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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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Musselman LP, Truong HG, DiAngelo JR. Transcriptional Control of Lipid Metabolism. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38782870 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2024_808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Transcriptional control of lipid metabolism uses a framework that parallels the control of lipid metabolism at the protein or enzyme level, via feedback and feed-forward mechanisms. Increasing the substrates for an enzyme often increases enzyme gene expression, for example. A paucity of product can likewise potentiate transcription or stability of the mRNA encoding the enzyme or enzymes needed to produce it. In addition, changes in second messengers or cellular energy charge can act as on/off switches for transcriptional regulators to control transcript (and protein) abundance. Insects use a wide range of DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) that sense changes in the cell and its environment to produce the appropriate change in transcription at gene promoters. These TFs work together with histones, spliceosomes, and additional RNA processing factors to ultimately regulate lipid metabolism. In this chapter, we will first focus on the important TFs that control lipid metabolism in insects. Next, we will describe non-TF regulators of insect lipid metabolism such as enzymes that modify acetylation and methylation status, transcriptional coactivators, splicing factors, and microRNAs. To conclude, we consider future goals for studying the mechanisms underlying the control of lipid metabolism in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Palanker Musselman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Huy G Truong
- Division of Science, Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus, Reading, PA, USA
| | - Justin R DiAngelo
- Division of Science, Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus, Reading, PA, USA.
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Cui T, Bai Q, Yu W, Guo D, Ban Y, Chen K, Raza A, Zhou G, Wu Q. Chromosome-level genome assembly and population genomic analysis provide novel insights into the immunity and evolution of Sogatella furcifera. Genomics 2023; 115:110729. [PMID: 37852332 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2023.110729] [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] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Sogatella furcifera is a destructive agricultural pest causing large threats to rice production in China and Southeast Asian countries. Despite recent breakthroughs in long-read sequencing, high quality genomic data are very limited in S. furcifera. In present study, a chromosome-level assembly of the S. furcifera genome was completed (0.64 GB), comprising 15 chromosomes covered 95.04% of the estimated genome size, along with other 624 small scaffolds making up the remaining 4.96% of the genome of S. furcifera. A total of 24,669 protein-coding genes, 1211 long noncoding RNA and 7595 circular RNA transcripts were predicted in this study. Comparative genomic analysis revealed rapidly evolved genes were associated with multiple immune-related pathways in S. furcifera. Genome resequencing of 44 individuals from 12 geographic populations revealed frequent gene flow among populations. The systemic genomic analysis will provide more insights into the understanding of the immunity and evolutionary adaptation of S. furcifera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Cui
- Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Qing Bai
- Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
| | - Weiqiang Yu
- Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Dongyang Guo
- Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Yawen Ban
- Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Kun Chen
- Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Ali Raza
- Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Guohui Zhou
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Qingfa Wu
- Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China; Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China.
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Biological Characteristics and Energy Metabolism of Migrating Insects. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13030439. [PMID: 36984878 PMCID: PMC10055822 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13030439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Through long-distance migration, insects not only find suitable breeding locations and increase the survival space and opportunities for the population but also facilitate large-scale material, energy, and information flow between regions, which is important in maintaining the stability of agricultural ecosystems and wider natural ecosystems. In this study, we summarize the changes in biological characteristics such as morphology, ovarian development, reproduction, and flight capability during the seasonal migration of the insect. In consideration of global research work, the interaction between flight and reproduction, the influence and regulation of the insulin-like and juvenile hormone on the flight and reproductive activities of migrating insects, and the types of energy substances, metabolic processes, and hormone regulation processes during insect flight are elaborated. This systematic review of the latest advances in the studies on insect migration biology and energy metabolism will help readers to better understand the biological behavior and regulation mechanism of the energy metabolism of insect migration.
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One genome, multiple phenotypes: decoding the evolution and mechanisms of environmentally induced developmental plasticity in insects. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:675-689. [PMID: 36929376 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Plasticity in developmental processes gives rise to remarkable environmentally induced phenotypes. Some of the most striking and well-studied examples of developmental plasticity are seen in insects. For example, beetle horn size responds to nutritional state, butterfly eyespots are enlarged in response to temperature and humidity, and environmental cues also give rise to the queen and worker castes of eusocial insects. These phenotypes arise from essentially identical genomes in response to an environmental cue during development. Developmental plasticity is taxonomically widespread, affects individual fitness, and may act as a rapid-response mechanism allowing individuals to adapt to changing environments. Despite the importance and prevalence of developmental plasticity, there remains scant mechanistic understanding of how it works or evolves. In this review, we use key examples to discuss what is known about developmental plasticity in insects and identify fundamental gaps in the current knowledge. We highlight the importance of working towards a fully integrated understanding of developmental plasticity in a diverse range of species. Furthermore, we advocate for the use of comparative studies in an evo-devo framework to address how developmental plasticity works and how it evolves.
