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Yi SC, Chen XH, Wu YH, Wu J, Wang JQ, Wang MQ. Identification of odorant-binding proteins and functional analysis of antenna-specific BhorOBP28 in Batocera horsfieldi (Hope). PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38567786 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The important wood-boring pest Batocera horsfieldi has evolved a sensitive olfactory system to locate host plants. Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are thought to play key roles in olfactory recognition. Therefore, exploring the physiological function of OBPs could facilitate a better understanding of insect chemical communications. RESULTS In this research, 36 BhorOBPs genes were identified via transcriptome sequencing of adults' antennae from B. horsfieldi, and most BhorOBPs were predominantly expressed in chemosensory body parts. Through fluorescence competitive binding and fluorescence quenching assays, the antenna-specific BhorOBP28 was investigated and displayed strong binding affinities forming stable complexes with five volatiles, including (+)-α-Pinene, (+)-Limonene, β-Pinene, (-)-Limonene, and (+)-Longifolene, which could also elicit conformation changes when they were interacting with BhorOBP28. Batocera horsfieldi females exhibited a preference for (-)-Limonene, and a repellent response to (+)-Longifolene. Feeding dsOBP19 produced by a bacteria-expressed system with a newly constructed vector could lead to the knockdown of BhorOBP28, and could further impair B. horsfieldi attraction to (-)-Limonene and repellent activity of (+)-Longifolene. The analysis of site-directed mutagenesis revealed that Leu7, Leu72, and Phe121 play a vital role in selectively binding properties of BhorOBP28. CONCLUSION By modeling the molecular mechanism of olfactory recognition, these results demonstrate that BhorOBP28 is involved in the chemoreception of B. horsfieldi. The bacterial-expressed dsRNA delivery system gains new insights into potential population management strategies. Through the olfactory process concluded that discovering novel behavioral regulation and environmentally friendly control options for B. horsfieldi in the future. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Cheng Yi
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin-Hui Chen
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Hang Wu
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Juan Wu
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia-Qing Wang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Man-Qun Wang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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2
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Wang JJ, Ma C, Yue Y, Yang J, Chen LX, Wang YT, Zhao CC, Gao X, Chen HS, Ma WH, Zhou Z. Identification of candidate chemosensory genes in Bactrocera cucurbitae based on antennal transcriptome analysis. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1354530. [PMID: 38440345 PMCID: PMC10910661 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1354530] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Tephritidae: Diptera), is an invasive pest that poses a significant threat to agriculture in Africa and other regions. Flies are known to use their olfactory systems to recognise environmental chemical cues. However, the molecular components of the chemosensory system of B. cucurbitae are poorly characterised. To address this knowledge gap, we have used next-generation sequencing to analyse the antenna transcriptomes of sexually immature B. cucurbitae adults. The results have identified 160 potential chemosensory genes, including 35 odourant-binding proteins (OBPs), one chemosensory protein (CSP), three sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), 70 odourant receptors (ORs), 30 ionotropic receptors (IRs), and 21 gustatory receptors (GRs). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to validate the results by assessing the expression profiles of 25 ORs and 15 OBPs. Notably, high expression levels for BcucOBP5/9/10/18/21/23/26 were observed in both the female and male antennae. Furthermore, BcucOROrco/6/7/9/13/15/25/27/28/42/62 exhibited biased expression in the male antennae, whereas BcucOR55 showed biased expression in the female antennae. This comprehensive investigation provides valuable insights into insect olfaction at the molecular level and will, thus, help to facilitate the development of enhanced pest management strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Nanfan Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Chao Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Nanfan Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Yang Yue
- National Nanfan Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Jingfang Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Nanfan Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Li Xiang Chen
- National Nanfan Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Yi Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Nanfan Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, China
| | | | - Xuyuan Gao
- National Nanfan Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Biology of Crop Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Hong Song Chen
- National Nanfan Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Biology of Crop Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Wei Hua Ma
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhongshi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Nanfan Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, China
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3
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Han WK, Tang FX, Yan YY, Wang Y, Zhang YX, Yu N, Wang K, Liu ZW. An OBP gene highly expressed in non-chemosensory tissues affects the phototaxis and reproduction of Spodoptera frugiperda. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 33:81-90. [PMID: 37815404 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12880] [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: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Insect odorant binding proteins (OBPs) were initially regarded as carriers of the odorants involved in chemosensation. However, it had been observed that a growing number of OBP genes exhibited broad expression patterns beyond chemosensory tissues. Here, an OBP gene (OBP31) was found to be highly expressed in the larval ventral nerve cord, adult brain and male reproductive organ of Spodoptera frugiperda. An OBP31 knockout strain (OBP31-/- ) was generated by CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis. For OBP31-/- , the larvae needed longer time to pupate, but there was no difference in the pupal weight between OBP31-/- and wild type (WT). OBP31-/- larvae showed stronger phototaxis than the WT larvae, indicating the importance of OBP31 in light perception. For mating rhythm of adults, OBP31-/- moths displayed an earlier second mating peak. In the cross-pairing of OBP31-/- and WT moths, the mating duration was longer, and hatchability was lower in OBP31-/- group and OBP31+/- ♂ group than that in the WT group. These results suggested that OBP31 played a vital role in larval light perception and male reproductive process and could provide valuable insights into understanding the biological functions of OBPs that were not specific in chemosensory tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Kang Han
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng-Xian Tang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang-Yang Yan
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi-Xi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Na Yu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ze-Wen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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4
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Brown NC, Gordon B, McDonough-Goldstein CE, Misra S, Findlay GD, Clark AG, Wolfner MF. The seminal odorant binding protein Obp56g is required for mating plug formation and male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster. eLife 2023; 12:e86409. [PMID: 38126735 PMCID: PMC10834028 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86409] [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: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In Drosophila melanogaster and other insects, the seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) and male sex pheromones that enter the female with sperm during mating are essential for fertility and induce profound post-mating effects on female physiology. The SFPs in D. melanogaster and other taxa include several members of the large gene family known as odorant binding proteins (Obps). Work in Drosophila has shown that some Obp genes are highly expressed in the antennae and can mediate behavioral responses to odorants, potentially by binding and carrying these molecules to odorant receptors. These observations have led to the hypothesis that the seminal Obps might act as molecular carriers for pheromones or other compounds important for male fertility, though functional evidence in any species is lacking. Here, we used functional genetics to test the role of the seven seminal Obps in D. melanogaster fertility and the post-mating response (PMR). We found that Obp56g is required for male fertility and the induction of the PMR, whereas the other six genes are dispensable. We found males lacking Obp56g fail to form a mating plug in the mated female's reproductive tract, leading to ejaculate loss and reduced sperm storage, likely due to its expression in the male ejaculatory bulb. We also examined the evolutionary history of these seminal Obp genes, as several studies have documented rapid evolution and turnover of SFP genes across taxa. We found extensive lability in gene copy number and evidence of positive selection acting on two genes, Obp22a and Obp51a. Comparative RNAseq data from the male reproductive tract of multiple Drosophila species revealed that Obp56g shows high male reproductive tract expression in a subset of taxa, though conserved head expression across the phylogeny. Together, these functional and expression data suggest that Obp56g may have been co-opted for a reproductive function over evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora C Brown
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | - Benjamin Gordon
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | | | - Snigdha Misra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | - Geoffrey D Findlay
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
- Department of Biology, College of the Holy CrossWorcesterUnited States
| | - Andrew G Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
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5
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Han WK, Tang FX, Yu N, Zhang YX, Liu ZW. A nonsensory odorant-binding protein plays an important role in the larval development and adult mating of Spodoptera frugiperda. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:1325-1336. [PMID: 36647341 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) play key roles in the perception of semiochemicals in insects. Several OBPs in insect olfactory systems have been functionally characterized, and they provide excellent targets for pest control. The functions of some OBPs that are highly expressed in the nonsensory organs of insects remain unclear. Here, the physiological function of an OBP (OBP27) that was highly expressed in the nonsensory organs of Spodoptera frugiperda was studied. OBP27 was nested within the Plus-C cluster according to phylogenetic analysis. The transcription of OBP27 steadily increased throughout the development of S. frugiperda, and transcripts of this gene were abundant in the fat body and male reproductive organs. An OBP27 knockout strain with an early frameshift mutation was obtained using the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system. The development time of OBP27-/- larvae was significantly longer than that of other larvae. Both male and female OBP27-/- pupae weighed significantly less than wild-type (WT) pupae. In crosses of OBP27-/- males or females, the mating rate was lower and the mating duration was longer for OBP27-/- male-WT female pairs than for WT-WT pairs. By contrast, the mating rate, hatching rate, and number of eggs of OBP27-/- female-WT male pairs and WT-WT pairs were similar. These findings indicate that OBP27 plays an important role in the larval development and mating process in male adults. Generally, our findings provide new insights into the physiological roles of nonsensory OBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Kang Han
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng-Xian Tang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Na Yu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi-Xi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ze-Wen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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6
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Zeender V, Pfammatter S, Roschitzki B, Dorus S, Lüpold S. Genotype-by-environment interactions influence the composition of the Drosophila seminal proteome. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231313. [PMID: 37700651 PMCID: PMC10498039 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1313] [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: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ejaculate proteins are key mediators of post-mating sexual selection and sexual conflict, as they can influence both male fertilization success and female reproductive physiology. However, the extent and sources of genetic variation and condition dependence of the ejaculate proteome are largely unknown. Such knowledge could reveal the targets and mechanisms of post-mating selection and inform about the relative costs and allocation of different ejaculate components, each with its own potential fitness consequences. Here, we used liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to characterize the whole-ejaculate protein composition across 12 isogenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster that were reared on a high- or low-quality diet. We discovered new proteins in the transferred ejaculate and inferred their origin in the male reproductive system. We further found that the ejaculate composition was mainly determined by genotype identity and genotype-specific responses to larval diet, with no clear overall diet effect. Nutrient restriction increased proteolytic protein activity and shifted the balance between reproductive function and RNA metabolism. Our results open new avenues for exploring the intricate role of genotypes and their environment in shaping ejaculate composition, or for studying the functional dynamics and evolutionary potential of the ejaculate in its multivariate complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérian Zeender
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sibylle Pfammatter
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, University of Zurich/ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Roschitzki
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, University of Zurich/ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Steve Dorus
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Stefan Lüpold
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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7
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Garlovsky MD, Ahmed-Braimah YH. Evolutionary Quantitative Proteomics of Reproductive Protein Divergence in Drosophila. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100610. [PMID: 37391044 PMCID: PMC10407754 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100610] [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: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproductive traits often evolve rapidly between species. Understanding the causes and consequences of this rapid divergence requires characterization of female and male reproductive proteins and their effect on fertilization success. Species in the Drosophila virilis clade exhibit rampant interspecific reproductive incompatibilities, making them ideal for studies on diversification of reproductive proteins and their role in speciation. Importantly, the role of intraejaculate protein abundance and allocation in interspecific divergence is poorly understood. Here, we identify and quantify the transferred male ejaculate proteome using multiplexed isobaric labeling of the lower female reproductive tract before and immediately after mating using three species of the virilis group. We identified over 200 putative male ejaculate proteins, many of which show differential abundance between species, suggesting that males transfer a species-specific allocation of seminal fluid proteins during copulation. We also identified over 2000 female reproductive proteins, which contain female-specific serine-type endopeptidases that showed differential abundance between species and elevated rates of molecular evolution, similar to that of some male seminal fluid proteins. Our findings suggest that reproductive protein divergence can also manifest in terms of species-specific protein abundance patterns.
