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Chen J, Guan Z, Ma Y, Shi Q, Chen T, Waris MI, Lyu L, Lu Y, Qi G. Juvenile hormone induces reproduction via miR-1175-3p in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:371-386. [PMID: 37933419 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13291] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Juvenile hormone (JH) acts in the regulation of caste differentiation between queens and workers (i.e., with or without reproductive capacity) during vitellin synthesis and oogenesis in social insects. However, the regulatory mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Here, we identified a highly expressed microRNA (miRNA), miR-1175-3p, in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. We found that miR-1175-3p is prominently present in the fat bodies and ovaries of workers. Furthermore, miR-1175-3p interacts with its target gene, broad-complex core (Br-C), in the fat bodies. By utilizing miR-1175-3p agomir, we successfully suppressed the expression of the Br-C protein in queens, resulting in reduced vitellogenin expression, fewer eggs, and poorly developed ovaries. Conversely, decreasing miR-1175-3p levels led to the increased expression of Br-C and vitellogenin in workers, triggering the "re-development" of the ovaries. Moreover, when queens were fed with JH, the expression of miR-1175-3p decreased, whereas the expression of vitellogenin-2 and vitellogenin-3 increased. Notably, the suppression of fertility in queens caused by treatment with agomir miR-1175-3p was completely rescued by the increased vitellogenin expression induced by being fed with JH. These results suggest the critical role of miR-1175-3p in JH-regulated reproduction, shedding light on the molecular mechanism underlying miRNA-mediated fecundity in social insects and providing a novel strategy for managing S. invicta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziying Guan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunjie Ma
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingxing Shi
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, China
| | - Muhammad Irfan Waris
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lihua Lyu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongyue Lu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guojun Qi
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High Technology for Plant Protection, Guangzhou, China
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Das B, Gordon DM. Biological rhythms and task allocation in ant colonies. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023:101062. [PMID: 37247773 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Task allocation in ant colonies, mediated by social interactions, regulates which individuals perform each task, and when they are active, in response to the current situation. Many tasks are performed in a daily temporal pattern. An ant's biological clock depends on patterns of gene expression that are regulated using a negative feedback loop which is synchronized to earth's rotation by external cues. An individual's biological clock can shift in response to social cues, and this plasticity contributes to task switching. Daily rhythms in individual ant behavior combine, via interactions within and across task groups, to adjust the collective behavior of colonies. Further work is needed to elucidate how the social cues that lead to task switching influence the molecular mechanisms that generate clock outputs associated with each task, and to investigate the evolution of temporal patterns in task allocation in relation to ecological factors.
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Mannino G, Casacci LP, Bianco Dolino G, Badolato G, Maffei ME, Barbero F. The Geomagnetic Field (GMF) Is Necessary for Black Garden Ant ( Lasius niger L.) Foraging and Modulates Orientation Potentially through Aminergic Regulation and MagR Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054387. [PMID: 36901820 PMCID: PMC10002094 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The geomagnetic field (GMF) can affect a wide range of animal behaviors in various habitats, primarily providing orientation cues for homing or migratory events. Foraging patterns, such as those implemented by Lasius niger, are excellent models to delve into the effects of GMF on orientation abilities. In this work, we assessed the role of GMF by comparing the L. niger foraging and orientation performance, brain biogenic amine (BA) contents, and the expression of genes related to the magnetosensory complex and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of workers exposed to near-null magnetic fields (NNMF, ~40 nT) and GMF (~42 µT). NNMF affected workers' orientation by increasing the time needed to find the food source and return to the nest. Moreover, under NNMF conditions, a general drop in BAs, but not melatonin, suggested that the lower foraging performance might be correlated to a decrease in locomotory and chemical perception abilities, potentially driven by dopaminergic and serotoninergic regulations, respectively. The variation in the regulation of genes related to the magnetosensory complex in NNMF shed light on the mechanism of ant GMF perception. Overall, our work provides evidence that the GMF, along with chemical and visual cues, is necessary for the L. niger orientation process.
