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Catalán A, Gygax D, Rodríguez-Montes L, Hinzke T, Hoff KJ, Duchen P. Two novel genomes of fireflies with different degrees of sexual dimorphism reveal insights into sex-biased gene expression and dosage compensation. Commun Biol 2024; 7:906. [PMID: 39068254 PMCID: PMC11283472 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06550-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism arises because of divergent fitness optima between the sexes. Phenotypic divergence between sexes can range from mild to extreme. Fireflies, bioluminescent beetles, present various degrees of sexual dimorphism, with species showing very mild sexual dimorphism to species presenting female-specific neoteny, posing a unique framework to investigate the evolution of sexually dimorphic traits across species. In this work, we present novel assembled genomes of two firefly species, Lamprohiza splendidula and Luciola italica, species with different degrees of sexual dimorphism. We uncover high synteny conservation of the X-chromosome across ~ 180 Mya and find full X-chromosome dosage compensation in our two fireflies, hinting at common mechanism upregulating the single male X-chromosome. Different degrees of sex-biased expressed genes were found across two body parts showing different proportions of expression conservation between species. Interestingly, we do not find X-chromosome enrichment of sex-biased genes, but retrieve autosomal enrichment of sex-biased genes. We further uncover higher nucleotide diversity in the intronic regions of sex-biased genes, hinting at a maintenance of heterozygosity through sexual selection. We identify different levels of sex-biased gene expression divergence including a set of genes showing conserved sex-biased gene expression between species. Divergent and conserved sex-biased genes are good candidates to test their role in the maintenance of sexually dimorphic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catalán
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Division of Evolutionary Biology, Großhaderner Straße 2, Planegg-Martinsried, Bavaria, 82152, Germany.
| | - Daniel Gygax
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Division of Evolutionary Biology, Großhaderner Straße 2, Planegg-Martinsried, Bavaria, 82152, Germany
- Helmholtz Center Munich, Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, Munich, Oberschleißheim, 85764, Germany
| | - Leticia Rodríguez-Montes
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tjorven Hinzke
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Pathogen Evolution, Helmholtz Institute for One Health, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Katharina J Hoff
- University of Greifswald, Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science, Walther-Rathenau-Str. 47, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Pablo Duchen
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128, Mainz, Germany
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Fu X, Meyer-Rochow VB, Ballantyne L, Zhu X, Zhang Q. Sperm Competition and Paternity in the Endangered Firefly Pyrocoelia pectoralis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Lampyrinae). INSECTS 2024; 15:66. [PMID: 38249072 PMCID: PMC10817000 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The endangered terrestrial firefly Pyrocoelia pectoralis (Olivier) is endemic to China. Populations of P. pectoralis have decreased dramatically due to urbanization and pollution. Breeding and re-introduction to a suitable habitat may save the species from becoming extinct. Because of its polyandrous character, an investigation into the possibility of sperm competition and paternity outcomes from multiple matings was initiated to better understand its reproductive physiology. To achieve these goals, 13 SSR markers were developed. The results of paternity experiments indicate there is a significant difference between P3 and P1 or P2. The female reproductive system has three spermathecae which accept sperm from different matings, and no bursa or spermatophore-digesting organ is developed. Our research established that multiple inseminations with sperm from different males occur, leading to competition between ejaculates. The benefits of such competition include an increasing number of sperm in the ejaculates of competing males and the consequential increase in fertilized eggs (thus, fecundity), and thereby a higher chance of genetic diversity and fitness in the offspring of the firefly P. pectoralis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhua Fu
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
- Firefly Conservation Research Centre, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Oulu University, SF-90140 Oulu, Finland;
- Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University, Andong 36729, Republic of Korea
| | - Lesley Ballantyne
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, P.O. Box 588, Wagga Wagga 2678, Australia;
| | - Xinlei Zhu
- Firefly Conservation Research Centre, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Qiyulu Zhang
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