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8
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Delbare SYN, Jain AM, Clark AG, Wolfner MF. Transcriptional programs are activated and microRNAs are repressed within minutes after mating in the Drosophila melanogaster female reproductive tract. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:356. [PMID: 37370014 PMCID: PMC10294459 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09397-z] [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: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The female reproductive tract is exposed directly to the male's ejaculate, making it a hotspot for mating-induced responses. In Drosophila melanogaster, changes in the reproductive tract are essential to optimize fertility. Many changes occur within minutes after mating, but such early timepoints are absent from published RNA-seq studies. We measured transcript abundances using RNA-seq and microRNA-seq of reproductive tracts of unmated and mated females collected at 10-15 min post-mating. We further investigated whether early transcriptome changes in the female reproductive tract are influenced by inhibiting BMPs in secondary cells, a condition that depletes exosomes from the male's ejaculate. RESULTS We identified 327 differentially expressed genes. These were mostly upregulated post-mating and have roles in tissue morphogenesis, wound healing, and metabolism. Differentially abundant microRNAs were mostly downregulated post-mating. We identified 130 predicted targets of these microRNAs among the differentially expressed genes. We saw no detectable effect of BMP inhibition in secondary cells on transcript levels in the female reproductive tract. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that mating induces early changes in the female reproductive tract primarily through upregulation of target genes, rather than repression. The upregulation of certain target genes might be mediated by the mating-induced downregulation of microRNAs. Male-derived exosomes and other BMP-dependent products were not uniquely essential for this process. Differentially expressed genes and microRNAs provide candidates that can be further examined for their participation in the earliest alterations of the reproductive tract microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Y N Delbare
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| | - Asha M Jain
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Andrew G Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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9
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Fricke C, Sanghvi K, Emery M, Lindenbaum I, Wigby S, Ramm SA, Sepil I. Timeless or tainted? The effects of male ageing on seminal fluid. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1066022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproductive ageing can occur due to the deterioration of both the soma and germline. In males, it has mostly been studied with respect to age-related changes in sperm. However, the somatic component of the ejaculate, seminal fluid, is also essential for maintaining reproductive function. Whilst we know that seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are required for male reproductive success across diverse taxa, age-related changes in SFP quantity and composition are little understood. Additionally, only few studies have explored the reproductive ageing of the tissues that produce SFPs, and the resulting reproductive outcomes. Here we provide a systematic review of studies addressing how advancing male age affects the production and properties of seminal fluid, in particular SFPs and oxidative stress, highlighting many open questions and generating new hypotheses for further research. We additionally discuss how declines in function of different components of seminal fluid, such as SFPs and antioxidants, could contribute to age-related loss of reproductive ability. Overall, we find evidence that ageing results in increased oxidative stress in seminal fluid and a decrease in the abundance of various SFPs. These results suggest that seminal fluid contributes towards important age-related changes influencing male reproduction. Thus, it is essential to study this mostly ignored component of the ejaculate to understand male reproductive ageing, and its consequences for sexual selection and paternal age effects on offspring.
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10
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Brown NC, Gordon B, McDonough-Goldstein CE, Misra S, Findlay GD, Clark AG, Wolfner MF. The seminal odorant binding protein Obp56g is required for mating plug formation and male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.03.526941. [PMID: 36798169 PMCID: PMC9934574 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.03.526941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
In Drosophila melanogaster and other insects, the seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) and male sex pheromones that enter the female with sperm during mating are essential for fertility and induce profound post-mating effects on female physiology and behavior. The SFPs in D. melanogaster and other taxa include several members of the large gene family known as odorant binding proteins (Obps). Previous work in Drosophila has shown that some Obp genes are highly expressed in the antennae and can mediate behavioral responses to odorants, potentially by binding and carrying these molecules to odorant receptors. These observations have led to the hypothesis that the seminal Obps might act as molecular carriers for pheromones or other compounds important for male fertility in the ejaculate, though functional evidence in any species is lacking. Here, we used RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 generated mutants to test the role of the seven seminal Obps in D. melanogaster fertility and the post-mating response (PMR). We found that Obp56g is required for male fertility and the induction of the PMR, whereas the other six genes had no effect on fertility when mutated individually. Obp56g is expressed in the male's ejaculatory bulb, an important tissue in the reproductive tract that synthesizes components of the mating plug. We found males lacking Obp56g fail to form a mating plug in the mated female's reproductive tract, leading to ejaculate loss and reduced sperm storage. We also examined the evolutionary history of these seminal Obp genes, as several studies have documented rapid evolution and turnover of SFP genes across taxa. We found extensive lability in gene copy number and evidence of positive selection acting on two genes, Obp22a and Obp51a. Comparative RNAseq data from the male reproductive tract of multiple Drosophila species revealed that Obp56g shows high male reproductive tract expression only in species of the melanogaster and obscura groups, though conserved head expression in all species tested. Together, these functional and expression data suggest that Obp56g may have been co-opted for a reproductive function over evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora C. Brown
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Benjamin Gordon
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Present address: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | - Snigdha Misra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Present address: University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, UK, India
| | - Geoffrey D. Findlay
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Department of Biology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Andrew G. Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Mariana F. Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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11
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Wu LJ, Li F, Song Y, Zhang ZF, Fan YL, Liu TX. Proteome Analysis of Male Accessory Gland Secretions in the Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). INSECTS 2023; 14:132. [PMID: 36835702 PMCID: PMC9960318 DOI: 10.3390/insects14020132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In insects, male accessory gland proteins (ACPs) are important reproductive proteins secreted by male accessory glands (MAGs) of the internal male reproductive system. During mating, ACPs are transferred along with sperms inside female bodies and have a significant impact on the post-mating physiology changes of the females. Under sexual selection pressures, the ACPs exhibit remarkably rapid and divergent evolution and vary from species to species. The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is a major insect pest of cruciferous vegetables worldwide. Mating has a profound impact on the females' behavior and physiology in this species. It is still unclear what the ACPs are in this species. In this study, two different proteomic methods were used to identify ACPs in P. xylostella. The proteins of MAGs were compared immediately before and after mating by using a tandem mass tags (TMT) quantitative proteomic analysis. The proteomes of copulatory bursas (CB) in mated females shortly after mating were also analyzed by the shotgun LC-MS/MS technique. In total, we identified 123 putative secreted ACPs. Comparing P. xylostella with other four insect ACPs, trypsins were the only ACPs detected in all insect species. We also identified some new insect ACPs, including proteins with chitin binding Peritrophin-A domain, PMP-22/ EMP/ MP20/ Claudin tight junction domain-containing protein, netrin-1, type II inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 5-phosphatase, two spaetzles, allatostatin-CC, and cuticular protein. This is the first time that ACPs have been identified and analyzed in P. xylostella. Our results have provided an important list of putative secreted ACPs, and have set the stage for further exploration of the functions of these putative proteins in P. xylostella reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Juan Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Fan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Suqian, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Suqian 223800, China
| | - Yue Song
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Zhan-Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Yong-Liang Fan
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Tong-Xian Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs P. R. China, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
- Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
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12
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Li R, Shan S, Song X, Khashaveh A, Wang S, Yin Z, Lu Z, Dhiloo KH, Zhang Y. Plant volatile ligands for male-biased MmedOBP14 stimulate orientation behavior of the parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 223:1521-1529. [PMID: 36400212 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
As an important class of chemosensory-associated proteins, odorant binding proteins (OBPs) play a key role in the perception of olfactory signals for insects. Parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator relies on its sensitive olfactory system to locate host larvae of Noctuidae and Geometridae. In the present study, MmedOBP14, a male-biased OBP in M. mediator, was functionally investigated. In fluorescence competitive binding assays, the recombinant MmedOBP14 showed strong binding abilities to five plant volatiles: β-ionone, 3,4-dimethylacetophenone, 4-ethylacetophenone, acetophenone and ocimene. Homology modeling and molecular docking results indicated that the binding sites of all five ligands were similar and concentrated in the binding pocket of MmedOBP14. Except acetophenone, the remaining four ligands at 1, 10 and 100 μg/μL caused strong antennal electrophysiological responses in adults M. mediator, and males showed more obvious EAG responses to most ligands than females. In behavioral trials, males were attracted by low concentrations of MmedOBP14 ligands, whereas high doses of β-ionone and acetophenone had a repellent effect on males. Moreover, 1 μg/μL of 3,4-dimethylacetophenone showed the strongest attractiveness to female wasps. These findings suggest that MmedOBP14 may play a more important role in the perception of plant volatiles for male wasps to locate habitat, supplement nutrition and search partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijun Li
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Shuang Shan
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xuan Song
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China.; State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Adel Khashaveh
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shanning Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environment Friendly Management on Fruit Diseases and Pests in North China, Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Zixuan Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ziyun Lu
- IPM Center of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northern Region of North China, Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Protection Institute, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Baoding, Hebei 071000, China
| | - Khalid Hussain Dhiloo
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Crop Protection, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam 70060, Pakistan
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China..
