1
|
Nijhout HF. Genetic assimilation, robustness and plasticity are key processes in the development and evolution of novel traits. Dev Biol 2025; 523:132-138. [PMID: 40254259 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2025.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2025] [Revised: 04/14/2025] [Accepted: 04/16/2025] [Indexed: 04/22/2025]
Abstract
This is a commentary on how C.H. Waddington's experiments in the 1950's, first published in 1953 in a provocatively titled paper "Genetic assimilation of an acquired character," laid the foundation for the field of phenotypic plasticity, and how the ideas he developed eventually led to new ways of understanding phenotypic robustness, plasticity, and how novel traits develop and evolve. The "acquired characters" that Waddington worked with were based on Goldschmidt's ideas of "phenocopies": new phenotypes that develop after an environmental stress that resemble the phenotypes of known mutations. The idea behind genetic assimilation, first outlined by Waddington in 1942, is that existing developmental pathways can be rearranged and redirected through selection to stabilize the phenocopy phenotype, without requiring new mutations. In the short term, Waddington's work led to the discovery of heat shock proteins and the role of Hsp90 in masking defective proteins and allowing the accumulation of cryptic genetic variation. Subsequent studies revealed a host of stabilizing systems that operate at all levels of biological organization that make phenotypes robust to genetic and environmental variation. Many of these resemble homeostatic mechanisms that don't require a stress shock but operate under normal physiological conditions and allow for the accumulation of large amounts of cryptic genetic variation. This cryptic genetic variation can be revealed by mutations or environmental factors that destabilize a homeostatic mechanism. Selection can then act on the phenotypic variants that are produced. This scenario corresponds to the modern phenotype-first hypothesis for the evolution of novel traits that was foreseen by Waddington as early as 1942.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Frederik Nijhout
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hanada T, Yaguchi H, Fujiwara K, Hayashi Y, Nalepa CA, Maekawa K. Differential Expression of Hormone-Related Genes in the Heads of Adult and Nymphal Woodroaches (Cryptocercus). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2025; 344:182-197. [PMID: 39959923 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 12/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2025] [Indexed: 05/03/2025]
Abstract
Termites are eusocial cockroaches, but the crucial distinctions in gene expression during the evolution of eusociality remain unclear. One reason for the lack of this information is that comparative transcriptome analysis of termites with their sister group, the cockroach genus Cryptocercus, has not been conducted. We identified genes associated with three vital hormones (juvenile hormone [JH], 20-hydoroxyecdysone [20E], and insulin) from the genome sequence of Cryptocercus punctulatus and conducted RNA-seq analysis using the heads of female/male adults and nymphs to elucidate their expression levels. The comprehensive gene expression analysis revealed a multitude of genes exhibiting differences in expression between developmental stages rather than between sexes. Subsequently, we compared the differences in expression patterns of each hormone-related gene by combining the results of a previous RNA-seq study conducted on the heads of castes (reproductives, workers, and soldiers) in the termite Reticulitermes speratus. The results indicated that genes with expression differences among castes in R. speratus, particularly those related to JH and 20E, were significantly more abundant compared to genes with expression differences between adults and nymphs in C. punctulatus. While no significant difference was observed in the number of genes within the insulin signaling pathway, a trend of homologs highly expressed in adult woodroaches but not in adult termites was observed, and the expression patterns of positive and negative regulators in the pathway differed significantly between adults and nymphs. The differences in the expression patterns between Cryptocercus and termites are believed to reflect variations in hormone levels and signaling activities between adults and juveniles, the latter encompassing workers and soldiers in the case of termites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Hanada
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hajime Yaguchi
- Department of Forest Entomology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kokuto Fujiwara
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | | | - Christine A Nalepa
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhao Q, Engel MS, Huang D, Cai C. A Cretaceous sap beetle with specialized mandibles (Coleoptera : Nitidulidae). ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2025; 12:241761. [PMID: 40012758 PMCID: PMC11862830 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.241761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2024] [Revised: 12/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2025] [Indexed: 02/28/2025]
Abstract
Sap beetles (Nitidulidae) are species-rich, highly diverse, widely distributed and exhibit varied food habits. However, studies on nitidulids in Kachin amber are scarce, particularly those involving nitidulids with specialized mandibles. Here, we report a new genus and species of Nitidulidae, Vetunitidula mandibulata gen. et sp. nov., from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (approx. 99 Ma). This species is characterized by distinctly enlarged mandibles and a loose three-article antennal club, suggesting it as a stem-group nitidulid. The enlarged mandibles may be a manifestation of sexual dimorphism, as in some extant species. Together with previous studies of fossil nitidulids, our discovery highlights the remarkable diversity and morphological disparity of sap beetles during the late Mesozoic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Center for Excellence in Life and Palaeoenvironment, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, People’s Republic of China
| | - Michael S. Engel
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY10024-5192, USA
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima15081, Peru
- Departamento de Entomología, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima15072, Peru
| | - Diying Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Center for Excellence in Life and Palaeoenvironment, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chenyang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Center for Excellence in Life and Palaeoenvironment, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yu Y, Liu Z, Li Z, Cai C. Recent Southern Hemisphere Lamprimine Stag Beetle in Cretaceous Burmese Amber and Its Biogeographic Implications (Coleoptera: Lucanidae). INSECTS 2024; 15:658. [PMID: 39336626 PMCID: PMC11432563 DOI: 10.3390/insects15090658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
A new stag beetle fossil, Prostreptocerus burmiticus Yu & Cai gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a single male specimen. This is the first representative of the subfamily Lampriminae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Lucanidae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new species is distinctive among Lucanidae due to its well-developed, right-angled mandible, frons featuring a pair of large protuberances, a coarse and sparsely punctate elytral disc, and large tubercles on the humeri. Prostreptocerus Yu & Cai is placed within Lampriminae based on several key characteristics. Morphologically, it is most similar to the extant Streptocerus Fairmaire, 1850. The current distribution of Streptocerus and Lampriminae is primarily restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, suggesting that this lineage is ancient and existed on Gondwanaland, which has significant geographical implications. This discovery extends the fossil record of Lampriminae and provides additional evidence for the existence of sexual dimorphism and potential combat behavior in Mesozoic lucanids. Additionally, Electraesalopsis Bai, Zhang & Qiu, 2017, previously placed as Lucanidae incertae sedis, shares many characteristics with Prostreptocerus Yu & Cai and is also assigned to Lampriminae based on a suite of traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yali Yu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China; (Y.Y.); (Z.L.)
| | - Zhenhua Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China; (Y.Y.); (Z.L.)
| | - Zhiqiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China; (Y.Y.); (Z.L.)
