scholarly journals Transcriptome response to elevated atmospheric CO2concentration in the Formosan subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanusShiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjing Wu ◽  
Zhiqiang Li ◽  
Shijun Zhang ◽  
Yunling Ke ◽  
Yahui Hou

BackgroundCarbon dioxide (CO2) is a pervasive chemical stimulus that plays a critical role in insect life, eliciting behavioral and physiological responses across different species. High CO2concentration is a major feature of termite nests, which may be used as a cue for locating their nests. Termites also survive under an elevated CO2concentration. However, the mechanism by which elevated CO2concentration influences gene expression in termites is poorly understood.MethodsTo gain a better understanding of the molecular basis involved in the adaptation to CO2concentration, a transcriptome ofCoptotermes formosanusShiraki was constructed to assemble the reference genes, followed by comparative transcriptomic analyses across different CO2concentration (0.04%, 0.4%, 4% and 40%) treatments.Results(1) Based on a high throughput sequencing platform, we obtained approximately 20 GB of clean data and revealed 189,421 unigenes, with a mean length and an N50 length of 629 bp and 974 bp, respectively. (2) The transcriptomic response ofC. formosanusto elevated CO2levels presented discontinuous changes. Comparative analysis of the transcriptomes revealed 2,936 genes regulated among 0.04%, 0.4%, 4% and 40% CO2concentration treatments, 909 genes derived from termites and 2,027 from gut symbionts. Genes derived from termites appears selectively activated under 4% CO2level. In 40% CO2level, most of the down-regulated genes were derived from symbionts. (3) Through similarity searches to data from other species, a number of protein sequences putatively involved in chemosensory reception were identified and characterized inC. formosanus, including odorant receptors, gustatory receptors, ionotropic receptors, odorant binding proteins, and chemosensory proteins.DiscussionWe found that most genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, and genetic information processing were regulated under different CO2concentrations. Results suggested that termites adapt to ∼4% CO2level and their gut symbionts may be killed under high CO2level. We anticipate that our findings provide insights into the transcriptome dynamics of CO2responses in termites and form the basis to gain a better understanding of regulatory networks.

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 3169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Zhou ◽  
Dong Luo ◽  
Xutian Chai ◽  
Yuguo Wu ◽  
Yanrong Wang ◽  
...  

Cultivated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important perennial legume forages in the world, and it has considerable potential as a valuable forage crop for livestock. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying alfalfa responses to cold stress are largely unknown. In this study, the transcriptome changes in alfalfa under cold stress at 4 °C for 2, 6, 24, and 48 h (three replicates for each time point) were analyzed using the high-throughput sequencing platform, BGISEQ-500, resulting in the identification of 50,809 annotated unigenes and 5283 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that the DEGs were involved in carbohydrate metabolism, photosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, and the biosynthesis of amino acids. Moreover, the physiological changes of glutathione and proline content, catalase, and peroxidase activity were in accordance with dynamic transcript profiles of the relevant genes. Additionally, some transcription factors might play important roles in the alfalfa response to cold stress, as determined by the expression pattern of the related genes during 48 h of cold stress treatment. These findings provide valuable information for identifying and characterizing important components in the cold signaling network in alfalfa and enhancing the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying alfalfa responses to cold stress.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Chen ◽  
Shirley Luo ◽  
Abigail Dupre ◽  
Roshan P. Vasoya ◽  
Aditya Parthasarathy ◽  
...  

AbstractThe brush border is comprised of microvilli surface protrusions on the apical surface of epithelia. This specialized structure greatly increases absorptive surface area and plays crucial roles in human health. However, transcriptional regulatory networks controlling brush border genes are not fully understood. Here, we identify that hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4) transcription factor is a conserved and important regulator of brush border gene program in multiple organs, such as intestine, kidney and yolk sac. Compromised brush border gene signatures and impaired transport were observed in these tissues upon HNF4 loss. By ChIP-seq, we find HNF4 binds and activates brush border genes in the intestine and kidney. H3K4me3 HiChIP-seq identifies that HNF4 loss results in impaired chromatin looping between enhancers and promoters at gene loci of brush border genes, and instead enhanced chromatin looping at gene loci of stress fiber genes in the intestine. This study provides comprehensive transcriptional regulatory mechanisms and a functional demonstration of a critical role for HNF4 in brush border gene regulation across multiple murine epithelial tissues.


