Data from: Transcriptome profiling of ontogeny in the acridid grasshopper Chorthippus biguttulus

Acridid grasshoppers (Orthoptera:Acrididae) are widely used model
organisms for developmental, evolutionary, and neurobiological research.
Although there has been recent influx of orthopteran transcriptomic
resources, many use pooled ontogenetic stages obscuring information about
changes in gene expression during development. Here we developed a de novo
transcriptome spanning 7 stages in the life cycle of the acridid
grasshopper Chorthippus biguttulus. Samples from different stages
encompassing embryonic development through adults were used for
transcriptomic profiling, revealing patterns of differential gene
expression that highlight processes in the different life stages. These
patterns were validated with semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Embryonic
development showed a strongly differentiated expression pattern compared
to all of the other stages and genes upregulated in this stage were
involved in signaling, cellular differentiation, and organ development.
Our study is one of the first to examine gene expression during
post-embryonic development in a hemimetabolous insect and we found that
only the fourth and fifth instars had clusters of genes upregulated during
these stages. These genes are involved in various processes ranging from
synthesis of biogenic amines to chitin binding. These observations
indicate that post-embryonic ontogeny is not a continuous process and that
some instars are differentiated. Finally, genes upregulated in the imago
were generally involved in aging and immunity. Our study highlights the
importance of looking at ontogeny as a whole and indicates promising
directions for future research in orthopteran development.