Exploring the evolution of the Fushi Tarazu-Transcription Factor 1 (Ftz-F1) transcription factor across eusocial insects

The reproductive ground plan hypothesis suggests that division of labor among eusocial insect colonies is derived from ancestral conserved genes that are co-regulated to give rise to division of labor in the worker caste. The evolution of these genes gives rise to a new functional role for genes typically associated with reproduction. Expression levels of reproductively important genes can give insight into the functional role they play in the worker caste. Juvenile Hormone (JH) in adult workers has been implicated in task and caste regulation in multiple insect species and is associated with several proteins. JH linked proteins, like Vitellogenin (Vg), have been found to be important for the behavior and development of eusocial insects. The interplay of gene pathways could be important to the understanding of eusocial behavior on a molecular level. This study explores the conservation of transcription factor, Fushi Tarazu-Transcription Factor 1 (ftz-f1), and it’s interpay with JH and importance in task allocation. We conducted a BLASTn and BLASTp search of JH related amino acid sequences and found similarities among 43 eusocial hymenopteran species. This protein showed high conservation (above 63% similarity) across eusocial and solitary insects belonging to various hymenoptera families and also other orders. Using the amino acid sequences, a phylogenetic tree was reconstructed by Bayesian analysis showing the evolution and comparison of the protein across eusocial and solitary insect groups.