Identification and characterization of the doublesex gene of Nasonia

The doublesex (dsx) gene of the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis is described and characterized. Differential splicing of dsx transcripts has been shown to induce somatic sexual differentiation in Diptera and Lepidoptera, but not yet in other insect orders. Two spliceforms of Nasonia dsx mRNA are...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Insect molecular biology 2009-06, Vol.18 (3), p.315-324
Main Authors: Oliveira, D.C.S.G, Werren, J.H, Verhulst, E.C, Giebel, J.D, Kamping, A, Beukeboom, L.W, van de Zande, L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative Splicing
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Apis
Diptera
DM domain genes
DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
doublesex
Drosophila Proteins - genetics
Drosophila Proteins - metabolism
Evolution, Molecular
Female
haplodiploidy
Haploidy
Hymenoptera
Insect Proteins - genetics
Insect Proteins - metabolism
Lepidoptera
Male
Molecular Sequence Data
Nasonia
Nasonia vitripennis
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
sex determination
Sex Determination Processes
Wasps - genetics
Wasps - metabolism
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Summary:The doublesex (dsx) gene of the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis is described and characterized. Differential splicing of dsx transcripts has been shown to induce somatic sexual differentiation in Diptera and Lepidoptera, but not yet in other insect orders. Two spliceforms of Nasonia dsx mRNA are differentially expressed in males and females. In addition, in a gynandromorphic line that produces haploids (normally males) with full female phenotypes, these individuals show the female spliceform, providing the first demonstration of a direct association of dsx with somatic sex differentiation in Hymenoptera. Finally, the DNA binding (DM) domain of Nasonia dsx clusters phylogenetically with dsx from other insects, and Nasonia dsx shows microsynteny with dsx of Apis, further supporting identification of the dsx orthologue in Nasonia.
ISSN:0962-1075
1365-2583
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2583.2009.00874.x