Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Genes Related to Sex Determination and Differentiation in Sugarcane Borer (Chilo sacchariphagus Bojer)

Abstract

Chilo sacchariphagus Bojer is an important sugarcane pest globally. Along with genetic modification strategies, the sterile insect technique (SIT) has gained more attention as an environment-friendly method for pest control. The identification of key genes associated with sex determination and differentiation will provide important basic information for this control strategy. As such, the transcriptome sequencing of female and male adults was conducted in order to understand the sex-biased gene expression and molecular basis of sex determination and differentiation in this species. A total of 60,429 unigenes were obtained; among them, 34,847 genes were annotated. Furthermore, 11,121 deferentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 8986 were male-biased and 2135 were female-biased genes. The male-biased genes were enriched for carbon metabolism, peptidase activity and transmembrane transport, while the female-biased genes were enriched for the cell cycle, DNA replication, and the MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, 102 genes related to sex-determination and differentiation were identified, including the protein toll, ejaculatory bulb-specific protein, fruitless, transformer-2, sex-lethal, beta-Catenin, sox, gata4, beta-tubulin, cytosol aminopeptidase, seminal fluid, and wnt4. Furthermore, transcription factors such as myb, bhlh and homeobox were also found to be potentially related to sex determination and differentiation in this species. Our data provide new insights into the genetic elements associated with sex determination and differentiation in Chilo sacchariphagus, and identified potential candidate genes to develop pest-control strategies.

Let's talk about sex: Mechanisms of neural sexual differentiation in Bilateria

“…Sex-specific splicing of fru and dsx is hypothesized to be a general mechanism of arthropod sex differentiation (Leelatanawit et al, 2009;Thaijongrak et al, 2022). The regulatory hierarchy upstream of these splicing events is F I G U R E 1 A phylogenetic tree showcasing the conserved nature of fru and dsx across different orders within Arthropoda (Bertossa et al, 2009;Just et al, 2023;Kientega et al, 2022;A.-M. Li et al, 2022;P. Li et al, 2017;Nguantad et al, 2020;Pomerantz & Hoy, 2015;Pomerantz & Hoy, 2015;Thaijongrak et al, 2022).…”

“…A phylogenetic tree showcasing the conserved nature of fru and dsx across different orders within Arthropoda (Bertossa et al, 2009; Just et al, 2023; Kientega et al, 2022; A.‐M. Li et al, 2022; P. Li et al, 2017; Nguantad et al, 2020; Pomerantz & Hoy, 2015; Pomerantz & Hoy, 2015; Thaijongrak et al, 2022). As discussed in the text, conservation of these genes does not necessarily mean that they play the same role in each species that they do in Diptera .…”

Molecular Characterization, Expression Pattern, DNA Methylation and Gene Disruption of Figla in Blotched Snakehead (Channa maculata)

“…The bHLH superfamily contains numerous transcription factors that are essential for gene regulation in most eukaryotes [1], such as sex determination [2], cell proliferation, and differentiation [3]. Figla is an oocyte-specific bHLH transcription factor, which has been reported to play crucial roles in oocyte growth and development [4].…”