| | - Chenyang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sugiyama M, Ozawa T, Ohta K, Okada K, Niimi T, Yamaguchi K, Shigenobu S, Okada Y. Transcriptomic and functional screening of weapon formation genes implies significance of cell adhesion molecules and female-biased genes in broad-horned flour beetle. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1011069. [PMID: 38051754 PMCID: PMC10723671 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
For understanding the evolutionary mechanism of sexually selected exaggerated traits, it is essential to uncover its molecular basis. By using broad-horned flour beetle that has male-specific exaggerated structures (mandibular horn, head horn and gena enlargement), we investigated the transcriptomic and functional characters of sex-biased genes. Comparative transcriptome of male vs. female prepupal heads elucidated 673 sex-biased genes. Counter-intuitively, majority of them were female-biased (584 genes), and GO enrichment analysis showed cell-adhesion molecules were frequently female-biased. This pattern motivated us to hypothesize that female-biased transcripts (i.e. the transcripts diminished in males) may play a role in outgrowth formation. Potentially, female-biased genes may act as suppressors of weapon structure. In order to test the functionality of female-biased genes, we performed RNAi-mediated functional screening for top 20 female-biased genes and 3 genes in the most enriched GO term (cell-cell adhesion, fat1/2/3, fat4 and dachsous). Knockdown of one transcription factor, zinc finger protein 608 (zfp608) resulted in the formation of male-like gena in females, supporting the outgrowth suppression function of this gene. Similarly, knockdown of fat4 induced rudimental, abnormal mandibular horn in female. fat1/2/3RNAi, fat4RNAi and dachsousRNAi males exhibited thick and/or short mandibular horns and legs. These cell adhesion molecules are known to regulate tissue growth direction and known to be involved in the weapon formation in Scarabaeoidea beetles. Functional evidence in phylogenetically distant broad-horned flour beetle suggest that cell adhesion genes are repeatedly deployed in the acquisition of outgrowth. In conclusion, this study clarified the overlooked functions of female-biased genes in weapon development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miyu Sugiyama
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takane Ozawa
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunihiro Ohta
- Department of Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kensuke Okada
- Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Tsushima-naka, Okayama, Japan
| | - Teruyuki Niimi
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Japan
- Basic Biology Program, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Katsushi Yamaguchi
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Shuji Shigenobu
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Japan
- Basic Biology Program, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Yasukazu Okada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Price PD, Parkus SM, Wright AE. Recent progress in understanding the genomic architecture of sexual conflict. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 80:102047. [PMID: 37163877 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Genomic conflict between the sexes over shared traits is widely assumed to be resolved through the evolution of sex-biased expression and the subsequent emergence of sexually dimorphic phenotypes. However, while there is support for a broad relationship between genome-wide patterns of expression level and sexual conflict, recent studies suggest that sex differences in the nature and strength of interactions between loci are instead key to conflict resolution. Furthermore, the advent of new technologies for measuring and perturbing expression means we now have much more power to detect genomic signatures of sexual conflict. Here, we review our current understanding of the genomic architecture of sexual conflict in the light of these new studies and highlight the potential for novel approaches to address outstanding knowledge gaps.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Price
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. https://twitter.com/@PeterDPrice
| | - Sylvie M Parkus
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Alison E Wright
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Lu Y, Ahrens D, Shih C, Shaw JJ, Yang X, Ren D, Bai M. A Cretaceous Chafer Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) with Exaggerated Hind Legs-Insight from Comparative Functional Morphology into a Possible Spring Movement. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020237. [PMID: 36829514 PMCID: PMC9953289 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The phenomenon of exaggerated morphological structures has fascinated people for centuries. Beetles of the family Scarabaeidae show many very diverse exaggerated characters, for example, a variety of horns, enlarged mandibles or elongated antennal lamellae. Here, we report a new Mesozoic scarab, Antiqusolidus maculatus gen. et sp. n. from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (~125 Ma), which has unusually robust and structured hind legs with greatly enlarged spurs and a unique elongated apical process. Based on simulations and finite element analyses, the function of these structures is hypothesized to support springing to aid movement and fighting. Based on available morphological characters, we performed phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony) of the main subfamilies and families of Scarabaeoidea. The results support the placement of Antiqusolidus gen. n. as a sister group of Rutelinae within the phytophagous lineage of pleurostict Scarabaeidae. Furthermore, the unusual delicate color marking patterns in the fossil specimens suggest that the new species might have been diurnal and potentially visited the leaves or flowers of Early Cretaceous plants. This morphological and functional study on this extinct scarab species provides new sights into exaggerated structures in Mesozoic insects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Dirk Ahrens
- Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum A. Koenig, Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Chungkun Shih
- College of Life Sciences and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
- Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA
| | - Josh Jenkins Shaw
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Zoological Museum, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xingke Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Dong Ren
- College of Life Sciences and Academy for Multidisciplinary Studies, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
- Correspondence: (D.R.); (M.B.)
| | - Ming Bai
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China
- School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
- Northeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Correspondence: (D.R.); (M.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Paloma Álvarez-Rendón J, Manuel Murillo-Maldonado J, Rafael Riesgo-Escovar J. The insulin signaling pathway a century after its discovery: Sexual dimorphism in insulin signaling. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 330:114146. [PMID: 36270337 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Since practically a century ago, the insulin pathway was discovered in both vertebrates and invertebrates, implying an evolutionarily ancient origin. After a century of research, it is now clear that the insulin signal transduction pathway is a critical, flexible and pleiotropic pathway, evolving into multiple anabolic functions besides glucose homeostasis. It regulates paramount aspects of organismal well-being like growth, longevity, intermediate metabolism, and reproduction. Part of this diversification has been attained by duplications and divergence of both ligands and receptors riding on a common general signal transduction system. One of the aspects that is strikingly different is its usage in reproduction, particularly in male versus female development and fertility within the same species. This review highlights sexual divergence in metabolism and reproductive tract differences, the occurrence of sexually "exaggerated" traits, and sex size differences that are due to the sexes' differential activity/response to the insulin signaling pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Paloma Álvarez-Rendón
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Juan Manuel Murillo-Maldonado
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Juan Rafael Riesgo-Escovar
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Jiao Y, Palli SR. Mitochondria dysfunction impairs Tribolium castaneum wing development during metamorphosis. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1252. [PMID: 36380075 PMCID: PMC9666433 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04185-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The disproportionate growth of insect appendages such as facultative growth of wings and exaggeration of beetle horns are examples of phenotypic plasticity. Insect metamorphosis is the critical stage for development of pupal and adult structures and degeneration of the larval cells. How the disproportionate growth of external appendages is regulated during tissue remodeling remains unanswered. Tribolium castaneum is used as a model to study the function of mitochondria in metamorphosis. Mitochondrial dysfunction is achieved by the knockdown of key mitochondrial regulators. Here we show that mitochondrial function is not required for metamorphosis except that severe mitochondrial dysfunction blocks ecdysis. Surprisingly, various abnormal wing growth, including short and wingless phenotypes, are induced after knocking down mitochondrial regulators. Mitochondrial activity is regulated by IIS (insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling)/FOXO (forkhead box, sub-group O) pathway through TFAM (transcription factor A, mitochondrial). RNA sequencing and differential gene expression analysis show that wing-patterning and insect hormone response genes are downregulated, while programmed cell death and immune response genes are upregulated in insect wing discs with mitochondrial dysfunction. These studies reveal that mitochondria play critical roles in regulating insect wing growth by targeting wing development during metamorphosis, thus showing a novel molecular mechanism underlying developmental plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaoyu Jiao
- grid.266539.d0000 0004 1936 8438Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546 USA
| | - Subba Reddy Palli
- grid.266539.d0000 0004 1936 8438Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546 USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Malacrinò A, Brengdahl MI, Kimber CM, Mital A, Shenoi VN, Mirabello C, Friberg U. Ageing desexualizes the Drosophila brain transcriptome. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221115. [PMID: 35946149 PMCID: PMC9364003 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
General evolutionary theory predicts that individuals in low condition should invest less in sexual traits compared to individuals in high condition. Whether this positive association between condition and investment also holds between young (high condition) and senesced (low condition) individuals is however less clear, since elevated investment into reproduction may be beneficial when individuals approach the end of their life. To address how investment into sexual traits changes with age, we study genes with sex-biased expression in the brain, the tissue from which sexual behaviours are directed. Across two distinct populations of Drosophila melanogaster, we find that old brains display fewer sex-biased genes, and that expression of both male-biased and female-biased genes converges towards a sexually intermediate phenotype owing to changes in both sexes with age. We further find that sex-biased genes in general show heightened age-dependent expression in comparison to unbiased genes and that age-related changes in the sexual brain transcriptome are commonly larger in males than females. Our results hence show that ageing causes a desexualization of the fruit fly brain transcriptome and that this change mirrors the general prediction that low condition individuals should invest less in sexual phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Malacrinò
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany,Department of Agriculture, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | | | | | - Avani Mital
- IFM Biology, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Claudio Mirabello
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Urban Friberg
- IFM Biology, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rhebergen FT, Stewart KA, Smallegange IM. Nutrient-dependent allometric plasticity in a male-diphenic mite. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9145. [PMID: 35928796 PMCID: PMC9343935 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Male secondary sexual traits often scale allometrically with body size. These allometries can be variable within species and may shift depending on environmental conditions, such as food quality. Such allometric plasticity has been hypothesized to initiate local adaptation and evolutionary diversification of scaling relationships, but is under-recorded, and its eco-evolutionary effects are not well understood. Here, we tested for allometric plasticity in the bulb mite (Rhizoglyphus robini), in which large males tend to develop as armed adult fighters with thickened third legs, while small males become adult scramblers without thickened legs. We first examined the ontogenetic timing for size- and growth-dependent male morph determination, using experimentally amplified fluctuations in growth rate throughout juvenile development. Having established that somatic growth and body size determine male morph expression immediately before metamorphosis, we examined whether the relationship between adult male morph and size at metamorphosis shifts with food quality. We found that the threshold body size for male morph expression shifts toward lower values with deteriorating food quality, confirming food-dependent allometric plasticity. Such allometric plasticity may allow populations to track prevailing nutritional conditions, potentially facilitating rapid evolution of allometric scaling relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flor T. Rhebergen
