Identification and expression of chemosensory receptor genes in the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis

Huayan Chen; Zachary Lahey; Elijah J Talamas; Norman F Johnson

doi:10.1016/j.cbd.2020.100758

Identification and expression of chemosensory receptor genes in the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis

Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics. 2021 Mar:37:100758. doi: 10.1016/j.cbd.2020.100758. Epub 2020 Nov 4.

Authors

Huayan Chen¹, Zachary Lahey², Elijah J Talamas³, Norman F Johnson⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences/School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212, USA. Electronic address: chenhuayan@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
² Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212, USA. Electronic address: lahey.18@osu.edu.
³ Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212, USA; Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The Doyle Conner Building, 1911 SW 34th St, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA. Electronic address: elijah.talamas@freshfromflorida.com.
⁴ Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212, USA; Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212, USA. Electronic address: johnson.2@osu.edu.

PMID: 33202309
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2020.100758

Abstract

Parasitic wasps largely rely on chemosenses to locate resources. Understanding the evolution of their chemoreceptors can help elucidate the mechanisms underlying host adaptation and speciation. Trissolcus basalis is a biological control agent of the southern green stink bug, a pantropical pest, and is ideal for investigating the evolution of chemoreceptors. We identified 34 gustatory receptors, 170 odorant receptors, one odorant co-receptor, and 23 ionotropic receptors. Comparison with other Hymenoptera revealed species-specific expansions of 21 Grs and 53 Ors. Most of these Or expansions have 9 exons. Gender- and tissue-specific analyses showed that 5 Grs and 54 Ors are expressed only in antennae in both sexes, 66 Ors in female antennae only, and 4 Ors in male antennae alone. The identification and expression profile of chemosensory receptor genes in T. basalis helps in understanding the link between the evolution of chemoreceptors and speciation in parasitic wasps.

Keywords: Gustatory receptor; Host finding; Hymenoptera; Ionotropic receptor; Olfactory receptor.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Biological Control Agents / metabolism
Genes, Insect
Insect Proteins / genetics*
Receptors, Odorant / genetics
Taste
Transcriptome
Wasps / genetics*
Wasps / physiology

Substances

Biological Control Agents
Insect Proteins
Receptors, Odorant