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Yadav P, Seth RK, Reynolds SE. A sperm-activating trypsin-like protease from the male reproductive tract of Spodoptera litura: Proteomic identification, sequence characterization, gene expression profile, RNAi and the effects of ionizing radiation. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 156:104664. [PMID: 38897288 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2024.104664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Like other lepidopteran insects, males of the tobacco cutworm moth, Spodoptera litura produce two kinds of spermatozoa, eupyrene (nucleate) and apyrene (anucleate) sperm. Formed in the testis, both kinds of sperm are released into the male reproductive tract in an immature form and are stored in the duplex region of the tract. Neither type of sperm is motile at this stage. When stored apyrene sperm from the duplex are treated in vitro with an extract of the prostatic region of the male tract, or with mammalian trypsin, they become motile; activation is greater and achieved more rapidly with increasing concentration of extract or enzyme. The activating effect of prostatic extract is blocked by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI), also in a dose-dependent way. These results suggest that the normal sperm-activating process is due to an endogenous trypsin-like protease produced in the prostatic region. Proteomic analysis of S. litura prostatic extracts revealed a Trypsin-Like Serine Protease, TLSP, molecular weight 27 kDa, whose 199-residue amino acid sequence is identical to that of a predicted protein from the S. litura genome and is highly similar to predicted proteins encoded by genes in the genomes of several other noctuid moth species. Surprisingly, TLSP is only distantly related to Serine Protease 2 (initiatorin) of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, the only identified lepidopteran protein so far shown to activate sperm. TLSP has features typical of secreted proteins, probably being synthesized as an inactive precursor zymogen, which is later activated by proteolytic cleavage. cDNA was synthesized from total RNA extracted from the prostatic region and was used to examine TLSP expression using qPCR. tlsp mRNA was expressed in both the prostatic region and the accessory glands of the male tract. Injection of TLSP-specific dsRNA into adult males caused a significant reduction after 24 h in tlsp mRNA levels in both locations. The number of eggs laid by females mated to adult males that were given TLSP dsRNA in 10 % honey solution, and the fertility (% hatched) of the eggs were reduced. Injecting pupae with TLSP dsRNA caused the later activation of apyrene sperm motility by adult male prostatic extracts to be significantly reduced compared to controls. Exposure of S. litura pupae to ionizing radiation significantly reduced expression of tlsp mRNA in the prostatic part and accessory gland of irradiated males in both the irradiated generation and also in their (unirradiated) F1 progeny. The implications of these findings for the use of the inherited sterility technique for the control of S. litura and other pest Lepidoptera are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Yadav
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India.
| | - Rakesh K Seth
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India.
| | - Stuart E Reynolds
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
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2
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Patlar B, Fulham L, Civetta A. A predominant role of genotypic variation in both expression of sperm competition genes and paternity success in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231715. [PMID: 37727083 PMCID: PMC10509582 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1715] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm competition is a crucial aspect of male reproductive success in many species, including Drosophila melanogaster, and seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) can influence sperm competitiveness. However, the combined effect of environmental and genotypic variation on sperm competition gene expression remains poorly understood. Here, we used Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) inbred lines and manipulated developmental population density (i.e. larval density) to test the effects of genotype, environment and genotype-by-environment interactions (GEI) on the expression of the known sperm competition genes Sex Peptide, Acp36DE and CG9997. High larval density resulted in reduced adult body size, but expression of sperm competition genes remained unaffected. Furthermore, we found no significant GEI but genotypic effects in the expression of SP and Acp36DE. Our results also revealed GEI for relative competitive paternity success (second male paternity; P2), with genes' expression positively correlated with P2. Given the effect of genotype on the expression of genes, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and identified polymorphisms in putative cis-regulatory elements as predominant factors regulating the expression of SP and Acp36DE. The association of genotypic variation with sperm competition outcomes, and the resilience of sperm competition genes' expression against environmental challenges, demonstrates the importance of genome variation background in reproductive fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Patlar
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 2E9
| | - Lauren Fulham
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 2E9
| | - Alberto Civetta
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 2E9
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3
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Bi H, Xu X, Li X, Wang Y, Zhou S, Huang Y. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Serine protease 2 disruption induces male sterility in Spodoptera litura. Front Physiol 2022; 13:931824. [PMID: 35991171 PMCID: PMC9382020 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.931824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Male fertility is essential for reproduction and population growth in animals. Many factors affect male fertility, such as courtship behavior, sperm quantity, and sperm motility, among others. Seminal Fluid Proteins (SFPs) are vital components of seminal fluid in the male ejaculate, which affect male fertility, sperm activation, and female ovulation. However, the knowledge of SFPs is insufficient; the function of many SFPs remains unknown, and most described functions were mainly characterized in Drosophila or other laboratory models. Here, we focus on the Serine protease 2 (Ser2) gene in the lepidopteran pest Spodoptera litura. The Ser2 gene was specifically expressed in male adults. Disruption of the Ser2 gene mediated by CRISPR/Cas9 induced male sterility but females remained fertile. PCR-based detection of the next-generation mutants showed that male sterility was stably inherited. The qRT-PCR analysis of SlSer2 mutants showed that motor protein family genes and structural protein family genes were down-regulated, while protein modification family genes were up-regulated, suggesting that SlSer2 may be involved in sperm movement and activity. These results demonstrate that Ser2 is an important component of SFPs in seminal fluid and was identified for a useful sterile gene for pest control that may lead to new control strategies for lepidopteran insect pests such as S. litura.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglun Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Xia Xu
- Institute of Sericulture and Tea Research, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaowei Li
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences/Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaohui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences/Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, China
| | - Shutang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- *Correspondence: Shutang Zhou, ; Yongping Huang,
| | - Yongping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences/Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Shutang Zhou, ; Yongping Huang,
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4
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Hopkins BR, Perry JC. The evolution of sex peptide: sexual conflict, cooperation, and coevolution. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1426-1448. [PMID: 35249265 PMCID: PMC9256762 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A central paradigm in evolutionary biology is that the fundamental divergence in the fitness interests of the sexes (‘sexual conflict’) can lead to both the evolution of sex‐specific traits that reduce fitness for individuals of the opposite sex, and sexually antagonistic coevolution between the sexes. However, clear examples of traits that evolved in this way – where a single trait in one sex demonstrably depresses the fitness of members of the opposite sex, resulting in antagonistic coevolution – are rare. The Drosophila seminal protein ‘sex peptide’ (SP) is perhaps the most widely cited example of a trait that appears to harm females while benefitting males. Transferred in the ejaculate by males during mating, SP triggers profound and wide‐ranging changes in female behaviour and physiology. Early studies reported that the transfer of SP enhances male fitness while depressing female fitness, providing the foundations for the widespread view that SP has evolved to manipulate females for male benefit. Here, we argue that this view is (i) a simplification of a wider body of contradictory empirical research, (ii) narrow with respect to theory describing the origin and maintenance of sexually selected traits, and (iii) hard to reconcile with what we know of the evolutionary history of SP's effects on females. We begin by charting the history of thought regarding SP, both at proximate (its production, function, and mechanism of action) and ultimate (its fitness consequences and evolutionary history) levels, reviewing how studies of SP were central to the development of the field of sexual conflict. We describe a prevailing paradigm for SP's evolution: that SP originated and continues to evolve to manipulate females for male benefit. In contrast to this view, we argue on three grounds that the weight of evidence does not support the view that receipt of SP decreases female fitness: (i) results from studies of SP's impact on female fitness are mixed and more often neutral or positive, with fitness costs emerging only under nutritional extremes; (ii) whether costs from SP are appreciable in wild‐living populations remains untested; and (iii) recently described confounds in genetic manipulations of SP raise the possibility that measures of the costs and benefits of SP have been distorted. Beyond SP's fitness effects, comparative and genetic data are also difficult to square with the idea that females suffer fitness costs from SP. Instead, these data – from functional and evolutionary genetics and the neural circuitry of female responses to SP – suggest an evolutionary history involving the evolution of a dedicated SP‐sensing apparatus in the female reproductive tract that is likely to have evolved because it benefits females, rather than harms them. We end by exploring theory and evidence that SP benefits females by functioning as a signal of male quality or of sperm receipt and storage (or both). The expanded view of the evolution of SP that we outline recognises the context‐dependent and fluctuating roles played by both cooperative and antagonistic selection in the origin and maintenance of reproductive traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben R. Hopkins
- Department of Evolution and Ecology University of California – Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 U.S.A
| | - Jennifer C. Perry
- School of Biological Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ U.K
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5
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Savini G, Scolari F, Ometto L, Rota-Stabelli O, Carraretto D, Gomulski LM, Gasperi G, Abd-Alla AMM, Aksoy S, Attardo GM, Malacrida AR. Viviparity and habitat restrictions may influence the evolution of male reproductive genes in tsetse fly (Glossina) species. BMC Biol 2021; 19:211. [PMID: 34556101 PMCID: PMC8461966 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01148-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glossina species (tsetse flies), the sole vectors of African trypanosomes, maintained along their long evolutionary history a unique reproductive strategy, adenotrophic viviparity. Viviparity reduces their reproductive rate and, as such, imposes strong selective pressures on males for reproductive success. These species live in sub-Saharan Africa, where the distributions of the main sub-genera Fusca, Morsitans, and Palpalis are restricted to forest, savannah, and riverine habitats, respectively. Here we aim at identifying the evolutionary patterns of the male reproductive genes of six species belonging to these three main sub-genera. We then interpreted the different patterns we found across the species in the light of viviparity and the specific habitat restrictions, which are known to shape reproductive behavior. RESULTS We used a comparative genomic approach to build consensus evolutionary trees that portray the selective pressure acting on the male reproductive genes in these lineages. Such trees reflect the long and divergent demographic history that led to an allopatric distribution of the Fusca, Morsitans, and Palpalis species groups. A dataset of over 1700 male reproductive genes remained conserved over the long evolutionary time scale (estimated at 26.7 million years) across the genomes of the six species. We suggest that this conservation may result from strong functional selective pressure on the male imposed by viviparity. It is noteworthy that more than half of these conserved genes are novel sequences that are unique to the Glossina genus and are candidates for selection in the different lineages. CONCLUSIONS Tsetse flies represent a model to interpret the evolution and differentiation of male reproductive biology under different, but complementary, perspectives. In the light of viviparity, we must take into account that these genes are constrained by a post-fertilization arena for genomic conflicts created by viviparity and absent in ovipositing species. This constraint implies a continuous antagonistic co-evolution between the parental genomes, thus accelerating inter-population post-zygotic isolation and, ultimately, favoring speciation. Ecological restrictions that affect reproductive behavior may further shape such antagonistic co-evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazia Savini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Institute of Molecular Genetics IGM-CNR "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Pavia, Italy