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Kathryn A. Stewart
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Institute of Environmental SciencesLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Isabel M. Smallegange
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- School of Natural and Environmental SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wedmann S, Kment P, Campos LA, Hörnschemeyer T. Bizarre morphology in extinct Eocene bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:211466. [PMID: 34909219 PMCID: PMC8652274 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Newly discovered fossil bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) from the Eocene of Messel (Germany) and Green River (North America) exhibit an exaggerated morphology including prominent spiny humeral and anterolateral angles of the pronotum and a spiny lateral abdominal margin. Especially the humeral angles are unique; they consist of expansive, rounded projections with strong spines, which is a rare trait among pentatomids. A hypothesis for the function of this extreme morphology is defence against small vertebrate predators, such as birds or reptiles. The same protuberances also produce a disruptive effect camouflaging the specimen in its environment and provide additional protection. Therefore, the extreme morphology provides primary as well as secondary anti-predator defence. The morphology of Eospinosus peterkulkai gen. et sp. nov. and E. greenriverensis sp. nov. resembles that of Triplatygini, which today occur exclusively in Madagascar, as well as that of Discocephalinae or Cyrtocorinae, which today occur in the Neotropics. Due to a lack of conclusive characters, it cannot be excluded that the fossil species may represent a case of remarkable convergence and are not related to either taxon. Phylogenetic analyses using parsimony as well as Bayesian algorithms confirmed that the new genus is a member of Pentatomidae, but could not solve its phylogenetic relationships within Pentatomidae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Wedmann
- Senckenberg Forschungsstation Grube Messel, Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt/Main, 64409 Messel, Germany
| | - Petr Kment
- Department of Entomology, National Museum, Cirkusova 1740, 193 00 Praha 9 – Horni Pocernice, Czech Republic
| | - Luiz Alexandre Campos
- Department of Zoology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9500, prédio 43435, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Thomas Hörnschemeyer
- Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie and Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Reis M, Siomava N, Wimmer EA, Posnien N. Conserved and Divergent Aspects of Plasticity and Sexual Dimorphism in Wing Size and Shape in Three Diptera. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.660546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of powered flight in insects facilitated their great evolutionary success allowing them to occupy various ecological niches. Beyond this primary task, wings are often involved in various premating behaviors, such as the generation of courtship songs and the initiation of mating in flight. These specific functions imply special adaptations of wing morphology, as well as sex-specific wing morphologies. Although wing morphology has been extensively studied in Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen, 1830), a comprehensive understanding of developmental plasticity and the impact of sex on wing size and shape plasticity is missing for other Diptera. Therefore, we raised flies of the three Diptera species Drosophila melanogaster, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) and Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758) at different environmental conditions and applied geometric morphometrics to analyze wing shape. Our data showed extensive interspecific differences in wing shape, as well as a clear sexual wing shape dimorphism in all three species. We revealed an impact of different rearing temperatures on wing shape in all three species, which was mostly explained by plasticity in wing size in D. melanogaster. Rearing densities had significant effects on allometric wing shape in D. melanogaster, while no obvious effects were observed for the other two species. Additionally, we did not find evidence for sex-specific response to different rearing conditions in D. melanogaster and C. capitata, while a male-specific impact of different rearing conditions was observed on non-allometric wing shape in M. domestica. Overall, our data strongly suggests that many aspects of wing morphology underly species-specific adaptations and we discuss potential developmental and functional implications of our results.
Collapse
|
14
|
Rohner PT, Linz DM, Moczek AP. Doublesex mediates species-, sex-, environment- and trait-specific exaggeration of size and shape. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210241. [PMID: 34157867 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Context-dependent trait exaggeration is a major contributor to phenotypic diversity. However, the genetic modifiers instructing development across multiple contexts remain largely unknown. We use the arthropod tibia, a hotspot for segmental differentiation, as a paradigm to assess the developmental mechanisms underlying the context-dependent structural exaggeration of size and shape through nutritional plasticity, sexual dimorphism and segmental differentiation. Using an RNAseq approach in the sexually dimorphic and male-polyphenic dung beetle Digitonthophagus gazella, we find that only a small portion (3.7%) of all transcripts covary positively in expression level with trait size across contexts. However, RNAi-mediated knockdown of the conserved sex-determination gene doublesex suggests that it functions as a context-dependent master mediator of trait exaggeration in D. gazella as well as the closely related dung beetle Onthophagus taurus. Taken together, our findings suggest (i) that the gene networks associated with trait exaggeration are highly dependent on the precise developmental context, (ii) that doublesex differentially shapes morphological exaggeration depending on developmental contexts and (iii) that this context-specificity of dsx-mediated trait exaggeration may diversify rapidly. This mechanism may contribute to the resolution of conflict arising from environment-dependent antagonistic selection among sexes and divergent developmental contexts in a wide range of animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick T Rohner
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 915 East Third Street, 102 Myers Hall, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - David M Linz
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 915 East Third Street, 102 Myers Hall, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Armin P Moczek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 915 East Third Street, 102 Myers Hall, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Toubiana W, Armisén D, Viala S, Decaras A, Khila A. The growth factor BMP11 is required for the development and evolution of a male exaggerated weapon and its associated fighting behavior in a water strider. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001157. [PMID: 33974625 PMCID: PMC8112723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Exaggerated sexually selected traits, often carried by males, are characterized by the evolution of hyperallometry, resulting in their disproportionate growth relative to the rest of the body among individuals of the same population. While the evolution of allometry has attracted much attention for centuries, our understanding of the developmental genetic mechanisms underlying its emergence remains fragmented. Here we conduct comparative transcriptomics of the legs followed by an RNA interference (RNAi) screen to identify genes that play a role in the hyperallometric growth of the third legs in the males of the water strider Microvelia longipes. We demonstrate that a broadly expressed growth factor, Bone Morphogenetic Protein 11 (BMP11, also known as Growth Differentiation Factor 11), regulates leg allometries through increasing the allometric slope and mean body size in males. In contrast, BMP11 RNAi reduced mean body size but did not affect slope either in the females of M. longipes or in the males and females of other closely related Microvelia species. Furthermore, our data show that a tissue-specific factor, Ultrabithorax (Ubx), increases intercept without affecting mean body size. This indicates a genetic correlation between mean body size and variation in allometric slope, but not intercept. Strikingly, males treated with BMP11 RNAi exhibited a severe reduction in fighting frequency compared to both controls and Ubx RNAi-treated males. Therefore, male body size, the exaggerated weapon, and the intense fighting behavior associated with it are genetically correlated in M. longipes. Our results support a possible role of pleiotropy in the evolution of allometric slope.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Toubiana
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - David Armisén
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Séverine Viala
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Amélie Decaras
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Abderrahman Khila
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Toubiana W, Armisén D, Dechaud C, Arbore R, Khila A. Impact of male trait exaggeration on sex-biased gene expression and genome architecture in a water strider. BMC Biol 2021; 19:89. [PMID: 33931057 PMCID: PMC8088084 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01021-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exaggerated secondary sexual traits are widespread in nature and often evolve under strong directional sexual selection. Although heavily studied from both theoretical and empirical viewpoints, we have little understanding of how sexual selection influences sex-biased gene regulation during the development of exaggerated secondary sexual phenotypes, and how these changes are reflected in genomic architecture. This is primarily due to the limited availability of representative genomes and associated tissue and sex transcriptomes to study the development of these traits. Here we present the genome and developmental transcriptomes, focused on the legs, of the water strider Microvelia longipes, a species where males exhibit strikingly long third legs compared to females, which they use as weapons. RESULTS We generated a high-quality genome assembly with 90% of the sequence captured in 13 scaffolds. The most exaggerated legs in males were particularly enriched in both sex-biased and leg-biased genes, indicating a specific signature of gene expression in association with trait exaggeration. We also found that male-biased genes showed patterns of fast evolution compared to non-biased and female-biased genes, indicative of directional or relaxed purifying selection. By contrast to male-biased genes, female-biased genes that are expressed in the third legs, but not the other legs, are over-represented in the X chromosome compared to the autosomes. An enrichment analysis for sex-biased genes along the chromosomes revealed also that they arrange in large genomic regions or in small clusters of two to four consecutive genes. The number and expression of these enriched regions were often associated with the exaggerated legs of males, suggesting a pattern of common regulation through genomic proximity in association with trait exaggeration. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate how directional sexual selection may drive sex-biased gene expression and genome architecture along the path to trait exaggeration and sexual dimorphism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Toubiana
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, CNRS UMR 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46, allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon Cedex 07, France
- Present address: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Armisén
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, CNRS UMR 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46, allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Corentin Dechaud
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, CNRS UMR 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46, allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Roberto Arbore
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, CNRS UMR 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46, allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon Cedex 07, France
- Present address: Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Abderrahman Khila
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, CNRS UMR 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46, allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon Cedex 07, France.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Nomura S, Fujisawa T, Sota T. Role of sex-concordant gene expression in the coevolution of exaggerated male and female genitalia in a beetle group. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:3593-3605. [PMID: 33905498 PMCID: PMC8382896 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Some sexual traits, including genitalia, have undergone coevolutionary diversification
toward exaggerated states in both sexes among closely related species, but the underlying
genetic mechanisms that allow correlated character evolution between the sexes are poorly
understood. Here, we studied interspecific differences in gene expression timing profiles
involved in the correlated evolution of corresponding male and female genital parts in
three species of ground beetle in Carabus (Ohomopterus).
