美国加州理工学院Joseph Parker团队揭示了隐翅虫生物合成创新的基因组和细胞基础。相关论文于2024年6月17日在线发表在《细胞》杂志上。

结合基因组学和细胞类型转录组学对最大支系Aleocharinae的了解，研究人员回溯了由防御性腺体组成的两种细胞类型的演化过程，这可能是隐翅虫巨型多样性背后的催化剂。研究人员确定了分子演化步骤，导致一种细胞类型通过一种与植物毒素释放系统趋同的机制产生苯醌，而第二种细胞类型合成一种溶剂，使总分泌量武器化。

这种合作系统自早白垩世以来就一直保存下来，因为Aleocharinae辐射出数以万计的品系。对每种细胞类型进行重新编程可产生新的生化特性，从而实现生态特化，最显著的是共生体通过宿主操纵分泌物渗入社会性昆虫群落。这些发现揭示了甲虫化学创新的起源和演化性背后的细胞类型演化过程。

据介绍，细胞水平的演化如何促进宏观演化改变是理解生物多样性的核心。超过66000种的隐翅虫物种（Staphylinidae）组成了最大的变态类动物家族。

附：英文原文

Title: The genomic and cellular basis of biosynthetic innovation in rove beetles

Author: Sheila A. Kitchen, Thomas H. Naragon, Adrian Brückner, Mark S. Ladinsky, Sofia A. Quinodoz, Jean M. Badroos, Joani W. Viliunas, Yuriko Kishi, Julian M. Wagner, David R. Miller, Mina Yousefelahiyeh, Igor A. Antoshechkin, K. Taro Eldredge, Stacy Pirro, Mitchell Guttman, Steven R. Davis, Matthew L. Aardema, Joseph Parker

Issue&Volume: 2024-06-17

Abstract: How evolution at the cellular level potentiates macroevolutionary change is centralto understanding biological diversification. The >66,000 rove beetle species (Staphylinidae)form the largest metazoan family. Combining genomic and cell type transcriptomic insightsspanning the largest clade, Aleocharinae, we retrace evolution of two cell types comprisinga defensive gland—a putative catalyst behind staphylinid megadiversity. We identifymolecular evolutionary steps leading to benzoquinone production by one cell type viaa mechanism convergent with plant toxin release systems, and synthesis by the secondcell type of a solvent that weaponizes the total secretion. This cooperative systemhas been conserved since the Early Cretaceous as Aleocharinae radiated into tens ofthousands of lineages. Reprogramming each cell type yielded biochemical noveltiesenabling ecological specialization—most dramatically in symbionts that infiltratesocial insect colonies via host-manipulating secretions. Our findings uncover celltype evolutionary processes underlying the origin and evolvability of a beetle chemical innovation.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.012

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(24)00521-X