1
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Mikhailova AA, Dohmen E, Harrison MC. Major changes in domain arrangements are associated with the evolution of termites. J Evol Biol 2024; 37:758-769. [PMID: 38630634 DOI: 10.1093/jeb/voae047] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Domains as functional protein units and their rearrangements along the phylogeny can shed light on the functional changes of proteomes associated with the evolution of complex traits like eusociality. This complex trait is associated with sterile soldiers and workers, and long-lived, highly fecund reproductives. Unlike in Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps), the evolution of eusociality within Blattodea, where termites evolved from within cockroaches, was accompanied by a reduction in proteome size, raising the question of whether functional novelty was achieved with existing rather than novel proteins. To address this, we investigated the role of domain rearrangements during the evolution of termite eusociality. Analysing domain rearrangements in the proteomes of three solitary cockroaches and five eusocial termites, we inferred more than 5,000 rearrangements over the phylogeny of Blattodea. The 90 novel domain arrangements that emerged at the origin of termites were enriched for several functions related to longevity, such as protein homeostasis, DNA repair, mitochondrial activity, and nutrient sensing. Many domain rearrangements were related to changes in developmental pathways, important for the emergence of novel castes. Along with the elaboration of social complexity, including permanently sterile workers and larger, foraging colonies, we found 110 further domain arrangements with functions related to protein glycosylation and ion transport. We found an enrichment of caste-biased expression and splicing within rearranged genes, highlighting their importance for the evolution of castes. Furthermore, we found increased levels of DNA methylation among rearranged compared to non-rearranged genes suggesting fundamental differences in their regulation. Our findings indicate the importance of domain rearrangements in the generation of functional novelty necessary for termite eusociality to evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina A Mikhailova
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Elias Dohmen
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Mark C Harrison
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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2
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Pyenson BC, Rehan SM. Gene regulation supporting sociality shared across lineages and variation in complexity. Genome 2024; 67:99-108. [PMID: 38096504 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2023-0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Across evolutionary lineages, insects vary in social complexity, from those that exhibit extended parental care to those with elaborate divisions of labor. Here, we synthesize the sociogenomic resources from hundreds of species to describe common gene regulatory mechanisms in insects that regulate social organization across phylogeny and levels of social complexity. Different social phenotypes expressed by insects can be linked to the organization of co-expressing gene networks and features of the epigenetic landscape. Insect sociality also stems from processes like the emergence of parental care and the decoupling of ancestral genetic programs. One underexplored avenue is how variation in a group's social environment affects the gene expression of individuals. Additionally, an experimental reduction of gene expression would demonstrate how the activity of specific genes contributes to insect social phenotypes. While tissue specificity provides greater localization of the gene expression underlying social complexity, emerging transcriptomic analysis of insect brains at the cellular level provides even greater resolution to understand the molecular basis of social insect evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra M Rehan
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
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3
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Kaleem Ullah RM, Jia B, Liang S, Sikandar A, Gao F, Wu H. Uncovering the Chemosensory System of a Subterranean Termite, Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) (Isoptera: Termitidae): Revealing the Chemosensory Genes and Gene Expression Patterns. INSECTS 2023; 14:883. [PMID: 37999082 PMCID: PMC10672159 DOI: 10.3390/insects14110883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Termites are eusocial insects. Chemical signals between colony members are crucial to the smooth running of colony operations, but little is known about their olfactory system and the roles played by various chemosensory genes in this process. Chemosensory genes are involved in basic olfactory perception in insects. Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) is one of the most damaging pests to agricultural crops, forests, and human-made structures. To better understand the olfactory system and the genes involved in olfactory processing in O. formosanus, we produced a transcriptome of worker termites. In this study, we identified 13 OforOBPs, 1 OforCSP, 15 OforORs, 9 OforGRs, and 4 OforSNMPs. Multiple sequence alignments were used in the phylogenetic study, which included data from other termite species and a wide variety of insect species. Moreover, we also investigated the mRNA expression levels using qRT-PCR. The significantly high expression levels of OforCSP1, OforOBP2, OforOR1, and OforSNMP1 suggest that these genes may play important roles in olfactory processing in termite social behavior, including caste differentiation, nestmate and non-nestmate discrimination, and the performance of colony operations among members. Our research establishes a foundation for future molecular-level functional studies of chemosensory genes in O. formosanus, which might lead to the identification of novel targets for termite integrated pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Muhammad Kaleem Ullah
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (R.M.K.U.); (A.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Bao Jia
- Nanning Institute of Termite Control, Nanning 530023, China; (B.J.); (S.L.)
| | - Sheng Liang
- Nanning Institute of Termite Control, Nanning 530023, China; (B.J.); (S.L.)
| | - Aatika Sikandar
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (R.M.K.U.); (A.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Fukun Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (R.M.K.U.); (A.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Haiyan Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; (R.M.K.U.); (A.S.); (F.G.)
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4
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Okwaro LA, Korb J. Epigenetic regulation and division of labor in social insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 58:101051. [PMID: 37164259 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Analogous to multicellular organisms, social insect colonies are characterized by division of labor with queens and workers reflecting germline and soma, respectively. In multicellular organisms, such division is achieved through epigenetic factors regulating cell differentiation during development. Analogously, epigenetic regulation is postulated to regulate caste differences in social insects. We summarize recent findings about the role of epigenetics in social insects, focusing on DNA methylation and histone modifications. We specifically address (i) queen versus worker caste differentiation, (ii) queen versus worker caste differences, and (iii) division of labor among workers. Our review provides an overview of an exciting and controversially discussed field in developmental and molecular biology. It shows that our current understanding about the role of epigenetics in regulating division of labor in social insects is still fragmentary but that refined methods with well-replicated samples and targeted questions offer promising insights into this emerging field of socio-epigenomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis A Okwaro
- University of Freiburg, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Judith Korb
- University of Freiburg, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
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5
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Scharf ME, Peterson BF. A Century of Synergy in Termite Symbiosis Research: Linking the Past with New Genomic Insights. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 66:23-43. [PMID: 33417825 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-022420-074746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Termites have long been studied for their symbiotic associations with gut microbes. In the late nineteenth century, this relationship was poorly understood and captured the interest of parasitologists such as Joseph Leidy; this research led to that of twentieth-century biologists and entomologists including Cleveland, Hungate, Trager, and Lüscher. Early insights came via microscopy, organismal, and defaunation studies, which led to descriptions of microbes present, descriptions of the roles of symbionts in lignocellulose digestion, and early insights into energy gas utilization by the host termite. Focus then progressed to culture-dependent microbiology and biochemical studies of host-symbiont complementarity, which revealed specific microhabitat requirements for symbionts and noncellulosic mechanisms of symbiosis (e.g., N2 fixation). Today, knowledge on termite symbiosis has accrued exponentially thanks to omic technologies that reveal symbiont identities, functions, and interdependence, as well as intricacies of host-symbiont complementarity. Moving forward, the merging of classical twentieth-century approaches with evolving omic tools should provide even deeper insights into host-symbiont interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Scharf
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA;
| | - Brittany F Peterson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois 62026, USA;
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6
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Liu PC, Hao DJ, Hu HY, Wei JR. Sexual dimorphism and sex-biased gene expression in an egg parasitoid species, Anastatus disparis. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:492. [PMID: 32682391 PMCID: PMC7368684 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-06903-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Differences in the expression of genes present in both sexes are assumed to contribute to sex differences including behavioural, physiological and morphological dimorphisms. For enriching our knowledge of gender differences in an important egg parasitoid wasp, Anastatus disparis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), sex-biased differences in gene expression were investigated using Illumina-based transcriptomic analysis. Results A total of 15,812 resulting unigenes were annotated, and a large set of genes accounting for 50.09% of the total showed sex-biased expression and included 630 sex-specific genes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses showed that the functional categories associated with sex-biased genes were mainly related to reproduction. In addition, the transcriptome data provided evidence that sex pheromones in A. disparis are produced by the female, and activity of Δ12-desaturases appear to have been replaced by Δ9-desaturases playing roles in sex pheromone production. The large set of sex-biased genes identified in this study provide a molecular background for sexually dimorphic traits such as flyability, longevity, and aggression in this species and suggests candidate venom proteins expressed only in females that could be used for biological control. Conclusions This study provides comprehensive insight into sexually dimorphic traits of a parasitoid wasp and can inform future research into the molecular mechanisms underlying such traits and the application of parasitoids to the biological control of pest species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Cheng Liu
- The College of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China.
