Extensive Differential Splicing Underlies Phenotypically Plastic Aphid Morphs.

ABSTRACT: Phenotypic plasticity results in a diversity of phenotypes from a single genotype in response to environmental cues. To understand the molecular basis of phenotypic plasticity, studies have focused on differential gene expression levels between environmentally determined phenotypes. The extent of alternative splicing differences among environmentally determined phenotypes has largely been understudied. Here, we study alternative splicing differences among plastically produced morphs of the pea aphid using RNA-sequence data. Pea aphids express two separate polyphenisms (plasticity with discrete phenotypes): a wing polyphenism consisting of winged and wingless females and a reproduction polyphenism consisting of asexual and sexual females. We find that pea aphids alternatively splice 34% of

SUBMITTER: Grantham ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6063273 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature