Transcriptomics on Social Interactions in Termites: Effects of Soldier Presence

Watanabe, Dai; Matsunami, Masatoshi; Hayashi, Yoshinobu; Yaguchi, Hajime; Shigenobu, Shuji; Miura, Toru; Maekawa, Kazuyuki

doi:10.3389/fevo.2022.924151

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…were differentially expressed in workers without soldiers compared to those with soldiers (using whole bodies without guts; Matsunami et al, 2022). However, we were unable to detect both of these genes in this study.…”

Section: Gene Expression In Soldier and Worker Antennae And Other Hea...mentioning

confidence: 53%

“…Consequently, it is possible that we failed to detect the expression patterns of chemoreception genes involved in worker‐specific roles. For example, a previous study showed that two CSP genes ( RS000584 and RS010442 ) were differentially expressed in workers without soldiers compared to those with soldiers (using whole bodies without guts; Matsunami et al, 2022). However, we were unable to detect both of these genes in this study.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gene expression profiles of chemosensory genes of termite soldier and worker antennae

Suzuki

Hanada

Hayashi

et al. 2023

Insect Molecular Biology

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Termites have an elaborate social system that involves cooperation and division of labour among colony members. Although this social system is regulated by chemical signals produced in the colony, it remains unclear how these signals are perceived by other members. Signal transduction is well known to be triggered by the reception of odorant molecules by some binding proteins in the antennae, after which, a signal is transmitted to chemosensory receptors. However, there is insufficient information on the role of chemosensory genes involved in signal transduction in termites. Here, we identified the genes involved in chemosensory reception in the termite Reticulitermes speratus and performed a genome‐wide comparative transcriptome analysis of worker and soldier antennae. First, we identified 31 odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs), and three chemosensory protein A (CheA) from the genome data. Thereafter, we performed RNA sequencing to compare the expression levels of OBPs, CheAs, and previously identified chemosensory receptor genes between worker and soldier antennae. There were no receptor genes with significant differences in expression between castes. However, the expression levels of three non‐receptor odorant‐detection/binding proteins (OBP, CheA, and Sensory neuron membrane protein) were significantly different between castes. Real‐time qPCR (RT‐qPCR) analysis using antennae and other head parts confirmed that these genes were highly expressed in soldier antennae. Finally, independent RT‐qPCR analysis showed that the expression patterns of these genes were altered in soldiers from different social contexts. Present results suggest that gene expression levels of some non‐receptors are affected by both castes and behavioural interactions among colony members in termites.

show abstract

Section: Gene Expression In Soldier and Worker Antennae And Other Hea...mentioning

confidence: 53%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene expression profiles of chemosensory genes of termite soldier and worker antennae

Suzuki

Hanada

Hayashi

et al. 2023

Insect Molecular Biology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Consequently, it is possible that we failed to detect the expression patterns of chemoreception genes involved in worker-specific roles. For example, a previous study showed that two CSP genes ( RS000584 and RS010442 ) were significantly highly expressed in workers without soldiers compared to those with soldiers (using whole bodies without guts; Matsunami et al, 2022). However, we were unable to detect both of these genes in this study.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene expression profiles of chemosensory genes of termite soldier and worker antennae

Suzuki

Hanada

Hayashi

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Termite caste differentiation and social behavior are appropriately regulated by the chemical signals among individuals in each colony. Signal transduction is well known to be triggered by the reception of odorant molecules by some binding proteins in the antennae, after which, a signal is transmitted to chemosensory receptors. However, there is insufficient information on the role of chemosensory genes involved in signal transduction in termites. Here, we identified the genes involved in chemosensory reception in the rhinotermitid termite Reticulitermes speratus, and performed a genome-wide comparative transcriptome analysis of worker and soldier antennae. First, we identified 31 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), and three chemosensory protein A (CheA) from the available genome sequence data. Thereafter, we performed RNA sequencing to compare the expression levels of OBPs, CheAs, and previously identified chemosensory receptor genes between workers and soldiers antennae. Of note, there were no receptor genes with significant differences in expression between castes. However, the expression levels of three non-receptor genes (OBP, CheA, and Sensory neuron membrane protein) were significantly different between castes. Quantiative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis using antennae and other head parts confirmed that these genes were highly expressed in soldier antennae. Finally, independent qPCR analysis showed that the expression patterns of these genes were altered in soldiers from different social contexts. The present results suggest that some non-receptor protein genes are involved in the social behaviors of termites.

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Transcriptomics on Social Interactions in Termites: Effects of Soldier Presence

Cited by 2 publications

References 52 publications

Gene expression profiles of chemosensory genes of termite soldier and worker antennae

Gene expression profiles of chemosensory genes of termite soldier and worker antennae

Gene expression profiles of chemosensory genes of termite soldier and worker antennae

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