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Accorsi A, Guo L, Marshall WF, Mommersteeg MTM, Nakajima YI. Extraordinary model systems for regeneration. Development 2024; 151:dev203083. [PMID: 39012059 DOI: 10.1242/dev.203083] [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] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Regeneration is the remarkable phenomenon through which an organism can regrow lost or damaged parts with fully functional replacements, including complex anatomical structures, such as limbs. In 2019, Development launched its 'Model systems for regeneration' collection, a series of articles introducing some of the most popular model organisms for studying regeneration in vivo. To expand this topic further, this Perspective conveys the voices of five expert biologists from the field of regenerative biology, each of whom showcases some less well-known, but equally extraordinary, species for studying regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Accorsi
- University of California Davis, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Longhua Guo
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Institute of Gerontology, Geriatrics Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Wallace F Marshall
- Deptartment of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Mathilda T M Mommersteeg
- Institute of Developmental & Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, IMS-Tetsuya Nakamura Building, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Yu-Ichiro Nakajima
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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Leclercq J, Torres-Paz J, Policarpo M, Agnès F, Rétaux S. Evolution of the regulation of developmental gene expression in blind Mexican cavefish. Development 2024; 151:dev202610. [PMID: 39007346 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202610] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Developmental evolution and diversification of morphology can arise through changes in the regulation of gene expression or protein-coding sequence. To unravel mechanisms underlying early developmental evolution in cavefish of the species Astyanax mexicanus, we compared transcriptomes of surface-dwelling and blind cave-adapted morphs at the end of gastrulation. Twenty percent of the transcriptome was differentially expressed. Allelic expression ratios in cave X surface hybrids showed that cis-regulatory changes are the quasi-exclusive contributors to inter-morph variations in gene expression. Among a list of 108 genes with change at the cis-regulatory level, we explored the control of expression of rx3, which is a master eye gene. We discovered that cellular rx3 levels are cis-regulated in a cell-autonomous manner, whereas rx3 domain size depends on non-autonomous Wnt and Bmp signalling. These results highlight how uncoupled mechanisms and regulatory modules control developmental gene expression and shape morphological changes. Finally, a transcriptome-wide search for fixed coding mutations and differential exon use suggested that variations in coding sequence have a minor contribution. Thus, during early embryogenesis, changes in gene expression regulation are the main drivers of cavefish developmental evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Leclercq
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, CNRS and University Paris-Saclay, 91400 Saclay, France
| | - Jorge Torres-Paz
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, CNRS and University Paris-Saclay, 91400 Saclay, France
| | - Maxime Policarpo
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, CNRS and University Paris-Saclay, 91400 Saclay, France
| | - François Agnès
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, CNRS and University Paris-Saclay, 91400 Saclay, France
| | - Sylvie Rétaux
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, CNRS and University Paris-Saclay, 91400 Saclay, France
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Li W, Song J, Tu H, Jiang S, Pan B, Li J, Zhao Y, Chen L, Xu Q. Genome sequencing of Coryphaenoides yaquinae reveals convergent and lineage-specific molecular evolution in deep-sea adaptation. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13989. [PMID: 38946220 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13989] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Abyssal (3501-6500 m) and hadal (>6500 m) fauna evolve under harsh abiotic stresses, characterized by high hydrostatic pressure, darkness and food shortage, providing unique opportunities to investigate mechanisms underlying environmental adaptation. Genomes of several hadal species have recently been reported. However, the genetic adaptation of deep sea species across a broad spectrum of ocean depths has yet to be thoroughly investigated, due to the challenges imposed by collecting the deep sea species. To elucidate the correlation between genetic innovation and vertical distribution, we generated a chromosome-level genome assembly of the macrourids Coryphaenoides yaquinae, which is widely distributed in the abyssal/hadal zone ranging from 3655 to 7259 m in depth. Genomic comparisons among shallow, abyssal and hadal-living species identified idiosyncratic and convergent genetic alterations underlying the extraordinary adaptations of deep-sea species including light perception, circadian regulation, hydrostatic pressure and hunger tolerance. The deep-sea fishes (Coryphaenoides Sp. and Pseudoliparis swirei) venturing into various ocean depths independently have undergone convergent amino acid substitutions in multiple proteins such as rhodopsin 1, pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 and melanocortin 4 receptor which are known or verified in zebrafish to be related with vision adaptation and energy expenditure. Convergent evolution events were also identified in heat shock protein 90 beta family member 1 and valosin-containing protein genes known to be related to hydrostatic pressure adaptation specifically in fishes found around the hadal range. The uncovering of the molecular convergence among the deep-sea species shed new light on the common genetic innovations required for deep-sea adaptation by the fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Li
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, College of Marine Living Resource Sciences and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Song
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, College of Marine Living Resource Sciences and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huaming Tu
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences (Ministry of Science and Technology), Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shouwen Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences (Ministry of Science and Technology), Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Binbin Pan
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiazhen Li
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongpeng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liangbiao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences (Ministry of Science and Technology), Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianghua Xu
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, College of Marine Living Resource Sciences and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences (Ministry of Science and Technology), Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
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Di Rosa V, Frigato E, Negrini P, Cristiano W, López-Olmeda JF, Rétaux S, Sánchez-Vázquez FJ, Foulkes NS, Bertolucci C. Sporadic feeding regulates robust food entrainable circadian clocks in blind cavefish. iScience 2024; 27:110171. [PMID: 38974965 PMCID: PMC11225386 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The circadian clock represents a key timing system entrained by various periodic signals that ensure synchronization with the environment. Many investigations have pointed to the existence of two distinct circadian oscillators: one regulated by the light-dark cycle and the other set by feeding time. Blind cavefish have evolved under extreme conditions where they completely lack light exposure and experience food deprivation. Here, we have investigated feeding regulated clocks in two cavefish species, the Somalian cavefish Phreatichthys andruzzii and the Mexican cavefish Astyanax mexicanus, in comparison with the surface-dwelling zebrafish Danio rerio. Our results reveal that feeding represents an extremely strong synchronizer for circadian locomotor rhythmicity in subterranean cavefish. Indeed, we showed that consuming just one meal every 4 days is sufficient to entrain circadian rhythmicity in both cavefish species, but not in zebrafish. These profound adaptations to an extreme environment provide insight into the connections between feeding and circadian clocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Di Rosa
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elena Frigato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Pietro Negrini
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Walter Cristiano
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Ecosystems and Health Unit, Environment and Health Department, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Jose Fernando López-Olmeda
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Sylvie Rétaux
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, CNRS and University Paris-Saclay, 91400 Saclay, France
| | - Francisco Javier Sánchez-Vázquez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Nicholas S. Foulkes
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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Yuan H, Jia L, Xie X, Li Q, Peng Y, Ma Q, Guo T, Meng T. Microbially Inspired Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Pathway Integrated Polyelectrolyte Capsules (MICPC) for Biomolecules Release. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2306877. [PMID: 38415820 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306877] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Complexation between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes offers a facile single-step strategy for assembling functional micro-nano carriers for efficient drug and vaccine delivery. However, the stability of the delivery system within the physiological environment is compromised due to the swelling of the polyelectrolyte complex, driven by the charge shielding effect, and consequently leads to uncontrollable burst release, thereby limiting its potential applications. In a pioneering approach, cellular pathway-inspired calcium carbonate precipitation pathways are developed that are integrated into polyelectrolyte capsules (MICPC). These innovative capsules are fabricated at the interface of all-aqueous microfluidic droplets, resulting in a precisely controllable and sustained release profile in physiological conditions. Unlike single-step polyelectrolyte assembly capsules which always perform rapid burst release, the MICPC exhibits a sustainable and tunable release pattern, releasing biomolecules at an average rate of 3-10% per day. Remarkably, the degree of control over MICPC's release kinetics can be finely tuned by adjusting the quantity of synthesized calcium carbonate particles within the polyelectrolyte complex. This groundbreaking work not only deepens the insights into polyelectrolyte complexation but also significantly enhances the overall stability of these complexes, opening up new avenues for expanding the range of applications involving polyelectrolyte complex-related materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yuan
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Lufan Jia
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Xin Xie
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Qinyuan Li
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Yali Peng
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Qingming Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
| | - Ting Guo
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Tao Meng
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
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Boggs TE, Gross JB. Gill morphology adapted to oxygen-limited caves in Astyanax mexicanus. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39031584 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Sensing and acquiring dissolved oxygen is crucial for nearly all aquatic life. This may become even more vital as dissolved oxygen concentrations continue to decline in many aquatic environments. While certain phenotypes that enable fish to live in low oxygen have been characterized, adaptations that arise following sudden, drastic reductions in dissolved oxygen are relatively unknown. Here, we assessed the blind Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus, for alterations to gill morphology that may be adaptive for life in hypoxic caves. The Astyanax system provides the unique opportunity to compare gill morphology between stereotypical "surface" adapted morphotypes and obligate cave-dwelling conspecifics. While the surface environment is well-oxygenated, cavefish must cope with significantly reduced oxygen. We began by quantifying traditional morphological gill traits including filament number and length as well as lamellar density and height in surface fish and two distinct cave populations, Pachón and Tinaja. This enabled us to estimate total lamellar height, a proxy for gill surface area. We then used immunohistochemical staining to label 5-HT-positive neuroepithelial cells (NECs), which serve as key oxygen sensors in fish. We discovered an increase in gill surface area for both cavefish populations compared to surface, which may enable a higher capacity of oxygen acquisition. Additionally, we found more NECs in Pachón cavefish compared to both surface fish and Tinaja cavefish, suggesting certain selective pressures may be cave-specific. Collectively, this work provides evidence that cavefish have adapted to low oxygen conditions via alterations to gill morphology and oxygen sensing, and informs evolutionary mechanisms of rapid adaptation to dramatic, chronic hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler E Boggs
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Joshua B Gross
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Terzi A, Ngo KJ, Mourrain P. Phylogenetic conservation of the interdependent homeostatic relationship of sleep regulation and redox metabolism. J Comp Physiol B 2024; 194:241-252. [PMID: 38324048 PMCID: PMC11233307 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-023-01530-4] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Sleep is an essential and evolutionarily conserved process that affects many biological functions that are also strongly regulated by cellular metabolism. The interdependence between sleep homeostasis and redox metabolism, in particular, is such that sleep deprivation causes redox metabolic imbalances in the form of over-production of ROS. Likewise (and vice versa), accumulation of ROS leads to greater sleep pressure. Thus, it is theorized that one of the functions of sleep is to act as the brain's "antioxidant" at night by clearing oxidation built up from daily stress of the active day phase. In this review, we will highlight evidence linking sleep homeostasis and regulation to redox metabolism by discussing (1) the bipartite role that sleep-wake neuropeptides and hormones have in redox metabolism through comparing cross-species cellular and molecular mechanisms, (2) the evolutionarily metabolic changes that accompanied the development of sleep loss in cavefish, and finally, (3) some of the challenges of uncovering the cellular mechanism underpinning how ROS accumulation builds sleep pressure and cellularly, how this pressure is cleared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslihan Terzi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Keri J Ngo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Philippe Mourrain
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- INSERM 1024, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France.
