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BMC Evol Biol

Title:		A Delta 11 desaturase gene genealogy reveals two divergent allelic classes within the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)
Author(s):		Geiler KA; Harrison RG;
Address:		"Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Biological Laboratories, Divinity Road, Cambridge, MA, USA. kgeiler@fas.harvard.edu"
Journal Title:		BMC Evol Biol
Year:		2010
Volume:		20100427
Issue:
Page Number:		112 -
DOI:		10.1186/1471-2148-10-112
ISSN/ISBN:		1471-2148 (Electronic) 1471-2148 (Linking)
Abstract:		"BACKGROUND: Moth pheromone mating systems have been characterized at the molecular level, allowing evolutionary biologists to study how changes in protein sequence or gene expression affect pheromone phenotype, patterns of mating, and ultimately, the formation of barriers to gene exchange. Recent studies of Ostrinia pheromones have focused on the diversity of sex pheromone desaturases and their role in the specificity of pheromone production. Here we produce a Delta 11 desaturase genealogy within Ostrinia nubilalis. We ask what has been the history of this gene, and whether this history suggests that changes in Delta 11 desaturase have been involved in the divergence of the E and Z O. nubilalis pheromone strains. RESULTS: The Delta 11 desaturase gene genealogy does not differentiate O. nubilalis pheromone strains. However, we find two distinct clades, separated by 2.9% sequence divergence, that do not sort with pheromone strain, geographic origin, or emergence time. We demonstrate that these clades do not represent gene duplicates, but rather allelic variation at a single gene locus. CONCLUSIONS: Analyses of patterns of variation at the Delta 11 desaturase gene in ECB suggest that this enzyme does not contribute to reproductive isolation between pheromone strains (E and Z). However, our genealogy reveals two deeply divergent allelic classes. Standing variation at loci that contribute to mate choice phenotypes may permit novel pheromone mating systems to arise in the presence of strong stabilizing selection"
Keywords:		"Animals Fatty Acid Desaturases/*genetics Female Gene Duplication Male Moths/*classification/*genetics Pheromones/genetics Phylogeny Polymorphism, Genetic Recombination, Genetic;"
Notes:		"MedlineGeiler, Kerry A Harrison, Richard G eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2010/04/29 BMC Evol Biol. 2010 Apr 27; 10:112. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-10-112"