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Extracting DNA from the Gut Microbes of the Termite Zootermopsis Angusticollis and Visualizing Gut Microbes
Published on: May 28, 2007
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Caste-specific microRNA expression in termites: insights into soldier differentiation.
M Matsunami1,2, M Nozawa3, R Suzuki4
1Laboratory of Ecological Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Insect Molecular Biology
|August 21, 2018
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in termite caste differentiation. Several miRNAs are differentially expressed in soldier and worker castes, with some shared between termites and ants, suggesting independent evolution.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Molecular biology
- Entomology
Background:
- Eusocial insects exhibit polyphenic caste systems with distinct morphology and behavior.
- Caste systems have evolved independently in insect lineages like Isoptera (termites) and Hymenoptera (ants).
- While gene and hormone roles in termite eusociality are partially understood, microRNA (miRNA) contributions to caste differentiation remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in caste polyphenism within the subterranean termite Reticulitermes speratus.
- To identify specific miRNAs differentially expressed between soldier and worker castes in R. speratus.
Main Methods:
- Small RNA sequencing was performed on soldier and worker castes of Reticulitermes speratus.
- Annotation of miRNAs in the R. speratus genome, identifying conserved and species-specific miRNAs.
- Differential expression analysis of identified miRNAs between castes, with experimental verification using real-time quantitative PCR.
Main Results:
- Out of 550 annotated miRNAs in R. speratus, 74 were conserved across insects and 174 across termite species.
- Eight miRNAs, including conserved and termite-specific ones, were found to be differentially expressed between soldier and worker castes.
- Four of these differentially expressed miRNAs were also found to be differentially expressed in hymenopteran castes, indicating potential convergent evolution.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNAs are involved in caste differentiation in termites (Isoptera).
- The study identified specific miRNAs differentially expressed in termite castes.
- Shared differentially expressed miRNAs between Isoptera and Hymenoptera suggest independent evolutionary origins of miRNA roles in caste determination.
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