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13
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Aruçi E, Saliou JM, Ferveur JF, Briand L. Proteomic Characterization of Drosophila melanogaster Proboscis. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:1687. [PMID: 36421401 PMCID: PMC9687345 DOI: 10.3390/biology11111687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster flies use their proboscis to taste and distinguish edible compounds from toxic compounds. With their proboscis, flies can detect sex pheromones at a close distance or by contact. Most of the known proteins associated with probosci's detection belong to gustatory receptor families. To extend our knowledge of the proboscis-taste proteins involved in chemo-detection, we used a proteomic approach to identify soluble proteins from Drosophila females and males. This investigation, performed with hundreds of dissected proboscises, was initiated by the chromatographic separation of tryptic peptides, followed by tandem mass spectrometry, allowing for femtomole detection sensitivity. We found 586 proteins, including enzymes, that are involved in intermediary metabolism and proteins dedicated to various functions, such as nucleic acid metabolism, ion transport, immunity, digestion, and organ development. Among 60 proteins potentially involved in chemosensory detection, we identified two odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), i.e., OBP56d (which showed much higher expression in females than in males) and OBP19d. Because OBP56d was also reported to be more highly expressed in the antennae of females, this protein can be involved in the detection of both volatile and contact male pheromone(s). Our proteomic study paves the way to better understand the complex role of Drosophila proboscis in the chemical detection of food and pheromonal compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enisa Aruçi
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Jean-Michel Saliou
- CNRS, INSERM CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, UAR CNRS 2014–US Inserm 41–PLBS, University of Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Jean-François Ferveur
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Loïc Briand
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
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14
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Himuro C, Honma A, Ikegawa Y, Kumano N. The female Euscepes postfasciatus refractory period is induced by the male but length is determined by the female. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 142:104427. [PMID: 35908745 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104427] [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: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Females of many animals mate multiple times during their lives (i.e., polyandry). The period between matings (mating interval) is called the refractory period (RP). In the West Indian sweet potato weevil (Euscepes postfasciatus), males use the ejaculate to induce the RP in females to prevent re-mating. By measuring the RP, a large variation of 1-49 days was observed. This variation may be due to the males (ejaculate quantity and quality) and females (ejaculate sensitivity/degradation ability and body size) and their interactions, but the exact mechanisms are currently unclear. Here, we investigated a tendency towards a particular female RP duration and the associated traits of males and females to test the following three factors responsible for variation in the length of the RP: male manipulation of ejaculate volume, individual differences in male ejaculation substances, and ejaculate sensitivity/degradation ability in females. We prepared virgin males and females to create mating pairs. The following day, another mate was introduced to the females, and the first RP was measured. The same procedure was used for measuring the second RP. The males were also provided with another female (second female), mated, and then the RP of the second female was measured. In addition, the relationship between the length of the RP and female fitness was investigated. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the first and second RP in the focal females, while no significant correlation was observed between the RP of the first and second females induced by the same male. It was also found that the length of the RP did not affect female fitness. This indicated that the males did not adaptively manipulate ejaculation volume depending on the quality of the females, and variance in the length of the RP may be explained by variation in the female physiological ability against ejaculate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihiro Himuro
- Okinawa Prefectural Plant Protection Centre, Naha 902-0072, Japan; Ryukyu Sankei Co., Ltd, Naha, Okinawa 902-0072, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Honma
- Okinawa Prefectural Plant Protection Centre, Naha 902-0072, Japan; Ryukyu Sankei Co., Ltd, Naha, Okinawa 902-0072, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Yusuke Ikegawa
- Okinawa Prefectural Plant Protection Centre, Naha 902-0072, Japan; Ryukyu Sankei Co., Ltd, Naha, Okinawa 902-0072, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Norikuni Kumano
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Department of Life Science and Agriculture, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
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15
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Hurtado J, Almeida FC, Belliard SA, Revale S, Hasson E. On how to identify a seminal fluid protein: A response to Wigby et al. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 31:537-542. [PMID: 35927970 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The choice of criteria to delimit a group or class is a subjective matter, even though the reasoning, the objectives and the criteria themselves should always be clearly stated. This paper is part of a discussion about the criteria used to identify seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) in Drosophila species. SFPs are proteins that are transferred to females during copulation together with sperm. The only way to ascertain that a protein is an SFP is to prove that it is produced in a male reproductive organ and is found in the female reproductive tract after insemination. Nevertheless, the required methodology is labour-intensive and expensive, and therefore this kind of data is unlikely to be available for many species, precluding comparative and evolutionary studies on the subject. To conduct evolutionary analyses, in a previous study, we capitalized on the accumulated knowledge we have in the model species D. melanogaster to recommend a set of criteria for identifying candidate SFPs in other Drosophila species. Those criteria, based on transcriptomic evidence and in silico predictions from sequences, would allow a good balance between sensitivity (the inclusion of true SFPs) and specificity (the exclusion of false positives). In view of the criticism raised by another group, here we defend our criteria on one hand while accepting there is room for improvement on the other. The results are updated sets of criteria and SFPs that we believe can be useful in future evolutionary studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Hurtado
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francisca Cunha Almeida
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvina Anahí Belliard
- Laboratorio de Insectos de Importancia Agronómica, IGEAF (INTA), GV-IABIMO (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago Revale
- Technology Department, Alchemab Therapeutics Ltd., London, UK
| | - Esteban Hasson
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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16
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Wigby S, Brown NC, Sepil I, Wolfner MF. On how to identify a seminal fluid protein: A commentary on Hurtado et al. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 31:533-536. [PMID: 35975871 PMCID: PMC9452446 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12783] [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: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) have striking effects on the behaviour and physiology of females in many insects. Some Drosophila melanogaster Sfps are not highly or exclusively expressed in the accessory glands, but derive from, or are additionally expressed in other male reproductive tissues. The full suite of Sfps includes transferred proteins from all male reproductive tissues, regardless of expression level or presence of a signal peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Wigby
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Behaviour, Institute
of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool
L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Nora C Brown
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell
University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1
3PS, UK
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell
University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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17
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Córdova-García G, Esquivel CJ, Pérez-Staples D, Ruiz-May E, Herrera-Cruz M, Reyes-Hernández M, Abraham S, Aluja M, Sirot L. Characterization of reproductive proteins in the Mexican fruit fly points towards the evolution of novel functions. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212806. [PMID: 35765836 PMCID: PMC9240691 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2806] [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] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) modify female phenotypes and have wide-ranging evolutionary implications on fitness in many insects. However, in the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens, a highly destructive agricultural pest, the functions of Sfps are still largely unknown. To gain insights into female phenotypes regulated by Sfps, we used nano-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to conduct a proteomic analysis of the soluble proteins from reproductive organs of A. ludens. The proteins predicted to be transferred from males to females during copulation were 100 proteins from the accessory glands, 69 from the testes and 20 from the ejaculatory bulb, resulting in 141 unique proteins after accounting for redundancies from multiple tissues. These 141 included orthologues to Drosophila melanogaster proteins involved mainly in oogenesis, spermatogenesis, immune response, lifespan and fecundity. In particular, we found one protein associated with female olfactory response to repellent stimuli (Scribble), and two related to memory formation (aPKC and Shibire). Together, these results raise the possibility that A. ludens Sfps could play a role in regulating female olfactory responses and memory formation and could be indicative of novel evolutionary functions in this important agricultural pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guadalupe Córdova-García
- INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. E. Zapata, Xalapa, CP 91090 Veracruz, México
| | | | - Diana Pérez-Staples
- INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. de las Culturas Veracruzanas 101, Col. E. Zapata, Xalapa, CP 91090 Veracruz, México
| | - Eliel Ruiz-May
- Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores, Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL), Antigua Carretera a Coatepec 351, Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | - Mariana Herrera-Cruz
- Facultad de Medicina y Cirugía, Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca, Ex-Hda de Aguilera S/N, C.P. 68020, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, México
| | - Martha Reyes-Hernández
- Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Av. Patria 1201, Col. Lomas del Valle, CP 45129 Zapopan, Jalisco, México
| | - Solana Abraham
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecoetológicas de Moscas de la Fruta y sus Enemigos Naturales (LIEMEN), PROIMI-Biotecnología, CONICET, Avenida Belgrano y Pasaje Caseros s/n, CP 4000 San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Martín Aluja
- Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores, Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL), Antigua Carretera a Coatepec 351, Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | - Laura Sirot
- Department of Biology, College of Wooster, 931 College Mall, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
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18
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Koppik M, Fricke C. Sex peptide receipt alters macronutrient utilization but not optimal yeast-sugar ratio in Drosophila melanogaster females. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 139:104382. [PMID: 35318041 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Upon mating, females alter a multitude of physiological and morphological traits to accommodate the demands of reproduction. Changes not only include reproductive tissues but also non-reproductive tissues. For example, in Drosophila melanogaster the gut increases in circumference after mating, likely to facilitate a higher absorption and provision of macronutrients to maturing eggs. A male ejaculatory protein, the sex peptide, is instrumental to mediating several post-mating changes and receipt increases nutrient uptake as well as shifts taste preferences in mated females. We here tested whether sex peptide receipt also alters the protein: carbohydrate ratio at which females maximize their fitness. To test this, we mated females to males lacking sex peptide or control males and fed them with known volumes and concentrations of sugar and yeast. This enabled us to determine how the sugar to yeast ratio affects lifetime egg output as well as lifespan of females mated to the two male types. Sex peptide did not shift the optimal ratio. Instead, sex peptide receipt aided females in increasing their egg output at low macronutrient concentrations, but this advantage disappeared at higher macronutrient intake rates. Assuming that nutrient limitation might be common, then receipt of SP is beneficial under poor conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Koppik
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Animal Ecology, Department of Zoology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
| | - Claudia Fricke
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Animal Ecology, Department of Zoology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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19
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Effects of Larval Diet on the Male Reproductive Traits in the West Indian Sweet Potato Weevils Euscepes postfasciatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13040389. [PMID: 35447831 PMCID: PMC9031274 DOI: 10.3390/insects13040389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary In insects, it is known that the diet during the larval stage affects traits in the adult stage. However, it is still unclear how it affects reproductive traits such as ejaculation. The ejaculate contains many proteins and therefore requires much nutrition, so the larval diet strongly influences it. Males of the West Indian sweet potato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus use accessory gland substances to inhibit remating by females. Crossing experiments were conducted using lines reared on artificial diets or sweet potato tubers during the larval stage, and the refractory period was examined. The results showed that the larval stage diet had a significant effect on the refractory period of females. We also found one protein of approximately 15 kDa in size expressed only in the treatments reared on sweet potatoes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that larval diet qualitatively influences male ejaculate and female refractory period. Abstract Larval diet significantly affects adult traits, although less is known about how they affect reproductive traits. Males of West Indian sweet potato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus deliver a remating inhibitor along with sperm to their mates during mating, leading to a refractory period (the period before females mate again). Crossing experiments were conducted using lines reared on artificial diets, including sweet potato powder (AD) or sweet potato tubers (SP) during the larval stage, and the refractory period was examined. We also examined whether the larval diet qualitatively or quantitatively altered male ejaculate. The results showed that the refractory period was significantly longer in the SP treatment than in the AD treatment for males and females. There was no significant difference in ejaculate volume. However, the number of sperm in the testes-seminal vesicles complex was significantly higher in the SP treatment. Additionally, SDS-PAGE revealed that the ejaculate was qualitatively different depending on the larval diet, and one protein of approximately 15 kDa in size was expressed only in the SP treatments. Revealing how larval diet affects reproductive traits in adult males will help shed light on the diverse evolution of insect mating systems and reproductive behavior.