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Fu X, Ballantyne L. Reproductive Systems, Transfer and Digestion of Spermatophores in Two Asian Luciolinae Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12040365. [PMID: 33923987 PMCID: PMC8073858 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary During mating, fireflies may transfer sperm to the female wrapped in food materials (spermatophores). We investigate in two firefly species structures in both male and female that indicate production and receipt of spermatophores. Their structure, how they attach and discharge the sperm inside the female, and how long they persist might indicate if these fireflies mate only once or more. Potential differences between males and females of both fully winged and species with flightless females are determined. An overview of present knowledge of female reproductive anatomy is given. An argument is mounted suggesting direct observation of biological structures like spermatophores might be the only reliable way of determining their presence. Abstract The internal reproductive anatomy of males and females of two Asian Luciolinae fireflies Emeia pseudosauteri (Geisthardt, 2004) and Abscondita chinensis (L., 1767) is described, and the time course for spermatophore transfer and digestion examined. E. pseudosauteri is sexually dimorphic, with a flightless female, and Abs. chinensis is sexually monomorphic, with the female flighted. Both are monandrous. Possible female accessory glands are described for the first time for both species. An overview of present knowledge of female reproductive anatomy in the Luciolinae reveals males of 18 species in 10 genera may produce spermatophores and permits speculation about spermatophore production in another 16 genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhua Fu
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
- Firefly Conservation Research Centre, 1 Shizishan Street, Wuhan 430070, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Lesley Ballantyne
- School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, P.O. Box 588, Wagga Wagga 2678, Australia;
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Huber T, Haug C. Morphological changes during the post-embryonic ontogeny of mesothelan spiders and aspects of character evolution in early spiders. Dev Genes Evol 2021; 231:47-56. [PMID: 33866412 PMCID: PMC8213562 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-021-00675-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Most morphological studies focus on adult specimens, or if developmental studies are pursued, especially in Euarthropoda, they focus on embryonic development. Araneae (spiders) is one of these groups, in consequence with understudied post-embryonic development. Here we present aspects of the post-embryonic stages of different species of Mesothelae, sister group to the remaining spiders (when fossil species are not taken into account). We used different imaging methods and measured different external morphological structures to detect possible ontogenetic changes. One structure exhibiting post-embryonic changes is the chelicera. Here the significant change occurs between the last immature stage and the adult, yet only in males. For the spinnerets, we could not detect ontogenetic changes, but instead a high variability in length and width, probably due to their lack of pivot joints between the elements. The strongest morphological change during ontogeny occurred on the sternum, which begins with a rather roundish shape in the first stage and changes to being fairly elongate in shape in the last immature stages and the adult. This specific sternum shape only occurs in adults of mesothelan spiders, while opisthothelan spiders have a broader sternum also in the adult. We discuss our results in an evolutionary context, also taking into account recent finds of fossil spiders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Huber
- LMU Munich, Biocenter, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Carolin Haug
- LMU Munich, Biocenter, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany. .,GeoBio-Center of the LMU Munich, Richard-Wagner-Str. 10, 80333, München, Germany.
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Nguantad S, Chumnanpuen P, Thancharoen A, Vongsangnak W, Sriboonlert A. Identification of potential candidate genes involved in the sex determination cascade in an aquatic firefly, Sclerotia aquatilis (Coleoptera, Lampyridae). Genomics 2020; 112:2590-2602. [PMID: 32061895 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Sexual differentiation, dimorphism, and courtship behavior are the downstream developmental programs of the sex determination cascade. The sex determination cascade in arthropods often involves key genes, transformer (tra), doublesex (dsx), transformer-2 (tra2), and fruitless (fru). These genes are conserved among insect taxa; however, they have never been reported in fireflies. In this study, the candidate genes for these key genes were identified for the first time in an aquatic firefly, Sclerotia aquatilis using transcriptome analysis. A comparative protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of sex determination cascade was reconstructed for S. aquatilis based on a network of a model insect, Drosophila melanogaster. Subsequently, a sex determination cascade in S. aquatilis was proposed based on the amino acid sequence structures and expression profiles of these candidates. This study describes the first efforts toward understanding the molecular control of sex determination cascade in fireflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarintip Nguantad
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pramote Chumnanpuen
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food, and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Anchana Thancharoen
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wanwipa Vongsangnak
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food, and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
| | - Ajaraporn Sriboonlert
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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