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Pozo-Morales M, Cobham AE, Centola C, McKinney MC, Liu P, Perazzolo C, Lefort A, Libert F, Bai H, Rohner N, Singh SP. Starvation-resistant cavefish reveal conserved mechanisms of starvation-induced hepatic lipotoxicity. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302458. [PMID: 38467419 PMCID: PMC10927358 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302458] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Starvation causes the accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver, a somewhat counterintuitive phenomenon that is nevertheless conserved from flies to humans. Much like fatty liver resulting from overfeeding, hepatic lipid accumulation (steatosis) during undernourishment can lead to lipotoxicity and atrophy of the liver. Here, we found that although surface populations of Astyanax mexicanus undergo this evolutionarily conserved response to starvation, the starvation-resistant cavefish larvae of the same species do not display an accumulation of lipid droplets upon starvation. Moreover, cavefish are resistant to liver atrophy during starvation, providing a unique system to explore strategies for liver protection. Using comparative transcriptomics between zebrafish, surface fish, and cavefish, we identified the fatty acid transporter slc27a2a/fatp2 to be correlated with the development of fatty liver. Pharmacological inhibition of slc27a2a in zebrafish rescues steatosis and atrophy of the liver upon starvation. Furthermore, down-regulation of FATP2 in Drosophila larvae inhibits the development of starvation-induced steatosis, suggesting the evolutionarily conserved importance of the gene in regulating fatty liver upon nutrition deprivation. Overall, our study identifies a conserved, druggable target to protect the liver from atrophy during starvation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macarena Pozo-Morales
- https://ror.org/01r9htc13 IRIBHM, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ansa E Cobham
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Cielo Centola
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | | | - Peiduo Liu
- Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Camille Perazzolo
- https://ror.org/01r9htc13 IRIBHM, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anne Lefort
- https://ror.org/01r9htc13 IRIBHM, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Frédérick Libert
- https://ror.org/01r9htc13 IRIBHM, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hua Bai
- Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Sumeet Pal Singh
- https://ror.org/01r9htc13 IRIBHM, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
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Pokrovac I, Rohner N, Pezer Ž. The prevalence of copy number increase at multiallelic copy number variants associated with cave colonization. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17339. [PMID: 38556927 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17339] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Copy number variation is a common contributor to phenotypic diversity, yet its involvement in ecological adaptation is not easily discerned. Instances of parallelly evolving populations of the same species in a similar environment marked by strong selective pressures present opportunities to study the role of copy number variants (CNVs) in adaptation. By identifying CNVs that repeatedly occur in multiple populations of the derived ecotype and are not (or are rarely) present in the populations of the ancestral ecotype, the association of such CNVs with adaptation to the novel environment can be inferred. We used this paradigm to identify CNVs associated with recurrent adaptation of the Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) to cave environment. Using a read-depth approach, we detected CNVs from previously re-sequenced genomes of 44 individuals belonging to two ancestral surfaces and three derived cave populations. We identified 102 genes and 292 genomic regions that repeatedly diverge in copy number between the two ecotypes and occupy 0.8% of the reference genome. Functional analysis revealed their association with processes previously recognized to be relevant for adaptation, such as vision, immunity, oxygen consumption, metabolism, and neural function and we propose that these variants have been selected for in the cave or surface waters. The majority of the ecotype-divergent CNVs are multiallelic and display copy number increases in cavefish compared to surface fish. Our findings suggest that multiallelic CNVs - including gene duplications - and divergence in copy number provide a fast route to produce novel phenotypes associated with adaptation to subterranean life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
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Cobham AE, Rohner N. Unraveling stress resilience: Insights from adaptations to extreme environments by Astyanax mexicanus cavefish. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2024; 342:178-188. [PMID: 38247307 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23238] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Extreme environmental conditions have profound impacts on shaping the evolutionary trajectory of organisms. Exposure to these conditions elicits stress responses, that can trigger phenotypic changes in novel directions. The Mexican Tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, is an excellent model for understanding evolutionary mechanisms in response to extreme or new environments. This fish species consists of two morphs; the classical surface-dwelling fish and the blind cave-dwellers that inhabit dark and biodiversity-reduced ecosystems. In this review, we explore the specific stressors present in cave environments and examine the diverse adaptive strategies employed by cave populations to not only survive but thrive as successful colonizers. By analyzing the evolutionary responses of A. mexicanus, we gain valuable insights into the genetic, physiological, and behavioral adaptations that enable organisms to flourish under challenging environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ansa E Cobham
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Missouri, Kansas City, USA
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Missouri, Kansas City, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
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Biswas T, Rajendran N, Hassan H, Li H, Zhao C, Rohner N. 3D spheroid culturing of Astyanax mexicanus liver-derived cell lines recapitulates distinct transcriptomic and metabolic states of in vivo tissue environment. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2024; 342:301-312. [PMID: 38192038 PMCID: PMC11060904 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23236] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
In vitro assays are crucial tools for gaining detailed insights into various biological processes, including metabolism. Cave morphs of the river-dwelling fish species, Astyanax mexicanus, have adapted their metabolism allowing them to thrive in the biodiversity-deprived and nutrient-limited environment of caves. Liver-derived cells from the cave and river morphs of A. mexicanus have proven to be excellent in vitro resources to better understand the unique metabolism of these fish. However, the current 2D cultures have not fully captured the complex metabolic profile of the Astyanax liver. It is known that 3D culturing can modulate the transcriptomic state of cells when compared to its 2D monolayer culture. Therefore, to broaden the possibilities of the in vitro system by modeling a wider gamut of metabolic pathways, we cultured the liver-derived Astyanax cells of both surface and cavefish into 3D spheroids. We successfully established 3D cultures at various cell seeding densities for several weeks and characterized the resultant transcriptomic and metabolic variations. We found that the 3D cultured Astyanax cells exhibit an altered transcriptomic profile and consequently represent a wider range of metabolic pathways, including cell cycle changes and antioxidant activities, associated with liver functioning as compared to its monolayer culture. Enzymatic assay measuring antioxidants in 2D culture and 3D spheroids also revealed enhanced antioxidative capacity of 3D cultured spheroids, in line with the differential gene expression data. Additionally, the spheroids also exhibited surface and cave-specific metabolic signatures, making it a suitable system for evolutionary studies associated with cave adaptation. Notably, cavefish derived spheroids enriched for genes responding to xenobiotic stimulus, while the ones from surface enriched for immune response, both of which resonated with known physiologically adaptations associated with each morph. Taken together, the liver-derived spheroids prove to be a promising in vitro model for widening our understanding of metabolism in A. mexicanus and of vertebrates in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tathagata Biswas
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Naresh Rajendran
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Huzaifa Hassan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Hua Li
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Chongbei Zhao
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
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Lloyd E, Xia F, Moore K, Zertuche C, Rastogi A, Kozol R, Kenzior O, Warren W, Appelbaum L, Moran RL, Zhao C, Duboue E, Rohner N, Keene AC. Elevated DNA Damage without signs of aging in the short-sleeping Mexican Cavefish. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.18.590174. [PMID: 38659770 PMCID: PMC11042282 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.18.590174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Dysregulation of sleep has widespread health consequences and represents an enormous health burden. Short-sleeping individuals are predisposed to the effects of neurodegeneration, suggesting a critical role for sleep in the maintenance of neuronal health. While the effects of sleep on cellular function are not completely understood, growing evidence has identified an association between sleep loss and DNA damage, raising the possibility that sleep facilitates efficient DNA repair. The Mexican tetra fish, Astyanax mexicanus provides a model to investigate the evolutionary basis for changes in sleep and the consequences of sleep loss. Multiple cave-adapted populations of these fish have evolved to sleep for substantially less time compared to surface populations of the same species without identifiable impacts on healthspan or longevity. To investigate whether the evolved sleep loss is associated with DNA damage and cellular stress, we compared the DNA Damage Response (DDR) and oxidative stress levels between A. mexicanus populations. We measured markers of chronic sleep loss and discovered elevated levels of the DNA damage marker γH2AX in the brain, and increased oxidative stress in the gut of cavefish, consistent with chronic sleep deprivation. Notably, we found that acute UV-induced DNA damage elicited an increase in sleep in surface fish but not in cavefish. On a transcriptional level, only the surface fish activated the photoreactivation repair pathway following UV damage. These findings suggest a reduction of the DDR in cavefish compared to surface fish that coincides with elevated DNA damage in cavefish. To examine DDR pathways at a cellular level, we created an embryonic fibroblast cell line from the two populations of A. mexicanus. We observed that both the DDR and DNA repair were diminished in the cavefish cells, corroborating the in vivo findings and suggesting that the acute response to DNA damage is lost in cavefish. To investigate the long-term impact of these changes, we compared the transcriptome in the brain and gut of aged surface fish and cavefish. Strikingly, many genes that are differentially expressed between young and old surface fish do not transcriptionally vary by age in cavefish. Taken together, these findings suggest that have developed resilience to sleep loss, despite possessing cellular hallmarks of chronic sleep deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Lloyd
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840
| | - Fanning Xia
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110
| | - Kinsley Moore
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840
| | - Carolina Zertuche
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840
| | - Aakriti Rastogi
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840
| | - Rob Kozol
- Harriet Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458
| | - Olga Kenzior
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110
| | - Wesley Warren
- Department of Genomics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211
| | - Lior Appelbaum
- Faculty of Life Science and the Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Illan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Rachel L Moran
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840
| | - Chongbei Zhao
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110
| | - Erik Duboue
- Harriet Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110
| | - Alex C Keene
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840
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13
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Lukić M, Jovović L, Bedek J, Grgić M, Kuharić N, Rožman T, Čupić I, Weck B, Fong D, Bilandžija H. A practical guide for the husbandry of cave and surface invertebrates as the first step in establishing new model organisms. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300962. [PMID: 38573919 PMCID: PMC10994295 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300962] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
While extensive research on traditional model species has significantly advanced the biological sciences, the ongoing search for new model organisms is essential to tackle contemporary challenges such as human diseases or climate change, and fundamental phenomena including adaptation or speciation. Recent methodological advances such as next-generation sequencing, gene editing, and imaging are widely applicable and have simplified the selection of species with specific traits from the wild. However, a critical milestone in this endeavor remains the successful cultivation of selected species. A historically overlooked but increasingly recognized group of non-model organisms are cave dwellers. These unique animals offer invaluable insights into the genetic basis of human diseases like eye degeneration, metabolic and neurological disorders, and basic evolutionary principles and the origin of adaptive phenotypes. However, to take advantage of the beneficial traits of cave-dwelling animals, laboratory cultures must be established-a practice that remains extremely rare except for the cavefish Astyanax mexicanus. For most cave-dwelling organisms, there are no published culturing protocols. In this study, we present the results of our multi-year effort to establish laboratory cultures for a variety of invertebrate groups. We have developed comprehensive protocols for housing, feeding, and husbandry of cave dwellers and their surface relatives. Our recommendations are versatile and can be applied to a wide range of species. Hopefully our efforts will facilitate the establishment of new laboratory animal facilities for cave-dwelling organisms and encourage their greater use in experimental biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Lukić
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Natural History Museum, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lada Jovović
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jana Bedek
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Biospeleological Society, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Magdalena Grgić
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Tin Rožman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Biospeleological Society, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Iva Čupić
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Biospeleological Society, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Bob Weck
- Department of Biology, Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Daniel Fong
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Helena Bilandžija
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- Croatian Biospeleological Society, Zagreb, Croatia
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14
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Riddle MR, Nguyen NK, Nave M, Peuß R, Maldonado E, Rohner N, Tabin CJ. Host evolution shapes gut microbiome composition in Astyanax mexicanus. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11192. [PMID: 38571802 PMCID: PMC10985381 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The ecological and genetic changes that underlie the evolution of host-microbe interactions remain elusive, primarily due to challenges in disentangling the variables that alter microbiome composition. To understand the impact of host habitat, host genetics, and evolutionary history on microbial community structure, we examined gut microbiomes of river- and three cave-adapted morphotypes of the Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, in their natural environments and under controlled laboratory conditions. Field-collected samples were dominated by very few taxa and showed considerable interindividual variation. We found that lab-reared fish exhibited increased microbiome richness and distinct composition compared to their wild counterparts, underscoring the significant influence of habitat. Most notably, however, we found that morphotypes reared on the same diet throughout life developed distinct microbiomes suggesting that genetic loci resulting from cavefish evolution shape microbiome composition. We observed stable differences in Fusobacteriota abundance between morphotypes and demonstrated that this could be used as a trait for quantitative trait loci mapping to uncover the genetic basis of microbial community structure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Robert Peuß
- Institute for Evolution and BiodiversityUniversity of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - Ernesto Maldonado
- Institute of Marine Sciences and LimnologyUniversidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, UNAMPuerto MorelosMexico
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical ResearchKansas CityMissouriUSA
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15
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Policarpo M, Legendre L, Germon I, Lafargeas P, Espinasa L, Rétaux S, Casane D. The nature and distribution of putative non-functional alleles suggest only two independent events at the origins of Astyanax mexicanus cavefish populations. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:41. [PMID: 38556874 PMCID: PMC10983663 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02226-1] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies suggested that cavefish populations of Astyanax mexicanus settled during the Late Pleistocene. This implies that the cavefish's most conspicuous phenotypic changes, blindness and depigmentation, and more cryptic characters important for cave life, evolved rapidly. RESULTS Using the published genomes of 47 Astyanax cavefish from la Cueva de El Pachón, El Sótano de la Tinaja, La Cueva Chica and El Sótano de Molino, we searched for putative loss-of-function mutations in previously defined sets of genes, i.e., vision, circadian clock and pigmentation genes. Putative non-functional alleles for four vision genes were identified. Then, we searched genome-wide for putative non-functional alleles in these four cave populations. Among 512 genes with segregating putative non-functional alleles in cavefish that are absent in surface fish, we found an enrichment in visual perception genes. Among cavefish populations, different levels of shared putative non-functional alleles were found. Using a subset of 12 genes for which putative loss-of-function mutations were found, we extend the analysis of shared pseudogenes to 11 cave populations. Using a subset of six genes for which putative loss-of-function mutations were found in the El Sótano del Toro population, where extensive hybridization with surface fish occurs, we found a correlation between the level of eye regression and the amount of putative non-functional alleles. CONCLUSIONS We confirm that very few putative non-functional alleles are present in a large set of vision genes, in accordance with the recent origin of Astyanax mexicanus cavefish. Furthermore, the genome-wide analysis indicates an enrichment of putative loss-of-function alleles in genes with vision-related GO-terms, suggesting that visual perception may be the function chiefly impacted by gene losses related to the shift from a surface to a cave environment. The geographic distribution of putative loss-of-function alleles newly suggests that cave populations from Sierra de Guatemala and Sierra de El Abra share a common origin, albeit followed by independent evolution for a long period. It also supports that populations from the Micos area have an independent origin. In El Sótano del Toro, the troglomorphic phenotype is maintained despite massive introgression of the surface genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Policarpo
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement Et Écologie, 91190, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
- Present Address: Zoological Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Legendre
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement Et Écologie, 91190, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Isabelle Germon
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement Et Écologie, 91190, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Philippe Lafargeas
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement Et Écologie, 91190, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Luis Espinasa
- School of Science, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
| | - Sylvie Rétaux
- Institut de Neuroscience Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay and CNRS, 91400, Saclay, France.
| | - Didier Casane
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement Et Écologie, 91190, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France.
- Université Paris Cité, UFR Sciences du Vivant, 75013, Paris, France.
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16
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Rodríguez-Morales R. Sensing in the dark: Constructive evolution of the lateral line system in blind populations of Astyanax mexicanus. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11286. [PMID: 38654714 PMCID: PMC11036076 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11286] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cave-adapted animals evolve a suite of regressive and constructive traits that allow survival in the dark. Most studies aiming at understanding cave animal evolution have focused on the genetics and environmental underpinnings of regressive traits, with special emphasis on vision loss. Possibly as a result of vision loss, other non-visual sensory systems have expanded and compensated in cave species. For instance, in many cave-dwelling fish species, including the blind cavefish of the Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, a major non-visual mechanosensory system called the lateral line, compensated for vision loss through morphological expansions. While substantial work has shed light on constructive adaptation of this system, there are still many open questions regarding its developmental origin, synaptic plasticity, and overall adaptive value. This review provides a snapshot of the current state of knowledge of lateral line adaption in A. mexicanus, with an emphasis on anatomy, synaptic plasticity, and behavior. Multiple open avenues for future research in this system, and how these can be leveraged as tools for both evolutionary biology and evolutionary medicine, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Rodríguez-Morales
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, School of Medicine University of Puerto Rico San Juan Puerto Rico
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17
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Lunghi E, Bilandžija H. Telomere length and dynamics in Astyanax mexicanus cave and surface morphs. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16957. [PMID: 38435987 PMCID: PMC10908260 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16957] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Telomeres are non-coding DNA repeats at the chromosome ends and their shortening is considered one of the major causes of aging. However, they also serve as a biomarker of environmental exposures and their length and attrition is affected by various stressors. In this study, we examined the average telomere length in Astyanax mexicanus, a species that has both surface-dwelling and cave-adapted populations. The cave morph descended from surface ancestors and adapted to a markedly different environment characterized by specific biotic and abiotic stressors, many of which are known to affect telomere length. Our objective was to explore whether telomere length differs between the two morphs and whether it serves as a biological marker of aging or correlates with the diverse environments the morphs are exposed to. Methods We compared telomere length and shortening between laboratory-reared Pachón cavefish and Rio Choy surface fish of A. mexicanus across different tissues and ages. Results Astyanax mexicanus surface fish exhibited longer average telomere length compared to cavefish. In addition, we did not observe telomere attrition in either cave or surface form as a result of aging in adults up to 9 years old, suggesting that efficient mechanisms prevent telomere-mediated senescence in laboratory stocks of this species, at least within this time frame. Our results suggest that telomere length in Astyanax may be considered a biomarker of environmental exposures. Cavefish may have evolved shorter and energetically less costly telomeres due to the absence of potential stressors known to affect surface species, such as predator pressure and ultra-violet radiation. This study provides the first insights into telomere dynamics in Astyanax morphs and suggests that shorter telomeres may have evolved as an adaptation to caves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Lunghi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Helena Bilandžija
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruder Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
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18
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Rogers CD, Amemiya C, Arur S, Babonis L, Barresi M, Bartlett M, Behringer R, Benham-Pyle B, Bergmann D, Blackman B, Brown CT, Browne B, Camacho J, Chabu CY, Chow I, Cleaver O, Cool J, Dennis MY, Dickinson AJ, Di Talia S, Frank M, Gillmor S, Haag ES, Hariharan I, Harland R, Husbands A, Jerome-Majewska L, Koenig K, Labonne C, Layden M, Lowe C, Mani M, Martik M, McKown K, Moens C, Mosimann C, Onyenedum J, Reed R, Rivera A, Rokhsar D, Royer L, Rutaganira F, Shahan R, Sinha N, Swalla B, Van Norman JM, Wagner DE, Wikramanayake A, Zebell S, Brady SM. Pluripotency of a founding field: rebranding developmental biology. Development 2024; 151:dev202342. [PMID: 38345109 PMCID: PMC10986740 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202342] [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] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
The field of developmental biology has declined in prominence in recent decades, with off-shoots from the field becoming more fashionable and highly funded. This has created inequity in discovery and opportunity, partly due to the perception that the field is antiquated or not cutting edge. A 'think tank' of scientists from multiple developmental biology-related disciplines came together to define specific challenges in the field that may have inhibited innovation, and to provide tangible solutions to some of the issues facing developmental biology. The community suggestions include a call to the community to help 'rebrand' the field, alongside proposals for additional funding apparatuses, frameworks for interdisciplinary innovative collaborations, pedagogical access, improved science communication, increased diversity and inclusion, and equity of resources to provide maximal impact to the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal D. Rogers
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Chris Amemiya
- University of California, Merced, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Quantitative and Systems Biology Program, 5200 N. Lake Road, SE1 262, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Swathi Arur
- The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Leslie Babonis
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | | | - Madelaine Bartlett
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Richard Behringer
- The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Blair Benham-Pyle
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dominique Bergmann
- Department of Biology and HHMI, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ben Blackman
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA
| | - C. Titus Brown
- Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Bill Browne
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Jasmin Camacho
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | | | - Ida Chow
- Society for Developmental Biology, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Ondine Cleaver
- Department of Molecular Biology, Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jonah Cool
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA
| | - Megan Y. Dennis
- Genome Center, MIND Institute, and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Alexandra Jazz Dickinson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Biological Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Stefano Di Talia
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Margaret Frank
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Stewart Gillmor
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, CINVESTAV-IPN, Irapuato, Guanajuato 36824, Mexico
| | - Eric S. Haag
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Iswar Hariharan
- University of California Berkeley, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Richard Harland
- University of California Berkeley, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Aman Husbands
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Loydie Jerome-Majewska
- Department of Pediatrics, Human Genetics, Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre at Glen Site, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | | | - Carole Labonne
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Michael Layden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Chris Lowe
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, 120 Oceanview Blvd., Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - Madhav Mani
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Megan Martik
- University of California Berkeley, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Katelyn McKown
- Department of Biology and Stanford Introductory Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cecilia Moens
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Christian Mosimann
- Children's Hospital Colorado, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, 12801 E. 17th Avenue, RC1 South, 12114, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Joyce Onyenedum
- School of Integrative Plant Sciences and L. H. Bailey Hortorium, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Robert Reed
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Ajna Rivera
- University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA
| | - Dan Rokhsar
- University of California Berkeley, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Loic Royer
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Flora Rutaganira
- Departments of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Rachel Shahan
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Neelima Sinha
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Billie Swalla
- Biology Department and Friday Harbor Labs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jaimie M. Van Norman
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Daniel E. Wagner
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | | | - Sophia Zebell
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Siobhán M. Brady