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Walton A, Toth AL. Resource limitation, intra‐group aggression and brain neuropeptide expression in a social wasp. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Walton
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
| | - Amy L. Toth
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
- Department of Entomology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
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Liu T, Zhan X, Yu Y, Wang S, Lu C, Lin G, Zhu X, He W, You M, You S. Molecular and pharmacological characterization of biogenic amine receptors from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2021; 77:4462-4475. [PMID: 34004073 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUD Insect biogenic amines play important roles in mediating behavioral and physiological processes. They exert their effects by binding to biogenic amine receptors (BARs), which are specific receptor proteins in the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily. BAR genes have been cloned and characterized from multiple model insects, including Drosophila melanogaster, Anopheles gambiae, Bombyx mori, Apis mellifera and Tribolium castaneum. However, relatively little work has addressed the molecular properties, expression profiles, and pharmacological characterization of BARs from other insects, including important pests. RESULTS In this study, we cloned 17 genes encoding putative biogenic amine receptor proteins from Plutella xylostella, a global pest of Brassica crops. These PxBAR genes were five octopamine receptors (PxOA1, PxOA2B1, PxOA2B2, PxOA2B3, and PxOA3), three tyramine receptors (PxTAR1A, PxTAR1B, and PxTAR2), four dopamine receptors (PxDOP1, PxDOP2, PxDOP3, and PxDopEcR), and five serotonin receptors (Px5-HT1A , Px5-HT1B , Px5-HT2A , Px5-HT2B , and Px5-HT7 ). All PxBARs showed considerable sequence identity with orthologous BARs, and phylogenetic analysis clustered the receptors within their respective groups while preserving organismal evolutionary relationships. We investigated their molecular properties and expression profiles, and pharmacologically characterized the dopamine receptor, PxDOP2. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides important information and resources on biogenic amine receptors from P. xylostella, which suggests potential target sites for controlling this pest species. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiansheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Xue Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Shaozhen Wang
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Cong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Guifang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Weiyi He
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Shijun You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 350002, China
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Rump MT, Kozma MT, Pawar SD, Derby CD. G protein-coupled receptors as candidates for modulation and activation of the chemical senses in decapod crustaceans. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252066. [PMID: 34086685 PMCID: PMC8177520 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies have characterized class A GPCRs in crustaceans; however, their expression in crustacean chemosensory organs has yet to be detailed. Class A GPCRs comprise several subclasses mediating diverse functions. In this study, using sequence homology, we classified all putative class A GPCRs in two chemosensory organs (antennular lateral flagellum [LF] and walking leg dactyls) and brain of four species of decapod crustaceans (Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus, American lobster Homarus americanus, red-swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, and blue crab Callinectes sapidus). We identified 333 putative class A GPCRs– 83 from P. argus, 81 from H. americanus, 102 from P. clarkii, and 67 from C. sapidus–which belong to five distinct subclasses. The numbers of sequences for each subclass in the four decapod species are (in parentheses): opsins (19), small-molecule receptors including biogenic amine receptors (83), neuropeptide receptors (90), leucine-rich repeat-containing GPCRs (LGRs) (24), orphan receptors (117). Most class A GPCRs are predominately expressed in the brain; however, we identified multiple transcripts enriched in the LF and several in the dactyl. In total, we found 55 sequences with higher expression in the chemosensory organs relative to the brain across three decapod species. We also identified novel transcripts enriched in the LF including a metabotropic histamine receptor and numerous orphan receptors. Our work establishes expression patterns for class A GPCRs in the chemosensory organs of crustaceans, providing insight into molecular mechanisms mediating neurotransmission, neuromodulation, and possibly chemoreception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T. Rump
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mihika T. Kozma
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Shrikant D. Pawar
- Yale Center for Genomic Analysis, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Charles D. Derby
