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Blackburn GS, Keeling CI, Prunier J, Keena MA, Béliveau C, Hamelin R, Havill NP, Hebert FO, Levesque RC, Cusson M, Porth I. Genetics of flight in spongy moths (Lymantria dispar ssp.): functionally integrated profiling of a complex invasive trait. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:541. [PMID: 38822259 PMCID: PMC11140922 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09936-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Flight can drastically enhance dispersal capacity and is a key trait defining the potential of exotic insect species to spread and invade new habitats. The phytophagous European spongy moths (ESM, Lymantria dispar dispar) and Asian spongy moths (ASM; a multi-species group represented here by L. d. asiatica and L. d. japonica), are globally invasive species that vary in adult female flight capability-female ASM are typically flight capable, whereas female ESM are typically flightless. Genetic markers of flight capability would supply a powerful tool for flight profiling of these species at any intercepted life stage. To assess the functional complexity of spongy moth flight and to identify potential markers of flight capability, we used multiple genetic approaches aimed at capturing complementary signals of putative flight-relevant genetic divergence between ESM and ASM: reduced representation genome-wide association studies, whole genome sequence comparisons, and developmental transcriptomics. We then judged the candidacy of flight-associated genes through functional analyses aimed at addressing the proximate demands of flight and salient features of the ecological context of spongy moth flight evolution. RESULTS Candidate gene sets were typically non-overlapping across different genetic approaches, with only nine gene annotations shared between any pair of approaches. We detected an array of flight-relevant functional themes across gene sets that collectively suggest divergence in flight capability between European and Asian spongy moth lineages has coincided with evolutionary differentiation in multiple aspects of flight development, execution, and surrounding life history. Overall, our results indicate that spongy moth flight evolution has shaped or been influenced by a large and functionally broad network of traits. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified a suite of flight-associated genes in spongy moths suited to exploration of the genetic architecture and evolution of flight, or validation for flight profiling purposes. This work illustrates how complementary genetic approaches combined with phenotypically targeted functional analyses can help to characterize genetically complex traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwylim S Blackburn
- Natural Resources Canada, Pacific Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 506 Burnside Road West, Victoria, BC, V8Z 1M5, Canada.
- Natural Resources Canada, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 1055 Rue du PEPS, Quebec City, Québec, G1V 4C7, Canada.
- Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Laval University, 1030 Avenue de La Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Christopher I Keeling
- Natural Resources Canada, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 1055 Rue du PEPS, Quebec City, Québec, G1V 4C7, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bioinformatics, Laval University, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Julien Prunier
- Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Laval University, 1030 Avenue de La Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institute of Integrative Biology and Systems, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Melody A Keena
- United States Department of Agriculture, Northern Research Station, Forest Service, 51 Mill Pond Road, Hamden, CT, 06514, USA
| | - Catherine Béliveau
- Natural Resources Canada, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 1055 Rue du PEPS, Quebec City, Québec, G1V 4C7, Canada
| | - Richard Hamelin
- Forest Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, 3032V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Nathan P Havill
- United States Department of Agriculture, Northern Research Station, Forest Service, 51 Mill Pond Road, Hamden, CT, 06514, USA
| | | | - Roger C Levesque
- Institute of Integrative Biology and Systems, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Michel Cusson
- Natural Resources Canada, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 1055 Rue du PEPS, Quebec City, Québec, G1V 4C7, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bioinformatics, Laval University, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Ilga Porth
- Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Laval University, 1030 Avenue de La Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institute of Integrative Biology and Systems, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre for Forest Research, Laval University, 2405 Rue de La Terrasse, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
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Dey M, Brown E, Charlu S, Keene A, Dahanukar A. Evolution of fatty acid taste in drosophilids. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113297. [PMID: 37864792 PMCID: PMC10697176 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Comparative studies of related but ecologically distinct species can reveal how the nervous system evolves to drive behaviors that are particularly suited to certain environments. Drosophila melanogaster is a generalist that feeds and oviposits on most overripe fruits. A sibling species, D. sechellia, is an obligate specialist of Morinda citrifolia (noni) fruit, which is rich in fatty acids (FAs). To understand evolution of noni taste preference, we characterized behavioral and cellular responses to noni-associated FAs in three related drosophilids. We find that mixtures of sugar and noni FAs evoke strong aversion in the generalist species but not in D. sechellia. Surveys of taste sensory responses reveal noni FA- and species-specific differences in at least two mechanisms-bitter neuron activation and sweet neuron inhibition-that correlate with shifts in noni preference. Chemoreceptor mutant analysis in D. melanogaster predicts that multiple genetic changes account for evolution of gustatory preference in D. sechellia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manali Dey
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Elizabeth Brown
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Sandhya Charlu
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Alex Keene
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Anupama Dahanukar
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Department of Molecular, Cell & Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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O'Malley L, Wang J, Nikzad M, Sheng H, St Leger R. Genetic variation in disease resistance in Drosophila spp. is mitigated in Drosophila sechellia by specialization to a toxic host. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7793. [PMID: 37179396 PMCID: PMC10183017 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34976-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We found that Drosophila species vary in their susceptibility to the broad-spectrum entomopathogen, Metarhizium anisopliae (strain Ma549). Generalist species were generally more resistant than dietary specialists, with the cactophilic Drosophila buzzatii and Drosophila sechellia, a specialist of the Morinda citrifolia (Morinda) fruit, being most susceptible. Morinda fruit is reported to be toxic to most herbivores because it contains Octanoic Acid (OA). We confirmed that OA is toxic to Drosophila spp., other than D. sechellia, and we also found that OA is highly toxic to entomopathogenic fungi including Ma549 and Beauveria bassiana. Drosophila sechellia fed a diet containing OA, even at levels much less than found in Morinda fruit, had greatly reduced susceptibility to Ma549. This suggests that specializing to Morinda may have provided an enemy-free space, reducing adaptive prioritization on a strong immune response. Our results demonstrate that M. anisopliae and Drosophila species with divergent lifestyles provide a versatile model system for understanding the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions at different scales and in environmental context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam O'Malley
