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La variación alélica en un gen de la grasa-acil reductasa causa divergencia en las feromonas sexuales de la polilla
Jean-Marc Lassance1, Astrid T Groot, Marjorie A Liénard
1Department of Biology, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden.
Nature
|July 2, 2010
Resumen
La variación genética en un gen de la grasa-acil reductasa impulsa distintas mezclas de feromonas sexuales en las razas europeas de corn borer. Esta diferencia en la comunicación química es clave para el aislamiento reproductivo y la especiación potencial en las polillas.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Genética evolutiva de la genética evolutiva.
- Ecología química y ecología química.
- Comportamiento de los animales.
Sus antecedentes:
- Las feromonas son vitales para la comunicación y la reproducción de los animales, con diferencias que a menudo impulsan el aislamiento reproductivo.
- La base genética para la evolución de las feromonas y su papel en la especiación siguen siendo en gran parte inexploradas, particularmente en Lepidópteros.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Identificar los mecanismos genéticos subyacentes a la producción de feromonas sexuales específicas de la raza en el maíz europeo, Ostrinia nubilalis.
- Investigar el papel de la evolución génica en el aislamiento y la especiación reproductivos basados en feromonas.
Principales métodos:
- Análisis de la variación alélica en los genes involucrados en la biosíntesis de feromonas.
- Pruebas enzimáticas para determinar la especificidad del sustrato de las enzimas productoras de feromonas.
- Análisis fenotípico de mezclas de feromonas en diferentes razas de Ostrinia nubilalis.
Principales resultados:
- La variación alélica en un gen de la grasa-acil reductasa se correlaciona directamente con las diferencias en la producción de feromonas sexuales femeninas.
- Las enzimas codificadas por alelos Z y E exhiben especificidad de sustrato, lo que lleva a proporciones distintas de isómeros de feromonas.
- Esta variación genética establece señales de feromonas específicas de la raza, causando un aislamiento reproductivo significativo.
Conclusiones:
- La diversificación evolutiva de un solo gen de la grasa-acil reductasa es responsable de las diferencias de feromonas y el aislamiento reproductivo en Ostrinia nubilalis.
- Este estudio proporciona la primera caracterización funcional de un gen que contribuye al aislamiento reproductivo intraspecífico en polillas.
- Los cambios evolutivos en las enzimas biosintéticas pueden impulsar la especiación a través de señales de comunicación química alteradas.
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