Weizhao Sun 孙伟钊

PhD student

Molecular Evolution and Sociobiology group (Prof.Juergen Gadau)

University of Muenster, Germany

Education

2013/09 - 2017/06 Bachelor of Agricutural Science, Bachelor of English (second major)

Jiangxi Agricultural University, China

2017/09 - 2019/09 Master of Science, with a major in Plant Pathology and Entomology,

minor in Statistics toward Applied Molecular Genetics,

Wageningen University, Netherlands

2019/10 - Now PhD candidate, University of Muenster, Germany

Research

One of the most important questions in evolutionary biology is how new species potentially originate. Variations in sexual signaling can keep species reproductively isolated, being a major driving force of speciation. The evolution of species- and sex-specific pheromones and their influence on courtship behavior is the major focus of my PhD project. We are investigating sex pheromone divergence and evolution on a genetic, chemical and behavioral level.

I try to answer two main research questions: 1. What is the genetic basis underlying sex pheromone biosynthesis in general? 2. How reproductive isolation among species via sex pheromone divergence is achieved from a chemical and genetic level?

Specifically, I am working on cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), which exist on the epicuticle of a wide range of insects. CHCs are composed of (straight chain and methyl-branched) alkanes and alkenes [figure 1], which exibit a great structural diversity and potential in coding information. Thus, CHCs are widely used in chemical communication, especially sexual signalling.

In parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis, female CHCs are sex pheromones that trigger male's courtship and copulation behaviors.

Nasonia female CHC profile comprises more than 50 compounds, among which more than 80% are methyl-branched (MB) alkanes with different carbon chain lengths, MB positions and numbers, enabling the MB alkane fraction a great potential in coding information. However, the entire female CHC profile has long been regarded as encoding their sexual attractiveness. My aim here is to investigate 1.) whether there are single compounds, classes or platterns serving as the main conveyers of female sexual attractiveness. 2.) the genetic basis underlying the biosynthesis of such rich diversity of MB alkanes, which is VERY poorly understood in general.

To answer my research questions, I use diverse techniques, including RNA intereference (RNAi), quantitative PCR, gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and flame ionization detector (GC-MS/FID) and olfatometer bio-assays etc. The general idea here is to knockdown a candidate gene in the CHC biosynthetic pathway, quantify the change in the CHC profile, and correlate with female sexual attractiveness obtained from the behavioral assays.

Under construction ...

Anybody interested in my research is welcomed to contact me!

Publications

1. Wang, Y., Sun, W., Fleischmann, S., Millar, J. G., Ruther, J., & Verhulst, E. C. (2022). Silencing Doublesex expression triggers three-level pheromonal feminization in Nasonia vitripennis males. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 289(1967), 20212002.

2. Sun, Weizhao, Michelle Ina Lange, Jürgen Gadau, and Jan Buellesbach. "Decoding the genetic and chemical basis of sexual attractiveness in parasitic wasps." Elife 12 (2023): e86182.

Presentation and poster

1. International Society of Chemical Ecology meeting, 2022, Malaysia, "Decoding the genetic and chemical basis of sexual attractiveness in parasitoid wasps". (Key note talk; Best Student Presentation 1st Prize)

2. European Society of Evolutionary Biology meeting, 2022, Czech Repulic, "Genetic underpinnings of species-specific sexual signaling mechanisms in parasitoid wasps". (Poster)

3. Muenster Evolution meeting, 2023, Germany, "Genetic underpinnings of species-specific sexual signaling mechanisms in parasitoid wasps".

4. International Nasonia meeting, 2023, Germany, Organizer.

Hobby

Sports (basketball, table tennis, jogging etc), Photography, Playing guitar, Bazi fortune telling (八字命理与预测)