title: Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule 1: testing for a role in insect immunity, behaviour and reproduction.
abstract: Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule 1 (Dscam1) has wide-reaching and vital neuronal functions although the role it plays in insect and crustacean immunity is less well understood. In this study, we combine different approaches to understand the roles that Dscam1 plays in fitness-related contexts in two model insect species. Contrary to our expectations, we found no short-term modulation of Dscam1 gene expression after haemocoelic or oral bacterial exposure in Tribolium castaneum, or after haemocoelic bacterial exposure in Drosophila melanogaster. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated Dscam1 knockdown and subsequent bacterial exposure did not reduce T. castaneum survival. However, Dscam1 knockdown in larvae resulted in adult locomotion defects, as well as dramatically reduced fecundity in males and females. We suggest that Dscam1 does not always play a straightforward role in immunity, but strongly influences behaviour and fecundity. This study takes a step towards understanding more about the role of this intriguing gene from different phenotypic perspectives.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity , University of Münster , Hüfferstrasse 1,48149 Münster , Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9716-6650
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peuß
authors.affiliation: Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity , University of Münster , Hüfferstrasse 1,48149 Münster , Germany.
authors.forename: Kristina U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Wensing
authors.affiliation: Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity , University of Münster , Hüfferstrasse 1,48149 Münster , Germany.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0458-3886
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Woestmann
authors.affiliation: Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity , University of Münster , Hüfferstrasse 1,48149 Münster , Germany.
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eggert
authors.affiliation: Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity , University of Münster , Hüfferstrasse 1,48149 Münster , Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8214-4758
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milutinović
authors.affiliation: Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity , University of Münster , Hüfferstrasse 1,48149 Münster , Germany.
authors.forename: Marlene G U
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2995-9544
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sroka
authors.affiliation: Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity , University of Münster , Hüfferstrasse 1,48149 Münster , Germany.
authors.forename: Jörn P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Scharsack
authors.affiliation: Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity , University of Münster , Hüfferstrasse 1,48149 Münster , Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7258-459X
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.affiliation: Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity , University of Münster , Hüfferstrasse 1,48149 Münster , Germany.
authors.forename: Sophie A O
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5561-9543
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Armitage
keywords: Drosophila melanogaster; Dscam1; Tribolium castaneum; fecundity; immune defence; locomotion