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Jonathan Wang
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Matthew Nikzad
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Huiyu Sheng
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Raymond St Leger
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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Scalzotto M, Ng R, Cruchet S, Saina M, Armida J, Su CY, Benton R. Pheromone sensing in Drosophila requires support cell-expressed Osiris 8. BMC Biol 2022; 20:230. [PMID: 36217142 PMCID: PMC9552441 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01425-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The nose of most animals comprises multiple sensory subsystems, which are defined by the expression of different olfactory receptor families. Drosophila melanogaster antennae contain two morphologically and functionally distinct subsystems that express odorant receptors (Ors) or ionotropic receptors (Irs). Although these receptors have been thoroughly characterized in this species, the subsystem-specific expression and roles of other genes are much less well-understood. Results Here we generate subsystem-specific transcriptomic datasets to identify hundreds of genes, encoding diverse protein classes, that are selectively enriched in either Or or Ir subsystems. Using single-cell antennal transcriptomic data and RNA in situ hybridization, we find that most neuronal genes—other than sensory receptor genes—are broadly expressed within the subsystems. By contrast, we identify many non-neuronal genes that exhibit highly selective expression, revealing substantial molecular heterogeneity in the non-neuronal cellular components of the olfactory subsystems. We characterize one Or subsystem-specific non-neuronal molecule, Osiris 8 (Osi8), a conserved member of a large, insect-specific family of transmembrane proteins. Osi8 is expressed in the membranes of tormogen support cells of pheromone-sensing trichoid sensilla. Loss of Osi8 does not have obvious impact on trichoid sensillar development or basal neuronal activity, but abolishes high sensitivity responses to pheromone ligands. Conclusions This work identifies a new protein required for insect pheromone detection, emphasizes the importance of support cells in neuronal sensory functions, and provides a resource for future characterization of other olfactory subsystem-specific genes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01425-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Scalzotto
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Renny Ng
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Steeve Cruchet
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael Saina
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan Armida
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Chih-Ying Su
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Richard Benton
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Potential Action Mechanism and Inhibition Efficacy of Morinda citrifolia Essential Oil and Octanoic Acid against Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum Infestations. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27165173. [PMID: 36014413 PMCID: PMC9414982 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27165173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The use of plant-based products has been shown to efficiently inhibit fungi-mediated diseases in agricultural crops. Here, we extracted and evaluated the composition of noni, Morinda citrifolia L., essential oil and assessed its activities against Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum in Cucumis melo L. Using in silico molecular approaches, potential interactions between the essential oil major components and S. cucurbitacearum tyrosine-tRNA ligase were predicted. Finally, we also measured the potential interference of plant physiology (the stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis) mediated by the application of the M. citrifolia essential oil. Chromatographic analysis revealed that octanoic acid (75.8%), hexanoic acid (12.8%), and isobutyl pent-4-enyl carbonate (3.1%) were the major essential oil compounds. Octanoic acid and noni essential oil, when used as preventive measures, reduce fungal mycelial growth at a concentration of 5 mg/mL without causing significant damage to the treated leaves, which reinforces their efficacies as preventive tools against S. cucurbitacearum. Molecular docking analyses predicted very stable interactions between the major essential oil constituents and S. cucurbitacearum tyrosine-tRNA ligase, suggesting the interference of these plant-based molecules upon enzyme activation. Octanoic acid and M. citrifolia essential oil at concentrations of 20 mg/mL decreased the stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis rate of melon plants, resulting in robust phytotoxicity. Collectively, our findings indicated that despite the phytotoxicity risks at higher concentrations, M. citrifolia essential oil and octanoic acid, have potential as alternative tools for the integrative management of S. cucurbitacearum.
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Hou XQ, Zhang DD, Powell D, Wang HL, Andersson MN, Löfstedt C. Ionotropic receptors in the turnip moth Agrotis segetum respond to repellent medium-chain fatty acids. BMC Biol 2022; 20:34. [PMID: 35130883 PMCID: PMC8822749 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01235-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In insects, airborne chemical signals are mainly detected by two receptor families, odorant receptors (ORs) and ionotropic receptors (IRs). Functions of ORs have been intensively investigated in Diptera and Lepidoptera, while the functions and evolution of the more ancient IR family remain largely unexplored beyond Diptera. Results Here, we identified a repertoire of 26 IRs from transcriptomes of female and male antennae, and ovipositors in the moth Agrotis segetum. We observed that a large clade formed by IR75p and IR75q expansions is closely related to the acid-sensing IRs identified in Diptera. We functionally assayed each of the five AsegIRs from this clade using Xenopus oocytes and found that two receptors responded to the tested ligands. AsegIR75p.1 responded to several compounds but hexanoic acid was revealed to be the primary ligand, and AsegIR75q.1 responded primarily to octanoic acid, and less so to nonanoic acid. It has been reported that the C6-C10 medium-chain fatty acids repel various insects including many drosophilids and mosquitos. We show that the C6-C10 medium-chain fatty acids elicited antennal responses of both sexes of A. segetum, while only octanoic acid had repellent effect to the moths in a behavioral assay. In addition, using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we demonstrated that the five IRs and their co-receptor AsegIR8a are not located in coeloconic sensilla as found in Drosophila, but in basiconic or trichoid sensilla. Conclusions Our results significantly expand the current knowledge of the insect IR family. Based on the functional data in combination with phylogenetic analysis, we propose that subfunctionalization after gene duplication plays an important role in the evolution of ligand specificities of the acid-sensing IRs in Lepidoptera. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01235-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Qing Hou
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.,Present address: Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhang
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniel Powell
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.,Present address: Global Change Ecology Research Group, School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, Sunshine Coast, Australia
| | - Hong-Lei Wang
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Martin N Andersson
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christer Löfstedt
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.