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20
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Hurtado J, Almeida FC, Belliard SA, Revale S, Hasson E. Research gaps and new insights in the evolution of Drosophila seminal fluid proteins. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 31:139-158. [PMID: 34747062 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
While the striking effects of seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) on females are fairly conserved among Diptera, most SFPs lack detectable homologues among the SFP repertoires of phylogenetically distant species. How such a rapidly changing proteome conserves functions across taxa is a fascinating question. However, this and other pivotal aspects of SFPs' evolution remain elusive because discoveries on these proteins have been mainly restricted to the model Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on the inter-specific divergence of the SFP repertoire in Drosophila and compile the increasing amount of relevant genomic information from multiple species. Capitalizing on the accumulated knowledge in D. melanogaster, we present novel sets of high-confidence SFP candidates and transcription factors presumptively involved in regulating the expression of SFPs. We also address open questions by performing comparative genomic analyses that failed to support the existence of many conserved SFPs shared by most dipterans and indicated that gene co-option is the most frequent mechanism accounting for the origin of Drosophila SFP-coding genes. We hope our update establishes a starting point to integrate further data and thus widen the understanding of the intricate evolution of these proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Hurtado
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), CABA, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CABA, Argentina
| | - Francisca Cunha Almeida
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), CABA, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CABA, Argentina
| | - Silvina Anahí Belliard
- Laboratorio de Insectos de Importancia Agronómica, IGEAF (INTA), GV-IABIMO (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago Revale
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Esteban Hasson
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), CABA, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CABA, Argentina
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21
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The life history of
Drosophila
sperm involves molecular continuity between male and female reproductive tracts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2119899119. [PMID: 35254899 PMCID: PMC8931355 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2119899119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In species with internal fertilization, sperm spend an important part of their lives within the female. To examine the life history of the sperm during this time, we used semiquantitative proteomics and sex-specific isotopic labeling in fruit flies to determine the extent of molecular continuity between male and female reproductive tracts and provide a global catalog of sperm-associated proteins. Multiple seminal fluid proteins and female proteins associate with sperm immediately after mating. Few seminal fluid proteins remain after long-term sperm storage, whereas female-derived proteins constitute one-fifth of the postmating sperm proteome by then. Our data reveal a molecular “hand-off” from males to females, which we postulate to be an important component of sperm–female interactions. Interactions between sperm and the female reproductive tract (FRT) are critical to reproductive success and yet are poorly understood. Because sperm complete their functional maturation within the FRT, the life history of sperm is likely to include a molecular “hand-off” from males to females. Although such intersexual molecular continuity is likely to be widespread among all internally fertilizing species, the identity and extent of female contributions are largely unknown. We combined semiquantitative proteomics with sex-specific isotopic labeling to catalog the posttesticular life history of the sperm proteome and determine the extent of molecular continuity between male and FRTs. We show that the Drosophila melanogaster sperm proteome undergoes substantial compositional changes after being transferred to the FRT. Multiple seminal fluid proteins initially associate with sperm, but most become undetectable after sperm are stored. Female-derived proteins also begin to associate with sperm immediately after mating, and they comprise nearly 20% of the postmating sperm proteome following 4 d of storage in the FRT. Female-derived proteins that associate with sperm are enriched for processes associated with energy metabolism, suggesting that female contributions support sperm viability during the prolonged period between copulation and fertilization. Our research provides a comprehensive characterization of sperm proteome dynamics and expands our understanding of the critical process of sperm–FRT interactions.
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22
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Ahmed KA, Yeap HL, Pandey G, Lee SF, Taylor PW, Oakeshott JG. Population differences and domestication effects on mating and remating frequencies in Queensland fruit fly. Sci Rep 2022; 12:153. [PMID: 34997097 PMCID: PMC8741809 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04198-4] [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: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Females of many insect species are unreceptive to remating for a period following their first mating. This inhibitory effect may be mediated by either the female or her first mate, or both, and often reflects the complex interplay of reproductive strategies between the sexes. Natural variation in remating inhibition and how this phenotype responds to captive breeding are largely unexplored in insects, including many pest species. We investigated genetic variation in remating propensity in the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, using strains differing in source locality and degree of domestication. We found up to threefold inherited variation between strains from different localities in the level of intra-strain remating inhibition. The level of inhibition also declined significantly during domestication, which implied the existence of genetic variation for this trait within the starting populations as well. Inter-strain mating and remating trials showed that the strain differences were mainly due to the genotypes of the female and, to a lesser extent, the second male, with little effect of the initial male genotype. Implications for our understanding of fruit fly reproductive biology and population genetics and the design of Sterile Insect Technique pest management programs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khandaker Asif Ahmed
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, 2109, Australia. .,CSIRO Land and Water, Black Mountain, ACT, 2601, Australia.
| | - Heng Lin Yeap
- CSIRO Land and Water, Black Mountain, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Gunjan Pandey
- CSIRO Land and Water, Black Mountain, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Siu Fai Lee
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, 2109, Australia. .,CSIRO Land and Water, Black Mountain, ACT, 2601, Australia.
| | - Phillip W Taylor
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - John G Oakeshott
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, 2109, Australia.,CSIRO Land and Water, Black Mountain, ACT, 2601, Australia
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23
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Majane AC, Cridland JM, Begun DJ. Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal evolutionary and functional properties of cell types in the Drosophila accessory gland. Genetics 2021; 220:6440054. [PMID: 34849871 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many traits responsible for male reproduction evolve quickly, including gene expression phenotypes in germline and somatic male reproductive tissues. Rapid male evolution in polyandrous species is thought to be driven by competition among males for fertilizations and conflicts between male and female fitness interests that manifest in post-copulatory phenotypes. In Drosophila, seminal fluid proteins secreted by three major cell types of the male accessory gland and ejaculatory duct are required for female sperm storage and use, and influence female post-copulatory traits. Recent work has shown that these cell types have overlapping but distinct effects on female post-copulatory biology, yet relatively little is known about their evolutionary properties. Here we use single-nucleus RNA-Seq of the accessory gland and ejaculatory duct from Drosophila melanogaster and two closely related species to comprehensively describe the cell diversity of these tissues and their transcriptome evolution for the first time. We find that seminal fluid transcripts are strongly partitioned across the major cell types, and expression of many other genes additionally define each cell type. We also report previously undocumented diversity in main cells. Transcriptome divergence was found to be heterogeneous across cell types and lineages, revealing a complex evolutionary process. Furthermore, protein adaptation varied across cell types, with potential consequences for our understanding of selection on male post-copulatory traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex C Majane
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Julie M Cridland
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - David J Begun
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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24
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McDonough-Goldstein CE, Whittington E, McCullough EL, Buel SM, Erdman S, Pitnick S, Dorus S. Pronounced Postmating Response in the Drosophila Female Reproductive Tract Fluid Proteome. Mol Cell Proteomics 2021; 20:100156. [PMID: 34597791 PMCID: PMC9357439 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2021.100156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertility depends on the progression of complex and coordinated postmating processes within the extracellular environment of the female reproductive tract (FRT). Molecular interactions between ejaculate and FRT proteins regulate many of these processes, including sperm motility, migration, storage, and modification, along with concurrent changes in the female. Although extensive progress has been made in the proteomic characterization of the male-derived components of sperm and seminal fluid, investigations into the FRT have remained more limited. To achieve a comparable level of knowledge regarding female-derived proteins that comprise the reproductive environment, we utilized semiquantitative MS-based proteomics to study the composition of the FRT tissue and, separately, the luminal fluid, before and after mating in Drosophila melanogaster. Our approach leveraged whole-fly isotopic labeling to delineate female proteins from transferred male ejaculate proteins. Our results revealed several characteristics that distinguish the FRT fluid proteome from the FRT tissue proteome: (1) the fluid proteome is encoded by genes with higher overall levels of FRT gene expression and tissue specificity, including many genes with enriched expression in the fat body, (2) fluid-biased proteins are enriched for metabolic functions, and (3) the fluid exhibits pronounced postmating compositional changes. The dynamic mating-induced proteomic changes in the FRT fluid inform our understanding of secretory mechanisms of the FRT, serve as a foundation for establishing female contributions to the ejaculate-female interactions that regulate fertility, and highlight the importance of applying proteomic approaches to characterize the composition and dynamics of the FRT environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma Whittington
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Erin L McCullough
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Sharleen M Buel
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Scott Erdman
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Scott Pitnick
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Steve Dorus
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
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25
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Savini G, Scolari F, Ometto L, Rota-Stabelli O, Carraretto D, Gomulski LM, Gasperi G, Abd-Alla AMM, Aksoy S, Attardo GM, Malacrida AR. Viviparity and habitat restrictions may influence the evolution of male reproductive genes in tsetse fly (Glossina) species. BMC Biol 2021; 19:211. [PMID: 34556101 PMCID: PMC8461966 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01148-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glossina species (tsetse flies), the sole vectors of African trypanosomes, maintained along their long evolutionary history a unique reproductive strategy, adenotrophic viviparity. Viviparity reduces their reproductive rate and, as such, imposes strong selective pressures on males for reproductive success. These species live in sub-Saharan Africa, where the distributions of the main sub-genera Fusca, Morsitans, and Palpalis are restricted to forest, savannah, and riverine habitats, respectively. Here we aim at identifying the evolutionary patterns of the male reproductive genes of six species belonging to these three main sub-genera. We then interpreted the different patterns we found across the species in the light of viviparity and the specific habitat restrictions, which are known to shape reproductive behavior. RESULTS We used a comparative genomic approach to build consensus evolutionary trees that portray the selective pressure acting on the male reproductive genes in these lineages. Such trees reflect the long and divergent demographic history that led to an allopatric distribution of the Fusca, Morsitans, and Palpalis species groups. A dataset of over 1700 male reproductive genes remained conserved over the long evolutionary time scale (estimated at 26.7 million years) across the genomes of the six species. We suggest that this conservation may result from strong functional selective pressure on the male imposed by viviparity. It is noteworthy that more than half of these conserved genes are novel sequences that are unique to the Glossina genus and are candidates for selection in the different lineages. CONCLUSIONS Tsetse flies represent a model to interpret the evolution and differentiation of male reproductive biology under different, but complementary, perspectives. In the light of viviparity, we must take into account that these genes are constrained by a post-fertilization arena for genomic conflicts created by viviparity and absent in ovipositing species. This constraint implies a continuous antagonistic co-evolution between the parental genomes, thus accelerating inter-population post-zygotic isolation and, ultimately, favoring speciation. Ecological restrictions that affect reproductive behavior may further shape such antagonistic co-evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazia Savini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Institute of Molecular Genetics IGM-CNR "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Pavia, Italy
| | - Lino Ometto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Omar Rota-Stabelli
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Davide Carraretto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ludvik M Gomulski