| | - De-Jun Hao
- The College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hao-Yuan Hu
- The College of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China
| | - Jian-Rong Wei
- The College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
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7
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Sun P, Li G, Jian J, Liu L, Chen J, Yu S, Xu H, Lei C, Zhou X, Huang Q. Transcriptomic and Functional Analyses of Phenotypic Plasticity in a Higher Termite, Macrotermes barneyi Light. Front Genet 2019; 10:964. [PMID: 31681415 PMCID: PMC6797822 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Eusocial termites have a complex caste system, which leads to the division of labor. Previous studies offered some insight into the caste differentiation in lower termites; however, few studies were focusing on the molecular mechanisms of higher termites with sophisticated societies. Comparative transcriptomic analyses of five immature castes of a higher termite, Macrotermes barneyi Light, suggest that phenotypic plasticity is modulated by an array of transcriptional changes, including differentially expressed genes (e.g., caste-biased genes Vtg and TnC), co-expression networks (e.g., genes associated with nymph reproduction), and alternative splicing (e.g., events related to muscle development in presoldiers). Transcriptional (RT-PCR and RT-qPCR) and functional (in vivo RNAi) validation studies reveal multiple molecular mechanisms contributing to the phenotypic plasticity in eusocial termites. Molecular mechanisms governing the phenotypic plasticity in M. barneyi could be a rule rather than an exception in the evolution of sociality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengdong Sun
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ganghua Li
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianbo Jian
- Marine Biology Institute, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Long Liu
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junhui Chen
- School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Enzyme Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuxin Yu
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Xu
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chaoliang Lei
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuguo Zhou
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Qiuying Huang
- 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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8
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The Ribosome as a Missing Link in Prebiotic Evolution III: Over-Representation of tRNA- and rRNA-Like Sequences and Plieofunctionality of Ribosome-Related Molecules Argues for the Evolution of Primitive Genomes from Ribosomal RNA Modules. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20010140. [PMID: 30609737 PMCID: PMC6337102 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20010140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose that ribosomal RNA (rRNA) formed the basis of the first cellular genomes, and provide evidence from a review of relevant literature and proteonomic tests. We have proposed previously that the ribosome may represent the vestige of the first self-replicating entity in which rRNAs also functioned as genes that were transcribed into functional messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding ribosomal proteins. rRNAs also encoded polymerases to replicate itself and a full complement of the transfer RNAs (tRNAs) required to translate its genes. We explore here a further prediction of our “ribosome-first” theory: the ribosomal genome provided the basis for the first cellular genomes. Modern genomes should therefore contain an unexpectedly large percentage of tRNA- and rRNA-like modules derived from both sense and antisense reading frames, and these should encode non-ribosomal proteins, as well as ribosomal ones with key cell functions. Ribosomal proteins should also have been co-opted by cellular evolution to play extra-ribosomal functions. We review existing literature supporting these predictions. We provide additional, new data demonstrating that rRNA-like sequences occur at significantly higher frequencies than predicted on the basis of mRNA duplications or randomized RNA sequences. These data support our “ribosome-first” theory of cellular evolution.
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9
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Peterson BF, Scharf ME. Metatranscriptomic Techniques for Identifying Cellulases in Termites and their Symbionts. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1796:85-101. [PMID: 29856048 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7877-9_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Characterizing symbiotic communities, like that of the termite hindgut, is essential for understanding their functionality and capabilities. However, the same complexity that allows termites to digest wood so efficiently also makes them difficult to study. With the expansion in technology and sequencing strategies the feasibility of sequencing entire consortiums or microecosystems is now possible. Here we present an adapted library preparation strategy which allows for the detection and measurement of expressed genes from all three domains of life in a single sample simultaneously. This technique effectively captures the transcriptome contributions by the various members of the consortium regardless of their taxonomic identity, which can then be annotated using custom-built databases and reciprocal BLASTing. Joining the universality of this library prep strategy with the power of bioinformatics allows for the identification of cellulases and other genes encoding carbohydrate active enzymes from complex communities using metatranscriptomics.
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10
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Wu T, Dhami GK, Thompson GJ. Soldier‐biased gene expression in a subterranean termite implies functional specialization of the defensive caste. Evol Dev 2017; 20:3-16. [DOI: 10.1111/ede.12243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Wu
- Biology DepartmentWestern UniversityLondonOntarioCanada
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11
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Scharf ME, Cai Y, Sun Y, Sen R, Raychoudhury R, Boucias DG. A meta-analysis testing eusocial co-option theories in termite gut physiology and symbiosis. Commun Integr Biol 2017; 10:e1295187. [PMID: 28428832 PMCID: PMC5390826 DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2017.1295187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The termite gut accomplishes key physiologic functions that underlie termite symbiosis and sociality. However, potential candidate functions of the host-symbiont holobiome have not yet been explored across seemingly divergent processes such as digestion, immunity, caste differentiation, and xenobiotic tolerance. This study took a meta-analysis approach for concurrently studying host and symbiont gut metatranscriptome responses of the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes, which has ancestral characteristics and hosts a diverse mix of eukaryotic and bacterial symbionts. Thirteen treatments were compared from 5 categories (dietary, social, hormonal, immunological, and xenobiotic), revealing 3 main insights. First, each of the 5 tested colonies had distinct magnitudes of transcriptome response, likely as a result of unique symbiont profiles, which highlights the uniqueness of individual termite colonies. Second, after normalization to standardize colony response magnitudes, unique treatment-linked metatranscriptome topologies became apparent. Third, despite colony and topology differences, 4 co-opted master genes emerged that were universally responsive across diverse treatments. These master genes encode host functions related to protein translation and symbiont functions related to protein degradation and pore formation in microbial cell walls. Three of the 4 master genes were from co-evolved protist symbionts, highlighting potentially co-evolved roles for gut symbiota in coordinating functional responses of the collective host-symbiont holobiome. Lastly, for host genes identified, these results provide annotations of recent termite genome sequences. By revealing conserved domain genes, as well as apparent roles for gut symbiota in holobiome regulation, this study provides new insights into co-opted eusocial genes and symbiont roles in termite sociobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Scharf
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Yunpeng Cai
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yijun Sun
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ruchira Sen
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | | | - Drion G Boucias
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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12
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Toth AL, Rehan SM. Molecular Evolution of Insect Sociality: An Eco-Evo-Devo Perspective. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 62:419-442. [PMID: 27912247 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-031616-035601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of eusociality is a perennial issue in evolutionary biology, and genomic advances have fueled steadily growing interest in the genetic changes underlying social evolution. Along with a recent flurry of research on comparative and evolutionary genomics in different eusocial insect groups (bees, ants, wasps, and termites), several mechanistic explanations have emerged to describe the molecular evolution of eusociality from solitary behavior. These include solitary physiological ground plans, genetic toolkits of deeply conserved genes, evolutionary changes in protein-coding genes, cis regulation, and the structure of gene networks, epigenetics, and novel genes. Despite this proliferation of ideas, there has been little synthesis, even though these ideas are not mutually exclusive and may in fact be complementary. We review available data on molecular evolution of insect sociality and highlight key biotic and abiotic factors influencing social insect genomes. We then suggest both phylogenetic and ecological evolutionary developmental biology (eco-evo-devo) perspectives for a more synthetic view of molecular evolution in insect societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Toth
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011;
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011
| | - Sandra M Rehan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824;
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13
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Qiu HL, Zhao CY, He YR. On the Molecular Basis of Division of Labor in Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Workers: RNA-seq Analysis. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2017; 17:3093133. [PMID: 28365770 PMCID: PMC5469383 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iex002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren is an important invasive pest. Among S. invicta workers behavioral changes depend on age where younger ants are nurses and older ants foragers. To identify potential genes associated with this division of labor, we compared gene expression between foragers and nurses by high-throughput sequencing. In total, we identified 1,618 genes significantly differently expressed between nurses and foragers, of which 542 were upregulated in foragers and 1,076 were upregulated in nurses. Several pathways related to metabolism were significantly enriched, such as lipid storage and fatty acid biosynthesis, which might contribute to the division of labor in S. invicta. Several genes involved in DNA methylation, transcription, and olfactory responses as well as resistance to stress were differentially expressed between nurses and foragers workers. Finally, a comparison between previously published microarray data and our RNA-seq data in S. invicta shows 116 genes overlap, and the GO term myofibril assembly (GO: 0030239) were simultaneously significantly enriched. These results advance knowledge of potentially important genes and molecular pathways associated with worker division of labor in S. invicta. We hope our dataset will provide . candidate target genes to disrupt organization in S. invicta as a control strategy against this invasive pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Long Qiu
- Department of Entomology College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Cheng-Yin Zhao
- Department of Life Science Luoyang Normal University, Henan, Luoyang 471000, China
| | - Yu-Rong He
- Department of Entomology College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510642, China
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14
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Induction of a reproductive-specific cuticular hydrocarbon profile by a juvenile hormone analog in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. CHEMOECOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00049-016-0219-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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15
