A single gene integrates sex and hormone regulators into sexual attractiveness

Abstract

Sex differentiation and hormones are essential for the development of sexual signals in animals, and the regulation of sexual signals involves complex gene networks. However, it is unknown whether a core gene is able to connect the upstream regulators for controlling sexual signal outputs and behavioural consequences. Here, we identify a single gene that integrates both sex differentiation and hormone signalling with sexual attractiveness in an insect model. CYP4PC1 in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, controls the rate-limiting step in producing female-specific contact sex pheromone (CSP) that stimulates male courtship. As revealed by behavioural, biochemical, molecular, genetic and bioinformatic approaches, in sexually mature females, CYP4PC1 expression and CSP production are coordinately induced by sex differentiation genes and juvenile hormone (JH) signalling. In adult males, direct inhibition of CYP4PC1 expression by doublesex^M binding in gene promoter and lack of the gonadotropic hormone JH prevent CSP production, thus avoiding male-male attraction. By manipulating the upstream regulators, we show that wild-type males prefer to court cockroaches with higher CYP4PC1 expression and CSP production in a dose-dependent manner, regardless of their sex. These findings shed light on how sex-specific and high sexual attractiveness is conferred in insects.