| | - Lino Ometto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Omar Rota-Stabelli
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Davide Carraretto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ludvik M Gomulski
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuliano Gasperi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Adly M M Abd-Alla
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Anna R Malacrida
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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6
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Whittle CA, Kulkarni A, Extavour CG. Evolutionary dynamics of sex-biased genes expressed in cricket brains and gonads. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:1188-1211. [PMID: 34114713 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sex-biased gene expression, particularly sex-biased expression in the gonad, has been linked to rates of protein sequence evolution (nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions, dN/dS) in animals. However, in insects, sex-biased expression studies remain centred on a few holometabolous species. Moreover, other major tissue types such as the brain remain underexplored. Here, we studied sex-biased gene expression and protein evolution in a hemimetabolous insect, the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. We generated novel male and female RNA-seq data for two sexual tissue types, the gonad and somatic reproductive system, and for two core components of the nervous system, the brain and ventral nerve cord. From a genome-wide analysis, we report several core findings. Firstly, testis-biased genes had accelerated evolution, as compared to ovary-biased and unbiased genes, which was associated with positive selection events. Secondly, although sex-biased brain genes were much less common than for the gonad, they exhibited a striking tendency for rapid protein sequence evolution, an effect that was stronger for the female than male brain. Further, some sex-biased brain genes were linked to sexual functions and mating behaviours, which we suggest may have accelerated their evolution via sexual selection. Thirdly, a tendency for narrow cross-tissue expression breadth, suggesting low pleiotropy, was observed for sex-biased brain genes, suggesting relaxed purifying selection, which we speculate may allow enhanced freedom to evolve adaptive protein functional changes. The findings of rapid evolution of testis-biased genes and male and female-biased brain genes are discussed with respect to pleiotropy, positive selection and the mating biology of this cricket.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie A Whittle
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Arpita Kulkarni
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cassandra G Extavour
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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7
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Patlar B, Jayaswal V, Ranz JM, Civetta A. Nonadaptive molecular evolution of seminal fluid proteins in Drosophila. Evolution 2021; 75:2102-2113. [PMID: 34184267 PMCID: PMC8457112 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are a group of reproductive proteins that are among the most evolutionarily divergent known. As SFPs can impact male and female fitness, these proteins have been proposed to evolve under postcopulatory sexual selection (PCSS). However, the fast change of the SFPs can also result from nonadaptive evolution, and the extent to which selective constraints prevent SFPs rapid evolution remains unknown. Using intra‐ and interspecific sequence information, along with genomics and functional data, we examine the molecular evolution of approximately 300 SFPs in Drosophila. We found that 50–57% of the SFP genes, depending on the population examined, are evolving under relaxed selection. Only 7–12% showed evidence of positive selection, with no evidence supporting other forms of PCSS, and 35–37% of the SFP genes were selectively constrained. Further, despite associations of positive selection with gene location on the X chromosome and protease activity, the analysis of additional genomic and functional features revealed their lack of influence on SFPs evolving under positive selection. Our results highlight a lack of sufficient evidence to claim that most SFPs are driven to evolve rapidly by PCSS while identifying genomic and functional attributes that influence different modes of SFPs evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Patlar
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9, Canada
| | - Vivek Jayaswal
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - José M Ranz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, 92697
| | - Alberto Civetta
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9, Canada
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8
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Xiao HY, Li GC, Wang ZQ, Guo YR, Liu NY. Combined transcriptomic, proteomic and genomic analysis identifies reproductive-related proteins and potential modulators of female behaviors in Spodoptera litura. Genomics 2021; 113:1876-1894. [PMID: 33839272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The common cutworm, Spodoptera litura, is a polyandrous moth with high reproductive ability. Sexual reproduction is a unique strategy for survival and reproduction of population in this species. However, to date available information about its reproductive genes is rare. Here, we combined transcriptomics, genomics and proteomics approaches to characterize reproductive-related proteins in S. litura. Illumina sequencing in parallel with the reference genome led to the yields of 12,161 reproductive genes, representing 47.83% of genes annotated in the genome. Further, 524 genes of 19 specific gene families annotated in the genome were detected in reproductive tissues of both sexes, some of which exhibited sex-biased and/or tissue-enriched expression. Of these, manual efforts together with the transcriptome analyses re-annotated 54 odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and 23 chemosensory proteins (CSPs) with an increase of 18 OBPs and one CSP compared to those previously annotated in the genome. Interestingly, at least 35 OBPs and 22 CSPs were transcribed in at least one reproductive tissue, suggestive of their involvement in reproduction. Further proteomic analysis revealed 2381 common proteins between virgin and mated female reproductive systems, 79 of which were differentially expressed. More importantly, 74 proteins exclusive to mated females were identified as transferred relatives, coupled with their specific or high expression in male reproductive systems. Of the transferred proteins, several conserved protein classes across insects were observed including OBPs, serpins, trypsins and juvenile hormone-binding proteins. Our current study has extensively surveyed reproductive genes in S. litura with an emphasis on the roles of OBPs and CSPs in reproduction, and identifies potentially transferred proteins serving as modulators of female post-mating behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Yan Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Gen-Ceng Li
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Zheng-Quan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Yu-Ruo Guo
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Nai-Yong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China.
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9
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Hernández-Hernández T, Miller EC, Román-Palacios C, Wiens JJ. Speciation across the Tree of Life. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:1205-1242. [PMID: 33768723 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Much of what we know about speciation comes from detailed studies of well-known model systems. Although there have been several important syntheses on speciation, few (if any) have explicitly compared speciation among major groups across the Tree of Life. Here, we synthesize and compare what is known about key aspects of speciation across taxa, including bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and major animal groups. We focus on three main questions. Is allopatric speciation predominant across groups? How common is ecological divergence of sister species (a requirement for ecological speciation), and on what niche axes do species diverge in each group? What are the reproductive isolating barriers in each group? Our review suggests the following patterns. (i) Based on our survey and projected species numbers, the most frequent speciation process across the Tree of Life may be co-speciation between endosymbiotic bacteria and their insect hosts. (ii) Allopatric speciation appears to be present in all major groups, and may be the most common mode in both animals and plants, based on non-overlapping ranges of sister species. (iii) Full sympatry of sister species is also widespread, and may be more common in fungi than allopatry. (iv) Full sympatry of sister species is more common in some marine animals than in terrestrial and freshwater ones. (v) Ecological divergence of sister species is widespread in all groups, including ~70% of surveyed species pairs of plants and insects. (vi) Major axes of ecological divergence involve species interactions (e.g. host-switching) and habitat divergence. (vii) Prezygotic isolation appears to be generally more widespread and important than postzygotic isolation. (viii) Rates of diversification (and presumably speciation) are strikingly different across groups, with the fastest rates in plants, and successively slower rates in animals, fungi, and protists, with the slowest rates in prokaryotes. Overall, our study represents an initial step towards understanding general patterns in speciation across all organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Hernández-Hernández
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0088, U.S.A.,Catedrática CONACYT asignada a LANGEBIO-UGA Cinvestav, Libramiento Norte Carretera León Km 9.6, 36821, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth C Miller
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0088, U.S.A
| | - Cristian Román-Palacios
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0088, U.S.A
| | - John J Wiens
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0088, U.S.A
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10
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Muzzi M, Di Giulio A, Mancini E, Fratini E, Cervelli M, Gasperi T, Mariottini P, Persichini T, Bologna MA. The male reproductive accessory glands of the blister beetle Meloe proscarabaeus Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Meloidae): Anatomy and ultrastructure of the cantharidin-storing organs. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2020; 59:100980. [PMID: 32829176 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2020.100980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Blister beetles owe their name to their ability to release cantharidin, a blistering terpene, the highest concentration of which is retained in male accessory glands. The anatomy and ultrastructure of the three pairs of male reproductive accessory glands and the glandular region of the two vasa deferentia of Meloe proscarabaeus were investigated using light, electron and ion beam microscopy. All of the mesodermal glands here analysed share a common structural organization with an outer muscular layer and an inner glandular epithelium facing a broad lumen in which the secretory products are released. Developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi systems, abundant mitochondria, numerous secretory vesicles and a microvillated apical membrane are commonly found in the cells of different glandular epithelia, suggesting that all accessory gland pairs as well as the vasa deferentia are involved in an active synthesis. Nevertheless, each pair of glands appears specialized in the production of a specific set of substances, as suggested by the peculiarities in cellular ultrastructure and by the different aspect of the secretions stored in their glandular lumen. The above cited features of male accessory glands of M. proscarabaeus are compared with those of other beetles and some hints on their potential role in producing and/or concentrating cantharidin are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Muzzi
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy; Laboratorio Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica (LIME), University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Giulio
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy; Laboratorio Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica (LIME), University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy.
