Ecdysone signaling regulates soldier‐specific cuticular pigmentation in the termite <i>Zootermopsis nevadensis</i>

Masuoka, Yudai; Maekawa, Kazuyuki

doi:10.1002/1873-3468.12219

Cited by 20 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Especially, expression levels of three genes involved in ecdysone synthesis (shadow, shade, and spookier) were highly upregulated. This was consistent with the previous reports, which showed that ecdysone receptor signaling activity was important for presoldier and soldier formations in Z. nevadensis (Masuoka & Maekawa, 2016), and that the caste-specific expressions of ecdysone synthesis genes were broadly observed among three termite species including Z. nevadensis (Harrison et al, 2018).…”

Section: The Potential Molecular Mechanisms Of Soldier Differentiationsupporting

confidence: 93%

Transcriptomic changes during caste development through social interactions in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis

Yaguchi

Suzuki

Matsunami

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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One of the most striking examples of phenotypic plasticity is the different phenotypes (i.e., castes) within a same nest of social insects. Castes usually derive from a single genotype initially by receiving social cues among individuals during development. Specific gene expression changes may be involved in caste differentiation, and thus, the regulatory mechanism of these changes should be clarified in order to understand social maintenance and evolution. The damp‐wood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis is one of the most important model termite species, due to not only the availability of genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic information but also evidence that soldier‐ and worker‐destined individuals can be identified in natural conditions. Given that the nutritional intakes via social interactions are crucial for caste differentiation in this species, there is a possibility that transcriptomic changes are influenced by the nutritional difference among these individuals. Here, whole body RNA‐seq analysis of 3rd‐instar larvae with biological replications and Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were conducted. We found the drastic expression differences during caste developments between soldier‐ and worker‐destined individuals. The results indicated that there are several key signaling pathways responsible for caste formations, which are involved in developments and social interactions. Particularly, the nutritional sensitive signaling was upregulated in soldier‐destined individuals, while some metabolic pathways were identified in worker‐destined individuals. These bioinformatic data obtained should be utilized to examine the molecular mechanisms of caste determination in social insects.

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Section: The Potential Molecular Mechanisms Of Soldier Differentiationsupporting

confidence: 93%

Transcriptomic changes during caste development through social interactions in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis

Yaguchi

Suzuki

Matsunami

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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“…JH signaling genes of C. punctulatus (CpMet: Cp_TR6397 and CpKr-h1: Cp_TR7552) were also newly designed as shown in the previous section. Primers of JH signaling genes (ZnMet, ZnSRC, and ZnKr-h1) and 20E signaling genes of Z. nevadensis (ZnEcR, ZnBr-C, ZnHR4, and ZnE75) were previously described (Masuoka et al 2015;Masuoka and Maekawa 2016a). The expression level of each gene was quantified using a THUNDERBIRD SYBR qPCR Mix (TOYOBO, Osaka, Japan) and MiniOpticon Real-Time System detection system (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA).…”

Section: Gene Expression Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the early process of termite presoldier molting, Spo may have a critical role in 20E synthesis under JH signaling via E75 expression ( Figure 6). ZnEcR RNAi resulted in a failure of the shedding of old cuticle; although a newly formed cuticle was generated under the old cuticle, as shown in the presoldier-soldier molt in Z. nevadensis (Masuoka and Maekawa 2016a), the imaginal molt in B. germanica (Cruz et al 2006), and the larval molt in T. castaneum (Tan and Palli 2008b). On the other hand, ZnHR39 RNAi produced a unique effect and the newly molted worker-like individuals had no presoldier-specific morphogenesis.…”

Section: The Function Of 20e-related Genes In Termitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Crucial Caste Regulation Gene Detected by Comparing Termites and Sister Group Cockroaches

et al. 2018

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Sterile castes are a defining criterion of eusociality; investigating their evolutionary origins can critically advance theory. In termites, the soldier caste is regarded as the first acquired permanently sterile caste. Previous studies showed that juvenile hormone (JH) is the primary factor inducing soldier differentiation, and treatment of workers with artificial JH can generate presoldier differentiation. It follows that a shift from a typical hemimetabolous JH response might be required for soldier formation during the course of termite evolution within the cockroach clade. To address this possibility, analysis of the role of JH and its signaling pathway was performed in the termite and compared with the wood roach, a member of the sister group of termites. Treatment with a JH analog (JHA) induced a nymphal molt in RNA interference (RNAi) of JH receptor () was then performed, and it inhibited the presoldier molt in and the nymphal molt in Knockdown of in both species inhibited expression of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E; the active form of ecdysone) synthesis genes. However, in, several 20E signaling genes were specifically inhibited by RNAi. Consequently, RNAi of these genes were performed in JHA-treated termite individuals. Knockdown of 20E signaling and nuclear receptor gene, (/) resulted in newly molted individuals with normal worker phenotypes. This is the first report of the JH-Met signaling feature in termites and JH-dependent molting activation is shared by both taxa and mediation between JH receptor and 20E signalings for soldier morphogenesis is specific to termites.

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“…Termite developmental evolution therefore entailed not only a drastic temporal change in the ontogeny of the whole insect, but also changes in the relative developmental timing of different organs within an individual. For example, soldier-specific cuticle formation and the exaggerated growth and cell death associated with forming the morphologically specialized head and mouthparts of this caste occurs during the molting period and inevitably involves ecdysone [ 113 , 114 , 115 ]. The timing, amplitude and duration of ecdysone pulses are key in initiating and controlling such developmental transitions by activating signaling cascades in target tissues [ 116 ].…”

Section: What Changed?mentioning

confidence: 99%

What Kills the Hindgut Flagellates of Lower Termites during the Host Molting Cycle?

Nalepa

2017

Microorganisms

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Subsocial wood feeding cockroaches in the genus Cryptocercus, the sister group of termites, retain their symbiotic gut flagellates during the host molting cycle, but in lower termites, closely related flagellates die prior to host ecdysis. Although the prevalent view is that termite flagellates die because of conditions of starvation and desiccation in the gut during the host molting cycle, the work of L.R. Cleveland in the 1930s through the 1960s provides a strong alternate hypothesis: it was the changed hormonal environment associated with the origin of eusociality and its concomitant shift in termite developmental ontogeny that instigates the death of the flagellates in termites. Although the research on termite gut microbial communities has exploded since the advent of modern molecular techniques, the role of the host hormonal environment on the life cycle of its gut flagellates has been neglected. Here Cleveland’s studies are revisited to provide a basis for re-examination of the problem, and the results framed in the context of two alternate hypotheses: the flagellate symbionts are victims of the change in host social status, or the flagellates have become incorporated into the life cycle of the eusocial termite colony. Recent work on parasitic protists suggests clear paths for exploring these hypotheses and for resolving long standing issues regarding sexual-encystment cycles in flagellates of the Cryptocercus-termite lineage using molecular methodologies, bringing the problem into the modern era.

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Ecdysone signaling regulates soldier‐specific cuticular pigmentation in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis

Cited by 20 publications

References 34 publications

Transcriptomic changes during caste development through social interactions in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis

Transcriptomic changes during caste development through social interactions in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis

A Crucial Caste Regulation Gene Detected by Comparing Termites and Sister Group Cockroaches

What Kills the Hindgut Flagellates of Lower Termites during the Host Molting Cycle?

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