51
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Li D, Hsu S, Purushotham D, Sears RL, Wang T. WashU Epigenome Browser update 2019. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:W158-W165. [PMID: 31165883 PMCID: PMC6602459 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The WashU Epigenome Browser (https://epigenomegateway.wustl.edu/) provides visualization, integration and analysis tools for epigenomic datasets. Since 2010, it has provided the scientific community with data from large consortia including the Roadmap Epigenomics and the ENCODE projects. Recently, we refactored the codebase, redesigned the user interface, and developed various novel features. New features include: (i) visualization using virtual reality (VR), which has implications in biology education and the study of 3D chromatin structure; (ii) expanded public data hubs, including data from the 4DN, ENCODE, Roadmap Epigenomics, TaRGET, IHEC and TCGA consortia; (iii) a more responsive user interface; (iv) a history of interactions, which enables undo and redo; (v) a feature we call Live Browsing, which allows multiple users to collaborate remotely on the same session; (vi) the ability to visualize local tracks and data hubs. Amazon Web Services also hosts the redesign at https://epigenomegateway.org/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daofeng Li
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Silas Hsu
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Deepak Purushotham
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Renee L Sears
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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52
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Transposon Reactivation in the Germline May Be Useful for Both Transposons and Their Host Genomes. Cells 2020; 9:cells9051172. [PMID: 32397241 PMCID: PMC7290860 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are long-term residents of eukaryotic genomes that make up a large portion of these genomes. They can be considered as perfectly fine members of genomes replicating with resident genes and being transmitted vertically to the next generation. However, unlike regular genes, TEs have the ability to send new copies to new sites. As such, they have been considered as parasitic members ensuring their own replication. In another view, TEs may also be considered as symbiotic sequences providing shared benefits after mutualistic interactions with their host genome. In this review, we recall the relationship between TEs and their host genome and discuss why transient relaxation of TE silencing within specific developmental windows may be useful for both.
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53
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The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint Functions during Early Development in Non-Chordate Embryos. Cells 2020; 9:cells9051087. [PMID: 32354040 PMCID: PMC7290841 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, a spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) ensures accurate chromosome segregation, by monitoring proper attachment of chromosomes to spindle microtubules and delaying mitotic progression if connections are erroneous or absent. The SAC is thought to be relaxed during early embryonic development. Here, we evaluate the checkpoint response to lack of kinetochore-spindle microtubule interactions in early embryos of diverse animal species. Our analysis shows that there are two classes of embryos, either proficient or deficient for SAC activation during cleavage. Sea urchins, mussels, and jellyfish embryos show a prolonged delay in mitotic progression in the absence of spindle microtubules from the first cleavage division, while ascidian and amphioxus embryos, like those of Xenopus and zebrafish, continue mitotic cycling without delay. SAC competence during early development shows no correlation with cell size, chromosome number, or kinetochore to cell volume ratio. We show that SAC proteins Mad1, Mad2, and Mps1 lack the ability to recognize unattached kinetochores in ascidian embryos, indicating that SAC signaling is not diluted but rather actively silenced during early chordate development.
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54
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Sladitschek HL, Fiuza UM, Pavlinic D, Benes V, Hufnagel L, Neveu PA. MorphoSeq: Full Single-Cell Transcriptome Dynamics Up to Gastrulation in a Chordate. Cell 2020; 181:922-935.e21. [PMID: 32315617 PMCID: PMC7237864 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.03.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides a leap forward in resolving cellular diversity and developmental trajectories but fails to comprehensively delineate the spatial organization and precise cellular makeup of individual embryos. Here, we reconstruct from scRNA-seq and light sheet imaging data a canonical digital embryo that captures the genome-wide gene expression trajectory of every single cell at every cell division in the 18 lineages up to gastrulation in the ascidian Phallusia mammillata. By using high-coverage scRNA-seq, we devise a computational framework that stratifies single cells of individual embryos into cell types without prior knowledge. Unbiased transcriptome data analysis mapped each cell’s physical position and lineage history, yielding the complete history of gene expression at the genome-wide level for every single cell in a developing embryo. A comparison of individual embryos reveals both extensive reproducibility between symmetric embryo sides and a large inter-embryonic variability due to small differences in embryogenesis timing. Integration of scRNA-seq and imaging data yield a canonical digital embryo Cell type classification without prior knowledge De novo reconstruction of the lineage history and spatial organization of the embryo Timing differences contribute to inter-embryo variability in gene expression
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna L Sladitschek
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua School of Medicine, 35126 Padua, Italy
| | - Ulla-Maj Fiuza
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dinko Pavlinic
- Genomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vladimir Benes