| | - Emiliano Mancini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Tecla Gasperi
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
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11
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Moschilla JA, Tomkins JL, Simmons LW. Identification of seminal proteins related to the inhibition of mate searching in female crickets. Behav Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/araa090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
In response to the reduction in fitness associated with sperm competition, males are expected to evolve tactics that hinder female remating. For example, females often display a postmating reduction in their sexual receptivity that has been shown to be mediated by proteins contained in a male’s seminal fluid (sfps). However, although there has been comprehensive research on sfps in genetically well-characterized species, few nonmodel species have been studied in such detail. We initially confirm that female Australian field crickets, Teleogryllus oceanicus, do display a significant reduction in their mate-searching behavior 24 h after mating. This effect was still apparent 3 days after mating but was entirely absent after 1 week. We then attempted to identify the sfps that might play a role in inducing this behavioral response. We identified two proteins, ToSfp022 and ToSfp011, that were associated with the alteration in female postmating behavior. The knockdown of both proteins resulted in mated females that displayed a significant increase in their mate-searching behaviors compared with females mated to males having the full compliment of seminal fluid proteins in their ejaculate. Our results indicate that the female refractory period in T. oceanicus likely reflects a sperm competition avoidance tactic by males, achieved through the action of male seminal fluid proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe A Moschilla
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Joseph L Tomkins
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Leigh W Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
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12
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Dapper AL, Wade MJ. Relaxed Selection and the Rapid Evolution of Reproductive Genes. Trends Genet 2020; 36:640-649. [PMID: 32713599 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary genomic studies find that reproductive protein genes, those directly involved in reproductive processes, diversify more rapidly than most other gene categories. Strong postcopulatory sexual selection acting within species is the predominant hypothesis proposed to account for the observed pattern. Recently, relaxed selection due to sex-specific gene expression has also been put forward to explain the relatively rapid diversification. We contend that relaxed selection due to sex-limited gene expression is the correct null model for tests of molecular evolution of reproductive genes and argue that it may play a more significant role in the evolutionary diversification of reproductive genes than previously recognized. We advocate for a re-evaluation of adaptive explanations for the rapid diversification of reproductive genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Dapper
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA; Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA.
| | - Michael J Wade
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA
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13
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Simmons LW, Sloan NS, Firman RC. Sexual Selection Shapes Seminal Vesicle Secretion Gene Expression in House Mice. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 37:1114-1117. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Reproductive proteins typically have high rates of molecular evolution, and are assumed to be under positive selection from sperm competition and cryptic female choice. However, ascribing evolutionary divergence in the genome to these processes of sexual selection from patterns of association alone is problematic. Here, we use an experimental manipulation of postmating sexual selection acting on populations of house mice and explore its consequences for the expression of seminal vesicle secreted (SVS) proteins. Following 25 generations of selection, males from populations subjected to postmating sexual selection had evolved increased expression of at least two SVS genes that exhibit the signature of positive selection at the molecular level, SVS1 and SVS2. These proteins contribute to mating plug formation and sperm survival in the female reproductive tract. Our data thereby support the view that sexual selection is responsible for the evolution of these seminal fluid proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh W Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Nadia S Sloan
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Renée C Firman
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
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14
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Do male seminal donations shape female post-mating receptivity in a usually monandrous moth? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2776-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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15
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Weber M, Giannakara A, Ramm SA. Seminal fluid-mediated fitness effects in the simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:13889-13901. [PMID: 31938489 PMCID: PMC6953679 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
As a class, seminal fluid proteins are expected to exert strong effects on mating partners due to the selection pressures of sperm competition and sexual conflict. But because of the complexity of this secretion, linking specific proteins to downstream effects on own fitness-via manipulating the reproductive behavior, physiology, and ultimately the sperm utilization of mating partners-is not straightforward. Here, we adopted a systematic gene knockdown approach to screen for seminal fluid-mediated fitness effects in the simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano. We focused on 18 transcripts in M. lignano seminal fluid, testing how their RNA interference-induced knockdown impacted on three aspects of donor (male) reproductive success: (a) fertility (offspring production of the partner); (b) defensive sperm competitive ability, P 1; and (c) offensive sperm competitive ability, P 2. In general, the knockdown of most individual transcripts appeared to have only a minor impact on male reproductive success, though we found evidence that the knockdown of up to five different transcripts impacted on fertility; the knockdown of two other transcripts resulted in reduced P 2; and knockdown of a further transcript actually increased P 2. We thus identify a number of candidate seminal fluid transcripts that appear to modulate offspring production and sperm competitiveness in M. lignano. That only a minority of transcripts exhibit such a pattern likely reflects both the difficulty of accurately estimating sperm competitiveness and the functional redundancy of seminal fluid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Weber
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | - Athina Giannakara
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | - Steven A. Ramm
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
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16
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Liberti J, Görner J, Welch M, Dosselli R, Schiøtt M, Ogawa Y, Castleden I, Hemmi JM, Baer-Imhoof B, Boomsma JJ, Baer B. Seminal fluid compromises visual perception in honeybee queens reducing their survival during additional mating flights. eLife 2019; 8:45009. [PMID: 31500699 PMCID: PMC6739865 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45009] [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: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Queens of social insects make all mate-choice decisions on a single day, except in honeybees whose queens can conduct mating flights for several days even when already inseminated by a number of drones. Honeybees therefore appear to have a unique, evolutionarily derived form of sexual conflict: a queen’s decision to pursue risky additional mating flights is driven by later-life fitness gains from genetically more diverse worker-offspring but reduces paternity shares of the drones she already mated with. We used artificial insemination, RNA-sequencing and electroretinography to show that seminal fluid induces a decline in queen vision by perturbing the phototransduction pathway within 24–48 hr. Follow up field trials revealed that queens receiving seminal fluid flew two days earlier than sister queens inseminated with saline, and failed more often to return. These findings are consistent with seminal fluid components manipulating queen eyesight to reduce queen promiscuity across mating flights. For social insects like honeybees it is beneficial if their queens mate with many males, because genetic diversity can protect the hive against parasites. Early in life, a honeybee queen has a short period of time in which she can fly out to mate with males before returning to the hive with all the sperm needed to last for a lifetime. Queens that have mated on their first flight may embark on additional mating flights over a few consecutive days to further increase genetic variability in their offspring. This is problematic for a male that has already mated because the more males that inseminate the queen the fewer offspring will carry on his specific genes. This results in sexual conflict between males and queens over the number of mating flights. In many animals, males manipulate females using molecules in seminal fluid to reduce the chances of the female mating again and honeybee males may use a similar strategy. Previous studies revealed that insemination alters the activity of genes related to vision in a honeybee queen’s brain. This could be one way for the males to prevent queens from embarking on additional mating flights. Now, Liberti et al. find support for this idea by showing that seminal fluid can indeed trigger changes in the activity of vision-related genes in the brains of honeybee queens, which in turn reduce a queen’s opportunity to complete additional mating flights. Queens inseminated with seminal fluid were less responsive to light compared to queens that were exposed to saline instead. Electronic tracking devices affixed to queens showed that the seminal fluid-exposed queens left for mating flights sooner but were more likely to get lost and to not return to their hives compared to the saline-exposed queens. The experiments support the idea of a sexual arms race in honeybees. Males use seminal fluid to cause rapid deteriorating vision in queens, thus reducing their likelihood of leaving the hive to mate again and to find males when they do fly again. The queens try to counteract these effects by leaving for mating flights sooner, thereby increasing offspring genetic diversity and the success of their colonies. Further studies will be needed to find out how the honeybee sexual arms race varies across seasons, bee races, and geographic ranges. Such information will be useful for honeybee breeding programs, which rely on queen mating success and hive genetic diversity to ensure hive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanito Liberti
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julia Görner
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Mat Welch
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Ryan Dosselli
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.,Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Morten Schiøtt
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yuri Ogawa
- School of Animal Biology and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Ian Castleden
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Jan M Hemmi
- School of Animal Biology and UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Barbara Baer-Imhoof
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER), Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, United States
| | - Jacobus J Boomsma
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Boris Baer
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER), Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, United States
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17
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Morgan CC, Hart MW. Molecular evolution of mammalian genes with epistatic interactions in fertilization. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:154. [PMID: 31345177 PMCID: PMC6659299 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1480-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genes that encode proteins associated with sperm competition, fertilization, and sexual conflicts of interest are often among the most rapidly evolving parts of animal genomes. One family of sperm-expressed genes (Zp3r, C4bpa) in the mammalian gene cluster called the regulator of complement activation (RCA) encodes proteins that bind eggs and mediate reproductive success, and are therefore expected to show high relative rates of nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution in response to sexual selection in comparison to other genes not involved in gamete binding at fertilization. We tested that working hypothesis by using phylogenetic models of codon evolution to identify episodes of diversifying positive selection. We used a comparative approach to quantify the evidence for episodic diversifying selection acting on RCA genes with known functions in fertilization (and sensitivity to sexual selection), and contrast them with other RCA genes in the same gene family that function in innate immunity (and are not sensitive to sexual selection). RESULTS We expected but did not find evidence for more episodes of positive selection on Zp3r in Glires (the rodents and lagomorphs) or on C4BPA in Primates, in comparison to other paralogous RCA genes in the same taxon, or in comparison to the same orthologous RCA gene in the other taxon. That result was not unique to RCA genes: we also found little evidence for more episodes of diversifying selection on genes that encode selective sperm-binding molecules in the egg coat or zona pellucida (Zp2, Zp3) in comparison to members of the same gene family that encode structural elements of the egg coat (Zp1, Zp4). Similarly, we found little evidence for episodic diversifying selection acting on two other recently discovered genes (Juno, Izumo1) that encode essential molecules for sperm-egg fusion. CONCLUSIONS These negative results help to illustrate the importance of a comparative context for this type of codon model analysis. The results may also point to other phylogenetic contexts in which the effects of selection acting on these fertilization proteins might be more readily discovered and documented in mammals and other taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire C. Morgan
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN UK
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael W. Hart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6 Canada
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18
