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Ionotropic Receptor Genes in Fig Wasps: Evolutionary Insights from Comparative Studies
Hui Yu1,2, Xiaojue Nong1, Weicheng Huang1
1Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
Insects
|July 29, 2025
Summary
Ionotropic receptors (IRs) in fig wasps are key to their pollination relationship with figs. This study identified 205 IRs, revealing conserved gene sequences and unique IRs potentially involved in specialized chemosensation.
Area of Science:
- * Entomology
- * Molecular Biology
- * Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- * Chemoreception mechanisms in insects are crucial for ecological interactions, particularly the co-evolutionary relationship between fig wasps and fig trees.
- * Ionotropic receptors (IRs) function as supplementary chemoreceptors alongside odorant receptors (ORs) and gustatory receptors (GRs).
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the evolutionary characteristics of IRs in 25 fig wasp taxa across six genera.
- * To identify and classify IR genes and understand their conservation and potential functions in fig wasp chemosensation.
Main Methods:
- * Bioinformatic analysis of IR gene families across 25 fig wasp species.
- * Phylogenetic analysis and sequence comparison with outgroup species like *Drosophila melanogaster* and *Apis mellifera*.
- * Detection of selection pressures (purifying and positive selection) on IR genes.
Main Results:
- * Identification of 205 IRs in 25 fig wasp taxa, with 5-12 IR genes per taxon.
- * Clustering of 189 IR genes into three types: IRco, antennal IRs, and divergent IRs, with antennal IRs being more prevalent and potentially sensitive to various chemical and physical stimuli.
- * Discovery of unique IR genes in fig wasps not found in outgroups, suggesting specialized functions. IR gene sequences showed conservation across genera and aligned with phylogenetic relationships.
- * Evidence of strong purifying selection and signatures of positive selection in specific IR loci.
Conclusions:
- * The study provides a comprehensive catalog of IRs in fig wasps, highlighting their diversity and evolutionary patterns.
- * Antennal IRs appear to play a significant role in fig wasp chemoreception, potentially mediating interactions with their host figs.
- * The identified unique and conserved IRs offer valuable molecular insights into the specialized chemosensory mechanisms driving the fig wasp-fig co-evolution.
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