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7
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McKenna CH, Asgari D, Crippen TL, Zheng L, Sherman RA, Tomberlin JK, Meisel RP, Tarone AM. Gene expression in Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae exposed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii identifies shared and microbe-specific induction of immune genes. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 31:85-100. [PMID: 34613655 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a continuing challenge in medicine. There are various strategies for expanding antibiotic therapeutic repertoires, including the use of blow flies. Their larvae exhibit strong antibiotic and antibiofilm properties that alter microbiome communities. One species, Lucilia sericata, is used to treat problematic wounds due to its debridement capabilities and its excretions and secretions that kill some pathogenic bacteria. There is much to be learned about how L. sericata interacts with microbiomes at the molecular level. To address this deficiency, gene expression was assessed after feeding exposure (1 h or 4 h) to two clinically problematic pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. The results identified immunity-related genes that were differentially expressed when exposed to these pathogens, as well as non-immune genes possibly involved in gut responses to bacterial infection. There was a greater response to P. aeruginosa that increased over time, while few genes responded to A. baumannii exposure, and expression was not time-dependent. The response to feeding on pathogens indicates a few common responses and features distinct to each pathogen, which is useful in improving the wound debridement therapy and helps to develop biomimetic alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H McKenna
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - D Asgari
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - T L Crippen
- Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, College Station, TX, USA
| | - L Zheng
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - R A Sherman
- BioTherapeutics, Education and Research (BTER) Foundation, Irvine, CA, USA
- Monarch Labs, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - J K Tomberlin
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - R P Meisel
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - A M Tarone
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Auer TO, Shahandeh MP, Benton R. Drosophila sechellia: A Genetic Model for Behavioral Evolution and Neuroecology. Annu Rev Genet 2021; 55:527-554. [PMID: 34530638 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-071719-020719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Defining the mechanisms by which animals adapt to their ecological niche is an important problem bridging evolution, genetics, and neurobiology. We review the establishment of a powerful genetic model for comparative behavioral analysis and neuroecology, Drosophila sechellia. This island-endemic fly species is closely related to several cosmopolitan generalists, including Drosophila melanogaster, but has evolved extreme specialism, feeding and reproducing exclusively on the noni fruit of the tropical shrub Morinda citrifolia. We first describe the development and use of genetic approaches to facilitate genotype/phenotype associations in these drosophilids. Next, we survey the behavioral, physiological, and morphological adaptations of D. sechellia throughout its life cycle and outline our current understanding of the genetic and cellular basis of these traits. Finally, we discuss the principles this knowledge begins to establish in the context of host specialization, speciation, and the neurobiology of behavioral evolution and consider open questions and challenges in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas O Auer
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; , ,
| | - Michael P Shahandeh
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; , ,
| | - Richard Benton
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; , ,
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9
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Drum ZA, Lanno SM, Gregory SM, Shimshak SJ, Ahamed M, Barr W, Bekele B, Biester A, Castro C, Connolly L, DelGaudio N, Humphrey W, Karimi H, Karolczak S, Lawrence TS, McCracken A, Miller-Medzon N, Murphy L, Park C, Park S, Qiu C, Serra K, Snyder G, Strauss A, Tang S, Vyzas C, Coolon JD. Genomics analysis of hexanoic acid exposure in Drosophila species. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 12:6402009. [PMID: 34718544 PMCID: PMC8727985 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Drosophila sechellia is a dietary specialist endemic to the Seychelles islands that has evolved to consume the fruit of Morinda citrifolia. When ripe, the fruit of M. citrifolia contains octanoic acid and hexanoic acid, two medium-chain fatty acid volatiles that deter and are toxic to generalist insects. Drosophila sechellia has evolved resistance to these volatiles allowing it to feed almost exclusively on this host plant. The genetic basis of octanoic acid resistance has been the focus of multiple recent studies, but the mechanisms that govern hexanoic acid resistance in D. sechellia remain unknown. To understand how D. sechellia has evolved to specialize on M. citrifolia fruit and avoid the toxic effects of hexanoic acid, we exposed adult D. sechellia, D. melanogaster and D. simulans to hexanoic acid and performed RNA sequencing comparing their transcriptional responses to identify D. sechellia specific responses. Our analysis identified many more genes responding transcriptionally to hexanoic acid in the susceptible generalist species than in the specialist D. sechellia. Interrogation of the sets of differentially expressed genes showed that generalists regulated the expression of many genes involved in metabolism and detoxification whereas the specialist primarily downregulated genes involved in the innate immunity. Using these data, we have identified interesting candidate genes that may be critically important in aspects of adaptation to their food source that contains high concentrations of HA. Understanding how gene expression evolves during dietary specialization is crucial for our understanding of how ecological communities are built and how evolution shapes trophic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A Drum
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Stephen M Lanno
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Sara M Gregory
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Serena J Shimshak
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Mukshud Ahamed
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Will Barr
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Bethlehem Bekele
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Alison Biester
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Colleen Castro
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Lauren Connolly
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Nicole DelGaudio
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - William Humphrey
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Helen Karimi
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Sophie Karolczak
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | | | - Andrew McCracken
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | | | - Leah Murphy
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Cameron Park
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Sojeong Park
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Chloe Qiu
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Kevin Serra
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Gigi Snyder
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Alexa Strauss
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Spencer Tang
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Christina Vyzas
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
| | - Joseph D Coolon
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University,Middletown, CT 06457, USA
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10
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Chae K, Valentin C, Dawson C, Jakes E, Myles KM, Adelman ZN. A knockout screen of genes expressed specifically in Ae. aegypti pupae reveals a critical role for stretchin in mosquito flight. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 132:103565. [PMID: 33716097 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Aedes aegypti is a critical vector for transmitting Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses to humans. Genetic strategies to limit mosquito survival based upon sex distortion or disruption of development may be valuable new tools to control Ae. aegypti populations. We identified six genes with expression limited to pupal development; osi8 and osi11 (Osiris protein family), CPRs and CPF (cuticle protein family), and stretchin (a muscle protein). Heritable CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout of these genes did not reveal any defects in pupal development. However, stretchin-null mutations (strnΔ35/Δ41) resulted in flightless mosquitoes with an abnormal open wing posture. The inability of adult strnΔ35/Δ41 mosquitoes to fly restricted their escape from aquatic rearing media following eclosion, and substantially reduced adult survival rates. Transgenic strains which contain the EGFP marker gene under the control of strn regulatory regions (0.8 kb, 1.4 kb, and 2.2 kb upstream, respectively), revealed the gene expression pattern of strn in muscle-like tissues in the thorax during late morphogenesis from L4 larvae to young adults. We demonstrated that Ae. aegypti pupae-specific strn is critical for adult mosquito flight capability and a key late-acting lethal target for mosquito-borne disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keun Chae
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Collin Valentin
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Chanell Dawson
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Emma Jakes
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Kevin M Myles
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Zach N Adelman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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11
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Wang X, Verschut TA, Billeter JC, Maan ME. Seven Questions on the Chemical Ecology and Neurogenetics of Resource-Mediated Speciation. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.640486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptation to different environments can result in reproductive isolation between populations and the formation of new species. Food resources are among the most important environmental factors shaping local adaptation. The chemosensory system, the most ubiquitous sensory channel in the animal kingdom, not only detects food resources and their chemical composition, but also mediates sexual communication and reproductive isolation in many taxa. Chemosensory divergence may thus play a crucial role in resource-mediated adaptation and speciation. Understanding how the chemosensory system can facilitate resource-mediated ecological speciation requires integrating mechanistic studies of the chemosensory system with ecological studies, to link the genetics and physiology of chemosensory properties to divergent adaptation. In this review, we use examples of insect research to present seven key questions that can be used to understand how the chemosensory system can facilitate resource-mediated ecological speciation in consumer populations.
