Journal article
Transcriptional profiling of predator-induced phenotypic plasticity in Daphnia pulex
Frontiers in zoology, Vol.12(1), pp.18-18
2015
DOI: 10.1186/s12983-015-0109-x
PMCID: PMC4514973
PMID: 26213557
Abstract
Predator-induced defences are a prominent example of phenotypic plasticity found from single-celled organisms to vertebrates. The water flea Daphnia pulex is a very convenient ecological genomic model for studying predator-induced defences as it exhibits substantial morphological changes under predation risk. Most importantly, however, genetically identical clones can be transcriptionally profiled under both control and predation risk conditions and be compared due to the availability of the sequenced reference genome. Earlier gene expression analyses of candidate genes as well as a tiled genomic microarray expression experiment have provided insights into some genes involved in predator-induced phenotypic plasticity. Here we performed the first RNA-Seq analysis to identify genes that were differentially expressed in defended vs. undefended D. pulex specimens in order to explore the genetic mechanisms underlying predator-induced defences at a qualitatively novel level.
We report 230 differentially expressed genes (158 up- and 72 down-regulated) identified in at least two of three different assembly approaches. Several of the differentially regulated genes belong to families of paralogous genes. The most prominent classes amongst the up-regulated genes include cuticle genes, zinc-metalloproteinases and vitellogenin genes. Furthermore, several genes from this group code for proteins recruited in chromatin-reorganization or regulation of the cell cycle (cyclins). Down-regulated gene classes include C-type lectins, proteins involved in lipogenesis, and other families, some of which encode proteins with no known molecular function.
The RNA-Seq transcriptome data presented in this study provide important insights into gene regulatory patterns underlying predator-induced defences. In particular, we characterized different effector genes and gene families found to be regulated in Daphnia in response to the presence of an invertebrate predator. These effector genes are mostly in agreement with expectations based on observed phenotypic changes including morphological alterations, i.e., expression of proteins involved in formation of protective structures and in cuticle strengthening, as well as proteins required for resource re-allocation. Our findings identify key genetic pathways associated with anti-predator defences.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Transcriptional profiling of predator-induced phenotypic plasticity in Daphnia pulex
- Creators
- Andrey Rozenberg - Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitaetsstrasse 150, Bochum, 44801 GermanyMrutyunjaya Parida - Departments of Biology and Pediatrics and the Roy J. Carver Center for Genomics, 459 Biology Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USAFlorian Leese - Present address: University of Duisburg-Essen, Aquatic Ecosystems Research, Universitaetsstrasse 5, Essen, 45141 GermanyLinda C Weiss - Environmental Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT UKRalph Tollrian - Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitaetsstrasse 150, Bochum, 44801 GermanyJ Robert Manak - Departments of Biology and Pediatrics and the Roy J. Carver Center for Genomics, 459 Biology Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in zoology, Vol.12(1), pp.18-18
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12983-015-0109-x
- PMID
- 26213557
- PMCID
- PMC4514973
- NLM abbreviation
- Front Zool
- ISSN
- 1742-9994
- eISSN
- 1742-9994
- Publisher
- England
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2015
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Biology; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Record Identifier
- 9983992073402771
Metrics
31 Record Views