Expansion of the fatty acyl reductase gene family shaped pheromone communication in Hymenoptera

Tupec, Michal; Buček, Aleš; Vogel, Heiko; Janoušek, Václav; Prchalová, Darina; Kindl, Jiří; Pavlíčková, Tereza; Wenzelová, Petra; Jahn, Ullrich; Valterová, Irena; Pichová, Iva

doi:10.1101/362509

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…Given the importance of scent communication for many species, there has been considerable interest in the evolutionary patterns of scent mark composition and information content across species. Pheromone diversification within and between species has been of particular interest (Fang et al, ; Janssenswillen et al, ; Lassance et al, ; Tupec et al, ) because pheromones mediate social and sexual interactions within species, and potentially act as a prezygotic barriers between populations (Ganem, Rueff, & Perriat‐Sanguinet, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary patterns of major urinary protein scent signals in house mice and relatives

2019

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Scent marks are important mediators of territorial behaviour and sexual selection, especially among mammals. The evolution of compounds used in scent marks has the potential to inform our understanding of signal evolution in relation to social and sexual selection. A major challenge in studies of chemical communication is that the link between semiochemical compounds and genetic changes is often unclear. The major urinary proteins (MUPs) of house mice provide information on sex, status and individual identity. Importantly, MUPs are a direct protein product of genes, providing a clear link between genotype and phenotype. Here, we examine the evolution of urinary protein signals among house mice and relatives by examining the sequences and patterns of mRNA expression of Mup genes related to urinary scent marks. MUP patterns have evolved among mouse species both by gene duplication and variation in expression. Notably, protein scent signals that are male specific in well‐studied inbred laboratory strains vary in sex‐specificity among species. Our data reveal that individual identity signals in MUPs evolved prior to 0.35 million years ago and have rapidly diversified through recombining a modest number of amino acid variants. Amino acid variants are much more common on the exterior of the protein where they could interact with vomeronasal receptors, suggesting that chemosensory perception may have played a major role in shaping MUP diversity. These data highlight diverse processes and pressures shaping scent signals, and suggest new avenues for using wild mice to probe the evolution of signals and signal processing.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary patterns of major urinary protein scent signals in house mice and relatives

2019

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“…The CHC biosynthesis pathway is largely conserved in insects and is made up of several fatty acyl-CoA synthesis gene families such as fatty acyl-CoA synthetases, desaturases, fatty acyl-CoA reductases (FARs), and elongases (Blomquist and Ginzel, 2021). These gene families evolved rapidly and contribute to the diversification of CHCs across insects (Finck et al, 2016;Finet et al, 2019;Helmkampf et al, 2015;Tupec et al, 2019). Gains and losses of these genes as well as changes in their oenocyte expression are likely to contribute to CHC changes and the evolution of desiccation resistance in different insect species.…”

Section: Lineage Specific Genetic Basis For the Evolution Of Desiccat...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of a fatty acyl-CoA elongase underlies desert adaptation inDrosophila

Wang

Richards

et al. 2023

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To survive in extreme environments such as hot-arid deserts, desert-dwelling species have evolved physiological traits to withstand the high temperatures and low aridity beyond the physiologically tolerable ranges of most species. Such traits which include reducing water loss have independently evolved in multiple taxa. However, the genetic and evolutionary mechanisms underlying these traits have thus far not been elucidated. Here we show that Drosophila mojavensis, a fruitfly species endemic to the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, had evolved extremely high desiccation resistance, by producing very long chained methyl-branched cuticular hydrocarbons (mbCHCs) that contributes to a cuticular waterproofing lipid layer reducing water loss. We show that the ability to synthesize these longer mbCHCs is due to evolutionary changes in a fatty acyl-CoA elongase (mElo). CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of mElo in D. mojavensis led to loss of longer mbCHC production and significant reduction of desiccation resistance at high temperatures but did not affect mortality at high temperatures or desiccating conditions individually, indicating that this gene is crucial for desert adaptation. Phylogenetic analysis showed that mElo is a Drosophila specific gene with no clear ortholog outside Diptera. This suggests that while the physiological mechanisms underlying desert adaptation are general, the genetic mechanisms may be lineage-specific.

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Expansion of the fatty acyl reductase gene family shaped pheromone communication in Hymenoptera

Cited by 2 publications

References 87 publications

Evolutionary patterns of major urinary protein scent signals in house mice and relatives

Evolutionary patterns of major urinary protein scent signals in house mice and relatives

Evolution of a fatty acyl-CoA elongase underlies desert adaptation inDrosophila

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