Background The genetic basis of wing development has been well characterised for model insect species, but remains poorly understood in phylogenetically divergent, non-model taxa. Wing-polymorphic insect species potentially provide ideal systems for unravelling the genetic basis of secondary wing reduction. Stoneflies (Plecoptera) represent an anciently derived insect assemblage for which the genetic basis of wing polymorphism remains unclear. We undertake quantitative RNA-seq of sympatric full-winged versus vestigial-winged nymphs of a widespread wing-dimorphic New Zealand stonefly, Zelandoperla fenestrata, to identify genes potentially involved in wing development and secondary wing loss. Results Our analysis reveals substantial differential expression of wing-development genes between full-winged versus vestigial-winged stonefly ecotypes. Specifically, of 23 clusters showing significant similarity to Drosophila wing development-related genes and their pea aphid orthologues, nine were significantly upregulated in full-winged stonefly ecotypes, whereas only one cluster (teashirt) was substantially upregulated in the vestigial-winged ecotype. Conclusions These findings suggest remarkable conservation of key wing-development pathways throughout 400 Ma of insect evolution. The finding that two Juvenile Hormone pathway clusters were significantly upregulated in vestigial-winged Zelandoperla supports the hypothesis that Juvenile Hormone may play a key role in modulating insect wing polymorphism, as has previously been suggested for other insect lineages.

中文翻译：

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翅膀二态石蝇的比较转录组分析揭示了候选的翅膀损失基因。

背景 翅膀发育的遗传基础已经在模式昆虫物种中得到很好的表征，但在系统发育不同的非模式类群中仍然知之甚少。翅膀多态性昆虫物种可能为解开次生翅膀减少的遗传基础提供理想的系统。石蝇（Plecoptera）代表一种古老的昆虫组合，其翅膀多态性的遗传基础仍不清楚。我们对分布广泛的双翅新西兰石蝇 Zelandoperla fenestrata 的同域全翅与退化翅若虫进行定量 RNA-seq，以确定可能参与翅膀发育和继发性翅膀丧失的基因。结果我们的分析揭示了全翅与退化翅石蝇生态型之间翅膀发育基因的显着差异表达。具体而言，在与果蝇翅膀发育相关基因及其豌豆蚜直系同源物显示出显着相似性的 23 个簇中，有 9 个在全翅石蝇生态型中显着上调，而只有一个簇（茶衫）在退化翅生态型中显着上调。结论 这些发现表明，在整个 400 Ma 昆虫进化过程中，关键的翅膀发育途径得到了显着的保护。两个幼年激素途径簇在退化翅泽兰中显着上调的发现支持了幼年激素可能在调节昆虫翅膀多态性中起关键作用的假设，正如先前对其他昆虫谱系提出的那样。九个在全翅石蝇生态型中显着上调，而只有一个簇（茶衫）在退化翅生态型中显着上调。结论 这些发现表明，在整个 400 Ma 昆虫进化过程中，关键的翅膀发育途径得到了显着的保护。两个幼年激素通路簇在退化翅泽兰中显着上调的发现支持了幼年激素可能在调节昆虫翅膀多态性中起关键作用的假设，正如之前对其他昆虫谱系提出的那样。九个在全翅石蝇生态型中显着上调，而只有一个簇（茶衫）在退化翅生态型中显着上调。结论 这些发现表明，在整个 400 Ma 昆虫进化过程中，关键的翅膀发育途径得到了显着的保护。两个幼年激素通路簇在退化翅泽兰中显着上调的发现支持了幼年激素可能在调节昆虫翅膀多态性中起关键作用的假设，正如之前对其他昆虫谱系提出的那样。结论 这些发现表明，在整个 400 Ma 昆虫进化过程中，关键的翅膀发育途径得到了显着的保护。两个幼年激素通路簇在退化翅泽兰中显着上调的发现支持了幼年激素可能在调节昆虫翅膀多态性中起关键作用的假设，正如之前对其他昆虫谱系提出的那样。结论 这些发现表明，在整个 400 Ma 昆虫进化过程中，关键的翅膀发育途径得到了显着的保护。两个幼年激素通路簇在退化翅泽兰中显着上调的发现支持了幼年激素可能在调节昆虫翅膀多态性中起关键作用的假设，正如之前对其他昆虫谱系提出的那样。