The male and female genital parts maintain morphological matching, whereas large
interspecific variation in genital part size has occurred in the genital coevolution
between the sexes toward exaggeration. We analyzed differences in gene expression involved
in the interspecific differences in genital morphology using whole transcriptome data from
genital tissues during genital morphogenesis. We found that the gene expression variance
attributed to sex was negligible for the majority of differentially expressed genes, thus
exhibiting sex-concordant expression, although large variances were attributed to stage
and species differences. For each sex, we obtained co-expression gene networks and hub
genes from differentially expressed genes between species that might be involved in
interspecific differences in genital morphology. These gene networks were common to both
sexes, and both sex-discordant and sex-concordant gene expression were likely involved in
species-specific genital morphology. In particular, the gene expression related to
exaggerated genital size showed no significant intersexual differences, implying that the
genital sizes in both sexes are controlled by the same gene network with sex-concordant
expression patterns, thereby facilitating the coevolution of exaggerated genitalia between
the sexes while maintaining intersexual matching.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shota Nomura
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Tomochika Fujisawa
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.,The Center for Data Science Education and Research, Shiga University, Hikone, Shiga, 522-8522, Japan
| | - Teiji Sota
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hernández ML, Acosta LE. Caracterización del dimorfismo sexual y reconocimiento de machos dimórficos en el complejo Discocyrtus prospicuus (Arachnida: Opiliones: Gonyleptidae): una aproximación desde la morfometría geométrica. REV MEX BIODIVERS 2021. [DOI: 10.22201/ib.20078706e.2021.92.3545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
|
19
|
Melin A, Altwegg R, Manning JC, Colville JF. Allometric relationships shape foreleg evolution of long-legged oil bees (Melittidae: Rediviva). Evolution 2020; 75:437-449. [PMID: 33314060 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Exaggerated traits of pollinators have fascinated biologists for centuries. To understand their evolution, and their role in coevolutionary relationships, an essential first step is to understand how traits scale allometrically with body size, which may reveal underlying developmental constraints. Few pollination studies have examined how traits can adaptively diverge despite allometric constraints. Here, we present a comparative study of narrow-sense static and evolutionary allometry on foreleg length and body size of oil-collecting bees. Concurrently, we assess the relationship between scaling parameters and spur lengths of oil-secreting host flowers. Across species and populations, we found low variation in static slopes (nearly all <1), possibly related to stabilizing selection, but the static intercept varied substantially generating an evolutionary allometry steeper than static allometry. Variation in static intercepts was explained by changes in body size (∼28% species; ∼68% populations) and spur length (remaining variance: ∼36% species; ∼94% populations). The intercept-spur length relationship on the arithmetic scale was positive but forelegs did not track spur length perfectly in a one-to-one relationship. Overall, our study provides new insights on how phenotypic evolution in the forelegs of oil-collecting bees is related to the variability of the allometric intercept and adaptation to host plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annalie Melin
- Compton Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Claremont, South Africa.,African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Res Altwegg
- Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - John C Manning
- Compton Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Claremont, South Africa.,Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa
| | - Jonathan F Colville
- Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Nomura S, Fujisawa T, Sota T. Gene expression during genital morphogenesis in the ground beetle Carabus maiyasanus. INSECT SCIENCE 2020; 27:975-986. [PMID: 31318143 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the developmental genetics of genital formation in the carabid beetle Carabus maiyasanus, we compared gene expression patterns among five stages using transcriptomic RNA sequencing data from abdominal segments and genitalia in the third (last) larval instar (including prepupa) and pupal stages. We identified 18 839 genes, of which 10 796 were differentially expressed among stages or between sexes. There were relatively few differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the sexes (3%). The DEGs were clustered into six groups, mainly according to stage-specific expression patterns. Genes in clusters 1-3 showed high expression levels before pupation and low expression levels during the pupal period, whereas genes in clusters 4-6 showed high expression levels from the prepupal to the pupal stages. Genes related to the initial pupation process and differentiation of genital discs in Drosophila were involved in clusters 4 and 6 and showed low expression levels at early third instar and elevated expression levels from the early prepupal stage, suggesting that the pupation process and genital differentiation started in the prepupal stage. Clusters 4 and 5 included developmental genes related to organ size control, which may be important in the formation of internal genital structures during the pupal stage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shota Nomura
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomochika Fujisawa
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Teiji Sota
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Lin X, Smagghe G. Roles of the insulin signaling pathway in insect development and organ growth. Peptides 2019; 122:169923. [PMID: 29458057 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Organismal development is a complex process as it requires coordination of many aspects to grow into fit individuals, such as the control of body size and organ growth. Therefore, the mechanisms of precise control of growth are essential for ensuring the growth of organisms at a correct body size and proper organ proportions during development. The control of the growth rate and the duration of growth (or the cessation of growth) are required in size control. The insulin signaling pathway and the elements involved are essential in the control of growth. On the other hand, the ecdysteroid molting hormone determines the duration of growth. The secretion of these hormones is controlled by environmental factors such as nutrition. Moreover, the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway is considered as a nutrient sensing pathway. Important cross-talks have been shown to exist among these pathways. In this review, we outline the control of body and organ growth by the insulin/TOR signaling pathway, and also the interaction between nutrition via insulin/TOR signaling and ecdysteroids at the coordination of organismal development and organ growth in insects, mainly focusing on the well-studied fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xianyu Lin
- Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Okada Y, Katsuki M, Okamoto N, Fujioka H, Okada K. A specific type of insulin-like peptide regulates the conditional growth of a beetle weapon. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000541. [PMID: 31774806 PMCID: PMC6880982 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionarily conserved insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling (IIS) has been identified as a major physiological mechanism underlying the nutrient-dependent regulation of sexually selected weapon growth in animals. However, the molecular mechanisms that couple nutritional state with weapon growth remain largely unknown. Here, we show that one specific subtype of insulin-like peptide (ILP) responds to nutrient status and thereby regulates weapon size in the broad-horned flour beetle Gnatocerus cornutus. By using transcriptome information, we identified five G. cornutus ILP (GcorILP1-5) and two G. cornutus insulin-like receptor (GcorInR1, -2) genes in the G. cornutus genome. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing revealed that a certain subtype of ILP, GcorILP2, specifically regulated weapon size. Importantly, GcorILP2 was highly and specifically expressed in the fat body in a condition-dependent manner. We further found that GcorInR1 and GcorInR2 are functionally redundant but that the latter is partially specialized for regulating weapon growth. These results strongly suggest that GcorILP2 is an important component of the developmental mechanism that couples nutritional state to weapon growth in G. cornutus. We propose that the duplication and subsequent diversification of IIS genes played a pivotal role in the evolution of the complex growth regulation of secondary sexual traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasukazu Okada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Masako Katsuki
- Laboratory of Applied Entomology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoki Okamoto
- Department of Entomology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Haruna Fujioka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of General Systems studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kensuke Okada
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Easterling MR, Engbrecht KM, Crespi EJ. Endocrine regulation of regeneration: Linking global signals to local processes. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 283:113220. [PMID: 31310748 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Regeneration in amphibians and reptiles has been explored since the early 18th century, giving us a working in vivo model to study epimorphic regeneration in vertebrates. Studies aiming to uncover primary mechanisms of regeneration have predominantly focused on genetic pathways regulating specific stages of the regeneration process: wound healing, blastema formation and growth, and pattern formation. However, studies across organisms show that environmental conditions and physiological state of the animal can affect the rate or quality of regeneration, and endocrine signals are likely the mediators of these effects. Endocrine signals working/acting directly on receptors expressed in the structure or via neuroendocrine pathways can affect regeneration by modulating immune response to injury, allocation of energetic resources, or by enhancing or inhibiting proliferation and differentiation pathways in regenerating tissue. This review discusses the cumulative knowledge known about endocrine regulation of regeneration and important future research directions of interest to both ecological and biomedical research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marietta R Easterling
- Washington State University, School of Biological Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Pullman, WA 99164, United States.
