Progressive Cellularization Influencing Axis Specification in Ant

Abstract

Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) underlie developmental patterning and morphogenetic processes. Changes in the interactions within the underlying GRNs are a major driver of evolution. Drosophila melanogaster has been extensively studied in terms of these GRNs. However, ants and other insects have not been investigated in much detail. In this study, we show that, unlike in other insects, cellularization starts from the anterior and gradually proceeds to the posterior in ants. We investigated the effect of this gradual cellularization on the expression of genes belonging to the BMP signaling pathway, which is known to control DV axis specification in several insects. We also show evidence for DV axis specification in the germdisc region located in the anterior-ventral part of the egg. BMP signaling pathway genes exbihit key differences in expression pattern compared to previously investigated insects. Exploring these GRNs in ants will help us understand how these networks affect evolutionary processes.