Transcriptional Regulation of Reproductive Diapause in the Convergent Lady Beetle, <i>Hippodamia convergens</i>
Diapause is an alternate development program that synchronizes an insect’s life cycle with seasonally abundant resources and ensures survival in unfavorable conditions. The physiological basis of diapause has been well characterized, but the molecular mechanisms regulating it are still being elucida...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/4/343 |
| _version_ | 1797410675735134208 |
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| author | Emily A. W. Nadeau Melise C. Lecheta John J. Obrycki Nicholas M. Teets |
| author_facet | Emily A. W. Nadeau Melise C. Lecheta John J. Obrycki Nicholas M. Teets |
| author_sort | Emily A. W. Nadeau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Diapause is an alternate development program that synchronizes an insect’s life cycle with seasonally abundant resources and ensures survival in unfavorable conditions. The physiological basis of diapause has been well characterized, but the molecular mechanisms regulating it are still being elucidated. Here, we present a <i>de novo</i> transcriptome and quantify transcript expression during diapause in the convergent lady beetle <i>Hippodamia convergens</i>. <i>H. convergens</i> is used as an augmentative biocontrol agent, and adult females undergo reproductive diapause that is regulated by photoperiod. We sampled females at three stages (early, mid, and late diapause) and compared transcript expression to non-diapausing individuals. Based on principle component analysis, the transcriptomes of diapausing beetles were distinct from non-diapausing beetles, and the three diapausing points tended to cluster together. However, there were still classes of transcripts that differed in expression across distinct phases of diapause. In general, transcripts involved in muscle function and flight were upregulated during diapause, likely to support dispersal flights that occur during diapause, while transcripts involved in ovarian development were downregulated. This information could be used to improve biological control by manipulating diapause. Additionally, our data contribute to a growing understanding of the genetic regulation of diapause across diverse insects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:33:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2763ac28726446d888d2f180fb55eb60 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:33:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-2763ac28726446d888d2f180fb55eb602023-12-03T13:32:07ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-03-0113434310.3390/insects13040343Transcriptional Regulation of Reproductive Diapause in the Convergent Lady Beetle, <i>Hippodamia convergens</i>Emily A. W. Nadeau0Melise C. Lecheta1John J. Obrycki2Nicholas M. Teets3Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USADepartment of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USADepartment of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USADepartment of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USADiapause is an alternate development program that synchronizes an insect’s life cycle with seasonally abundant resources and ensures survival in unfavorable conditions. The physiological basis of diapause has been well characterized, but the molecular mechanisms regulating it are still being elucidated. Here, we present a <i>de novo</i> transcriptome and quantify transcript expression during diapause in the convergent lady beetle <i>Hippodamia convergens</i>. <i>H. convergens</i> is used as an augmentative biocontrol agent, and adult females undergo reproductive diapause that is regulated by photoperiod. We sampled females at three stages (early, mid, and late diapause) and compared transcript expression to non-diapausing individuals. Based on principle component analysis, the transcriptomes of diapausing beetles were distinct from non-diapausing beetles, and the three diapausing points tended to cluster together. However, there were still classes of transcripts that differed in expression across distinct phases of diapause. In general, transcripts involved in muscle function and flight were upregulated during diapause, likely to support dispersal flights that occur during diapause, while transcripts involved in ovarian development were downregulated. This information could be used to improve biological control by manipulating diapause. Additionally, our data contribute to a growing understanding of the genetic regulation of diapause across diverse insects.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/4/343reproductive diapauseColeopterabiological controltranscriptomicsRNA-Seq |
| spellingShingle | Emily A. W. Nadeau Melise C. Lecheta John J. Obrycki Nicholas M. Teets Transcriptional Regulation of Reproductive Diapause in the Convergent Lady Beetle, <i>Hippodamia convergens</i> Insects reproductive diapause Coleoptera biological control transcriptomics RNA-Seq |
| title | Transcriptional Regulation of Reproductive Diapause in the Convergent Lady Beetle, <i>Hippodamia convergens</i> |
| title_full | Transcriptional Regulation of Reproductive Diapause in the Convergent Lady Beetle, <i>Hippodamia convergens</i> |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptional Regulation of Reproductive Diapause in the Convergent Lady Beetle, <i>Hippodamia convergens</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptional Regulation of Reproductive Diapause in the Convergent Lady Beetle, <i>Hippodamia convergens</i> |
| title_short | Transcriptional Regulation of Reproductive Diapause in the Convergent Lady Beetle, <i>Hippodamia convergens</i> |
| title_sort | transcriptional regulation of reproductive diapause in the convergent lady beetle i hippodamia convergens i |
| topic | reproductive diapause Coleoptera biological control transcriptomics RNA-Seq |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/4/343 |
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