- Genomics Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lars Hufnagel
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Pierre A Neveu
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
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55
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Nitta KR, Vincentelli R, Jacox E, Cimino A, Ohtsuka Y, Sobral D, Satou Y, Cambillau C, Lemaire P. High-Throughput Protein Production Combined with High- Throughput SELEX Identifies an Extensive Atlas of Ciona robusta Transcription Factor DNA-Binding Specificities. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2025:487-517. [PMID: 31267468 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9624-7_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) control gene transcription, binding to specific DNA motifs located in cis-regulatory elements across the genome. The identification of TF-binding motifs is thus an important aspect to understand the role of TFs in gene regulation. SELEX, Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment, is an efficient in vitro method, which can be used to determine the DNA-binding specificity of TFs. Thanks to the development of high-throughput (HT) DNA cloning system and protein production technology, the classical SELEX assay has be extended to high-throughput scale (HT-SELEX).We report here the detailed protocol for the cloning, production, and purification of 420 Ciona robusta DNA BD. 263 Ciona robusta TF DNA-binding domain proteins were purified in milligram quantities and analyzed by HT-SELEX. The identification of 139 recognition sequences generates an atlas of protein-DNA-binding specificities that is crucial for the understanding of the gene regulatory network (GRN) of Ciona robusta. Overall, our analysis suggests that the Ciona robusta repertoire of sequence-specific transcription factors comprises less than 500 genes. The protocols for high-throughput protein production and HT-SELEX described in this article for the study of Ciona robusta TF DNA-binding specificity are generic and have been successfully applied to a wide range of TFs from other species, including human, mouse, and Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro R Nitta
- Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille (IBDM), Aix-Marseille Université/CNRS, Marseille cedex 9, France.,Division of Genomic Medicine, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Renaud Vincentelli
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 7257, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille cedex 9, France
| | - Edwin Jacox
- Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille (IBDM), Aix-Marseille Université/CNRS, Marseille cedex 9, France.,Centre de Recherches de Biologie cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Université de Montpellier/CNRS, Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Agnès Cimino
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB), UMR 7257, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille cedex 9, France
| | - Yukio Ohtsuka
- Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille (IBDM), Aix-Marseille Université/CNRS, Marseille cedex 9, France.,Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Daniel Sobral
- Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille (IBDM), Aix-Marseille Université/CNRS, Marseille cedex 9, France.,Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Yutaka Satou
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Christian Cambillau
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB), UMR 7257, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille cedex 9, France
| | - Patrick Lemaire
- Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille (IBDM), Aix-Marseille Université/CNRS, Marseille cedex 9, France. .,Centre de Recherches de Biologie cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Université de Montpellier/CNRS, Montpellier cedex 5, France.
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56
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Dardaillon J, Dauga D, Simion P, Faure E, Onuma TA, DeBiasse MB, Louis A, Nitta KR, Naville M, Besnardeau L, Reeves W, Wang K, Fagotto M, Guéroult-Bellone M, Fujiwara S, Dumollard R, Veeman M, Volff JN, Roest Crollius H, Douzery E, Ryan JF, Davidson B, Nishida H, Dantec C, Lemaire P. ANISEED 2019: 4D exploration of genetic data for an extended range of tunicates. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:D668-D675. [PMID: 31680137 PMCID: PMC7145539 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
ANISEED (https://www.aniseed.cnrs.fr) is the main model organism database for the worldwide community of scientists working on tunicates, the vertebrate sister-group. Information provided for each species includes functionally-annotated gene and transcript models with orthology relationships within tunicates, and with echinoderms, cephalochordates and vertebrates. Beyond genes the system describes other genetic elements, including repeated elements and cis-regulatory modules. Gene expression profiles for several thousand genes are formalized in both wild-type and experimentally-manipulated conditions, using formal anatomical ontologies. These data can be explored through three complementary types of browsers, each offering a different view-point. A developmental browser summarizes the information in a gene- or territory-centric manner. Advanced genomic browsers integrate the genetic features surrounding genes or gene sets within a species. A Genomicus synteny browser explores the conservation of local gene order across deuterostome. This new release covers an extended taxonomic range of 14 species, including for the first time a non-ascidian species, the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica. Functional annotations, provided for each species, were enhanced through a combination of manual curation of gene models and the development of an improved orthology detection pipeline. Finally, gene expression profiles and anatomical territories can be explored in 4D online through the newly developed Morphonet morphogenetic browser.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Delphine Dauga
- Bioself Communication; 28 rue de la Bibliothèque, F-13001 Marseille, France
| | - Paul Simion
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Emmanuel Faure