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Singh A, Buehner NA, Lin H, Baranowski KJ, Findlay GD, Wolfner MF. Long-term interaction between Drosophila sperm and sex peptide is mediated by other seminal proteins that bind only transiently to sperm. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 102:43-51. [PMID: 30217614 PMCID: PMC6249070 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins elicit several post-mating physiological changes in mated Drosophila melanogaster females. Some of these changes persist for over a week after mating because the seminal protein that causes these changes, the Sex Peptide (SP), binds to sperm that are stored in the female reproductive tract. SP's sperm binding is mediated by a network of at least eight seminal proteins. We show here that some of these network proteins (CG1656, CG1652, CG9997 and Antares) bind to sperm within 2 h of mating, like SP. However, while SP remains bound to sperm at 4 days post-mating, none of the other network proteins are detectable at this time. We also observed that the same network proteins are detectable at 2 h post-mating in seminal receptacle tissue from which sperm have been removed, but are no longer detectable there by 4 days post-mating, suggesting short-term retention of these proteins in this female sperm storage organ. Our results suggest that these network proteins act transiently to facilitate the conditions for SP's binding to sperm, perhaps by modifying SP or the sperm surface, but are not part of a long-acting complex that stably attaches SP to sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Singh
- Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Norene A Buehner
- Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - He Lin
- Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA; East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Geoffrey D Findlay
- Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA; Dept. of Biology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, 01610, USA
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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19
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Palacios-Gimenez OM, Bardella VB, Lemos B, Cabral-de-Mello DC. Satellite DNAs are conserved and differentially transcribed among Gryllus cricket species. DNA Res 2018; 25:137-147. [PMID: 29096008 PMCID: PMC5909420 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsx044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Satellite DNA (satDNA) is an abundant class of non-coding repetitive DNA that is preferentially found as tandemly repeated arrays in gene-poor heterochromatin but is also present in gene-rich euchromatin. Here, we used DNA- and RNA-seq from Gryllus assimilis to address the content and transcriptional patterns of satDNAs. We also mapped RNA-seq libraries for other Gryllus species against the satDNAs found in G. assimilis and G. bimaculatus genomes to investigate their evolutionary conservation and transcriptional profiles in Gryllus. Through DNA-seq read clustering analysis using RepeatExplorer, dotplots analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization mapping, we found that ∼4% of the G. assimilis genome is represented by 11 well-defined A + T-rich satDNA families. These are mainly located in heterochromatic areas, with some repeats able to form high-order repeat structures. By in silico transcriptional analysis we identified satDNAs that are conserved in Gryllus but differentially transcribed. The data regarding satDNA presence in G. assimilis genome were discussed in an evolutionary context, with transcriptional data enabling comparisons between sexes and across tissues when possible. We discuss hypotheses for the conservation and transcription of satDNAs in Gryllus, which might result from their role in sexual differentiation at the chromatin level, heterochromatin formation and centromeric function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Manuel Palacios-Gimenez
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências/IB, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.,Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Vanessa Bellini Bardella
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências/IB, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Lemos
- Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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20
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Weber M, Wunderer J, Lengerer B, Pjeta R, Rodrigues M, Schärer L, Ladurner P, Ramm SA. A targeted in situ hybridization screen identifies putative seminal fluid proteins in a simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm. BMC Evol Biol 2018; 18:81. [PMID: 29848299 PMCID: PMC5977470 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1187-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Along with sperm, in many taxa ejaculates also contain large numbers of seminal fluid proteins (SFPs). SFPs and sperm are transferred to the mating partner, where they are thought to play key roles in mediating post-mating sexual selection. They modulate the partner's behavior and physiology in ways that influence the reproductive success of both partners, thus potentially leading to sexual conflict. Despite the presumed general functional and evolutionary significance of SFPs, their identification and characterization has to date focused on just a few animal groups, predominantly insects and mammals. Moreover, until now seminal fluid profiling has mainly focused on species with separate sexes. Here we report a comprehensive screen for putative SFPs in the simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano. RESULTS Based on existing transcriptomic data, we selected 150 transcripts known to be (a) predominantly expressed in the tail region of the worms, where the seminal fluid-producing prostate gland cells are located, and (b) differentially expressed in social environments differing in sperm competition level, strongly implying that they represent a phenotypically plastic aspect of male reproductive allocation in this species. For these SFP candidates, we then performed whole-mount in situ hybridization (ISH) experiments to characterize tissue-specific expression. In total, we identified 98 transcripts that exhibited prostate-specific expression, 76 of which we found to be expressed exclusively in the prostate gland cells; additional sites of expression for the remaining 22 included the testis or other gland cells. Bioinformatics analyses of the prostate-limited candidates revealed that at least 64 are predicted to be secretory proteins, making these especially strong candidates to be SFPs that are transferred during copulation. CONCLUSIONS Our study represents a first comprehensive analysis using a combination of transcriptomic and ISH screen data to identify SFPs based on transcript expression in seminal fluid-producing tissues. We thereby extend the range of taxa for which seminal fluid has been characterized to a flatworm species with a sequenced genome and for which several methods such as antibody staining, transgenesis and RNA interference have been established. Our data provide a basis for testing the functional and evolutionary significance of SFPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Weber
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Julia Wunderer
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Birgit Lengerer
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Robert Pjeta
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marcelo Rodrigues
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Current address: School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Ridley Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England NE1 7RU UK
| | - Lukas Schärer
- Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Peter Ladurner
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Steven A. Ramm
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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21
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Simmons LW, Lovegrove M. Socially cued seminal fluid gene expression mediates responses in ejaculate quality to sperm competition risk. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.1486. [PMID: 28855372 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
There is considerable evidence that males will increase the number of sperm ejaculated in response to sperm competition risk. However, whether they have the capacity to adjust seminal fluid components of the ejaculate has received less attention. Male crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus) have been shown to adjust the viability of sperm in their ejaculate in response to sperm competition risk. Here we show that socially mediated plasticity in sperm viability is probably due, at least in part, to male adjustments in the protein composition of the seminal fluid. Seven seminal fluid protein genes were found to have an increased expression in males exposed to rival calls. Increased expression of these genes was correlated with increased sperm viability in whole ejaculates, and gene knockdown confirmed that at least one of these proteins promotes sperm viability. Our results lend support for recent theoretical models that predict complex responses in male allocation to seminal fluid composition in response to sperm competition risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh W Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | - Maxine Lovegrove
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia
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22
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Twort VG, Dennis AB, Park D, Lomas KF, Newcomb RD, Buckley TR. Positive selection and comparative molecular evolution of reproductive proteins from New Zealand tree weta (Orthoptera, Hemideina). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188147. [PMID: 29131842 PMCID: PMC5683631 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal reproductive proteins, especially those in the seminal fluid, have been shown to have higher levels of divergence than non-reproductive proteins and are often evolving adaptively. Seminal fluid proteins have been implicated in the formation of reproductive barriers between diverging lineages, and hence represent interesting candidates underlying speciation. RNA-seq was used to generate the first male reproductive transcriptome for the New Zealand tree weta species Hemideina thoracica and H. crassidens. We identified 865 putative reproductive associated proteins across both species, encompassing a diverse range of functional classes. Candidate gene sequencing of nine genes across three Hemideina, and two Deinacrida species suggests that H. thoracica has the highest levels of intraspecific genetic diversity. Non-monophyly was observed in the majority of sequenced genes indicating that either gene flow may be occurring between the species, or that reciprocal monophyly at these loci has yet to be attained. Evidence for positive selection was found for one lectin-related reproductive protein, with an overall omega of 7.65 and one site in particular being under strong positive selection. This candidate gene represents the first step in the identification of proteins underlying the evolutionary basis of weta reproduction and speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria G. Twort
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | | | - Richard D. Newcomb
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Thomas R. Buckley
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand
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23
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Meslin C, Cherwin TS, Plakke MS, Hill J, Small BS, Goetz BJ, Wheat CW, Morehouse NI, Clark NL. Structural complexity and molecular heterogeneity of a butterfly ejaculate reflect a complex history of selection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E5406-E5413. [PMID: 28630352 PMCID: PMC5502654 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1707680114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Male ejaculates are often structurally complex, and this complexity is likely to influence key reproductive interactions between males and females. However, despite its potential evolutionary significance, the molecular underpinnings of ejaculate structural complexity have received little empirical attention. To address this knowledge gap, we sought to understand the biochemical and functional properties of the structurally complex ejaculates of Pieris rapae butterflies. Males in this species produce large ejaculates called spermatophores composed of an outer envelope, an inner matrix, and a bolus of sperm. Females are thought to benefit from the nutrition contained in the soluble inner matrix through increases in longevity and fecundity. However, the indigestible outer envelope of the spermatophore delays female remating, allowing males to monopolize paternity for longer. Here, we show that these two nonsperm-containing spermatophore regions, the inner matrix and the outer envelope, differ in their protein composition and functional properties. We also reveal how these divergent protein mixtures are separately stored in the male reproductive tract and sequentially transferred to the female reproductive tract during spermatophore assembly. Intriguingly, we discovered large quantities of female-derived proteases in both spermatophore regions shortly after mating, which may contribute to spermatophore digestion and hence, female control over remating rate. Finally, we report evidence of past selection on these spermatophore proteins and female proteases, indicating a complex evolutionary history. Our findings illustrate how structural complexity of ejaculates may allow functionally and/or spatially associated suites of proteins to respond rapidly to divergent selective pressures, such as sexual conflict or reproductive cooperation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Meslin
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris (IEES-Paris), 78026 Versailles Cedex, France
| | - Tamara S Cherwin
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
| | - Melissa S Plakke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
| | | | - Brandon S Small
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
| | - Breanna J Goetz
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
| | | | - Nathan I Morehouse
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260;
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221
| | - Nathan L Clark
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260;
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
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24
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Mu H, Sun J, Heras H, Chu KH, Qiu JW. An integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analysis of perivitelline fluid proteins in a freshwater gastropod laying aerial eggs. J Proteomics 2017; 155:22-30. [PMID: 28095328 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2017.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Proteins of the egg perivitelline fluid (PVF) that surrounds the embryo are critical for embryonic development in many animals, but little is known about their identities. Using an integrated proteomic and transcriptomic approach, we identified 64 proteins from the PVF of Pomacea maculata, a freshwater snail adopting aerial oviposition. Proteins were classified into eight functional groups: major multifunctional perivitellin subunits, immune response, energy metabolism, protein degradation, oxidation-reduction, signaling and binding, transcription and translation, and others. Comparison of gene expression levels between tissues showed that 22 PVF genes were exclusively expressed in albumen gland, the female organ that secretes PVF. Base substitution analysis of PVF and housekeeping genes between P. maculata and its closely related species Pomacea canaliculata showed that the reproductive proteins had a higher mean evolutionary rate. Predicted 3D structures of selected PVF proteins showed that some nonsynonymous substitutions are located at or near the binding regions that may affect protein function. The proteome and sequence divergence analysis revealed a substantial amount of maternal investment in embryonic nutrition and defense, and higher adaptive selective pressure on PVF protein-coding genes when compared with housekeeping genes, providing insight into the adaptations associated with the unusual reproductive strategy in these mollusks. SIGNIFICANCE There has been great interest in studying reproduction-related proteins as such studies may not only answer fundamental questions about speciation and evolution, but also solve practical problems of animal infertility and pest outbreak. Our study has demonstrated the effectiveness of an integrated proteomic and transcriptomic approach in understanding the heavy maternal investment of proteins in the eggs of a non-model snail, and how the reproductive proteins may have evolved during the transition from laying underwater eggs to aerial eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huawei Mu