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Corona M, Libbrecht R, Wheeler DE. Molecular mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity in social insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2016; 13:55-60. [PMID: 27436553 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Polyphenism in insects, whereby a single genome expresses different phenotypes in response to environmental cues, is a fascinating biological phenomenon. Social insects are especially intriguing examples of phenotypic plasticity because division of labor results in the development of extreme morphological phenotypes, such as the queen and worker castes. Although sociality evolved independently in ants, bees, wasps and termites, similar genetic pathways regulate phenotypic plasticity in these different groups of social insects. The insulin/insulin-like growth signaling (IIS) plays a key role in this process. Recent research reveals that IIS interacts with other pathways including target of rapamycin (TOR), epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr), juvenile hormone (JH) and vitellogenin (Vg) to regulate caste differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Corona
- USDA Bee Research, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Building 306, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Romain Libbrecht
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Diana E Wheeler
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
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16
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Mei HZ, Xia DG, Zhao QL, Zhang GZ, Qiu ZY, Qian P, Lu C. Molecular cloning, expression, purification and characterization of a novel cellulase gene (Bh-EGaseI) in the beetle Batocera horsfieldi. Gene 2016; 576:45-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.09.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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17
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Dedeine F, Weinert LA, Bigot D, Josse T, Ballenghien M, Cahais V, Galtier N, Gayral P. Comparative Analysis of Transcriptomes from Secondary Reproductives of Three Reticulitermes Termite Species. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0145596. [PMID: 26698123 PMCID: PMC4689415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Termites are eusocial insects related to cockroaches that feed on lignocellulose. These insects are key species in ecosystems since they recycle a large amount of nutrients but also are pests, exerting major economic impacts. Knowledge on the molecular pathways underlying reproduction, caste differentiation or lignocellulose digestion would largely benefit from additional transcriptomic data. This study focused on transcriptomes of secondary reproductive females (nymphoid neotenics). Thirteen transcriptomes were used: 10 of Reticulitermes flavipes and R. grassei sequenced from a previous study, and two transcriptomes of R. lucifugus sequenced for the present study. After transcriptome assembly and read mapping, we examined interspecific variations of genes expressed by termites or gut microorganisms. A total of 18,323 orthologous gene clusters were detected. Functional annotation and taxonomic assignment were performed on a total of 41,287 predicted contigs in the three termite species. Between the termite species studied, functional categories of genes were comparable. Gene ontology (GO) terms analysis allowed the discovery of 9 cellulases and a total of 79 contigs potentially involved in 11 enzymatic activities used in wood metabolism. Altogether, results of this study illustrate the strong potential for the use of comparative interspecific transcriptomes, representing a complete resource for future studies including differentially expressed genes between castes or SNP analysis for population genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck Dedeine
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS—Université François Rabelais, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Lucy A. Weinert
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, UMR 5554, Université de Montpellier—CNRS—IRD—EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Diane Bigot
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS—Université François Rabelais, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Thibaut Josse
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS—Université François Rabelais, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Marion Ballenghien
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, UMR 5554, Université de Montpellier—CNRS—IRD—EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Vincent Cahais
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, UMR 5554, Université de Montpellier—CNRS—IRD—EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Galtier
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, UMR 5554, Université de Montpellier—CNRS—IRD—EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Gayral
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS—Université François Rabelais, 37200, Tours, France
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18
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Sun C, Zhang S. Immune-Relevant and Antioxidant Activities of Vitellogenin and Yolk Proteins in Fish. Nutrients 2015. [PMID: 26506386 DOI: 10.3390/nu710543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitellogenin (Vtg), the major egg yolk precursor protein, is traditionally thought to provide protein- and lipid-rich nutrients for developing embryos and larvae. However, the roles of Vtg as well as its derived yolk proteins lipovitellin (Lv) and phosvitin (Pv) extend beyond nutritional functions. Accumulating data have demonstrated that Vtg, Lv and Pv participate in host innate immune defense with multifaceted functions. They can all act as multivalent pattern recognition receptors capable of identifying invading microbes. Vtg and Pv can also act as immune effectors capable of killing bacteria and virus. Moreover, Vtg and Lv are shown to possess phagocytosis-promoting activity as opsonins. In addition to these immune-relevant functions, Vtg and Pv are found to have antioxidant activity, which is able to protect the host from oxidant stress. These non-nutritional functions clearly deepen our understanding of the physiological roles of the molecules, and at the same time, provide a sound basis for potential application of the molecules in human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Sun
- Laboratory for Evolution & Development, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity and Department of Marine Biology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
| | - Shicui Zhang
- Laboratory for Evolution & Development, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity and Department of Marine Biology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
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19
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Sun C, Zhang S. Immune-Relevant and Antioxidant Activities of Vitellogenin and Yolk Proteins in Fish. Nutrients 2015; 7:8818-29. [PMID: 26506386 PMCID: PMC4632452 DOI: 10.3390/nu7105432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitellogenin (Vtg), the major egg yolk precursor protein, is traditionally thought to provide protein- and lipid-rich nutrients for developing embryos and larvae. However, the roles of Vtg as well as its derived yolk proteins lipovitellin (Lv) and phosvitin (Pv) extend beyond nutritional functions. Accumulating data have demonstrated that Vtg, Lv and Pv participate in host innate immune defense with multifaceted functions. They can all act as multivalent pattern recognition receptors capable of identifying invading microbes. Vtg and Pv can also act as immune effectors capable of killing bacteria and virus. Moreover, Vtg and Lv are shown to possess phagocytosis-promoting activity as opsonins. In addition to these immune-relevant functions, Vtg and Pv are found to have antioxidant activity, which is able to protect the host from oxidant stress. These non-nutritional functions clearly deepen our understanding of the physiological roles of the molecules, and at the same time, provide a sound basis for potential application of the molecules in human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Sun
- Laboratory for Evolution & Development, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity and Department of Marine Biology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
| | - Shicui Zhang
- Laboratory for Evolution & Development, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity and Department of Marine Biology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
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20
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Su XH, Xue W, Liu H, Chen JL, Zhang XJ, Xing LX, Liu MH. The development of adultoid reproductives and brachypterous neotenic reproductives from the last instar nymphs in Reticulitermes labralis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): a comparative study. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2015; 15:147. [PMID: 26494776 PMCID: PMC4622179 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iev130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Secondary reproductives develop primarily from nymphs. However, they have been rarely studied; in particular, the development of adultoid reproductives (AR) with floppy wings is still unclear. In this study, the change in juvenile hormone (JH) levels, vitellogenin gene expression, and oogenesis during the development of AR and brachypterous neotenic reproductives (BN) from the last instar nymphs of Reticulitermes labralis are investigated and compared. The results showed that the AR derived from the last instar nymphs by molting, and they were more similar to neotenic reproductives in morphology. In addition, the paired AR were not able to survive in the absence of workers. In R. labralis, the process of the last instar nymphs developing into AR and BN took an increase in JH level as a starting point. The JH level of the last instar nymphs molting into BN was approximately 1.5-fold higher than that of the AR. Additionally, The JHIII level of BN peaked on day 5, and that of AR peaked on day 10, which induced the onset of vitellogenesis in BN and AR, respectively. After molting, the vitellogenin gene expression levels of both BN and AR initially increased and then declined, and the expression levels in the BN were significantly higher than those in the AR. In addition, the oocytes of BN matured earlier than those of the AR, and the number of eggs laid by the BN was higher than the number laid by the AR. Our results demonstrate that, in R. labralis, the last instar nymphs can develop into AR, which are significantly different from BN in their development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hong Su
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Xue
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - He Liu
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiao Ling Chen
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiao Jing Zhang
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lian Xi Xing
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ming Hua Liu
- Biology Department, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
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21
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Berens AJ, Hunt JH, Toth AL. Nourishment level affects caste-related gene expression in Polistes wasps. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:235. [PMID: 25880983 PMCID: PMC4381360 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1410-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Social insects exhibit striking phenotypic plasticity in the form of distinct reproductive (queen) and non-reproductive (worker) castes, which are typically driven by differences in the environment during early development. Nutritional environment and nourishment during development has been shown to be broadly associated with caste determination across social insect taxa such as bees, wasps, and termites. In primitively social insects such as Polistes paper wasps, caste remains flexible throughout adulthood, but there is evidence that nourishment inequalities can bias caste development with workers receiving limited nourishment compared to queens. Dominance and vibrational signaling are behaviors that have also been linked to caste differences in paper wasps, suggesting that a combination of nourishment and social factors may drive caste determination. To better understand the molecular basis of nutritional effects on caste determination, we used RNA-sequencing to investigate the gene expression changes in response to proteinaceous nourishment deprivation in Polistes metricus larvae. Results We identified 285 nourishment-responsive transcripts, many of which are related to lipid metabolism and oxidation-reduction activity. Via comparisons to previously identified caste-related genes, we found that nourishment restriction only partially biased wasp gene expression patterns toward worker caste-like traits, which supports the notion that nourishment, in conjunction with social environment, is a determinant of developmental caste bias. In addition, we conducted cross-species comparisons of nourishment-responsive genes, and uncovered largely lineage-specific gene expression changes, suggesting few shared nourishment-responsive genes across taxa. Conclusion Overall, the results from this study highlight the complex and multifactorial nature of environmental effects on the gene expression patterns underlying plastic phenotypes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1410-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali J Berens
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA. .,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
| | - James H Hunt
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA. .,Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA. .,W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.
