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Molecular traces of alternative social organization in a termite genome

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolas Terrapon

    (Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität
    Present address: Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, Aix-Marseille Université, 13288 Marseille, France)

  • Cai Li

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen
    Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen)

  • Hugh M. Robertson

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Lu Ji

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Xuehong Meng

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Warren Booth

    (North Carolina State University
    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104, USA)

  • Zhensheng Chen

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Christopher P. Childers

    (University of Missouri)

  • Karl M. Glastad

    (School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Kaustubh Gokhale

    (School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University)

  • Johannes Gowin

    (Behavioural Biology, University of Osnabrück
    Present address: Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, University of Freiburg, D 79117 Freiburg, Germany)

  • Wulfila Gronenberg

    (University of Arizona)

  • Russell A. Hermansen

    (University of Wyoming)

  • Haofu Hu

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Brendan G. Hunt

    (School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Present address: Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Griffin Campus, Griffin, Georgia 30223 USA)

  • Ann Kathrin Huylmans

    (Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität
    Present address: Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried D-82152, Germany)

  • Sayed M. S. Khalil

    (North Carolina State University
    Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute)

  • Robert D. Mitchell

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Monica C. Munoz-Torres

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Julie A. Mustard

    (School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University)

  • Hailin Pan

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Justin T. Reese

    (University of Missouri)

  • Michael E. Scharf

    (Purdue University)

  • Fengming Sun

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Heiko Vogel

    (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology)

  • Jin Xiao

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Wei Yang

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Zhikai Yang

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Zuoquan Yang

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Jiajian Zhou

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Jiwei Zhu

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Colin S. Brent

    (Arid Land Agricultural Research Center)

  • Christine G. Elsik

    (University of Missouri
    University of Missouri)

  • Michael A. D. Goodisman

    (School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • David A. Liberles

    (University of Wyoming)

  • R. Michael Roe

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Edward L. Vargo

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Andreas Vilcinskas

    (Institut für Phytopathologie und Angewandte Zoologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen)

  • Jun Wang

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen
    University of Copenhagen
    Princess Al Jawhara Center of Excellence in the Research of Hereditary Disorders, King Abdulaziz University
    Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida Wai long)

  • Erich Bornberg-Bauer

    (Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität)

  • Judith Korb

    (Behavioural Biology, University of Osnabrück
    Present address: Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, University of Freiburg, D 79117 Freiburg, Germany)

  • Guojie Zhang

    (China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen
    Centre for Social Evolution, University of Copenhagen)

  • Jürgen Liebig

    (School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University)

Abstract

Although eusociality evolved independently within several orders of insects, research into the molecular underpinnings of the transition towards social complexity has been confined primarily to Hymenoptera (for example, ants and bees). Here we sequence the genome and stage-specific transcriptomes of the dampwood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis (Blattodea) and compare them with similar data for eusocial Hymenoptera, to better identify commonalities and differences in achieving this significant transition. We show an expansion of genes related to male fertility, with upregulated gene expression in male reproductive individuals reflecting the profound differences in mating biology relative to the Hymenoptera. For several chemoreceptor families, we show divergent numbers of genes, which may correspond to the more claustral lifestyle of these termites. We also show similarities in the number and expression of genes related to caste determination mechanisms. Finally, patterns of DNA methylation and alternative splicing support a hypothesized epigenetic regulation of caste differentiation.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Terrapon & Cai Li & Hugh M. Robertson & Lu Ji & Xuehong Meng & Warren Booth & Zhensheng Chen & Christopher P. Childers & Karl M. Glastad & Kaustubh Gokhale & Johannes Gowin & Wulfila Gronenber, 2014. "Molecular traces of alternative social organization in a termite genome," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4636
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4636
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    Cited by:

    1. Simon Hellemans & Mauricio M. Rocha & Menglin Wang & Johanna Romero Arias & Duur K. Aanen & Anne-Geneviève Bagnères & Aleš Buček & Tiago F. Carrijo & Thomas Chouvenc & Carolina Cuezzo & Joice P. Const, 2024. "Genomic data provide insights into the classification of extant termites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.

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