Genes,
Год журнала:
2022,
Номер
13(11), С. 1948 - 1948
Опубликована: Окт. 26, 2022
(1)
Unravelling
the
molecular
basis
underlying
major
evolutionary
transitions
can
shed
light
on
how
complex
phenotypes
arise.
The
evolution
of
eusociality,
a
transition,
has
been
demonstrated
to
be
accompanied
by
enhanced
gene
regulation.
Numerous
pieces
evidence
suggest
impact
transposon
insertion
regulation
and
its
role
in
adaptive
evolution.
Transposons
have
shown
play
duplication
involved
eusocial
transition
termites.
However,
Blattodea
remains
scarce.
Could
transposons
facilitated
termites
through
shifts
expression?
(2)
Using
available
cockroach
termite
genomes
transcriptomes,
we
investigated
if
insert
more
frequently
genes
with
differential
expression
queens
workers
those
could
linked
specific
functions
essential
for
transition.
(3)
rate
differs
among
differentially
expressed
displays
opposite
trends
between
cockroaches.
transposon-rich
queen-
worker-biased
are
related
reproduction
ageing
behaviour
expression,
respectively.
(4)
Our
study
provides
further
potentially
expression.
Bulletin of Entomological Research,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
unknown, С. 1 - 11
Опубликована: Фев. 25, 2025
Abstract
Asexual
queen
succession
(AQS)
species
produce
queens
via
thelytokous
parthenogenesis,
which
significantly
impacts
their
social
life
history.
For
the
first
time,
we
discovered
that
Reticulitermes
aculabialis
exhibits
phenomenon
of
parthenogenesis
under
experimental
conditions,
and
also
investigated
genetic
structure
wild
colonies
this
using
polymorphic
microsatellite
loci.
Our
analysis
revealed
93.2%
secondary
in
were
homozygous
at
all
loci,
indicating
these
queens,
while
workers
(2.5%),
soldiers
(0%),
nymphs
alates
(6.7%)
had
low
rates.
Genetic
mean
number
alleles
per
group
(
Na
)
ranged
from
2.000
±
0.000
to
2.500
0.428,
with
83.3%
loci
PPL
).
The
observed
heterozygosity
Ho
varied
0.467
0.141
0.583
0.098,
significant
diversity
among
soldiers.
In
contrast,
nymph
develop
predominantly
through
sexual
reproduction
than
workers.
occurrence
AQS
R.
suggests
a
different
mechanism
ploidy
restoration,
highlighting
reproductive
mechanisms
across
various
lineages
Termitidae
non-Termitidae
termites.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
290(1990)
Опубликована: Янв. 4, 2023
Caste-based
reproductive
division
of
labour
in
social
insects
is
built
on
asymmetries
resource
allocation
within
colonies.
Kings
and
queens
dominantly
consume
limited
resources
for
reproduction,
while
non-reproductive
castes
such
as
workers
soldiers
help
castes.
Studying
the
regulation
crucial
understanding
maintenance
sociality
insects,
although
molecular
background
poorly
understood.
We
focused
uric
acid,
which
reserved
used
a
valuable
nitrogen
source
wood-eating
termites.
found
that
king-
queen-specific
degradation
acid
contributes
to
reproduction
subterranean
termite
Reticulitermes
speratus
.
The
urate
oxidase
gene
(
RsUAOX
),
catalyses
first
step
recycling
from
stored
was
highly
expressed
mature
kings
queens,
upregulated
with
differentiation
into
neotenic
kings/queens.
Suppression
decreased
number
eggs
laid
per
queen.
Uric
shown
be
provided
by
Our
results
suggest
capacity
use
nitrogen,
essential
protein
synthesis
required
maintains
colony
cohesion
monopoly
held
queens.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
291(2023)
Опубликована: Май 1, 2024
Genetic
changes
that
enabled
the
evolution
of
eusociality
have
long
captivated
biologists.
More
recently,
attention
has
focussed
on
consequences
genome
evolution.
Studies
reported
higher
molecular
evolutionary
rates
in
eusocial
hymenopteran
insects
compared
with
their
solitary
relatives.
To
investigate
genomic
termites,
we
analysed
nine
genomes,
including
newly
sequenced
genomes
from
three
non-eusocial
cockroaches.
Using
a
phylogenomic
approach,
found
termite
experienced
lower
synonymous
substitutions
than
those
cockroaches,
possibly
as
result
longer
generation
times.
We
identified
non-synonymous
cockroach
and
pervasive
relaxed
selection
former
(24–31%
genes
analysed)
latter
(2–4%).
infer
this
is
due
to
reductions
effective
population
size,
rather
gene-specific
effects
(e.g.
indirect
caste-biased
genes).
no
obvious
signature
increased
genetic
load
postulate
efficient
purging
deleterious
alleles
at
colony
level.
Additionally,
adaptations
may
underpin
caste
differentiation,
such
involved
post-translational
modifications.