| | - Kristin M Engbrecht
- Washington State University, School of Biological Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Pullman, WA 99164, United States; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, United States
| | - Erica J Crespi
- Washington State University, School of Biological Sciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Luecke DM, Kopp A. Sex-specific evolution of relative leg size in Drosophila prolongata results from changes in the intersegmental coordination of tissue growth. Evolution 2019; 73:2281-2294. [PMID: 31595502 PMCID: PMC6834887 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Evolution of relative organ size is the most prolific source of morphological diversity, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms that modify growth control are largely unknown. Models where organ proportions have undergone recent evolutionary changes hold the greatest promise for understanding this process. Uniquely among Drosophila species, Drosophila prolongata displays a dramatic, male-specific increase in the size of its forelegs relative to other legs. By comparing leg development between males and females of D. prolongata and its closest relative Drosophila carrolli, we show that the exaggerated male forelegs are produced by a sex- and segment-specific increase in mitosis during the final larval instar. Intersegmental compensatory control, where smaller leg primordia grow at a faster rate, is observed in both species and sexes. However, the equilibrium growth rates that determine the final relative proportion between the first and second legs have shifted in male D. prolongata compared both to conspecific females and to D. carrolli. We suggest that the observed developmental changes that produce new adult proportions reflect an interplay between conserved growth coordination mechanisms and evolving organ-specific growth targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Michael Luecke
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, 95616
- Current address: Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824
| | - Artyom Kopp
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, 95616
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Lavine MD, Gotoh H, Hayes A, Corley Lavine L. The Insulin Signaling Substrate Chico and the Ecdysone Response Element Broad Both Regulate Growth of the Head Horns in the Asian Rhinoceros Beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 59:1338-1345. [PMID: 31165143 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icz093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Males of the Asian rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, possess exaggerated head and thoracic horns that scale dramatically out of proportion to body size. While RNAi-mediated knockdowns of the insulin receptor suggest that the insulin signaling pathway regulates nutrition-dependent growth including exaggerated horns, the genes that regulate disproportionate growth have yet to be identified. We used RNAi-mediated knockdown of several genes to investigate their potential role in growth and scaling of the sexually dimorphic, exaggerated head horns of T. dichotomus. Knockdown of the insulin signaling substrate chico and the ecdysone response element broad caused significant decreases in head horn length, while having no or minimal effects on other structures such as elytra and tibiae. However, scaling of horns to body size was not affected by either knockdown. In addition, knockdown of phosphatase and tensin homolog, a negative regulator of the insulin signaling pathway, had no significant effects on any trait. Our results do not identify any candidate genes that may specifically mediate the allometric aspect of horn growth, but they do confirm the insulin signaling pathway as a mediator of conditional trait expression, and importantly implicate the ecdysone signaling pathway, possibly in conjunction with insulin signaling, as an additional mediator of horn growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Lavine
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Hiroki Gotoh
- Faculty of Environmental Earth Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 0600810, Japan
| | - Abigail Hayes
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Laura Corley Lavine
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zhang S, Ai H, Li D. Mating changes a male contestant from a loser to a winner in male–male competition in a wolf spider. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Mating may change a male’s behaviour by increasing its motivation to engage in a contest, and enabling it to win in subsequent male–male contests. To test this hypothesis, we recorded male contests in the wolf spider, Venonia coruscans (Araneae: Lycosidae), testing a male’s motivation to fight under three different resource value conditions. First, we staged contests between two males in two different resource value conditions, on an egg-produced female’s web and then on a virgin female’s web, to test a male’s fighting ability. After determining each male’s fighting ability, we allowed each loser that lost its contests under both resource value conditions to mate with a virgin female and then introduced the previous contest winner to the web where the loser had mated. We found that without mating, the losers always lost their contests, regardless of the resource value conditions. However, once they had mated, the losers fiercely attacked the previous winners, and most won the contests back. Our study therefore provides evidence that a male’s motivation to fight can be changed under certain circumstances (e.g. mating) and can greatly influence contest outcomes in male–male competition in a mating context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shichang Zhang
- Centre for Behavioral Ecology and Evolution (CBEE), State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hui Ai
- College of Life Science, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Daiqin Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Cao C, Yu P, Hayashi F. Allometry and morphological trait relationship in the sexually dimorphic Chinese dobsonfly, Acanthacorydalisasiatica (Wood-Mason, 1884) (Megaloptera, Corydalidae). Zookeys 2019; 854:119-129. [PMID: 31231160 PMCID: PMC6579787 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.854.32897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Male insects with large weapons such as horns and elongate mandibles would be expected to invest more on such structures than other parts of the body for advantages in male to male competition for mating. In male genitalia, however, intermediate size provides a better fit for more females than small or large sizes, and such a male would leave more offspring regardless of their body size. These predictions were tested using a static allometry analysis between body size and other trait sizes. Acanthacorydalisasiatica is a large dobsonfly (Megalotera) and males have conspicuously large mandibles used as weapons. We examined the hypothesis that the male mandibles of this sexually dimorphic species are sexually selected to enlarge, whereas the male genitalia are stable to be intermediate regardless of a great variation in body size. The results, as predicted, showed positive allometry between male body size and mandible length but negative allometry between male body size and ectoproct length (a male grasping structure). Sperm are transferred through a small spermatophore attached externally to the female genital opening, so it may be evolutionarily unnecessary to develop an enlarged male genital size. In contrast, there may be a trade-off between male mandible size and wing length, because of negative allometry between body size and wing length in males but isometry between them in females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chengquan Cao
- College of Life Science, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, Sichuan 614004, China
| | - Pei Yu
- Department of Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiosawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Fumio Hayashi
- Department of Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiosawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Goczał J, Rossa R, Tofilski A. Intersexual and intrasexual patterns of horn size and shape variation in the European rhinoceros beetle: quantifying the shape of weapons. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Goczał
- Institute of Forest Ecosystem Protection, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Robert Rossa
- Institute of Forest Ecosystem Protection, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
| | - Adam Tofilski
