G1: Comparative Genomics and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Evolution of Complex Traits in Insects


Sociality is considered to be one of the major transitions in evolution but only little of the underlying genomic basis and the associated selectable traits are known. Social insects are an excellent study object because their genomes are relatively simple to analyse and many speciation events gave rise to morphologically and ecologically diverse species within a relatively short time period. Furthermore, in insects, sociality has independently evolved at least twice, in Hymenoptera (comprising ants and bees) and in termites. Both groups also show a striking reversal of the otherwise widely spread trade-off between longevity and fecundity. Furthermore, loss and/or reversal of social behaviour has been observed since several ants parasitise or enslave the colonies of very closely related species.

Hemimetabolous genomes reveal molecular basis of termite eusociality. Image by Adriana Alvear

We have investigated genomes and transcriptomes of several insects, most of which are either social or closely related outgroups thereof. Using standard bioinformatic techniques and several of our in-house algorithms we could identify horizontally transfered genes from bacterial parasites, several genes under adaptation and novel genes which were instrumental for the ecological success of social insects. In comparing social with non-social insects, we found that novel genes and the rewiring of regulatory networks both play a big role for the regulation of sociality. We also consider the epigenetic marks and effects from methylation/acetylation and of small regulatory RNAs on the differentiation of individuals during their development to test the possible role of epigenetic marks in general and their effect on de novo genes and on rearranged genes. Finally, using comparative genomics between closely related host/parasite pairs across multiple origins of social parasitism in ants, we investigated gene family dynamics underlying the transition to a parasitic lifestyle.

People: Mark Harrison, Alice Séguret, Elias Dohmen, Bertrand Fouks, Alina Mikhailova, Alun Jones


Gene co-expression network in ant queens: (on the left) In queens of the ant, Cardiocondyla obscurior, we found several modules upregulated with age that are enriched for anti-ageing mechanisms. Furthermore, gene regulation appears to improve with age, which is contrary to expectations for an ageing organism. ). Right to the phylogenetic tree, the percentages represent the proportion of transposable elements ofwithin each species genome, the grey dots depict the genome size of each species, and the barplot the number of proteins found among all insects, each clade and that are specific to a species.

Collaborations

Funding: DFG (2015 - 2019, 2017 - 2022); HFSP (2018-2021); ANR/DFG (2020-2023); MSCA-IF (2021-2023)

Chemoreceptors in social termites: In termites and their non-social relatives, the cockroaches, Ionotropic Receptors (IRs) are a highly abundant group of chemoreceptors which likely expanded at the root of Blattodea. Within termites, where chemoperception is important for colony communication, we found signals for positive selection within the ligand binding domain, indicating adaptation towards novel cues. Interestingly, in eusocial Hymenoptera a different group of chemoreceptors, the Odorant Receptors (ORs) are expanded. Harrison, MC, et al. Nature ecology & evolution 2.3 (2018): 557-566.

Related Publications

  • He S, Sieksmeyer T, Che Y, Esparza Mora MA, Stiblik P, Banasiak R, Harrison MC, Sobotnik J, Wang Z, Johnston PR, McMahon DP. Evidence for reduced immune gene diversity and activity during the evolution of termites. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 2021. Online Access
  • Harrison MC, Chrenyshova AM, Thompson GJ. No obvious transcriptome-wide signature of indirect selection in termites. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 2020. Online Access
  • Thomas GWC et al. Gene content evolution in the arthropods. Genome Biology 2020. Online Access
  • Gstöttl C, Stoldt M, Jongepier E, Bornberg-Bauer E, Feldmeyer B, Heinze J, Foitzik S. Comparative analyses of caste, sex and developmental stage-specific transcriptomes in two Temnothorax ants. Ecology & Evolution 2020.
  • Harrison MC et al. Hemimetabolous genomes reveal molecular basis of termite eusociality. Nature Ecology & Evolution 2018. Online Access
  • Jongepier E, Kemena C, Lopez-Ezquerra A, Belles X, Bornberg-Bauer E, Korb J. Remodeling of the juvenile hormone pathway through caste‐biased gene expression and positive selection along a gradient of termite eusociality. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B 2018. Online Access
  • Kremer LPM, Korb J, Bornberg-Bauer E. Reconstructed evolution of insulin receptors in insects reveals duplications in early insects and cockroaches. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B 2018. Online Access
  • Smith CR, Helms Cahan S, Kemena C, Brady SG, Yang W, Bornberg-Bauer E, Eriksson T, Gadau J, Helmkampf M, Gotzek D, Miyakawa MO, Suarez AV, Mikheyev A. How do genomes create novel phenotypes? Insights from the loss of the worker caste in ant social parasites. Molecular Biology & Evolution 2015. Online Access
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Techniques employed: cuffsuite; 454, Illumina, PacBio, ONP; AllPath, SoapDeNovo, MIRA, Platanus, Spades, MaSuRCA; Maker; BUSCO, DOGMA; PorthoDOM, proteinOrtho; RaXML, CodeML/PAML and many others.