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12
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Salazar-Jaramillo L, Wertheim B. Does Drosophila sechellia escape parasitoid attack by feeding on a toxic resource? PeerJ 2021; 9:e10528. [PMID: 33505786 PMCID: PMC7796662 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Host shifts can drastically change the selective pressures that animals experience from their environment. Drosophila sechellia is a species restricted to the Seychelles islands, where it specializes on the fruit Morinda citrifolia (noni). This fruit is known to be toxic to closely related Drosophila species, including D. melanogaster and D. simulans, releasing D. sechellia from interspecific competition when breeding on this substrate. Previously, we showed that larvae of D. sechellia are unable to mount an effective immunological response against wasp attack, while larvae of closely-related species can defend themselves from parasitoid attack by melanotic encapsulation. We hypothesized that this inability constitutes a trait loss due to a reduced risk of parasitoid attack in noni. Here we present a lab experiment and field survey aimed to test the hypothesis that specialization on noni has released D. sechellia from the antagonistic interaction with its larval parasitoids. Our results from the lab experiment suggest that noni may be harmful to parasitoid wasps. Our results from the field survey indicate that D. sechellia was found in ripe noni, whereas another Drosophila species, D. malerkotliana, was present in unripe and overripe stages. Parasitic wasps of the species Leptopilina boulardi emerged from overripe noni, where D. malerkotliana was the most abundant host, but not from ripe noni. These results indicate that the specialization of D. sechellia on noni has indeed drastically altered its ecological interactions, leading to a relaxation in the selection pressure to maintain parasitoid resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Salazar-Jaramillo
- Vidarium-Nutrition, Health and Wellness Research Center, Medellin, Colombia.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Bregje Wertheim
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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13
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Dennis AB, Ballesteros GI, Robin S, Schrader L, Bast J, Berghöfer J, Beukeboom LW, Belghazi M, Bretaudeau A, Buellesbach J, Cash E, Colinet D, Dumas Z, Errbii M, Falabella P, Gatti JL, Geuverink E, Gibson JD, Hertaeg C, Hartmann S, Jacquin-Joly E, Lammers M, Lavandero BI, Lindenbaum I, Massardier-Galata L, Meslin C, Montagné N, Pak N, Poirié M, Salvia R, Smith CR, Tagu D, Tares S, Vogel H, Schwander T, Simon JC, Figueroa CC, Vorburger C, Legeai F, Gadau J. Functional insights from the GC-poor genomes of two aphid parasitoids, Aphidius ervi and Lysiphlebus fabarum. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:376. [PMID: 32471448 PMCID: PMC7257214 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-6764-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parasitoid wasps have fascinating life cycles and play an important role in trophic networks, yet little is known about their genome content and function. Parasitoids that infect aphids are an important group with the potential for biological control. Their success depends on adapting to develop inside aphids and overcoming both host aphid defenses and their protective endosymbionts. RESULTS We present the de novo genome assemblies, detailed annotation, and comparative analysis of two closely related parasitoid wasps that target pest aphids: Aphidius ervi and Lysiphlebus fabarum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae). The genomes are small (139 and 141 Mbp) and the most AT-rich reported thus far for any arthropod (GC content: 25.8 and 23.8%). This nucleotide bias is accompanied by skewed codon usage and is stronger in genes with adult-biased expression. AT-richness may be the consequence of reduced genome size, a near absence of DNA methylation, and energy efficiency. We identify missing desaturase genes, whose absence may underlie mimicry in the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of L. fabarum. We highlight key gene groups including those underlying venom composition, chemosensory perception, and sex determination, as well as potential losses in immune pathway genes. CONCLUSIONS These findings are of fundamental interest for insect evolution and biological control applications. They provide a strong foundation for further functional studies into coevolution between parasitoids and their hosts. Both genomes are available at https://bipaa.genouest.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice B Dennis
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Gabriel I Ballesteros
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Centre for Molecular and Functional Ecology in Agroecosystems, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Laboratorio de Control Biológico, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Stéphanie Robin
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes, 35650, Le Rheu, France
- Université de Rennes 1, INRIA, CNRS, IRISA, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Lukas Schrader
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jens Bast
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Université de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Zoology, Universität zu Köln, 50674, Köln, Germany
| | - Jan Berghöfer
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Leo W Beukeboom
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maya Belghazi
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, PINT, PFNT, Marseille, France
| | - Anthony Bretaudeau
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes, 35650, Le Rheu, France
- Université de Rennes 1, INRIA, CNRS, IRISA, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Jan Buellesbach
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Cash
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | - Zoé Dumas
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Université de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mohammed Errbii
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Jean-Luc Gatti
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Elzemiek Geuverink
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joshua D Gibson
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA
| | - Corinne Hertaeg
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Sciences, D-USYS, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Hartmann
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Emmanuelle Jacquin-Joly
- INRAE, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Université Paris Diderot, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES-Paris, F-78000, Versailles, France
| | - Mark Lammers
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Blas I Lavandero
- Laboratorio de Control Biológico, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Ina Lindenbaum
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Camille Meslin
- INRAE, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Université Paris Diderot, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES-Paris, F-78000, Versailles, France
| | - Nicolas Montagné
- INRAE, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Université Paris Diderot, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES-Paris, F-78000, Versailles, France
| | - Nina Pak
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Marylène Poirié
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Rosanna Salvia
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100, Potenza, Italy
| | - Chris R Smith
- Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN, 47374, USA
| | - Denis Tagu
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes, 35650, Le Rheu, France
| | - Sophie Tares
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Heiko Vogel
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Tanja Schwander
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Université de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Christian C Figueroa
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Centre for Molecular and Functional Ecology in Agroecosystems, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Christoph Vorburger
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Fabrice Legeai
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes, 35650, Le Rheu, France
- Université de Rennes 1, INRIA, CNRS, IRISA, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Jürgen Gadau
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany.