- Department of Pomology and Apiculture, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Kraków, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Sugime Y, Oguchi K, Gotoh H, Hayashi Y, Matsunami M, Shigenobu S, Koshikawa S, Miura T. Termite soldier mandibles are elongated by dachshund under hormonal and Hox gene controls. Development 2019; 146:dev.171942. [PMID: 30833380 DOI: 10.1242/dev.171942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In social insects, interactions among colony members trigger caste differentiation with morphological modifications. In termite soldier differentiation, the mandible size considerably increases through two moltings (via the presoldier stage) under the control of juvenile hormone (JH). Regulatory genes are predicted to provide patterning information that induces the mandible-specific cell proliferation. To identify factors responsible for the mandibular enlargement, expression analyses of 18 candidate genes were carried out in the termite Hodotermopsis sjostedti Among those, dachshund (dac), which identifies the intermediate domain along the proximodistal appendage axis, showed mandible-specific upregulation prior to the molt into presoldiers, which can explain the pattern of cell proliferation for the mandibular elongation. Knockdown of dac by RNAi reduced the mandibular length and distorted its morphology. Furthermore, the epistatic relationships among Methoprene tolerant, Insulin receptor, Deformed (Dfd) and dac were revealed by combined RNAi and qRT-PCR analyses, suggesting that dac is regulated by Dfd, downstream of the JH and insulin signaling pathways. Thus, caste-specific morphogenesis is controlled by interactions between the factors that provide spatial information and physiological status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Sugime
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Kohei Oguchi
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan.,Misaki Marine Biological Station, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa, 238-0225, Japan
| | - Hiroki Gotoh
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan.,Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Hayashi
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan.,Department of Biology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8521, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Matsunami
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan
| | - Shuji Shigenobu
- NIBB Core Research Facilities, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Shigeyuki Koshikawa
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Toru Miura
- Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan .,Misaki Marine Biological Station, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa, 238-0225, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Gene expression changes elicited by a parasitic B chromosome in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans are consistent with its phenotypic effects. Chromosoma 2019; 128:53-67. [PMID: 30617552 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-018-00689-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Parasitism evokes adaptive physiological changes in the host, many of which take place through gene expression changes. This response can be more or less local, depending on the organ or tissue affected by the parasite, or else systemic when the parasite affects the entire host body. The most extreme of the latter cases is intragenomic parasitism, where the parasite is present in all host nuclei as any other genomic element. Here, we show the molecular crosstalk between a parasitic chromosome (also named B chromosome) and the host genome, manifested through gene expression changes. The transcriptome analysis of 0B and 1B females of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans, validated by a microarray experiment performed on four B-lacking and five B-carrying females, revealed changes in gene expression for 188 unigenes being consistent in both experiments. Once discarded B-derived transcripts, there were 46 differentially expressed genes (30 up- and 16 downregulated) related with the adaptation of the host genome to the presence of the parasitic chromosome. Interestingly, the functions of these genes could explain some of the most important effects of B chromosomes, such as nucleotypic effects derived from the additional DNA they represent, chemical defense and detoxification, protein modification and response to stress, ovary function, and regulation of gene expression. Collectively, these changes uncover an intimate host-parasite interaction between A and B chromosomes during crucial steps of gene expression and protein function.
Collapse
|
31
|
Zinna R, Emlen D, Lavine LC, Johns A, Gotoh H, Niimi T, Dworkin I. Sexual dimorphism and heightened conditional expression in a sexually selected weapon in the Asian rhinoceros beetle. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:5049-5072. [PMID: 30357984 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Among the most dramatic examples of sexual selection are the weapons used in battles between rival males over access to females. As with ornaments of female choice, the most "exaggerated" sexually selected weapons vary from male to male more widely than other body parts (hypervariability), and their growth tends to be more sensitive to nutritional state or physiological condition compared with growth of other body parts ("heightened" conditional expression). Here, we use RNAseq analysis to build on recent work exploring these mechanisms in the exaggerated weapons of beetles, by examining patterns of differential gene expression in exaggerated (head and thorax horns) and non-exaggerated (wings, genitalia) traits in the Asian rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus. Our results suggest that sexually dimorphic expression of weaponry involves large-scale changes in gene expression, relative to other traits, while nutrition-driven changes in gene expression in these same weapons are less pronounced. However, although fewer genes overall were differentially expressed in high- vs. low-nutrition individuals, the number of differentially expressed genes varied predictably according to a trait's degree of condition dependence (head horn > thorax horn > wings > genitalia). Finally, we observed a high degree of similarity in direction of effects (vectors) for subsets of differentially expressed genes across both sexually dimorphic and nutritionally responsive growth. Our results are consistent with a common set of mechanisms governing sexual size dimorphism and condition dependence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Zinna
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Douglas Emlen
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura C Lavine
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Annika Johns
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hiroki Gotoh
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Teruyuki Niimi
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ian Dworkin
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
On the evolution of extreme structures: static scaling and the function of sexually selected signals. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
33
|
Fea M, Holwell G. Combat in a cave-dwelling wētā (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) with exaggerated weaponry. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
|
34
|
Heads up: evolution of exaggerated head length in the minute litter bug genus Nannocoris Reuter (Hemiptera: Schizopteridae). ORG DIVERS EVOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-018-0361-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|
35
|
Shingleton AW, Frankino WA. The (ongoing) problem of relative growth. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 25:9-19. [PMID: 29602367 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Differential growth, the phenomenon where parts of the body grow at different rates, is necessary to generate the complex morphologies of most multicellular organisms. Despite this central importance, how differential growth is regulated remains largely unknown. Recent discoveries, particularly in insects, have started to uncover the molecular-genetic and physiological mechanisms that coordinate growth among different tissues throughout the body and regulate relative growth. These discoveries suggest that growth is coordinated by a network of signals that emanate from growing tissues and central endocrine organs. Here we review these findings and discuss their implications for understanding the regulation of relative growth and the evolution of morphology.
