Title: | Social communication activates the circadian gene Tctimeless in Tribolium castaneum |
Author(s): | Rath A; Benita M; Doron J; Scharf I; Gottlieb D; |
Address: | "Department of Food Science, Institute of Post-Harvest and Food Science, The Volcani Center, ARO, Rishon LeZion, Israel. School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Department of Food Science, Institute of Post-Harvest and Food Science, The Volcani Center, ARO, Rishon LeZion, Israel. gottlieb.daphna@gmail.com" |
DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-021-95588-1 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 2045-2322 (Electronic) 2045-2322 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Chemical communication via pheromones is an integral component in insect behavior, particularly for mate searching and reproduction. Aggregation pheromones, that attract conspecifics of both sexes, are particularly common and have been identified for hundreds of species. These pheromones are among the most ecologically selective pest suppression agents. In this study, we identified an activating effect of the aggregation pheromone of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenibroidae) on a highly conserved circadian clock gene (Tctimeless). Tribolium castaneum is one of the most damaging cosmopolitan pest of flour and other stored food products. Its male produced aggregation pheromone, 4,8-dimethyldecanal (DMD), attracts both conspecific males and females and is used for pest management via monitoring and mating disruption. The Tctimeless gene is an essential component for daily expression patterns of the circadian clock and plays vital roles in eclosion, egg production, and embryonic development. In this study, we demonstrate that constant exposure to the species-specific aggregation pheromone led to Tctimeless up-regulation and a different pattern of rhythmic locomotive behavior. We propose that changing the well-adapted 'alarm clock', using DMD is liable to reduce fitness and can be highly useful for pest management" |
Keywords: | "Aldehydes/administration & dosage/metabolism Animals Circadian Clocks/drug effects/*genetics/physiology Female Gene Expression Profiling *Genes, Insect/drug effects Insect Control Insect Proteins/genetics/physiology Male Period Circadian Proteins/genetics;" |
Notes: | "MedlineRath, Animesha Benita, Miriam Doron, Josef Scharf, Inon Gottlieb, Daphna eng England 2021/08/11 Sci Rep. 2021 Aug 9; 11(1):16152. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-95588-1" |