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuliano Gasperi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Adly M M Abd-Alla
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Anna R Malacrida
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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26
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Whittle CA, Kulkarni A, Extavour CG. Evolutionary dynamics of sex-biased genes expressed in cricket brains and gonads. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:1188-1211. [PMID: 34114713 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sex-biased gene expression, particularly sex-biased expression in the gonad, has been linked to rates of protein sequence evolution (nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions, dN/dS) in animals. However, in insects, sex-biased expression studies remain centred on a few holometabolous species. Moreover, other major tissue types such as the brain remain underexplored. Here, we studied sex-biased gene expression and protein evolution in a hemimetabolous insect, the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. We generated novel male and female RNA-seq data for two sexual tissue types, the gonad and somatic reproductive system, and for two core components of the nervous system, the brain and ventral nerve cord. From a genome-wide analysis, we report several core findings. Firstly, testis-biased genes had accelerated evolution, as compared to ovary-biased and unbiased genes, which was associated with positive selection events. Secondly, although sex-biased brain genes were much less common than for the gonad, they exhibited a striking tendency for rapid protein sequence evolution, an effect that was stronger for the female than male brain. Further, some sex-biased brain genes were linked to sexual functions and mating behaviours, which we suggest may have accelerated their evolution via sexual selection. Thirdly, a tendency for narrow cross-tissue expression breadth, suggesting low pleiotropy, was observed for sex-biased brain genes, suggesting relaxed purifying selection, which we speculate may allow enhanced freedom to evolve adaptive protein functional changes. The findings of rapid evolution of testis-biased genes and male and female-biased brain genes are discussed with respect to pleiotropy, positive selection and the mating biology of this cricket.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie A Whittle
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Arpita Kulkarni
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cassandra G Extavour
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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27
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Patlar B, Jayaswal V, Ranz JM, Civetta A. Nonadaptive molecular evolution of seminal fluid proteins in Drosophila. Evolution 2021; 75:2102-2113. [PMID: 34184267 PMCID: PMC8457112 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are a group of reproductive proteins that are among the most evolutionarily divergent known. As SFPs can impact male and female fitness, these proteins have been proposed to evolve under postcopulatory sexual selection (PCSS). However, the fast change of the SFPs can also result from nonadaptive evolution, and the extent to which selective constraints prevent SFPs rapid evolution remains unknown. Using intra‐ and interspecific sequence information, along with genomics and functional data, we examine the molecular evolution of approximately 300 SFPs in Drosophila. We found that 50–57% of the SFP genes, depending on the population examined, are evolving under relaxed selection. Only 7–12% showed evidence of positive selection, with no evidence supporting other forms of PCSS, and 35–37% of the SFP genes were selectively constrained. Further, despite associations of positive selection with gene location on the X chromosome and protease activity, the analysis of additional genomic and functional features revealed their lack of influence on SFPs evolving under positive selection. Our results highlight a lack of sufficient evidence to claim that most SFPs are driven to evolve rapidly by PCSS while identifying genomic and functional attributes that influence different modes of SFPs evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Patlar
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9, Canada
| | - Vivek Jayaswal
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - José M Ranz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, 92697
| | - Alberto Civetta
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9, Canada
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28
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Sturm S, Dowle A, Audsley N, Isaac RE. Mass spectrometric characterisation of the major peptides of the male ejaculatory duct, including a glycopeptide with an unusual zwitterionic glycosylation. J Proteomics 2021; 246:104307. [PMID: 34174476 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Peptides present in the seminal fluid of Drosophila melanogaster can function as antimicrobial agents, enzyme inhibitors and as pheromones that elicit physiological and behavioural responses in the post-mated female. Understanding the molecular interactions by which these peptides influence reproduction requires detailed knowledge of their molecular structures. However, this information is often lacking and cannot be gleaned from just gene sequences and standard proteomic data. We now report the native structures of four seminal fluid peptides (andropin, CG42782, Met75C and Acp54A1) from the ejaculatory duct of male D. melanogaster. The mature CG42782, Met75C and Acp54A1 peptides each have a cyclic structure formed by a disulfide bond, which will reduce conformational freedom and enhance metabolic stability. In addition, the presence of a penultimate Pro in CG42782 and Met75C will help prevent degradation by carboxypeptidases. Met75C has undergone more extensive post-translational modifications with the formation of an N-terminal pyroglutamyl residue and the attachment of a mucin-like O-glycan to the side chain of Thr4. Both of these modifications are expected to further enhance the stability of the secreted peptide. The glycan has a rare zwitterionic structure comprising an O-linked N-acetyl hexosamine, a hexose and, unusually, phosphoethanolamine. A survey of various genomes showed that andropin, CG42782, and Acp54A1 are relatively recent genes and are restricted to the melanogaster subgroup. Met75C, however, was also found in members of the obscura species groups and in Scaptodrosophila lebanonensis. Andropin is related to the cecropin gene family and probably arose by tandem gene duplication, whereas CG42782, Met75C and Acp54A1 possibly emerged de novo. We speculate that the post-translational modifications that we report for these gene products will be important not only for a biological function, but also for metabolic stability and might also facilitate transport across tissue barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier of the female insect. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Seminal fluid peptides of D. melanogaster function as antimicrobials, enzyme inhibitors and as pheromones, eliciting physiological and behavioural responses in the post-mated female. A fuller understanding of how these peptides influence reproduction requires knowledge not only of their primary structure, but also of their post-translational modification. However, this information is often lacking and difficult to glean from standard proteomic data. The reported modifications, including the unusual glycosylation, adds much to our knowledge of this important class of peptides in this model organism, par excellence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam Dowle
- Bioscience Technology Facility, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Neil Audsley
- Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.
| | - R Elwyn Isaac
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
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29
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Johnstun JA, Shankar V, Mokashi SS, Sunkara LT, Ihearahu UE, Lyman RL, Mackay TFC, Anholt RRH. Functional Diversification, Redundancy, and Epistasis among Paralogs of the Drosophila melanogaster Obp50a-d Gene Cluster. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:2030-2044. [PMID: 33560417 PMCID: PMC8097280 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Large multigene families, such as the insect odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), are thought to arise through functional diversification after repeated gene duplications. Whereas many OBPs function in chemoreception, members of this family are also expressed in tissues outside chemosensory organs. Paralogs of the Obp50 gene cluster are expressed in metabolic and male reproductive tissues, but their functions and interrelationships remain unknown. Here, we report the genetic dissection of four members of the Obp50 cluster, which are in close physical proximity without intervening genes. We used CRISPR technology to excise the entire cluster while introducing a PhiC31 reintegration site to reinsert constructs in which different combinations of the constituent Obp genes were either intact or rendered inactive. We performed whole transcriptome sequencing and assessed sexually dimorphic changes in transcript abundances (transcriptional niches) associated with each gene-edited genotype. Using this approach, we were able to estimate redundancy, additivity, diversification, and epistasis among Obp50 paralogs. We analyzed the effects of gene editing of this cluster on organismal phenotypes and found a significant skewing of sex ratios attributable to Obp50a, and sex-specific effects on starvation stress resistance attributable to Obp50d. Thus, there is functional diversification within the Obp50 cluster with Obp50a contributing to development and Obp50d to stress resistance. The deletion-reinsertion approach we applied to the Obp50 cluster provides a general paradigm for the genetic dissection of paralogs of multigene families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel A Johnstun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Vijay Shankar
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Sneha S Mokashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Lakshmi T Sunkara
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Ugonna E Ihearahu
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Roberta L Lyman
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Trudy F C Mackay
- Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Robert R H Anholt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Program in Genetics and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
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30
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Bath E, Buzzoni D, Ralph T, Wigby S, Sepil I. Male condition influences female post mating aggression and feeding in
Drosophila. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Bath
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Daisy Buzzoni
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- University of Victoria Victoria BC Canada
| | - Toby Ralph
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Stuart Wigby
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behaviour Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
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31
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Vecellio M, Chen L, Cohen CJ, Cortes A, Li Y, Bonham S, Selmi C, Brown MA, Fischer R, Knight JC, Wordsworth BP. Functional Genomic Analysis of a RUNX3 Polymorphism Associated With Ankylosing Spondylitis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2021; 73:980-990. [PMID: 33369221 PMCID: PMC8251554 DOI: 10.1002/art.41628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the functional consequences of the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs4648889 in a putative enhancer upstream of the RUNX3 promoter associated with susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS Using nuclear extracts from Jurkat cells and primary human CD8+ T cells, the effects of rs4648889 on allele-specific transcription factor (TF) binding were investigated by DNA pull-down assay and quantitative mass spectrometry (qMS), with validation by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), Western blotting of the pulled-down eluates, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. Further functional effects were tested by small interfering RNA knockdown of the gene for interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5), followed by reverse transcription-qPCR (RT-qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the levels of IFNγ messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein, respectively. RESULTS In nuclear extracts from CD8+ T cells, results of qMS showed that relative TF binding to the AS-risk A allele of rs4648889 was increased 3.7-fold (P < 0.03) for Ikaros family zinc-finger protein 3 (IKZF3; Aiolos) and components of the NuRD complex, including chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 4 (CHD4) (3.6-fold increase; P < 0.05) and retinoblastoma binding protein 4 (RBBP4) (4.1-fold increase; P < 0.03). In contrast, IRF5 bound significantly more to the AS-protective G allele compared to the AS-risk A allele (fold change 8.2; P = 0.003). Validation with Western blotting, EMSA, and ChIP-qPCR confirmed the differential allelic binding of IKZF3, CHD4, RBBP4, and IRF5. Silencing of IRF5 in CD8+ T cells increased the levels of IFNγ mRNA as measured by RT-qPCR (P = 0.03) and IFNγ protein as measured by ELISA (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the association of rs4648889 with AS reflects allele-specific binding of this enhancer-like region to certain TFs, including IRF5, IKZF3, and members of the NuRD complex. IRF5 may have crucial influences on the functions of CD8+ lymphocytes, a finding that could reveal new therapeutic targets for the management of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Vecellio
- NIHR Oxford Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, NIHR Oxford Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Liye Chen
- NIHR Oxford Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, NIHR Oxford Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Carla J Cohen
- NIHR Oxford Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, NIHR Oxford Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Adrian Cortes
- John Radcliffe Hospital, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yan Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and Xiamen University School of Medicine, Xiamen, China
| | - Sarah Bonham
- Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Carlo Selmi
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Matthew A Brown
- NIHR Guy's and St. Thomas' Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK, and University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Roman Fischer
- Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Julian C Knight
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - B Paul Wordsworth
- NIHR Oxford Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, NIHR Oxford Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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32