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14
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Effects of Osiris9a on Silk Properties in Bombyx mori Determined by Transgenic Overexpression. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051888. [PMID: 32164252 PMCID: PMC7084798 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Osiris is an insect-specific gene family with multiple biological roles in development, phenotypic polymorphism, and protection. In the silkworm, we have previously identified twenty-five Osiris genes with high evolutionary conservation and remarkable synteny among several insects. Bombxy moriOsiris9a (BmOsi9a) is expressed only in the silk gland, particularly in the middle silk gland (MSG). However, the biological function of BmOsi9a is still unknown. In this study, we overexpressed BmOsi9a in the silk gland by germline transgene expression. BmOsi9a was overexpressed not only in the MSG but also in the posterior silk gland (PSG). Interestingly, BmOsi9a could be secreted into the lumen in the MSG but not in the PSG. In the silk fiber, overexpressed BmOsi9a interacted with Sericin1 in the MSG, as confirmed by a co-immunoprecipitation assay. The overexpression of BmOsi9a altered the secondary structure and crystallinity of the silk fiber, thereby changing the mechanical properties. These results provide insight into the mechanisms underlying silk proteins secretion and silk fiber formation.
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15
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Etges WJ. Evolutionary genomics of host plant adaptation: insights from Drosophila. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 36:96-102. [PMID: 31542627 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Variation in gene expression in response to the use of alternate host plants can reveal genetic and physiological mechanisms explaining why insect-host relationships vary from host specialism to generalism. Interpreting transcriptome variation relies on well-annotated genomes, making drosophilids valuable model systems, particularly those species with tractable ecological associations. Patterns of whole genome expression and alternate gene splicing in response to growth on different hosts have revealed expression of gene networks of known detoxification genes as well as novel functionally enriched genes of diverse metabolic and structural functions. Integrating trancriptomic responses with fitness differences and levels of phenotypic plasticity in response to alternate hosts will help to reveal the general nature of genotype-phenotype relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Etges
- Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, SCEN 632, 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
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16
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Lanno SM, Coolon JD. Derived esterase activity in Drosophila sechellia contributes to evolved octanoic acid resistance. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 28:798-806. [PMID: 30977928 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The dietary specialist fruit fly Drosophila sechellia has evolved resistance to the secondary defence compounds produced by the fruit of its host plant, Morinda citrifolia. The primary chemicals that contribute to lethality of M. citrifolia are the medium-chain fatty acids octanoic acid (OA) and hexanoic acid. At least five genomic regions contribute to this adaptation in D. sechellia and whereas the fine-mapped major effect locus for OA resistance on chromosome 3R has been thoroughly analysed, the remaining four genomic regions that contribute to toxin resistance remain uncharacterized. To begin to identify the genetic basis of toxin resistance in this species, we removed the function of well-known detoxification gene families to determine whether they contribute to toxin resistance. Previous work found that evolution of cytochrome P450 enzymatic activity or expression is not responsible for the OA resistance in D. sechellia. Here, we tested the role of the two other major detoxification gene families in resistance to Morinda fruit toxins - glutathione-S-transferases and esterases - through the use of the pesticide synergists diethyl maleate and tribufos that inhibit the function of these gene families. This work suggests that one or more esterase(s) contribute to evolved OA resistance in D. sechellia.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Lanno
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA
| | - J D Coolon
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA
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17
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Abstract
Drosophila sechellia is a dietary specialist fruit fly that evolved from a generalist ancestor to specialize on the toxic fruit of Morinda citrifolia This species pair has been the subject of numerous studies where the goal has largely been to determine the genetic basis of adaptations associated with host specialization. Because one of the most striking features of M. citrifolia fruit is the production of toxic volatile compounds that kill insects, most genomic studies in D. sechellia to date have focused on gene expression responses to the toxic compounds in its food. In this study, we aim to identify new genes important for host specialization by profiling gene expression response to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA). Recent work found it to be highly abundant in M. citrifolia, critical for reproductive success of D. sechellia, and supplementation of diet with the downstream pathway product dopamine can influence toxin resistance phenotypes in related species. Here we used a combination of functional genetics and genomics techniques to identify new genes that are important for D. sechellia ecological adaptation to this new niche. We show that L-DOPA exposure can affect toxin resistance phenotypes, identify genes with plastic responses to L-DOPA exposure, and functionally test an identified candidate gene. We found that knock-down of Esterase 6 (Est6) in a heterologous species alters toxin resistance suggesting Est6 may play an important role in D. sechellia host specialization.
