1
|
Berry ASF, Finucane BM, Myers SM, Walsh LK, Seibert JM, Martin CL, Ledbetter DH, Oetjens MT. A genome-first study of sex chromosome aneuploidies provides evidence of Y chromosome dosage effects on autism risk. Nat Commun 2024; 15:8897. [PMID: 39406744 PMCID: PMC11480344 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53211-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 10/01/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024] Open
Abstract
A female protective effect has long been postulated as the primary explanation for the four-fold increase of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses in males versus females. However, genetic and epidemiological investigations of this hypothesis have so far failed to explain the large difference in ASD prevalence between the sexes. To address this knowledge gap, we examined sex chromosome aneuploidy in a large ASD case-control cohort to evaluate the relationship between X and Y chromosome dosage and ASD risk. From these data, we modeled three relationships between sex chromosome dosage and ASD risk: the extra Y effect, the extra X effect, and sex chromosome haploinsufficiency. We found that the extra Y effect increased ASD risk significantly more than the extra X effect. Among females, we observed a large association between 45, X and ASD, confirming sex chromosome haploinsufficiency as a strong ASD risk factor. These results provide a framework for understanding the relationship between X and Y chromosome dosage on ASD, which may inform future research investigating genomic contributors to the observed sex difference.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brenda M Finucane
- Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Lewisburg, PA, US
| | - Scott M Myers
- Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Lewisburg, PA, US
| | - Lauren K Walsh
- Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Lewisburg, PA, US
| | - John M Seibert
- Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Lewisburg, PA, US
| | | | - David H Ledbetter
- Office of Research Affairs, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, US
| | - Matthew T Oetjens
- Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute, Geisinger, Lewisburg, PA, US.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Harris RM, Whitfield T, Blanton LV, Skaletsky H, Blumen K, Hyland P, McDermott E, Summers K, Hughes JF, Jackson E, Teglas P, Liu B, Chan YM, Page DC. Independent effects of testosterone, estradiol, and sex chromosomes on gene expression in immune cells of trans- and cisgender individuals. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.10.08.617275. [PMID: 39416170 PMCID: PMC11482753 DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.08.617275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2024]
Abstract
The origins of sex differences in human disease are elusive, in part because of difficulties in separating the effects of sex hormones and sex chromosomes. To separate these variables, we examined gene expression in four groups of trans- or cisgender individuals: XX individuals treated with exogenous testosterone (n=21), XY treated with exogenous estradiol (n=13), untreated XX (n=20), and untreated XY (n=15). We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing of 358,426 peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Across the autosomes, 8 genes responded with a significant change in expression to testosterone, 34 to estradiol, and 32 to sex chromosome complement with no overlap between the groups. No sex-chromosomal genes responded significantly to testosterone or estradiol, but X-linked genes responded to sex chromosome complement in a remarkably stable manner across cell types. Through leveraging a four-state study design, we successfully separated the independent actions of testosterone, estradiol, and sex chromosome complement on genome-wide gene expression in humans.
Collapse
|
3
|
Berglund A, Johannsen EB, Skakkebæk A, Chang S, Rohayem J, Laurentino S, Hørlyck A, Drue SO, Bak EN, Fedder J, Tüttelmann F, Gromoll J, Just J, Gravholt CH. Integration of long-read sequencing, DNA methylation and gene expression reveals heterogeneity in Y chromosome segment lengths in phenotypic males with 46,XX testicular disorder/difference of sex development. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:77. [PMID: 39380113 PMCID: PMC11463111 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00654-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 46,XX testicular disorder/difference of sex development (46,XX DSD) is a rare congenital condition, characterized by a combination of the typical female sex chromosome constitution, 46,XX, and a variable male phenotype. In the majority of individuals with 46,XX DSD, a Y chromosome segment containing the sex-determining region gene (SRY) has been translocated to the paternal X chromosome. However, the precise genomic content of the translocated segment and the genome-wide effects remain elusive. METHODS We performed long-read DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing and DNA methylation analyses on blood samples from 46,XX DSD (n = 11), male controls (46,XY; variable cohort sizes) and female controls (46,XX; variable cohort sizes), in addition to RNA sequencing and DNA methylation analysis on blood samples from males with Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY, n = 22). We also performed clinical measurements on all 46,XX DSD and a subset of 46,XY (n = 10). RESULTS We identified variation in the translocated Y chromosome segments, enabling subcategorization into 46,XX DSD (1) lacking Y chromosome material (n = 1), (2) with short Yp arms (breakpoint at 2.7-2.8 Mb, n = 2), (3) with medium Yp arms (breakpoint at 7.3 Mb, n = 1), and (4) with long Yp arms (n = 7), including deletions of AMELY, TBLY1 and in some cases PRKY. We also identified variable expression of the X-Y homologues PRKY and PRKX. The Y-chromosomal transcriptome and methylome reflected the Y chromosome segment lengths, while changes to autosomal and X-chromosomal regions indicated global effects. Furthermore, transcriptional changes tentatively correlated with phenotypic traits of 46,XX DSD, including reduced height, lean mass and testicular size. CONCLUSION This study refines our understanding of the genetic composition in 46,XX DSD, describing the translocated Y chromosome segment in more detail than previously and linking variability herein to genome-wide changes in the transcriptome and methylome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnethe Berglund
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Emma B Johannsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Anne Skakkebæk
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Simon Chang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Julia Rohayem
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Laurentino
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Arne Hørlyck
- Department of Radiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Simon O Drue
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ebbe Norskov Bak
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jens Fedder
- Centre of Andrology & Fertility Clinic, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Frank Tüttelmann
- Centre of Medical Genetics, Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jörg Gromoll
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jesper Just
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Claus H Gravholt
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li B, Wen M, Gao F, Wang Y, Wei G, Duan Y. Regulation of HNRNP family by post-translational modifications in cancer. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:427. [PMID: 39366930 PMCID: PMC11452504 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02198-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/27/2024] [Indexed: 10/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (HNRNPs) represent a large family of RNA-binding proteins consisting of more than 20 members and have attracted great attention with their distinctive roles in cancer progression by regulating RNA splicing, transcription, and translation. Nevertheless, the cancer-specific modulation of HNRNPs has not been fully elucidated. The research of LC-MS/MS technology has documented that HNRNPs were widely and significantly targeted by different post-translational modifications (PTMs), which have emerged as core regulators in shaping protein functions and are involved in multiple physiological processes. Accumulating studies have highlighted that several PTMs are involved in the mechanisms of HNRNPs regulation in cancer and may be suitable therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the existing evidence describing how PTMs modulate HNRNPs functions on gene regulation and the involvement of their dysregulation in cancer, which will help shed insights on their clinical impacts as well as possible therapeutic tools targeting PTMs on HNRNPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bohao Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Mingxin Wen
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Cell Biology and Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yunshan Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Guangwei Wei
- Department of Cell Biology and Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Yangmiao Duan
- Department of Cell Biology and Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Schaffer L, Rau S, Larsen IG, Clasen L, Warling A, Whitman ET, Nadig A, McDermott C, Xenophontos A, Wilson K, Blumenthal J, Torres E, Raznahan A. X- vs. Y-chromosome influences on human behavior: a deep phenotypic comparison of psychopathology in XXY and XYY syndromes. J Neurodev Disord 2024; 16:56. [PMID: 39363182 PMCID: PMC11451104 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-024-09574-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Do different genetic disorders impart different psychiatric risk profiles? This question has major implications for biological and translational aspects of psychiatry, but has been difficult to tackle given limited access to shared batteries of fine-grained clinical data across genetic disorders. METHODS Using a new suite of generalizable analytic approaches, we examine gold-standard diagnostic ratings, scores on 66 dimensional measures of psychopathology, and measures of cognition and functioning in two different sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs)-Klinefelter (XXY/KS) and XYY syndrome (n = 102 and 64 vs. n = 74 and 60 matched XY controls, total n = 300). We focus on SCAs for their high collective prevalence, informativeness regarding differential X- vs. Y-chromosome effects, and potential relevance for normative sex differences. RESULTS We show that XXY/KS elevates rates for most psychiatric diagnoses as previously reported for XYY, but disproportionately so for anxiety disorders. Fine-mapping across all 66 traits provides a detailed profile of psychopathology in XXY/KS which is strongly correlated with that of XYY (r = .75 across traits) and robust to ascertainment biases, but reveals: (i) a greater penetrance of XYY than KS/XXY for most traits except mood/anxiety problems, and (ii) a disproportionate impact of XYY vs. XXY/KS on social problems. XXY/KS and XYY showed a similar coupling of psychopathology with adaptive function and caregiver strain, but not IQ. CONCLUSIONS This work provides new tools for deep-phenotypic comparisons of genetic disorders in psychiatry and uses these to detail unique and shared effects of the X- and Y-chromosome on human behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Schaffer
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Srishti Rau
- Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders and Division of Neuropsychology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Isabella G Larsen
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Liv Clasen
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Allysa Warling
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Ethan T Whitman
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Ajay Nadig
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Cassidy McDermott
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Anastasia Xenophontos
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Kathleen Wilson
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Jonathan Blumenthal
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Erin Torres
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Section On Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Magnuson Clinical Center, Room 4N242, MSC 1367, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lukin J, Smith CM, De Rubeis S. Emerging X-linked genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in females. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 88:102902. [PMID: 39167997 PMCID: PMC11392613 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
A significant source of risk for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), lies in genes located on the X chromosome. Males can be particularly vulnerable to X-linked variation because of hemizygosity, and male-specific segregation in pedigrees has guided earlier gene discovery for X-linked recessive conditions. More recently, X-linked disorders disproportionally affecting females, with complex inheritance patterns and/or presenting with sex differences, have surfaced. Here, we discuss the genetics and neurobiology of X-linked genes that are paradigmatic to understand NDDs in females. Integrating genetic, clinical, and functional data will be key to understand how X-linked variation contributes to the risk architecture of NDDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeronimo Lukin
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Alper Center for Neural Development and Regeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Corinne M Smith
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Alper Center for Neural Development and Regeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Silvia De Rubeis
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; The Alper Center for Neural Development and Regeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Martínez-Pacheco M, Díaz-Barba K, Pérez-Molina R, Marmolejo-Valencia A, Collazo-Saldaña P, Escobar-Rodríguez M, Sánchez-Pérez M, Meneses-Acosta A, Martínez-Rizo AB, Sánchez-Pacheco AU, Furlan-Magaril M, Merchant-Larios H, Cortez D. Gene expression dynamics during temperature-dependent sex determination in a sea turtle. Dev Biol 2024; 514:99-108. [PMID: 38914191 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Fifty years ago, researchers discovered a link between ambient temperature and the sex of turtle embryos. More recently, significant progress has been made in understanding the influence of temperature on freshwater turtles. However, our understanding of the key genetic factors in other turtle groups, such as sea turtles, remains limited. To address this gap, we conducted RNA-seq analyses on embryonic tissues from the sea olive ridley turtle during the thermosensitive period (stages 21-26) at temperatures known to produce males (26 °C) and females (33 °C). Our findings revealed that incubation temperatures primarily influence genes with broad expression across tissues due to differential cell division rates and later have an effect regulating gonad-specific transcripts. This effect is mostly related to gene activation rather than transcription repression. We performed transcriptome analyses following shifts in incubation temperatures of bi-potential gonads. This approach allowed us to identify genes that respond rapidly and may be closer to the beginning of the temperature-sensing pathway. Notably, we observed swift adaptations in the expression levels of chromatin modifiers JARID2 and KDM6B, as well as the splicing factor SRSF5, and transcription regulators THOC2, DDX3X and CBX3, but little impact in the overall gonad-specific pathways, indicating that temperature-sensing genes may change rapidly but the rewiring of the gonad's developmental fate is complex and resilient. AUTHOR SUMMARY: Sea turtles, one of the most iconic creatures of our oceans, confront a troubling reality of endangerment, a peril magnified by the looming specter of climate change. This climatic shift is gradually increasing the temperature of the nesting beaches thus causing dramatic male/female population biases. Conservation efforts will need genetic and molecular information to reverse the negative effects of climate change on the populations. In this study, we conducted the first transcriptomic analysis of embryonic tissues, including gonads, brain, liver, and mesonephros, in the olive ridley sea turtle during the critical thermosensitive period spanning stages 21-26. We examined both male-producing (26 °C) and female-producing (33 °C) temperatures and found that incubation temperatures influence temperature-sensitive genes that are either expressed globally or specifically associated with the gonads. These findings indicate that incubation temperatures predominantly sway genes with broad expression patterns due to differential cell division rates. This natural process was opted in the gonads to drive sex determination. We also identified genes that are rapidly capable of sensing temperature changes and that could play a role in the activation of the sex determination pathway. Overall, our study sheds light on the intricate interplay between temperature and gene expression during sea turtle development, revealing dynamic changes in the transcriptome and highlighting the involvement of key genetic players in sex determination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rosario Pérez-Molina
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Alejandro Marmolejo-Valencia
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Pedro Collazo-Saldaña
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mayra Furlan-Magaril
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Horacio Merchant-Larios
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Diego Cortez
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, UNAM, CP62210, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Olagunju TA, Rosen BD, Neibergs HL, Becker GM, Davenport KM, Elsik CG, Hadfield TS, Koren S, Kuhn KL, Rhie A, Shira KA, Skibiel AL, Stegemiller MR, Thorne JW, Villamediana P, Cockett NE, Murdoch BM, Smith TPL. Telomere-to-telomere assemblies of cattle and sheep Y-chromosomes uncover divergent structure and gene content. Nat Commun 2024; 15:8277. [PMID: 39333471 PMCID: PMC11436988 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52384-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Reference genomes of cattle and sheep have lacked contiguous assemblies of the sex-determining Y chromosome. Here, we assemble complete and gapless telomere to telomere (T2T) Y chromosomes for these species. We find that the pseudo-autosomal regions are similar in length, but the total chromosome size is substantially different, with the cattle Y more than twice the length of the sheep Y. The length disparity is accounted for by expanded ampliconic region in cattle. The genic amplification in cattle contrasts with pseudogenization in sheep suggesting opposite evolutionary mechanisms since their divergence 19MYA. The centromeres also differ dramatically despite the close relationship between these species at the overall genome sequence level. These Y chromosomes have been added to the current reference assemblies in GenBank opening new opportunities for the study of evolution and variation while supporting efforts to improve sustainability in these important livestock species that generally use sire-driven genetic improvement strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Temitayo A Olagunju
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Benjamin D Rosen
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory (AGIL), ARS, USDA, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Holly L Neibergs
- Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Gabrielle M Becker
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | | | - Christine G Elsik
- Divisions of Animal Sciences and Plant Science & Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Tracy S Hadfield
- Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS), Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Sergey Koren
- Genome Informatics Section, Center for Genomics and Data Science Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kristen L Kuhn
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), ARS, USDA, Clay Center, NE, USA
| | - Arang Rhie
- Genome Informatics Section, Center for Genomics and Data Science Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Katie A Shira
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Amy L Skibiel
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Morgan R Stegemiller
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | | | - Patricia Villamediana
- Department of Dairy and Food Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Noelle E Cockett
- Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS), Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Brenda M Murdoch
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.