Collapse
|
36
|
Hust J, Lavine MD, Worthington AM, Zinna R, Gotoh H, Niimi T, Lavine L. The Fat-Dachsous signaling pathway regulates growth of horns in Trypoxylus dichotomus, but does not affect horn allometry. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 105:85-94. [PMID: 29366850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Males of the Asian rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, possess exaggerated head and thoracic horns that scale dramatically out of proportion to body size. While studies of insulin signaling suggest that this pathway regulates nutrition-dependent growth including exaggerated horns, what regulates disproportionate growth has yet to be identified. The Fat signaling pathway is a potential candidate for regulating disproportionate growth of sexually-selected traits, a hypothesis we advanced in a previous paper (Gotoh et al., 2015). To investigate the role of Fat signaling in the growth and scaling of the sexually dimorphic, condition-dependent traits of the in the Asian rhinoceros beetle T. dichotomus, we used RNA interference to knock down expression of fat and its co-receptor dachsous. Knockdown of fat, and to a lesser degree dachsous, caused shortening and widening of appendages, including the head and thoracic horns. However, scaling of horns to body size was not affected. Our results show that Fat signaling regulates horn growth in T. dichotomus as it does in appendage growth in other insects. However, we provide evidence that Fat signaling does not mediate the disproportionate, positive allometric growth of horns in T. dichotomus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James Hust
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
| | - Mark D Lavine
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
| | - Amy M Worthington
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
| | - Robert Zinna
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
| | - Hiroki Gotoh
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States; Lab of Sericulture and Entomoresources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - T Niimi
- Lab of Sericulture and Entomoresources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan; Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - Laura Lavine
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Komurai R, Fujisawa T, Okuzaki Y, Sota T. Genomic regions and genes related to inter-population differences in body size in the ground beetle Carabus japonicus. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7773. [PMID: 28798311 PMCID: PMC5552851 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08362-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Body size is a key trait in diversification among animal species, and revealing the gene regions responsible for body size diversification among populations or related species is important in evolutionary biology. We explored the genomic regions associated with body size differences in Carabus japonicus ground beetle populations by quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of F2 hybrids from differently sized parents from two populations using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing and de novo assembly of the beetle whole genome. The assembled genome had a total length of 191 Mb with a scaffold N50 of 0.73 Mb; 14,929 protein-coding genes were predicted. Three QTLs on different linkage groups had major effects on the overall size, which is composed chiefly of elytral length. In addition, we found QTLs on autosomal and X chromosomal linkage groups that affected head length and width, thoracic width, and elytral width. We determined the gene loci potentially related to control of body size in scaffolds of the genome sequence, which contained the QTL regions. The genetic basis of body size variation based on a small number of major loci would promote differentiation in body size in response to selection pressures related to variations in environmental conditions and inter-specific interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryohei Komurai
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Tomochika Fujisawa
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yutaka Okuzaki
- Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Tomakomai, 053-0035, Japan
| | - Teiji Sota
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Scharf ME, Cai Y, Sun Y, Sen R, Raychoudhury R, Boucias DG. A meta-analysis testing eusocial co-option theories in termite gut physiology and symbiosis. Commun Integr Biol 2017; 10:e1295187. [PMID: 28428832 PMCID: PMC5390826 DOI: 10.1080/19420889.2017.1295187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The termite gut accomplishes key physiologic functions that underlie termite symbiosis and sociality. However, potential candidate functions of the host-symbiont holobiome have not yet been explored across seemingly divergent processes such as digestion, immunity, caste differentiation, and xenobiotic tolerance. This study took a meta-analysis approach for concurrently studying host and symbiont gut metatranscriptome responses of the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes, which has ancestral characteristics and hosts a diverse mix of eukaryotic and bacterial symbionts. Thirteen treatments were compared from 5 categories (dietary, social, hormonal, immunological, and xenobiotic), revealing 3 main insights. First, each of the 5 tested colonies had distinct magnitudes of transcriptome response, likely as a result of unique symbiont profiles, which highlights the uniqueness of individual termite colonies. Second, after normalization to standardize colony response magnitudes, unique treatment-linked metatranscriptome topologies became apparent. Third, despite colony and topology differences, 4 co-opted master genes emerged that were universally responsive across diverse treatments. These master genes encode host functions related to protein translation and symbiont functions related to protein degradation and pore formation in microbial cell walls. Three of the 4 master genes were from co-evolved protist symbionts, highlighting potentially co-evolved roles for gut symbiota in coordinating functional responses of the collective host-symbiont holobiome. Lastly, for host genes identified, these results provide annotations of recent termite genome sequences. By revealing conserved domain genes, as well as apparent roles for gut symbiota in holobiome regulation, this study provides new insights into co-opted eusocial genes and symbiont roles in termite sociobiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Scharf
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Yunpeng Cai
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yijun Sun
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ruchira Sen
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | | | - Drion G Boucias
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Defferrari MS, Orchard I, Lange AB. An Insulin-Like Growth Factor in Rhodnius prolixus Is Involved in Post-feeding Nutrient Balance and Growth. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:566. [PMID: 28018164 PMCID: PMC5145886 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth of organisms is modulated by the availability of nutrients and energy, and is mostly regulated by insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) through the insulin signaling system. In insects, IGFs produced by the fat body induce cell division during the molt cycle, regulate adult body size, and have metabolic effects. Here, we describe an IGF from the hematophagous hemipteran Rhodnius prolixus and show its activity in regulating growth and metabolism in the post-feeding period during the fifth, and last, nymphal instar. Rhopr-IGF transcript is present in a variety of tissues, with greatest expression in the fat body, the dorsal vessel, and the CNS. We silenced the expression of the transcript using RNA interference, and at 2 weeks after feeding, insects with reduced Rhopr-IGF expression showed increased hemolymph lipid and carbohydrate levels when compared to controls, but no differences were observed in fat body lipid or carbohydrate content. In order to assess the role of Rhopr-IGF in post-feeding growth, double stranded IGF-injected insects were followed through ecdysis, and this treatment resulted in shorter adults, with shorter and narrower wings, when compared to controls. The results suggest that Rhopr-IGF modulates growth in R. prolixus most likely through altering the usage of nutrients that are available in the hemolymph.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina S Defferrari
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Ian Orchard
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Angela B Lange
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga Mississauga, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Glastad KM, Gokhale K, Liebig J, Goodisman MAD. The caste- and sex-specific DNA methylome of the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37110. [PMID: 27848993 PMCID: PMC5111047 DOI: 10.1038/srep37110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic inheritance plays an important role in mediating alternative phenotype in highly social species. In order to gain a greater understanding of epigenetic effects in societies, we investigated DNA methylation in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. Termites are the most ancient social insects, and developmentally distinct from highly-studied, hymenopteran social insects. We used replicated bisulfite-sequencing to investigate patterns of DNA methylation in both sexes and among castes of Z. nevadensis. We discovered that Z. nevadensis displayed some of the highest levels of DNA methylation found in insects. We also found strong differences in methylation between castes. Methylated genes tended to be uniformly and highly expressed demonstrating the antiquity of associations between intragenic methylation and gene expression. Differentially methylated genes were more likely to be alternatively spliced than not differentially methylated genes, and possessed considerable enrichment for development-associated functions. We further observed strong overrepresentation of multiple transcription factor binding sites and miRNA profiles associated with differential methylation, providing new insights into the possible function of DNA methylation. Overall, our results show that DNA methylation is widespread and associated with caste differences in termites. More generally, this study provides insights into the function of DNA methylation and the success of insect societies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karl M Glastad
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA.,School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Kaustubh Gokhale
- Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California, Berkley, 94720, USA
| | - Jürgen Liebig
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Substrate-borne vibrations of male psyllids vary with body size and age but females are indifferent. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
42
|
Meyer JM, Markov GV, Baskaran P, Herrmann M, Sommer RJ, Rödelsperger C. Draft Genome of the Scarab Beetle Oryctes borbonicus on La Réunion Island. Genome Biol Evol 2016; 8:2093-105. [PMID: 27289092 PMCID: PMC4987105 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Beetles represent the largest insect order and they display extreme morphological, ecological and behavioral diversity, which makes them ideal models for evolutionary studies. Here, we present the draft genome of the scarab beetle Oryctes borbonicus, which has a more basal phylogenetic position than the two previously sequenced pest species Tribolium castaneum and Dendroctonus ponderosae providing the potential for sequence polarization. Oryctes borbonicus is endemic to La Réunion, an island located in the Indian Ocean, and is the host of the nematode Pristionchus pacificus, a well-established model organism for integrative evolutionary biology. At 518 Mb, the O. borbonicus genome is substantially larger and encodes more genes than T. castaneum and D. ponderosae. We found that only 25% of the predicted genes of O. borbonicus are conserved as single copy genes across the nine investigated insect genomes, suggesting substantial gene turnover within insects. Even within beetles, up to 21% of genes are restricted to only one species, whereas most other genes have undergone lineage-specific duplications and losses. We illustrate lineage-specific duplications using detailed phylogenetic analysis of two gene families. This study serves as a reference point for insect/coleopteran genomics, although its original motivation was to find evidence for potential horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between O. borbonicus and P. pacificus. The latter was previously shown to be the recipient of multiple horizontally transferred genes including some genes from insect donors. However, our study failed to provide any clear evidence for additional HGTs between the two species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan M Meyer
- Department for Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gabriel V Markov
- Department for Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany Present address: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 8227 Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff Cedex, France
