Masculinizer gene controls male sex determination in the codling moth, Cydia pomonella

IF 3.2 2区 农林科学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Kristýna Pospíšilová , Arjen E. Van't Hof , Atsuo Yoshido , Renata Kružíková , Sander Visser , Magda Zrzavá , Kseniya Bobryshava , Martina Dalíková , František Marec
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Abstract

The molecular mechanisms of sex determination in moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) with female heterogamety (WZ/ZZ) are poorly understood, except in the silkworm Bombyx mori. However, the Masculinizer (Masc) gene that controls male development and dosage compensation in B. mori, appears to be conserved in Lepidoptera, as its masculinizing function was recently confirmed in several moth species. In this work, we investigated the role of the Masc gene in sex determination of the codling moth Cydia pomonella (Tortricidae), a globally important pest of pome fruits and walnuts. The gene structure of the C. pomonella Masc ortholog, CpMasc, is similar to B. mori Masc. However, unlike B. mori, we identified 14 splice variants of CpMasc in the available transcriptomes. Subsequent screening for sex specificity and genetic variation using publicly available data and RT-PCR revealed three male-specific splice variants. Then qPCR analysis of these variants revealed sex-biased expression showing a peak only in early male embryos. Knockdown of CpMasc by RNAi during early embryogenesis resulted in a shift from male-to female-specific splicing of the C. pomonella doublesex (Cpdsx) gene, its downstream effector, in ZZ embryos, leading to a strongly female-biased sex ratio. These data clearly demonstrate that CpMasc functions as a masculinizing gene in the sex-determining cascade of C. pomonella. Our study also showed that CpMasc transcripts are provided maternally, as they were detected in unfertilized eggs after oviposition and in mature eggs dissected from virgin females. This finding is unique, as maternal provision of mRNA has rarely been studied in Lepidoptera.

Abstract Image

雄性化基因控制冷蛾的雄性决定
除家蚕(Bombyx mori)外,鳞翅目(Lepidoptera)中具有雌性异型配子(WZ/ZZ)的飞蛾和蝴蝶性别决定的分子机制尚不清楚。然而,控制家蚕雄性发育和剂量补偿的雄性化因子(Masc)基因似乎在鳞翅目中是保守的,因为它的雄性化功能最近在几种蛾类中得到证实。在这项工作中,我们研究了Masc基因在柚子果实和核桃的全球重要害虫——柚子蛾(Cydia pomonella)性别决定中的作用。pomonella Masc同源基因CpMasc与mori b.s Masc基因结构相似。然而,与家蚕不同的是,我们在可用的转录组中鉴定了14个CpMasc剪接变体。随后使用公开数据和RT-PCR对性别特异性和遗传变异进行筛选,发现了三种男性特异性剪接变异。然后qPCR分析这些变异显示性别偏倚表达,仅在早期男性胚胎中出现高峰。在胚胎发生早期,通过RNAi敲低CpMasc,会导致ZZ胚胎中双性假单胞菌(C. pomonella double - sexe, Cpdsx)基因的下游效应从雄性特异性剪接转变为雌性特异性剪接,从而导致强烈的雌性偏向性比例。这些数据清楚地表明,CpMasc在pomonella的性别决定级联中作为男性化基因起作用。我们的研究还表明,CpMasc转录本是由母体提供的,因为它们在产卵后的未受精卵和从处女雌性解剖的成熟卵中被检测到。这一发现是独一无二的,因为母体提供的mRNA在鳞翅目中很少被研究。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
7.40
自引率
5.30%
发文量
105
审稿时长
40 days
期刊介绍: This international journal publishes original contributions and mini-reviews in the fields of insect biochemistry and insect molecular biology. Main areas of interest are neurochemistry, hormone and pheromone biochemistry, enzymes and metabolism, hormone action and gene regulation, gene characterization and structure, pharmacology, immunology and cell and tissue culture. Papers on the biochemistry and molecular biology of other groups of arthropods are published if of general interest to the readership. Technique papers will be considered for publication if they significantly advance the field of insect biochemistry and molecular biology in the opinion of the Editors and Editorial Board.
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