Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 103724 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
| Volume | 142 |
| Early online date | 29 Jan 2022 |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2022 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Sexually dimorphic traits in insects are subject to sexual selection, but our knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms is still scarce. Here we investigate how the highly conserved gene, Doublesex (Dsx), is involved in shaping sexual dimorphism in the model parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). First, we present the revised Dsx gene structure including an alternative transcription start, and two additional male NvDsx transcript isoforms. We show sex-specific NvDsx expression and splicing throughout development, and demonstrate that transient NvDsx silencing in different male developmental stages shifts two sexually dimorphic traits from male to female morphology, with the effect being dependent on the timing of silencing. In addition, we determined the effect of NvDsx on the development of reproductive organs. Transient silencing of NvDsx in early male larvae affects the growth and differentiation of the internal and external reproductive tissues. We did not observe phenotypic changes in females after NvDsx silencing. Our results indicate that male NvDsx is required to suppress female-specific traits and/or to promote male-specific traits during distinct developmental windows. This provides new insights into the regulatory activity of Dsx during male wasp development in the Hymenoptera.
Keywords
- Doublesex, Nasonia, Parasitoid wasps, Sex determination, Sexual differentiation, Sexually dimorphic traits
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Insect Science
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Biochemistry
Cite this
- Standard
- Harvard
- Apa
- Vancouver
- BibTeX
- RIS
In: Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Vol. 142, 103724, 03.2022.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Doublesex regulates male-specific differentiation during distinct developmental time windows in a parasitoid wasp
AU - Wang, Yidong
AU - Rensink, Anna
AU - Fricke, Ute
AU - Riddle, Megan C.
AU - Trent, Carol
AU - Zande, Louis van de
AU - Verhulst, Eveline C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - Sexually dimorphic traits in insects are subject to sexual selection, but our knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms is still scarce. Here we investigate how the highly conserved gene, Doublesex (Dsx), is involved in shaping sexual dimorphism in the model parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). First, we present the revised Dsx gene structure including an alternative transcription start, and two additional male NvDsx transcript isoforms. We show sex-specific NvDsx expression and splicing throughout development, and demonstrate that transient NvDsx silencing in different male developmental stages shifts two sexually dimorphic traits from male to female morphology, with the effect being dependent on the timing of silencing. In addition, we determined the effect of NvDsx on the development of reproductive organs. Transient silencing of NvDsx in early male larvae affects the growth and differentiation of the internal and external reproductive tissues. We did not observe phenotypic changes in females after NvDsx silencing. Our results indicate that male NvDsx is required to suppress female-specific traits and/or to promote male-specific traits during distinct developmental windows. This provides new insights into the regulatory activity of Dsx during male wasp development in the Hymenoptera.
AB - Sexually dimorphic traits in insects are subject to sexual selection, but our knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms is still scarce. Here we investigate how the highly conserved gene, Doublesex (Dsx), is involved in shaping sexual dimorphism in the model parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). First, we present the revised Dsx gene structure including an alternative transcription start, and two additional male NvDsx transcript isoforms. We show sex-specific NvDsx expression and splicing throughout development, and demonstrate that transient NvDsx silencing in different male developmental stages shifts two sexually dimorphic traits from male to female morphology, with the effect being dependent on the timing of silencing. In addition, we determined the effect of NvDsx on the development of reproductive organs. Transient silencing of NvDsx in early male larvae affects the growth and differentiation of the internal and external reproductive tissues. We did not observe phenotypic changes in females after NvDsx silencing. Our results indicate that male NvDsx is required to suppress female-specific traits and/or to promote male-specific traits during distinct developmental windows. This provides new insights into the regulatory activity of Dsx during male wasp development in the Hymenoptera.
KW - Doublesex
KW - Nasonia
KW - Parasitoid wasps
KW - Sex determination
KW - Sexual differentiation
KW - Sexually dimorphic traits
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123982083&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103724
DO - 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103724
M3 - Article
VL - 142
JO - Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JF - Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
SN - 0965-1748
M1 - 103724
ER -