- Department of Plant Biology and Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Zhu W, Chang L, Shi S, Lu N, Du S, Li J, Jiang J, Wang B. Gut microbiota reflect adaptation of cave-dwelling tadpoles to resource scarcity. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrad009. [PMID: 38365235 PMCID: PMC10811740 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrad009] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Gut microbiota are significant to the host's nutrition and provide a flexible way for the host to adapt to extreme environments. However, whether gut microbiota help the host to colonize caves, a resource-limited environment, remains unknown. The nonobligate cave frog Oreolalax rhodostigmatus completes its metamorphosis within caves for 3-5 years before foraging outside. Their tadpoles are occasionally removed from the caves by floods and utilize outside resources, providing a contrast to the cave-dwelling population. For both cave and outside tadpoles, the development-related reduction in their growth rate and gut length during prometamorphosis coincided with a shift in their gut microbiota, which was characterized by decreased Lactobacillus and Cellulosilyticum and Proteocatella in the cave and outside individuals, respectively. The proportion of these three genera was significantly higher in the gut microbiota of cave-dwelling individuals compared with those outside. The cave-dwellers' gut microbiota harbored more abundant fibrolytic, glycolytic, and fermentative enzymes and yielded more short-chain fatty acids, potentially benefitting the host's nutrition. Experimentally depriving the animals of food resulted in gut atrophy for the individuals collected outside the cave, but not for those from inside the cave. Imitating food scarcity reproduced some major microbial features (e.g. abundant Proteocatella and fermentative genes) of the field-collected cave individuals, indicating an association between the cave-associated gut microbiota and resource scarcity. Overall, the gut microbiota may reflect the adaptation of O. rhodostigmatus tadpoles to resource-limited environments. This extends our understanding of the role of gut microbiota in the adaptation of animals to extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhu
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Liming Chang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Shengchao Shi
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Ningning Lu
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Simeng Du
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiatang Li
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jianping Jiang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
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20
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Swaminathan A, Xia F, Rohner N. From darkness to discovery: evolutionary, adaptive, and translational genetic insights from cavefish. Trends Genet 2024; 40:24-38. [PMID: 38707509 PMCID: PMC11068324 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.10.002] [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: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
How genotype determines phenotype is a well-explored question, but genotype-environment interactions and their heritable impact on phenotype over the course of evolution are not as thoroughly investigated. The fish Astyanax mexicanus, consisting of surface and cave ecotypes, is an ideal emerging model to study the genetic basis of adaptation to new environments. This model has permitted quantitative trait locus mapping and whole-genome comparisons to identify the genetic bases of traits such as albinism and insulin resistance and has helped to better understand fundamental evolutionary mechanisms. In this review, we summarize recent advances in A. mexicanus genetics and discuss their broader impact on the fields of adaptation and evolutionary genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fanning Xia
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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21
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Xu Y, Jing Y, Zhou J, Long R, Meng J, Yang Y, Luo Y. Age, growth, and energy storage of the subterranean fish Triplophysa rosa (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from Chongqing, China. BMC Ecol Evol 2023; 23:72. [PMID: 38062389 PMCID: PMC10704779 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02186-y] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study explores the age, growth, and energy storage of Triplophysa rosa, a troglobitic cavefish. A total of 102 wild T. rosa specimens were collected in Wulong County, Chongqing, China, between 2018 and 2022, with otoliths used for age determination. RESULTS The earliest mature individuals were determined to be 4.8 years old, while the maximum ages for females and males were estimated at 15.8 years and 12.2 years, respectively. The length (L, cm)-weight (W, g) relationship was found to be the same for both sexes, following the eq. W = 0.0046 L3.03. Von Bertalanffy growth models were applied to the total length-at-age data, resulting in an asymptotic length of 23.4 cm and a K-parameter of 0.060 year-1. The body content of protein, ash, and glycogen did not show a significant correlation with the total length of T. rosa. However, both lipid and energy content exhibited a significant increase with total length. The lipid content ranged from 40.5 to 167.1 mg g-1, while the energy content ranged from 4.50 to 11.39 kJ g-1, indicating high storage features of T. rosa. CONCLUSIONS The results affirm that T. rosa exhibits life traits conducive to its population dynamics in cave conditions, characterized by slow growth, small size, and high lipid energy storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yangyang Jing
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Rui Long
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Juanzhu Meng
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ya Yang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yiping Luo
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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22
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Chen S, Su X, Zhu J, Xiao L, Cong Y, Yang L, Du Z, Huang X. Metabolic plasticity sustains the robustness of Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57440. [PMID: 37885348 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357440] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Embryogenesis is highly dependent on maternally loaded materials, particularly those used for energy production. Different environmental conditions and genetic backgrounds shape embryogenesis. The robustness of embryogenesis in response to extrinsic and intrinsic changes remains incompletely understood. By analyzing the levels of two major nutrients, glycogen and neutral lipids, we discovered stage-dependent usage of these two nutrients along with mitochondrial morphology changes during Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis. ATGL, the rate-limiting lipase in cellular lipolysis, is expressed and required in the hypodermis to regulate mitochondrial function and support embryogenesis. The embryonic lethality of atgl-1 mutants can be suppressed by reducing sinh-1/age-1-akt signaling, likely through modulating glucose metabolism to maintain sustainable glucose consumption. The embryonic lethality of atgl-1(xd314) is also affected by parental nutrition. Parental glucose and oleic acid supplements promote glycogen storage in atgl-1(xd314) embryos to compensate for the impaired lipolysis. The rescue by parental vitamin B12 supplement is likely through enhancing mitochondrial function in atgl-1 mutants. These findings reveal that metabolic plasticity contributes to the robustness of C. elegans embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinglin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Long Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yulin Cong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Leilei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuo Du
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
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23
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Sun X, He L, Ayi B, Qiu Y, Xu J, Yu W, Yan T, Ding G, Tang B, Wang G, Zhang D. Comparative transcriptome analysis of eyes reveals the adaptive mechanism of mantis shrimp (oratosquilla oratoria) induced by a dark environment. Genetica 2023; 151:339-348. [PMID: 37831421 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-023-00198-6] [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: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The light-dark cycle significantly impacts the growth and development of animals. Mantis shrimps (Oratosquilla oratoria) receive light through their complex photoreceptors. To reveal the adaptive expression mechanism of the mantis shrimp induced in a dark environment, we performed comparative transcriptome analysis with O. oratoria cultured in a light environment (Oo-L) as the control group and O. oratoria cultured in a dark environment (Oo-D) as the experimental group. In the screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the Oo-L and Oo-D groups, a total of 88 DEGs with |log2FC| > 1 and FDR < 0.05 were identified, of which 78 were upregulated and 10 were downregulated. Then, FBP1 and Pepck were downregulated in the gluconeogenesis pathway, and MKNK2 was upregulated in the MAPK classical pathway, which promoted cell proliferation and differentiation, indicating that the activity of mantis shrimp was slowed and the metabolic rate decreases in the dark environment. As a result, the energy was saved for its growth and development. At the same time, we performed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) on all DEGs. In the KEGG pathway analysis, each metabolic pathway in the dark environment showed a slowing trend. GO was enriched in biological processes such as eye development, sensory perception and sensory organ development. The study showed that mantis shrimp slowed down metabolism in the dark, while the role of sensory organs prominent. It provides important information for further understanding the energy metabolism and has great significance to study the physiology of mantis shrimp in dark environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-agriculture, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224051, China
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Ling He
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-agriculture, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224051, China
| | - Bujin Ayi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-agriculture, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224051, China
| | - Yuyang Qiu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-agriculture, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224051, China
| | - Jiayue Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-agriculture, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224051, China
| | - Wei Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-agriculture, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224051, China
| | - Tinghao Yan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-agriculture, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224051, China
| | - Ge Ding
- Chemical and Biological Engineering College, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, 224003, China
| | - Boping Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-agriculture, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224051, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-agriculture, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224051, China
| | - Daizhen Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soils, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection, Jiangsu Synthetic Innovation Center for Coastal Bio-agriculture, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224051, China.
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24
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Gong Y, Lu Q, Xi L, Liu Y, Yang B, Su J, Liu H, Jin J, Zhang Z, Yang Y, Zhu X, Xie S, Han D. F6P/G6P-mediated ChREBP activation promotes the insulin resistance-driven hepatic lipid deposition in zebrafish. J Nutr Biochem 2023; 122:109452. [PMID: 37748621 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2023.109452] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Insulin-sensitive lipogenesis dominates the body lipid deposition; however, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) develops in the insulin-resistant state. The regulation mechanism of insulin resistance-driven NAFLD remains elusive. Using zebrafish model of insulin resistance (ZIR, insrb-/-) and mouse hepatocytes (NCTC 1469), we explored the regulation mechanism of insulin resistance-driven hepatic lipid deposition under the stimulation of carbohydrate diet (CHD). In ZIR model, insulin resistance induced hyperlipidemia and elevated hepatic lipid deposition via elevating the gene/protein expressions of lipogenic enzymes, that was activated by carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP), rather than sterol regulatory element binding proteins 1c (SREBP-1c). The metabolomic analysis in zebrafish and silencing of chrebp in mouse hepatocytes revealed that the increased hepatic frucotose-6-phosphate (F6P) and glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) promoted the ChREBP-mediated lipid deposition. We further identified that F6P alone was sufficient to activate ChREBP-mediated lipid deposition by a SREBP-1c-independent manner. Moreover, we clarified the suppressed hepatic phosphofructokinase/glucose-6-phosphatase functions and the normal glucokinase function preserved by glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) manipulated the increased F6P/G6P content in ZIR. In conclusion, the present study revealed that insulin resistance promoted hepatic lipid deposition via the F6P/G6P-mediated ChREBP activation. Our findings deciphered the main regulation pathway for the liver lipid deposition in the insulin-resistant state and identified F6P as a new potential regulator for ChREBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Qisheng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Longwei Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bingyuan Yang
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jingzhi Su
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haokun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Junyan Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhimin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunxia Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shouqi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Dong Han
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
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25
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Moldovan OT, Carrell AA, Bulzu PA, Levei E, Bucur R, Sitar C, Faur L, Mirea IC, Șenilă M, Cadar O, Podar M. The gut microbiome mediates adaptation to scarce food in Coleoptera. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2023; 18:80. [PMID: 37957741 PMCID: PMC10644639 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-023-00537-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Beetles are ubiquitous cave invertebrates worldwide that adapted to scarce subterranean resources when they colonized caves. Here, we investigated the potential role of gut microbiota in the adaptation of beetles to caves from different climatic regions of the Carpathians. The beetles' microbiota was host-specific, reflecting phylogenetic and nutritional adaptation. The microbial community structure further resolved conspecific beetles by caves suggesting microbiota-host coevolution and influences by local environmental factors. The detritivore species hosted a variety of bacteria known to decompose and ferment organic matter, suggesting turnover and host cooperative digestion of the sedimentary microbiota and allochthonous-derived nutrients. The cave Carabidae, with strong mandibula, adapted to predation and scavenging of animal and plant remains, had distinct microbiota dominated by symbiotic lineages Spiroplasma or Wolbachia. All beetles had relatively high levels of fermentative Carnobacterium and Vagococcus involved in lipid accumulation and a reduction of metabolic activity, and both features characterize adaptation to caves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oana Teodora Moldovan
- Cluj-Napoca Department, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Clinicilor 5, Cluj- Napoca, 400006, Romania.
