Extensive transcriptomic profiling of pupal diapause in a butterfly reveals a dynamic phenotype. Issue 4 (13th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pruisscher, Peter; Lehmann, Philipp; Nylin, Sören; Gotthard, Karl; Wheat, Christopher W.
• Is Part Of: Molecular ecology. Volume 31:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 1269
• Page End: 1280
• Publication Date: 2021-12-13
• Subjects: diapause -- gene expression -- lepidoptera -- RNA‐Seq -- transcriptome dynamics; Molecular ecology -- Periodicals; Molecular population biology -- Periodicals; 576
• DOI: 10.1111/mec.16304
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-1083

Abstract

Abstract: Diapause is a common adaptation for overwintering in insects that is characterized by arrested development and increased tolerance to stress and cold. While the expression of specific candidate genes during diapause have been investigated, there is no general understanding of the dynamics of the transcriptional landscape as a whole during the extended diapause phenotype. Such a detailed temporal insight is important as diapause is a vital aspect of life cycle timing. Here, we performed a time‐course experiment using RNA‐Seq on the head and abdomen in the butterfly Pieris napi . In both body parts, comparing diapausing and nondiapausing siblings, differentially expressed genes are detected from the first day of pupal development and onwards, varying dramatically across these formative stages. During diapause there are strong gene expression dynamics present, revealing a preprogrammed transcriptional landscape that is active during the winter. Different biological processes appear to be active in the two body parts. Finally, adults emerging from either the direct or diapause pathways do not show large transcriptomic differences, suggesting the adult phenotype is strongly canalized.