TRANSCRIPTIONAL IMPACTS OF BIOTIC INTERACTIONS ON EUKARYOTIC SPECIALIZED METABOLISM

Metabolic pathways are shaped by dynamic biotic interactions. My research delves into coevolution exemplified through two distinct projects that investigate the specialized metabolism of organisms as a consequence of biotic interactions. The first project focused on the remarkable metabolic adaptations of Elysia crispata morphotype clarki. This sea slug possesses the extraordinary ability to sequester and maintain functional chloroplasts (kleptoplasts) from the algae it consumes, allowing it to sustain photosynthetically active kleptoplasts for several months without feeding. To better understand the underlying molecular mechanism of this phenomenon, I generated a comprehensive 786 Mbp draft genome of E. crispata using a combination of ONT long reads and Illumina short reads. The resulting assembly provided a foundational resource for phylogenetic, gene family and gene expression analyses. This work advanced our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of kleptoplasty, shedding light on the evolution and maintenance of this unique metabolic strategy in sacoglossan sea slugs. I next investigated the transcriptional impacts of herbivory on maize (Zea mays) and green foxtail (Setaria viridis), induced by fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) feeding. This study aimed to contrast the defensive mechanisms of these grasses in response to each herbivore, and determined that green foxtail transcriptionally differentiates its responses to fall armyworm and beet armyworm herbivory. The fall armyworm has evolved a counter adaptation to lessen plant secondary metabolite production by producing a salivary protein (SFRP1) that suppresses jasmonate signaling. Investigation of the combinatorial effects of SFRP1 and beet armyworm herbivory determined the addition of endogenous SFRP1 during beet armyworm feeding is sufficient to reduce green foxtail defense responses. Results of this research shed light on host-pest reciprocal adaptations and the role of SFRP1 as an oral secretory protein. Coexpression analysis of maize and green foxtail transcriptomic responses to herbivory also identified putative genes involved in specialized metabolic pathways in green foxtail, providing insights into plant-insect interactions and potential solutions to herbivory in wild plant species. These findings highlight how gene diversification can contribute to pest resistance in grasses. Together, these seemingly unconnected projects underscore how biotic interactions influence metabolic processes across diverse organisms and reveal the fascinating intricacies of their adaptations to environmental challenges.