| | - Timothy P L Smith
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), ARS, USDA, Clay Center, NE, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Blanton LV, San Roman AK, Wood G, Buscetta A, Banks N, Skaletsky H, Godfrey AK, Pham TT, Hughes JF, Brown LG, Kruszka P, Lin AE, Kastner DL, Muenke M, Page DC. Stable and robust Xi and Y transcriptomes drive cell-type-specific autosomal and Xa responses in vivo and in vitro in four human cell types. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100628. [PMID: 39111319 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Recent in vitro studies of human sex chromosome aneuploidy showed that the Xi ("inactive" X) and Y chromosomes broadly modulate autosomal and Xa ("active" X) gene expression. We tested these findings in vivo. Linear modeling of CD4+ T cells and monocytes from individuals with one to three X chromosomes and zero to two Y chromosomes revealed 82 sex-chromosomal and 344 autosomal genes whose expression changed significantly with Xi and/or Y dosage in vivo. Changes in sex-chromosomal expression were remarkably constant in vivo and in vitro; autosomal responses to Xi and/or Y dosage were largely cell-type specific (∼2.6-fold more variation than sex-chromosomal responses). Targets of the sex-chromosomal transcription factors ZFX and ZFY accounted for a significant fraction of these autosomal responses both in vivo and in vitro. We conclude that the human Xi and Y transcriptomes are surprisingly robust and stable, yet they modulate autosomal and Xa genes in a cell-type-specific fashion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Geryl Wood
- Inflammatory Disease Section, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ashley Buscetta
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nicole Banks
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Helen Skaletsky
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Thao T Pham
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Laura G Brown
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Paul Kruszka
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Angela E Lin
- Genetics Unit, MassGeneral for Children, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Daniel L Kastner
- Inflammatory Disease Section, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Maximilian Muenke
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David C Page
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lakshmikanth T, Consiglio C, Sardh F, Forlin R, Wang J, Tan Z, Barcenilla H, Rodriguez L, Sugrue J, Noori P, Ivanchenko M, Piñero Páez L, Gonzalez L, Habimana Mugabo C, Johnsson A, Ryberg H, Hallgren Å, Pou C, Chen Y, Mikeš J, James A, Dahlqvist P, Wahlberg J, Hagelin A, Holmberg M, Degerblad M, Isaksson M, Duffy D, Kämpe O, Landegren N, Brodin P. Immune system adaptation during gender-affirming testosterone treatment. Nature 2024; 633:155-164. [PMID: 39232147 PMCID: PMC11374716 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07789-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Infectious, inflammatory and autoimmune conditions present differently in males and females. SARS-CoV-2 infection in naive males is associated with increased risk of death, whereas females are at increased risk of long COVID1, similar to observations in other infections2. Females respond more strongly to vaccines, and adverse reactions are more frequent3, like most autoimmune diseases4. Immunological sex differences stem from genetic, hormonal and behavioural factors5 but their relative importance is only partially understood6-8. In individuals assigned female sex at birth and undergoing gender-affirming testosterone therapy (trans men), hormone concentrations change markedly but the immunological consequences are poorly understood. Here we performed longitudinal systems-level analyses in 23 trans men and found that testosterone modulates a cross-regulated axis between type-I interferon and tumour necrosis factor. This is mediated by functional attenuation of type-I interferon responses in both plasmacytoid dendritic cells and monocytes. Conversely, testosterone potentiates monocyte responses leading to increased tumour necrosis factor, interleukin-6 and interleukin-15 production and downstream activation of nuclear factor kappa B-regulated genes and potentiation of interferon-γ responses, primarily in natural killer cells. These findings in trans men are corroborated by sex-divergent responses in public datasets and illustrate the dynamic regulation of human immunity by sex hormones, with implications for the health of individuals undergoing hormone therapy and our understanding of sex-divergent immune responses in cisgender individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Camila Consiglio
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Fabian Sardh
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rikard Forlin
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Ziyang Tan
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Hugo Barcenilla
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Lucie Rodriguez
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jamie Sugrue
- Translational Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Peri Noori
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Margarita Ivanchenko
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Laura Piñero Páez
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Laura Gonzalez
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | | | - Anette Johnsson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Henrik Ryberg
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Åsa Hallgren
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Christian Pou
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jaromír Mikeš
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Anna James
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Per Dahlqvist
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Anders Hagelin
- ANOVA, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Holmberg
- ANOVA, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marie Degerblad
- ANOVA, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Magnus Isaksson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Darragh Duffy
- Translational Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Olle Kämpe
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nils Landegren
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Petter Brodin
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, UK.
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Pavlinek A, Adhya D, Tsompanidis A, Warrier V, Vernon AC, Lancaster M, Mill J, Srivastava DP, Baron-Cohen S. Using Organoids to Model Sex Differences in the Human Brain. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100343. [PMID: 39092139 PMCID: PMC11292257 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex differences are widespread during neurodevelopment and play a role in neuropsychiatric conditions such as autism, which is more prevalent in males than females. In humans, males have been shown to have larger brain volumes than females with development of the hippocampus and amygdala showing prominent sex differences. Mechanistically, sex steroids and sex chromosomes drive these differences in brain development, which seem to peak during prenatal and pubertal stages. Animal models have played a crucial role in understanding sex differences, but the study of human sex differences requires an experimental model that can recapitulate complex genetic traits. To fill this gap, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain organoids are now being used to study how complex genetic traits influence prenatal brain development. For example, brain organoids from individuals with autism and individuals with X chromosome-linked Rett syndrome and fragile X syndrome have revealed prenatal differences in cell proliferation, a measure of brain volume differences, and excitatory-inhibitory imbalances. Brain organoids have also revealed increased neurogenesis of excitatory neurons due to androgens. However, despite growing interest in using brain organoids, several key challenges remain that affect its validity as a model system. In this review, we discuss how sex steroids and the sex chromosomes each contribute to sex differences in brain development. Then, we examine the role of X chromosome inactivation as a factor that drives sex differences. Finally, we discuss the combined challenges of modeling X chromosome inactivation and limitations of brain organoids that need to be taken into consideration when studying sex differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Pavlinek
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dwaipayan Adhya
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alex Tsompanidis
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Varun Warrier
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony C. Vernon
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jonathan Mill
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Deepak P. Srivastava
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lavorando E, Owens MC, Liu KF. Comparing the roles of sex chromosome-encoded protein homologs in gene regulation. Genes Dev 2024; 38:585-596. [PMID: 39048311 PMCID: PMC11368246 DOI: 10.1101/gad.351890.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
The X and Y chromosomes play important roles outside of human reproduction; namely, their potential contribution to human sex biases in physiology and disease. While sex biases are often thought to be an effect of hormones and environmental exposures, genes encoded on the sex chromosomes also play a role. Seventeen homologous gene pairs exist on the X and Y chromosomes whose proteins have critical functions in biology, from direct regulation of transcription and translation to intercellular signaling and formation of extracellular structures. In this review, we cover the current understanding of several of these sex chromosome-encoded protein homologs that are involved in transcription and chromatin regulation: SRY/SOX3, ZFX/ZFY, KDM5C/KDM5D, UTX/UTY, and TBL1X/TBL1Y. Their mechanisms of gene regulation are discussed, including any redundancies or divergent roles of the X- and Y-chromosome homologs. Additionally, we discuss associated diseases related to these proteins and any sex biases that exist therein in an effort to drive further research into how these pairs contribute to sexually dimorphic gene regulation in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Lavorando
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Michael C Owens
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Kathy Fange Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA;
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Penn Center for Genome Integrity, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hérault C, Pihl T, Hudry B. Cellular sex throughout the organism underlies somatic sexual differentiation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6925. [PMID: 39138201 PMCID: PMC11322332 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51228-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex chromosomes underlie the development of male or female sex organs across species. While systemic signals derived from sex organs prominently contribute to sex-linked differences, it is unclear whether the intrinsic presence of sex chromosomes in somatic tissues has a specific function. Here, we use genetic tools to show that cellular sex is crucial for sexual differentiation throughout the body in Drosophila melanogaster. We reveal that every somatic cell converts the intrinsic presence of sex chromosomes into the active production of a sex determinant, a female specific serine- and arginine-rich (SR) splicing factor. This discovery dismisses the mosaic model which posits that only a subset of cells has the potential to sexually differentiate. Using cell-specific sex reversals, we show that this prevalence of cellular sex drives sex differences in organ size and body weight and is essential for fecundity. These findings demonstrate that cellular sex drives differentiation programs at an organismal scale and highlight the importance of cellular sex pathways in sex trait evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Hérault
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, Institut de Biologie Valrose, Nice, France
| | - Thomas Pihl
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, Institut de Biologie Valrose, Nice, France
| | - Bruno Hudry
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, Institut de Biologie Valrose, Nice, France.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Cecalev D, Viçoso B, Galupa R. Compensation of gene dosage on the mammalian X. Development 2024; 151:dev202891. [PMID: 39140247 PMCID: PMC11361640 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Changes in gene dosage can have tremendous evolutionary potential (e.g. whole-genome duplications), but without compensatory mechanisms, they can also lead to gene dysregulation and pathologies. Sex chromosomes are a paradigmatic example of naturally occurring gene dosage differences and their compensation. In species with chromosome-based sex determination, individuals within the same population necessarily show 'natural' differences in gene dosage for the sex chromosomes. In this Review, we focus on the mammalian X chromosome and discuss recent new insights into the dosage-compensation mechanisms that evolved along with the emergence of sex chromosomes, namely X-inactivation and X-upregulation. We also discuss the evolution of the genetic loci and molecular players involved, as well as the regulatory diversity and potentially different requirements for dosage compensation across mammalian species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Cecalev
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD) Unit, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), University of Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Beatriz Viçoso
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | - Rafael Galupa
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD) Unit, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), University of Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31062, Toulouse, France
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Owens MC, Yanas A, Liu KF. Sex chromosome-encoded protein homologs: current progress and open questions. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:1156-1166. [PMID: 39123067 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01362-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