| | - Amy L Toth
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA. .,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA. .,Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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22
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Harney E, Plaistow SJ, Paterson S. Transcriptional changes during Daphnia pulex development indicate that the maturation decision resembles a rate more than a threshold. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:944-58. [PMID: 25786891 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Revised: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Maturation is a critical developmental process, and the age and size at which it occurs have important fitness consequences. Although maturation is remarkably variable, certain mechanisms, including a minimum size or state threshold, are proposed to underlie the process across a broad diversity of taxa. Recent evidence suggests that thresholds may themselves be developmentally plastic, and in the crustacean Daphnia pulex it is unclear whether maturation follows a threshold or is a gradual process more akin to a rate. Changes in gene expression across four instars before and during maturation were compared in a cDNA microarray experiment. Developmental stage was treated statistically both as a discontinuous and as a continuous variable, to determine whether genes showed gradual or discrete changes in expression. The continuous analysis identified a greater number of genes with significant differential expression (45) than the discontinuous analysis (11). The majority of genes, including those coding for histones, factors relating to transcription and cell cycle processes, and a putative developmental hormone showed continuous increases or decreases in expression from the first to the fourth instars that were studied, suggestive of a prolonged and gradual maturation process. Three genes coding for a fused vitellogenin/superoxide dismutase showed increases in expression following the second instar and coincided with the posited maturation threshold, but even their expression increased in a continuous fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Harney
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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23
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Scharf ME. Omic research in termites: an overview and a roadmap. Front Genet 2015; 6:76. [PMID: 25821456 PMCID: PMC4358217 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many recent breakthroughs in our understanding of termite biology have been facilitated by "omics" research. Omic science seeks to collectively catalog, quantify, and characterize pools of biological molecules that translate into structure, function, and life processes of an organism. Biological molecules in this context include genomic DNA, messenger RNA, proteins, and other biochemicals. Other permutations of omics that apply to termites include sociogenomics, which seeks to define social life in molecular terms (e.g., behavior, sociality, physiology, symbiosis, etc.) and digestomics, which seeks to define the collective pool of host and symbiont genes that collaborate to achieve high-efficiency lignocellulose digestion in the termite gut. This review covers a wide spectrum of termite omic studies from the past 15 years. Topics covered include a summary of terminology, the various kinds of omic efforts that have been undertaken, what has been revealed, and to a degree, what the results mean. Although recent omic efforts have contributed to a better understanding of many facets of termite and symbiont biology, and have created important new resources for many species, significant knowledge gaps still remain. Crossing these gaps can best be done by applying new omic resources within multi-dimensional (i.e., functional, translational, and applied) research programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Scharf
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN USA
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24
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Purification and characterization of a hemocyanin (Hemo1) with potential lignin-modification activities from the wood-feeding termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2014; 175:687-97. [PMID: 25342267 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-014-1326-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2014] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki is a well-known wood-feeding termite, which can degrade not only cellulose and hemicellulose polysaccharides, but also some aromatic lignin polymers with its enzyme complex to the woody biomass. In this study, a very abundant protein was discovered and purified, using a three-step column chromatography procedure, from the tissue homogenate of the salivary glands and the gut of C. formosanus. Mass spectrometric analysis and the following peptide searching against the mRNA database toward this termite species indicated that the novel protein was a hemocyanin enzyme, termed as Hemo1, which further exhibited a strong oxidase activity in the substrate bioassays toward ABTS [2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)], as well as other aromatic analogues, such as catechol and veratryl alcohols. This oxidative protein was an acid-favored enzyme with a molecular weight at 82 kDa, and highly active at 80 °C. These findings indicated that the novel protein, hemocyanin, discovered from the gut system of C. formosanus, might be an important ligninolytic enzyme involved in the biomass pretreatment processing, which will potentially enhance the digestibility and utilization of biomass polysaccharides in termite digestive systems.
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25
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Shimada K, Maekawa K. Gene expression and molecular phylogenetic analyses of beta-glucosidase in the termite Reticulitermes speratus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 65:63-9. [PMID: 24831179 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2014.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 04/18/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Beta-glucosidase (BG) is known as a multifunctional enzyme for social maintenance in terms of both cellulose digestion and social communication in termites. However, the expression profiles of each BG gene and their evolutionary history are not well understood. First, we cloned two types of BG homologs (RsBGI and RsBGII) from the termite Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe). Gene expression analyses showed that RsBGI expression levels of primary queens and kings from 30 to 100 days after colony foundation were high, but those of reproductives dropped after day 400. Extremely low gene expression levels of RsBGI were observed in eggs, whereas workers had significantly higher expression levels than those of soldiers and other colony members. Consequently, RsBGI gene expression levels changed among each developmental stage, and RsBGI was shown to be involved in cellulose digestion. On the other hand, the RsBGII gene was consistently expressed in all castes and developmental stages examined, and notable expression changes were not observed among them, including in eggs. It was indicated that RsBGII is a main component involved in social communication, for example, the egg-recognition pheromone shown in this species previously. Finally, we obtained partial gene homologs from other termite and cockroach species, including the woodroach (genus Cryptocercus), which is the sister group to termites, and performed molecular phylogenetic analyses. The results showed that the origin of the BG gene homologs preceded the divergence of termites and cockroaches, suggesting that the acquisition of multifunctionality of the BG gene also occurred in cockroach lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Shimada
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama, Toyama 930-8555, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Maekawa
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama, Toyama 930-8555, Japan.
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26
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Terrapon N, Li C, Robertson HM, Ji L, Meng X, Booth W, Chen Z, Childers CP, Glastad KM, Gokhale K, Gowin J, Gronenberg W, Hermansen RA, Hu H, Hunt BG, Huylmans AK, Khalil SMS, Mitchell RD, Munoz-Torres MC, Mustard JA, Pan H, Reese JT, Scharf ME, Sun F, Vogel H, Xiao J, Yang W, Yang Z, Yang Z, Zhou J, Zhu J, Brent CS, Elsik CG, Goodisman MAD, Liberles DA, Roe RM, Vargo EL, Vilcinskas A, Wang J, Bornberg-Bauer E, Korb J, Zhang G, Liebig J. Molecular traces of alternative social organization in a termite genome. Nat Commun 2014; 5:3636. [PMID: 24845553 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 273] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Although eusociality evolved independently within several orders of insects, research into the molecular underpinnings of the transition towards social complexity has been confined primarily to Hymenoptera (for example, ants and bees). Here we sequence the genome and stage-specific transcriptomes of the dampwood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis (Blattodea) and compare them with similar data for eusocial Hymenoptera, to better identify commonalities and differences in achieving this significant transition. We show an expansion of genes related to male fertility, with upregulated gene expression in male reproductive individuals reflecting the profound differences in mating biology relative to the Hymenoptera. For several chemoreceptor families, we show divergent numbers of genes, which may correspond to the more claustral lifestyle of these termites. We also show similarities in the number and expression of genes related to caste determination mechanisms. Finally, patterns of DNA methylation and alternative splicing support a hypothesized epigenetic regulation of caste differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Terrapon
- 1] Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster D48149, Germany [2] [3]
| | - Cai Li
- 1] China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China [2] Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen 1350, Denmark [3]
| | - Hugh M Robertson
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Lu Ji
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Xuehong Meng
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Warren Booth
- 1] Department of Entomology and W. M Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA [2]
| | - Zhensheng Chen
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | | | - Karl M Glastad
- School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA
| | - Kaustubh Gokhale
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
| | - Johannes Gowin
- 1] Behavioural Biology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück D49076, Germany [2]
| | - Wulfila Gronenberg
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
| | - Russell A Hermansen
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA
| | - Haofu Hu
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Brendan G Hunt
- 1] School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA [2]
| | - Ann Kathrin Huylmans
- 1] Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster D48149, Germany [2]
| | - Sayed M S Khalil
- 1] Department of Entomology and W. M Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA [2] Department of Microbial Molecular Biology, Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute, Giza 12619, Egypt
| | - Robert D Mitchell
- Department of Entomology and W. M Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Monica C Munoz-Torres
- Genomics Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Julie A Mustard
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
| | - Hailin Pan
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Justin T Reese
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
| | - Michael E Scharf
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Fengming Sun
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Heiko Vogel
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena D-07745, Germany
| | - Jin Xiao
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Wei Yang
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Zhikai Yang
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Zuoquan Yang
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Jiajian Zhou
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Jiwei Zhu
- Department of Entomology and W. M Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Colin S Brent
- Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Maricopa, Arizona 85138, USA
| | - Christine G Elsik
- 1] Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA [2] Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
| | | | - David A Liberles
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA
| | - R Michael Roe
- Department of Entomology and W. M Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Edward L Vargo
- Department of Entomology and W. M Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institut für Phytopathologie und Angewandte Zoologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Giessen D35390, Germany
| | - Jun Wang
- 1] China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China [2] Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-1165, Denmark [3] Princess Al Jawhara Center of Excellence in the Research of Hereditary Disorders, King Abdulaziz University, 21589 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia [4] Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida Wai long, Taipa, Macau 999078, China [5] Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Erich Bornberg-Bauer
