Histone modifying genes are involved in the molting period during soldier differentiation in Zootermopsis nevadensis.
Histone modifying genes are involved in the molting period during soldier differentiation in Zootermopsis nevadensis.
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DOI：
10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.103892
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发表时间：
2019-08
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
R. Suzuki;H. Yaguchi;K. Maekawa
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
R. Suzuki;H. Yaguchi;K. Maekawa
真社会性昆虫的种姓分化是表型可塑性的一个突出例子。最近的研究表明，表观遗传调控，包括DNA甲基化和组蛋白修饰，发挥作用的形态和行为的多型性观察的种姓分化的翅目昆虫。然而，表观遗传调控在白蚁种姓分化中的作用仍然不清楚。在这项研究中，我们进行了功能分析的表观遗传相关基因在士兵分化inZootermopsis nevadensis，其中整个基因组序列是可用的。在该物种的初期群体中，最老的3龄幼虫（1号幼虫）总是分化为前幼虫（中间阶段的士兵），次老的3龄幼虫（2号幼虫）蜕皮为4龄幼虫（作为工人）。首先，我们使用RNA-seq数据检测了7个表观遗传相关基因，这些基因在1号幼虫中的表达水平显着增加。第二，在1号幼虫中对这7个基因进行RNA干扰（RNAi）。三个组蛋白修饰基因的RNAi延长了蜕皮前期。此外，这些RNAi处理降低了参与保幼激素（JH）合成、结合和信号传导的基因的表达水平。这些结果表明，表观遗传相关基因不直接影响白蚁士兵分化，然而，一些组蛋白修饰基因有蜕皮期的影响，可能是由于士兵分化过程中的JH行动的调节。
Caste differentiation in eusocial insects is an outstanding example of phenotypic plasticity. Recent studies indicate that epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation and histone modification, play a role in the morphological and behavioral polyphenism observed in the caste differentiation of hymenopteran insects. The role of epigenetic regulation in termite caste differentiation, however, is still obscure. In this study, we performed a functional analysis of epigenetic-related genes during soldier differentiation inZootermopsis nevadensis, for which the entire genome sequence is available. In an incipient colony of this species, the oldest 3rd instar larva (No. 1 larva) always differentiates into a presoldier (intermediate stage of soldier), and the next-oldest 3rd instar larva (No. 2 larva) molts into a 4th instar (which functions as a worker). First, we detected seven epigenetic-related genes with significantly increased expression levels in the soldier-destined No. 1 larvae using RNA-seq data. Second, RNA interference (RNAi) of these seven genes was performed in the No. 1 larvae. RNAi of three histone modifying genes extended the presoldier molting period. Furthermore, these RNAi treatments reduced the expression levels of genes involved in juvenile hormone (JH) synthesis, binding and signaling. These results indicate that epigenetic-related genes do not directly affect termite soldier differentiation; nonetheless, some histone modifying genes have an effect on molting periods, possibly due to the regulation of JH action during soldier differentiation.