Author(s):  
Ran Wang ◽  
Yuan Hu ◽  
Peiling Wei ◽  
Cheng Qu ◽  
Chen Luo

Abstract Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) of insects play a critical role in chemical perceptions and choice of insect host plant. Bemisia tabaci is a notorious insect pest which can damage more than 600 plant species. In order to explore functions of OBPs in B. tabaci, here we investigated binding characteristics and function of odorant-binding protein 3 in B. tabaci (BtabOBP3). The results indicated that BtabOBP3 shows highly similar sequence with OBPs of other insects, including the typical signature motif of six cysteines. The recombinant BtabOBP3 protein was obtained, and the evaluation of binding affinities to tested volatiles of host plant was conducted, then the results indicated that β-ionone had significantly higher binding to BtabOBP3 among other tested plant volatiles. Furthermore, silencing of BtabOBP3 significantly altered choice behavior of B. tabaci to β-ionone. In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that BtabOBP3 exerts function as one carrier of β-ionone and the results could be contributed to reveal the mechanisms of choosing host plant in B. tabaci.


2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 1925-1932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun-Ichi Inoue ◽  
Kanako Saita ◽  
Toshiaki Kudo ◽  
Sadaharu Ui ◽  
Moriya Ohkuma

ABSTRACT Cellulolytic flagellated protists in the guts of termites produce molecular hydrogen (H2) that is emitted by the termites; however, little is known about the physiology and biochemistry of H2 production from cellulose in the gut symbiotic protists due to their formidable unculturability. In order to understand the molecular basis for H2 production, we here identified two genes encoding proteins homologous to iron-only hydrogenases (Fe hydrogenases) in Pseudotrichonympha grassii, a large cellulolytic symbiont in the phylum Parabasalia, in the gut of the termite Coptotermes formosanus. The two Fe hydrogenases were phylogenetically distinct and had different N-terminal accessory domains. The long-form protein represented a phylogenetic lineage unique among eukaryotic Fe hydrogenases, whereas the short form was monophyletic with those of other parabasalids. Active recombinant enzyme forms of these two Fe hydrogenases were successfully obtained without the specific auxiliary maturases. Although they differed in their extent of specific activity and optimal pH, both enzymes preferentially catalyzed H2 evolution rather than H2 uptake. H2 evolution, at least that associated with the short-form enzyme, was still active even under high hydrogen partial pressure. H2 evolution activity was detected in the hydrogenosomal fraction of P. grassii cells; however, the vigorous H2 uptake activity of the endosymbiotic bacteria compensated for the strong H2 evolution activity of the host protists. The results suggest that termite gut symbionts are a rich reservoir of novel Fe hydrogenases whose properties are adapted to the gut environment and that the potential of H2 production in termite guts has been largely underestimated.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (9_suppl) ◽  
pp. 94S-103S ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Wang ◽  
Lijuan Cao ◽  
Guangying Sheng ◽  
Hongjie Shen ◽  
Jing Ling ◽  
...  

Inherited thrombocytopenia is a group of hereditary diseases with a reduction in platelet count as the main clinical manifestation. Clinically, there is an urgent need for a convenient and rapid diagnosis method. We introduced a high-throughput, next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform into the routine diagnosis of patients with unexplained thrombocytopenia and analyzed the gene sequencing results to evaluate the value of NGS technology in the screening and diagnosis of inherited thrombocytopenia. From a cohort of 112 patients with thrombocytopenia, we screened 43 patients with hereditary features. For the blood samples of these 43 patients, a gene sequencing platform for hemorrhagic and thrombotic diseases comprising 89 genes was used to perform gene detection using NGS technology. When we combined the screening results with clinical features and other findings, 15 (34.9%) of 43patients were diagnosed with inherited thrombocytopenia. In addition, 19 pathogenic variants, including 8 previously unreported variants, were identified in these patients. Through the use of this detection platform, we expect to establish a more effective diagnostic approach to such disorders.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254808
Author(s):  
Weiwei Wang ◽  
Fengtao Zhang ◽  
Jia Cui ◽  
Di Chen ◽  
Zhen Liu ◽  
...  

