Project description:In the fire ant Solenopsis invicta, a colony queen number is determined by the founding queen's genotypes at the 13 Mb supergene with the non-recombining variants SB and Sb. Single-queen colonies are always headed by SB/SB queens while multiple-queens colonies are always headed by SB/Sb queens. The two variants of the supergene, SB and Sb are completely linked to the two alleles (B and b) of the gene Gp-9. SB/SB and SB/Sb queens differ in many physiological traits including their maturation rate and odor. To explain why SB/SB and SB/Sb queens have different odors, and why SB/SB virgins mature faster and accumulate more fat, we measured expression of ~6000 genes in virgin queens 1 and 11 days after eclosion and in reproductive queens. Keywords: fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, Supergene, queen, Gp-9, social form, maturation, fat storage, queen odor, cuticular hydrocarbon, worker discrimination, monogyne, polygyne, transposon, chemical signaling
Project description:Queen discrimination behavior in the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta maintains its two types of societies: colonies with one (monogyne) or many (polygyne) queens, yet the underlying genetic mechanism is poorly understood. This behavior is controlled by two supergene alleles, SB and Sb, with ~600 genes. Polygyne workers, having either the SB/SB or SB/Sb genotype, accept additional SB/Sb queens into their colonies but kill SB/SB queens. While monogyne workers, all SB/SB, reject all additional queens regardless of genotype. Because the SB and Sb alleles do not recombine, it is difficult to determine which genes within the supergene mediate this differential worker behavior. We hypothesized that the alternate worker genotypes sense queens differently because of different patterns of gene expression in their main sensory organ, the antennae. To identify such differentially expressed genes, we sequenced RNA from four biological replicates of pooled antennae from three groups of workers: monogyne SB/SB, polygyne SB/SB, and polygyne SB/Sb. We identified 81 differentially expressed protein coding genes with 14 encoding potential odor metabolism and perception proteins. We focused on the two differentially expressed odorant perception genes: an odorant binding protein SiOBP12 and an odorant receptor SiOR463. We found that the SiOR463 was lost in the Sb-genome. In contrast, the SiOBP12 has an Sb-specific duplication SiOBP12b’, which was expressed in the SB/Sb worker antennae, while both paralogs SiOBP12 and SiOBP12b’ were expressed in the body. This result indicates that SiOBP12b’ has gained an antennal promoter or enhancer and suggests neofunctionalization, perhaps for queen discrimination behavior.
Project description:Queen discrimination behavior in the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta maintains its two types of societies: colonies with one (monogyne) or many (polygyne) queens, yet the underlying genetic mechanism is poorly understood. This behavior is controlled by two supergene alleles, SB and Sb, with ~600 genes. Polygyne workers, having either the SB/SB or SB/Sb genotype, accept additional SB/Sb queens into their colonies but kill SB/SB queens. While monogyne workers, all SB/SB, reject all additional queens regardless of genotype. Because the SB and Sb alleles do not recombine, it is difficult to determine which genes within the supergene mediate this differential worker behavior. We hypothesized that the alternate worker genotypes sense queens differently because of different patterns of gene expression in their main sensory organ, the antennae. To identify such differentially expressed genes, we sequenced RNA from four biological replicates of pooled antennae from three groups of workers: monogyne SB/SB, polygyne SB/SB, and polygyne SB/Sb. We identified 81 differentially expressed protein coding genes with 14 encoding potential odor metabolism and perception proteins. We focused on the two differentially expressed odorant perception genes: an odorant binding protein SiOBP12 and an odorant receptor SiOR463. We found that the SiOR463 was lost in the Sb-genome. In contrast, the SiOBP12 has an Sb-specific duplication SiOBP12b’, which was expressed in the SB/Sb worker antennae, while both paralogs SiOBP12 and SiOBP12b’ were expressed in the body. This result indicates that SiOBP12b’ has gained an antennal promoter or enhancer and suggests neofunctionalization, perhaps for queen discrimination behavior.
