Ecdysone signaling underlies the pea aphid transgenerational wing polyphenism

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1617640114
• Publication Date: 2017-01-24T02:55:22Z
• Authors: Neetha Nanoth Vel...; Purba Gupta; Tannice A. Hall; Jennifer A. Brisson
• Keywords: Polyphenism; Transgenerational epigenetics

The wing polyphenism of pea aphids is a compelling laboratory model with which to study the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity. In this polyphenism, environmental stressors such as high aphid density cause asexual, viviparous adult female alter developmental fate their embryos from wingless winged morphs. This transgenerational, in that mother experiences signals, but it her offspring are affected. Previous research suggested steroid hormone ecdysone may play role polyphenism. Here, we analyzed ecdysone-related gene expression patterns and found they were consistent down-regulation pathway being involved production offspring. We therefore predicted reduced signaling would result more Experimental injections or its analog resulted decreased Conversely, interfering using an receptor antagonist knocking down RNAi increased Our results idea plays causative regulation proportion produced response crowding also show environmentally regulated maternal can mediate phenotype next generation, well provide significant insight into functioning transgenerational