Disruption of sex chromosome inheritance, functional complementation, developmental block of nonhosts associated with endosymbiotic Wolbachia pipientis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H02972
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 39050:Insect science-related
• Research Institution: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
• Principal Investigator: KAGEYAMA DAISUKE 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構, 生物機能利用研究部門, 上級研究員 (60401212)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 佐原 健 岩手大学, 農学部, 教授 (30241368)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ボルバキア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In Eurema mandarina, an "all-female line" having a Wolbachia strain wFem does not possess W chromosome, being designated Z0 while "normal line" lacking in wFem does possess W chromosome, being designated ZW. Here we revealed that larvae of "all-female" line exhibit both female-specific and male-specific splice variants of doublesex, which turns into the exclusive presence of the female-specific variant. Our study highlights a new aspect of Wolbachia action - Wolbachia partially affect sex determination/differentiation until late development, wherein rapid increase of Wolbachia titers allows completion of feminization of Z0 individuals.

Free Research Field

昆虫学・進化生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

細胞内共生細菌であるボルバキアが昆虫の性決定に対して、生育後期にいたるまで部分的な影響しか与えておらず、その後一気に増殖し完全なメス化を達成するという、今まで知られていなかった新たな側面を明らかにした。昆虫の性決定が胚発生のみにとどまらないこと、ボルバキアによる宿主のメス化は意外にシンプルな仕組みで起きているのかもしれず、他の昆虫で知られるボルバキアによるオス殺し現象とは大きく異なることを改めて見出した。