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster D48149, Germany
| | - Judith Korb
- 1] Behavioural Biology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück D49076, Germany [2]
| | - Guojie Zhang
- 1] China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China [2] Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jürgen Liebig
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
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27
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Romiguier J, Lourenco J, Gayral P, Faivre N, Weinert LA, Ravel S, Ballenghien M, Cahais V, Bernard A, Loire E, Keller L, Galtier N. Population genomics of eusocial insects: the costs of a vertebrate-like effective population size. J Evol Biol 2014; 27:593-603. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Revised: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Romiguier
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier; Université Montpellier 2; CNRS UMR 5554; Montpellier France
| | - J. Lourenco
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier; Université Montpellier 2; CNRS UMR 5554; Montpellier France
| | - P. Gayral
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier; Université Montpellier 2; CNRS UMR 5554; Montpellier France
- Institut de Recherches sur la Biologie de l'Insecte; CNRS UMR 7261; Université François-Rabelais; Tours France
| | - N. Faivre
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier; Université Montpellier 2; CNRS UMR 5554; Montpellier France
| | - L. A. Weinert
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier; Université Montpellier 2; CNRS UMR 5554; Montpellier France
- Department of Veterinary Medicine; University of Cambridge; Cambridge UK
| | - S. Ravel
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier; Université Montpellier 2; CNRS UMR 5554; Montpellier France
| | - M. Ballenghien
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier; Université Montpellier 2; CNRS UMR 5554; Montpellier France
| | - V. Cahais
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier; Université Montpellier 2; CNRS UMR 5554; Montpellier France
| | - A. Bernard
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier; Université Montpellier 2; CNRS UMR 5554; Montpellier France
| | - E. Loire
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier; Université Montpellier 2; CNRS UMR 5554; Montpellier France
| | - L. Keller
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore; University of Lausanne; Lausanne Switzerland
| | - N. Galtier
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier; Université Montpellier 2; CNRS UMR 5554; Montpellier France
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Corona M, Libbrecht R, Wurm Y, Riba-Grognuz O, Studer RA, Keller L. Vitellogenin underwent subfunctionalization to acquire caste and behavioral specific expression in the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex barbatus. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003730. [PMID: 23966882 PMCID: PMC3744404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The reproductive ground plan hypothesis (RGPH) proposes that the physiological pathways regulating reproduction were co-opted to regulate worker division of labor. Support for this hypothesis in honeybees is provided by studies demonstrating that the reproductive potential of workers, assessed by the levels of vitellogenin (Vg), is linked to task performance. Interestingly, contrary to honeybees that have a single Vg ortholog and potentially fertile nurses, the genome of the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex barbatus harbors two Vg genes (Pb_Vg1 and Pb_Vg2) and nurses produce infertile trophic eggs. P. barbatus, thus, provides a unique model to investigate whether Vg duplication in ants was followed by subfunctionalization to acquire reproductive and non-reproductive functions and whether Vg reproductive function was co-opted to regulate behavior in sterile workers. To investigate these questions, we compared the expression patterns of P. barbatus Vg genes and analyzed the phylogenetic relationships and molecular evolution of Vg genes in ants. qRT-PCRs revealed that Pb_Vg1 is more highly expressed in queens compared to workers and in nurses compared to foragers. By contrast, the level of expression of Pb_Vg2 was higher in foragers than in nurses and queens. Phylogenetic analyses show that a first duplication of the ancestral Vg gene occurred after the divergence between the poneroid and formicoid clades and subsequent duplications occurred in the lineages leading to Solenopsis invicta, Linepithema humile and Acromyrmex echinatior. The initial duplication resulted in two Vg gene subfamilies preferentially expressed in queens and nurses (subfamily A) or in foraging workers (subfamily B). Finally, molecular evolution analyses show that the subfamily A experienced positive selection, while the subfamily B showed overall relaxation of purifying selection. Our results suggest that in P. barbatus the Vg gene underwent subfunctionalization after duplication to acquire caste- and behavior- specific expression associated with reproductive and non-reproductive functions, supporting the validity of the RGPH in ants. One of the main features of social insects is the division of labor, whereby queens monopolize reproduction while sterile workers perform all of the tasks related to colony maintenance. The workers usually do so in an age-dependent sequence: young workers tend to nurse the brood inside the nest and older workers are more likely to forage for food. Previous studies revealed that vitellogenin, a yolk protein typically involved in the regulation of reproduction in solitary insects, has been co-opted to regulate division of labor in the honeybee. In this study, we investigate such a role of vitellogenin in another group of social insects: the ants. We first use phylogenetic analyses to reveal the existence of multiple vitellogenin genes in most of the sequenced ant genomes. Then we compare the expression of the two vitellogenin genes (Pb_Vg1 and Pb_Vg2) among queens, nurses and foragers in the seed-harvester ant Pogonomyrmex barbatus. Our results suggest that, after the initial duplication in ants, the vitellogenin genes acquired caste and behavioral specific expression associated with reproductive and non-reproductive nutritionally related functions. This study also shows that ants and bees, despite having evolved sociality independently, have conserved similar mechanisms to regulate division of labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Corona
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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29
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Costa-Leonardo AM, Laranjo LT, Janei V, Haifig I. The fat body of termites: functions and stored materials. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 59:577-87. [PMID: 23562782 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2013.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2012] [Revised: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/25/2013] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The functions of the fat body in the different castes of termites, and accumulation of energy reserves, proteins and urates within this organ, are reviewed. The termite fat body is involved in multiple metabolic activities, including recycling of nitrogen. Termite fat body showed three different types of cells: adipocytes, urocytes and mycetocytes, the latter restricted to the species Mastotermes darwiniensis. Adipocytes synthesize and store lipids, glycogen and several proteins. These cells also elaborate important peptides, including some that act in immune processes. Urocytes are responsible for the storage of spherocrystals of urates, which vary quantitatively among the termite castes. The different metabolic functions of the fat body in the several castes and stages of termites are associated with specific adipocyte morphologies. The synthesis and storage of different compounds modify the structure of the fat body; this differentiation is coordinated by hormones involved with molting and reproductive cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo
- Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Campus Rio Claro. Av. 24A, No. 1515, Bela Vista CEP: 13.506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
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30
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Cornette R, Hayashi Y, Koshikawa S, Miura T. Differential gene expression in response to juvenile hormone analog treatment in the damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti (Isoptera, Archotermopsidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 59:509-518. [PMID: 23481672 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2013.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2012] [Revised: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Termite societies are characterized by a highly organized division of labor among conspicuous castes, groups of individuals with various morphological specializations. Termite caste differentiation is under control of juvenile hormone (JH), but the molecular mechanism underlying the response to JH and early events triggering caste differentiation are still poorly understood. In order to profile candidate gene expression during early soldier caste differentiation of the damp-wood termite, Hodotermopsis sjostedti, we treated pseudergates (workers) with a juvenile hormone analog (JHA) to induce soldier caste differentiation. We then used Suppressive Subtractive Hybridization to create two cDNA libraries enriched for transcripts that were either up- or downregulated at 24h after treatment. Finally, we used quantitative PCR to confirm temporal expression patterns. Hexamerins represent a large proportion of the genes upregulated following JHA treatment and have an expression pattern that shows roughly an inverse correlation to intrinsic JH titers. This data is consistent with the role of a JH "sink", which was demonstrated for hexamerins in another termite, Reticulitermes flavipes. A putative nuclear protein was also upregulated a few hours after JHA treatment, which suggests a role in the early response to JH and subsequent regulation of transcriptional events associated with soldier caste differentiation. Some digestive enzymes, such as endogenous beta-endoglucanase and chymotrypsin, as well as a protein associated to digestion were identified among genes downregulated after JHA treatment. This suggests that JH may directly influence the pseudergate-specific digestive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Cornette
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan
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31
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Raychoudhury R, Sen R, Cai Y, Sun Y, Lietze VU, Boucias DG, Scharf ME. Comparative metatranscriptomic signatures of wood and paper feeding in the gut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2013; 22:155-71. [PMID: 23294456 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Termites are highly eusocial insects that thrive on recalcitrant materials like wood and soil and thus play important roles in global carbon recycling and also in damaging wooden structures. Termites, such as Reticulitermes flavipes (Rhinotermitidae), owe their success to their ability to extract nutrients from lignocellulose (a major component of wood) with the help of gut-dwelling symbionts. With the aim to gain new insights into this enzymatic process we provided R. flavipes with a complex lignocellulose (wood) or pure cellulose (paper) diet and followed the resulting differential gene expression on a custom oligonucleotide-microarray platform. We identified a set of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) with differential abundance between the two diet treatments and demonstrated the source (host/symbiont) of these genes, providing novel information on termite nutritional symbiosis. Our results reveal: (1) the majority of responsive wood- and paper-abundant ESTs are from host and symbionts, respectively; (2) distinct pathways are associated with lignocellulose and cellulose feeding in both host and symbionts; and (3) sets of diet-responsive ESTs encode putative digestive and wood-related detoxification enzymes. Thus, this study illuminates the dynamics of termite nutritional symbiosis and reveals a pool of genes as potential targets for termite control and functional studies of termite-symbiont interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Raychoudhury
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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32
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cDNA cloning, expression, and enzymatic activity of a novel endogenous cellulase from the beetle Batocera horsfieldi. Gene 2012. [PMID: 23201420 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.08.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we report a novel cellulase [β-1,4-endoglucanase (EGase), EC 3.2.1.4] cDNA (Bh-EGase II) belonging to the glycoside hydrolase family (GHF) 45 from the beetle Batocera horsfieldi. The Bh-EGase II gene spans 720bp and consists of a single exon coding for 239 amino acid residues. Bh-EGase II showed 93.72% protein sequence identity to Ag-EGase II from the beetle Apriona germari. The GHF 45 catalytic site is conserved in Bh-EGase II. Bh-EGase II has three putative N-glycosylation sites at 56-58 (N-K-S), 99-101 (N-S-T), and 237-239 (N-Y-S), respectively. The cDNA encoding Bh-EGase II was expressed in baculovirus-infected insect BmN cells and Bombyx mori larvae. Recombinant Bh-EGase II from BmN cells and larval hemolymph had an enzymatic activity of approximately 928U/mg. The enzymatic catalysis of recombinant Bh-EGase II showed the highest activity at 50°C and pH6.0.
