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Related Experiment Videos

Duplication and diversifying selection among termite antifungal peptides.

Mark S Bulmer1, Ross H Crozier

  • 1School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. mark.bulmer@jcu.edu.au

Molecular Biology and Evolution
|August 20, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Scientists discovered 20 new defensin-like peptides in Australian termites. These antifungal peptides evolved under positive selection, diversifying charge to combat fungal resistance in social insects.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Insect immunology
  • Molecular genetics

Background:

  • Defensin-like peptides (DLPs) are crucial antimicrobial agents in insects.
  • Termites, particularly social species, face significant fungal threats.
  • Previous studies identified termicin, an antifungal peptide, in Pseudocanthotermes spiniger.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and analyze novel defensin-like peptide sequences in Australian Nasutitermes termites.
  • To investigate the evolutionary dynamics and selection pressures on these peptides.
  • To understand the role of DLP diversification in combating fungal infections in termites.

Main Methods:

  • mRNA sequencing and analysis of 20 new DLPs from 11 Australian Nasutitermes species and one outgroup.

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  • Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) using degenerate primers based on known termicin sequences.
  • Comparative analysis of synonymous and nonsynonymous mutation rates to infer selection pressures.

    • Main Results:

    • Identified 20 new DLP genes in Nasutitermes, showing high sequence identity to P. spiniger termicin.
    • Observed repeated gene duplication of termicin during Nasutitermes radiation.
    • Evidence of positive selection driving decreased net charge in Nasutitermes termicins, with diversification concentrated at specific amino acid sites.

    Conclusions:

    • Positive selection and gene duplication drive diversification of termicin peptides in Nasutitermes.
    • Charge reduction in specific DLP copies may represent an adaptation to evolving fungal resistance.
    • This diversification strategy enhances the immune defense of termites against fungal pathogens.