Project description:Queen discrimination behavior in the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta maintains its two types of societies: colonies with one (monogyne) or many (polygyne) queens, yet the underlying genetic mechanism is poorly understood. This behavior is controlled by two supergene alleles, SB and Sb, with ~600 genes. Polygyne workers, having either the SB/SB or SB/Sb genotype, accept additional SB/Sb queens into their colonies but kill SB/SB queens. While monogyne workers, all SB/SB, reject all additional queens regardless of genotype. Because the SB and Sb alleles do not recombine, it is difficult to determine which genes within the supergene mediate this differential worker behavior. We hypothesized that the alternate worker genotypes sense queens differently because of different patterns of gene expression in their main sensory organ, the antennae. To identify such differentially expressed genes, we sequenced RNA from four biological replicates of pooled antennae from three groups of workers: monogyne SB/SB, polygyne SB/SB, and polygyne SB/Sb. We identified 81 differentially expressed protein coding genes with 14 encoding potential odor metabolism and perception proteins. We focused on the two differentially expressed odorant perception genes: an odorant binding protein SiOBP12 and an odorant receptor SiOR463. We found that the SiOR463 was lost in the Sb-genome. In contrast, the SiOBP12 has an Sb-specific duplication SiOBP12b’, which was expressed in the SB/Sb worker antennae, while both paralogs SiOBP12 and SiOBP12b’ were expressed in the body. This result indicates that SiOBP12b’ has gained an antennal promoter or enhancer and suggests neofunctionalization, perhaps for queen discrimination behavior.
Project description:Sleep bruxism (SB) is a disorder in which patients repeatedly make involuntary jaw movements during sleep. In this study, we performed bulk RNA sequencing (CTRL:SB = 3:3) using iPS cell-derived neurons established from SB patients to investigate gene expression patterns specific to SB patients.
Project description:Sleep bruxism (SB) is a disorder in which patients repeatedly make involuntary jaw movements during sleep. In this study, we performed single nucleus RNA sequencing (CTRL:SB = 1:1) using iPS cell-derived neurons established from SB patients to investigate gene expression of each neural subtype specific to SB patients.
Project description:In the fire ant Solenopsis invicta, a colony queen number is determined by the founding queen's genotypes at the 13 Mb supergene with the non-recombining variants SB and Sb. Single-queen colonies are always headed by SB/SB queens while multiple-queens colonies are always headed by SB/Sb queens. The two variants of the supergene, SB and Sb are completely linked to the two alleles (B and b) of the gene Gp-9. SB/SB and SB/Sb queens differ in many physiological traits including their maturation rate and odor. To explain why SB/SB and SB/Sb queens have different odors, and why SB/SB virgins mature faster and accumulate more fat, we measured expression of ~6000 genes in virgin queens 1 and 11 days after eclosion and in reproductive queens. Keywords: fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, Supergene, queen, Gp-9, social form, maturation, fat storage, queen odor, cuticular hydrocarbon, worker discrimination, monogyne, polygyne, transposon, chemical signaling Six-condition experiment: 1-day-old SB/SB virgins, 1-day-old SB/Sb virgins, 11-day-old SB/SB virgins, 11-day-old SB/Sb virgins, SB/SB reproductive queens, SB/Sb reproductive queens. Biological replicates: 8 for 1-day-old SB/SB virgins and 1-day-old SB/Sb virgins that were collected in 2008; 8 for 1-day-old SB/SB virgins, 1-day-old SB/Sb virgins that were collected in 2009; 7 for 11-day-old SB/SB virgins and 11-day-old SB/Sb virgins that were collected in 2008; 8 for 11-day-old SB/SB virgins and 11-day-old SB/Sb virgins that were collected in 2009; 8 for SB/SB and SB/Sb reproductive queens (only collected in 2009). Samples were labeled with Cy3 and were compared to the same common reference RNA labeled with Cy5. Samples from 2008 were hybridized on the microarrays batch I and samples from 2009 were hybridized on the microarrays batch J.
Project description:Distinct miRNA expression patterns may reflect anomalies related to fetal malformations such as spinal bifida (SB) or congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), which could shed light on novel pathomechanism determination and subsequent diagnostic significance evaluation. The aim of this study was to determine the miRNA maternal expression profile in plasma and amniotic fluid samples of women carrying fetuses with SB and CDH.
Project description:Antimony (Sb) pollution, especially released from mining activities has already been widely recognized as a global concern. To gauge strategies for the remediation of an Sb-contaminated ecosystem, the exploration of native microbiota Sb(III) resistance mechanism is of great significance. Acinetobacter is one of the bacterial genera abundantly thriving in Sb(III)-contaminated environments, the scientific elaboration of Sb(III)-resistance mechanisms of Acinetobacter is imperative. Proteomics experiment was performed (Acinetobacter johnsonii JH7 with and without Sb(III) addtion) to probe its pattern of proteins change under Sb(III) stress. We hope that the mechanisms of Sb(III) resistance of Acinetobacter could be revealed by using iTRAQ this time.