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, V. Fulicea 3, Cluj-Napoca, 400022, Romania.
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, CENIEH, Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, Burgos, 09002, Spain.
| | - Alyssa A Carrell
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Paul-Adrian Bulzu
- Department of Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice, 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Erika Levei
- Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, Donath 67, Cluj-Napoca, 400293, Romania
| | - Ruxandra Bucur
- Cluj-Napoca Department, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Clinicilor 5, Cluj- Napoca, 400006, Romania
| | - Cristian Sitar
- Cluj-Napoca Department, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Clinicilor 5, Cluj- Napoca, 400006, Romania
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, V. Fulicea 3, Cluj-Napoca, 400022, Romania
- Zoological Museum, Babeș Bolyai University, Clinicilor 5, Cluj-Napoca, 400006, Romania
| | - Luchiana Faur
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, V. Fulicea 3, Cluj-Napoca, 400022, Romania
- Department of Geospeleology and Paleontology, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, 13 Septembrie 13, Bucharest, 050711, Romania
| | - Ionuț Cornel Mirea
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, V. Fulicea 3, Cluj-Napoca, 400022, Romania
- Department of Geospeleology and Paleontology, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, 13 Septembrie 13, Bucharest, 050711, Romania
| | - Marin Șenilă
- Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, Donath 67, Cluj-Napoca, 400293, Romania
| | - Oana Cadar
- Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, Donath 67, Cluj-Napoca, 400293, Romania
| | - Mircea Podar
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
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26
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Iwashita M, Tran A, Garcia M, Cashon J, Burbano D, Salgado V, Hasegawa M, Balmilero-Unciano R, Politan K, Wong M, Lee RWY, Yoshizawa M. Metabolic shift toward ketosis in asocial cavefish increases social-like affinity. BMC Biol 2023; 21:219. [PMID: 37840141 PMCID: PMC10577988 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01725-9] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social affinity and collective behavior are nearly ubiquitous in the animal kingdom, but many lineages feature evolutionarily asocial species. These solitary species may have evolved to conserve energy in food-sparse environments. However, the mechanism by which metabolic shifts regulate social affinity is not well investigated. RESULTS In this study, we used the Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus), which features riverine sighted surface (surface fish) and cave-dwelling populations (cavefish), to address the impact of metabolic shifts on asociality and other cave-associated behaviors in cavefish, including repetitive turning, sleeplessness, swimming longer distances, and enhanced foraging behavior. After 1 month of ketosis-inducing ketogenic diet feeding, asocial cavefish exhibited significantly higher social affinity, whereas social affinity regressed in cavefish fed the standard diet. The ketogenic diet also reduced repetitive turning and swimming in cavefish. No major behavioral shifts were found regarding sleeplessness and foraging behavior, suggesting that other evolved behaviors are not largely regulated by ketosis. We further examined the effects of the ketogenic diet via supplementation with exogenous ketone bodies, revealing that ketone bodies are pivotal molecules positively associated with social affinity. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicated that fish that evolved to be asocial remain capable of exhibiting social affinity under ketosis, possibly linking the seasonal food availability and sociality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoko Iwashita
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'I at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Amity Tran
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'I at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Marianne Garcia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'I at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Jia Cashon
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, 96744, USA
| | - Devanne Burbano
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'I at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Vanessa Salgado
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'I at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Malia Hasegawa
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'I at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | | | - Kaylah Politan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'I at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Miki Wong
- Nā Pu'uwai Native Hawaiian Healthcare System, Kaunakakai, HI, 96748, USA
- Nutrition Services Department, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Honolulu, HI, 96826, USA
| | - Ryan W Y Lee
- Medical Staff Department, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Honolulu, HI, 96826, USA
| | - Masato Yoshizawa
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'I at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
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27
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Ponnimbaduge Perera P, Perez Guerra D, Riddle MR. The Mexican Tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, as a Model System in Cell and Developmental Biology. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2023; 39:23-44. [PMID: 37437210 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-012023-014003] [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] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of cell and developmental biology has been greatly aided by a focus on a small number of model organisms. However, we are now in an era where techniques to investigate gene function can be applied across phyla, allowing scientists to explore the diversity and flexibility of developmental mechanisms and gain a deeper understanding of life. Researchers comparing the eyeless cave-adapted Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, with its river-dwelling counterpart are revealing how the development of the eyes, pigment, brain, cranium, blood, and digestive system evolves as animals adapt to new environments. Breakthroughs in our understanding of the genetic and developmental basis of regressive and constructive trait evolution have come from A. mexicanus research. They include understanding the types of mutations that alter traits, which cellular and developmental processes they affect, and how they lead to pleiotropy. We review recent progress in the field and highlight areas for future investigations that include evolution of sex differentiation, neural crest development, and metabolic regulation of embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Misty R Riddle
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA;
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28
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Powers AK, Hyacinthe C, Riddle MR, Kim YK, Amaismeier A, Thiel K, Martineau B, Ferrante E, Moran RL, McGaugh SE, Boggs TE, Gross JB, Tabin CJ. Genetic mapping of craniofacial traits in the Mexican tetra reveals loci associated with bite differences between cave and surface fish. BMC Ecol Evol 2023; 23:41. [PMID: 37626324 PMCID: PMC10463419 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02149-3] [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: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, includes interfertile surface-dwelling and cave-dwelling morphs, enabling powerful studies aimed at uncovering genes involved in the evolution of cave-associated traits. Compared to surface fish, cavefish harbor several extreme traits within their skull, such as a protruding lower jaw, a wider gape, and an increase in tooth number. These features are highly variable between individual cavefish and even across different cavefish populations. RESULTS To investigate these traits, we created a novel feeding behavior assay wherein bite impressions could be obtained. We determined that fish with an underbite leave larger bite impressions with an increase in the number of tooth marks. Capitalizing on the ability to produce hybrids from surface and cavefish crosses, we investigated genes underlying these segregating orofacial traits by performing Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis with F2 hybrids. We discovered significant QTL for bite (underbite vs. overbite) that mapped to a single region of the Astyanax genome. Within this genomic region, multiple genes exhibit coding region mutations, some with known roles in bone development. Further, we determined that there is evidence that this genomic region is under natural selection. CONCLUSIONS This work highlights cavefish as a valuable genetic model for orofacial patterning and will provide insight into the genetic regulators of jaw and tooth development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Powers
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Carole Hyacinthe
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Misty R Riddle
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Young Kwang Kim
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alleigh Amaismeier
- Department of Biology, Xavier University, 3800 Victory Pkwy., Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | - Kathryn Thiel
- Department of Biology, Xavier University, 3800 Victory Pkwy., Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | - Brian Martineau
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Emma Ferrante
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rachel L Moran
- Department of Biology, Texas A & M University, 100 Butler Hall, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Suzanne E McGaugh
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1500 Gortner Ave., Saint Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Tyler E Boggs
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, 312 College Dr., Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Joshua B Gross
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, 312 College Dr., Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Clifford J Tabin
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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Liu Y, Liu T, Wang Y, Liu J, Liu B, Gong L, Lü Z, Liu L. Genome Sequencing Provides Novel Insights into Mudflat Burrowing Adaptations in Eel Goby Taenioides sp. (Teleost: Amblyopinae). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12892. [PMID: 37629073 PMCID: PMC10454203 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612892] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Amblyopinae is one of the lineage of bony fish that preserves amphibious traits living in tidal mudflat habitats. In contrast to other active amphibious fish, Amblyopinae species adopt a seemly more passive lifestyle by living in deep burrows of mudflat to circumvent the typical negative effects associated with terrestriality. However, little is known about the genetic origin of these mudflat deep-burrowing adaptations in Amblyopinae. Here we sequenced the first genome of Amblyopinae species, Taenioides sp., to elucidate their mudflat deep-burrowing adaptations. Our results revealed an assembled genome size of 774.06 Mb with 23 pseudochromosomes anchored, which predicted 22,399 protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that Taenioides sp. diverged from the active amphibious fish of mudskipper approximately 28.3 Ma ago. In addition, 185 and 977 putative gene families were identified to be under expansion, contraction and 172 genes were undergone positive selection in Taenioides sp., respectively. Enrichment categories of top candidate genes under significant expansion and selection were mainly associated with hematopoiesis or angiogenesis, DNA repairs and the immune response, possibly suggesting their involvement in the adaptation to the hypoxia and diverse pathogens typically observed in mudflat burrowing environments. Some carbohydrate/lipid metabolism, and insulin signaling genes were also remarkably alterated, illustrating physiological remolding associated with nutrient-limited subterranean environments. Interestingly, several genes related to visual perception (e.g., crystallins) have undergone apparent gene losses, pointing to their role in the small vestigial eyes development in Taenioides sp. Our work provide valuable resources for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying mudflat deep-burrowing adaptations in Amblyopinae, as well as in other tidal burrowing teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yantao Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Tianwei Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Yuzhen Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Facilitated Marine Aquaculture, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Jing Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Bingjian Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Li Gong
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Zhenming Lü
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Liqin Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
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30
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Brandon AA, Almeida D, Powder KE. Neural crest cells as a source of microevolutionary variation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 145:42-51. [PMID: 35718684 PMCID: PMC10482117 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Vertebrates have some of the most complex and diverse features in animals, from varied craniofacial morphologies to colorful pigmentation patterns and elaborate social behaviors. All of these traits have their developmental origins in a multipotent embryonic lineage of neural crest cells. This "fourth germ layer" is a vertebrate innovation and the source of a wide range of adult cell types. While others have discussed the role of neural crest cells in human disease and animal domestication, less is known about their role in contributing to adaptive changes in wild populations. Here, we review how variation in the development of neural crest cells and their derivatives generates considerable phenotypic diversity in nature. We focus on the broad span of traits under natural and sexual selection whose variation may originate in the neural crest, with emphasis on behavioral factors such as intraspecies communication that are often overlooked. In all, we encourage the integration of evolutionary ecology with developmental biology and molecular genetics to gain a more complete understanding of the role of this single cell type in trait covariation, evolutionary trajectories, and vertebrate diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Allyson Brandon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Daniela Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Kara E Powder
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
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31
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Batista da Silva I, Aciole Barbosa D, Kavalco KF, Nunes LR, Pasa R, Menegidio FB. Discovery of putative long non-coding RNAs expressed in the eyes of Astyanax mexicanus (Actinopterygii: Characidae). Sci Rep 2023; 13:12051. [PMID: 37491348 PMCID: PMC10368750 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34198-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Astyanax mexicanus is a well-known model species, that has two morphotypes, cavefish, from subterranean rivers and surface fish, from surface rivers. They are morphologically distinct due to many troglomorphic traits in the cavefish, such as the absence of eyes. Most studies on A. mexicanus are focused on eye development and protein-coding genes involved in the process. However, lncRNAs did not get the same attention and very little is known about them. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap, identifying, describing, classifying, and annotating lncRNAs expressed in the embryo's eye tissue of cavefish and surface fish. To do so, we constructed a concise workflow to assemble and evaluate transcriptomes, annotate protein-coding genes, ncRNAs families, predict the coding potential, identify putative lncRNAs, map them and predict interactions. This approach resulted in the identification of 33,069 and 19,493 putative lncRNAs respectively mapped in cavefish and surface fish. Thousands of these lncRNAs were annotated and identified as conserved in human and several species of fish. Hundreds of them were validated in silico, through ESTs. We identified lncRNAs associated with genes related to eye development. This is the case of a few lncRNAs associated with sox2, which we suggest being isomorphs of the SOX2-OT, a lncRNA that can regulate the expression of sox2. This work is one of the first studies to focus on the description of lncRNAs in A. mexicanus, highlighting several lncRNA targets and opening an important precedent for future studies focusing on lncRNAs expressed in A. mexicanus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuri Batista da Silva
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
- Laboratory of Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Viçosa Campus Rio Paranaíba, Rio Paranaíba, MG, 38810-000, Brazil
| | - David Aciole Barbosa
- Integrated Biotechnology Center, University of Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Av. Dr. Cândido X. de Almeida and Souza, 200 - Centro Cívico, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, 08780-911, Brazil
| | - Karine Frehner Kavalco
- Laboratory of Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Viçosa Campus Rio Paranaíba, Rio Paranaíba, MG, 38810-000, Brazil
| | - Luiz R Nunes
- Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, 09606-045, Brazil
| | - Rubens Pasa
- Laboratory of Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Viçosa Campus Rio Paranaíba, Rio Paranaíba, MG, 38810-000, Brazil.