The complexity of biological sex differences is markedly evident in human physiology and pathology. Although many of these differences can be ascribed to the expression of sex hormones, another contributor to sex differences lies in the sex chromosomes beyond their role in sex determination. Although largely nonhomologous, the human sex chromosomes express seventeen pairs of homologous genes, referred to as the 'X-Y pairs.' The X chromosome-encoded homologs of these Y-encoded proteins are crucial players in several cellular processes, and their dysregulation frequently results in disease development. Many diseases related to these X-encoded homologs present with sex-biased incidence or severity. By contrast, comparatively little is known about the differential functions of the Y-linked homologs. Here, we summarize and discuss the current understanding of five of these X-Y paired proteins, with recent evidence of differential functions and of having a potential link to sex biases in disease, highlighting how amino acid-level sequence differences may differentiate their functions and contribute to sex biases in human disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Owens
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amber Yanas
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kathy Fange Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Penn Center for Genome Integrity, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Liu P, Yu S, Zheng W, Zhang Q, Qiao J, Li Z, Deng Z, Zhang H. Identification and functional verification of Y-chromosome-specific gene typo-gyf in Bactrocera dorsalis. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:1270-1284. [PMID: 38189161 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Genes on the Y chromosome play important roles in male sex determination and development. The identification of Y-chromosome-specific genes not only provides a theoretical basis for the study of male reproductive development, but also offers genetic control targets for agricultural pests. However, Y-chromosome genes are rarely characterized due to their high repeatability and high heterochromatinization, especially in the oriental fruit fly. In this study, 1 011 Y-chromosome-specific candidate sequences were screened from 2 to 4 h Bactrocera dorsalis embryo datasets with the chromosome quotient method, 6 of which were identified as Y-chromosome-specific sequences by polymerase chain reaction, including typo-gyf, a 19 126-bp DNA sequence containing a 575-amino acid open reading frame. Testicular deformation and a significant reduction in sperm number were observed after typo-gyf knockdown with RNA interference in embryos. After typo-gyf knockout with clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR-associated protein 9 in the embryonic stage, the sex ratio of the emergent adults was unbalanced, with far more females than males. A genotype analysis of these females with the Y-chromosome gene MoY revealed no sex reversal. Typo-gyf knockout led to the death of XY individuals in the embryonic stage. We conclude that typo-gyf is an essential gene for male survival, and is also involved in testicular development and spermatogenesis. The identification of typo-gyf and its functional verification provide insight into the roles of Y-chromosome genes in male development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Liu
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuning Yu
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenping Zheng
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiuyuan Zhang
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiao Qiao
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ziniu Li
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhurong Deng
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Hayashi S, Abe T, Igawa T, Katsura Y, Kazama Y, Nozawa M. Sex chromosome cycle as a mechanism of stable sex determination. J Biochem 2024; 176:81-95. [PMID: 38982631 PMCID: PMC11289310 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvae045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology have enabled the precise decoding of genomes in non-model organisms, providing a basis for unraveling the patterns and mechanisms of sex chromosome evolution. Studies of different species have yielded conflicting results regarding the traditional theory that sex chromosomes evolve from autosomes via the accumulation of deleterious mutations and degeneration of the Y (or W) chromosome. The concept of the 'sex chromosome cycle,' emerging from this context, posits that at any stage of the cycle (i.e., differentiation, degeneration, or loss), sex chromosome turnover can occur while maintaining stable sex determination. Thus, understanding the mechanisms that drive both the persistence and turnover of sex chromosomes at each stage of the cycle is crucial. In this review, we integrate recent findings on the mechanisms underlying maintenance and turnover, with a special focus on several organisms having unique sex chromosomes. Our review suggests that the diversity of sex chromosomes in the maintenance of stable sex determination is underappreciated and emphasizes the need for more research on the sex chromosome cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shun Hayashi
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Takuya Abe
- Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-4-1 Komatsushima, Aobaku, Sendai, Miyagi 981-8558, Japan
| | - Takeshi Igawa
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Yukako Katsura
- Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior, Kyoto University, 41-2 Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kazama
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Fukui Prefectural University, 4-1-1 Kenjojima, Matsuoka, Eiheiji, Fukui 910-1195, Japan
| | - Masafumi Nozawa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minamiosawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
- Research Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minamiosawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Sigeman H, Downing PA, Zhang H, Hansson B. The rate of W chromosome degeneration across multiple avian neo-sex chromosomes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16548. [PMID: 39020011 PMCID: PMC11255319 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66470-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
When sex chromosomes evolve recombination suppression, the sex-limited chromosome (Y/W) commonly degenerate by losing functional genes. The rate of Y/W degeneration is believed to slow down over time as the most essential genes are maintained by purifying selection, but supporting data are scarce especially for ZW systems. Here, we study W degeneration in Sylvioidea songbirds where multiple autosomal translocations to the sex chromosomes, and multiple recombination suppression events causing separate evolutionary strata, have occurred during the last ~ 28.1-4.5 million years (Myr). We show that the translocated regions have maintained 68.3-97.7% of their original gene content, compared to only 4.2% on the much older ancestral W chromosome. By mapping W gene losses onto a dated phylogeny, we estimate an average gene loss rate of 1.0% per Myr, with only moderate variation between four independent lineages. Consistent with previous studies, evolutionarily constrained and haploinsufficient genes were preferentially maintained on W. However, the gene loss rate did not show any consistent association with strata age or with the number of W genes at strata formation. Our study provides a unique account on the pace of W gene loss and reinforces the significance of purifying selection in maintaining essential genes on sex chromosomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Sigeman
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Philip A Downing
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Hongkai Zhang
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Bengt Hansson
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Rengarajan S, Derks J, Bellott DW, Slavov N, Page DC. Post-transcriptional cross- and auto-regulation buffer expression of the human RNA helicases DDX3X and DDX3Y. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.08.602613. [PMID: 39026797 PMCID: PMC11257633 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.08.602613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
The Y-linked gene DDX3Y and its X-linked homolog DDX3X survived the evolution of the human sex chromosomes from ordinary autosomes. DDX3X encodes a multi-functional RNA helicase, with mutations causing developmental disorders and cancers. We find that, among X-linked genes with surviving Y homologs, DDX3X is extraordinarily dosage-sensitive. Studying cells of individuals with sex chromosome aneuploidy, we observe that when the number of Y chromosomes increases, DDX3X transcript levels fall; conversely, when the number of X chromosomes increases, DDX3Y transcript levels fall. In 46,XY cells, CRISPRi knockdown of either DDX3X or DDX3Y causes transcript levels of the homologous gene to rise. In 46,XX cells, chemical inhibition of DDX3X protein activity elicits an increase in DDX3X transcript levels. Thus, perturbation of either DDX3X or DDX3Y expression is buffered - by negative cross-regulation of DDX3X and DDX3Y in 46,XY cells, and by negative auto-regulation of DDX3X in 46,XX cells. DDX3X-DDX3Y cross-regulation is mediated through mRNA destabilization - as shown by metabolic labeling of newly transcribed RNA - and buffers total levels of DDX3X and DDX3Y protein in human cells. We infer that post-transcriptional auto-regulation of the ancestral (autosomal) DDX3 gene transmuted into auto- and cross-regulation of DDX3X and DDX3Y as these sex-linked genes evolved from ordinary alleles of their autosomal precursor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shruthi Rengarajan
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jason Derks
- Departments of Bioengineering, Biology, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Single Cell Proteomics Center, and Barnett Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Nikolai Slavov
- Departments of Bioengineering, Biology, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Single Cell Proteomics Center, and Barnett Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David C Page
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Gautier M, Micol T, Camus L, Moazami-Goudarzi K, Naves M, Guéret E, Engelen S, Lemainque A, Colas F, Flori L, Druet T. Genomic Reconstruction of the Successful Establishment of a Feralized Bovine Population on the Subantarctic Island of Amsterdam. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae121. [PMID: 38889245 PMCID: PMC11339654 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The feral cattle of the subantarctic island of Amsterdam provide an outstanding case study of a large mammalian population that was established by a handful of founders and thrived within a few generations in a seemingly inhospitable environment. Here, we investigated the genetic history and composition of this population using genotyping and sequencing data. Our inference showed an intense but brief founding bottleneck around the late 19th century and revealed contributions from European taurine and Indian Ocean Zebu in the founder ancestry. Comparative analysis of whole-genome sequences further revealed a moderate reduction in genetic diversity despite high levels of inbreeding. The brief and intense bottleneck was associated with high levels of drift, a flattening of the site frequency spectrum and a slight relaxation of purifying selection on mildly deleterious variants. Unlike some populations that have experienced prolonged reductions in effective population size, we did not observe any significant purging of highly deleterious variants. Interestingly, the population's success in the harsh environment can be attributed to preadaptation from their European taurine ancestry, suggesting no strong bioclimatic challenge, and also contradicting evidence for insular dwarfism. Genome scan for footprints of selection uncovered a majority of candidate genes related to nervous system function, likely reflecting rapid feralization driven by behavioral changes and complex social restructuring. The Amsterdam Island cattle offers valuable insights into rapid population establishment, feralization, and genetic adaptation in challenging environments. It also sheds light on the unique genetic legacies of feral populations, raising ethical questions according to conservation efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Gautier
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, L’institut Agro, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Louise Camus
- CBGP, INRAE, CIRAD, IRD, L’institut Agro, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Elise Guéret
- MGX-Montpellier GenomiX, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Stefan Engelen
- Retired, CEA, Institut de biologie François-Jacob, Genoscope, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - Arnaud Lemainque
- Retired, CEA, Institut de biologie François-Jacob, Genoscope, Université Paris-Saclay, Evry, France
| | - François Colas
- Retired, Saint-Paul and Amsterdam District, Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises, France
| | - Laurence Flori
- SELMET, INRAE, CIRAD, L’institut Agro, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Tom Druet
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Dirican CD, Nelson PS. Y Chromosome Loss and Implications for Oncology. Mol Cancer Res 2024; 22:603-612. [PMID: 38647375 PMCID: PMC11217729 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-24-0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The Y chromosome has recognized functions in promoting male sex determination and regulating aspects of fertility. However, recent work has demonstrated important roles for the Y chromosome and Y-encoded genes in multiple domains of male health, including cancer. It is well established that males experience shorter lifespans than females, and this sex bias on overall mortality is accentuated in populations with longer life expectancy, in part related to elevated rates of cancer. The majority of human malignancies exhibit a sex bias with elevated frequencies in males. For many of these cancer types, the disparity has not been explained by environmental risk factors such as tobacco use. Notably, loss of the Y chromosome (LOY) detected in blood cells, termed mosaic LOY, is a common event that is related to advancing age and is associated with a shortened lifespan. Mosaic LOY is linked to increased incidence and mortality across a range of malignancies. Furthermore, tumors arising in different anatomic sites exhibit different frequencies of partial or complete Y chromosome loss. Causal oncogenic or tumor-suppressive roles have been documented for several Y-encoded genes, such as lysine-specific demethylase 5 D, that exert pleiotropic effects on cellular functions by virtue of genome-wide regulation of gene activity. In this review, we discuss aspects of the Y chromosome relevant to oncology. The recent completion of the entire human Y-chromosome sequence provides a reference map of Y-encoded genes and regulatory elements to enable causal molecular studies that may explain and exploit the marked disparity in male cancer risk and mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Canan D. Dirican
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington.
| | - Peter S. Nelson
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Djos A, Svensson J, Gaarder J, Umapathy G, Nilsson S, Ek T, Vogt H, Georgantzi K, Öra I, Träger C, Kogner P, Martinsson T, Fransson S. Loss of Chromosome Y in Neuroblastoma Is Associated With High-Risk Disease, 11q-Deletion, and Telomere Maintenance. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2024; 63:e23260. [PMID: 39031441 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.23260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is a heterogeneous childhood cancer with a slightly higher incidence in boys than girls, with the reason for this gender disparity unknown. Given the growing evidence for the involvement of loss of the Y chromosome (LoY) in male diseases including cancer, we investigated Y chromosome status in NB. Male NB tumor samples from a Swedish cohort, analyzed using Cytoscan HD SNP-microarray, were selected. Seventy NB tumors were analyzed for aneuploidy of the Y chromosome, and these data were correlated with other genetic, biological, and clinical parameters. LoY was found in 21% of the male NB tumors and it was almost exclusively found in those with high-risk genomic profiles. Furthermore, LoY was associated with increased age at diagnosis and enriched in tumors with 11q-deletion and activated telomere maintenance mechanisms. In contrast, tumors with an MYCN-amplified genomic profile retained their Y chromosome. The understanding of LoY in cancer is limited, making it difficult to conclude whether LoY is a driving event in NB or function of increased genomic instability. Gene expression analysis of Y chromosome genes in male NB tumors showed low expression of certain genes correlating with worse overall survival. KDM5D, encoding a histone demethylase stands out as an interesting candidate for further studies. LoY has been shown to impact the epigenomic layer of autosomal loci in nonreproductive tissues, and KDM5D has been reported as downregulated and/or associated with poor survival in different malignancies. Further studies are needed to explore the mechanisms and functional consequences of LoY in NB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Djos
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Johanna Svensson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jennie Gaarder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ganesh Umapathy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Staffan Nilsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Torben Ek
- Children's Cancer Centre, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Hartmut Vogt
- Crown Princess Victoria Children's Hospital, Division of Children's and Women's Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Kleopatra Georgantzi
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Pediatric Oncology, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ingrid Öra
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Catarina Träger
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per Kogner
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Pediatric Oncology, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tommy Martinsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Susanne Fransson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Jay P, Jeffries D, Hartmann FE, Véber A, Giraud T. Why do sex chromosomes progressively lose recombination? Trends Genet 2024; 40:564-579. [PMID: 38677904 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Progressive recombination loss is a common feature of sex chromosomes. Yet, the evolutionary drivers of this phenomenon remain a mystery. For decades, differences in trait optima between sexes (sexual antagonism) have been the favoured hypothesis, but convincing evidence is lacking. Recent years have seen a surge of alternative hypotheses to explain progressive extensions and maintenance of recombination suppression: neutral accumulation of sequence divergence, selection of nonrecombining fragments with fewer deleterious mutations than average, sheltering of recessive deleterious mutations by linkage to heterozygous alleles, early evolution of dosage compensation, and constraints on recombination restoration. Here, we explain these recent hypotheses and dissect their assumptions, mechanisms, and predictions. We also review empirical studies that have brought support to the various hypotheses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Jay
- Center for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Laboratoire Ecologie Systématique et Evolution, UMR 8079, Bâtiment 680, 12 route RD128, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Daniel Jeffries
- Division of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Fanny E Hartmann
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Laboratoire Ecologie Systématique et Evolution, UMR 8079, Bâtiment 680, 12 route RD128, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Amandine Véber
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, MAP5, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Tatiana Giraud
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Laboratoire Ecologie Systématique et Evolution, UMR 8079, Bâtiment 680, 12 route RD128, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Tharp ME, Han CZ, Balak CD, Fitzpatrick C, O'Connor C, Preissl S, Buchanan J, Nott A, Escoubet L, Mavrommatis K, Gupta M, Schwartz MS, Sang UH, Jones PS, Levy ML, Gonda DD, Ben-Haim S, Ciacci J, Barba D, Khalessi A, Coufal NG, Chen CC, Glass CK, Page DC. The inactive X chromosome drives sex differences in microglial inflammatory activity in human glioblastoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.06.597433. [PMID: 38895459 PMCID: PMC11185629 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.06.597433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Biological sex is an important risk factor in cancer, but the underlying cell types and mechanisms remain obscure. Since tumor development is regulated by the immune system, we hypothesize that sex-biased immune interactions underpin sex differences in cancer. The male-biased glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive and treatment-refractory tumor in urgent need of more innovative approaches, such as considering sex differences, to improve outcomes. GBM arises in the specialized brain immune environment dominated by microglia, so we explored sex differences in this immune cell type. We isolated adult human TAM-MGs (tumor-associated macrophages enriched for microglia) and control microglia and found sex-biased inflammatory signatures in GBM and lower-grade tumors associated with pro-tumorigenic activity in males and anti-tumorigenic activity in females. We demonstrated that genes expressed or modulated by the inactive X chromosome facilitate this bias. Together, our results implicate TAM-MGs, specifically their sex chromosomes, as drivers of male bias in GBM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marla E Tharp
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Claudia Z Han
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Chris D Balak
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Conor Fitzpatrick
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Carolyn O'Connor
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sebastian Preissl
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center for Epigenomics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Present address: Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Justin Buchanan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center for Epigenomics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alexi Nott
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Mihir Gupta
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Present address: Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Marc S Schwartz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - U Hoi Sang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Pamela S Jones
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Present address: Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Michael L Levy
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego-Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - David D Gonda
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego-Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Sharona Ben-Haim
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Joseph Ciacci
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - David Barba
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Alexander Khalessi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nicole G Coufal
- Department of Pediatrics University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Clark C Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Present address: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Christopher K Glass
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - David C Page
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Makova KD, Pickett BD, Harris RS, Hartley GA, Cechova M, Pal K, Nurk S, Yoo D, Li Q, Hebbar P, McGrath BC, Antonacci F, Aubel M, Biddanda A, Borchers M, Bornberg-Bauer E, Bouffard GG, Brooks SY, Carbone L, Carrel L, Carroll A, Chang PC, Chin CS, Cook DE, Craig SJC, de Gennaro L, Diekhans M, Dutra A, Garcia GH, Grady PGS, Green RE, Haddad D, Hallast P, Harvey WT, Hickey G, Hillis DA, Hoyt SJ, Jeong H, Kamali K, Pond SLK, LaPolice TM, Lee C, Lewis AP, Loh YHE, Masterson P, McGarvey KM, McCoy RC, Medvedev P, Miga KH, Munson KM, Pak E, Paten B, Pinto BJ, Potapova T, Rhie A, Rocha JL, Ryabov F, Ryder OA, Sacco S, Shafin K, Shepelev VA, Slon V, Solar SJ, Storer JM, Sudmant PH, Sweetalana, Sweeten A, Tassia MG, Thibaud-Nissen F, Ventura M, Wilson MA, Young AC, Zeng H, Zhang X, Szpiech ZA, Huber CD, Gerton JL, Yi SV, Schatz MC, Alexandrov IA, Koren S, O'Neill RJ, Eichler EE, Phillippy AM. The complete sequence and comparative analysis of ape sex chromosomes. Nature 2024; 630:401-411. [PMID: 38811727 PMCID: PMC11168930 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07473-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Apes possess two sex chromosomes-the male-specific Y chromosome and the X chromosome, which is present in both males and females. The Y chromosome is crucial for male reproduction, with deletions being linked to infertility1. The X chromosome is vital for reproduction and cognition2. Variation in mating patterns and brain function among apes suggests corresponding differences in their sex chromosomes. However, owing to their repetitive nature and incomplete reference assemblies, ape sex chromosomes have been challenging to study. Here, using the methodology developed for the telomere-to-telomere (T2T) human genome, we produced gapless assemblies of the X and Y chromosomes for five great apes (bonobo (Pan paniscus), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)) and a lesser ape (the siamang gibbon (Symphalangus syndactylus)), and untangled the intricacies of their evolution. Compared with the X chromosomes, the ape Y chromosomes vary greatly in size and have low alignability and high levels of structural rearrangements-owing to the accumulation of lineage-specific ampliconic regions, palindromes, transposable elements and satellites. Many Y chromosome genes expand in multi-copy families and some evolve under purifying selection. Thus, the Y chromosome exhibits dynamic evolution, whereas the X chromosome is more stable. Mapping short-read sequencing data to these assemblies revealed diversity and selection patterns on sex chromosomes of more than 100 individual great apes. These reference assemblies are expected to inform human evolution and conservation genetics of non-human apes, all of which are endangered species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brandon D Pickett
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Monika Cechova
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Karol Pal
- Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Sergey Nurk
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - DongAhn Yoo
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Qiuhui Li
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Prajna Hebbar
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Erich Bornberg-Bauer
- University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- MPI for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gerard G Bouffard
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shelise Y Brooks
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lucia Carbone
- Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Hillsboro, OR, USA
| | - Laura Carrel
- Penn State University School of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Chen-Shan Chin
- Foundation of Biological Data Sciences, Belmont, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mark Diekhans
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Amalia Dutra
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Gage H Garcia
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Diana Haddad
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Pille Hallast
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | | | - Glenn Hickey
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - David A Hillis
- University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | - Hyeonsoo Jeong
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Charles Lee
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | | | - Yong-Hwee E Loh
- University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Masterson
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kelly M McGarvey
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Karen H Miga
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | - Evgenia Pak
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Benedict Paten
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Arang Rhie
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Joana L Rocha
- University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Fedor Ryabov
- Masters Program in National Research, University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Samuel Sacco
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Steven J Solar
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Sweetalana
- Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Alex Sweeten
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Françoise Thibaud-Nissen
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mario Ventura
- Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Alice C Young
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Xinru Zhang
- Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Soojin V Yi
- University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Sergey Koren
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Evan E Eichler
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Adam M Phillippy
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zhang S, Wang R, Zhang L, Birchler JA, Sun L. Inverse and Proportional Trans Modulation of Gene Expression in Human Aneuploidies. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:637. [PMID: 38790266 PMCID: PMC11121296 DOI: 10.3390/genes15050637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Genomic imbalance in aneuploidy is often detrimental to organisms. To gain insight into the molecular basis of aneuploidies in humans, we analyzed transcriptome data from several autosomal and sex chromosome aneuploidies. The results showed that in human aneuploid cells, genes located on unvaried chromosomes are inversely or proportionally trans-modulated, while a subset of genes on the varied chromosomes are compensated. Less genome-wide modulation is found for sex chromosome aneuploidy compared with autosomal aneuploidy due to X inactivation and the retention of dosage sensitive regulators on both sex chromosomes to limit the effective dosage change. We also found that lncRNA and mRNA can have different responses to aneuploidy. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationship between dosage-sensitive transcription factors and their targets, which illustrated the modulations and indicates genomic imbalance is related to stoichiometric changes in components of gene regulatory complexes.In summary, this study demonstrates the existence of trans-acting effects and compensation mechanisms in human aneuploidies and contributes to our understanding of gene expression regulation in unbalanced genomes and disease states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (S.Z.); (R.W.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Ruixue Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (S.Z.); (R.W.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Ludan Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (S.Z.); (R.W.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - James A. Birchler