- Laboratoire d’Informatique de Robotique et de Microélectronique de Montpellier (LIRMM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Takeshi A Onuma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Melissa B DeBiasse
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, 9505 Ocean Shore Boulevard, St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Alexandra Louis
- DYOGEN, IBENS, Département de Biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, PSL Research University, F-75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Magali Naville
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS; 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
| | - Lydia Besnardeau
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, CNRS; Quai de la Darse, F-06234 Villefranche-sur-Mer Cedex, France
| | - Wendy Reeves
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Kai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | | | | | - Shigeki Fujiwara
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Kochi University, Kochi-shi, Kochi, Japan
| | - Rémi Dumollard
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, CNRS; Quai de la Darse, F-06234 Villefranche-sur-Mer Cedex, France
| | - Michael Veeman
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Jean-Nicolas Volff
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS; 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
| | - Hugues Roest Crollius
- DYOGEN, IBENS, Département de Biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, PSL Research University, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Douzery
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Joseph F Ryan
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, 9505 Ocean Shore Boulevard, St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Bradley Davidson
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA
| | - Hiroki Nishida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
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57
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Fiuza UM, Negishi T, Rouan A, Yasuo H, Lemaire P. A Nodal/Eph signalling relay drives the transition from apical constriction to apico-basal shortening in ascidian endoderm invagination. Development 2020; 147:dev.186965. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.186965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Gastrulation is the first major morphogenetic event during animal embryogenesis. Ascidian gastrulation starts with the invagination of 10 endodermal precursor cells between the 64- and late 112-cell stages. This process occurs in the absence of endodermal cell division and in two steps, driven by myosin-dependent contractions of the acto-myosin network. First, endoderm precursors constrict their apex. Second, they shorten apico-basally, while retaining small apical surfaces, thereby causing invagination. The mechanisms that prevent endoderm cell division, trigger the transition between step 1 and step 2, and drive apico-basal shortening have remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate a conserved role for Nodal and Eph signalling during invagination in two distantly related ascidian species, Phallusia mammillata and Ciona intestinalis. Specifically, we show that the transition to step 2 is triggered by Nodal relayed by Eph signalling. Additionally, our results indicate that Eph signalling lengthens the endodermal cell cycle, independently of Nodal. Finally, we find that both Nodal and Eph signals are dispensable for endoderm fate specification. These results illustrate commonalities as well as differences in the action of Nodal during ascidian and vertebrate gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulla-Maj Fiuza
- CRBM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Takefumi Negishi
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-Mer, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
| | - Alice Rouan
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-Mer, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
| | - Hitoyoshi Yasuo
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-Mer, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
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58
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Racioppi C, Wiechecki KA, Christiaen L. Combinatorial chromatin dynamics foster accurate cardiopharyngeal fate choices. eLife 2019; 8:49921. [PMID: 31746740 PMCID: PMC6952182 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
During embryogenesis, chromatin accessibility profiles control lineage-specific gene expression by modulating transcription, thus impacting multipotent progenitor states and subsequent fate choices. Subsets of cardiac and pharyngeal/head muscles share a common origin in the cardiopharyngeal mesoderm, but the chromatin landscapes that govern multipotent progenitors competence and early fate choices remain largely elusive. Here, we leveraged the simplicity of the chordate model Ciona to profile chromatin accessibility through stereotyped transitions from naive Mesp+ mesoderm to distinct fate-restricted heart and pharyngeal muscle precursors. An FGF-Foxf pathway acts in multipotent progenitors to establish cardiopharyngeal-specific patterns of accessibility, which govern later heart vs. pharyngeal muscle-specific expression profiles, demonstrating extensive spatiotemporal decoupling between early cardiopharyngeal enhancer accessibility and late cell-type-specific activity. We found that multiple cis-regulatory elements, with distinct chromatin accessibility profiles and motif compositions, are required to activate Ebf and Tbx1/10, two key determinants of cardiopharyngeal fate choices. We propose that these 'combined enhancers' foster spatially and temporally accurate fate choices, by increasing the repertoire of regulatory inputs that control gene expression, through either accessibility and/or activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Racioppi
- Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, United States
| | - Keira A Wiechecki
- Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, United States
| | - Lionel Christiaen
- Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, United States
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59