| | - Fabiano B Menegidio
- Integrated Biotechnology Center, University of Mogi das Cruzes (UMC), Av. Dr. Cândido X. de Almeida and Souza, 200 - Centro Cívico, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, 08780-911, Brazil.
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Zhang JH, Long R, Jing YY, Zhang P, Xu Y, Xiong W, Zhu YQ, Luo YP. Loss of behavioral stress response in blind cavefish reduces energy expenditure. Zool Res 2023; 44:678-692. [PMID: 37147886 PMCID: PMC10415775 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.354] [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: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The stress response is essential for animal self-defense and survival. However, species may exhibit stress response variation depending on their specific environmental and selection pressures. Blind cavefish dwell in cave environments, which differ markedly in stressors and resource availability compared to surface aquatic environments. However, whether blind cavefish exhibit differences in stress response as an adaptation to their cave environments remains unclear. Here, we investigated differences in stress response in six closely related Triplophysa species, including three blind cavefish (T. longibarbata, T. jiarongensis, and T. rosa) and three normal-sighted river fish (T. nasobarbatula, T. dongsaiensis, and T. bleekeri). Results showed that blind cavefish exhibited a range of distinct behavioral responses compared to sighted river fish, including greater levels of activity, shorter duration of freezing, absence of erratic movements or thrashing behavior, and opposite behavioral trends over time. Furthermore, the cavefish species demonstrated attenuated increases in metabolic rate in response to stressors related to novel environments. Cave-dwelling T. rosa also exhibited lower basal hypothalamic-pituitary-inter-renal (HPI) axis-related gene expression levels and stress hormone concentrations compared to river-dwelling T. bleekeri. These results suggest that blind cavefish may have lost their behavioral stress response, potentially mediated by a reduction in basal activity of the HPI axis, thus enabling the conservation of energy by reducing unnecessary expenditure in energy-limited caves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Hui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Rui Long
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yang-Yang Jing
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Pan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yan-Qiu Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yi-Ping Luo
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. E-mail:
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Santacruz A, Hernández-Mena D, Miranda-Gamboa R, De León GPP, Ornelas-García CP. Host-parasite interactions in perpetual darkness: Macroparasite diversity in the cavefish Astyanax mexicanus. Zool Res 2023; 44:782-792. [PMID: 37464936 PMCID: PMC10415763 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.376] [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: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Astyanax mexicanus has repeatedly colonized cave environments, displaying evolutionary parallelisms in many troglobitic traits. Despite being a model system for the study of adaptation to life in perpetual darkness, the parasites that infect cavefish are practically unknown. In this study, we investigated the macroparasite communities in 18 cavefish populations from independent lineages and compared them with the parasite diversity found in their sister surface fish populations, with the aim of better understanding the role that parasites play in the colonization of new environments. Within the cavefish populations, we identified 13 parasite taxa, including a subset of 10 of the 27 parasite taxa known for the surface populations. Parasites infecting the cavefish belong to five taxonomic groups, including trematodes, monogeneans, nematodes, copepods, and acari. Monogeneans are the most dominant group, found in 14 caves. The macroparasites include species with direct life cycles and trophic transmission, including invasive species. Surprisingly, paired comparisons indicate higher parasite richness in the cavefish than in the surface fish. Spatial variation in parasite composition across the caves suggests historical and geographical contingencies in the host-parasite colonization process and potential evolution of local adaptations. This base-line data on parasite diversity in cavefish populations of A. mexicanus provides a foundation to explore the role of divergent parasite infections under contrasting ecological pressures (cave vs. surface environments) in the evolution of cave adaptive traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Santacruz
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City CP 04510, México. E-mail:
| | - David Hernández-Mena
- Departamento de Sistemas y Procesos Naturales, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Mérida, Ucú, Yucatán CP 97357, México
| | - Ramses Miranda-Gamboa
- Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Temixco, Morelos CP 62580, México
| | - Gerardo Pérez-Ponce De León
- Departamento de Sistemas y Procesos Naturales, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Mérida, Ucú, Yucatán CP 97357, México
| | - Claudia Patricia Ornelas-García
- Colección Nacional de Peces, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City CP 04510, México. E-mail:
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Borowsky R. Selection Maintains the Phenotypic Divergence of Cave and Surface Fish. Am Nat 2023; 202:55-63. [PMID: 37384766 DOI: 10.1086/724661] [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] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
AbstractGenetic divergence in the presence of gene flow has been well documented, but there is little information on the specific factors maintaining divergence. The present study investigates this in the Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus), an excellent model for studying this question because surface and cave populations differ markedly in phenotype and genotype but are interfertile. Previous population studies documented significant gene flow among cave and surface populations, but they focused on analyses of neutral markers whose evolutionary dynamics likely differ from those of genes involved in cave adaptation. The present study advances our understanding of this question by focusing specifically on the genetics responsible for eye and pigmentation reduction, signature traits of cave populations. Direct observations of two cave populations over the course of 63 years verify that surface fish frequently move into the caves and even hybridize with the cave fish. Importantly, however, historical records show that surface alleles for pigmentation and eye size do not persist but are rapidly eliminated from the cave gene pool. It has been argued that regression of eyes and pigmentation was driven by drift, but the results of this study suggest that strong selection actively eliminates surface alleles from the cave populations.
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35
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Rohner N. The cavefish Astyanax mexicanus. Nat Methods 2023; 20:948-950. [PMID: 37434002 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-01916-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA.
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36
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Biswas T, Rajendran N, Hassan H, Zhao C, Rohner N. 3D spheroid culturing of Astyanax mexicanus liver-derived cell lines recapitulates distinct transcriptomic and metabolic states of in vivo tissue environment. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.09.544423. [PMID: 37333136 PMCID: PMC10274882 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.09.544423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
In vitro assays are crucial tools for gaining detailed insights into various biological processes, including metabolism. Cave morphs of the river-dwelling fish species, Astyanax mexicanus, have adapted their metabolism allowing them to thrive in the biodiversity-deprived and nutrient-limited environment of caves. Liver-derived cells from the cave and river morphs of Astyanax mexicanus have proven to be excellent in vitro resources to better understand the unique metabolism of these fish. However, the current 2D cultures have not fully captured the complex metabolic profile of the Astyanax liver. It is known that 3D culturing can modulate the transcriptomic state of cells when compared to its 2D monolayer culture. Therefore, in order to broaden the possibilities of the in vitro system by modeling a wider gamut of metabolic pathways, we cultured the liver-derived Astyanax cells of both surface and cavefish into 3D spheroids. We successfully established 3D cultures at various cell seeding densities for several weeks and characterized the resultant transcriptomic and metabolic variations. We found that the 3D cultured Astyanax cells represent a wider range of metabolic pathways, including cell cycle changes and antioxidant activities, associated with liver functioning as compared to its monolayer culture. Additionally, the spheroids also exhibited surface and cave-specific metabolic signatures, making it a suitable system for evolutionary studies associated with cave adaptation. Taken together, the liver-derived spheroids prove to be a promising in vitro model for widening our understanding of metabolism in Astyanax mexicanus and of vertebrates in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tathagata Biswas
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Naresh Rajendran
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Huzaifa Hassan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Chongbei Zhao
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
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Moldovan OT, Carrell AA, Bulzu PA, Levei E, Bucur R, Sitar C, Faur L, Mirea IC, Enilă M, Cadar O, Podar M. The gut microbiome mediates adaptation to scarce food in Coleoptera. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.12.540564. [PMID: 37214959 PMCID: PMC10197664 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.12.540564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Beetles are ubiquitous cave invertebrates worldwide that adapted to scarce subterranean resources when they colonized caves. Here, we investigated the potential role of gut microbiota in the adaptation of beetles to caves from different climatic regions of the Carpathians. The beetles' microbiota was host-specific, reflecting phylogenetic and nutritional adaptation. The microbial community structure further resolved conspecific beetles by caves suggesting microbiota-host coevolution and influences by local environmental factors. The detritivore species hosted a variety of bacteria known to decompose and ferment organic matter, suggesting turnover and host cooperative digestion of the sedimentary microbiota and allochthonous-derived nutrients. The cave Carabidae, with strong mandibulae adapted to predation and scavenging of animal and plant remains, had distinct microbiota dominated by symbiotic lineages Spiroplasma or Wolbachia . All beetles had relatively high levels of fermentative Carnobacterium and Vagococcus involved in lipid accumulation and a reduction of metabolic activity, and both features characterize adaptation to caves.
