The Sexual Dimorphism in Rectum and Protein Digestion Pathway Influence Sex Pheromone Synthesis in Male Bactrocera Dorsalis

Abstract Sexual dimorphism is a crucial aspect of mating and reproduction in many animals, yet the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In Bactrocera dorsalis, sex pheromones trimethylpyrazine (TMP) and tetramethylpyrazine (TTMP) are specifically synthesized by Bacillus strains in the male rectum. I...

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Main Authors: Jingxiang Chen, Yanling Jiang, Zijie Gao, Jiawang Dai, Chunsheng Jia, Yongyue Lu, Daifeng Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-11-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202407353
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author Jingxiang Chen
Yanling Jiang
Zijie Gao
Jiawang Dai
Chunsheng Jia
Yongyue Lu
Daifeng Cheng
author_facet Jingxiang Chen
Yanling Jiang
Zijie Gao
Jiawang Dai
Chunsheng Jia
Yongyue Lu
Daifeng Cheng
author_sort Jingxiang Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Sexual dimorphism is a crucial aspect of mating and reproduction in many animals, yet the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In Bactrocera dorsalis, sex pheromones trimethylpyrazine (TMP) and tetramethylpyrazine (TTMP) are specifically synthesized by Bacillus strains in the male rectum. In the female rectum, Bacillus strains are found, but TMP and TTMP are not, indicating sexually dimorphic differences in sex pheromone synthesis. Our anatomical observations and precursor measurements revealed significant differences in rectal structure and ammonium levels between sexes.  In vitro and in vivo experiments reveal that ammonium is vital for sex pheromone synthesis in rectal Bacillus strains. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified ammonium‐producing genes (carboxypeptidase B and peptide transporter) in the protein digestion pathway that show much higher expression in the male rectum than in the female rectum. Knocking down the expression of either carboxypeptidase B (or inhibiting enzyme activity) or peptide transporter decreases rectal ammonium levels significantly, resulting in the failure of sex pheromone synthesis in the male rectum. This study provides insights into the presence of sexual dimorphism in internal organs and their functionalities in male‐specific sex pheromone synthesis and has significant implications for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying sex pheromone synthesis by symbionts in insects.
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spelling doaj-art-1e79d40c635e4cb49f61d60b3da591062025-08-20T01:52:38ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442024-11-011144n/an/a10.1002/advs.202407353The Sexual Dimorphism in Rectum and Protein Digestion Pathway Influence Sex Pheromone Synthesis in Male Bactrocera DorsalisJingxiang Chen0Yanling Jiang1Zijie Gao2Jiawang Dai3Chunsheng Jia4Yongyue Lu5Daifeng Cheng6Department of Entomology South China Agricultural University Guangzhou 510640 ChinaDepartment of Entomology South China Agricultural University Guangzhou 510640 ChinaDepartment of Entomology South China Agricultural University Guangzhou 510640 ChinaDepartment of Entomology South China Agricultural University Guangzhou 510640 ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Utilization and Conservation of Food and Medicinal Resources in Northern Region Shaoguan University Shaoguan 512005 ChinaDepartment of Entomology South China Agricultural University Guangzhou 510640 ChinaDepartment of Entomology South China Agricultural University Guangzhou 510640 ChinaAbstract Sexual dimorphism is a crucial aspect of mating and reproduction in many animals, yet the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In Bactrocera dorsalis, sex pheromones trimethylpyrazine (TMP) and tetramethylpyrazine (TTMP) are specifically synthesized by Bacillus strains in the male rectum. In the female rectum, Bacillus strains are found, but TMP and TTMP are not, indicating sexually dimorphic differences in sex pheromone synthesis. Our anatomical observations and precursor measurements revealed significant differences in rectal structure and ammonium levels between sexes.  In vitro and in vivo experiments reveal that ammonium is vital for sex pheromone synthesis in rectal Bacillus strains. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified ammonium‐producing genes (carboxypeptidase B and peptide transporter) in the protein digestion pathway that show much higher expression in the male rectum than in the female rectum. Knocking down the expression of either carboxypeptidase B (or inhibiting enzyme activity) or peptide transporter decreases rectal ammonium levels significantly, resulting in the failure of sex pheromone synthesis in the male rectum. This study provides insights into the presence of sexual dimorphism in internal organs and their functionalities in male‐specific sex pheromone synthesis and has significant implications for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying sex pheromone synthesis by symbionts in insects.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202407353insect‐microbe interactionrectumsex pheromonesexual dimorphism
spellingShingle Jingxiang Chen
Yanling Jiang
Zijie Gao
Jiawang Dai
Chunsheng Jia
Yongyue Lu
Daifeng Cheng
The Sexual Dimorphism in Rectum and Protein Digestion Pathway Influence Sex Pheromone Synthesis in Male Bactrocera Dorsalis
Advanced Science
insect‐microbe interaction
rectum
sex pheromone
sexual dimorphism
title The Sexual Dimorphism in Rectum and Protein Digestion Pathway Influence Sex Pheromone Synthesis in Male Bactrocera Dorsalis
title_full The Sexual Dimorphism in Rectum and Protein Digestion Pathway Influence Sex Pheromone Synthesis in Male Bactrocera Dorsalis
title_fullStr The Sexual Dimorphism in Rectum and Protein Digestion Pathway Influence Sex Pheromone Synthesis in Male Bactrocera Dorsalis
title_full_unstemmed The Sexual Dimorphism in Rectum and Protein Digestion Pathway Influence Sex Pheromone Synthesis in Male Bactrocera Dorsalis
title_short The Sexual Dimorphism in Rectum and Protein Digestion Pathway Influence Sex Pheromone Synthesis in Male Bactrocera Dorsalis
title_sort sexual dimorphism in rectum and protein digestion pathway influence sex pheromone synthesis in male bactrocera dorsalis
topic insect‐microbe interaction
rectum
sex pheromone
sexual dimorphism
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202407353
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