Transcriptome changes reveal the genetic mechanisms of the reproductive plasticity of workers in lower termites
Abstract Background The reproductive plasticity of termite workers provides colonies with tremendous flexibility to respond to environmental changes, which is the basis for evolutionary and ecological success. Although it is known that all colony members share the same genetic background and that di...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Genomics |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-019-6037-y |
| _version_ | 1818130816412155904 |
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| author | Chenxu Ye Humaira Rasheed Yuehua Ran Xiaojuan Yang Lianxi Xing Xiaohong Su |
| author_facet | Chenxu Ye Humaira Rasheed Yuehua Ran Xiaojuan Yang Lianxi Xing Xiaohong Su |
| author_sort | Chenxu Ye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The reproductive plasticity of termite workers provides colonies with tremendous flexibility to respond to environmental changes, which is the basis for evolutionary and ecological success. Although it is known that all colony members share the same genetic background and that differences in castes are caused by differences in gene expression, the pattern of the specific expression of genes involved in the differentiation of workers into reproductives remains unclear. In this study, the isolated workers of Reticulitermes labralis developed into reproductives, and then comparative transcriptomes were used for the first time to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the reproductive plasticity of workers. Results We identified 38,070 differentially expressed genes and found a pattern of gene expression involved in the differentiation of the workers into reproductives. 12, 543 genes were specifically upregulated in the isolated workers. Twenty-five signal transduction pathways classified into environmental information processing were related to the differentiation of workers into reproductives. Ras functions as a signalling switch regulates the reproductive plasticity of workers. The catalase gene which is related to longevity was up-regulated in reproductives. Conclusion We demonstrate that workers leaving the natal colony can induce the expression of stage-specific genes in the workers, which leads to the differentiation of workers into reproductives and suggests that the signal transduction along the Ras-MAPK pathway crucially controls the reproductive plasticity of the workers. This study also provides an important model for revealing the molecular mechanism of longevity changes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T08:11:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ce6911cab1d4a09a8c07818fc992caa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2164 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T08:11:03Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Genomics |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ce6911cab1d4a09a8c07818fc992caa2022-12-22T01:14:52ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642019-09-0120111310.1186/s12864-019-6037-yTranscriptome changes reveal the genetic mechanisms of the reproductive plasticity of workers in lower termitesChenxu Ye0Humaira Rasheed1Yuehua Ran2Xiaojuan Yang3Lianxi Xing4Xiaohong Su5Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest UniversityKey Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest UniversityKey Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest UniversityKey Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest UniversityKey Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest UniversityKey Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest UniversityAbstract Background The reproductive plasticity of termite workers provides colonies with tremendous flexibility to respond to environmental changes, which is the basis for evolutionary and ecological success. Although it is known that all colony members share the same genetic background and that differences in castes are caused by differences in gene expression, the pattern of the specific expression of genes involved in the differentiation of workers into reproductives remains unclear. In this study, the isolated workers of Reticulitermes labralis developed into reproductives, and then comparative transcriptomes were used for the first time to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the reproductive plasticity of workers. Results We identified 38,070 differentially expressed genes and found a pattern of gene expression involved in the differentiation of the workers into reproductives. 12, 543 genes were specifically upregulated in the isolated workers. Twenty-five signal transduction pathways classified into environmental information processing were related to the differentiation of workers into reproductives. Ras functions as a signalling switch regulates the reproductive plasticity of workers. The catalase gene which is related to longevity was up-regulated in reproductives. Conclusion We demonstrate that workers leaving the natal colony can induce the expression of stage-specific genes in the workers, which leads to the differentiation of workers into reproductives and suggests that the signal transduction along the Ras-MAPK pathway crucially controls the reproductive plasticity of the workers. This study also provides an important model for revealing the molecular mechanism of longevity changes.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-019-6037-yComparative transcriptomesGen espression profilesReproductive plasticityIsolated workersSignal transduction |
| spellingShingle | Chenxu Ye Humaira Rasheed Yuehua Ran Xiaojuan Yang Lianxi Xing Xiaohong Su Transcriptome changes reveal the genetic mechanisms of the reproductive plasticity of workers in lower termites BMC Genomics Comparative transcriptomes Gen espression profiles Reproductive plasticity Isolated workers Signal transduction |
| title | Transcriptome changes reveal the genetic mechanisms of the reproductive plasticity of workers in lower termites |
| title_full | Transcriptome changes reveal the genetic mechanisms of the reproductive plasticity of workers in lower termites |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptome changes reveal the genetic mechanisms of the reproductive plasticity of workers in lower termites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptome changes reveal the genetic mechanisms of the reproductive plasticity of workers in lower termites |
| title_short | Transcriptome changes reveal the genetic mechanisms of the reproductive plasticity of workers in lower termites |
| title_sort | transcriptome changes reveal the genetic mechanisms of the reproductive plasticity of workers in lower termites |
| topic | Comparative transcriptomes Gen espression profiles Reproductive plasticity Isolated workers Signal transduction |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-019-6037-y |
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