Matching Items (4)
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Description

The termites evolved eusociality and complex societies before the ants, but have been studied much less. The recent publication of the first two termite genomes provides a unique comparative opportunity, particularly because the sequenced termites represent opposite ends of the social complexity spectrum. Zootermopsis nevadensis has simple colonies with totipotent

The termites evolved eusociality and complex societies before the ants, but have been studied much less. The recent publication of the first two termite genomes provides a unique comparative opportunity, particularly because the sequenced termites represent opposite ends of the social complexity spectrum. Zootermopsis nevadensis has simple colonies with totipotent workers that can develop into all castes (dispersing reproductives, nest-inheriting replacement reproductives, and soldiers). In contrast, the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes natalensis belongs to the higher termites and has very large and complex societies with morphologically distinct castes that are life-time sterile. Here we compare key characteristics of genomic architecture, focusing on genes involved in communication, immune defenses, mating biology and symbiosis that were likely important in termite social evolution. We discuss these in relation to what is known about these genes in the ants and outline hypothesis for further testing.

ContributorsKorb, Judith (Author) / Poulsen, Michael (Author) / Hu, Haofu (Author) / Li, Cai (Author) / Boomsma, Jacobus J. (Author) / Zhang, Guojie (Author) / Liebig, Juergen (Author) / College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Contributor)
Created2015-03-04
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Description

Although eusociality evolved independently within several orders of insects, research into the molecular underpinnings of the transition towards social complexity has been confined primarily to Hymenoptera (for example, ants and bees). Here we sequence the genome and stage-specific transcriptomes of the dampwood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis (Blattodea) and compare them with

Although eusociality evolved independently within several orders of insects, research into the molecular underpinnings of the transition towards social complexity has been confined primarily to Hymenoptera (for example, ants and bees). Here we sequence the genome and stage-specific transcriptomes of the dampwood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis (Blattodea) and compare them with similar data for eusocial Hymenoptera, to better identify commonalities and differences in achieving this significant transition. We show an expansion of genes related to male fertility, with upregulated gene expression in male reproductive individuals reflecting the profound differences in mating biology relative to the Hymenoptera. For several chemoreceptor families, we show divergent numbers of genes, which may correspond to the more claustral lifestyle of these termites. We also show similarities in the number and expression of genes related to caste determination mechanisms. Finally, patterns of DNA methylation and alternative splicing support a hypothesized epigenetic regulation of caste differentiation.

ContributorsTerrapon, Nicolas (Author) / Li, Cai (Author) / Robertson, Hugh M. (Author) / Ji, Lu (Author) / Meng, Xuehong (Author) / Booth, Warren (Author) / Chen, Zhensheng (Author) / Childers, Christopher P. (Author) / Glastad, Karl M. (Author) / Gokhale, Kaustubh (Author) / Gowin, Johannes (Author) / Gronenberg, Wulfila (Author) / Hermansen, Russell A. (Author) / Hu, Haofu (Author) / Hunt, Brendan G. (Author) / Huylmans, Ann Kathrin (Author) / Khalil, Sayed M. S. (Author) / Mitchell, Robert D. (Author) / Munoz-Torres, Monica C. (Author) / Mustard, Julie (Author) / Pan, Hailin (Author) / Reese, Justin T. (Author) / Scharf, Michael E. (Author) / Sun, Fengming (Author) / Vogel, Heiko (Author) / Xiao, Jin (Author) / Yang, Wei (Author) / Yang, Zhikai (Author) / Yang, Zuoquan (Author) / Zhou, Jiajian (Author) / Zhu, Jiwei (Author) / Brent, Colin S. (Author) / Elsik, Christine G. (Author) / Goodisman, Michael A. D. (Author) / Liberles, David A. (Author) / Roe, R. Michael (Author) / Vargo, Edward L. (Author) / Vilcinskas, Andreas (Author) / Wang, Jun (Author) / Bornberg-Bauer, Erich (Author) / Korb, Judith (Author) / Zhang, Guojie (Author) / Liebig, Juergen (Author) / College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Contributor)
Created2014-05-20
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Description

Epigenetic inheritance plays an important role in mediating alternative phenotype in highly social species. In order to gain a greater understanding of epigenetic effects in societies, we investigated DNA methylation in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. Termites are the most ancient social insects, and developmentally distinct from highly-studied, hymenopteran social insects.

Epigenetic inheritance plays an important role in mediating alternative phenotype in highly social species. In order to gain a greater understanding of epigenetic effects in societies, we investigated DNA methylation in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. Termites are the most ancient social insects, and developmentally distinct from highly-studied, hymenopteran social insects. We used replicated bisulfite-sequencing to investigate patterns of DNA methylation in both sexes and among castes of Z. nevadensis. We discovered that Z. nevadensis displayed some of the highest levels of DNA methylation found in insects. We also found strong differences in methylation between castes. Methylated genes tended to be uniformly and highly expressed demonstrating the antiquity of associations between intragenic methylation and gene expression. Differentially methylated genes were more likely to be alternatively spliced than not differentially methylated genes, and possessed considerable enrichment for development-associated functions. We further observed strong overrepresentation of multiple transcription factor binding sites and miRNA profiles associated with differential methylation, providing new insights into the possible function of DNA methylation. Overall, our results show that DNA methylation is widespread and associated with caste differences in termites. More generally, this study provides insights into the function of DNA methylation and the success of insect societies.

ContributorsGlastad, Karl M. (Author) / Gokhale, Kaustubh (Author) / Liebig, Juergen (Author) / Goodisman, Michael A. D. (Author) / College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Contributor)
Created2016-11-16
Description

Background: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions. Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies. Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species. High-quality

Background: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions. Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies. Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species. High-quality genomic data will inform key aspects of bumblebee biology, including susceptibility to implicated population viability threats.

Results: We report the high quality draft genome sequences of Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, two ecologically dominant bumblebees and widely utilized study species. Comparing these new genomes to those of the highly eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera and other Hymenoptera, we identify deeply conserved similarities, as well as novelties key to the biology of these organisms. Some honeybee genome features thought to underpin advanced eusociality are also present in bumblebees, indicating an earlier evolution in the bee lineage. Xenobiotic detoxification and immune genes are similarly depauperate in bumblebees and honeybees, and multiple categories of genes linked to social organization, including development and behavior, show high conservation. Key differences identified include a bias in bumblebee chemoreception towards gustation from olfaction, and striking differences in microRNAs, potentially responsible for gene regulation underlying social and other traits.

Conclusions: These two bumblebee genomes provide a foundation for post-genomic research on these key pollinators and insect societies. Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation.