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jin Sun
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Horacio Heras
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP)-CONICET CCT-La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; Cátedra de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, UNLP, Argentina
| | - Ka Hou Chu
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jian-Wen Qiu
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
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25
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Al-Wathiqui N, Dopman EB, Lewis SM. Postmating transcriptional changes in the female reproductive tract of the European corn borer moth. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 25:629-645. [PMID: 27329655 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Mating triggers a cascade of physiological and behavioural responses in females that persist after copulation. In insects, seminal fluid proteins contained within male ejaculates are known to initiate some responses, but our understanding of how females mediate these reactions remains limited. Few studies have examined postmating transcriptional changes within ejaculate-receiving organs within females or how these changes might depend on the identity of the male. Furthermore, whereas males of many insects transfer packaged ejaculates, transcriptional dynamics have mainly been examined in dipterans, in which males transfer a free ejaculate. To identify genes that may be important in mediating female physiological responses in a spermatophore-producing species, we sequenced the transcriptomes of the ejaculate-receiving organs and examined postmating gene expression within and between pheromone strains of the European corn borer (ECB) moth, Ostrinia nubilalis. After within-strain mating, significant differential expression of 978 transcripts occurred in the female bursa or its associated bursal gland, including peptidases, transmembrane transporters, and hormone processing genes; such genes may potentially play a role in postmating male-female interactions. We also identified 14 transcripts from the bursal gland that were differentially expressed after females mated with cross-strain males, representing candidates for previously observed postmating reproductive isolation between ECB strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Al-Wathiqui
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - E B Dopman
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - S M Lewis
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
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26
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Yu B, Li DT, Lu JB, Zhang WX, Zhang CX. Seminal fluid protein genes of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:654. [PMID: 27538518 PMCID: PMC4990865 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3013-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are produced mainly in the accessory gland of male insects and transferred to females during mating, in which they induce numerous physiological and post-mating behavioral changes. The brown plant hopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, is an economically important hemipterous pest of rice. The behavior and physiology of the female of this species is significantly altered by mating. SFPs in hemipteran species are still unclear. Results We applied high-throughput mass spectrometry proteomic analyses to characterize the SFP composition in N. lugens. We identified 94 putative secreted SFPs, and the expression levels of these proteins was determined from the male accessory gland digital gene expression database. The 94 predicted SFPs showed high expression in the male accessory gland. Comparing N. lugens and other insect SFPs, the apparent expansion of N. lugens seminal fluid trypsins and carboxylesterases was observed. The number of N. lugens seminal fluid trypsins (20) was at least twice that in other insects. We detected 6 seminal fluid carboxylesterases in N. lugens seminal fluid, while seminal fluid carboxylesterases were rarely detected in other insects. Otherwise, new insect SFPs, including mesencephalic astrocyte–derived neurotrophic factor, selenoprotein, EGF (epidermal growth factor) domain–containing proteins and a neuropeptide ion transport-like peptide were identified. Conclusion This work represents the first characterization of putative SFPs in a hemipeteran species. Our results provide a foundation for future studies to investigate the functions of SFPs in N. lugens and are an important addition to the available data for comparative studies of SFPs in insects. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-3013-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Dan-Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jia-Bao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Wen-Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chuan-Xi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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27
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Grassl J, Peng Y, Baer-Imhoof B, Welch M, Millar AH, Baer B. Infections with the Sexually Transmitted Pathogen Nosema apis Trigger an Immune Response in the Seminal Fluid of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera). J Proteome Res 2016; 16:319-334. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Grassl
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Yan Peng
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Barbara Baer-Imhoof
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Mat Welch
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - A. Harvey Millar
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Boris Baer
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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28
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Worthington AM, Kelly CD. Females gain survival benefits from immune-boosting ejaculates. Evolution 2016; 70:928-33. [PMID: 26920335 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Females in many animal taxa incur significant costs from mating in the form of injury or infection, which can drastically reduce survival. Therefore, immune function during reproduction can be important in determining lifetime fitness. Trade-offs between reproduction and immunity have been extensively studied, yet a growing number of studies demonstrate that mated females have a stronger immune response than virgins. Here, we use the Texas field cricket, Gryllus texensis, to test multiple hypotheses proposed to explain this postmating increase in immune function. Using host-resistance tests, we found that courtship, copulation, and accessory fluids alone do not affect female immunity; rather, only females that acquire intact ejaculates containing testes-derived components exhibit significant increases in survival after exposure to bacterial pathogens. Our data suggest that male-derived components originating from an intact ejaculate and transferred to females during sex are required for the increased immune function characteristic of mated female crickets to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Worthington
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011.
| | - Clint D Kelly
- Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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29
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Proteomics of reproductive systems: Towards a molecular understanding of postmating, prezygotic reproductive barriers. J Proteomics 2016; 135:26-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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30
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Noh S, Marshall JL. Sorted gene genealogies and species-specific nonsynonymous substitutions point to putative postmating prezygotic isolation genes in Allonemobius crickets. PeerJ 2016; 4:e1678. [PMID: 26893965 PMCID: PMC4756749 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the Allonemobius socius complex of crickets, reproductive isolation is primarily accomplished via postmating prezygotic barriers. We tested seven protein-coding genes expressed in the male ejaculate for patterns of evolution consistent with a putative role as postmating prezygotic isolation genes. Our recently diverged species generally lacked sequence variation. As a result, ω-based tests were only mildly successful. Some of our genes showed evidence of elevated ω values on the internal branches of gene trees. In a couple of genes, these internal branches coincided with both species branching events of the species tree, between A. fasciatus and the other two species, and between A. socius and A. sp. nov. Tex. In comparison, more successful approaches were those that took advantage of the varying degrees of lineage sorting and allele sharing among our young species. These approaches were particularly powerful within the contact zone. Among the genes we tested we found genes with genealogies that indicated relatively advanced degrees of lineage sorting across both allopatric and contact zone alleles. Within a contact zone between two members of the species complex, only a subset of genes maintained allelic segregation despite evidence of ongoing gene flow in other genes. The overlap in these analyses was arginine kinase (AK) and apolipoprotein A-1 binding protein (APBP). These genes represent two of the first examples of sperm maturation, capacitation, and motility proteins with fixed non-synonymous substitutions between species-specific alleles that may lead to postmating prezygotic isolation. Both genes express ejaculate proteins transferred to females during copulation and were previously identified through comparative proteomics. We discuss the potential function of these genes in the context of the specific postmating prezygotic isolation phenotype among our species, namely conspecific sperm precedence and the superior ability of conspecific males to induce oviposition in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suegene Noh
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, MO , United States
| | - Jeremy L Marshall
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University , Manhattan, KS , United States
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31
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Dapper AL, Wade MJ. The evolution of sperm competition genes: The effect of mating system on levels of genetic variation within and between species. Evolution 2016; 70:502-11. [PMID: 26748568 PMCID: PMC4868060 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Revised: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
It is widely established that proteins involved in reproduction diverge between species more quickly than other proteins. For male sperm proteins, rapid divergence is believed to be caused by postcopulatory sexual selection and/or sexual conflict. Here, we derive the expected levels of gene diversity within populations and divergence between them for male sperm protein genes evolving by postcopulatory, prezygotic fertility competition, i.e. the function imputed for some sperm and seminal fluid genes. We find that, at the mutation-selection equilibrium, both gene diversity within species and divergence between them are elevated relative to genes with similar selection coefficients expressed by both sexes. We show that their expected level of diversity is a function of the harmonic mean number of mates per female, which affects the strength of fertility selection stemming from male-male sperm competition. Our predictions provide a null hypothesis for distinguishing between other selective hypotheses accounting for the rapid evolution of male reproductive genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Dapper
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 425 Henry Mall, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706.
| | - Michael J Wade
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd St., Bloomington, Indiana, 47405
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32
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Bonilla ML, Todd C, Erlandson M, Andres J. Combining RNA-seq and proteomic profiling to identify seminal fluid proteins in the migratory grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes (F). BMC Genomics 2015; 16:1096. [PMID: 26694822 PMCID: PMC4689059 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2327-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seminal fluid proteins control many aspects of fertilization and in turn, they play a key role in post-mating sexual selection and possibly reproductive isolation. Because effective proteome profiling relies on the availability of high-quality DNA reference databases, our knowledge of these proteins is still largely limited to model organisms with ample genetic resources. New advances in sequencing technology allow for the rapid characterization of transcriptomes at low cost. By combining high throughput RNA-seq and shotgun proteomic profiling, we have characterized the seminal fluid proteins secreted by the primary male accessory gland of the migratory grasshopper (Melanoplus sanguinipes), one of the main agricultural pests in central North America. RESULTS Using RNA sequencing, we characterized the transcripts of ~ 8,100 genes expressed in the long hyaline tubules (LHT) of the accessory glands. Proteomic profiling identified 353 proteins expressed in the long hyaline tubules (LHT). Of special interest are seminal fluid proteins (SFPs), such as EJAC-SP, ACE and prostaglandin synthetases, which are known to regulate female oviposition in insects. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides new insights into the proteomic components of male ejaculate in Orthopterans, and highlights several important patterns. First, the presence of proteins that lack predicted classical secretory tags in accessory gland proteomes is common in male accessory glands. Second, the products of a few highly expressed genes dominate the accessory gland secretions. Third, accessory gland transcriptomes are enriched for novel transcripts. Fourth, there is conservation of SFPs' functional classes across distantly related taxonomic groups with very different life histories, mating systems and sperm transferring mechanisms. The identified SFPs may serve as targets of future efforts to develop species- specific genetic control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha L Bonilla
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, A.237. Palmira, Valle del Cauca, Colombia.
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Pl., Saskatoon, SK, S7N-5E2, Canada.
| | - Christopher Todd
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Pl., Saskatoon, SK, S7N-5E2, Canada.
| | - Martin Erlandson
- Saskatoon Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Pl., Saskatoon, SK, S7N-0X2, Canada.
| | - Jose Andres
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Pl., Saskatoon, SK, S7N-5E2, Canada.