MicroRNA-like small RNAs (milRNAs) and their regulatory roles in the interaction between plant and fungus have recently aroused keen interest of plant pathologists. Trichoderma spp., one of the widespread biocontrol fungi, can promote plant growth and induce plant disease resistance. To investigate milRNAs potentially involved in the interaction between Trichoderma and tomato roots, a small RNA (sRNA) library expressed during the interaction of T. asperellum DQ-1 and tomato roots was constructed and sequenced using the Illumina HiSeqTM 2500 sequencing platform. From 13,464,142 sRNA reads, we identified 21 milRNA candidates that were similar to other known microRNAs in the miRBase database and 22 novel milRNA candidates that possessed a stable microRNA precursor hairpin structure. Among them, three milRNA candidates showed different expression level in the interaction according to the result of stem-loop RT-PCR indicating that these milRNAs may play a distinct regulatory role in the interaction between Trichoderma and tomato roots. The potential transboundary milRNAs from T. asperellum and their target genes in tomato were predicted by bioinformatics analysis. The results revealed that several interesting proteins involved in plant growth and development, disease resistance, seed maturation, and osmotic stress signal transduction might be regulated by the transboundary milRNAs. To our knowledge, this is the first report of milRNAs taking part in the process of interaction of T. asperellum and tomato roots and associated with plant promotion and disease resistance. The results might be useful to unravel the mechanism of interaction between Trichoderma and tomato.


GigaScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Sandoval-Velasco ◽  
Juan Antonio Rodríguez ◽  
Cynthia Perez Estrada ◽  
Guojie Zhang ◽  
Erez Lieberman Aiden ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hi-C experiments couple DNA-DNA proximity with next-generation sequencing to yield an unbiased description of genome-wide interactions. Previous methods describing Hi-C experiments have focused on the industry-standard Illumina sequencing. With new next-generation sequencing platforms such as BGISEQ-500 becoming more widely available, protocol adaptations to fit platform-specific requirements are useful to give increased choice to researchers who routinely generate sequencing data. Results We describe an in situ Hi-C protocol adapted to be compatible with the BGISEQ-500 high-throughput sequencing platform. Using zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) as a biological sample, we demonstrate how Hi-C libraries can be constructed to generate informative data using the BGISEQ-500 platform, following circularization and DNA nanoball generation. Our protocol is a modification of an Illumina-compatible method, based around blunt-end ligations in library construction, using un-barcoded, distally overhanging double-stranded adapters, followed by amplification using indexed primers. The resulting libraries are ready for circularization and subsequent sequencing on the BGISEQ series of platforms and yield data similar to what can be expected using Illumina-compatible approaches. Conclusions Our straightforward modification to an Illumina-compatible in situHi-C protocol enables data generation on the BGISEQ series of platforms, thus expanding the options available for researchers who wish to utilize the powerful Hi-C techniques in their research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1933) ◽  
pp. 20201184
Author(s):  
Richard D. Horak ◽  
Sean P. Leonard ◽  
Nancy A. Moran

The gut microbiome plays a critical role in the health of many animals. Honeybees are no exception, as they host a core microbiome that affects their nutrition and immune function. However, the relationship between the honeybee immune system and its gut symbionts is poorly understood. Here, we explore how the beneficial symbiont Snodgrassella alvi affects honeybee immune gene expression. We show that both live and heat-killed S. alvi protect honeybees from the opportunistic pathogen Serratia marcescens and lead to the expression of host antimicrobial peptides . Honeybee immune genes respond differently to live S. alvi compared to heat-killed S. alvi, the latter causing a more extensive immune expression response. We show a preference for Toll pathway upregulation over the Imd pathway in the presence of both live and heat-killed S. alvi . Finally, we find that live S. alvi aids in clearance of S. marcescens from the honeybee gut, supporting a potential role for the symbiont in colonization resistance. Our results show that colonization by the beneficial symbiont S. alvi triggers a replicable honeybee immune response. These responses may benefit the host and the symbiont, by helping to regulate gut microbial members and preventing overgrowth or invasion by opportunists.


Author(s):  
Sina Cassau ◽  
Jürgen Krieger

AbstractThe sense of smell enables insects to recognize olfactory signals crucial for survival and reproduction. In insects, odorant detection highly depends on the interplay of distinct proteins expressed by specialized olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) and associated support cells which are housed together in chemosensory units, named sensilla, mainly located on the antenna. Besides odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and olfactory receptors, so-called sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) are indicated to play a critical role in the detection of certain odorants. SNMPs are insect-specific membrane proteins initially identified in pheromone-sensitive OSNs of Lepidoptera and are indispensable for a proper detection of pheromones. In the last decades, genome and transcriptome analyses have revealed a wide distribution of SNMP-encoding genes in holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects, with a given species expressing multiple subtypes in distinct cells of the olfactory system. Besides SNMPs having a neuronal expression in subpopulations of OSNs, certain SNMP types were found expressed in OSN-associated support cells suggesting different decisive roles of SNMPs in the peripheral olfactory system. In this review, we will report the state of knowledge of neuronal and non-neuronal members of the SNMP family and discuss their possible functions in insect olfaction.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document