ContributorsSadd, Ben M. (Author) / Barribeau, Seth M. (Author) / Bloch, Guy (Author) / de Graaf, Dirk C. (Author) / Dearden, Peter (Author) / Elsik, Christine G. (Author) / Gadau, Juergen (Author) / Grimmelikhuijzen, Cornelis J. P. (Author) / Hasselmann, Martin (Author) / Lozier, Jeffrey D. (Author) / Robertson, Hugh M. (Author) / Smagghe, Guy (Author) / Stolle, Eckart (Author) / Van Vaerenbergh, Matthias (Author) / Waterhouse, Robert M. (Author) / Bornberg-Bauer, Erich (Author) / Klasberg, Steffen (Author) / Bennett, Anna K. (Author) / Camara, Francisco (Author) / Guigo, Roderic (Author) / Hoff, Katharina (Author) / Mariotti, Marco (Author) / Munoz-Torres, Monica (Author) / Murphy, Terence (Author) / Santesmasses, Didac (Author) / Amdam, Gro (Author) / Beckers, Matthew (Author) / Beye, Martin (Author) / Biewer, Matthias (Author) / Bitondi, Marcia MG (Author) / Blaxter, Mark L. (Author) / Bourke, Andrew FG (Author) / Brown, Mark JF (Author) / Buechel, Severine D. (Author) / Cameron, Rossanah (Author) / Cappelle, Kaat (Author) / Carolan, James C. (Author) / Christiaens, Olivier (Author) / Ciborowski, Kate L. (Author) / Clarke, David F. (Author) / Colgan, Thomas J. (Author) / Collins, David H. (Author) / Cridge, Andrew G. (Author) / Dalmay, Tamas (Author) / Dreier, Stephanie (Author) / du Plessis, Louis (Author) / Duncan, Elizabeth (Author) / Erler, Silvio (Author) / Evans, Jay (Author) / Falcon, Talgo (Author) / Flores, Kevin (Author) / Freitas, Flavia CP (Author) / Fuchikawa, Taro (Author) / Gempe, Tanja (Author) / Hartfelder, Klaus (Author) / Hauser, Frank (Author) / Helbing, Sophie (Author) / Humann, Fernanda (Author) / Irvine, Frano (Author) / Jermiin, Lars S (Author) / Johnson, Claire E. (Author) / Johnson, Reed M (Author) / Jones, Andrew K. (Author) / Kadowaki, Tatsuhiko (Author) / Kidner, Jonathan H. (Author) / Koch, Vasco (Author) / Kohler, Arian (Author) / Kraus, F. Bernhard (Author) / Lattorff, H. Michael G. (Author) / Leask, Megan (Author) / Lockett, Gabrielle A. (Author) / Mallon, Eamonn B. (Author) / Marco Antonio, David S. (Author) / Marxer, Monika (Author) / Meeus, Ivan (Author) / Moritz, Robin FA (Author) / Nair, Ajay (Author) / Napflin, Kathrin (Author) / Nissen, Inga (Author) / Niu, Jinzhi (Author) / Nunes, Francis MF (Author) / Oakeshott, John G. (Author) / Osborne, Amy (Author) / Otte, Marianne (Author) / Pinheiro, Daniel G. (Author) / Rossie, Nina (Author) / Rueppell, Olav (Author) / Santos, Carolina G (Author) / Schmid-Hempel, Regula (Author) / Schmitt, Bjorn D. (Author) / Schulte, Christina (Author) / Simoes, Zila LP (Author) / Soares, Michelle PM (Author) / Swevers, Luc (Author) / Winnebeck, Eva C. (Author) / Wolschin, Florian (Author) / Yu, Na (Author) / Zdobnov, Evgeny M (Author) / Aqrawi, Peshtewani K (Author) / Blakenburg, Kerstin P (Author) / Coyle, Marcus (Author) / Francisco, Liezl (Author) / Hernandez, Alvaro G. (Author) / Holder, Michael (Author) / Hudson, Matthew E. (Author) / Jackson, LaRonda (Author) / Jayaseelan, Joy (Author) / Joshi, Vandita (Author) / Kovar, Christie (Author) / Lee, Sandra L. (Author) / Mata, Robert (Author) / Mathew, Tittu (Author) / Newsham, Irene F. (Author) / Ngo, Robin (Author) / Okwuonu, Geoffrey (Author) / Pham, Christopher (Author) / Pu, Ling-Ling (Author) / Saada, Nehad (Author) / Santibanez, Jireh (Author) / Simmons, DeNard (Author) / Thornton, Rebecca (Author) / Venkat, Aarti (Author) / Walden, Kimberly KO (Author) / Wu, Yuan-Qing (Author) / Debyser, Griet (Author) / Devreese, Bart (Author) / Asher, Claire (Author) / Blommaert, Julie (Author) / Chipman, Ariel D. (Author) / Chittka, Lars (Author) / Fouks, Bertrand (Author) / Liu, Jisheng (Author) / O'Neill, Meaghan P (Author) / Sumner, Seirian (Author) / Puiu, Daniela (Author) / Qu, Jiaxin (Author) / Salzberg, Steven L (Author) / Scherer, Steven E (Author) / Muzny, Donna M. (Author) / Richards, Stephen (Author) / Robinson, Gene E (Author) / Gibbs, Richard A. (Author) / Schmid-Hempel, Paul (Author) / Worley, Kim C (Author) / College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Contributor)
Created2015-04-24