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18
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Markow TA. Host use and host shifts in Drosophila. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 31:139-145. [PMID: 31109667 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Over a thousand Drosophila species have radiated onto a wide range of feeding and breeding sites. These radiations involve adaptations for locating, accepting, and growing in hosts with highly differing characteristics. In a number of species, owing to the availability of sequenced genomes, particular steps in host specialization and genes that control them, are being identified. Many cases of specialization involve the ability to detoxify some component of the host. Examples include Drosophila sechellia and the octanoic acid in Morinda citrifolia, alpha-amanitin in mycophagous drosophilids, and the alkaloids in cactophilic species. Owing to the known ecologies of many species for which genomes exist, the Drosophila model system provides an unprecedented opportunity to simultaneously examine the genes underlying HOST LOCATION, HOST ACCEPTANCE and HOST USE, the types of selection acting upon them and any coevolutionary interactions among the genes underlying these steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Therese Ann Markow
- National Laboratory for the Genomics of Biodiversity, CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Mexico; Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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19
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Lanno SM, Shimshak SJ, Peyser RD, Linde SC, Coolon JD. Investigating the role of Osiris genes in Drosophila sechellia larval resistance to a host plant toxin. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:1922-1933. [PMID: 30847082 PMCID: PMC6392368 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The underlying genetic basis of adaptive phenotypic changes is generally poorly understood, yet a growing number of case studies are beginning to shed light on important questions about the molecular nature and pleiotropy of such changes. We use Drosophila sechellia, a dietary specialist fruit fly that evolved to specialize on a single toxic host plant, Morinda citrifolia, as a model for adaptive phenotypic change and seek to determine the genetic basis of traits associated with host specialization in this species. The fruit of M. citrifolia is toxic to other drosophilids, primarily due to high levels of the defense chemical octanoic acid (OA), yet D. sechellia has evolved resistance to OA. Our prior work identified three Osiris family genes that reside in a fine-mapped QTL for OA resistance: Osiris 6 (Osi6), Osi7, and Osi8, which can alter OA resistance in adult D. melanogaster when knocked down with RNA interference suggesting they may contribute to OA resistance in D. sechellia. Genetic mapping identified overlapping genomic regions involved in larval and adult OA resistance in D. sechellia, yet it remains unknown whether Osiris genes contribute to resistance in both life stages. Furthermore, because multiple genomic regions contribute to OA resistance, we aim to identify other gene(s) involved in this adaptation. Here, we identify candidate larval OA resistance genes using RNA sequencing to measure genome-wide differential gene expression in D. sechellia larvae after exposure to OA and functionally test identified genes for a role in OA resistance. We then test the Osiris genes previously shown to alter adult OA resistance for effects on OA resistance in larvae. We found that Osi8 knockdown decreased OA resistance in D. melanogaster larvae. These data suggest that evolved changes in Osi8 could impact OA resistance in multiple life stages while Osi6 and Osi7 may only impact adult resistance to OA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rubye D. Peyser
- Department of BiologyWesleyan UniversityMiddletownConnecticut
| | - Samuel C. Linde
- Department of BiologyWesleyan UniversityMiddletownConnecticut
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20
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Characterization and expression profiling of microRNAs in response to plant feeding in two host-plant strains of the lepidopteran pest Spodoptera frugiperda. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:804. [PMID: 30400811 PMCID: PMC6219076 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5119-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A change in the environment may impair development or survival of living organisms leading them to adapt to the change. The resulting adaptation trait may reverse, or become fixed in the population leading to evolution of species. Deciphering the molecular basis of adaptive traits can thus give evolutionary clues. In phytophagous insects, a change in host-plant range can lead to emergence of new species. Among them, Spodoptera frugiperda is a major agricultural lepidopteran pest consisting of two host-plant strains having diverged 3 MA, based on mitochondrial markers. In this paper, we address the role of microRNAs, important gene expression regulators, in response to host-plant change and in adaptive evolution. Results Using small RNA sequencing, we characterized miRNA repertoires of the corn (C) and rice (R) strains of S. frugiperda, expressed during larval development on two different host-plants, corn and rice, in the frame of reciprocal transplant experiments. We provide evidence for 76 and 68 known miRNAs in C and R strains and 139 and 171 novel miRNAs. Based on read counts analysis, 34 of the microRNAs were differentially expressed in the C strain larvae fed on rice as compared to the C strain larvae fed on corn. Twenty one were differentially expressed on rice compared to corn in R strain. Nine were differentially expressed in the R strain compared to C strain when reared on corn. A similar ratio of microRNAs was differentially expressed between strains on rice. We could validate experimentally by QPCR, variation in expression of the most differentially expressed candidates. We used bioinformatics methods to determine the target mRNAs of known microRNAs. Comparison with the mRNA expression profile during similar reciprocal transplant experiment revealed potential mRNA targets of these host-plant regulated miRNAs. Conclusions In the current study, we performed the first systematic analysis of miRNAs in Lepidopteran pests feeding on host-plants. We identified a set of the differentially expressed miRNAs that respond to the plant diet, or differ constitutively between the two host plant strains. Among the latter, the ones that are also deregulated in response to host-plant are molecular candidates underlying a complex adaptive trait. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-5119-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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21
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Pei J, Kinch LN, Grishin NV. FlyXCDB—A Resource for Drosophila Cell Surface and Secreted Proteins and Their Extracellular Domains. J Mol Biol 2018; 430:3353-3411. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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22
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Suriano CM, Bodznick D. Evidence for generative homology of cerebellum and cerebellum-like structures in an elasmobranch fish based onPax6, Cbln1andGrid2expression. J Comp Neurol 2018; 526:2187-2203. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - David Bodznick
- Biology Department; Wesleyan University; Middletown Connecticut