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33
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Huang Q, Sun P, Zhou X, Lei C. Characterization of head transcriptome and analysis of gene expression involved in caste differentiation and aggression in Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki). PLoS One 2012; 7:e50383. [PMID: 23209730 PMCID: PMC3510212 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The subterranean termite Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) is a serious insect pest of trees and dams in China. To date, very little is known about genomic or transcriptomic data for caste differentiation and aggression in O. formosanus. Hence, studies on transcriptome and gene expression profiling are helpful to better understand molecular basis underlying caste differentiation and aggressive behavior in O. formosanus. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Using the Illumina sequencing, we obtained more than 57 million sequencing reads derived from the heads of O. formosanus. These reads were assembled into 116,885 unique sequences (mean size = 536 bp). Of the unigenes, 30,646 (26.22%) had significant similarity with proteins in the NCBI nonredundant protein database and Swiss-Prot database (E-value<10(-5)). Of these annotated unigenes, 10,409 and 9,009 unigenes were assigned to gene ontology categories and clusters of orthologous groups, respectively. In total, 19,611 (25.52%) unigenes were mapped onto 242 pathways using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway database (KEGG). A total of 11,661 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were predicted from the current transcriptome database. Moreover, we detected seven putative genes involved in caste differentiation and six putative genes involved in aggression. The qPCR analysis showed that there were significant differences in the expression levels of the three putative genes hexamerin 2, β-glycosidase and bicaudal D involved in caste differentiation and one putative gene Cyp6a20 involved in aggression among workers, soldiers and larvae of O. formosanus. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize the complete head transcriptome of a higher fungus-cultivating termite using high-throughput sequencing. Our study has provided the comprehensive sequence resources available for elucidating molecular basis underlying caste differentiation and aggressive behavior in O. formosanus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengdong Sun
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuguo Zhou
- Department of Entomology, S-225 Agricultural Science Center N, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Chaoliang Lei
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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34
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Gao Q, Tancredi SE, Thompson GJ. Identification of mycosis-related genes in the eastern subterranean termite by suppression subtractive hybridization. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2012; 80:63-76. [PMID: 22549993 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The Eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) is a cosmopolitan, structural pest that is the target of research into termite innate immunity. In this study, we use suppression subtractive hybridization to construct a normalized cDNA library of genes excessively expressed upon fungal infection. At 24 h postinfection with Metarhizium anisopliae, the library revealed 182 expressed sequence tag (EST) clones that potentially represent immune responsive genes. The nucleotide sequence from a majority (97%) of ESTs assembled into a small number (n = 13) of contiguous sequences, with the remainder (n = 6) representing singletons. Our screen therefore captured as many as 19 different mRNAs highly expressed in response to the fungal pathogen at this time. Primary sequencing of all loci revealed that approximately half (n = 10) contained open reading frames with significant similarity to known proteins. These clones represent nuclear and mitochondrial coding genes, as well as putative long noncoding RNA genes. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of coding genes on independently infected groups of worker termites confirms in each case that the transcripts identified from the library are up-regulated postfungal infection. The genes identified here are relevant to future studies on termite biocontrol and social insect immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Gao
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, Canada
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35
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Dussaubat C, Brunet JL, Higes M, Colbourne JK, Lopez J, Choi JH, Martín-Hernández R, Botías C, Cousin M, McDonnell C, Bonnet M, Belzunces LP, Moritz RFA, Le Conte Y, Alaux C. Gut pathology and responses to the microsporidium Nosema ceranae in the honey bee Apis mellifera. PLoS One 2012; 7:e37017. [PMID: 22623972 PMCID: PMC3356400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2011] [Accepted: 04/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The microsporidium Nosema ceranae is a newly prevalent parasite of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera). Although this parasite is presently spreading across the world into its novel host, the mechanisms by it which affects the bees and how bees respond are not well understood. We therefore performed an extensive characterization of the parasite effects at the molecular level by using genetic and biochemical tools. The transcriptome modifications at the midgut level were characterized seven days post-infection with tiling microarrays. Then we tested the bee midgut response to infection by measuring activity of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes (superoxide dismutases, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase). At the gene-expression level, the bee midgut responded to N. ceranae infection by an increase in oxidative stress concurrent with the generation of antioxidant enzymes, defense and protective response specifically observed in the gut of mammals and insects. However, at the enzymatic level, the protective response was not confirmed, with only glutathione-S-transferase exhibiting a higher activity in infected bees. The oxidative stress was associated with a higher transcription of sugar transporter in the gut. Finally, a dramatic effect of the microsporidia infection was the inhibition of genes involved in the homeostasis and renewal of intestinal tissues (Wnt signaling pathway), a phenomenon that was confirmed at the histological level. This tissue degeneration and prevention of gut epithelium renewal may explain early bee death. In conclusion, our integrated approach not only gives new insights into the pathological effects of N. ceranae and the bee gut response, but also demonstrate that the honey bee gut is an interesting model system for studying host defense responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Dussaubat
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, Avignon, France
| | - Jean-Luc Brunet
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, Avignon, France
| | - Mariano Higes
- Bee Pathology Laboratory, Centro Apícola Regional, JCCM, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - John K. Colbourne
- The Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jacqueline Lopez
- The Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jeong-Hyeon Choi
- The Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | | | - Cristina Botías
- Bee Pathology Laboratory, Centro Apícola Regional, JCCM, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Marianne Cousin
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, Avignon, France
| | - Cynthia McDonnell
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, Avignon, France
| | - Marc Bonnet
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, Avignon, France
| | - Luc P. Belzunces
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, Avignon, France
| | - Robin F. A. Moritz
- Institut für Biologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, Avignon, France
| | - Cédric Alaux
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, Avignon, France
- * E-mail:
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36
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Husseneder C, McGregor C, Lang RP, Collier R, Delatte J. Transcriptome profiling of female alates and egg-laying queens of the Formosan subterranean termite. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2011; 7:14-27. [PMID: 22079412 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2011.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2011] [Revised: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 10/14/2011] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Termites are known to have an extraordinary reproductive plasticity and capacity, but the underlying genetic patterns of termite reproductive biology are relatively understudied. The goal of this study was to identify genes for which expression levels differ between dealated precopulatory females (virgins) and egg-laying queens of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. We constructed a normalized polyphenic expressed sequence tag (EST) library that represents genomic material from most of the castes and life stages of the Formosan subterranean termite. Microarrays were designed using probes from this EST library and public genomic resources. Virgin females and queens were competitively hybridized to these microarrays and differentially expressed candidate genes were identified. Differential expression of eight genes was subsequently confirmed via reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-QPCR). When compared to virgins, queens had higher expression of genes coding for proteins related to immunity (gram negative binding protein), nutrition (e.g., termite-derived endo-beta-1,4-glucanase), protein storage, regulation of caste differentiation and reproduction (hexamerin, juvenile hormone binding protein). Queens also had higher transcript levels for genes involved in metabolism of xenobiotics, fat, and juvenile hormone (glutathione-S-transferase-like proteins, and cytochrome P450), among others. In particular, hexamerin, juvenile hormone binding protein, and a cytochrome P450 from the 4C subfamily are likely to be involved in initiating the inactive period during the reproductive cycle of the queen. Vice versa, virgins had higher expression than queens of genes related to respiration, probably due to recent flight activity, and several genes of unknown function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Husseneder
- Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Department of Entomology, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
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37
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Leonardo FC, da Cunha AF, da Silva MJ, Carazzolle MF, Costa-Leonardo AM, Costa FF, Pereira GA. Analysis of the workers head transcriptome of the Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2011; 101:383-91. [PMID: 21205397 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485310000556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The lower termite, Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), is originally from Southeast Asia and has become a pest in Brazil. The main goal of this study was to survey C. gestroi transcriptome composition. To accomplish this, we sequenced and analyzed 3003 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) isolated from libraries of worker heads. After assembly, 695 uniESTs were obtained from which 349 have similarity with known sequences. Comparison with insect genomes demonstrated similarity, primarily with genes from Apis mellifera (28%), Tribolium castaneum (28%) and Aedes aegypti (10%). Notably, we identified two endogenous cellulases in the sequences, which may be of interest for biotechnological applications. The results presented in this work represent the first genomic study of the Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi.