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Lin Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (S.Z.); (R.W.); (L.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Stevens MA, Dykhoff HJ, Kronzer VL, Myasoedova E, Davis JM, Duarte-García A, Crowson CS. Disparities in multimorbidity and comorbidities in rheumatoid arthritis by sex across the lifespan. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2024; 63:1639-1648. [PMID: 37651451 PMCID: PMC11147539 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Multimorbidity is burdensome for people with RA. We investigated differences in multimorbidity and comorbidities by sex and age in the RA population. METHODS This cross-sectional analysis used national administrative claims (OptumLabs® Data Warehouse) from people with RA and non-RA comparators (matched on age, sex, race, census region, index year and length of baseline insurance coverage) from 2010-2019. RA was determined using a validated algorithm. Multimorbidity was defined as ≥2 (MM2+) or ≥5 (MM5+) comorbidities from a validated set of 44 chronic conditions. We used logistic regression to assess associations between characteristics and multimorbidity. RESULTS The sample included 154 391 RA patients and 154 391 non-RA comparators. For people aged 18-50 years, RA women (vs RA men) had 7.5 and 4.4 (vs 3.2 and 0.9 in non-RA women vs non-RA men) percentage point increases for MM2+ and MM5+, respectively. For people aged 51+ years, RA women (vs RA men) had 2.1 and 2.5 (vs 1.2 and 0.3 in non-RA women vs non-RA men) percentage point increases for MM2+ and MM5+, respectively. Interactions revealed that differences in multimorbidity between women and men were exacerbated by RA (vs non-RA) (P < 0.05), with more pronounced effects in people aged 18-50. Men had more cardiovascular-related conditions, whereas RA women had more psychological, neurological and general musculoskeletal conditions. Other comorbidities varied by sex and age. CONCLUSION Multimorbidity disproportionately impacts women with RA. Research, clinical and policy agendas for rheumatic diseases should acknowledge and support the variation in care needs by sex and gender across the lifespan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Stevens
- Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Rochester, MN, USA
- OptumLabs, Eden Prairie, MN, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hayley J Dykhoff
- Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Vanessa L Kronzer
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Elena Myasoedova
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - John M Davis
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Alí Duarte-García
- Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Rochester, MN, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Cynthia S Crowson
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Song QH, Zhao KX, Huang S, Chen T, He L. Escape from X-chromosome inactivation and sex differences in Alzheimer's disease. Rev Neurosci 2024; 35:341-354. [PMID: 38157427 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2023-0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Sex differences exist in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Globally, women have a higher prevalence, while men with Alzheimer's disease experience earlier mortality and more pronounced cognitive decline than women. The cause of sex differences in Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. Accumulating evidence suggests the potential role of X-linked genetic factors in the sex difference of Alzheimer's disease (AD). During embryogenesis, a remarkable process known as X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) occurs in females, leading to one of the X chromosomes undergoing transcriptional inactivation, which balances the effects of two X chromosomes in females. Nevertheless, certain genes exceptionally escape from XCI, which provides a basis for dual expression dosage of specific genes in females. Based on recent research findings, we explore key escape genes and their potential therapeutic use associated with Alzheimer's disease. Also, we discuss their possible role in driving the sex differences in Alzheimer's disease. This will provide new perspectives for precision medicine and gender-specific treatment of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Hua Song
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ke-Xuan Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Shuai Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tong Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ling He
- Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Ahern DT, Bansal P, Faustino IV, Glatt-Deeley HR, Massey R, Kondaveeti Y, Banda EC, Pinter SF. Isogenic hiPSC models of Turner syndrome development reveal shared roles of inactive X and Y in the human cranial neural crest network. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.03.08.531747. [PMID: 36945647 PMCID: PMC10028916 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.08.531747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Modeling the developmental etiology of viable human aneuploidy can be challenging in rodents due to syntenic boundaries, or primate-specific biology. In humans, monosomy-X (45,X) causes Turner syndrome (TS), altering craniofacial, skeletal, endocrine, and cardiovascular development, which in contrast remain unaffected in 39,X-mice. To learn how human monosomy-X may impact early embryonic development, we turned to human 45,X and isogenic euploid induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from male and female mosaic donors. Because neural crest (NC) derived cell types are hypothesized to underpin craniofacial and cardiovascular changes in TS, we performed a highly-powered differential expression study on hiPSC-derived anterior neural crest cells (NCCs). Across three independent isogenic panels, 45,X NCCs show impaired acquisition of PAX7+SOX10+ markers, and disrupted expression of other NCC-specific genes, relative to their isogenic euploid controls. In particular, 45,X NCCs increase cholesterol biosynthesis genes while reducing transcripts that feature 5' terminal oligopyrimidine (TOP) motifs, including those of ribosomal protein and nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes. Such metabolic pathways are also over-represented in weighted co-expression gene modules that are preserved in monogenic neurocristopathy. Importantly, these gene modules are also significantly enriched in 28% of all TS-associated terms of the human phenotype ontology. Our analysis identifies specific sex-linked genes that are expressed from two copies in euploid males and females alike and qualify as candidate haploinsufficient drivers of TS phenotypes in NC-derived lineages. This study demonstrates that isogenic hiPSC-derived NCC panels representing monosomy-X can serve as a powerful model of early NC development in TS and inform new hypotheses towards its etiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Darcy T. Ahern
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Developmental Biology, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Prakhar Bansal
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Developmental Biology, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Isaac V. Faustino
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Heather R. Glatt-Deeley
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Rachael Massey
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Developmental Biology, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Yuvabharath Kondaveeti
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Erin C. Banda
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Stefan F. Pinter
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Developmental Biology, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UCONN Health, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Westemeier-Rice ES, Winters MT, Rawson TW, Martinez I. More than the SRY: The Non-Coding Landscape of the Y Chromosome and Its Importance in Human Disease. Noncoding RNA 2024; 10:21. [PMID: 38668379 PMCID: PMC11054740 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna10020021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Historically, the Y chromosome has presented challenges to classical methodology and philosophy of understanding the differences between males and females. A genetic unsolved puzzle, the Y chromosome was the last chromosome to be fully sequenced. With the advent of the Human Genome Project came a realization that the human genome is more than just genes encoding proteins, and an entire universe of RNA was discovered. This dark matter of biology and the black box surrounding the Y chromosome have collided over the last few years, as increasing numbers of non-coding RNAs have been identified across the length of the Y chromosome, many of which have played significant roles in disease. In this review, we will uncover what is known about the connections between the Y chromosome and the non-coding RNA universe that originates from it, particularly as it relates to long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs and circular RNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily S. Westemeier-Rice
- West Virginia University Cancer Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA;
| | - Michael T. Winters
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; (M.T.W.); (T.W.R.)
| | - Travis W. Rawson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; (M.T.W.); (T.W.R.)
| | - Ivan Martinez
- West Virginia University Cancer Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA;
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; (M.T.W.); (T.W.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Smith T, Olagunju T, Rosen B, Neibergs H, Becker G, Davenport K, Elsik C, Hadfield T, Koren S, Kuhn K, Rhie A, Shira K, Skibiel A, Stegemiller M, Thorne J, Villamediana P, Cockett N, Murdoch B. The first complete T2T Assemblies of Cattle and Sheep Y-Chromosomes uncover remarkable divergence in structure and gene content. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4033388. [PMID: 38712074 PMCID: PMC11071540 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4033388/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Reference genomes of cattle and sheep have lacked contiguous assemblies of the sex-determining Y chromosome. We assembled complete and gapless telomere to telomere (T2T) Y chromosomes for these species. The pseudo-autosomal regions were similar in length, but the total chromosome size was substantially different, with the cattle Y more than twice the length of the sheep Y. The length disparity was accounted for by expanded ampliconic region in cattle. The genic amplification in cattle contrasts with pseudogenization in sheep suggesting opposite evolutionary mechanisms since their divergence 18MYA. The centromeres also differed dramatically despite the close relationship between these species at the overall genome sequence level. These Y chromosome have been added to the current reference assemblies in GenBank opening new opportunities for the study of evolution and variation while supporting efforts to improve sustainability in these important livestock species that generally use sire-driven genetic improvement strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Smith
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sergey Koren
- Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | | | - Arang Rhie
- Genome Informatics Section, Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Mochizuki H, Estrada AJ, Boggess M. Assessment of Y chromosome copy number alterations in non-neoplastic and neoplastic leukocytes of male dogs. Vet J 2024; 304:106088. [PMID: 38412887 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
The loss of the Y chromosome (ChrY), also known as LOY, is a common genetic alteration observed in men. It occurs in non-neoplastic cells as an age-related change as well as in neoplastic cells of various cancer types. While well-documented in humans, LOY has not been extensively studied in non-human mammals. In this study, we developed simple digital PCR-based assays to assess the copy number of ChrY relative to the X chromosome (ChrX) and chromosome 8 (Chr8) to evaluate ChrY numerical alterations in male canine DNA specimens. Using these assays, we analyzed non-neoplastic leukocytes from 162 male dogs without hematopoietic neoplasia to investigate the occurrence of age-related LOY in non-neoplastic leukocytes. Additionally, we examined 101 tumor DNA specimens obtained from male dogs diagnosed with various types of lymphoma and leukemia to determine whether copy number alterations of the ChrY occur in canine hematopoietic cancers. Analysis of the 162 non-neoplastic leukocyte DNA specimens from male dogs of varying ages revealed a consistent ∼1:1 ChrY:ChrX ratio. This suggests that age-related LOY in non-neoplastic leukocytes is rare or absent in dogs. Conversely, a decreased or increased ChrY:ChrX ratio was detected in canine neoplastic leukocytes at varying frequencies across different canine hematopoietic malignancies (P = 0.01, Fisher's exact test). Notably, a higher incidence of LOY was observed in more aggressive cancer types. To determine if this relative LOY to ChrX was caused by changes in ChrY or ChrX, we further analyzed their relative copy numbers using Chr8 as a reference. Loss of ChrX relative to Chr8 was found in 21% (9/41) of B-cell lymphomas and 6% (1/18) of non-T-zone/high-grade T-cell lymphomas. In contrast, a subset (29%, 4/14) of T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia showed gain of ChrX relative to Chr8. Notably, no relative LOY to Chr8 was detected indolent hematopoietic cancers such as T-zone lymphoma (0/9) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia of B-cell (0/11) and T-cell origins (0/14). However, relative LOY to Chr8 was present in more aggressive canine hematopoietic cancers, with incidences of 24% (10/41) in B-cell lymphoma, 44% (8/18) in non-T-zone/high-grade T-cell lymphoma, and 75% (6/8) in acute leukemia. This study highlights both similarities and differences in LOY between human and canine non-neoplastic and neoplastic leukocytes. It underscores the need for further research into the role of ChrY in canine health and disease, as well as the significance of LOY across various species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Mochizuki
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - A J Estrada
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - M Boggess
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Blanton LV, San Roman AK, Wood G, Buscetta A, Banks N, Skaletsky H, Godfrey AK, Pham TT, Hughes JF, Brown LG, Kruszka P, Lin AE, Kastner DL, Muenke M, Page DC. Stable and robust Xi and Y transcriptomes drive cell-type-specific autosomal and Xa responses in vivo and in vitro in four human cell types. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.18.585578. [PMID: 38562807 PMCID: PMC10983990 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.18.585578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Recent in vitro studies of human sex chromosome aneuploidy showed that the Xi ("inactive" X) and Y chromosomes broadly modulate autosomal and Xa ("active" X) gene expression in two cell types. We tested these findings in vivo in two additional cell types. Using linear modeling in CD4+ T cells and monocytes from individuals with one to three X chromosomes and zero to two Y chromosomes, we identified 82 sex-chromosomal and 344 autosomal genes whose expression changed significantly with Xi and/or Y dosage in vivo . Changes in sex-chromosomal expression were remarkably constant in vivo and in vitro across all four cell types examined. In contrast, autosomal responses to Xi and/or Y dosage were largely cell-type-specific, with up to 2.6-fold more variation than sex-chromosomal responses. Targets of the X- and Y-encoded transcription factors ZFX and ZFY accounted for a significant fraction of these autosomal responses both in vivo and in vitro . We conclude that the human Xi and Y transcriptomes are surprisingly robust and stable across the four cell types examined, yet they modulate autosomal and Xa genes - and cell function - in a cell-type-specific fashion. These emerging principles offer a foundation for exploring the wide-ranging regulatory roles of the sex chromosomes across the human body.
