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Intersex is required for female sexual development in Hermetia illucens |
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| Authors: | Bihui Chen Zongqing Kou Yuguo Jiang Xingyu Luo Peili Li Kaiji Sun Weiwei Wang Yongping Huang Yaohui Wang |
| Institution: | 1. CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China;2. CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China;3. CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China;4. Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Co., ltd., No. 19, Chengwan Street, Suyier Village, Sujiatuo Town, Haidian District, Beijing, China;5. Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China |
| Abstract: | Sex-determination pathways are extremely diverse. Understanding the mechanism of sex determination in insects is important for genetic manipulation of the pest population and for breeding of economically valuable insects. Although sex determination has been well characterized in the model species Drosophila melanogaster, little is known about this pathway in Stratiomyidae. In the present study, we first identified the Drosophila intersex (ix) homolog in Hermetia illucens, also known as the black soldier fly, which belongs to the Stratiomyidae family and which is an important insect for the conversion of various organic wastes. Phylogenetic analyses and multiple sequence alignment revealed that Hiix is conserved compared with Drosophila. We showed that Hiix is highly expressed in internal genitalia. Disruption of the Hiix gene using CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in female-specific defects in external genitalia and abnormal and undersized ovaries. Taken together, our study furthers our understanding of sex determination in insects and could facilitate breeding of H. illucens. |
| Keywords: | CRISPR/Cas9 Hermetia illucens intersex sex determination |