expression patterns, and dsx sex-specific splicing. These results demonstrate that the Masc and dsx genes are conserved factors in sexually dimorphic traits, and therefore represent potential target genes in the effort to control O. furnacalis and other lepidopteran pests. Abstract Sex determination is an important and traditional biological process. In Lepidoptera, Masculinizer (Masc) and doublesex (dsx) are the essential genes for sex determination and play critical roles in sexual differentiation and development. The functions of Masc and dsx have been characterized in several model insect species. However, the molecular mechanism and sex determination functions of Masc and dsx in Ostrinia furnacalis, an agricultural pest, are still unknown. Here, we successfully used the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system to knock out OfMasc and Ofdsx. Mutation of OfMasc induced male external genital defects and sterility. Disruptions of the Ofdsx common region caused sex-specific defects in the external genitals and adult sterility. In addition, we found that OfMasc and Ofdsx can regulate the pigmentation genes that control wing pigmentation patterns. These results demonstrate that OfMasc and Ofdsx play key roles in the sex determination of O. furnacalis, and suggest novel genetic control approaches for the management of pests, including O. furnacalis.
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31
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Abstract
Insects have evolved highly diverse genetic sex-determination mechanisms and a relatively balanced male to female sex ratio is generally expected. However, selection may shift the optimal sex ratio while meiotic drive and endosymbiont manipulation can result in sex ratio distortion (SRD). Recent advances in sex chromosome genomics and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing brought significant insights into the molecular regulators of sex determination in an increasing number of insects and provided new ways to engineer SRD. We review these advances and discuss both naturally occurring and engineered SRD in the context of the Anthropocene. We emphasize SRD-mediated biological control of insects to help improve One Health, sustain agriculture, and conserve endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Compton
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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32
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Li AM, He WZ, Wei JL, Chen ZL, Liao F, Qin CX, Pan YQ, Shang XK, Lakshmanan P, Wang M, Tan HW, Huang DL. Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Genes Related to Sex Determination and Differentiation in Sugarcane Borer (Chilo sacchariphagus Bojer). INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13060500. [PMID: 35735837 PMCID: PMC9225334 DOI: 10.3390/insects13060500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Chilo sacchariphagus Bojer is an important sugarcane pest globally. The identification of key genes associated with sex determination and differentiation will provide important basic information for the sterile insect technique control strategy. In this study, the comparative transcriptomic analysis of female and male adults revealed sex-biased gene expression, indicating putative genetic elements of sex determination and differentiation in this species. Abstract Chilo sacchariphagus Bojer is an important sugarcane pest globally. Along with genetic modification strategies, the sterile insect technique (SIT) has gained more attention as an environment-friendly method for pest control. The identification of key genes associated with sex determination and differentiation will provide important basic information for this control strategy. As such, the transcriptome sequencing of female and male adults was conducted in order to understand the sex-biased gene expression and molecular basis of sex determination and differentiation in this species. A total of 60,429 unigenes were obtained; among them, 34,847 genes were annotated. Furthermore, 11,121 deferentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 8986 were male-biased and 2135 were female-biased genes. The male-biased genes were enriched for carbon metabolism, peptidase activity and transmembrane transport, while the female-biased genes were enriched for the cell cycle, DNA replication, and the MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, 102 genes related to sex-determination and differentiation were identified, including the protein toll, ejaculatory bulb-specific protein, fruitless, transformer-2, sex-lethal, beta-Catenin, sox, gata4, beta-tubulin, cytosol aminopeptidase, seminal fluid, and wnt4. Furthermore, transcription factors such as myb, bhlh and homeobox were also found to be potentially related to sex determination and differentiation in this species. Our data provide new insights into the genetic elements associated with sex determination and differentiation in Chilo sacchariphagus, and identified potential candidate genes to develop pest-control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao-Mei Li
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Wei-Zhong He
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Ji-Li Wei
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Zhong-Liang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Fen Liao
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Cui-Xian Qin
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - You-Qiang Pan
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Xian-Kun Shang
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Prakash Lakshmanan
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Miao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Hong-Wei Tan
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
- Correspondence: (H.-W.T.); (D.-L.H.)