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Goenaga J, Yamane T, Rönn J, Arnqvist G. Within-species divergence in the seminal fluid proteome and its effect on male and female reproduction in a beetle. BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:266. [PMID: 26627998 PMCID: PMC4667481 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0547-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Male seminal fluid proteins (SFPs), transferred to females during mating, are important reproductive proteins that have multifarious effects on female reproductive physiology and that often show remarkably rapid and divergent evolution. Inferences regarding natural selection on SFPs are based primarily on interspecific comparative studies, and our understanding of natural within-species variation in SFPs and whether this relates to reproductive phenotypes is very limited. Here, we introduce an empirical strategy to study intraspecific variation in and selection upon the seminal fluid proteome. We then apply this in a study of 15 distinct populations of the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus. Results Phenotypic assays of these populations showed significant differences in reproductive phenotypes (male success in sperm competition and male ability to stimulate female fecundity). A quantitative proteomic study of replicated samples of male accessory glands revealed a large number of potential SFPs, of which ≥127 were found to be transferred to females at mating. Moreover, population divergence in relative SFP abundance across populations was large and remarkably multidimensional. Most importantly, variation in male SFP abundance across populations was associated with male sperm competition success and male ability to stimulate female egg production. Conclusions Our study provides the first direct evidence for postmating sexual selection on standing intraspecific variation in SFP abundance and the pattern of divergence across populations in the seminal fluid proteome match the pattern predicted by the postmating sexual selection paradigm for SFP evolution. Our findings provide novel support for the hypothesis that sexual selection on SFPs is an important engine of incipient speciation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0547-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Goenaga
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden. .,Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, 11 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Takashi Yamane
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Johanna Rönn
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Göran Arnqvist
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden.
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34
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Pauchet Y, Wielsch N, Wilkinson PA, Sakaluk SK, Svatoš A, ffrench-Constant RH, Hunt J, Heckel DG. What's in the Gift? Towards a Molecular Dissection of Nuptial Feeding in a Cricket. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140191. [PMID: 26439494 PMCID: PMC4595131 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuptial gifts produced by males and transferred to females during copulation are common in insects. Yet, their precise composition and subsequent physiological effects on the female recipient remain unresolved. Male decorated crickets Gryllodes sigillatus transfer a spermatophore to the female during copulation that is composed of an edible gift, the spermatophylax, and the ampulla that contains the ejaculate. After transfer of the spermatophore, the female detaches the spermatophylax and starts to eat it while sperm from the ampulla are evacuated into the female reproductive tract. When the female has finished consuming the spermatophylax, she detaches the ampulla and terminates sperm transfer. Hence, one simple function of the spermatophylax is to ensure complete sperm transfer by distracting the female from prematurely removing the ampulla. However, the majority of orally active components of the spermatophylax itself and their subsequent effects on female behavior have not been identified. Here, we report the first analysis of the proteome of the G. sigillatus spermatophylax and the transcriptome of the male accessory glands that make these proteins. The accessory gland transcriptome was assembled into 17,691 transcripts whilst about 30 proteins were detected within the mature spermatophylax itself. Of these 30 proteins, 18 were encoded by accessory gland encoded messages. Most spermatophylax proteins show no similarity to proteins with known biological functions and are therefore largely novel. A spermatophylax protein shows similarity to protease inhibitors suggesting that it may protect the biologically active components from digestion within the gut of the female recipient. Another protein shares similarity with previously characterized insect polypeptide growth factors suggesting that it may play a role in altering female reproductive physiology concurrent with fertilization. Characterization of the spermatophylax proteome provides the first step in identifying the genes encoding these proteins in males and in understanding their biological functions in the female recipient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Pauchet
- Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Natalie Wielsch
- Mass spectrometry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Paul A. Wilkinson
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Scott K. Sakaluk
- Behavior, Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Section, School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, United States of America
| | - Aleš Svatoš
- Mass spectrometry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Richard H. ffrench-Constant
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - John Hunt
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - David G. Heckel
- Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
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35
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Wilburn DB, Swanson WJ. From molecules to mating: Rapid evolution and biochemical studies of reproductive proteins. J Proteomics 2015; 135:12-25. [PMID: 26074353 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2015.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Sexual reproduction and the exchange of genetic information are essential biological processes for species across all branches of the tree of life. Over the last four decades, biochemists have continued to identify many of the factors that facilitate reproduction, but the molecular mechanisms that mediate this process continue to elude us. However, a recurring observation in this research has been the rapid evolution of reproductive proteins. In animals, the competing interests of males and females often result in arms race dynamics between pairs of interacting proteins. This phenomenon has been observed in all stages of reproduction, including pheromones, seminal fluid components, and gamete recognition proteins. In this article, we review how the integration of evolutionary theory with biochemical experiments can be used to study interacting reproductive proteins. Examples are included from both model and non-model organisms, and recent studies are highlighted for their use of state-of-the-art genomic and proteomic techniques. SIGNIFICANCE Despite decades of research, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that mediate fertilization remain poorly characterized. To date, molecular evolutionary studies on both model and non-model organisms have provided some of the best inferences to elucidating the molecular underpinnings of animal reproduction. This review article details how biochemical and evolutionary experiments have jointly enhanced the field for 40 years, and how recent work using high-throughput genomic and proteomic techniques have shed additional insights into this crucial biological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien B Wilburn
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, United States.
| | - Willie J Swanson
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, United States
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36
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Rodríguez-García MJ, Machado V, Galián J. Identification and characterisation of putative seminal fluid proteins from male reproductive tissue EST libraries in tiger beetles. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:391. [PMID: 25981911 PMCID: PMC4434525 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1619-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study of proteins transferred through semen can provide important information for biological questions such as adaptive evolution, the origin of new species and species richness. The objective of this study was to identify seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) that may contribute to the study of the reproductive system of tiger beetles (cicindelids), a group of more than 2,500 species distributed worldwide that occupy a great diversity of habitats. RESULTS Two cDNA libraries were constructed from the male gonads of Calomera littoralis and Cephalota litorea. Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were analysed by bioinformatics approaches and 14 unigenes were selected as candidate SFPs, which were submitted to Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) to identify patterns of tissue-specific expression. We have identified four novel putative SFPs of cicindelids, of which similarity searches did not show homologues with known function. However, two of the protein classes (immune response and hormone) predicted by Protfun are similar to SFPs reported in other insects. Searches for homology in other cicindelids showed one lineage specific SFPs (rapidly evolving proteins), only present in the closely related species C. littoralis and Lophyra flexuosa and two conserved SFP present in other tiger beetles species tested. CONCLUSIONS This work represents the first characterisation of putative SFPs in Adephagan species of the order Coleoptera. The results will serve as a foundation for further studies aimed to understand gene (and protein) functions and their evolutionary implications in this group of ecologically relevant beetles.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Juliana Rodríguez-García
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, E-30100, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Vilmar Machado
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, E-30100, Murcia, Spain.
| | - José Galián
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, E-30100, Murcia, Spain.
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Sirot LK, Wong A, Chapman T, Wolfner MF. Sexual conflict and seminal fluid proteins: a dynamic landscape of sexual interactions. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2014; 7:a017533. [PMID: 25502515 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a017533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Sexual reproduction requires coordinated contributions from both sexes to proceed efficiently. However, the reproductive strategies that the sexes adopt often have the potential to give rise to sexual conflict because they can result in divergent, sex-specific costs and benefits. These conflicts can occur at many levels, from molecular to behavioral. Here, we consider sexual conflict mediated through the actions of seminal fluid proteins. These proteins provide many excellent examples in which to trace the operation of sexual conflict from molecules through to behavior. Seminal fluid proteins are made by males and provided to females during mating. As agents that can modulate egg production at several steps, as well as reproductive behavior, sperm "management," and female feeding, activity, and longevity, the actions of seminal proteins are prime targets for sexual conflict. We review these actions in the context of sexual conflict. We discuss genomic signatures in seminal protein (and related) genes that are consistent with current or previous sexual conflict. Finally, we note promising areas for future study and highlight real-world practical situations that will benefit from understanding the nature of sexual conflicts mediated by seminal proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura K Sirot
- Department of Biology, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio 44691
| | - Alex Wong
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
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Neafsey DE, Waterhouse RM, Abai MR, Aganezov SS, Alekseyev MA, Allen JE, Amon J, Arcà B, Arensburger P, Artemov G, Assour LA, Basseri H, Berlin A, Birren BW, Blandin SA, Brockman AI, Burkot TR, Burt A, Chan CS, Chauve C, Chiu JC, Christensen M, Costantini C, Davidson VLM, Deligianni E, Dottorini T, Dritsou V, Gabriel SB, Guelbeogo WM, Hall AB, Han MV, Hlaing T, Hughes DST, Jenkins AM, Jiang X, Jungreis I, Kakani EG, Kamali M, Kemppainen P, Kennedy RC, Kirmitzoglou IK, Koekemoer LL, Laban N, Langridge N, Lawniczak MKN, Lirakis M, Lobo NF, Lowy E, MacCallum RM, Mao C, Maslen G, Mbogo C, McCarthy J, Michel K, Mitchell SN, Moore W, Murphy KA, Naumenko AN, Nolan T, Novoa EM, O'Loughlin S, Oringanje C, Oshaghi MA, Pakpour N, Papathanos PA, Peery AN, Povelones M, Prakash A, Price DP, Rajaraman A, Reimer LJ, Rinker DC, Rokas A, Russell TL, Sagnon N, Sharakhova MV, Shea T, Simão FA, Simard F, Slotman MA, Somboon P, Stegniy V, Struchiner CJ, Thomas GWC, Tojo M, Topalis P, Tubio JMC, Unger MF, Vontas J, Walton C, Wilding CS, Willis JH, Wu YC, Yan G, Zdobnov EM, Zhou X, Catteruccia F, Christophides GK, Collins FH, Cornman RS, Crisanti A, Donnelly MJ, Emrich SJ, Fontaine MC, Gelbart W, Hahn MW, Hansen IA, Howell PI, Kafatos FC, Kellis M, Lawson D, Louis C, Luckhart S, Muskavitch MAT, Ribeiro JM, Riehle MA, Sharakhov IV, Tu Z, Zwiebel LJ, Besansky NJ. Mosquito genomics. Highly evolvable malaria vectors: the genomes of 16 Anopheles mosquitoes. Science 2014; 347:1258522. [PMID: 25554792 DOI: 10.1126/science.1258522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 369] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Variation in vectorial capacity for human malaria among Anopheles mosquito species is determined by many factors, including behavior, immunity, and life history. To investigate the genomic basis of vectorial capacity and explore new avenues for vector control, we sequenced the genomes of 16 anopheline mosquito species from diverse locations spanning ~100 million years of evolution. Comparative analyses show faster rates of gene gain and loss, elevated gene shuffling on the X chromosome, and more intron losses, relative to Drosophila. Some determinants of vectorial capacity, such as chemosensory genes, do not show elevated turnover but instead diversify through protein-sequence changes. This dynamism of anopheline genes and genomes may contribute to their flexible capacity to take advantage of new ecological niches, including adapting to humans as primary hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Neafsey
- Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mohammad R Abai
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and Institute of Health Researches, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sergey S Aganezov
- George Washington University, Department of Mathematics and Computational Biology Institute, 45085 University Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Max A Alekseyev
- George Washington University, Department of Mathematics and Computational Biology Institute, 45085 University Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - James E Allen
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - James Amon
- National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Tafea Province, Vanuatu
| | - Bruno Arcà
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Division of Parasitology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Peter Arensburger
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic-Pomona, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
| | - Gleb Artemov
- Tomsk State University, 36 Lenina Avenue, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Lauren A Assour
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Eck Institute for Global Health, 211B Cushing Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Hamidreza Basseri
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and Institute of Health Researches, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aaron Berlin
- Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Bruce W Birren
- Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Stephanie A Blandin
- Inserm, U963, F-67084 Strasbourg, France. CNRS, UPR9022, IBMC, F-67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Andrew I Brockman
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Thomas R Burkot
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Science, Australian Institute of Tropical Health Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns 4870, Australia
| | - Austin Burt
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Clara S Chan
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Cedric Chauve
- Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Joanna C Chiu
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, One Shields Avenue, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Mikkel Christensen
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Carlo Costantini
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unités Mixtes de Recherche Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle, 911, Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501 Montpellier, France
| | - Victoria L M Davidson
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 271 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Elena Deligianni
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100 GR-70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Tania Dottorini
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Vicky Dritsou
- Centre of Functional Genomics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stacey B Gabriel
- Genomics Platform, Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Wamdaogo M Guelbeogo
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou 01 BP 2208, Burkina Faso
| | - Andrew B Hall
- Program of Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Mira V Han
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Thaung Hlaing
