Expression and evolutionary divergence of the non-conventional olfactory receptor in four species of fig wasp associated with one species of fig

• Main Authors: Xiao Jinhua, Wang Nina, Lu Bin, Xu Yongyu, Murphy Robert W, Huang Dawei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2009-02-01
• Series: BMC Evolutionary Biology
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/9/43

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The interactions of fig wasps and their host figs provide a model for investigating co-evolution. Fig wasps have specialized morphological characters and lifestyles thought to be adaptations to living in the fig's syconium. Although these aspects of natural history are well documented, the genetic mechanism(s) underlying these changes remain(s) unknown. Fig wasp olfaction is the key to host-specificity. The <it>Or83b</it> gene class, an unusual member of olfactory receptor family, plays a critical role in enabling the function of conventional olfactory receptors. Four <it>Or83b</it> orthologous genes from one pollinator (PFW) (<it>Ceratosolen solmsi</it>) and three non-pollinator fig wasps (NPFWs) (<it>Apocrypta bakeri, Philotrypesis pilosa </it>and <it>Philotrypesis </it>sp.) associated with one species of fig (<it>Ficus hispida</it>) can be used to better understand the molecular mechanism underlying the fig wasp's adaptation to its host. We made a comparison of spatial tissue-specific expression patterns and substitution rates of one orthologous gene in these fig wasps and sought evidence for selection pressures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A newly identified <it>Or83b </it>orthologous gene was named <it>Or2</it>. Expressions of <it>Or2 </it>were restricted to the heads of all wingless male fig wasps, which usually live in the dark cavity of a fig throughout their life cycle. However, expressions were widely detected in the antennae, legs and abdomens of all female fig wasps that fly from one fig to another for oviposition, and secondarily pollination. Weak expression was also observed in the thorax of PFWs. Compared with NPFWs, the <it>Or2 </it>gene in <it>C. solmsi </it>had an elevated rate of substitutions and lower codon usage. Analyses using Tajima's <it>D</it>, Fu and Li's <it>D* </it>and <it>F* </it>tests indicated a non-neutral pattern of nucleotide variation in all fig wasps. Unlike in NPFWs, this non-neutral pattern was also observed for synonymous sites of <it>Or2 </it>within PFWs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The sex- and species-specific expression patterns of <it>Or2 </it>genes detected beyond the known primary olfactory tissues indicates the location of cryptic olfactory inputs. The specialized ecological niche of these wasps explains the unique habits and adaptive evolution of <it>Or2 </it>genes. The <it>Or2 </it>gene in <it>C. solmsi </it>is evolving very rapidly. Negative deviation from the neutral model of evolution reflects possible selection pressures acting on <it>Or2 </it>sequences of fig wasp, particularly on PFWs who are more host-specific to figs.</p>