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23
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Nallu S, Hill JA, Don K, Sahagun C, Zhang W, Meslin C, Snell-Rood E, Clark NL, Morehouse NI, Bergelson J, Wheat CW, Kronforst MR. The molecular genetic basis of herbivory between butterflies and their host plants. Nat Ecol Evol 2018; 2:1418-1427. [PMID: 30076351 PMCID: PMC6149523 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0629-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Interactions between herbivorous insects and their host-plants are a central component of terrestrial food webs and a critical topic in agriculture, where a substantial fraction of potential crop yield is lost annually to pests. Important insights into plant-insect interactions have come from research on specific plant defenses and insect detoxification mechanisms. Yet, much remains unknown about the molecular mechanisms that mediate plant-insect interactions. Here we use multiple genome-wide approaches to map the molecular basis of herbivory from both plant and insect perspectives, focusing on butterflies and their larval host-plants. Parallel genome-wide association studies in the Cabbage White butterfly, Pieris rapae, and its host-plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, pinpointed a small number of butterfly and plant genes that influenced herbivory. These genes, along with much of the genome, were regulated in a dynamic way over the time course of the feeding interaction. Comparative analyses, including diverse butterfly/plant systems, showed a variety of genome-wide responses to herbivory, yet a core set of highly conserved genes in butterflies as well as their host-plants. These results greatly expand our understanding of the genomic causes and evolutionary consequences of ecological interactions across two of nature’s most diverse taxa, butterflies and flowering plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumitha Nallu
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jason A Hill
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristine Don
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Carlos Sahagun
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Camille Meslin
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris (IEES-Paris), Versailles , France
| | - Emilie Snell-Rood
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Nathan L Clark
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nathan I Morehouse
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Joy Bergelson
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Marcus R Kronforst
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Schrider DR, Ayroles J, Matute DR, Kern AD. Supervised machine learning reveals introgressed loci in the genomes of Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007341. [PMID: 29684059 PMCID: PMC5933812 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybridization and gene flow between species appears to be common. Even though it is clear that hybridization is widespread across all surveyed taxonomic groups, the magnitude and consequences of introgression are still largely unknown. Thus it is crucial to develop the statistical machinery required to uncover which genomic regions have recently acquired haplotypes via introgression from a sister population. We developed a novel machine learning framework, called FILET (Finding Introgressed Loci via Extra-Trees) capable of revealing genomic introgression with far greater power than competing methods. FILET works by combining information from a number of population genetic summary statistics, including several new statistics that we introduce, that capture patterns of variation across two populations. We show that FILET is able to identify loci that have experienced gene flow between related species with high accuracy, and in most situations can correctly infer which population was the donor and which was the recipient. Here we describe a data set of outbred diploid Drosophila sechellia genomes, and combine them with data from D. simulans to examine recent introgression between these species using FILET. Although we find that these populations may have split more recently than previously appreciated, FILET confirms that there has indeed been appreciable recent introgression (some of which might have been adaptive) between these species, and reveals that this gene flow is primarily in the direction of D. simulans to D. sechellia. Understanding the extent to which species or diverged populations hybridize in nature is crucially important if we are to understand the speciation process. Accordingly numerous research groups have developed methodology for finding the genetic evidence of such introgression. In this report we develop a supervised machine learning approach for uncovering loci which have introgressed across species boundaries. We show that our method, FILET, has greater accuracy and power than competing methods in discovering introgression, and in addition can detect the directionality associated with the gene flow between species. Using whole genome sequences from Drosophila simulans and Drosophila sechellia we show that FILET discovers quite extensive introgression between these species that has occurred mostly from D. simulans to D. sechellia. Our work highlights the complex process of speciation even within a well-studied system and points to the growing importance of supervised machine learning in population genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Schrider
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
- Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Julien Ayroles
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Daniel R. Matute
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Andrew D. Kern
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
- Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
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25
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Scholl A, Yang Y, McBride P, Irwin K, Jiang L. Tracheal expression of Osiris gene family in Drosophila. Gene Expr Patterns 2018; 28:87-94. [PMID: 29548969 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Drosophila trachea is a premier genetic system to investigate the fundamental mechanisms of tubular organ formation. Development of the trachea consists of the well understood early branch specification and migration processes, and the less clear later branch maturation process including the apical membrane expansion, cytoskeleton rearrangement, luminal matrix clearance, and air-filling. We identified seven members of the Osiris (Osi) gene family with obvious tracheal expression in Drosophila. In addition, HA-tagged Osi proteins are highly concentrated in vesicle-like structures at and near the apical membrane. Osi proteins are predicted to contain endocytic signals and transmembrane domains. The localization of Osi proteins is consistent with these predictions. Interestingly, the Drosophila tracheal tube maturation process also occurs at the apical membrane. Taken together, the localization of Osi proteins suggest that these proteins are likely involved in tube maturation through vesicular trafficking or interacting with other apical membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Scholl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, USA
| | - Yuyang Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, USA
| | | | - Kelly Irwin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, USA
| | - Lan Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, USA.