- Department of Medical Research, No. 5 Ziwaka Road, Dagon Township, Yangon 11191, Myanmar
| | - Daniel S T Hughes
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK. Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Adam M Jenkins
- Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Xiaofang Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Program of Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Irwin Jungreis
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Evdoxia G Kakani
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maryam Kamali
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Petri Kemppainen
- Computational Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Ryan C Kennedy
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Ioannis K Kirmitzoglou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK. Bioinformatics Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, New Campus, University of Cyprus, CY 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Lizette L Koekemoer
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Vector Control Reference Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham 2131, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Njoroge Laban
- National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nicholas Langridge
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Mara K N Lawniczak
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Manolis Lirakis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Neil F Lobo
- Eck Institute for Global Health and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 317 Galvin Life Sciences Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Ernesto Lowy
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Robert M MacCallum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Chunhong Mao
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, 1015 Life Science Circle, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Gareth Maslen
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Charles Mbogo
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research - Coast, P.O. Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Jenny McCarthy
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic-Pomona, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
| | - Kristin Michel
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 271 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Sara N Mitchell
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wendy Moore
- Department of Entomology, 1140 East South Campus Drive, Forbes 410, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Katherine A Murphy
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, One Shields Avenue, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Anastasia N Naumenko
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Tony Nolan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Eva M Novoa
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Samantha O'Loughlin
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Chioma Oringanje
- Department of Entomology, 1140 East South Campus Drive, Forbes 410, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Mohammad A Oshaghi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and Institute of Health Researches, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nazzy Pakpour
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Philippos A Papathanos
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK. Centre of Functional Genomics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ashley N Peery
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Michael Povelones
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anil Prakash
- Regional Medical Research Centre NE, Indian Council of Medical Research, P.O. Box 105, Dibrugarh-786 001, Assam, India
| | - David P Price
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA. Molecular Biology Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Ashok Rajaraman
- Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Lisa J Reimer
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - David C Rinker
- Center for Human Genetics Research, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Center for Human Genetics Research, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA. Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Tanya L Russell
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Science, Australian Institute of Tropical Health Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns 4870, Australia
| | - N'Fale Sagnon
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou 01 BP 2208, Burkina Faso
| | - Maria V Sharakhova
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Terrance Shea
- Genome Sequencing and Analysis Program, Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Felipe A Simão
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frederic Simard
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unités Mixtes de Recherche Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle, 911, Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501 Montpellier, France
| | - Michel A Slotman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77807, USA
| | - Pradya Somboon
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | | | - Claudio J Struchiner
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, RJ Brazil. Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gregg W C Thomas
- School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Marta Tojo
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Pantelis Topalis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100 GR-70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - José M C Tubio
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Maria F Unger
- Eck Institute for Global Health and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 317 Galvin Life Sciences Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - John Vontas
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Catherine Walton
- Computational Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Craig S Wilding
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Judith H Willis
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Yi-Chieh Wu
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Department of Computer Science, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Guiyun Yan
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Hewitt Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Evgeny M Zdobnov
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Xiaofan Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - George K Christophides
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Frank H Collins
- Eck Institute for Global Health and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 317 Galvin Life Sciences Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Robert S Cornman
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Andrea Crisanti
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK. Centre of Functional Genomics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Martin J Donnelly
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK. Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SJ, UK
| | - Scott J Emrich
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Eck Institute for Global Health, 211B Cushing Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Michael C Fontaine
- Eck Institute for Global Health and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 317 Galvin Life Sciences Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. Centre of Evolutionary and Ecological Studies (Marine Evolution and Conservation group), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, NL-9747 AG Groningen, Netherlands
| | - William Gelbart
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Matthew W Hahn
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Immo A Hansen
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA. Molecular Biology Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| | - Paul I Howell
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE MSG49, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Fotis C Kafatos
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Manolis Kellis
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Daniel Lawson
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Christos Louis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece. Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100 GR-70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Centre of Functional Genomics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Marc A T Muskavitch
- Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA. Biogen Idec, 14 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - José M Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Michael A Riehle
- Department of Entomology, 1140 East South Campus Drive, Forbes 410, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Igor V Sharakhov
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Program of Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Program of Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Laurence J Zwiebel
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Pharmacology, Institutes for Chemical Biology, Genetics and Global Health, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Nora J Besansky
- Eck Institute for Global Health and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 317 Galvin Life Sciences Building, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
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Abstract
Egg and sperm have, understandably, been the "stars" of mammalian fertilization biology, particularly because artificial reproductive technologies allow for fertilization to occur outside of the female reproductive tract without other apparent contributions from either sex. Yet, recent research, including an exciting new paper, reveals unexpected and important contributions of seminal plasma to fertility. For example, seminal plasma proteins play critical roles in modulating female reproductive physiology, and a new study in mice demonstrates that effects of some of these proteins on the female can even affect the health of her progeny. Furthermore, although several actions of seminal plasma have been conserved across taxa, male accessory glands and their products are diverse - even among mammals. Taken together, these studies suggest that the actions of seminal plasma components are important to understand, and also to consider in future development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for humans, farm species and endangered species of mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A McGraw
- Department of Biological Sciences, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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Finseth FR, Bondra E, Harrison RG. Selective Constraint Dominates the Evolution of Genes Expressed in a Novel Reproductive Gland. Mol Biol Evol 2014; 31:3266-81. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msu259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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Abstract
Researchers studying the adaptive significance of behaviour typically assume that genetic mechanisms will not inhibit evolutionary trajectories, an assumption commonly known as the 'phenotypic gambit'. Although the phenotypic gambit continues to be a useful heuristic for behavioural ecology, here we discuss how genomic methods provide new tools and conceptual approaches that are relevant to behavioural ecology. We first describe how the concept of a genetic toolkit for behaviour can allow behavioural ecologists to synthesize both genomic and ecological information when assessing behavioural adaptation. Then we show how gene expression profiles can be viewed as complex phenotypic measurements, used to (1) predict behaviour, (2) evaluate phenotypic plasticity and (3) devise methods to manipulate behaviour in order to test adaptive hypotheses. We propose that advances in genomics and bioinformatics may allow researchers to overcome some of the logistical obstacles that motivated the inception of the phenotypic gambit. Behavioural ecology and genomics are mutually informative, providing potential synergy that could lead to powerful advances in the field of animal behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare C Rittschof
- Department of Entomology and Institute for Genomic Biology, Urbana, IL, U.S.A
| | - Gene E Robinson
- Department of Entomology and Institute for Genomic Biology, Urbana, IL, U.S.A
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Boes KE, Ribeiro JMC, Wong A, Harrington LC, Wolfner MF, Sirot LK. Identification and characterization of seminal fluid proteins in the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2946. [PMID: 24945155 PMCID: PMC4063707 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is an important vector for pathogens that affect human health, including the viruses that cause dengue and Chikungunya fevers. It is also one of the world's fastest-spreading invasive species. For these reasons, it is crucial to identify strategies for controlling the reproduction and spread of this mosquito. During mating, seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) are transferred from male mosquitoes to females, and these Sfps modulate female behavior and physiology in ways that influence reproduction. Despite the importance of Sfps on female reproductive behavior in mosquitoes and other insects, the identity of Sfps in Ae. albopictus has not previously been reported. We used transcriptomics and proteomics to identify 198 Sfps in Ae. albopictus. We discuss possible functions of these Sfps in relation to Ae. albopictus reproduction-related biology. We additionally compare the sequences of these Sfps with proteins (including reported Sfps) in several other species, including Ae. aegypti. While only 72 (36.4%) of Ae. albopictus Sfps have putative orthologs in Ae. aegypti, suggesting low conservation of the complement of Sfps in these species, we find no evidence for an elevated rate of evolution or positive selection in the Sfps that are shared between the two Aedes species, suggesting high sequence conservation of those shared Sfps. Our results provide a foundation for future studies to investigate the roles of individual Sfps on feeding and reproduction in this mosquito. Functional analysis of these Sfps could inform strategies for managing the rate of pathogen transmission by Ae. albopictus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E. Boes
- Department of Biology, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, United States of America
| | - José M. C. Ribeiro
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alex Wong
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura C. Harrington
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Mariana F. Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Laura K. Sirot
- Department of Biology, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, United States of America
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Hull JJ, Brent CS. Identification and characterization of a sex peptide receptor-like transcript from the western tarnished plant bug Lygus hesperus. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 23:301-319. [PMID: 24467643 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Lygus hesperus females exhibit a post-mating behavioural switch that triggers increased egg laying and decreased sexual interest. In Drosophila melanogaster, these changes are controlled by sex peptide (SP) and the sex peptide receptor (DmSPR). In Helicoverpa armigera, SPR (HaSPR) also regulates some post-mating behaviour; however, myoinhibiting peptides (MIPs) have been identified as the SPR ancestral ligand, indicating that SPR is a pleiotropic receptor. In the present study, we identified a transcript, designated L. hesperus SPR (LhSPR), that is homologous to known SPRs and which is expressed throughout development and in most adult tissues. LhSPR was most abundant in female seminal depositories and heads as well as the hindgut/midgut of both sexes. In vitro analyses revealed that fluorescent chimeras of LhSPR, DmSPR and HaSPR localized to the cell surface of cultured insect cells, but only DmSPR and HaSPR bound carboxytetramethylrhodamine-labelled analogues of DmSP21-36 and DmMIP4. Injected DmSP21-36 also failed to have an effect on L. hesperus mating receptivity. Potential divergence in the LhSPR binding pocket may be linked to receptor-ligand co-evolution as 9 of 13 MIPs encoded by a putative L. hesperus MIP precursor exhibit an atypical W-X7 -Wamide motif vs the W-X6 -Wamide and W-X8 -Wamide motifs of Drosophila MIPs and SP.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Hull
- USDA-ARS Arid Land Agricultural Center, Maricopa, AZ, USA
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Zizzari ZV, Smolders I, Koene JM. Alternative delivery of male accessory gland products. Front Zool 2014; 11:32. [PMID: 24708537 PMCID: PMC3984499 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-11-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
To increase fertilization success, males transfer accessory gland products (Acps). Several species have evolved unconventional Acps transfer modes, meaning that Acps are transferred separately from the sperm. By surveying the sperm-free Acps transfer cases, we show that these animals have evolved a common strategy to deliver Acps: they all inject Acps directly through the partner’s body wall into the hemolymph. Our review of this mode of Acps transfer reveals another striking similarity: they all transfer sperm in packages or via the skin, which may leave little room for Acps transfer via the conventional route in seminal fluid. We synthesise the knowledge about the function, and the effects in the recipients, of the Acps found in the widely diverse taxa (including earthworms, sea slugs, terrestrial snails, scorpions and salamanders) that inject these substances. Despite the clearly independent evolution of the injection devices, these animals have evolved a common alternative strategy to get their partners to accept and/or use their sperm. Most importantly, the evolution of the injection devices for the delivery of Acps highlights how the latter are pivotal for male reproductive success and, hence, strongly influence sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joris M Koene
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, Netherlands.