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Friedman DA, York RA, Hilliard AT, Gordon DM. Gene expression variation in the brains of harvester ant foragers is associated with collective behavior. Commun Biol 2020; 3:100. [PMID: 32139795 PMCID: PMC7057964 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-0813-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural selection on collective behavior acts on variation among colonies in behavior that is associated with reproductive success. In the red harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus), variation among colonies in the collective regulation of foraging in response to humidity is associated with colony reproductive success. We used RNA-seq to examine gene expression in the brains of foragers in a natural setting. We find that colonies differ in the expression of neurophysiologically-relevant genes in forager brains, and a fraction of these gene expression differences are associated with two colony traits: sensitivity of foraging activity to humidity, and forager brain dopamine to serotonin ratio. Loci that were correlated with colony behavioral differences were enriched in neurotransmitter receptor signaling & metabolic functions, tended to be more central to coexpression networks, and are evolving under higher protein-coding sequence constraint. Natural selection may shape colony foraging behavior through variation in gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Deborah M Gordon
- Stanford University, Department of Biology, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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Qi YX, Wang JL, Xu G, Song QS, Stanley D, Fang Q, Ye GY. Biogenic amine biosynthetic and transduction genes in the endoparasitoid wasp Pteromalus puparum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 103:e21632. [PMID: 31621105 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Biogenic amines (BAs), such as octopamine, tyramine, dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine regulate various behaviors and physiological functions in insects. Here, we identified seven genes encoding BA biosynthetic enzymes and 16 genes encoding BA G protein-coupled receptors in the genome of the endoparasitoid wasp, Pteromalus puparum. We compared the genes with their orthologs in its host Pieris rapae and the related ectoparasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis. All the genes show high (>90%) identity to orthologs in N. vitripennis. P. puparum and N. vitripennis have the smallest number of BA receptor genes among the insect species we investigated. We then analyzed the expression profiles of the genes, finding those acting in BA biosynthesis were highly expressed in adults and larvae and those encoding BA receptors are highly expressed in adults than immatures. Octα1R and 5-HT7 genes were highly expressed in salivary glands, and a high messenger RNA level of 5-HT1A was found in venom apparatuses. We infer that BA signaling is a fundamental component of the organismal organization, homeostasis and operation in parasitoids, some of the smallest insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Xiang Qi
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Le Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qi-Sheng Song
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - David Stanley
- USDA/ARS Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Qi Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gong-Yin Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Calkins TL, Tamborindeguy C, Pietrantonio PV. GPCR annotation, G proteins, and transcriptomics of fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) queen and worker brain: An improved view of signaling in an invasive superorganism. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 278:89-103. [PMID: 30576645 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their signaling modalities is crucial to advancing insect endocrinology, specifically in highly successful invasive social insects, such as the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. In the first published draft genome of S. invicta, emphasis was placed on the annotation of olfactory receptors, and only the number of predicted GPCR genes was reported. Without an organized and curated resource for GPCRs, it will be difficult to test hypotheses on the endocrine role of neuropeptide hormones, or the function of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Therefore, we mined the S. invicta genome for GPCRs and found 324 predicted transcripts encoded by 125 predicted loci and improved the annotation of 55 of these loci. Among them are sixteen GPCRs that are currently annotated as "uncharacterized proteins". Further, the phylogenetic analysis of class A neuropeptide receptors presented here and the comparative listing of GPCRs in the hymenopterans S. invicta, Apis mellifera (both eusocial), Nasonia vitripennis (solitary), and the solitary model dipteran Drosophila melanogaster will facilitate comparative endocrinological studies related to social insect evolution and diversity. We compiled the 24 G protein transcripts predicted (15 α, 7 β, and 2 γ) from 12 G protein genes (5 α, 5 β, and 2 γ). Reproductive division of labor is extreme in this ant species, therefore, we compared GPCR and G protein gene expression among worker, mated queen and alate virgin queen ant brain transcriptomes. Transcripts for ten GPCRs and two G proteins were differentially expressed between queen and worker brains. The differentially expressed GPCRs are candidate receptors to explore hypotheses on division of labor in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis L Calkins
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
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