DAPsequencing data in "A doublesex-dependent transcriptional control model for Nasonia parasitoid wasps' sex differentiation"

In insects, sexual differentiation is orchestrated by one transcription factor, Doublesex (DSX). DSX affects Drosophila melanogaster male and female transcriptome, yet how DSX regulates gene expression in other species is unknown. We investigated sex-biased gene expression during juvenile development in the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis, finding that more than three-quarters of its genes are sex-biased at a certain point in development. Moreover, we transiently knocked down dsx expression to infer its role in sex-specific transcriptome regulation, revealing thousands of affected genes in males and a more subtle effect in females. Finally, we performed an in vitro DNA-protein interaction assay to identify DSX binding sites and primary DSX target genes. By integrating these three datasets, we defined DSX's regulatory function for all genes in N. vitripennis, revealing that DSX acts mainly in males as both an activator and a repressor. This male-centric model for DSX-mediated regulation is likely to apply to many other insect species. Overall design: The experiment consists of producing in vitro a transcription factor (Doublesex) and a control protein known not to interact with DNA (Luciferase), immobilising it on a matrix, and using it to enrich a DNA library. The enriched library is sequenced (raw data) and aligned to Nasonia vitripennis genome. Coverage peaks present in the Transcription factor subject but not in the control are scanned via MEME to find the binding sequence of the transcription factor.