Comparative genomics and transcriptomics in ants provide new insights into the evolution and function of odorant binding and chemosensory proteins.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The complex societies of ants and other social insects rely on sophisticated chemical communication. Two families of small soluble proteins, the odorant binding and chemosensory proteins (OBPs and CSPs), are believed to be important in insect chemosensation. To better understand the role of these proteins in ant olfaction, we examined their evolution and expression across the ants using phylogenetics and sex- and tissue-specific RNA-seq.

Results

We find that subsets of both OBPs and CSPs are expressed in the antennae, contradicting the previous hypothesis that CSPs have replaced OBPs in ant olfaction. Both protein families have several highly conserved clades with a single ortholog in all eusocial hymenopterans, as well as clades with more dynamic evolution and ma

SUBMITTER: McKenzie SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4161878 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature