Expansions of chemosensory gene orthologs among selected tsetse fly species and their expressions in Glossina morsitans morsitans tsetse fly
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Date
2020
Authors
Kabaka, Joy M.
Wachira, Benson M.
Mang’era, Clarence M.
Rono, Martin K.
Hassanali, Ahmed
Okoth, Sylvance O.
Oduol, Vincent O.
Macharia, Rosaline W.
Murilla, Grace A.
Mireji, Paul O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PloseOne
Abstract
Tsetse fly exhibit species-specific olfactory uniqueness potentially underpinned by differences in their chemosensory protein repertoire. We assessed 1) expansions of chemosensory protein orthologs in Glossina morsitans morsitans, Glossina pallidipes, Glossina
austeni, Glossina palpalis gambiensis, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes and Glossina brevipalpis
tsetse fly species using Cafe´ analysis (to identify species-specific expansions) and 2) differential expressions of the orthologs and associated proteins in male G. m. morsitans antennae and head tissues using RNA-Seq approaches (to establish associated functional
molecular pathways). We established accelerated and significant (P<0.05, λ = 2.60452e-7)
expansions of gene families in G. m. morsitans Odorant receptor (Or)71a, Or46a, Ir75a,d,
Ionotropic receptor (Ir) 31a, Ir84a, Ir64a and Odorant binding protein (Obp) 83a-b), G. pallidipes Or67a,c, Or49a, Or92a, Or85b-c,f and Obp73a, G. f. fuscipes Ir21a, Gustatory receptor (Gr) 21a and Gr63a), G. p. gambiensis clumsy, Ir25a and Ir8a, and G. brevipalpis Ir68a
and missing orthologs in each tsetse fly species. Most abundantly expressed transcripts in
male G. m. morsitans included specific Or (Orco, Or56a, 65a-c, Or47b, Or67b,
GMOY012254, GMOY009475, and GMOY006265), Gr (Gr21a, Gr63a, GMOY013297 and
GMOY013298), Ir (Ir8a, Ir25a and Ir41a) and Obp (Obp19a, lush, Obp28a, Obp83a-b
Obp44a, GMOY012275 and GMOY013254) orthologs. Most enriched biological processes
in the head were associated with vision, muscle activity and neuropeptide regulations,
amino acid/nucleotide metabolism and circulatory system processes. Antennal enrichments
(>90% of chemosensory transcripts) included cilium-associated mechanoreceptors,
chemo-sensation, neuronal controlled growth/differentiation and regeneration/responses to
stress. The expanded and tsetse fly species specific orthologs includes those associatedwith known tsetse fly responsive ligands (4-methyl phenol, 4-propyl phenol, acetic acid,
butanol and carbon dioxide) and potential tsetse fly species-specific responsive ligands (2-
oxopentanoic acid, phenylacetaldehyde, hydroxycinnamic acid, 2-heptanone, caffeine,
geosmin, DEET and (cVA) pheromone). Some of the orthologs can potentially modulate
several tsetse fly species-specific behavioral (male-male courtship, hunger/host seeking,
cool avoidance, hygrosensory and feeding) phenotypes. The putative tsetse fly specific chemosensory gene orthologs and their respective ligands provide candidate gene targets and
kairomones for respective downstream functional genomic and field evaluations that can
effectively expand toolbox of species-specific tsetse fly attractants, repellents and other
tsetse fly behavioral modulators.
Description
A research article published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Keywords
chemosensory gene orthologs, tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans morsitans tsetse fly
Citation
Kabaka JM, Wachira BM, Mang’era CM, Rono MK, Hassanali A, Okoth SO, et al. (2020) Expansions of chemosensory gene orthologs among selected tsetse fly species and their expressions in Glossina morsitans morsitans tsetse fly. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 14(6): e0008341. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008341