Misdirection of dosage compensation underlies bidirectional sex-specific death in Wolbachia-infected Ostrinia scapulalis. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sugimoto, Takafumi N.; Kayukawa, Takumi; Shinoda, Tetsuro; Ishikawa, Yukio; Tsuchida, Tsutomu
• Is Part Of: Insect biochemistry and molecular biology. Volume 66(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 76
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Wolbachia -- Sex-specific death -- Male killing -- Feminization -- Dosage compensation -- Ostrinia scapulalis; Insect biochemistry -- Periodicals; Insects -- Physiology -- Periodicals; Insects -- Molecular aspects -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Insectes -- Biochimie -- Périodiques; Insectes -- Composition -- Périodiques; Insectes -- Physiologie -- Périodiques; Insectes -- Aspect moléculaire -- Périodiques; Biochimie -- Périodiques; Biochemistry; Insect biochemistry; Insects -- Molecular aspects; Insects -- Physiology; Periodicals; 572.8157
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.10.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-1748

Abstract

Abstract: Endosymbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia often manipulate the reproductive system of their hosts to propagate themselves in host populations. Ostrinia scapulalis moths infected with Wolbachia ( wSca ) produce female-only progeny (sex chromosomes: ZW), whereas females cured of the infection by antibiotic treatment produce male-only progeny (ZZ). The occurrence of female- and male-only progeny has been attributed to the specific death of the opposite sex during embryonic and larval development. In this bidirectional sex-specific lethality, embryos destined to die express a phenotypic sex opposite to their genotypic sex. On the basis of these findings, we suggested that wSca carries a genetic factor that feminizes the male host, the W chromosome of the host has lost its feminizing function, and discordance between the genotypic and phenotypic sexes underlies this sex-specific death. In the present study, we examined whether the failure of dosage compensation was responsible for this sex-specific mortality. Quantitative PCRs showed that Z-linked gene expression levels in embryos destined to die were not properly dosage compensated; they were approximately two-fold higher in the male progeny of wSca -infected females and approximately two-fold lower in the female progeny of infected-and-cured females. These results support our hypothesis that misdirection of dosage compensation underlies the sex-specific death. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Male progeny of the moth Ostrinia scapulalis infected with Wolbachia die. Conversely, female progeny die when these moths are cured of the infection. Z-linked genes were dosage compensated in the progeny of normal uninfected moths. Dosage compensation was misdirected in male and female progeny destined to die.