Perturbation of IIS/TOR signaling alters the landscape of sex-differential gene expression in Drosophila

• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5308-3
• Publication Date: 2018-12-10T14:10:08Z
• Authors: Rita M. Graze; Ruei-Ying Tzeng; Tiffany S. Howard; Michelle N. Arbei...
• Keywords: Sexual dimorphism

The core functions of the insulin/insulin-like signaling and target rapamycin (IIS/TOR) pathway are nutrient sensing, energy homeostasis, growth, regulation stress responses. This is also known to interact directly indirectly with sex determination regulatory hierarchy. IIS/TOR plays a role in directing sexually dimorphic traits, including dimorphism metabolism, behavior. Previous studies gene expression adult head, which includes both nervous system endocrine tissues, have revealed variation sex-differential expression, depending part on genotype environment. To understand degree environmentally responsive insulin contributes sexual we examined effect perturbation male female Drosophila heads.Our data reveal large greater than 50% genes changing expression. Males females shared response knock-down InR function, significant enrichment for pathways involved metabolism. Perturbation has impact males, more differences larger magnitude. Primarily as consequence find that reduced results striking increase sex-differences immune, defense genes, modulating reproductive behavior, linking ageing, itself.Our demonstrate thousands displaying not differentially expressed control conditions. Thus, may play variability somatic, finding an altered landscape suggests physiological underpinnings trade-offs, conflict variability.