TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparative transcriptome analysis of chemosensory genes in two sister leaf beetles provides insights into chemosensory speciation
AU - Zhang, Bin
AU - Zhang, Wei
AU - Nie, Rui E.
AU - Li, Wen Zhu
AU - Segraves, Kari
AU - Yang, Xing Ke
AU - Xue, Huai Jun
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - Divergence in chemosensory traits has been posited as an important component of chemosensory speciation in insects. In particular, chemosensory genes expressed in the peripheral sensory neurons are likely to influence insect behaviors such as preference for food, oviposition sites, and mates. Despite their key role in insect behavior and potentially speciation, the underlying genetic basis for divergence in chemosensory traits remains largely unexplored. One way to ascertain the role of chemosensory genes in speciation is to make comparisons of these genes across closely related species to detect the genetic signatures of divergence. Here, we used high throughput transcriptome analysis to compare chemosensory genes of the sister leaf beetles species Pyrrhalta maculicollis and P. aenescens, whose sexual isolation and host plant preference are mediated by divergent chemical signals. Although there was low overall divergence between transcriptome profiles, there were a number of genes that were differentially expressed between the species. Furthermore, we also detected two chemosensory genes under positive selection, one of which that was also differentially expressed between the species, suggesting a possible role for these genes in chemical-based premating reproductive isolation and host use. Combined with the available chemical and ecological work in this system, further studies of the divergent chemosensory genes presented here will provide insight into the process of chemosensory speciation among Pyrrhalta beetles.
AB - Divergence in chemosensory traits has been posited as an important component of chemosensory speciation in insects. In particular, chemosensory genes expressed in the peripheral sensory neurons are likely to influence insect behaviors such as preference for food, oviposition sites, and mates. Despite their key role in insect behavior and potentially speciation, the underlying genetic basis for divergence in chemosensory traits remains largely unexplored. One way to ascertain the role of chemosensory genes in speciation is to make comparisons of these genes across closely related species to detect the genetic signatures of divergence. Here, we used high throughput transcriptome analysis to compare chemosensory genes of the sister leaf beetles species Pyrrhalta maculicollis and P. aenescens, whose sexual isolation and host plant preference are mediated by divergent chemical signals. Although there was low overall divergence between transcriptome profiles, there were a number of genes that were differentially expressed between the species. Furthermore, we also detected two chemosensory genes under positive selection, one of which that was also differentially expressed between the species, suggesting a possible role for these genes in chemical-based premating reproductive isolation and host use. Combined with the available chemical and ecological work in this system, further studies of the divergent chemosensory genes presented here will provide insight into the process of chemosensory speciation among Pyrrhalta beetles.
KW - Antennal transcriptomics
KW - Chemosensory genes
KW - Chemosensory speciation
KW - Chrysomelidae
KW - Host plant use
KW - Positive selection
KW - Pyrrhalta
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84995773263&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84995773263&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ibmb.2016.11.001
DO - 10.1016/j.ibmb.2016.11.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 27836740
AN - SCOPUS:84995773263
VL - 79
SP - 108
EP - 118
JO - Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JF - Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
SN - 0965-1748
ER -