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Affiliation(s)
- F C Leonardo
- Laboratório de Genômica e Expressão, Departamento de Genética Evolução e Bioagentes, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
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Tripp HJ, Hewson I, Boyarsky S, Stuart JM, Zehr JP. Misannotations of rRNA can now generate 90% false positive protein matches in metatranscriptomic studies. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39:8792-802. [PMID: 21771858 PMCID: PMC3203614 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the course of analyzing 9,522,746 pyrosequencing reads from 23 stations in the Southwestern Pacific and equatorial Atlantic oceans, it came to our attention that misannotations of rRNA as proteins is now so widespread that false positive matching of rRNA pyrosequencing reads to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) non-redundant protein database approaches 90%. One conserved portion of 23S rRNA was consistently misannotated often enough to prompt curators at Pfam to create a spurious protein family. Detailed examination of the annotation history of each seed sequence in the spurious Pfam protein family (PF10695, 'Cw-hydrolase') uncovered issues in the standard operating procedures and quality assurance programs of major sequencing centers, and other issues relating to the curation practices of those managing public databases such as GenBank and SwissProt. We offer recommendations for all these issues, and recommend as well that workers in the field of metatranscriptomics take extra care to avoid including false positive matches in their datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- H James Tripp
- Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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39
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Leniaud L, Darrouzet E, Dedeine F, Ahn K, Huang Z, Bagnères AG. Ontogenic potentialities of the worker caste in two sympatric subterranean termites in France. Evol Dev 2011; 13:138-48. [PMID: 21410870 DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-142x.2011.00464.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In termites, the capacity of workers to differentiate into neotenic reproductives is an important characteristic that deserves particular attention. To gain insight into the differentiation pathway, the potentialities of workers and the endocrinal changes during the formation of neotenics were compared in two sympatric termites, Reticulitermes flavipes and Reticulitermes grassei. After 1 year of development, 100% of R. flavipes worker groups produced neotenics against only 63% of R. grassei groups. The average production of female neotenics was significantly higher in R. flavipes worker groups compared with R. grassei groups and R. flavipes produced a greater proportion of female neotenics. Moreover, R. flavipes produced more offspring, not only because there were more females, but also because R. flavipes females were more productive. Moreover, the offspring produced by R. flavipes grew faster than the offspring of R. grassei. Both ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone (JH) titers varied significantly during the development of neotenics. The two species showed similar ecdysteroid titer variation patterns. However, the JH titer variation patterns strongly differed: in R. grassei, the concentration of JH increased in maturing neotenics then dropped in mature neotenics, whereas in R. flavipes, the level of JH was significantly higher than in R. grassei and remained constantly high in mature neotenics. Overall, these results suggest that these two species differ strongly in many life-history traits as well as in the physiological control of their caste differentiation system. Possible origins and mechanisms of such interspecific variations are discussed, as well as their evolutionary and ecological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurianne Leniaud
- CNRS UMR 6035, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université François Rabelais, Parc Grandmont, Tours, France
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40
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Willis JD, Oppert B, Oppert C, Klingeman WE, Jurat-Fuentes JL. Identification, cloning, and expression of a GHF9 cellulase from Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2011; 57:300-306. [PMID: 21126522 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2010] [Revised: 11/23/2010] [Accepted: 11/23/2010] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The availability of sequenced insect genomes has allowed for discovery and functional characterization of novel genes and proteins. We report use of the Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (red flour beetle) genome to identify, clone, express, and characterize a novel endo-β-1,4-glucanase we named TcEG1 (T. castaneum endoglucanase 1). Sequence analysis of a full-length TcEG1 cDNA clone (1356bp) revealed sequence homology to enzymes in glycosyl hydrolase family 9 (GHF9), and verified presence of a change (Gly for Ser) in the conserved catalytic domain for GHF9 cellulases. This TcEG1 cDNA clone was predicted to encode a 49.5kDa protein with a calculated pI of 5.39. Heterologous expression of TcEG1 in Drosophila S2 cell cultures resulted in secretion of a 51-kDa protein, as determined by Western blotting. The expressed protein was used to characterize TcEG1 enzymatic activity against two cellulose substrates to determine its specificity and stability. Our data support that TcEG1 as a novel endo-β-1,4-glucanase, the first functional characterization of a cellulase enzyme derived from an insect genome with potential applications in the biofuel industry due to its high relative activity at alkaline pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Willis
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-4560, USA
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Vanishing honey bees: Is the dying of adult worker bees a consequence of short telomeres and premature aging? Med Hypotheses 2010; 75:387-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2010.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2010] [Revised: 03/27/2010] [Accepted: 04/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Hunt BG, Goodisman MAD. Evolutionary variation in gene expression is associated with dimorphism in eusocial vespid wasps. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2010; 19:641-652. [PMID: 20546040 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2010.01021.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic diversity is frequently generated by differences in gene expression. In this study, we addressed the relationship between homology in gene expression and phenotype among four species of eusocial wasps. Specifically, we investigated the evolution of caste-specific and sex-specific gene expression patterns associated with caste polyphenisms and sexual dimorphisms. We also identified several genes with functions relevant to their phenotype-specific roles. Our results suggest that gene expression profiles associated with caste polyphenisms may evolve rapidly relative to those associated with sexes. Thus, caste-biased genes may undergo less regulatory constraint or be subject to greater neutral variation in expression than sex-biased genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- B G Hunt
- School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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Shimada K, Maekawa K. Changes in endogenous cellulase gene expression levels and reproductive characteristics of primary and secondary reproductives with colony development of the termite Reticulitermes speratus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2010; 56:1118-1124. [PMID: 20230825 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2010] [Revised: 03/04/2010] [Accepted: 03/05/2010] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The unique feature of eusociality is reproductive division of labor. At the termite colony initiation stage, there are only reproductives plus larvae and eggs that need to be cared for. As workers increase in number with colony development, reproductives are thought to be relieved of the cost of brood care and able to resume reproduction. This transition of responsibility for the care of offspring from parents to their offspring has been considered as a crucial step in the evolution of termite eusociality (trophic shift model). Here, we studied the endogenous cellulase gene expression levels and reproductive characteristics of alates and primary reproductives at 30, 50, 100, and 400 days after colony foundation in the termite Reticulitermes speratus. As a result, when the numbers of workers reached about 100 (400 days), wood digestion abilities of alates and primary reproductives decreased significantly while ovaries and testis were well developed. Moreover, wood digestion abilities of female secondary reproductives with well-developed ovaries, collected in the field colony, were lower than those of any stages of primary queens. These results were consistent with the trophic shift model, and suggested the importance of switch from parental care to alloparental care for reproductive division of labor and evolution of termite eusociality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Shimada
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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Steller MM, Kambhampati S, Caragea D. Comparative analysis of expressed sequence tags from three castes and two life stages of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes. BMC Genomics 2010; 11:463. [PMID: 20691076 PMCID: PMC3091659 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-11-463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2009] [Accepted: 08/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Termites (Isoptera) are eusocial insects whose colonies consist of morphologically and behaviorally specialized castes of sterile workers and soldiers, and reproductive alates. Previous studies on eusocial insects have indicated that caste differentiation and behavior are underlain by differential gene expression. Although much is known about gene expression in the honey bee, Apis mellifera, termites remain relatively understudied in this regard. Therefore, our objective was to assemble an expressed sequence tag (EST) data base for the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, for future gene expression studies. Results Soldier, worker, and alate caste and two larval cDNA libraries were constructed, and approximately 15,000 randomly chosen clones were sequenced to compile an EST data base. Putative gene functions were assigned based on a BLASTX Swissprot search. Categorical in silico expression patterns for each library were compared using the R-statistic. A significant proportion of the ESTs of each caste and life stages had no significant similarity to those in existing data bases. All cDNA libraries, including those of non-reproductive worker and soldier castes, contained sequences with putative reproductive functions. Genes that showed a potential expression bias among castes included a putative antibacterial humoral response and translation elongation protein in soldiers and a chemosensory protein in alates. Conclusions We have expanded upon the available sequences for R. flavipes and utilized an in silico method to compare gene expression in different castes of an eusocial insect. The in silico analysis allowed us to identify several genes which may be differentially expressed and involved in caste differences. These include a gene overrepresented in the alate cDNA library with a predicted function of neurotransmitter secretion or cholesterol absorption and a gene predicted to be involved in protein biosynthesis and ligase activity that was overrepresented in the late larval stage cDNA library. The EST data base and analyses reported here will be a valuable resource for future studies on the genomics of R. flavipes and other termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M Steller
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