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Wang J, Xie Y, Zhang G, Pan L. Microbial community structure and diversity in fish-flower (mint) symbiosis. AMB Express 2023; 13:46. [PMID: 37166527 PMCID: PMC10175524 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-023-01549-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The fish-flower symbiosis model is an eco-friendly sustainable farming technology combining plants, fish and microorganisms in a recirculating aquaculture system. However, there are few studies on the structure and diversity of microbial communities in fish intestines, culture water and plant roots during fish-flower symbiosis. Here, we cultured carp (Cyprinus carpio), crucian carp (Carassius auratus) and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) with mint (Mentha spicala L.) and extracted total genomic DNA from intestinal microorganisms, culture-water microorganisms and root microorganisms for each fish species for high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Analysis of microbial community structure and diversity revealed changes in abundance of microbial genera in the intestines and culture water of each fish species, including changes in the dominant taxa. Pirellula, Truepera, Aquincola, Cetobacterium and Luteolibacter were widespread in the fish intestine, culture water and mint root system. This study revealed the effects of mint feeding on the structure and diversity of microbial communities of fish, water bodies and the mint root system during fish-flower symbiosis, providing a theoretical reference for the promotion and application of fish-flower (mint) symbiosis technology and healthy fish culture technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianglong Wang
- School of Food & Wine, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China.
| | - Yufen Xie
- School of Food & Wine, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Guangdi Zhang
- School of Food & Wine, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China.
| | - Lin Pan
- School of Food & Wine, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
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Olsen L, Krishnan J, Banks C, Hassan H, Rohner N. Circadian rhythm disruption linked to skeletal muscle dysfunction in the Mexican Cavefish. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R255-R256. [PMID: 37040703 PMCID: PMC10266680 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
It has become clear that circadian clocks in peripheral tissues play important functions. Disruption of the circadian clock in skeletal muscle, for example, results in insulin resistance, sarcomere disorganization, and muscle weakness1. Interestingly, cavefish, which exhibit a disrupted central clock, exhibit similar muscle phenotypes2,3,4, raising the question of whether they are caused by alterations to central or peripheral clocks. Here, we demonstrate a loss in clock function in the skeletal muscle of the Mexican Cavefish Astyanax mexicanus that is associated with reduced rhythmicity of a large number of genes and disrupted nocturnal protein catabolism. Some of the identified genes are associated with metabolic dysfunction in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Olsen
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA; Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
| | - Jaya Krishnan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Charles Banks
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Huzaifa Hassan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA; Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA.
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Rajendran N, Deng F, Wang Y, Kenzior O, Krishnan J, Biswas T, Parmely T, Rohner N, Zhao C. Establishment, Long-Term Maintenance, and Characterization of Primary Liver Cells from Astyanax mexicanus. Curr Protoc 2023; 3:e736. [PMID: 37068186 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
The tetra fish species Astyanax mexicanus comprises two morphotypes: cavefish that live in caves and surface fish that inhabit rivers and lakes. Because cavefish have adapted to the nutrient-poor conditions in their habitat whereas the surface fish populations can be used as a proxy for the ancestral condition, this species has become a powerful model system for understanding genetic variation underlying metabolic adaptation. The liver plays a critical role in glucose and fat metabolism in the body and hence is an important tissue for studying altered metabolism in health and disease. Cavefish morphs of A. mexicanus have been shown to develop fatty livers and exhibit massive differences in gene expression and chromatin architecture. Primary cell lines from various tissues have become invaluable tools for biochemical, toxicology, and cell biology experiments, as well as genetic and genomic analyses. To enhance the utility of the model system by enabling an expanded set of biochemical and in vitro experiments, we developed protocols for the isolation and maintenance of primary liver cells from A. mexicanus surface fish and cavefish. We also describe methods that can be used for primary cell characterization, including cloning, characterization of cell growth pattern, and lentivirus transduction. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Primary culture of liver cells Support Protocol 1: Maintenance of A. mexicanus primary liver cells Support Protocol 2: Banking of A. mexicanus primary liver cells Support Protocol 3: Recovery of A. mexicanus primary liver cells Support Protocol 4: Primary liver cell cloning Support Protocol 5: Characterization of A. mexicanus primary liver cell growth pattern Basic Protocol 2: Lentiviral transduction of A. mexicanus primary liver cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fengyan Deng
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Yan Wang
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Olga Kenzior
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Jaya Krishnan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri
- Present address: Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Tari Parmely
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Chongbei Zhao
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri
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Shimobayashi M, Thomas A, Shetty S, Frei IC, Wölnerhanssen BK, Weissenberger D, Vandekeere A, Planque M, Dietz N, Ritz D, Meyer-Gerspach AC, Maier T, Hay N, Peterli R, Fendt SM, Rohner N, Hall MN. Diet-induced loss of adipose hexokinase 2 correlates with hyperglycemia. eLife 2023; 12:85103. [PMID: 36920797 PMCID: PMC10017106 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronically high blood glucose (hyperglycemia) leads to diabetes and fatty liver disease. Obesity is a major risk factor for hyperglycemia, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, we show that a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice causes early loss of expression of the glycolytic enzyme Hexokinase 2 (HK2) specifically in adipose tissue. Adipose-specific knockout of Hk2 reduced glucose disposal and lipogenesis and enhanced fatty acid release in adipose tissue. In a non-cell-autonomous manner, Hk2 knockout also promoted glucose production in liver. Furthermore, we observed reduced hexokinase activity in adipose tissue of obese and diabetic patients, and identified a loss-of-function mutation in the hk2 gene of naturally hyperglycemic Mexican cavefish. Mechanistically, HFD in mice led to loss of HK2 by inhibiting translation of Hk2 mRNA. Our findings identify adipose HK2 as a critical mediator of local and systemic glucose homeostasis, and suggest that obesity-induced loss of adipose HK2 is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for the development of selective insulin resistance and thereby hyperglycemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsugu Shimobayashi
- Biozentrum, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Anke Vandekeere
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer BiologyLeuvenBelgium
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer InstituteLeuvenBelgium
| | - Mélanie Planque
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer BiologyLeuvenBelgium
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer InstituteLeuvenBelgium
| | | | - Danilo Ritz
- Biozentrum, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | | | - Timm Maier
- Biozentrum, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Nissim Hay
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Ralph Peterli
- Clarunis, Department of Visceral Surgery, University Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver DiseasesBaselSwitzerland
| | - Sarah-Maria Fendt
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer BiologyLeuvenBelgium
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer InstituteLeuvenBelgium
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical ResearchKansas CityUnited States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the University of Kansas School of MedicineKansas CityUnited States
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42
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Olsen L, Levy M, Medley JK, Hassan H, Miller B, Alexander R, Wilcock E, Yi K, Florens L, Weaver K, McKinney SA, Peuß R, Persons J, Kenzior A, Maldonado E, Delventhal K, Gluesenkamp A, Mager E, Coughlin D, Rohner N. Metabolic reprogramming underlies cavefish muscular endurance despite loss of muscle mass and contractility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2204427120. [PMID: 36693105 PMCID: PMC9945943 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204427120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Physical inactivity is a scourge to human health, promoting metabolic disease and muscle wasting. Interestingly, multiple ecological niches have relaxed investment into physical activity, providing an evolutionary perspective into the effect of adaptive physical inactivity on tissue homeostasis. One such example, the Mexican cavefish Astyanax mexicanus, has lost moderate-to-vigorous activity following cave colonization, reaching basal swim speeds ~3.7-fold slower than their river-dwelling counterpart. This change in behavior is accompanied by a marked shift in body composition, decreasing total muscle mass and increasing fat mass. This shift persisted at the single muscle fiber level via increased lipid and sugar accumulation at the expense of myofibrillar volume. Transcriptomic analysis of laboratory-reared and wild-caught cavefish indicated that this shift is driven by increased expression of pparγ-the master regulator of adipogenesis-with a simultaneous decrease in fast myosin heavy chain expression. Ex vivo and in vivo analysis confirmed that these investment strategies come with a functional trade-off, decreasing cavefish muscle fiber shortening velocity, time to maximal force, and ultimately maximal swimming speed. Despite this, cavefish displayed a striking degree of muscular endurance, reaching maximal swim speeds ~3.5-fold faster than their basal swim speeds. Multi-omic analysis suggested metabolic reprogramming, specifically phosphorylation of Pgm1-Threonine 19, as a key component enhancing cavefish glycogen metabolism and sustained muscle contraction. Collectively, we reveal broad skeletal muscle changes following cave colonization, displaying an adaptive skeletal muscle phenotype reminiscent to mammalian disuse and high-fat models while simultaneously maintaining a unique capacity for sustained muscle contraction via enhanced glycogen metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Olsen
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO64110
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS66160
| | - Michaella Levy
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO64110
| | - J. Kyle Medley
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO64110
| | - Huzaifa Hassan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO64110
| | - Brandon Miller
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO64110
| | | | - Emma Wilcock
- Department of Biology, Widener University, Chester, PA19013
| | - Kexi Yi
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO64110
| | | | - Kyle Weaver
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO64110
| | | | - Robert Peuß
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster48149, Germany
| | - Jenna Persons
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO64110
| | | | - Ernesto Maldonado
- EvoDevo Research Group, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo77580, Mexico
| | - Kym Delventhal
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO64110
| | - Andrew Gluesenkamp
- Center for Conservation and Research, San Antonio Zoo, San Antonio, TX78212
| | - Edward Mager
- Department of Biological Sciences, Advanced Environmental Research Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX76203
| | - David Coughlin
- Department of Biology, Widener University, Chester, PA19013
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO64110
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS66160
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43
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Circadian rhythm disruption is associated with skeletal muscle dysfunction within the blind Mexican Cavefish. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.25.525368. [PMID: 36747688 PMCID: PMC9900830 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.25.525368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Circadian control of physiology and metabolism is pervasive throughout nature, with circadian disruption contributing to premature aging, neurodegenerative disease, and type 2 diabetes (Musiek et al. 2016; Panda, 2016). It has become increasingly clear that peripheral tissues, such as skeletal muscle, possess cell-autonomous clocks crucial for metabolic homeostasis (Gabriel et al. 2021). In fact, disruption of the skeletal muscle circadian rhythm results in insulin resistance, sarcomere disorganization, and muscle weakness in both vertebrates and non-vertebrates - indicating that maintenance of a functional muscle circadian rhythm provides an adaptive advantage. We and others have found that cavefish possess a disrupted central circadian rhythm and, interestingly, a skeletal muscle phenotype strikingly similar to circadian knock-out mutants; namely, muscle loss, muscle weakness, and insulin resistance (Olsen et al. 2022; Riddle et al. 2018; Mack et al. 2021). However, whether the cavefish muscle phenotype results from muscle-specific circadian disruption remains untested. To this point, we investigated genome-wide, circadian-regulated gene expression within the skeletal muscle of the Astyanax mexicanus - comprised of the river-dwelling surface fish and troglobitic cavefish - providing novel insights into the evolutionary consequence of circadian disruption on skeletal muscle physiology.
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44
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Gross JB, Powers AK. Reinterpreting the work of Charles Breder: Sensory neuromasts and orbital skeleton variation in eyeless Astyanax cavefish. Dev Biol 2023; 493:13-16. [PMID: 36347313 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.11.004] [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: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Charles Breder, a pioneering researcher of blind Mexican cavefish was the first to note extreme variation in the facial skeleton of this intriguing subterranean-dwelling organism. Using a system of polar coordinate plots, he identified substantial dysmorphic changes affecting bones of the orbital skeleton. A complication of his landmark publication from 1944 was an error in the number of orbital bones depicted for this species. Intriguingly, however, he proposed an unknown "organizing force" likely influences final bone position and associated dysmorphia. At the time this was merely hypothetical. Roughly eight decades since its publication, however, insights into sensory influences on facial bone development may explain dysmorphia and variation in bone numbers for Astyanax cavefish. A morphological association between mechano-sensory neuromasts of the lateral line and dermal bones of the facial skeleton had been appreciated in the classical literature, but the polarity of this interaction has long remained unclear. Here, we propose that sensory-skeletal integration between sensory neuromasts and bones explain the incomplete numbers of bones, and dysmorphic features such as fusion between neighboring elements. We propose that in closely-related surface fish (and most teleost fish) this developmental coupling enables the sensory and skeletal systems to become integrated into a functional unit over the course of life history. In this opinion article, we discuss the relevance of this (poorly understood) phenomenon as a potential evolutionary source of variation in the facial bone structures of taxa across deep geologic time. We provide three potential explanations for the error in Breder's drawings, that may be explained by natural developmental variation documented in other related species. Moreover, we argue that the natural variation in this "evolutionary" model system is useful for explaining diverse cranial features by uniting aberrations occurring during embryogenesis with long-term adult dysmorphia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua B Gross
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA.
| | - Amanda K Powers
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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Paloma Álvarez-Rendón J, Manuel Murillo-Maldonado J, Rafael Riesgo-Escovar J. The insulin signaling pathway a century after its discovery: Sexual dimorphism in insulin signaling. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 330:114146. [PMID: 36270337 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Since practically a century ago, the insulin pathway was discovered in both vertebrates and invertebrates, implying an evolutionarily ancient origin. After a century of research, it is now clear that the insulin signal transduction pathway is a critical, flexible and pleiotropic pathway, evolving into multiple anabolic functions besides glucose homeostasis. It regulates paramount aspects of organismal well-being like growth, longevity, intermediate metabolism, and reproduction. Part of this diversification has been attained by duplications and divergence of both ligands and receptors riding on a common general signal transduction system. One of the aspects that is strikingly different is its usage in reproduction, particularly in male versus female development and fertility within the same species. This review highlights sexual divergence in metabolism and reproductive tract differences, the occurrence of sexually "exaggerated" traits, and sex size differences that are due to the sexes' differential activity/response to the insulin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Paloma Álvarez-Rendón
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Juan Manuel Murillo-Maldonado
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico
| | - Juan Rafael Riesgo-Escovar
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico.
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46
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Lithology and disturbance drive cavefish and cave crayfish occurrence in the Ozark Highlands ecoregion. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19559. [PMID: 36379975 PMCID: PMC9666451 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21791-3] [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: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverse communities of groundwater-dwelling organisms (i.e., stygobionts) are important for human wellbeing; however, we lack an understanding of the factors driving their distributions, making it difficult to protect many at-risk species. Therefore, our study objective was to determine the landscape factors related to the occurrence of cavefishes and cave crayfishes in the Ozark Highlands ecoregion, USA. We sampled cavefishes and cave crayfishes at 61 sampling units using both visual and environmental DNA surveys. We then modeled occurrence probability in relation to lithology and human disturbance while accounting for imperfect detection. Our results indicated that occurrence probability of cave crayfishes was negatively associated with human disturbance, whereas there was a weak positive relationship between cavefish occurrence and disturbance. Both cavefishes and cave crayfishes were more likely to occur in limestone rather than dolostone lithology. Our results indicate structuring factors are related to the distribution of these taxa, but with human disturbance as a prevalent modifier of distributions for cave crayfishes. Limiting human alteration near karst features may be warranted to promote the persistence of some stygobionts. Moreover, our results indicate current sampling efforts are inadequate to detect cryptic species; therefore, expanding sampling may be needed to develop effective conservation actions.
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47
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Zhao Q, Shao F, Li Y, Yi SV, Peng Z. Novel genome sequence of Chinese cavefish (Triplophysa rosa) reveals pervasive relaxation of natural selection in cavefish genomes. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5831-5845. [PMID: 36125323 PMCID: PMC9828065 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
All cavefishes, living exclusively in caves across the globe, exhibit similar phenotypic traits, including the characteristic loss of eyes. To understand whether such phenotypic convergence shares similar genomic bases, here we investigated genome-wide evolutionary signatures of cavefish phenotypes by comparing whole-genome sequences of three pairs of cavefishes and their surface fish relatives. Notably, we newly sequenced and generated a whole-genome assembly of the Chinese cavefish Triplophysa rosa. Our comparative analyses revealed several shared features of cavefish genome evolution. Cavefishes had lower mutation rates than their surface fish relatives. In contrast, the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions (ω) was significantly elevated in cavefishes compared to in surface fishes, consistent with the relaxation of purifying selection. In addition, cavefish genomes had an increased mutational load, including mutations that alter protein hydrophobicity profiles, which were considered harmful. Interestingly, however, we found no overlap in positively selected genes among different cavefish lineages, indicating that the phenotypic convergence in cavefishes was not caused by positive selection of the same sets of genes. Analyses of previously identified candidate genes associated with cave phenotypes supported this conclusion. Genes belonging to the lipid metabolism functional ontology were under relaxed purifying selection in all cavefish genomes, which may be associated with the nutrient-poor habitat of cavefishes. Our work reveals previously uncharacterized patterns of cavefish genome evolution and provides comparative insights into the evolution of cave-associated phenotypic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education)Southwest University School of Life SciencesChongqingChina,Department of Laboratory Animal Science, College of Basic Medical SciencesArmy Medical University (Third Military Medical University)ChongqingChina
| | - Feng Shao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education)Southwest University School of Life SciencesChongqingChina
| | - Yanping Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education)Southwest University School of Life SciencesChongqingChina,Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Fish Conservation and Utilization in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze RiverNeijiang Normal University College of Life SciencesNeijiangChina
| | - Soojin V. Yi
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Zuogang Peng
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education)Southwest University School of Life SciencesChongqingChina,Academy of Plateau Science and SustainabilityQinghai Normal UniversityXiningChina
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48
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Cheng KC, Burdine RD, Dickinson ME, Ekker SC, Lin AY, Lloyd KCK, Lutz CM, MacRae CA, Morrison JH, O'Connor DH, Postlethwait JH, Rogers CD, Sanchez S, Simpson JH, Talbot WS, Wallace DC, Weimer JM, Bellen HJ. Promoting validation and cross-phylogenetic integration in model organism research. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:276675. [PMID: 36125045 PMCID: PMC9531892 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Model organism (MO) research provides a basic understanding of biology and disease due to the evolutionary conservation of the molecular and cellular language of life. MOs have been used to identify and understand the function of orthologous genes, proteins, cells and tissues involved in biological processes, to develop and evaluate techniques and methods, and to perform whole-organism-based chemical screens to test drug efficacy and toxicity. However, a growing richness of datasets and the rising power of computation raise an important question: How do we maximize the value of MOs? In-depth discussions in over 50 virtual presentations organized by the National Institutes of Health across more than 10 weeks yielded important suggestions for improving the rigor, validation, reproducibility and translatability of MO research. The effort clarified challenges and opportunities for developing and integrating tools and resources. Maintenance of critical existing infrastructure and the implementation of suggested improvements will play important roles in maintaining productivity and facilitating the validation of animal models of human biology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith C Cheng
- Department of Pathology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.,Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Rebecca D Burdine
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Mary E Dickinson
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77007, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77007, USA
| | - Stephen C Ekker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55906, USA
| | - Alex Y Lin
- Department of Pathology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - K C Kent Lloyd
- Mouse Biology Program, School of Medicinel, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA.,Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Cathleen M Lutz
- The Jackson Laboratory, Genetic Resource Science, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Calum A MacRae
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 360 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - John H Morrison
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - David H O'Connor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University ofWisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA
| | | | - Crystal D Rogers
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Susan Sanchez
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Julie H Simpson
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
| | - William S Talbot
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Douglas C Wallace
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jill M Weimer
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Neurological Research Institute (TCH), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77007, USA
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49
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Proximate Drivers of Population-Level Lizard Gut Microbial Diversity: Impacts of Diet, Insularity, and Local Environment. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081550. [PMID: 36013968 PMCID: PMC9413874 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Diet has been suggested to be an important driver of variation in microbiota composition in mammals. However, whether this is a more general phenomenon and how fast changes in gut microbiota occur with changes in diet remains poorly understood. Forty-nine years ago, ten lizards of the species Podarcis siculus were taken from the island of Pod Kopište and introduced onto the island of Pod Mrčaru (Croatia). The introduced population underwent a significant dietary shift, and their descendants became omnivorous (consuming up to 80% plant material during summer). Variation in their gut microbiota has never been investigated. To elucidate the possible impact on the gut microbiota of this rapid change in diet, we compared the microbiota (V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene) of P. siculus from Pod Mrčaru, Pod Kopište, and the mainland. In addition, we explored other drivers of variation in gut microbiota including insularity, the population of origin, and the year of sampling. Alpha-diversity analyses showed that the microbial diversity of omnivorous lizards was higher than the microbial diversity of insectivorous lizards. Moreover, omnivorous individuals harbored significantly more Methanobrevibacter. The gut microbial diversity of insectivorous lizards was nonetheless more heterogeneous. Insectivorous lizards on the mainland had different gut microbial communities than their counterparts on the island of Pod Kopište. Bacillus and Desulfovibrio were more abundant in the gut microbiota from insular lizards compared to mainland lizards. Finally, we showed that the population of origin was also an important driver of the composition of the gut microbiota. The dietary shift that occurred in the introduced population of P. siculus has had a detectable impact on the gut microbiota, but other factors such as insularity and the population of origin also contributed to differences in the gut microbial composition of these lizards, illustrating the multifactorial nature of the drivers of variation in gut microbiota. Overall, our data show that changes in gut microbiota may take place on ecological timescales. Yet, diet is only one of many factors driving variation in gut microbiota across populations.
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50
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Espinasa L, Collins E, Ornelas García CP, Rétaux S, Rohner N, Rutkowski J. Divergent evolutionary pathways for aggression and territoriality in Astyanax cavefish. SUBTERRANEAN BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.73.79318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The surface morph of the Mexican tetra fish (Astyanax mexicanus) exhibits strong territoriality behavior and high levels of aggression. In contrast, the eyeless cave-adapted morph from Sierra de El Abra, México, rarely are aggressive and have totally lost the territorial behavior. These behaviors are part of what has been called the cavefish behavioral syndrome. Here, we report that several Astyanax cave populations of Sierra de Guatemala, unlike those reported for the Sierra de El Abra cave populations, display significant territoriality and aggression when confined into a reduced space. We discuss divergent evolutionary trajectories in terms of agonistic behavior for cavefish populations inhabiting different mountain ranges.
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