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Bartley K, Chen W, Lloyd Mills RI, Nunn F, Price DRG, Rombauts S, Van de Peer Y, Roy L, Nisbet AJ, Burgess STG. Transcriptomic analysis of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, across all stages of the lifecycle. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:248. [PMID: 33827430 PMCID: PMC8028124 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07547-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The blood feeding poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae, causes substantial economic damage to the egg laying industry worldwide, and is a serious welfare concern for laying hens and poultry house workers. In this study we have investigated the temporal gene expression across the 6 stages/sexes (egg, larvae, protonymph and deutonymph, adult male and adult female) of this neglected parasite in order to understand the temporal expression associated with development, parasitic lifestyle, reproduction and allergen expression. RESULTS RNA-seq transcript data for the 6 stages were mapped to the PRM genome creating a publicly available gene expression atlas (on the OrcAE platform in conjunction with the PRM genome). Network analysis and clustering of stage-enriched gene expression in PRM resulted in 17 superclusters with stage-specific or multi-stage expression profiles. The 6 stage specific superclusters were clearly demarked from each other and the adult female supercluster contained the most stage specific transcripts (2725), whilst the protonymph supercluster the fewest (165). Fifteen pairwise comparisons performed between the different stages resulted in a total of 6025 Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) (P > 0.99). These data were evaluated alongside a Venn/Euler analysis of the top 100 most abundant genes in each stage. An expanded set of cuticle proteins and enzymes (chitinase and metallocarboxypeptidases) were identified in larvae and underpin cuticle formation and ecdysis to the protonymph stage. Two mucin/peritrophic-A salivary proteins (DEGAL6771g00070, DEGAL6824g00220) were highly expressed in the blood-feeding stages, indicating peritrophic membrane formation during feeding. Reproduction-associated vitellogenins were the most abundant transcripts in adult females whilst, in adult males, an expanded set of serine and cysteine proteinases and an epididymal protein (DEGAL6668g00010) were highly abundant. Assessment of the expression patterns of putative homologues of 32 allergen groups from house dust mites indicated a bias in their expression towards the non-feeding larval stage of PRM. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first evaluation of temporal gene expression across all stages of PRM and has provided insight into developmental, feeding, reproduction and survival strategies employed by this mite. The publicly available PRM resource on OrcAE offers a valuable tool for researchers investigating the biology and novel interventions of this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Bartley
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK.
| | - Wan Chen
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3FX, UK
| | | | - Francesca Nunn
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Daniel R G Price
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Stephane Rombauts
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yves Van de Peer
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Private bag X20, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Lise Roy
- CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Alasdair J Nisbet
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Stewart T G Burgess
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
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The 40-Year Mystery of Insect Odorant-Binding Proteins. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11040509. [PMID: 33808208 PMCID: PMC8067015 DOI: 10.3390/biom11040509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The survival of insects depends on their ability to detect molecules present in their environment. Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) form a family of proteins involved in chemoreception. While OBPs were initially found in olfactory appendages, recently these proteins were discovered in other chemosensory and non-chemosensory organs. OBPs can bind, solubilize and transport hydrophobic stimuli to chemoreceptors across the aqueous sensilla lymph. In addition to this broadly accepted "transporter role", OBPs can also buffer sudden changes in odorant levels and are involved in hygro-reception. The physiological roles of OBPs expressed in other body tissues, such as mouthparts, pheromone glands, reproductive organs, digestive tract and venom glands, remain to be investigated. This review provides an updated panorama on the varied structural aspects, binding properties, tissue expression and functional roles of insect OBPs.
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Gregoriou ME, Reczko M, Kakani EG, Tsoumani KT, Mathiopoulos KD. Decoding the Reproductive System of the Olive Fruit Fly, Bactrocera oleae. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:355. [PMID: 33670896 PMCID: PMC7997189 DOI: 10.3390/genes12030355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In most diploid organisms, mating is a prerequisite for reproduction and, thus, critical to the maintenance of their population and the perpetuation of the species. Besides the importance of understanding the fundamentals of reproduction, targeting the reproductive success of a pest insect is also a promising method for its control, as a possible manipulation of the reproductive system could affect its destructive activity. Here, we used an integrated approach for the elucidation of the reproductive system and mating procedures of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae. Initially, we performed a RNAseq analysis in reproductive tissues of virgin and mated insects. A comparison of the transcriptomes resulted in the identification of genes that are differentially expressed after mating. Functional annotation of the genes showed an alteration in the metabolic, catalytic, and cellular processes after mating. Moreover, a functional analysis through RNAi silencing of two differentially expressed genes, yellow-g and troponin C, resulted in a significantly reduced oviposition rate. This study provided a foundation for future investigations into the olive fruit fly's reproductive biology to the development of new exploitable tools for its control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Eleni Gregoriou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece; (M.-E.G.); (K.T.T.)
| | - Martin Reczko
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Science, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre “Alexander Fleming”, 16672 Vari, Greece;
| | - Evdoxia G. Kakani
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Building 1, Room 103, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Konstantina T. Tsoumani
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece; (M.-E.G.); (K.T.T.)
| | - Kostas D. Mathiopoulos
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece; (M.-E.G.); (K.T.T.)
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Wainwright SM, Hopkins BR, Mendes CC, Sekar A, Kroeger B, Hellberg JEEU, Fan SJ, Pavey A, Marie PP, Leiblich A, Sepil I, Charles PD, Thézénas ML, Fischer R, Kessler BM, Gandy C, Corrigan L, Patel R, Wigby S, Morris JF, Goberdhan DCI, Wilson C. Drosophila Sex Peptide controls the assembly of lipid microcarriers in seminal fluid. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2019622118. [PMID: 33495334 PMCID: PMC7865141 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019622118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Seminal fluid plays an essential role in promoting male reproductive success and modulating female physiology and behavior. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, Sex Peptide (SP) is the best-characterized protein mediator of these effects. It is secreted from the paired male accessory glands (AGs), which, like the mammalian prostate and seminal vesicles, generate most of the seminal fluid contents. After mating, SP binds to spermatozoa and is retained in the female sperm storage organs. It is gradually released by proteolytic cleavage and induces several long-term postmating responses, including increased ovulation, elevated feeding, and reduced receptivity to remating, primarily signaling through the SP receptor (SPR). Here, we demonstrate a previously unsuspected SPR-independent function for SP. We show that, in the AG lumen, SP and secreted proteins with membrane-binding anchors are carried on abundant, large neutral lipid-containing microcarriers, also found in other SP-expressing Drosophila species. These microcarriers are transferred to females during mating where they rapidly disassemble. Remarkably, SP is a key microcarrier assembly and disassembly factor. Its absence leads to major changes in the seminal proteome transferred to females upon mating. Males expressing nonfunctional SP mutant proteins that affect SP's binding to and release from sperm in females also do not produce normal microcarriers, suggesting that this male-specific defect contributes to the resulting widespread abnormalities in ejaculate function. Our data therefore reveal a role for SP in formation of seminal macromolecular assemblies, which may explain the presence of SP in Drosophila species that lack the signaling functions seen in Dmelanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mark Wainwright
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ben R Hopkins
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3PS Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Cláudia C Mendes
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Aashika Sekar
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Kroeger
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Josephine E E U Hellberg
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Shih-Jung Fan
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail Pavey
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Pauline P Marie
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Leiblich
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3PS Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philip D Charles
- Target Discovery Institute Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marie L Thézénas
- Target Discovery Institute Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Roman Fischer
- Target Discovery Institute Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Target Discovery Institute Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Carina Gandy
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Corrigan
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Patel
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Wigby
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3PS Oxford, United Kingdom
- Applied Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden D-01069, Germany
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZB Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - John F Morris
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah C I Goberdhan
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Clive Wilson
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, United Kingdom;
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Frazee SR, Harper AR, Afkhami M, Wood ML, McCrory JC, Masly JP. Interspecific introgression reveals a role of male genital morphology during the evolution of reproductive isolation in Drosophila. Evolution 2021; 75:989-1002. [PMID: 33433903 PMCID: PMC8248101 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Rapid divergence in genital structures among nascent species has been posited to be an early‐evolving cause of reproductive isolation, although evidence supporting this idea as a widespread phenomenon remains mixed. Using a collection of interspecific introgression lines between two Drosophila species that diverged approximately 240,000 years ago, we tested the hypothesis that even modest divergence in genital morphology can result in substantial fitness losses. We studied the reproductive consequences of variation in the male epandrial posterior lobes between Drosophila mauritiana and Drosophila sechellia and found that divergence in posterior lobe morphology has significant fitness costs on several prefertilization and postcopulatory reproductive measures. Males with divergent posterior lobe morphology also significantly reduced the life span of their mates. Interestingly, one of the consequences of genital divergence was decreased oviposition and fertilization, which suggests that a sensory bias for posterior lobe morphology could exist in females, and thus, posterior lobe morphology may be the target of cryptic female choice in these species. Our results provide evidence that divergence in genitalia can in fact give rise to substantial reproductive isolation early during species divergence, and they also reveal novel reproductive functions of the external male genitalia in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mehrnaz Afkhami
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
| | - Michelle L Wood
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
| | - John C McCrory
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
| | - John P Masly
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
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37
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Leigh S, Rostant WG, Taylor MI, Alphey L, Chapman T. Satyrization in Drosophila fruitflies. J Evol Biol 2020; 34:319-330. [PMID: 33159350 PMCID: PMC8246970 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The satyr of Greek mythology was half‐man, half‐goat, with an animal persona signifying immoderate sexual appetites. In biology, satyrization is the disruption of reproduction in matings between closely related species. Interestingly, its effects are often reciprocally asymmetric, manifesting more strongly in one direction of heterospecific mating than the other. Heterospecific matings are well known to result in female fitness costs due to the production of sterile or inviable hybrid offspring and can also occur due to reduced female sexual receptivity, lowering the likelihood of any subsequent conspecific matings. Here we investigated the costs and mechanisms of satyrization in the Drosophila melanogaster species subgroup of fruitflies. The results showed that D. simulans females experienced higher fitness costs from a loss of remating opportunities due to significantly reduced post‐mating sexual receptivity than did D. melanogaster females, as a result of reciprocal heterospecific matings. Reciprocal tests of the effects of male reproductive accessory gland protein (Acp) injections on female receptivity in pairwise comparisons between D. melanogaster and five other species within the melanogaster species subgroup revealed significant post‐mating receptivity asymmetries. This was due to variation in the effects of heterospecific Acps within species with which D. melanogaster can mate, and significant but nonasymmetric Acp effects in species with which it cannot. We conclude that asymmetric satyrization due to post‐mating effects of Acps may be common among diverging and hybridising species. The findings are of interest in understanding the evolution of reproductive isolation and species divergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stewart Leigh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Wayne G Rostant
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Martin I Taylor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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38
