Caste-specific expressions and diverse roles of takeout genes in the termite Reticulitermes speratus.

ABSTRACT: Acquisition of novel functions caused by gene duplication may be important for termite social evolution. To clarify this possibility, additional evidence is needed. An important example is takeout, encoding juvenile hormone binding protein. We identified 25 takeouts in the termite Reticulitermes speratus genome. RNA-seq revealed that many genes were highly expressed in specific castes. Two novel paralogs (RsTO1, RsTO2) were tandemly aligned in the same scaffold. Real-time qPCR indicated that RsTO1 and RsTO2 were highly expressed in queens and soldiers, respectively. Moreover, the highest RsTO1 expression was observed in alates during queen formation. These patterns were different from vitellogenins, encoding egg-yolk precursors, which were highly expressed in queens than alates. In situ hy

SUBMITTER: Fujiwara K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10209217 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature