Data from: Transcriptome modulation during host shift is driven by secondary metabolites in desert Drosophila

High-throughput transcriptome studies are breaking new ground to investigate the responses that organisms deploy in alternative environments. Nevertheless, much remains to be understood about the genetic basis of host plant adaptation. Here, we investigate genome-wide expression in the fly Drosophila buzzatii raised in different conditions. This species uses decaying tissues of cactus of the genus Opuntia as primary rearing substrate and secondarily, the necrotic tissues of the columnar cactus Trichocereus terscheckii. The latter constitutes a harmful host, rich in mescaline and other related phenylethylamine alkaloids. We assessed the transcriptomic responses of larvae reared in Opuntia sulphurea and T. terscheckii, with and without the addition of alkaloids extracted from the latter. Whole-genome expression profiles were massively modulated by the rearing environment, mainly by the presence of T. terscheckii alkaloids. Differentially expressed genes were mainly related to detoxification, oxidation–reduction and stress response; however, we also found genes involved in development and neurobiological processes. In conclusion, our study contributes new data onto the role of transcriptional plasticity in response to alternative rearing environments.

高通量转录组（high-throughput transcriptome）研究正为解析生物体在不同环境下的响应机制开辟新路径。然而，关于宿主植物适应性的遗传基础，仍有诸多问题有待阐明。本研究以布氏果蝇（Drosophila buzzatii）为对象，分析其在不同培养条件下的全基因组表达情况。该物种以仙人掌属（Opuntia）植物的腐烂组织作为主要繁育基质，次选繁育基质为柱状仙人掌特氏毛花柱（Trichocereus terscheckii）的坏死组织。后者属于有害宿主，富含墨斯卡灵（mescaline）及其他相关苯乙胺类生物碱。本研究检测了分别以黄仙人掌（Opuntia sulphurea）和特氏毛花柱（T. terscheckii）为基质，且添加/不添加后者提取的生物碱的繁育环境中，布氏果蝇幼虫的转录组响应。繁育环境，尤其是特氏毛花柱生物碱的存在，对全基因组表达谱产生了显著调控作用。差异表达基因主要与解毒、氧化还原及应激反应相关；此外，本研究还发现了参与发育及神经生物学过程的基因。综上，本研究为解析转录可塑性在应对不同繁育环境中的作用提供了新的实验数据。