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- Title
Differential gene expression patterns between the head and thorax of Gynaephora aureata are associated with high-altitude adaptation.
- Authors
Jia-Rui Zhao; Shi-Yun Hu; Li-Jun Zhang; Li Zhang; Xing-Zhuo Yang; Ming-Long Yuan
- Abstract
Grassland caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Gynaephora) are important pests in alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). These pests have morphological, behavioral, and genetic adaptations for survival in high-altitude environments. However, mechanisms underlying high-altitude adaptation in QTP Gynaephora species remain largely unknown. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of the head and thorax transcriptomes of G. aureata to explore the genetic basis of high-altitude adaptation. We detected 8,736 significantly differentially expressed genes (sDEGs) between the head and thorax, including genes related to carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, epidermal proteins, and detoxification. These sDEGs were significantly enriched in 312 Gene Ontology terms and 16 KEGG pathways. We identified 73 pigment-associated genes, including 8 rhodopsin-associated genes, 19 ommochrome-associated genes, 1 pteridine-associated gene, 37 melanin-associated genes, and 12 hemeassociated genes. These pigment-associated genes were related to the formation of the red head and black thorax of G. aureata. A key gene, yellow-h, in themelanin pathwaywas significantly upregulated in the thorax, suggesting that it is related to the formation of the black body and contributed to the adaptation of G. aureata to low temperatures and high ultraviolet radiation in the QTP. Another key gene, cardinal, in the ommochrome pathway was significantly upregulated in the head and may be related to red warning color formation. We also identified 107 olfactory-related genes in G. aureata, including genes encoding 29 odorantbinding proteins, 16 chemosensory proteins, 22 odorant receptor proteins, 14 ionotropic receptors, 12 gustatory receptors, 12 odorant degrading enzymes, and 2 sensory neuronmembrane proteins. Diversification of olfactory-related genes may be associated with the feeding habits of G. aureata, including larvae dispersal and searching for plant resources available in the QTP. These results provide new insights into high-altitude adaptation of Gynaephora in theQTP andmay contribute to the development of new control strategies for these pests.
- Subjects
GENE expression; CHEMOSENSORY proteins; MOUNTAIN meadows; OLFACTORY receptors; PLANT dispersal; CARBOHYDRATE metabolism; LARVAL dispersal; PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of cold temperatures; RED
- Publication
Frontiers in Genetics, 2023, p1
- ISSN
1664-8021
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3389/fgene.2023.1137618