Rapid transcriptional plasticity of duplicated gene clusters enables a clonally reproducing aphid to colonise diverse plant species

Mathers, Thomas C., Chen, Yazhou, Kaithakottil, Gemy, Legeai, Fabrice, Mugford, Sam T., Baa-Puyoulet, Patrice, Bretaudeau, Anthony, Clavijo, Bernardo, Colella, Stefano, Collin, Olivier, and others. (2017) Rapid transcriptional plasticity of duplicated gene clusters enables a clonally reproducing aphid to colonise diverse plant species. Genome Biology, 18 (1). Article Number 27. ISSN 1474-760X. (doi:10.1186/s13059-016-1145-3) (KAR id:103524)

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-016-1145-3

Abstract

Background

The prevailing paradigm of host-parasite evolution is that arms races lead to increasing specialisation via genetic adaptation. Insect herbivores are no exception and the majority have evolved to colonise a small number of closely related host species. Remarkably, the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, colonises plant species across 40 families and single M. persicae clonal lineages can colonise distantly related plants. This remarkable ability makes M. persicae a highly destructive pest of many important crop species.

Results

To investigate the exceptional phenotypic plasticity of M. persicae, we sequenced the M. persicae genome and assessed how one clonal lineage responds to host plant species of different families. We show that genetically identical individuals are able to colonise distantly related host species through the differential regulation of genes belonging to aphid-expanded gene families. Multigene clusters collectively upregulate in single aphids within two days upon host switch. Furthermore, we demonstrate the functional significance of this rapid transcriptional change using RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knock-down of genes belonging to the cathepsin B gene family. Knock-down of cathepsin B genes reduced aphid fitness, but only on the host that induced upregulation of these genes.

Conclusions

Previous research has focused on the role of genetic adaptation of parasites to their hosts. Here we show that the generalist aphid pest M. persicae is able to colonise diverse host plant species in the absence of genetic specialisation. This is achieved through rapid transcriptional plasticity of genes that have duplicated during aphid evolution.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1186/s13059-016-1145-3
Subjects:	Q Science
Institutional Unit:	Schools > School of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Former Institutional Unit:	There are no former institutional units.
Depositing User:	Sara Lopez-Gomollon
Date Deposited:	15 May 2026 14:52 UTC
Last Modified:	03 Jun 2026 14:19 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/103524 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Lopez-Gomollon, Sara.

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8504-0340
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