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Koshikawa S, Cornette R, Matsumoto T, Miura T. The homolog of Ciboulot in the termite (Hodotermopsis sjostedti): a multimeric beta-thymosin involved in soldier-specific morphogenesis. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2010; 10:63. [PMID: 20529303 PMCID: PMC2896938 DOI: 10.1186/1471-213x-10-63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2009] [Accepted: 06/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Caste differentiation in social insects is a type of polyphenism that enables division of labor among members of a colony. This elaborate social integration has attracted broad interest, although little is known about its regulatory mechanisms, especially in Isoptera (termites). In this study, we analyzed soldier differentiation in the damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti, focusing on a possible effector gene for caste development. The gene for an actin-binding protein, HsjCib, which shows a high level of expression in developing mandibles during soldier differentiation, is characterized in detail. Results To examine the HsjCib gene, full-length cDNAs were obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends-polymerase chain reaction (RACE-PCR) and sequencing. Multiple isoforms were identified, and on the basis of the results of northern and Southern hybridization analyses, these isoforms were considered to be transcriptional variants from a single gene. On the basis of their sequence similarity to homologous genes of other organisms, functions in actin assembly were assumed to be different among isoforms. Expression analysis revealed high expression in the head during soldier differentiation, which was consistent with their allometric growth. Although isoform expression was observed in various tissues, different expression levels were observed among tissues, suggesting the possibility of tissue-specific morphogenetic regulation by HsjCib isoforms. Conclusion This study revealed the characteristics and dynamics of the HsjCib gene during soldier differentiation as a potential representative of downstream effector genes in caste-specific morphogenesis. From the expression patterns observed, this gene is considered to be involved in cephalic morphogenesis and neural reorganization, resulting in the establishment of caste-specific morphology and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeyuki Koshikawa
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
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Ishikawa Y, Okada Y, Ishikawa A, Miyakawa H, Koshikawa S, Miura T. Gene expression changes during caste-specific neuronal development in the damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti. BMC Genomics 2010; 11:314. [PMID: 20482890 PMCID: PMC2887416 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-11-314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2009] [Accepted: 05/20/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the key characters of social insects is the division of labor, in which different tasks are allocated to various castes. In termites, one of the representative groups of social insects, morphological differences as well as behavioral differences can be recognized among castes. However, very little is known about the neuronal and molecular bases of caste differentiation and caste-specific behavior. In almost all termite species, soldiers play defensive roles in their colonies, and their morphology and behavior are largely different from workers (or pseudergates). Therefore, we predicted that some genes linked to defensive behavior and/or those required for neuronal changes are differentially expressed between workers and soldiers, or during the soldier differentiation, respectively. RESULTS Using the brain and suboesophageal ganglion (SOG) of the damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti, we first screened genes specifically expressed in soldiers or during soldier differentiation by the differential display method, followed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. No distinctive differences in expression patterns were detected between pseudergates and soldiers. In the course of soldier differentiation, however, five genes were found to be up-regulated in brain and/or SOG: 14-3-3 epsilon, fibrillin2, beta-tubulin, ciboulot, and a hypothetical protein containing a SAP motif. Some of these genes are thought to be associated with cytoskeletal structure or motor-associated proteins in neuronal tissues. CONCLUSION The identified five genes could be involved in soldier-specific neuronal modifications, resulting in defensive behaviors in termite soldiers. The temporal expression patterns of these genes were consistent with the neuronal changes during soldier differentiation, suggesting that molecular machineries, in which the identified factors would participate, play important roles in behavioral differentiation of termite soldiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Ishikawa
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan
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Tarver MR, Zhou X, Scharf ME. Socio-environmental and endocrine influences on developmental and caste-regulatory gene expression in the eusocial termite Reticulitermes flavipes. BMC Mol Biol 2010; 11:28. [PMID: 20416061 PMCID: PMC2873311 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2199-11-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2009] [Accepted: 04/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Strict regulation of caste differentiation, at the molecular level, is thought to be important to maintain social structure in insect societies. Previously, a number of extrinsic and intrinsic factors have been shown to influence caste composition in termite colonies. One important factor is the influence of nestmates; in particular, soldier termites are known to inhibit hormone-dependent worker-to-soldier differentiation. However, soldier influences on nestmates at the molecular level are virtually unknown. Here, to test the hypothesis that soldiers can influence nestmate gene expression, we investigated the impact of four treatments on whole-body gene expression in totipotent Reticulitermes flavipes workers: (i) juvenile hormone III (JHIII; a morphogenetic hormone), (ii) soldier head extracts (SHE), (iii) JHIII+SHE, and (iv) live soldiers. RESULTS Using quantitative-real-time PCR we determined the expression patterns of 49 previously identified candidate genes in response to the four treatments at assay days 1, 5, and 10. Thirty-eight total genes from three categories (chemical production/degradation, hemolymph protein, and developmental) showed significant differential expression among treatments. Most importantly, SHE and live soldier treatments had a significant impact on a number of genes from families known to play roles in insect development, supporting previous findings and hypotheses that soldiers regulate nestmate caste differentiation via terpene primer pheromones contained in their heads. CONCLUSIONS This research provides new insights into the impacts that socio-environmental factors (JH, soldiers, primer pheromones) can have on termite gene expression and caste differentiation, and reveals a number of socially-relevant genes for investigation in subsequent caste differentiation research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Tarver
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Ishitani K, Maekawa K. Ovarian development of female-female pairs in the termite, Reticulitermes speratus. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2010; 10:194. [PMID: 21271845 PMCID: PMC3029259 DOI: 10.1673/031.010.19401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2009] [Accepted: 12/21/2009] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In the rhinotermitid termite Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), facultative parthenogenesis is known to occur occasionally and females cooperate with other females to found the colony. To elucidate the ovarian development in these two females, incipient female-female colonies were established under laboratory conditions, and the process of colony development was observed at 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 7.5 months (stages I-V, respectively) after colony foundation. Ovarian development, vitellogenin gene expression, and juvenile hormone (JH) titers were examined. A precise reproductive cycle in both females was observed, in which the oviposition rate was relatively higher during stages I and II, decreased during stages III and IV, and then increased again at stage V. JH III titer and vitellogenin gene expression changed in parallel throughout the reproductive cycle of these queens. Ovarian maturation and vitellogenesis were similar in both females in a female-female colony at all stages examined, suggesting that no conflicts existed for two females in terms of oviposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoko Ishitani
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama 930–8555, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Maekawa
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama 930–8555, Japan
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Changes in transcript abundance relating to colony collapse disorder in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:14790-5. [PMID: 19706391 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0906970106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a mysterious disappearance of honey bees that has beset beekeepers in the United States since late 2006. Pathogens and other environmental stresses, including pesticides, have been linked to CCD, but a causal relationship has not yet been demonstrated. Because the gut acts as a primary interface between the honey bee and its environment as a site of entry for pathogens and toxins, we used whole-genome microarrays to compare gene expression between guts of bees from CCD colonies originating on both the east and west coasts of the United States and guts of bees from healthy colonies sampled before the emergence of CCD. Considerable variation in gene expression was associated with the geographical origin of bees, but a consensus list of 65 transcripts was identified as potential markers for CCD status. Overall, elevated expression of pesticide response genes was not observed. Genes involved in immune response showed no clear trend in expression pattern despite the increased prevalence of viruses and other pathogens in CCD colonies. Microarray analysis revealed unusual ribosomal RNA fragments that were conspicuously more abundant in the guts of CCD bees. The presence of these fragments may be a possible consequence of picorna-like viral infection, including deformed wing virus and Israeli acute paralysis virus, and may be related to arrested translation. Ribosomal fragment abundance and presence of multiple viruses may prove to be useful diagnostic markers for colonies afflicted with CCD.
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Weil T, Korb J, Rehli M. Comparison of queen-specific gene expression in related lower termite species. Mol Biol Evol 2009; 26:1841-50. [PMID: 19541881 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msp095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms regulating caste determination and reproductive division of labor, the hallmarks of insect societies, are poorly defined. The identification of key genes involved in these developmentally important processes will be essential to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms controlling one of the most impressive examples of polyphenism, the caste structure of eusocial species. Here, we applied representational difference analysis of cDNAs, to study differential gene expression between queens (female neotenics) and workers in the dry wood termite Cryptotermes cynocephalus and identified 13 genes that were highly expressed in queens. In addition, we partially cloned several homologous genes of the related termite species Cryptotermes secundus and compared the expression profiles of 10 homologous genes. In most cases, the preferential expression in female neotenics was not conserved between species, despite the close phylogenetic relationship of both Cryptotermes species. It is possible that these genes are associated with known species-specific differences in caste development modes. Only three genes (Neofem1, 2, and 3) showed a conserved and highly preferential expression in female neotenics, suggesting that their products may play important roles in female reproductives, in particular in controlling caste determination and reproductive division of labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Weil
- Biology I, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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