| | - Dong-Liang Huang
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biotechnology and Genetic Improvement (Guangxi), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanning 530007, China; (A.-M.L.); (W.-Z.H.); (J.-L.W.); (Z.-L.C.); (F.L.); (C.-X.Q.); (Y.-Q.P.); (X.-K.S.); (P.L.); (M.W.)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Nanning 530007, China
- Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
- Correspondence: (H.-W.T.); (D.-L.H.)
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Transgenic expression of Nix converts genetic females into males and allows automated sex sorting in Aedes albopictus. Commun Biol 2022; 5:210. [PMID: 35256751 PMCID: PMC8901906 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03165-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes albopictus is a major vector of arboviruses. Better understanding of its sex determination is crucial for developing mosquito control tools, especially genetic sexing strains. In Aedes aegypti, Nix is the primary gene responsible for masculinization and Nix-expressing genetic females develop into fertile, albeit flightless, males. In Ae. albopictus, Nix has also been implicated in masculinization but its role remains to be further characterized. In this work, we establish Ae. albopictus transgenic lines ectopically expressing Nix. Several are composed exclusively of genetic females, with transgenic individuals being phenotypic and functional males due to the expression of the Nix transgene. Their reproductive fitness is marginally impaired, while their flight performance is similar to controls. Overall, our results show that Nix is sufficient for full masculinization in Ae. albopictus. Moreover, the transgene construct contains a fluorescence marker allowing efficient automated sex sorting. Consequently, such strains constitute valuable sexing strains for genetic control. Nix expression with a fluorescent marker in genetically female Ae. albopictus causes masculinization with minimal effects to reproductive fitness and flight performance.
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Luecke D, Rice G, Kopp A. Sex-specific evolution of a Drosophila sensory system via interacting cis- and trans-regulatory changes. Evol Dev 2022; 24:37-60. [PMID: 35239254 PMCID: PMC9179014 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of gene expression via cis-regulatory changes is well established as a major driver of phenotypic evolution. However, relatively little is known about the influence of enhancer architecture and intergenic interactions on regulatory evolution. We address this question by examining chemosensory system evolution in Drosophila. Drosophila prolongata males show a massively increased number of chemosensory bristles compared to females and males of sibling species. This increase is driven by sex-specific transformation of ancestrally mechanosensory organs. Consistent with this phenotype, the Pox neuro transcription factor (Poxn), which specifies chemosensory bristle identity, shows expanded expression in D. prolongata males. Poxn expression is controlled by nonadditive interactions among widely dispersed enhancers. Although some D. prolongata Poxn enhancers show increased activity, the additive component of this increase is slight, suggesting that most changes in Poxn expression are due to epistatic interactions between Poxn enhancers and trans-regulatory factors. Indeed, the expansion of D. prolongata Poxn enhancer activity is only observed in cells that express doublesex (dsx), the gene that controls sexual differentiation in Drosophila and also shows increased expression in D. prolongata males due to cis-regulatory changes. Although expanded dsx expression may contribute to increased activity of D. prolongata Poxn enhancers, this interaction is not sufficient to explain the full expansion of Poxn expression, suggesting that cis-trans interactions between Poxn, dsx, and additional unknown genes are necessary to produce the derived D. prolongata phenotype. Overall, our results demonstrate the importance of epistatic gene interactions for evolution, particularly when pivotal genes have complex regulatory architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Luecke
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis,Current Address: Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University
| | - Gavin Rice
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis,Current Address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
| | - Artyom Kopp
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis
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Siddall A, Harvey-Samuel T, Chapman T, Leftwich PT. Manipulating Insect Sex Determination Pathways for Genetic Pest Management: Opportunities and Challenges. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:867851. [PMID: 35837548 PMCID: PMC9274970 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.867851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex determination pathways in insects are generally characterised by an upstream primary signal, which is highly variable across species, and that regulates the splicing of a suite of downstream but highly-conserved genes (transformer, doublesex and fruitless). In turn, these downstream genes then regulate the expression of sex-specific characteristics in males and females. Identification of sex determination pathways has and continues to be, a critical component of insect population suppression technologies. For example, "first-generation" transgenic technologies such as fsRIDL (Female-Specific Release of Insects carrying Dominant Lethals) enabled efficient selective removal of females from a target population as a significant improvement on the sterile insect technique (SIT). Second-generation technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 homing gene drives and precision-guided SIT (pgSIT) have used gene editing technologies to manipulate sex determination genes in vivo. The development of future, third-generation control technologies, such as Y-linked drives, (female to male) sex-reversal, or X-shredding, will require additional knowledge of aspects of sexual development, including a deeper understanding of the nature of primary signals and dosage compensation. This review shows how knowledge of sex determination in target pest species is fundamental to all phases of the development of control technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Siddall
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Harvey-Samuel
- Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Philip T Leftwich
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
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Rodriguez-Caro F, Fenner J, Bhardwaj S, Cole J, Benson C, Colombara AM, Papa R, Brown MW, Martin A, Range RC, Counterman BA. Novel doublesex duplication associated with sexually dimorphic development of dogface butterfly wings. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:5021-5033. [PMID: 34323995 PMCID: PMC8557438 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually dimorphic development is responsible for some of the most remarkable phenotypic variation found in nature. Alternative splicing of the transcription factor gene doublesex (dsx) is a highly conserved developmental switch controlling the expression of sex-specific pathways. Here, we leverage sex-specific differences in butterfly wing color pattern to characterize the genetic basis of sexually dimorphic development. We use RNA-seq, immunolocalization, and motif binding site analysis to test specific predictions about the role of dsx in the development of structurally based ultraviolet (UV) wing patterns in Zerene cesonia (Southern Dogface). Unexpectedly, we discover a novel duplication of dsx that shows a sex-specific burst of expression associated with the sexually dimorphic UV coloration. The derived copy consists of a single exon that encodes a DNA binding but no protein-binding domain and has experienced rapid amino-acid divergence. We propose the novel dsx paralog may suppress UV scale differentiation in females, which is supported by an excess of Dsx-binding sites at cytoskeletal and chitin-related genes with sex-biased expression. These findings illustrate the molecular flexibility of the dsx gene in mediating the differentiation of secondary sexual characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jared Cole
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, USA
| | - Caleb Benson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, USA
| | | | - Riccardo Papa
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, USA
| | - Matthew W Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, USA
| | - Arnaud Martin
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, USA
| | - Ryan C Range
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, USA
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Male-Biased microRNA Discovery in the Pea Aphid. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12060533. [PMID: 34201015 PMCID: PMC8228725 DOI: 10.3390/insects12060533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms modulate gene expression levels during development, shaping how a single genome produces a diversity of phenotypes. Here, we begin to explore the epigenetic regulation of sexual dimorphism in pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) by focusing on microRNAs. Previous analyses of microRNAs in aphids have focused solely on females, so we performed deep sequencing of a sample containing early-stage males. We used this sample, plus samples from Genbank, to find 207 novel pea aphid microRNA coding loci. We localized microRNA loci to a chromosome-level assembly of the pea aphid genome and found that those on the X chromosome have lower overall expression compared to those on autosomes. We then identified a set of 19 putative male-biased microRNAs and found them enriched on the X chromosome. Finally, we performed protein-coding RNA-Seq of first instar female and male pea aphids to identify genes with lower expression in males. 10 of these genes were predicted targets of the 19 male-biased microRNAs. Our study provides the most complete set of microRNAs in the pea aphid to date and serves as foundational work for future studies on the epigenetic control of sexual dimorphism.
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