| | - Praveen Baskaran
- Department for Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Herrmann
- Department for Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ralf J Sommer
- Department for Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Rödelsperger
- Department for Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Gotoh H, Ishiguro M, Nishikawa H, Morita S, Okada K, Miyatake T, Yaginuma T, Niimi T. Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the sex-determination gene doublesex in the sexually dimorphic broad-horned beetle Gnatocerus cornutus (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae). Sci Rep 2016; 6:29337. [PMID: 27404087 PMCID: PMC4941388 DOI: 10.1038/srep29337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Various types of weapon traits found in insect order Coleoptera are known as outstanding examples of sexually selected exaggerated characters. It is known that the sex determination gene doublesex (dsx) plays a significant role in sex-specific expression of weapon traits in various beetles belonging to the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. Although sex-specific weapon traits have evolved independently in various Coleopteran groups, developmental mechanisms of sex-specific expression have not been studied outside of the Scarabaeoidea. In order to test the hypothesis that dsx-dependent sex-specific expression of weapon traits is a general mechanism among the Coleoptera, we have characterized the dsx in the sexually dimorphic broad-horned beetle Gnatocerus cornutus (Tenebrionidea, Tenebirionidae). By using molecular cloning, we identified five splicing variants of Gnatocerus cornutus dsx (Gcdsx), which are predicted to code four different isoforms. We found one male-specific variant (GcDsx-M), two female-specific variants (GcDsx-FL and GcDsx-FS) and two non-sex-specific variants (correspond to a single isoform, GcDsx-C). Knockdown of all Dsx isoforms resulted in intersex phenotype both in male and female. Also, knockdown of all female-specific isoforms transformed females to intersex phenotype, while did not affect male phenotype. Our results clearly illustrate the important function of Gcdsx in determining sex-specific trait expression in both sexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Gotoh
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Mai Ishiguro
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Hideto Nishikawa
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Shinichi Morita
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38, Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Kensuke Okada
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Takahisa Miyatake
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Toshinobu Yaginuma
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Teruyuki Niimi
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38, Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Toubiana W, Khila A. The benefits of expanding studies of trait exaggeration to hemimetabolous insects and beyond morphology. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2016; 39:14-20. [PMID: 27318690 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2016.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Trait exaggeration, well known to naturalists and evolutionary biologists, has recently become a prominent research subject in the modern field of Evolutionary Developmental Biology. A large number of traits that can be considered as cases of exaggeration exist in nature. Yet, the field has almost exclusively focused on the study of growth-related exaggerated traits in a selection of holometabolous insects. The absence of the hemimetabola from studies of exaggeration leaves a significant gap in our understanding of the development and evolution of such traits. Here we argue that efforts to understand the mechanisms of trait exaggeration would benefit from expanding the study subjects to include other kinds of exaggeration and other model species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Toubiana
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, ENS de Lyon - CNRS UMR 5242 - Université Claude Bernard Lyon-1, 46 allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Abderrahman Khila
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, ENS de Lyon - CNRS UMR 5242 - Université Claude Bernard Lyon-1, 46 allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Zinna R, Gotoh H, Brent CS, Dolezal A, Kraus A, Niimi T, Emlen D, Lavine LC. Endocrine Control of Exaggerated Trait Growth in Rhinoceros Beetles. Integr Comp Biol 2016; 56:247-59. [PMID: 27252223 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Juvenile hormone (JH) is a key insect growth regulator frequently involved in modulating phenotypically plastic traits such as caste determination in eusocial species, wing polymorphisms in aphids, and mandible size in stag beetles. The jaw morphology of stag beetles is sexually-dimorphic and condition-dependent; males have larger jaws than females and those developing under optimum conditions are larger in overall body size and have disproportionately larger jaws than males raised under poor conditions. We have previously shown that large males have higher JH titers than small males during development, and ectopic application of fenoxycarb (JH analog) to small males can induce mandibular growth similar to that of larger males. What remains unknown is whether JH regulates condition-dependent trait growth in other insects with extreme sexually selected structures. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that JH mediates the condition-dependent expression of the elaborate horns of the Asian rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus. The sexually dimorphic head horn of this beetle is sensitive to nutritional state during larval development. Like stag beetles, male rhinoceros beetles receiving copious food produce disproportionately large horns for their body size compared with males under restricted diets. We show that JH titers are correlated with body size during the late feeding and early prepupal periods, but this correlation disappears by the late prepupal period, the period of maximum horn growth. While ectopic application of fenoxycarb during the third larval instar significantly delayed pupation, it had no effect on adult horn size relative to body size. Fenoxycarb application to late prepupae also had at most a marginal effect on relative horn size. We discuss our results in context of other endocrine signals of condition-dependent trait exaggeration and suggest that different beetle lineages may have co-opted different physiological signaling mechanisms to achieve heightened nutrient-sensitive weapon growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Zinna
- *Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164 USA
| | - H Gotoh
- **Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - C S Brent
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ 85138 USA
| | - A Dolezal
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - A Kraus
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA 99258 USA
| | - T Niimi
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
| | - D Emlen
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana-Missoula, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Perl CD, Niven JE. Colony-Level Differences in the Scaling Rules Governing Wood Ant Compound Eye Structure. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24204. [PMID: 27068571 PMCID: PMC4828647 DOI: 10.1038/srep24204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Differential organ growth during development is essential for adults to maintain the correct proportions and achieve their characteristic shape. Organs scale with body size, a process known as allometry that has been studied extensively in a range of organisms. Such scaling rules, typically studied from a limited sample, are assumed to apply to all members of a population and/or species. Here we study scaling in the compound eyes of workers of the wood ant, Formica rufa, from different colonies within a single population. Workers’ eye area increased with body size in all the colonies showing a negative allometry. However, both the slope and intercept of some allometric scaling relationships differed significantly among colonies. Moreover, though mean facet diameter and facet number increased with body size, some colonies primarily increased facet number whereas others increased facet diameter, showing that the cellular level processes underlying organ scaling differed among colonies. Thus, the rules that govern scaling at the organ and cellular levels can differ even within a single population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Craig D Perl
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Jeremy E Niven
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
The sex-limited effects of mutations in the EGFR and TGF-β signaling pathways on shape and size sexual dimorphism and allometry in the Drosophila wing. Dev Genes Evol 2016; 226:159-71. [PMID: 27038022 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-016-0534-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Much of the morphological diversity in nature-including among sexes within a species-is a direct consequence of variation in size and shape. However, disentangling variation in sexual dimorphism for both shape (SShD), size (SSD), and their relationship with one another remains complex. Understanding how genetic variation influences both size and shape together, and how this in turn influences SSD and SShD, is challenging. In this study, we utilize Drosophila wing size and shape as a model system to investigate how mutations influence size and shape as modulated by sex. Previous work has demonstrated that mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling components can influence both wing size and shape. In this study, we re-analyze this data to specifically address how they impact the relationship between size and shape in a sex-specific manner, in turn altering the pattern of sexual dimorphism. While most mutations influence shape overall, only a subset have a genotypic specific effect that influences SShD. Furthermore, while we observe sex-specific patterns of allometric shape variation, the effects of most mutations on allometry tend to be small. We discuss this within the context of using mutational analysis to understand sexual size and shape dimorphism.
Collapse
|
48
|
Glazier DS, Clusella-Trullas S, Terblanche JS. Sexual dimorphism and physiological correlates of horn length in a South African isopod crustacean. J Zool (1987) 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- D. S. Glazier
- Department of Biology; Juniata College; Huntingdon PA USA
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Centre for Invasion Biology; Stellenbosch University; Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - S. Clusella-Trullas
- Department of Botany and Zoology; Centre for Invasion Biology; Stellenbosch University; Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - J. S. Terblanche
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Centre for Invasion Biology; Stellenbosch University; Stellenbosch South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Affiliation(s)
- Melvin M. Bonilla
- Department of Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation BiologyUniversity of NevadaRenoNVUSA
- Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public HealthHarvard UniversityBostonMAUSA
| | - Jeanne A. Zeh
- Department of Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation BiologyUniversity of NevadaRenoNVUSA
| | - David W. Zeh
- Department of Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation BiologyUniversity of NevadaRenoNVUSA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Mirth CK, Anthony Frankino W, Shingleton AW. Allometry and size control: what can studies of body size regulation teach us about the evolution of morphological scaling relationships? CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2016; 13:93-98. [PMID: 27436558 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2016.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between organ and body size, known as morphological allometry, has fascinated biologists for over a century because changes in allometry generate the vast diversity of organism shapes. Nevertheless, progress has been limited in understanding the genetic mechanisms that regulate allometries and how these mechanisms evolve. This is perhaps because allometry is measured at the population level, however adult organ and body size depends on genetic background and the developmental environment of individuals. Recent findings have enhanced our understanding of how insects regulate their organ and body sizes in response to environmental conditions, particularly nutritional availability. We argue that merging these developmental insights with a population genetics approach will provide a powerful system for understanding the evolution of allometry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christen K Mirth
- Development, Evolution and the Environment Lab, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal; School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - W Anthony Frankino
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|