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Yan L, Du H, Li Y, Li X, Sun L, Cao C. Identification and characterization of key genes in insulin signaling pathway as molecular targets for controlling the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:899-908. [PMID: 36317953 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The insulin signaling pathway is closely related to metabolism, growth, reproductive capacity and lifespan of insects. However, the physiological function of the insulin signaling pathway is little known in Hyphantria cunea. RESULTS Five insulin signaling pathway genes (HcInR, HcPI3K, HcAKT, HcFOXO and HcTOR) in H. cunea were identified and characterized in this study. The spatiotemporal expression profiles of the genes showed that HcInR, HcAKT, HcPI3K and HcTOR expressions were higher at the egg stage than those in other development stages, whereas HcFOXO was highly expressed in the adult stage; all of these genes were highly expressed in the larval digestive system, especially in the midgut and hindgut. After RNA interference (RNAi) of the five genes in 5th instar H. cunea larvae, weight gain and survival rate (except in the siHcAKT-injected group) were significantly decreased, and the developmental duration of larval and pupal stages were prolonged. In addition, knockdown of five genes in 7th instar larvae decreased the pupation rate, survival rate and oviposition capacity, and resulted in abnormal development during larval-pupal transition. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that the insulin signaling pathway plays essential roles in growth and development and the molting process in H. cunea, providing an important basis for developing new potentially molecular targets for RNAi-based pest control and understanding the mechanism of H. cunea outbreak. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqiong Yan
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Hui Du
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Ye Li
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Xue Li
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Lili Sun
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Chuanwang Cao
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
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Yu H, Yi L, Lu Z. Silencing of Chitin-Binding Protein with PYPV-Rich Domain Impairs Cuticle and Wing Development in the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13040353. [PMID: 35447795 PMCID: PMC9027310 DOI: 10.3390/insects13040353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Molting is extremely important for insect growth and development, which is accompanied the degradation of old cuticle and synthesis of new cuticle. Chitin and proteins, as major components of insect cuticle, maintain the rigidity of the exoskeleton. The functions of chitin-binding proteins have not, to date, been characterized in Diaphorina citri. In the current study, we identified a cuticle protein (DcCP64) according to chitin column purification and LC-MS/MS analysis. Silencing of DcCP64 induced an abnormal phenotype and increased the permeability of the abdomen and wings. Additionally, the mortality and malformation rate significantly increased, and the molting rate decreased after inhibition of DcCP64. Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that up-regulated DEGs were mainly related to oxidative phosphorylation, whereas down-regulated DEGs were mainly involved in MAPK and FoxO signaling pathways. Our results provide a basis for further functional research on DcCP64 in D. citri. Abstract Chitin is a major component of the arthropod exoskeleton, always working together with chitin-binding proteins to maintain the functions of extracellular structures. In the present study, we identified a cuticle protein 64 from Diaphorina citri using a chitin-binding assay. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that DcCP64 contained eight conserved PYPV motifs but lacked a Rebers–Riddiford (R–R) consensus and other chitin-binding domains. RT-qPCR analysis suggested that DcCP64 had the highest expression level in the wing and fifth-instar nymph stage. Knockdown of DcCP64 by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in a malformed-wing phenotype, higher mortality and decreased molting rate. Furthermore, transcriptomics analysis revealed that 1244 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up-regulated and 580 DEGs were down-regulated, compared with dsDcCP64 groups and dsGFP groups. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that up-regulated DEGs were mainly related to oxidative phosphorylation, whereas down-regulated DEGs were mainly involved in the MAPK and FoxO signaling pathways. Moreover, inhibition of DcCP64 significantly affected the cuticle surface, and increased the permeability of the abdomen and wings. Further chitin- and cellulose-binding assay confirmed the chitin-binding properties of recombinant DcCP64 in vitro. These results indicate that DcCP64 might play an important role in the cuticle and wing development of D. citri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haizhong Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China;
- National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Nanling Insect Biology, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Long Yi
- College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China;
- National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
- Correspondence: (L.Y.); (Z.L.); Tel.: +86-0797-8397738 (L.Y. & Z.L.)
| | - Zhanjun Lu
- College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China;
- National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Nanling Insect Biology, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
- Correspondence: (L.Y.); (Z.L.); Tel.: +86-0797-8397738 (L.Y. & Z.L.)
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Transcriptomic evidence that insulin signalling pathway regulates the ageing of subterranean termite castes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8187. [PMID: 32424344 PMCID: PMC7235038 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64890-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin is a protein hormone that controls the metabolism of sugar, fat and protein via signal transduction in cells, influencing growth and developmental processes such as reproduction and ageing. From nematodes to fruit flies, rodents and other animals, glucose signalling mechanisms are highly conserved. Reproductive termites (queens and kings) exhibit an extraordinarily long lifespan relative to non-reproductive individuals such as workers, despite being generated from the same genome, thus providing a unique model for the investigation of longevity. The key reason for this molecular mechanism, however, remains unclear. To clarify the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we sequenced the transcriptomes of the primary kings (PKs), primary queens (PQs), male (WMs) and female (WFs) workers of the lower subterranean termite Reticulitermes chinensis. We performed RNA sequencing and identified 33 insulin signalling pathway-related genes in R. chinensis. RT-qPCR analyses revealed that EIF4E and RPS6 genes were highly expressed in WMs and WFs workers, while mTOR expression was lower in PKs and PQs than in WMs and WFs. PQs and PKs exhibited lower expression of akt2-a than female workers. As the highly conserved insulin signalling pathway can significantly prolong the healthspan and lifespan, so we infer that the insulin signalling pathway regulates ageing in the subterranean termite R. chinensis. Further studies are recommended to reveal the biological function of insulin signalling pathway-related genes in the survival of termites to provide new insights into biomolecular homeostasis maintenance and its relationship to remarkable longevity.
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