Collapse
|
34
|
Hauth A, Panten J, Kneuss E, Picard C, Servant N, Rall I, Pérez-Rico YA, Clerquin L, Servaas N, Villacorta L, Jung F, Luong C, Chang HY, Zaugg JB, Stegle O, Odom DT, Loda A, Heard E. Escape from X inactivation is directly modulated by levels of Xist non-coding RNA. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.22.581559. [PMID: 38559194 PMCID: PMC10979913 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.22.581559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
In placental females, one copy of the two X chromosomes is largely silenced during a narrow developmental time window, in a process mediated by the non-coding RNA Xist1. Here, we demonstrate that Xist can initiate X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) well beyond early embryogenesis. By modifying its endogenous level, we show that Xist has the capacity to actively silence genes that escape XCI both in neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) and in vivo, in mouse embryos. We also show that Xist plays a direct role in eliminating TAD-like structures associated with clusters of escapee genes on the inactive X chromosome, and that this is dependent on Xist's XCI initiation partner, SPEN2. We further demonstrate that Xist's function in suppressing gene expression of escapees and topological domain formation is reversible for up to seven days post-induction, but that sustained Xist up-regulation leads to progressively irreversible silencing and CpG island DNA methylation of facultative escapees. Thus, the distinctive transcriptional and regulatory topologies of the silenced X chromosome is actively, directly - and reversibly - controlled by Xist RNA throughout life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Hauth
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Collaboration for joint PhD degree between EMBL and Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Jasper Panten
- Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Computational Genomics and Systems Genetics, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Emma Kneuss
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christel Picard
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Present address: Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier University of Montpellier, CNRS, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Servant
- Bioinformatics and Computational Systems Biology of Cancer, INSERM U900, Paris 75005, France
| | - Isabell Rall
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Present address: Institute of Human Biology (IHB), Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yuvia A Pérez-Rico
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lena Clerquin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nila Servaas
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laura Villacorta
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genomics Core Facility, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ferris Jung
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genomics Core Facility, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christy Luong
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Howard Y Chang
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Judith B Zaugg
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, EMBL-University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Stegle
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Computational Genomics and Systems Genetics, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Duncan T Odom
- Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Agnese Loda
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edith Heard
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Directors' Research, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Collège de France, Paris 75005, France
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Lundberg TR, Tucker R, McGawley K, Williams AG, Millet GP, Sandbakk Ø, Howatson G, Brown GA, Carlson LA, Chantler S, Chen MA, Heffernan SM, Heron N, Kirk C, Murphy MH, Pollock N, Pringle J, Richardson A, Santos-Concejero J, Stebbings GK, Christiansen AV, Phillips SM, Devine C, Jones C, Pike J, Hilton EN. The International Olympic Committee framework on fairness, inclusion and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations does not protect fairness for female athletes. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2024; 34:e14581. [PMID: 38511417 DOI: 10.1111/sms.14581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently published a framework on fairness, inclusion, and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations. Although we appreciate the IOC's recognition of the role of sports science and medicine in policy development, we disagree with the assertion that the IOC framework is consistent with existing scientific and medical evidence and question its recommendations for implementation. Testosterone exposure during male development results in physical differences between male and female bodies; this process underpins male athletic advantage in muscle mass, strength and power, and endurance and aerobic capacity. The IOC's "no presumption of advantage" principle disregards this reality. Studies show that transgender women (male-born individuals who identify as women) with suppressed testosterone retain muscle mass, strength, and other physical advantages compared to females; male performance advantage cannot be eliminated with testosterone suppression. The IOC's concept of "meaningful competition" is flawed because fairness of category does not hinge on closely matched performances. The female category ensures fair competition for female athletes by excluding male advantages. Case-by-case testing for transgender women may lead to stigmatization and cannot be robustly managed in practice. We argue that eligibility criteria for female competition must consider male development rather than relying on current testosterone levels. Female athletes should be recognized as the key stakeholders in the consultation and decision-making processes. We urge the IOC to reevaluate the recommendations of their Framework to include a comprehensive understanding of the biological advantages of male development to ensure fairness and safety in female sports.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tommy R Lundberg
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ross Tucker
- Department of Sport Science, Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Kerry McGawley
- Department of Health Sciences, Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
| | - Alun G Williams
- Manchester Metropolitan Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, University College London, London, UK
- Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine Research Centre (A-STEM), Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Grégoire P Millet
- Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Øyvind Sandbakk
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Centre for Elite Sports Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Glyn Howatson
- Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Water Research Group, North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Gregory A Brown
- Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, Nebraska, USA
| | | | - Sarah Chantler
- Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Mark A Chen
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Shane M Heffernan
- Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine Research Centre (A-STEM), Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Neil Heron
- Centre for Public Health, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK
| | - Christopher Kirk
- Sport and Physical Activity Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
| | - Marie H Murphy
- Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Exercise Medicine, Physical Activity and Health, School of Sport, Ulster University, Belfast, UK
| | - Noel Pollock
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jamie Pringle
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Andrew Richardson
- School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Jordan Santos-Concejero
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Georgina K Stebbings
- Manchester Metropolitan Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Stuart M Phillips
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Carwyn Jones
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jon Pike
- Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Emma N Hilton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Xu L, Ren Y, Wu J, Cui T, Dong R, Huang C, Feng Z, Zhang T, Yang P, Yuan J, Xu X, Liu J, Wang J, Chen W, Mi D, Irwin DM, Yan Y, Xu L, Yu X, Li G. Evolution and expression patterns of the neo-sex chromosomes of the crested ibis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1670. [PMID: 38395916 PMCID: PMC10891136 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46052-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Bird sex chromosomes play a unique role in sex-determination, and affect the sexual morphology and behavior of bird species. Core waterbirds, a major clade of birds, share the common characteristics of being sexually monomorphic and having lower levels of inter-sexual conflict, yet their sex chromosome evolution remains poorly understood. Here, by we analyse of a chromosome-level assembly of a female crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), a typical core waterbird. We identify neo-sex chromosomes resulting from fusion of microchromosomes with ancient sex chromosomes. These fusion events likely occurred following the divergence of Threskiornithidae and Ardeidae. The neo-W chromosome of the crested ibis exhibits the characteristics of slow degradation, which is reflected in its retention of abundant gametologous genes. Neo-W chromosome genes display an apparent ovary-biased gene expression, which is largely driven by genes that are retained on the crested ibis W chromosome but lost in other bird species. These results provide new insights into the evolutionary history and expression patterns for the sex chromosomes of bird species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yandong Ren
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiahong Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingting Cui
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rong Dong
- Research Center for Qinling Giant Panda, Shaanxi Academy of Forestry, Xi'an, China
| | - Chen Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhe Feng
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tianmin Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Peng Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiaqing Yuan
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiao Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jinhong Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wu Chen
- Guangzhou Wildlife Research Center, Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou, China
| | - Da Mi
- Xi'an Haorui Genomics Technology Co., LTD, Xi'an, China
| | - David M Irwin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Yaping Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Luohao Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Xiaoping Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Gang Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.
