Molecular evolution of a superfamily of chemoreceptors in Musca domestica and Ceratitis capitata

The house fly (Musca domestica) and the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) are two important pest species. While both are generalists, the first is a major vector of a variety of human and livestock disease, while the second is a broadly polyphagous herbivore and important crop pest. Each must be able to navigate a complex set of chemical cues to gain access to resources. While it is relatively-well studied in Drosophila species, less is known about chemoreception in other dipterans. Generalist species of Drosophila retain higher diversity of chemoreceptor genes as compared to the rapid loss characteristic of specialists, but the same may not be true of other dipterans. Here the odorant receptor subfamily in M. domestica and the gustatory receptor subfamily in C. capitata were annotated, and phylogenic analyses were performed. Compared with Drosophila melanogaster, the M. domestica odor receptor repertoire is considerably larger with 84 models in the gene set, plus OrCo (59 in D. melanogaster), and contains expansion via complicated relationships of duplications in some lineages and losses in others. C. capitata shows a similar pattern of expansion within its gustatory receptor repertoire, with 81 protein models, which is intermediate between D. melanogaster (68 protein models) and M. domestica (103 protein models). The many species-specific expansions are the likely result of major changes in the chemosensory ability and ecology of each species. Similarity of ecologies between species appears to be a major driver for gene family evolution. Further exploration of these losses and expansions might ultimately lead to innovations in pest management and provide a base for which to further understand evolution of specialist versus generalist dipterans.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Entomology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Giers, Sarah Diane

Contributors dc:contributor

• Berlocher, Stewart H.
• Robertson, Hugh M.
• Whitfield, Charles

• chemoreceptors
• Musca domestica
• Ceratitis capitata
• odor receptors
• gustatory receptors
• agricultural pest
• evolution
• genome annotation
• genome

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Sarah Giers

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/92780

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/92780