Our
results
provide
insights
into
termites
more
broadly.
Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B Molecular and Developmental Evolution,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Фев. 17, 2025
ABSTRACT
Termites
are
eusocial
cockroaches,
but
the
crucial
distinctions
in
gene
expression
during
evolution
of
eusociality
remain
unclear.
One
reason
for
lack
this
information
is
that
comparative
transcriptome
analysis
termites
with
their
sister
group,
cockroach
genus
Cryptocercus
,
has
not
been
conducted.
We
identified
genes
associated
three
vital
hormones
(juvenile
hormone
[JH],
20‐hydoroxyecdysone
[20E],
and
insulin)
from
genome
sequence
punctulatus
conducted
RNA‐seq
using
heads
female/male
adults
nymphs
to
elucidate
levels.
The
comprehensive
revealed
a
multitude
exhibiting
differences
between
developmental
stages
rather
than
sexes.
Subsequently,
we
compared
patterns
each
hormone‐related
by
combining
results
previous
study
on
castes
(reproductives,
workers,
soldiers)
termite
Reticulitermes
speratus
.
indicated
among
R.
particularly
those
related
JH
20E,
were
significantly
more
abundant
C.
While
no
significant
difference
was
observed
number
within
insulin
signaling
pathway,
trend
homologs
highly
expressed
adult
woodroaches
observed,
positive
negative
regulators
pathway
differed
nymphs.
believed
reflect
variations
levels
activities
juveniles,
latter
encompassing
workers
soldiers
case
termites.
Insects,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
16(3), С. 325 - 325
Опубликована: Март 19, 2025
Termites
are
eusocial
insects
with
functionally
specialized
workers
and
soldiers,
both
sharing
the
same
genotype.
Additionally,
lower
termites
host
flagellates
in
their
hindguts
that
assist
wood
digestion.
However,
worker-biased
soldier-biased
gene
expression
patterns
of
host–flagellate
symbiotic
system
remain
underexplored
most
taxonomic
groups.
In
this
study,
we
sequenced
high-depth
transcriptomes
from
soldiers
a
termite,
Neotermes
binovatus
(Kalotermitidae),
to
investigate
differentially
expressed
termite
transcripts,
flagellate
transcript
abundance,
co-expression
pairs
castes.
The
transcripts
were
enriched
functions
related
cuticle
development,
nervous
regulation,
pheromone
biosynthesis,
metabolism,
whereas
predominantly
involved
muscle
development
kinesis,
body
morphogenesis,
protein
modification,
aggression.
Flagellate
orders
Cristamonadida,
Trichomonadida,
Tritrichomonadida,
Oxymonadida
identified
abundance
tending
be
higher
than
soldiers.
Furthermore,
observed
much
larger
number
strong
correlations
between
suggesting
possibility
depend
more
on
food
processed
by
worker
holobionts
own
system.
This
research
provides
insights
into
functional
specialization
soldier
castes
termites,
supporting
workers’
roles
nest
maintenance,
preliminary
processing,
communication,
while
emphasizing
defensive
role
it
offers
new
perspectives
potential
termite-flagellate
interactions
underscores
need
for
whole-genome
data
further
studies.
PeerJ,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
11, С. e15259 - e15259
Опубликована: Апрель 26, 2023
Background
Insulin-like
growth
factor
(IGF)
and
other
insulin-like
peptides
(ilps)
are
important
hormones
regulating
development
in
animals.
Whereas
most
animals
have
a
single
female
male
adult
phenotype,
some
insect
species
the
same
genome
may
lead
to
different
final
forms.
Perhaps
best
known
example
is
honeybee
where
females
can
either
develop
into
queens
or
workers.
More
extreme
forms
of
such
polyphenism
occur
termites,
queens,
kings,
workers
soldiers
coexist.
Both
juvenile
hormone
regulate
reproduction
as
well
polyphenism.
In
termites
role
induction
soldier
caste
known,
but
IGF
ilps
these
processes
remains
largely
unknown.
Here
various
termite
identified
hypotheses
regarding
their
functions
suggested.
Methods
Genome
assemblies
transcriptome
short
read
archives
(SRAs)
were
used
identify
neuropeptides
determine
expression
species,
tissues
castes.
Results
Discussion
Termites
seven
ilps,
i.e.
gonadulin,
an
ortholog
Drosophila
peptide
7
(dilp7),
which
commonly
present
insects,
four
smaller
peptides,
that
collectively
been
called
IGF-related
(sirps)
individually
atirpin,
birpin,
cirpin
brovirpin.
Gonadulin
lost
from
higher
however
amplified
brovirpin
gene,
they
often
two
three
paralogs.
Based
on
differential
genes
it
seems
likely
atirpin
autocrine
tissue
released
when
faces
metabolic
stress.
Birpin
be
responsible
for
absence
this
reproductive
adults
or,
present,
soldiers.
Brovirpin
expressed
both
by
brain
ovary
stimulates
vitellogenesis,
while
function
less
clear.