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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Insect Genetics and Biochemistry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #307475

Title: Key molecular processes of the diapause to post-diapause quiescence transition in the alfalfa leafcutting bee Megachile rotundata identified by comparative transcriptome analysis

Author
item Yocum, George
item Rinehart, Joseph - Joe
item Horvath, David
item Kemp, William - Bill
item BOSCH, JORDI - Autonomous University Of Barcelona
item ALROOBI, RAMI - North Dakota State University
item SALEM, SAEED - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Physiological Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/23/2015
Publication Date: 6/1/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/60792
Citation: Yocum, G.D., Rinehart, J.P., Horvath, D.P., Kemp, W.P., Bosch, J., Alroobi, R., Salem, S. 2015. Key molecular processes of the diapause to post-diapause quiescence transition in the alfalfa leafcutting bee Megachile rotundata identified by comparative transcriptome analysis. Physiological Entomology. 40(2):103-112.

Interpretive Summary: Insect diapause (dormancy) synchronizes an insect’s life cycle to seasonal changes in the abiotic and biotic resources required for development and reproduction. Managed solitary pollinators spent up to nine months a year in diapause. It has been briefly shown that slight changes in the environment during diapause can have a profound effect on post-diapause quality. Therefore, a thorough knowledge of diapause is essential for the development of optimized management practices to insure pollinator quality. Gene expression analysis of Megachile rotundata diapause termination identified 399 post-diapause upregulated and 144 post-diapause down-regulated transcripts. Transcripts from several pivotal diapause-related processes, including chromatin remodeling, cellular signaling pathways, microRNA processing, anaerobic glycolysis, cell cycle arrest, and neuroendocrine control were identified as being differentially expressed during the diapause to post-diapause transition. In conjunction with studies from other species, our data indicates that several common mechanisms of diapause control and maintenance.

Technical Abstract: Insect diapause (dormancy) synchronizes an insect’s life cycle to seasonal changes in the abiotic and biotic resources required for development and reproduction. Transcription analysis of Megachile rotundata diapause termination identified 399 post-diapause upregulated and 144 post-diapause down-regulated transcripts. The log2 fold change in gene expression levels ranged from -5 to 7. Transcripts from several pivotal diapause-related processes, including chromatin remodeling, cellular signaling pathways, microRNA processing, anaerobic glycolysis, cell cycle arrest, and neuroendocrine control were identified as being differentially expressed during the diapause to post-diapause transition. In conjunction with studies from other species, our data indicates that several common mechanisms of diapause control and maintenance.