Asexual queen succession in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes aculabialis Tsai et Hwang (Blattodea: Heterotermitidae)

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.

Язык: Английский

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Epigenetic regulation and division of labor in social insects

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 58, С. 101051 - 101051

Опубликована: Май 8, 2023

Язык: Английский

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King- and queen-specific degradation of uric acid contributes to reproduction in 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.

Язык: Английский

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Pervasive relaxed selection in termite genomes

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.

Язык: Английский

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Termite sociogenomics: evolution and regulation of caste-specific expressed genes

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 50, С. 100880 - 100880

Опубликована: Фев. 2, 2022

Язык: Английский

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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, 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.

Язык: Английский

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Comparison Between Worker and Soldier Transcriptomes of Termite Neotermes binovatus Reveals Caste Specialization of Host–Flagellate Symbiotic System

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.

Язык: Английский

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Exploring the termite gut as a hub of industrially important microbes and enzymes for biofuel production

Biomass and Bioenergy, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 199, С. 107899 - 107899

Опубликована: Апрель 16, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Differential expression of some termite neuropeptides and insulin/IGF-related hormones and their plausible functions in growth, reproduction and caste determination

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.

Язык: Английский

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Genomic signatures of eusocial evolution in insects

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 61, С. 101136 - 101136

Опубликована: Ноя. 3, 2023

Язык: Английский

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