Sex-specific developmental gene expression atlas unveils dimorphic gene networks in C. elegans

Rizwanul Haque, Sonu Peedikayil Kurien, Hagar Setty, Yehuda Salzberg, Gil Stelzer, Einav Litvak, Hila Gingold, Oded Rechavi, Meital Oren-Suissa*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Sex-specific traits and behaviors emerge during development by the acquisition of unique properties in the nervous system of each sex. However, the genetic events responsible for introducing these sex-specific features remain poorly understood. In this study, we create a comprehensive gene expression atlas of pure populations of hermaphrodites and males of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans across development. We discover numerous differentially expressed genes, including neuronal gene families like transcription factors, neuropeptides, and G protein-coupled receptors. We identify INS-39, an insulin-like peptide, as a prominent male-biased gene expressed specifically in ciliated sensory neurons. We show that INS-39 serves as an early-stage male marker, facilitating the effective isolation of males in high-throughput experiments. Through complex and sex-specific regulation, ins-39 plays pleiotropic sexually dimorphic roles in various behaviors, while also playing a shared, dimorphic role in early life stress. This study offers a comparative sexual and developmental gene expression database for C. elegans. Furthermore, it highlights conserved genes that may underlie the sexually dimorphic manifestation of different human diseases.

Original languageEnglish
Article number4273
JournalNature Communications
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2024

Funding

FundersFunder number
Medical Research Council
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
National Human Genome Research Institute
Azrieli Foundation
Ronen Hayun
Council of Higher Education, Israel for the PBC
National Institutes of HealthP40 OD010440, U41 HG002223
National Institutes of Health
European CommissionERC-2019-STG 850784
European Commission
Israel Science Foundation961/21
Israel Science Foundation

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