The transformer gene controls sexual development in Drosophila suzukii.

IF 2.9 1区 农林科学 Q1 ENTOMOLOGY
Ying Yan, Jing Zhao, Jonas Schwirz, Cristina Borghesi, Conghui Liu, Bo Liu, Wanqiang Qian, Fanghao Wan, Marc F Schetelig
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Abstract

The genetic network of sex determination in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster was investigated in great detail. Such knowledge not only advances our understanding of the evolution and regulation of sexual dimorphism in insects, but also serves as a basis for developing genetic control strategies for pest species. In this study, we isolated the sex determination gene transformer (Dstra) from a global fruit pest, the spotted-wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), and characterized its gene organization. By comparing the deduced protein sequence of Dstra with its orthologs from 22 species, we found that tra genes from Dipteran species are divergent. Our research demonstrated that Dstra undergoes sex-specific splicing, and we validated its developmental expression profile. We engineered a piggyBac-based transformation vector expressing the complete Dstra coding sequence under the control of the Tetracycline-Off system. Through germ-line transformation, we generated 4 independent transgenic lines, producing pseudo-females from chromosomal males in the absence of tetracycline. This observation indicated ectopic expression of Dstra, confirmed by the detection of female Dstra transcripts in transgenic males. The pseudo-females exhibited altered wing patterns, feminized abdomen, abnormal reproductive organs, and disrupted sexual behavior. Ectopic expression of Dstra affected the sex-specific splicing pattern of the downstream gene fruitless, but not doublesex. In conclusion, our study provides comprehensive genetic, morphological, and behavioral evidence that Dstra controls sexual development in D. suzukii. We discuss the potential applications of this research for genetic control strategies targeting Dstra or using its gene elements.

变形基因控制铃木果蝇的性发育。
对模式生物黑腹果蝇性别决定的遗传网络进行了详细的研究。这一发现不仅促进了我们对昆虫性别二态性的进化和调控的认识,而且为制定害虫的遗传控制策略提供了基础。本研究从世界性水果害虫斑翅果蝇(Drosophila suzukii)中分离出性别决定基因转换器(Dstra),并对其基因组织进行了鉴定。通过与22个双翅目物种的Dstra蛋白序列进行比较,我们发现双翅目物种的tra基因存在差异。我们的研究表明,Dstra经历了性别特异性剪接,我们验证了其发育表达谱。在Tetracycline-Off系统的控制下,我们设计了一个基于piggyback的表达完整Dstra编码序列的转换向量。通过种系转化,我们获得了4个独立的转基因系,在没有四环素的情况下,从染色体上的雄性产生假雌性。这一观察结果表明Dstra的异位表达,通过检测雌性Dstra转录本在转基因雄性中得到证实。伪雌性表现出翅膀图案改变、腹部女性化、生殖器官异常和性行为紊乱。Dstra的异位表达影响下游基因的性别特异性剪接模式,但不影响双性。总之,我们的研究提供了全面的遗传学、形态学和行为学证据,证明Dstra控制铃木夜蛾的性发育。我们讨论了该研究在针对Dstra或利用其基因元件的遗传控制策略中的潜在应用。
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来源期刊
Insect Science
Insect Science 生物-昆虫学
CiteScore
7.80
自引率
5.00%
发文量
1379
审稿时长
6.0 months
期刊介绍: Insect Science is an English-language journal, which publishes original research articles dealing with all fields of research in into insects and other terrestrial arthropods. Papers in any of the following fields will be considered: ecology, behavior, biogeography, physiology, biochemistry, sociobiology, phylogeny, pest management, and exotic incursions. The emphasis of the journal is on the adaptation and evolutionary biology of insects from the molecular to the ecosystem level. Reviews, mini reviews and letters to the editor, book reviews, and information about academic activities of the society are also published.
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