Abstract
Sex in insects is determined by a cascade of regulators ultimately controlling sex-specific splicing of a transcription factor, Doublesex (Dsx). We recently identified homolog of dsx in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Tcdsx). Here, we report on the identification and characterization of a regulator of Tcdsx splicing in T. castaneum. Two male-specific and one female-specific isoforms of T. castaneum transformer (Tctra) were identified. RNA interference-aided knockdown of Tctra in pupa or adults caused a change in sex from females to males by diverting the splicing of Tcdsx pre-mRNA to male-specific isoform. All the pupa and adults developed from Tctra dsRNA injected final instar larvae showed male-specific sexually dimorphic structures. Tctra parental RNAi caused an elimination of females from the progeny resulting in production of all male progeny. Transformer parental RNAi could be used to produce all male population for use in pest control though sterile male release methods.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-24-2012
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep00602
Repository Citation
Shukla, Jayendra Nath and Palli, Subba Reddy, "Sex Determination in Beetles: Production of All Male Progeny by Parental RNAi Knockdown of Transformer" (2012). Entomology Faculty Publications. 6.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/entomology_facpub/6
Supplementary information
Included in
Biotechnology Commons, Developmental Biology Commons, Molecular Biology Commons, Zoology Commons
Notes/Citation Information
Published in Scientific Reports, v. 2, article number: 602.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/