Transcription Factor Evolution Associated with Social Transitions in Blattodea

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Genomics
• Molecular biology

Background:

• Phenotypic diversity in social species is linked to gene expression regulation.
• Transcription factors (TFs) are key in Hymenoptera social transitions, but less studied in Blattodea (cockroaches and termites).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of regulatory changes, particularly TFs, in the social evolution of Blattodea.
• To compare regulatory signatures between Blattodea and Hymenoptera during social transitions.

Main Methods:

• Genome-wide analysis of three cockroach and five termite genomes.
• Comparative analysis of transcription factor gene families, selection pressures, and DNA binding motifs.
• Examination of TF activating and DNA-binding domains in relation to social complexity.

Main Results:

• Blattodea share some convergent regulatory patterns with Hymenoptera, including relaxed selection on TF families and lineage-specific gene expansions in termites.
• Blattodea show distinct TF regulation, with gene family contractions and no compensatory changes in TF DNA binding motifs.
• Increased social complexity correlates with diverse TF activating domains, while DNA-binding domains remain conserved.

Conclusions:

• Social transitions in Blattodea involve significant transcriptional regulation changes, with unique adaptations compared to Hymenoptera.
• Transcriptional diversity linked to social complexity in Blattodea is likely driven by TFs in conjunction with other mechanisms.