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Canalized gene expression during development mediates caste differentiation in ants
Bitao Qiu1,2, Xueqin Dai3,4, Panyi Li5
1Villum Center for Biodiversity Genomics, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. bitao.qiu.88@gmail.com.
Nature Ecology & Evolution
|October 3, 2022
Summary
Ant colonies exhibit specialized castes, with gene expression predicting phenotypes. Juvenile hormone signaling and canalized gene expression regulate caste development, ensuring colony robustness.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary developmental biology
- Insect genetics
- Social insect biology
Background:
- Ant colonies display distinct castes (reproductive and non-reproductive individuals) with early developmental differentiation, analogous to germ-soma segregation.
- While epigenetic factors are implicated, the specific genes governing ant caste phenotypes throughout development remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the gene sets responsible for caste determination in ants.
- To understand the developmental trajectories and canalization of caste phenotypes.
- To investigate the role of juvenile hormone signaling in caste differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of over 1,400 whole-genome transcriptomes from two ant species (Monomorium pharaonis and Acromyrmex echinatior).
- Development and application of a novel backward prediction algorithm for phenotype prediction from transcriptomic data.
- Quantification of gene-specific canalization levels and enrichment analysis for caste-biased genes.
Main Results:
- Caste phenotypes were accurately predicted using genome-wide transcriptome profiling.
- Caste differentiation becomes increasingly canalized during development, especially in gynes (future queens).
- The juvenile hormone signaling pathway was identified as crucial for regulating body mass divergence between castes.
- Canalized genes with gyne-biased expression were linked to ovary and wing functions, while worker-biased genes were associated with brain and behavioral functions.
- Suppression of the gyne-biased gene Freja disrupted pupal development, leading to intermediate phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- Developmental trajectories in ants are highly canalized, ensuring robust caste determination.
- Natural selection actively maintains these canalized caste phenotypes, contributing to colony life cycle stability.
- The study provides insights into the genetic architecture underlying social insect caste evolution.
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