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Wigby S, Brown NC, Allen SE, Misra S, Sitnik JL, Sepil I, Clark AG, Wolfner MF. The Drosophila seminal proteome and its role in postcopulatory sexual selection. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20200072. [PMID: 33070726 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Postcopulatory sexual selection (PCSS), comprised of sperm competition and cryptic female choice, has emerged as a widespread evolutionary force among polyandrous animals. There is abundant evidence that PCSS can shape the evolution of sperm. However, sperm are not the whole story: they are accompanied by seminal fluid substances that play many roles, including influencing PCSS. Foremost among seminal fluid models is Drosophila melanogaster, which displays ubiquitous polyandry, and exhibits intraspecific variation in a number of seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) that appear to modulate paternity share. Here, we first consolidate current information on the identities of D. melanogaster Sfps. Comparing between D. melanogaster and human seminal proteomes, we find evidence of similarities between many protein classes and individual proteins, including some D. melanogaster Sfp genes linked to PCSS, suggesting evolutionary conservation of broad-scale functions. We then review experimental evidence for the functions of D. melanogaster Sfps in PCSS and sexual conflict. We identify gaps in our current knowledge and areas for future research, including an enhanced identification of PCSS-related Sfps, their interactions with rival sperm and with females, the role of qualitative changes in Sfps and mechanisms of ejaculate tailoring. This article is part of the theme issue 'Fifty years of sperm competition'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Wigby
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.,Faculty Biology, Applied Zoology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Nora C Brown
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Sarah E Allen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Snigdha Misra
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jessica L Sitnik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Andrew G Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Rowe M, Whittington E, Borziak K, Ravinet M, Eroukhmanoff F, Sætre GP, Dorus S. Molecular Diversification of the Seminal Fluid Proteome in a Recently Diverged Passerine Species Pair. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:488-506. [PMID: 31665510 PMCID: PMC6993853 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) mediate an array of postmating reproductive processes that influence fertilization and fertility. As such, it is widely held that SFPs may contribute to postmating, prezygotic reproductive barriers between closely related taxa. We investigated seminal fluid (SF) diversification in a recently diverged passerine species pair (Passer domesticus and Passer hispaniolensis) using a combination of proteomic and comparative evolutionary genomic approaches. First, we characterized and compared the SF proteome of the two species, revealing consistencies with known aspects of SFP biology and function in other taxa, including the presence and diversification of proteins involved in immunity and sperm maturation. Second, using whole-genome resequencing data, we assessed patterns of genomic differentiation between house and Spanish sparrows. These analyses detected divergent selection on immunity-related SF genes and positive selective sweeps in regions containing a number of SF genes that also exhibited protein abundance diversification between species. Finally, we analyzed the molecular evolution of SFPs across 11 passerine species and found a significantly higher rate of positive selection in SFPs compared with the rest of the genome, as well as significant enrichments for functional pathways related to immunity in the set of positively selected SF genes. Our results suggest that selection on immunity pathways is an important determinant of passerine SF composition and evolution. Assessing the role of immunity genes in speciation in other recently diverged taxa should be prioritized given the potential role for immunity-related proteins in reproductive incompatibilities in Passer sparrows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissah Rowe
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Emma Whittington
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
| | - Kirill Borziak
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
| | - Mark Ravinet
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Fabrice Eroukhmanoff
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Glenn-Peter Sætre
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Steve Dorus
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
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Garlovsky MD, Evans C, Rosenow MA, Karr TL, Snook RR. Seminal fluid protein divergence among populations exhibiting postmating prezygotic reproductive isolation. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:4428-4441. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin D. Garlovsky
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Caroline Evans
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | | | - Timothy L. Karr
- Centre for Mechanisms of Evolution The Biodesign Institute Arizona State University Tempe AZ USA
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41
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Kerwin P, von Philipsborn AC. Copulation Song in Drosophila: Do Females Sing to Change Male Ejaculate Allocation and Incite Postcopulatory Mate Choice? Bioessays 2020; 42:e2000109. [PMID: 32964470 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Drosophila males sing a courtship song to achieve copulations with females. Females were recently found to sing a distinct song during copulation, which depends on male seminal fluid transfer and delays female remating. Here, it is hypothesized that female copulation song is a signal directed at the copulating male and changes ejaculate allocation. This may alter female remating and sperm usage, and thereby affect postcopulatory mate choice. Mechanisms of how female copulation song is elicited, how males respond to copulation song, and how remating is modulated, are considered. The potential adaptive value of female signaling during copulation is discussed with reference to vertebrate copulation calls and their proposed function in eliciting mate guarding. Female copulation song may be widespread within the Drosophila genus. This newly discovered behavior opens many interesting avenues for future research, including investigation of how sexually dimorphic neuronal circuits mediate communication between nervous system and reproductive organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kerwin
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark
| | - Anne C von Philipsborn
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark
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Sturm S, Dowle A, Audsley N, Isaac RE. The structure of the Drosophila melanogaster sex peptide: Identification of hydroxylated isoleucine and a strain variation in the pattern of amino acid hydroxylation. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 124:103414. [PMID: 32589920 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In Drosophila melanogaster mating triggers profound changes in the behaviour and reproductive physiology of the female. Many of these post-mating effects are elicited by sex peptide (SP), a 36-mer pheromone made in the male accessory gland and passed to the female in the seminal fluid. The peptide comprises several structurally and functionally distinct domains, one of which consists of five 4-hydroxyprolines and induces a female immune response. The SP gene predicts an isoleucine (Ile14) sandwiched between two of the hydroxyprolines of the mature secreted peptide, but the identity of this residue was not established by peptide sequencing and amino acid analysis, presumably because of modification of the side chain. Here we have used matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry together with Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry to show that Ile14 is modified by oxidation of the side chain - a very unusual post-translational modification. Mass spectrometric analysis of glands from different geographical populations of male D. melanogaster show that SP with six hydroxylated side chains is the most common form of the peptide, but that a sub-strain of Canton-S flies held at Leeds only has two or three hydroxylated prolines and an unmodified Ile14. The D. melanogaster genome has remarkably 17 putative hydroxylase genes that are strongly and almost exclusively expressed in the male accessory gland, suggesting that the gland is a powerhouse of protein oxidation. Strain variation in the pattern of sex peptide hydroxylation might be explained by differences in the expression of individual hydroxylase genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Sturm
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Adam Dowle
- Bioscience Technology Facility, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Neil Audsley
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - R Elwyn Isaac
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
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Sepil I, Hopkins BR, Dean R, Bath E, Friedman S, Swanson B, Ostridge HJ, Harper L, Buehner NA, Wolfner MF, Konietzny R, Thézénas ML, Sandham E, Charles PD, Fischer R, Steinhauer J, Kessler BM, Wigby S. Male reproductive aging arises via multifaceted mating-dependent sperm and seminal proteome declines, but is postponable in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:17094-17103. [PMID: 32611817 PMCID: PMC7382285 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2009053117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Declining ejaculate performance with male age is taxonomically widespread and has broad fitness consequences. Ejaculate success requires fully functional germline (sperm) and soma (seminal fluid) components. However, some aging theories predict that resources should be preferentially diverted to the germline at the expense of the soma, suggesting differential impacts of aging on sperm and seminal fluid and trade-offs between them or, more broadly, between reproduction and lifespan. While harmful effects of male age on sperm are well known, we do not know how much seminal fluid deteriorates in comparison. Moreover, given the predicted trade-offs, it remains unclear whether systemic lifespan-extending interventions could ameliorate the declining performance of the ejaculate as a whole. Here, we address these problems using Drosophila melanogaster. We demonstrate that seminal fluid deterioration contributes to male reproductive decline via mating-dependent mechanisms that include posttranslational modifications to seminal proteins and altered seminal proteome composition and transfer. Additionally, we find that sperm production declines chronologically with age, invariant to mating activity such that older multiply mated males become infertile principally via reduced sperm transfer and viability. Our data, therefore, support the idea that both germline and soma components of the ejaculate contribute to male reproductive aging but reveal a mismatch in their aging patterns. Our data do not generally support the idea that the germline is prioritized over soma, at least, within the ejaculate. Moreover, we find that lifespan-extending systemic down-regulation of insulin signaling results in improved late-life ejaculate performance, indicating simultaneous amelioration of both somatic and reproductive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3SZ Oxford, United Kingdom;
| | - Ben R Hopkins
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3SZ Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Rebecca Dean
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Bath
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3SZ Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ben Swanson
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3SZ Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Harrison J Ostridge
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3SZ Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Harper
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3SZ Oxford, United Kingdom
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, KY16 9ST St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Norene A Buehner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Rebecca Konietzny
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, TDI Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, OX3 7FZ Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marie-Laëtitia Thézénas
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, TDI Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, OX3 7FZ Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Sandham
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3SZ Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philip D Charles
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, TDI Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, OX3 7FZ Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Roman Fischer
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, TDI Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, OX3 7FZ Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, TDI Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, OX3 7FZ Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Wigby
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, OX1 3SZ Oxford, United Kingdom
- Faculty Biology, Applied Zoology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZB Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Kerwin P, Yuan J, von Philipsborn AC. Female copulation song is modulated by seminal fluid. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1430. [PMID: 32188855 PMCID: PMC7080721 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15260-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In most animal species, males and females communicate during sexual behavior to negotiate reproductive investments. Pre-copulatory courtship may settle if copulation takes place, but often information exchange and decision-making continue beyond that point. Here, we show that female Drosophila sing by wing vibration in copula. This copulation song is distinct from male courtship song and requires neurons expressing the female sex determination factor DoublesexF. Copulation song depends on transfer of seminal fluid components of the male accessory gland. Hearing female copulation song increases the reproductive success of a male when he is challenged by competition, suggesting that auditory cues from the female modulate male ejaculate allocation. Our findings reveal an unexpected fine-tuning of reproductive decisions during a multimodal copulatory dialog. The discovery of a female-specific acoustic behavior sheds new light on Drosophila mating, sexual dimorphisms of neuronal circuits and the impact of seminal fluid molecules on nervous system and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kerwin
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Hoegh-Guldbergsgade 10, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jiasheng Yuan
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Hoegh-Guldbergsgade 10, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anne C von Philipsborn
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience (DANDRITE), Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Hoegh-Guldbergsgade 10, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark.