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Al-Wathiqui N, Lewis SM, Dopman EB. Using RNA sequencing to characterize female reproductive genes between Z and E Strains of European Corn Borer moth (Ostrinia nubilalis). BMC Genomics 2014; 15:189. [PMID: 24621199 PMCID: PMC4007636 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Reproductive proteins often evolve rapidly and are thought to be subject to strong sexual selection, and thus may play a key role in reproductive isolation and species divergence. However, our knowledge of reproductive proteins has been largely limited to males and model organisms with sequenced genomes. With advances in sequencing technology, Lepidoptera are emerging models for studies of sexual selection and speciation. By profiling the transcriptomes of the bursa copulatrix and bursal gland from females of two incipient species of moth, we characterize reproductive genes expressed in the primary reproductive tissues of female Lepidoptera and identify candidate genes contributing to a one-way gametic incompatibility between Z and E strains of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis). Results Using RNA sequencing we identified transcripts from ~37,000 and ~36,000 loci that were expressed in the bursa copulatrix or the bursal gland respectively. Of bursa copulatrix genes, 8% were significantly differentially expressed compared to the female thorax, and those that were up-regulated or specific to the bursa copulatrix showed functional biases toward muscle activity and/or organization. In the bursal gland, 9% of genes were differentially expressed compared to the thorax, with many showing reproduction or gamete production functions. Of up-regulated bursal gland genes, 46% contained a transmembrane region and 16% possessed secretion signal peptides. Divergently expressed genes in the bursa copulatrix were exclusively biased toward protease-like functions and 51 proteases or protease inhibitors were divergently expressed overall. Conclusions This is the first comprehensive characterization of female reproductive genes in any lepidopteran system. The transcriptome of the bursa copulatrix supports its role as a muscular sac that is the primary site for disruption of the male ejaculate. We find that the bursal gland acts as a reproductive secretory body that might also interact with male ejaculate. In addition, differential expression of proteases between strains supports a potential role for these tissues in contributing to reproductive isolation. Our study provides new insight into how male ejaculate is processed by female Lepidoptera, and paves the way for future work on interactions between post-mating sexual selection and speciation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-189) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Simmons LW, Beveridge M, Li L, Tan Y, Millar AH. Ontogenetic changes in seminal fluid gene expression and the protein composition of cricket seminal fluid. Evol Dev 2014; 16:101-9. [DOI: 10.1111/ede.12068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leigh W. Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary BiologyThe University of Western AustraliaCrawley6009Australia
| | - Maxine Beveridge
- Centre for Evolutionary BiologyThe University of Western AustraliaCrawley6009Australia
| | - Lie Li
- Centre for Comparative Analysis of Biomolecular NetworksThe University of Western AustraliaCrawley6009Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy BiologyThe University of Western AustraliaCrawley6009Australia
| | - Yew‐Foon Tan
- Centre for Evolutionary BiologyThe University of Western AustraliaCrawley6009Australia
- Centre for Comparative Analysis of Biomolecular NetworksThe University of Western AustraliaCrawley6009Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy BiologyThe University of Western AustraliaCrawley6009Australia
| | - A. Harvey Millar
- Centre for Comparative Analysis of Biomolecular NetworksThe University of Western AustraliaCrawley6009Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy BiologyThe University of Western AustraliaCrawley6009Australia
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Larson EL, White TA, Ross CL, Harrison RG. Gene flow and the maintenance of species boundaries. Mol Ecol 2013; 23:1668-78. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Erica L. Larson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Cornell University; Ithaca NY 14853 USA
- Division of Biological Sciences; University of Montana; Missoula MT 59812 USA
| | - Thomas A. White
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Cornell University; Ithaca NY 14853 USA
- CMPG Lab; Institute of Ecology and Evolution; University of Bern; Baltzerstrasse 6 3012 Bern Switzerland
| | - Charles L. Ross
- School of Natural Science; Hampshire College; Amherst MA 01002 USA
| | - Richard G. Harrison
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Cornell University; Ithaca NY 14853 USA
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Zuk M, Garcia-Gonzalez F, Herberstein ME, Simmons LW. Model systems, taxonomic bias, and sexual selection: beyond Drosophila. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2013; 59:321-338. [PMID: 24160422 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-011613-162014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Although model systems are useful in entomology, allowing generalizations based on a few well-known species, they also have drawbacks. It can be difficult to know how far to generalize from information in a few species: Are all flies like Drosophila? The use of model systems is particularly problematic in studying sexual selection, where variability among taxa is key to the evolution of different behaviors. A bias toward the use of a few insect species, particularly from the genus Drosophila, is evident in the sexual selection and sexual conflict literature over the past several decades, although the diversity of study organisms has increased more recently. As the number of model systems used to study sexual conflict increased, support for the idea that sexual interactions resulted in harm to females decreased. Future work should choose model systems thoughtfully, combining well-known species with those that can add to the variation that allows us to make more meaningful generalizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Zuk
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108;
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Population genetics and a study of speciation using next-generation sequencing: an educational primer for use with "Patterns of transcriptome divergence in the male accessory gland of two closely related species of field crickets". Genetics 2013; 193:671-5. [PMID: 23463799 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.112.148171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Understanding evidence for the genetic basis of reproductive isolation is imperative for supporting students' understanding of mechanisms of speciation in courses such as Genetics and Evolutionary Biology. An article by Andrés et al. in the February 2013 issue of GENETICS illustrates how advances in DNA sequencing are accelerating studies of population genetics in species with limited genetic and genomic resources. Andrés et al. use the latest sequencing technologies to systematically identify and characterize sites in the DNA that vary within, and have diverged between, species to explore speciation in crickets. This primer, coupled with that article, will help instructors introduce and reinforce important concepts in genetics and evolution while simultaneously introducing modern methodology in the undergraduate classroom. Related article in GENETICS Andrés, J. A., E. L. Larson, S. M. Bogdanowicz, and R. G. Harrison, 2013 Patterns of transcriptome divergence in the male accessory gland of two closely related species of field crickets. Genetics 193: 501-513.
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Larson EL, Andrés JA, Bogdanowicz SM, Harrison RG. Differential introgression in a mosaic hybrid zone reveals candidate barrier genes. Evolution 2013; 67:3653-61. [PMID: 24299416 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2012] [Accepted: 06/19/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hybrid zones act as genomic sieves. Although globally advantageous alleles will spread throughout the zone and neutral alleles can be freely exchanged between species, introgression will be restricted for genes that contribute to reproductive barriers or local adaptation. Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are known to contribute to reproductive barriers in insects and have been proposed as candidate barrier genes in the hybridizing field crickets Gryllus pennsylvanicus and Gryllus firmus. Here, we have used 125 single nucleotide polymorphisms to characterize patterns of differential introgression and to identify genes that may contribute to prezygotic barriers between these species. Using a transcriptome scan of the male cricket accessory gland (the site of SFP synthesis), we identified genes with major allele frequency differences between the species. We then compared patterns of introgression for genes encoding SFPs with patterns for genes expressed in the same tissue that do not encode SFPs. We find no evidence that SFPs have reduced gene exchange across the cricket hybrid zone. However, a number of genes exhibit dramatically reduced introgression, and many of these genes encode proteins with functional roles consistent with known barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica L Larson
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
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