- Guangzhou Wildlife Research Center, Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Malcore RM, Kalantry S. A Comparative Analysis of Mouse Imprinted and Random X-Chromosome Inactivation. EPIGENOMES 2024; 8:8. [PMID: 38390899 PMCID: PMC10885068 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes8010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The mammalian sexes are distinguished by the X and Y chromosomes. Whereas males harbor one X and one Y chromosome, females harbor two X chromosomes. To equalize X-linked gene expression between the sexes, therian mammals have evolved X-chromosome inactivation as a dosage compensation mechanism. During X-inactivation, most genes on one of the two X chromosomes in females are transcriptionally silenced, thus equalizing X-linked gene expression between the sexes. Two forms of X-inactivation characterize eutherian mammals, imprinted and random. Imprinted X-inactivation is defined by the exclusive inactivation of the paternal X chromosome in all cells, whereas random X-inactivation results in the silencing of genes on either the paternal or maternal X chromosome in individual cells. Both forms of X-inactivation have been studied intensively in the mouse model system, which undergoes both imprinted and random X-inactivation early in embryonic development. Stable imprinted and random X-inactivation requires the induction of the Xist long non-coding RNA. Following its induction, Xist RNA recruits proteins and complexes that silence genes on the inactive-X. In this review, we present a current understanding of the mechanisms of Xist RNA induction, and, separately, the establishment and maintenance of gene silencing on the inactive-X by Xist RNA during imprinted and random X-inactivation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sundeep Kalantry
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Shaw DE, Naftaly AS, White MA. Positive Selection Drives cis-regulatory Evolution Across the Threespine Stickleback Y Chromosome. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae020. [PMID: 38306314 PMCID: PMC10899008 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Allele-specific gene expression evolves rapidly on heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Over time, the accumulation of mutations on the Y chromosome leads to widespread loss of gametolog expression, relative to the X chromosome. It remains unclear if expression evolution on degrading Y chromosomes is primarily driven by mutations that accumulate through processes of selective interference, or if positive selection can also favor the down-regulation of coding regions on the Y chromosome that contain deleterious mutations. Identifying the relative rates of cis-regulatory sequence evolution across Y chromosomes has been challenging due to the limited number of reference assemblies. The threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) Y chromosome is an excellent model to identify how regulatory mutations accumulate on Y chromosomes due to its intermediate state of divergence from the X chromosome. A large number of Y-linked gametologs still exist across 3 differently aged evolutionary strata to test these hypotheses. We found that putative enhancer regions on the Y chromosome exhibited elevated substitution rates and decreased polymorphism when compared to nonfunctional sites, like intergenic regions and synonymous sites. This suggests that many cis-regulatory regions are under positive selection on the Y chromosome. This divergence was correlated with X-biased gametolog expression, indicating the loss of expression from the Y chromosome may be favored by selection. Our findings provide evidence that Y-linked cis-regulatory regions exhibit signs of positive selection quickly after the suppression of recombination and allow comparisons with recent theoretical models that suggest the rapid divergence of regulatory regions may be favored to mask deleterious mutations on the Y chromosome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Shaw
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | | | - Michael A White
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Hanson C, Blumenthal J, Clasen L, Guma E, Raznahan A. Influences of sex chromosome aneuploidy on height, weight, and body mass index in human childhood and adolescence. Am J Med Genet A 2024; 194:150-159. [PMID: 37768018 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) are collectively common conditions caused by carriage of a sex chromosome dosage other than XX for females and XY for males. Increases in sex chromosome dosage (SCD) have been shown to have an inverted-U association with height, but we lack combined studies of SCA effects on height and weight, and it is not known if any such effects vary with age. Here, we study norm-derived height and weight z-scores in 177 youth spanning 8 SCA karyotypes (XXX, XXY, XYY, XXXX, XXXY, XXYY, XXXXX, and XXXXY). We replicate a previously described inverted-U association between mounting SCD and height, and further show that there is also a muted version of this effect for weight: both phenotypes are elevated until SCD reaches 4 for females and 5 for males but decrease thereafter. We next use 266 longitudinal measures available from a subset of karyotypes (XXX, XXY, XYY, and XXYY) to show that mean height in these SCAs diverges further from norms with increasing age. As weight does not diverge from norms with increasing age, BMI decreases with increasing age. These findings extend our understanding of growth as an important clinical outcome in SCA, and as a key context for known effects of SCA on diverse organ systems that scale with body size.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Hanson
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan Blumenthal
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Liv Clasen
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Elisa Guma
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Estrella CAS, Gatford KL, Xiang R, Javadmanesh A, Ghanipoor-Samami M, Nattrass GS, Shuaib E, McAllister MM, Beckman I, Thomsen DA, Clifton VL, Owens JA, Roberts CT, Hiendleder S, Kind KL. Asymmetric growth-limiting development of the female conceptus. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1306513. [PMID: 38362586 PMCID: PMC10867182 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1306513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sex differences in prenatal growth may contribute to sex-dependent programming effects on postnatal phenotype. Methods We integrated for the first time phenotypic, histomorphological, clinico-chemical, endocrine and gene expression analyses in a single species, the bovine conceptus at mid-gestation. Results We demonstrate that by mid-gestation, before the onset of accelerated growth, the female conceptus displays asymmetric lower growth compared to males. Female fetuses were smaller with lower ponderal index and organ weights than males. However, their brain:body weight, brain:liver weight and heart:body weight ratios were higher than in males, indicating brain and heart 'sparing'. The female placenta weighed less and had lower volumes of trophoblast and fetal connective tissue than the male placenta. Female umbilical cord vessel diameters were smaller, and female-specific relationships of body weight and brain:liver weight ratios with cord vessel diameters indicated that the umbilico-placental vascular system creates a growth-limiting environment where blood flow is redistributed to protect brain and heart growth. Clinico-chemical indicators of liver perfusion support this female-specific growth-limiting phenotype, while lower insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene expression in brain and heart, and lower circulating IGF2, implicate female-specific modulation of key endocrine mediators by nutrient supply. Conclusion This mode of female development may increase resilience to environmental perturbations in utero and contribute to sex-bias in programming outcomes including susceptibility to non-communicable diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Consuelo Amor S. Estrella
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Epigenetics and Genetics Group and Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Kathryn L. Gatford
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Ruidong Xiang
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Epigenetics and Genetics Group and Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Ali Javadmanesh
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Epigenetics and Genetics Group and Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Mani Ghanipoor-Samami
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Epigenetics and Genetics Group and Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Greg S. Nattrass
- South Australian Research and Development Institute, Livestock Systems, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Entesar Shuaib
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Epigenetics and Genetics Group and Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Milton M. McAllister
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Ian Beckman
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Dana A. Thomsen
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Epigenetics and Genetics Group and Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Vicki L. Clifton
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Julie A. Owens
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Claire T. Roberts
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Flinders University, College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Stefan Hiendleder
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Epigenetics and Genetics Group and Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| | - Karen L. Kind
- Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Epigenetics and Genetics Group and Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
San Roman AK, Skaletsky H, Godfrey AK, Bokil NV, Teitz L, Singh I, Blanton LV, Bellott DW, Pyntikova T, Lange J, Koutseva N, Hughes JF, Brown L, Phou S, Buscetta A, Kruszka P, Banks N, Dutra A, Pak E, Lasutschinkow PC, Keen C, Davis SM, Lin AE, Tartaglia NR, Samango-Sprouse C, Muenke M, Page DC. The human Y and inactive X chromosomes similarly modulate autosomal gene expression. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100462. [PMID: 38190107 PMCID: PMC10794785 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Somatic cells of human males and females have 45 chromosomes in common, including the "active" X chromosome. In males the 46th chromosome is a Y; in females it is an "inactive" X (Xi). Through linear modeling of autosomal gene expression in cells from individuals with zero to three Xi and zero to four Y chromosomes, we found that Xi and Y impact autosomal expression broadly and with remarkably similar effects. Studying sex chromosome structural anomalies, promoters of Xi- and Y-responsive genes, and CRISPR inhibition, we traced part of this shared effect to homologous transcription factors-ZFX and ZFY-encoded by Chr X and Y. This demonstrates sex-shared mechanisms by which Xi and Y modulate autosomal expression. Combined with earlier analyses of sex-linked gene expression, our studies show that 21% of all genes expressed in lymphoblastoid cells or fibroblasts change expression significantly in response to Xi or Y chromosomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen Skaletsky
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Alexander K Godfrey
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Neha V Bokil
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Levi Teitz
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Isani Singh
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | | | | | - Julian Lange
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | | | - Laura Brown
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sidaly Phou
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ashley Buscetta
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Paul Kruszka
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nicole Banks
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Amalia Dutra
- Cytogenetics and Microscopy Core, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Evgenia Pak
- Cytogenetics and Microscopy Core, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | | | - Shanlee M Davis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Angela E Lin
- Medical Genetics, Massachusetts General for Children, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nicole R Tartaglia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Developmental Pediatrics, eXtraOrdinarY Kids Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80011, USA
| | - Carole Samango-Sprouse
- Focus Foundation, Davidsonville, MD 21035, USA; Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Maximilian Muenke
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David C Page
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Christians JK, Reue K. The role of gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes in sex-dependent effects of early nutrition on metabolic health. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1304050. [PMID: 38189044 PMCID: PMC10770830 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1304050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Early-life conditions such as prenatal nutrition can have long-term effects on metabolic health, and these effects may differ between males and females. Understanding the biological mechanisms underlying sex differences in the response to early-life environment will improve interventions, but few such mechanisms have been identified, and there is no overall framework for understanding sex differences. Biological sex differences may be due to chromosomal sex, gonadal sex, or interactions between the two. This review describes approaches to distinguish between the roles of chromosomal and gonadal sex, and summarizes findings regarding sex differences in metabolism. The Four Core Genotypes (FCG) mouse model allows dissociation of the sex chromosome genotype from gonadal type, whereas the XY* mouse model can be used to distinguish effects of X chromosome dosage vs the presence of the Y chromosome. Gonadectomy can be used to distinguish between organizational (permanent) and activational (reversible) effects of sex hormones. Baseline sex differences in a variety of metabolic traits are influenced by both activational and organizational effects of gonadal hormones, as well as sex chromosome complement. Thus far, these approaches have not been widely applied to examine sex-dependent effects of prenatal conditions, although a number of studies have found activational effects of estradiol to be protective against the development of hypertension following early-life adversity. Genes that escape X chromosome inactivation (XCI), such as Kdm5c, contribute to baseline sex-differences in metabolism, while Ogt, another XCI escapee, leads to sex-dependent responses to prenatal maternal stress. Genome-wide approaches to the study of sex differences include mapping genetic loci influencing metabolic traits in a sex-dependent manner. Seeking enrichment for binding sites of hormone receptors among genes showing sexually-dimorphic expression can elucidate the relative roles of hormones. Using the approaches described herein to identify mechanisms underlying sex-dependent effects of early nutrition on metabolic health may enable the identification of fundamental mechanisms and potential interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julian K. Christians
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Women’s Health Research Institute, BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Karen Reue
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Xu XW, Sun P, Gao C, Zheng W, Chen S. Assembly of the poorly differentiated Verasper variegatus W chromosome by different sequencing technologies. Sci Data 2023; 10:893. [PMID: 38092799 PMCID: PMC10719390 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02790-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The assembly of W and Y chromosomes poses significant challenges in vertebrate genome sequencing and assembly. Here, we successfully assembled the W chromosome of Verasper variegatus with a length of 20.48 Mb by combining population and PacBio HiFi sequencing data. It was identified as a young sex chromosome and showed signs of expansion in repetitive sequences. The major component of the expansion was Ty3/Gypsy. The ancestral Osteichthyes karyotype consists of 24 protochromosomes. The sex chromosomes in four Pleuronectiformes species derived from a pair of homologous protochromosomes resulting from a whole-genome duplication event in teleost fish, yet with different sex-determination systems. V. variegatus and Cynoglossus semilaevis adhere to the ZZ/ZW system, while Hippoglossus stenolepis and H. hippoglossus follow the XX/XY system. Interestingly, V. variegatus and H. hippoglossus derived from one protochromosome, while C. semilaevis and H. stenolepis derived from another protochromosome. Our study provides valuable insights into the evolution of sex chromosomes in flatfish and sheds light on the important role of whole-genome duplication in shaping the evolution of sex chromosomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Wen Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Pengchuan Sun
- Key Laboratory for Bio-resources and Eco-environment & Sichuan Zoige Alpine Wetland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Chengbin Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Weiwei Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Songlin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237, China.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Wong ELY, Filatov DA. Pericentromeric recombination suppression and the 'large X effect' in plants. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21682. [PMID: 38066067 PMCID: PMC10709461 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48870-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