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45
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Palomo M, Vera M, Martin S, Torramadé‐Moix S, Martinez‐Sanchez J, Belen Moreno A, Carreras E, Escolar G, Cases A, Díaz‐Ricart M. Up-regulation of HDACs, a harbinger of uraemic endothelial dysfunction, is prevented by defibrotide. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:1713-1723. [PMID: 31782253 PMCID: PMC6991634 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial dysfunction is an earlier contributor to the development of atherosclerosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD), in which the role of epigenetic triggers cannot be ruled out. Endothelial protective strategies, such as defibrotide (DF), may be useful in this scenario. We evaluated changes induced by CKD on endothelial cell proteome and explored the effect of DF and the mechanisms involved. Human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells were exposed to sera from healthy donors (n = 20) and patients with end-stage renal disease on haemodialysis (n = 20). Differential protein expression was investigated by using a proteomic approach, Western blot and immunofluorescence. HDAC1 and HDAC2 overexpression was detected. Increased HDAC1 expression occurred at both cytoplasm and nucleus. These effects were dose-dependently inhibited by DF. Both the HDACs inhibitor trichostatin A and DF prevented the up-regulation of the endothelial dysfunction markers induced by the uraemic milieu: intercellular adhesion molecule-1, surface Toll-like receptor-4, von Willebrand Factor and reactive oxygen species. Moreover, DF down-regulated HDACs expression through the PI3/AKT signalling pathway. HDACs appear as key modulators of the CKD-induced endothelial dysfunction as specific blockade by trichostatin A or by DF prevents endothelial dysfunction responses to the CKD insult. Moreover, DF exerts its endothelial protective effect by inhibiting HDAC up-regulation likely through PI3K/AKT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Palomo
- HematopathologyCentre Diagnòstic Biomèdic (CDB)Hospital ClinicInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Universitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research InstituteHospital Clinic/University of Barcelona CampusBarcelonaSpain
- Barcelona Endothelium Team (BET)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Manel Vera
- Nephrology DepartmentHospital ClinicInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Universitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Susana Martin
- HematopathologyCentre Diagnòstic Biomèdic (CDB)Hospital ClinicInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Universitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Sergi Torramadé‐Moix
- HematopathologyCentre Diagnòstic Biomèdic (CDB)Hospital ClinicInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Universitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Julia Martinez‐Sanchez
- HematopathologyCentre Diagnòstic Biomèdic (CDB)Hospital ClinicInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Universitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research InstituteHospital Clinic/University of Barcelona CampusBarcelonaSpain
- Barcelona Endothelium Team (BET)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Ana Belen Moreno
- HematopathologyCentre Diagnòstic Biomèdic (CDB)Hospital ClinicInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Universitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Enric Carreras
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research InstituteHospital Clinic/University of Barcelona CampusBarcelonaSpain
- Barcelona Endothelium Team (BET)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Ginés Escolar
- HematopathologyCentre Diagnòstic Biomèdic (CDB)Hospital ClinicInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Universitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Aleix Cases
- Nephrology DepartmentHospital ClinicInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Universitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Maribel Díaz‐Ricart
- HematopathologyCentre Diagnòstic Biomèdic (CDB)Hospital ClinicInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Universitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
- Barcelona Endothelium Team (BET)BarcelonaSpain
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Patlar B, Weber M, Temizyürek T, Ramm SA. Seminal Fluid-Mediated Manipulation of Post-mating Behavior in a Simultaneous Hermaphrodite. Curr Biol 2020; 30:143-149.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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BMP signaling inhibition in Drosophila secondary cells remodels the seminal proteome and self and rival ejaculate functions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:24719-24728. [PMID: 31740617 PMCID: PMC6900634 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1914491116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) exert potent effects on male and female fitness. Rapidly evolving and molecularly diverse, they derive from multiple male secretory cells and tissues. In Drosophila melanogaster, most SFPs are produced in the accessory glands, which are composed of ∼1,000 fertility-enhancing "main cells" and ∼40 more functionally cryptic "secondary cells." Inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in secondary cells suppresses secretion, leading to a unique uncoupling of normal female postmating responses to the ejaculate: refractoriness stimulation is impaired, but offspring production is not. Secondary-cell secretions might therefore make highly specific contributions to the seminal proteome and ejaculate function; alternatively, they might regulate more global-but hitherto undiscovered-SFP functions and proteome composition. Here, we present data that support the latter model. We show that in addition to previously reported phenotypes, secondary-cell-specific BMP signaling inhibition compromises sperm storage and increases female sperm use efficiency. It also impacts second male sperm, tending to slow entry into storage and delay ejection. First male paternity is enhanced, which suggests a constraint on ejaculate evolution whereby high female refractoriness and sperm competitiveness are mutually exclusive. Using quantitative proteomics, we reveal changes to the seminal proteome that surprisingly encompass alterations to main-cell-derived proteins, indicating important cross-talk between classes of SFP-secreting cells. Our results demonstrate that ejaculate composition and function emerge from the integrated action of multiple secretory cell types, suggesting that modification to the cellular make-up of seminal-fluid-producing tissues is an important factor in ejaculate evolution.
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48
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Divergence in Transcriptional and Regulatory Responses to Mating in Male and Female Fruitflies. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16100. [PMID: 31695054 PMCID: PMC6834580 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51141-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mating induces extensive physiological, biochemical and behavioural changes in female animals of many taxa. In contrast, the overall phenotypic and transcriptomic consequences of mating for males, hence how they might differ from those of females, are poorly described. Post mating responses in each sex are rapidly initiated, predicting the existence of regulatory mechanisms in addition to transcriptional responses involving de novo gene expression. That post mating responses appear different for each sex also predicts that the genome-wide signatures of mating should show evidence of sex-specific specialisation. In this study, we used high resolution RNA sequencing to provide the first direct comparisons of the transcriptomic responses of male and female Drosophila to mating, and the first comparison of mating-responsive miRNAs in both sexes in any species. As predicted, the results revealed the existence of sex- and body part-specific mRNA and miRNA expression profiles. More genes were differentially expressed in the female head-thorax than the abdomen following mating, whereas the opposite was true in males. Indeed, the transcriptional profile of male head-thorax tissue was largely unaffected by mating, and no differentially expressed genes were detected at the most stringent significance threshold. A subset of ribosomal genes in females were differentially expressed in both body parts, but in opposite directions, consistent with the existence of body part-specific resource allocation switching. Novel, mating-responsive miRNAs in each sex were also identified, and a miRNA-mRNA interactions analysis revealed putative targets among mating-responsive genes. We show that the structure of genome-wide responses by each sex to mating is strongly divergent, and provide new insights into how shared genomes can achieve characteristic distinctiveness.
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49
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Sirot LK. Modulation of seminal fluid molecules by males and females. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 35:109-116. [PMID: 31472462 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In insects, seminal fluid molecules (SFMs) influence female post-mating phenotypes that affect reproductive success including egg development, sperm use, mating behavior, attractiveness, and lifespan. Yet, the magnitude of these effects can be quite variable, even within inbred strains. This variation is important because it could impact post-copulatory reproductive success of both males and females. One likely cause of this variation is modulation by males or females of the quantities or qualities (e.g. stability or activity state) of SFMs, or, in the case of females, of their sensitivity to SFMs. Here, I review opportunities for SFM modulation by males and females and propose that these processes could provide mechanisms by which information received before and during copulation influences post-copulatory reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura King Sirot
- Department of Biology, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH 44691, United States.
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50
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Sun R, Sun Z, Chen Y, Zhu F, Li Y, Zhong G, Yi X. Comparative proteomic analysis of sex-biased proteins in ovary and testis at different stages of Spodoptera litura. J Proteomics 2019; 206:103439. [PMID: 31271900 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Sex-biased protein is thought to be able to drive the phenotypic differences in males and females in insects. In this study, 1385 and 1727 proteins were identified as differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) by comparing the protein abundances at pupae stage with those at adult stage in ovary and testis of S.litura, respectively. And among which, 548 DAPs were showed to be expressed in both ovary and testis, and 837 and 1179 proteins were considered as ovary-specific and testis-specific DAPs, respectively. To further identify DAPs related to gonad development and sex dimorphism, a total of 320 DAPs were selected and defined as "proteins of specific interest" based on several selecting criteria. Sex dimorphism is a complex and dynamic developmental progress, and these identified DAPs were suggested to be involved in multiple functions such as organonitrogen compound catabolic process, glycosylation, proteasome, N-Glycan biosynthesis and other reproduction-related processes. Overall, our results highlighted these sexual-biased, gonad development related and sexual dimorphism related DAPs, and their abundance variations along with development were also examined, which could provide important information for their functional analysis in reproduction and potential biomarkers for developing useful strategies against S. litura and other orthologous pests. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Sex dimorphism entails the differentiation of two sexual functions, resulting in sexually phenotypic differences and leading to the development of female and male morphologies and behaviors. However, sex dimorphism related proteins remain to be identified in many non-model insects. In this study, iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis was applied to examine the variations of protein abundances at pupae stage and adult stage in ovary and testis of S.litura, respectively. Reproduction and sex dimorphism related proteins were further identified as "proteins of specific interest". These identified candidate proteins provided valuable information for their further functional analysis in reproduction and could serve as potential biomarkers for developing useful strategies against S. litura and other orthologous pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Sun
- Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhipeng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaoyao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fuyu Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yun Li
- Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guohua Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xin Yi
- Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
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