title: Syntaxin 1A modulates the sexual maturity rate and progeny egg size related to phase changes in locusts.
abstract: The migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) exhibits clear phenotypic plasticity depending on its population density. Previous studies have explored the molecular mechanisms of body colour, behavior, immunity, and metabolism between high population density gregarious (G) and low population density solitarious (S) locusts. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying differences in reproductive traits remain unknown. G locusts reach sexual maturation much faster and lay larger eggs compared with S locusts. The traits of G locusts decreased significantly with isolation, whereas those of S locusts increased with crowding. Analysis of gene expression in female adults indicated that syntaxin 1A (Syx1A) was expressed significantly higher in G locusts than in S locusts. After silencing Syx1A expression in G locusts by RNA interference (RNAi), their sexual maturity rate and progeny egg size changed towards those of S locusts. Similarly, increment in the traits of S locusts with crowding was blocked by Syx1A interference. Changes in the traits were also confirmed by decrease in the level of vitellogenin, which is regulated by Syx1A. In conclusion, plasticity of the sexual maturity rate and progeny egg size of G and S locusts, which is beneficial for locusts to adapt to environmental changes, is regulated by Syx1A.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Qianquan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institutes of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institutes of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. Electronic address: lkang@ioz.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D048188:Locusta migratoria / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D011156:Population Density; D034622:RNA Interference; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D050827:Syntaxin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050827:Syntaxin 1; D014819:Vitellogenins
keywords: Clutch size; Phenotypic plasticity; Polyphenism; Trade-off; Vitellogenin