X chromosome was reported to be a major contributor to isolation between closely related species-the 'large X' effect (LXE). The causes of LXE are not clear, but the leading theory is that it is caused by recessive species incompatibilities exposed in the phenotype due to the hemizygosity of X-linked genes in the heterogametic sex. However, the LXE was also reported in species with relatively recently evolved sex chromosomes where Y chromosome is not completely degenerate and X-linked genes are not hemizygous, such as the plant Silene latifolia. Recent genome sequencing and detailed genetic mapping in this species revealed a massive (> 330 Mb) non- or rarely-recombining pericentromeric region on the X chromosome (Xpr) that comprises ~ 90% of the chromosome and over 13% of the entire genome. If any of the Xpr genes are involved in species incompatibilities, this would oppose interspecific gene flow for other genes tightly linked in the Xpr. Here we test the hypothesis that the previously reported LXE in S. latifolia is caused by the lack of recombination on most of the X chromosome. Based on genome-wide analysis of DNA polymorphism and gene expression in S. latifolia and its close cross-compatible relative S. dioica, we report that the rarely-recombining regions represent a significant barrier for interspecific gene flow. We found little evidence for any additional factors contributing to the LXE, suggesting that extensive pericentromeric recombination suppression on the X-chromosome is the major if not the only cause of the LXE in S. latifolia and S. dioica.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edgar L Y Wong
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Makova KD, Pickett BD, Harris RS, Hartley GA, Cechova M, Pal K, Nurk S, Yoo D, Li Q, Hebbar P, McGrath BC, Antonacci F, Aubel M, Biddanda A, Borchers M, Bomberg E, Bouffard GG, Brooks SY, Carbone L, Carrel L, Carroll A, Chang PC, Chin CS, Cook DE, Craig SJ, de Gennaro L, Diekhans M, Dutra A, Garcia GH, Grady PG, Green RE, Haddad D, Hallast P, Harvey WT, Hickey G, Hillis DA, Hoyt SJ, Jeong H, Kamali K, Kosakovsky Pond SL, LaPolice TM, Lee C, Lewis AP, Loh YHE, Masterson P, McCoy RC, Medvedev P, Miga KH, Munson KM, Pak E, Paten B, Pinto BJ, Potapova T, Rhie A, Rocha JL, Ryabov F, Ryder OA, Sacco S, Shafin K, Shepelev VA, Slon V, Solar SJ, Storer JM, Sudmant PH, Sweetalana, Sweeten A, Tassia MG, Thibaud-Nissen F, Ventura M, Wilson MA, Young AC, Zeng H, Zhang X, Szpiech ZA, Huber CD, Gerton JL, Yi SV, Schatz MC, Alexandrov IA, Koren S, O’Neill RJ, Eichler E, Phillippy AM. The Complete Sequence and Comparative Analysis of Ape Sex Chromosomes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.30.569198. [PMID: 38077089 PMCID: PMC10705393 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.30.569198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Apes possess two sex chromosomes-the male-specific Y and the X shared by males and females. The Y chromosome is crucial for male reproduction, with deletions linked to infertility. The X chromosome carries genes vital for reproduction and cognition. Variation in mating patterns and brain function among great apes suggests corresponding differences in their sex chromosome structure and evolution. However, due to their highly repetitive nature and incomplete reference assemblies, ape sex chromosomes have been challenging to study. Here, using the state-of-the-art experimental and computational methods developed for the telomere-to-telomere (T2T) human genome, we produced gapless, complete assemblies of the X and Y chromosomes for five great apes (chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, Bornean and Sumatran orangutans) and a lesser ape, the siamang gibbon. These assemblies completely resolved ampliconic, palindromic, and satellite sequences, including the entire centromeres, allowing us to untangle the intricacies of ape sex chromosome evolution. We found that, compared to the X, ape Y chromosomes vary greatly in size and have low alignability and high levels of structural rearrangements. This divergence on the Y arises from the accumulation of lineage-specific ampliconic regions and palindromes (which are shared more broadly among species on the X) and from the abundance of transposable elements and satellites (which have a lower representation on the X). Our analysis of Y chromosome genes revealed lineage-specific expansions of multi-copy gene families and signatures of purifying selection. In summary, the Y exhibits dynamic evolution, while the X is more stable. Finally, mapping short-read sequencing data from >100 great ape individuals revealed the patterns of diversity and selection on their sex chromosomes, demonstrating the utility of these reference assemblies for studies of great ape evolution. These complete sex chromosome assemblies are expected to further inform conservation genetics of nonhuman apes, all of which are endangered species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brandon D. Pickett
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Monika Cechova
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Karol Pal
- Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Sergey Nurk
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - DongAhn Yoo
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Qiuhui Li
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Prajna Hebbar
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Erich Bomberg
- University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- MPI for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gerard G. Bouffard
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shelise Y. Brooks
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lucia Carbone
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Hillsboro, OR, USA
| | - Laura Carrel
- Penn State University School of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Chen-Shan Chin
- Foundation of Biological Data Sciences, Belmont, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mark Diekhans
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Amalia Dutra
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Gage H. Garcia
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Diana Haddad
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Pille Hallast
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | | | - Glenn Hickey
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - David A. Hillis
- University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | - Hyeonsoo Jeong
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Charles Lee
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Patrick Masterson
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Karen H. Miga
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | - Evgenia Pak
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Benedict Paten
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Arang Rhie
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Fedor Ryabov
- Masters Program in National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Samuel Sacco
- University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Steven J. Solar
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Sweetalana
- Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Alex Sweeten
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Françoise Thibaud-Nissen
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Alice C. Young
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Xinru Zhang
- Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Soojin V. Yi
- University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Sergey Koren
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Evan Eichler
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Adam M. Phillippy
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Potorac A, Varlas VN, Borș RG, Baroș A, Cirstoiu M. The Management and Diagnosis of Anti-NMDA Receptor Autoimmune Encephalitis in Pregnant Women: A Case Report and Literature Review. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:2110. [PMID: 38138213 PMCID: PMC10744478 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59122110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Rationale: Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a form of autoimmune synaptic encephalitis, often mediated by neuronal surface antibodies. Clinically, it manifests through a diverse range of neurological and psychiatric symptoms, primarily affecting young women with ovarian teratoma, which is rare in pregnant women. Patient concerns: We report a case of a 35-year-old multiparous pregnant patient at 38 weeks of gestation presented to the emergency room with seizure, psychiatric symptoms like delirious speech with mystical visual and auditory hallucinations, bradylalia, and retrograde amnesia. Diagnosis: The diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis with anti-NMDA antibodies was concluded by considering the lumbar puncture results, brain imaging, and the patient's persistent symptoms. Outcomes: This case is noteworthy for its rarity and the symptoms' breadth. At 38 weeks of gestation, the patient underwent a cesarean section, resulting in excellent maternal recovery observed during the 6-month follow-up and good neonatal adaptation. Lessons: Our goals include raising awareness about this condition and emphasizing the significance of early diagnosis. This encephalitis is treatable and potentially reversible, underscoring the importance of prompt identification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alina Potorac
- Doctoral School, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.P.); (R.G.B.)
| | - Valentin Nicolae Varlas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.B.); (M.C.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Filantropia Clinical Hospital, 011132 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Roxana Georgiana Borș
- Doctoral School, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.P.); (R.G.B.)
| | - Alexandru Baroș
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.B.); (M.C.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Monica Cirstoiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (A.B.); (M.C.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Noto NT, Raudsepp T, Kolb E, Hague DW, Lara MM, Rosser MF. A rare finding of double Barr bodies and X-monosomy/X-trisomy mosaicism in a dog with presumed idiopathic epilepsy. Vet Clin Pathol 2023; 52:583-587. [PMID: 37448119 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.13261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
A 4-year-old spayed female Border Collie dog presented to the Neurology and Neurosurgery service for an approximately five-month history of seizures. A complete neurodiagnostic workup was performed and did not reveal any significant abnormalities. The patient's seizures were well controlled with a combination of anticonvulsants. During a manual blood smear review at a follow-up appointment, double Barr bodies were identified in segmented neutrophils. Karyotyping revealed that the patient is mosaic for X-monosomy and X-trisomy, a finding that has never been reported in a dog and is rarely reported in people. This case demonstrates how the identification of abnormal neutrophil nuclear appendages may correlate with chromosomal abnormalities in dogs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas T Noto
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Terje Raudsepp
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Ellie Kolb
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Devon W Hague
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Melissa M Lara
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Michael F Rosser
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Rock KD, Folts LM, Zierden HC, Marx-Rattner R, Leu NA, Nugent BM, Bale TL. Developmental transcriptomic patterns can be altered by transgenic overexpression of Uty. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21082. [PMID: 38030664 PMCID: PMC10687263 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47977-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetic material encoded on X and Y chromosomes provides the foundation by which biological sex differences are established. Epigenetic regulators expressed on these sex chromosomes, including Kdm6a (Utx), Kdm5c, and Ddx3x have far-reaching impacts on transcriptional control of phenotypic sex differences. Although the functionality of UTY (Kdm6c, the Y-linked homologue of UTX), has been supported by more recent studies, its role in developmental sex differences is not understood. Here we test the hypothesis that UTY is an important transcriptional regulator during development that could contribute to sex-specific phenotypes and disease risks across the lifespan. We generated a random insertion Uty transgenic mouse (Uty-Tg) to overexpress Uty. By comparing transcriptomic profiles in developmental tissues, placenta and hypothalamus, we assessed potential UTY functional activity, comparing Uty-expressing female mice (XX + Uty) with wild-type male (XY) and female (XX) mice. To determine if Uty expression altered physiological or behavioral outcomes, adult mice were phenotypically examined. Uty expression masculinized female gene expression patterns in both the placenta and hypothalamus. Gene ontology (GO) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) consistently identified pathways including immune and synaptic signaling as biological processes associated with UTY. Interestingly, adult females expressing Uty gained less weight and had a greater glucose tolerance compared to wild-type male and female mice when provided a high-fat diet. Utilizing a Uty-overexpressing transgenic mouse, our results provide novel evidence as to a functional transcriptional role for UTY in developing tissues, and a foundation to build on its prospective capacity to influence sex-specific developmental and health outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kylie D Rock
- Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health and Brain Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Lillian M Folts
- Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health and Brain Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Hannah C Zierden
- Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health and Brain Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20740, USA
| | - Ruth Marx-Rattner
- Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health and Brain Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Nicolae Adrian Leu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Bridget M Nugent
- Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health and Brain Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Tracy L Bale
- Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health and Brain Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, CU Anschutz Medical Campus, 12800 E. 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Hiam D, Landen S, Jacques M, Voisin S, Lamon S, Eynon N. Muscle miRNAs are influenced by sex at baseline and in response to exercise. BMC Biol 2023; 21:273. [PMID: 38012706 PMCID: PMC10683325 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01755-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences in microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles have been found across multiple tissues. Skeletal muscle is one of the most sex-biased tissues of the body. MiRNAs are necessary for development and have regulatory roles in determining skeletal muscle phenotype and have important roles in the response to exercise in muscle. Yet there is limited research into the role and regulation of miRNAs in the skeletal muscle at baseline and in response to exercise, a well-known modulator of miRNA expression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sex on miRNA expression in the skeletal muscle at baseline and after an acute bout of high-intensity interval exercise. A total of 758 miRNAs were measured using Taqman®miRNA arrays in the skeletal muscle of 42 healthy participants from the Gene SMART study (23 males and 19 females of comparable fitness levels and aged 18-45 years), of which 308 were detected. MiRNAs that differed by sex at baseline and whose change in expression following high-intensity interval exercise differed between the sexes were identified using mixed linear models adjusted for BMI and Wpeak. We performed in silico analyses to identify the putative gene targets of the exercise-induced, sex-specific miRNAs and overrepresentation analyses to identify enriched biological pathways. We performed functional assays by overexpressing two sex-biased miRNAs in human primary muscle cells derived from male and female donors to understand their downstream effects on the transcriptome. RESULTS At baseline, 148 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the skeletal muscle between the sexes. Interaction analysis identified 111 miRNAs whose response to an acute bout of high-intensity interval exercise differed between the sexes. Sex-biased miRNA gene targets were enriched for muscle-related processes including proliferation and differentiation of muscle cells and numerous metabolic pathways, suggesting that miRNAs participate in programming sex differences in skeletal muscle function. Overexpression of sex-biased miRNA-30a and miRNA-30c resulted in profound changes in gene expression profiles that were specific to the sex of the cell donor in human primary skeletal muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS We uncovered sex differences in the expression levels of muscle miRNAs at baseline and in response to acute high-intensity interval exercise. These miRNAs target regulatory pathways essential to skeletal muscle development and metabolism. Our findings highlight that miRNAs play an important role in programming sex differences in the skeletal muscle phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Hiam
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shanie Landen
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Macsue Jacques
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah Voisin
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Séverine Lamon
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
| | - Nir Eynon
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Peeters SB, Posynick BJ, Brown CJ. Out of the Silence: Insights into How Genes Escape X-Chromosome Inactivation. EPIGENOMES 2023; 7:29. [PMID: 38131901 PMCID: PMC10742877 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes7040029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The silencing of all but one X chromosome in mammalian cells is a remarkable epigenetic process leading to near dosage equivalence in X-linked gene products between the sexes. However, equally remarkable is the ability of a subset of genes to continue to be expressed from the otherwise inactive X chromosome-in some cases constitutively, while other genes are variable between individuals, tissues or cells. In this review we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the approaches that have been used to identify escapees. The identity of escapees provides important clues to mechanisms underlying escape from XCI, an arena of study now moving from correlation to functional studies. As most escapees show greater expression in females, the not-so-inactive X chromosome is a substantial contributor to sex differences in humans, and we highlight some examples of such impact.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carolyn J. Brown
- Molecular Epigenetics Group, Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|