Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31615402›Full record

ArticleBMC genomics2019

Comparative transcriptomic analysis and endocuticular protein gene expression of alate adults, workers and soldiers of the termite Reticulitermes aculabialis.

Humaira Rasheed, Chenxu Ye, Yufeng Meng, Yuehua Ran, Jing Li, Xiaohong Su

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC genomics, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Humaira RasheedKey Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Northwest University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, China.
Chenxu YeKey Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Northwest University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, China.
Yufeng MengCollege of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
Yuehua RanCollege of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
Jing LiCollege of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
Xiaohong SuKey Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Northwest University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, China. sxhnwu@nwu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 31870389Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi 2019JM356Opening Foundation of Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Northwest University), Ministry of Education ZSK2017002
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe insect cuticle is mainly composed of exocuticle and endocuticle layers that consist of a large number of structural proteins. The thickness and synthesis of the exocuticle depend on different castes that perform various functions in alates, workers and soldiers. However, it is not clear whether the soft endocuticle is involved in the division of labour in termite colonies. To reveal the structural characteristics of the endocuticle in different castes, we investigated the thickness of endocuticle layers in alates, workers and soldiers of the termite Reticulitermes aculabialis, and then we sequenced their transcriptome and detected the endocuticle protein genes. The differential expression levels of the endocuticular protein genes were confirmed in the three castes.

resultsWe found that there was a great difference in the thickness of the endocuticle among the alates, soldiers and workers. The thickest endocuticle layers were found in the heads of the workers 7.88 ± 1.67 μm. The endocuticle layer in the head of the workers was approximately three-fold and nine-fold thicker than that in the heads of soldiers and alates, respectively. The thinnest endocuticle layers occurred in the head, thorax and abdomen of alates, which were 0.86 ± 0.15, 0.76 ± 0.24 and 0.52 ± 0.17 μm thick, respectively, and had no significant differences. A total of 43,531,650 clean sequencing reads was obtained, and 89,475 unigenes were assembled. Of the 70 identified cuticular protein genes, 10 endocuticular genes that belong to the RR-1 family were selected. qRT-PCR analysis of the five endocuticular genes (SgAbd-2, SgAbd-9, Abd-5, SgAbd-2-like and Abd-4-like) revealed that the endocuticle genes were more highly expressed in workers than in soldiers and alates.

conclusionThese results suggest that SgAbd and Abd are the key components of the endocuticle. We infer that the thicker endocuticle in workers is helpful for them to perform their functions against environmental stress.

Indexed as

AnimalsGene Expression ProfilingHigh-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingInsect ProteinsIsopteraSequence Analysis, RNAInsect ProteinsCaste differentiationEndocuticular proteinGene expressionReticulitermes aculabialisTranscriptome

Identifiers

PMID31615402
PMCPMC6794787

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