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26
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Smith CR, Morandin C, Noureddine M, Pant S. Conserved roles of Osiris genes in insect development, polymorphism and protection. J Evol Biol 2018; 31:516-529. [PMID: 29322640 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Much of the variation among insects is derived from the different ways that chitin has been moulded to form rigid structures, both internal and external. In this study, we identify a highly conserved expression pattern in an insect-only gene family, the Osiris genes, that is essential for development, but also plays a significant role in phenotypic plasticity and in immunity/toxicity responses. The majority of Osiris genes exist in a highly syntenic cluster, and the cluster itself appears to have arisen very early in the evolution of insects. We used developmental gene expression in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, the bumble bee, Bombus terrestris, the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus, and the wood ant, Formica exsecta, to compare patterns of Osiris gene expression both during development and between alternate caste phenotypes in the polymorphic social insects. Developmental gene expression of Osiris genes is highly conserved across species and correlated with gene location and evolutionary history. The social insect castes are highly divergent in pupal Osiris gene expression. Sets of co-expressed genes that include Osiris genes are enriched in gene ontology terms related to chitin/cuticle and peptidase activity. Osiris genes are essential for cuticle formation in both embryos and pupae, and genes co-expressed with Osiris genes affect wing development. Additionally, Osiris genes and those co-expressed seem to play a conserved role in insect toxicology defences and digestion. Given their role in development, plasticity, and protection, we propose that the Osiris genes play a central role in insect adaptive evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Smith
- Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN, USA
| | - C Morandin
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - M Noureddine
- Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN, USA
| | - S Pant
- Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN, USA
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27
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Transcriptomic Analysis of Octanoic Acid Response in Drosophila sechellia Using RNA-Sequencing. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2017; 7:3867-3873. [PMID: 29021218 PMCID: PMC5714484 DOI: 10.1534/g3.117.300297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The dietary specialist fruit fly Drosophila sechellia has evolved to specialize on the toxic fruit of its host plant Morinda citrifolia. Toxicity of Morinda fruit is primarily due to high levels of octanoic acid (OA). Using RNA interference (RNAi), prior work found that knockdown of Osiris family genes Osiris 6 (Osi6), Osi7, and Osi8 led to increased susceptibility to OA in adult D. melanogaster flies, likely representing genes underlying a Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) for OA resistance in D. sechellia. While genes in this major effect locus are beginning to be revealed, prior work has shown at least five regions of the genome contribute to OA resistance. Here, we identify new candidate OA resistance genes by performing differential gene expression analysis using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) on control and OA-exposed D. sechellia flies. We found 104 significantly differentially expressed genes with annotated orthologs in D. melanogaster, including six Osiris gene family members, consistent with previous functional studies and gene expression analyses. Gene ontology (GO) term enrichment showed significant enrichment for cuticle development in upregulated genes and significant enrichment of immune and defense responses in downregulated genes, suggesting important aspects of the physiology of D. sechellia that may play a role in OA resistance. In addition, we identified five candidate OA resistance genes that potentially underlie QTL peaks outside of the major effect region, representing promising new candidate genes for future functional studies.
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28
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Peyser RD, Lanno SM, Shimshak SJ, Coolon JD. Analysis of cytochrome P450 contribution to evolved plant toxin resistance in Drosophila sechellia. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 26:715-720. [PMID: 28703934 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Drosophila sechellia is a dietary specialist species of fruit fly that has evolved resistance to the toxic secondary defence compounds produced by the fruit of its preferred host plant Morinda citrifolia. The genetic basis of adult toxin resistance is the result of evolution at five loci across the genome. Genetic mapping between D. sechellia and Drosophila simulans and subsequent functional studies in Drosophila melanogaster have identified candidate genes potentially underlying one locus involved in toxin resistance but the remainder of the genes involved are unknown. Genes in the mixed function oxidase or cytochrome P450 gene family are frequently utilized in evolved toxin resistance in insects, yet whether they play a role in D. sechellia's resistance to the toxins found in its host plant is unknown. Here we test the role of cytochrome P450 enzymatic activity in evolved resistance to the two primary toxins found in M. citrifolia fruit: octanoic acid and hexanoic acid. We found that although cytochrome P450 enzymatic activity is involved in basal resistance it is not involved in derived toxin resistance in D. sechellia.
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Affiliation(s)
- R D Peyser
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA
| | - S M Lanno
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA
| | - S J Shimshak
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA
| | - J D Coolon
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA
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29
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Liu C, Hu W, Cheng T, Peng Z, Mita K, Xia Q. Osiris9a is a major component of silk fiber in lepidopteran insects. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 89:107-115. [PMID: 28887014 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In a previous high-throughput proteomics study, it was found that the silkworm cocoon contains hundreds of complex proteins, many of which have unknown functions, in addition to fibroins, sericins, and some protease inhibitors. Osiris was one of the proteins with no known function. In this study, we identified the Osiris gene family members and constructed a phylogenetic tree based on the sequences from different species. Our results indicate that the Osiris9 gene subfamily contains six members; it is specifically expressed in lepidopteran insects and has evolved by gene duplication. An Osiris gene family member from Bombyx mori was designated as BmOsiris9a (BmOsi9a) on the basis of its homology to Drosophila melanogaster Osiris9. The expression pattern of BmOsi9a showed that it was highly expressed only in the middle silk gland of silkworm larvae, similar to Sericin1 (Ser1). BmOsi9a was visualized as two bands in western blot analysis, implying that it probably undergoes post-translational modifications. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that BmOsi9a was synthesized and secreted into the lumen of the middle silk gland, and was localized in the sericin layer in the silk fiber. BmOsi9a was found in the silk fibers of not only three Bombycidae species, viz. B. mori, B. mandarina, and B. huttoni, but also in the fibers collected from Saturniidae species, including Antheraea assama, Antheraea mylitta, and Samia cynthia. Although the exact biological function of Osi9a in the silk fibers is unknown, our results are important because they demonstrate that Osi9a is a common structural component of silk fiber and is expressed widely among the silk-producing Bombycidae and Saturniidae insects. Our results should help in understanding the role of Osi9a in silk fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Wenbo Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Tingcai Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zhangchuan Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Kazuei Mita
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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30
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Trienens M, Kraaijeveld K, Wertheim B. Defensive repertoire of Drosophila larvae in response to toxic fungi. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:5043-5057. [PMID: 28746736 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Chemical warfare including insecticidal secondary metabolites is a well-known strategy for environmental microbes to monopolize a food source. Insects in turn have evolved behavioural and physiological defences to eradicate or neutralize the harmful microorganisms. We studied the defensive repertoire of insects in this interference competition by combining behavioural and developmental assays with whole-transcriptome time-series analysis. Confrontation with the toxic filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans severely reduced the survival of Drosophila melanogaster larvae. Nonetheless, the larvae did not behaviourally avoid the fungus, but aggregated at it. Confrontation with fungi strongly affected larval gene expression, including many genes involved in detoxification (e.g., CYP, GST and UGT genes) and the formation of the insect cuticle (e.g., Tweedle genes). The most strongly upregulated genes were several members of the insect-specific gene family Osiris, and CHK-kinase-like domains were over-represented. Immune responses were not activated, reflecting the competitive rather than pathogenic nature of the antagonistic interaction. While internal microbes are widely acknowledged as important, our study emphasizes the underappreciated role of environmental microbes as fierce competitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Trienens
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Ken Kraaijeveld
- Leiden Genome Technology Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Institute of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bregje Wertheim
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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