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Imai KS, Kobayashi K, Kari W, Rothbächer U, Ookubo N, Oda-Ishii I, Satou Y. Gata is ubiquitously required for the earliest zygotic gene transcription in the ascidian embryo. Dev Biol 2019; 458:215-227. [PMID: 31751550 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
In ascidian embryos, the earliest transcription from the zygotic genome begins between the 8-cell and 16-cell stages. Gata.a, a maternally expressed Gata transcription factor, activates target genes specifically in the animal hemisphere, whereas the complex of β-catenin and Tcf7 antagonizes the activity of Gata.a and activates target genes specifically in the vegetal hemisphere. Here, we show that genes zygotically expressed at the 16-cell stage have significantly more Gata motifs in their upstream regions. These genes included not only genes with animal hemisphere-specific expression but also genes with vegetal hemisphere-specific expression. On the basis of this finding, we performed knockdown experiments for Gata.a and reporter assays, and found that Gata.a is required for the expression of not only genes with animal hemisphere-specific expression, but also genes with vegetal hemisphere-specific expression. Our data indicated that weak Gata.a activity that cannot induce animal hemisphere-specific expression can allow β-catenin/Tcf7 targets to be expressed in the vegetal cells. Because genes zygotically expressed at the 32-cell stage also had significantly more Gata motifs in their upstream regions, Gata.a function may not be limited to the genes expressed specifically in the animal or vegetal hemispheres at the 16-cell stage, and Gata.a may play an important role in the earliest transcription of the zygotic genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru S Imai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, 560-0043, Japan.
| | - Kenji Kobayashi
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Willi Kari
- Department of Evolution and Developmental Biology, Zoological Institute, University, Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ute Rothbächer
- Department of Evolution and Developmental Biology, Zoological Institute, University, Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Naoki Ookubo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, 560-0043, Japan
| | - Izumi Oda-Ishii
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yutaka Satou
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
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60
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Bioinformatics for Marine Products: An Overview of Resources, Bottlenecks, and Perspectives. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17100576. [PMID: 31614509 PMCID: PMC6835618 DOI: 10.3390/md17100576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The sea represents a major source of biodiversity. It exhibits many different ecosystems in a huge variety of environmental conditions where marine organisms have evolved with extensive diversification of structures and functions, making the marine environment a treasure trove of molecules with potential for biotechnological applications and innovation in many different areas. Rapid progress of the omics sciences has revealed novel opportunities to advance the knowledge of biological systems, paving the way for an unprecedented revolution in the field and expanding marine research from model organisms to an increasing number of marine species. Multi-level approaches based on molecular investigations at genomic, metagenomic, transcriptomic, metatranscriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic levels are essential to discover marine resources and further explore key molecular processes involved in their production and action. As a consequence, omics approaches, accompanied by the associated bioinformatic resources and computational tools for molecular analyses and modeling, are boosting the rapid advancement of biotechnologies. In this review, we provide an overview of the most relevant bioinformatic resources and major approaches, highlighting perspectives and bottlenecks for an appropriate exploitation of these opportunities for biotechnology applications from marine resources.
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61
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Henriet S, Colom Sanmartí B, Sumic S, Chourrout D. Evolution of the U2 Spliceosome for Processing Numerous and Highly Diverse Non-canonical Introns in the Chordate Fritillaria borealis. Curr Biol 2019; 29:3193-3199.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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62
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MorphoNet: an interactive online morphological browser to explore complex multi-scale data. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2812. [PMID: 31249294 PMCID: PMC6597584 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10668-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Powerful novel imaging and image-processing methods are revolutionizing many fields of biology, at scales ranging from the molecule to the functional organ. To support this big-data revolution, we develop a concept of generic web-based morphodynamic browser to interactively visualize complex image datasets, with applications in research and education. MorphoNet handles a broad range of natural or simulated morphological data, onto which quantitative geometric or genetic data can be projected. Most morphological visualization platforms are not designed to share research data, or are limited to data visualization. Here the authors present MorphoNet, an open-source, web-based tool for interactive visualization and sharing of complex morphodynamic datasets, onto which users can project their own data.
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63
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Razy-Krajka F, Stolfi A. Regulation and evolution of muscle development in tunicates. EvoDevo 2019; 10:13. [PMID: 31249657 PMCID: PMC6589888 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-019-0125-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
For more than a century, studies on tunicate muscle formation have revealed many principles of cell fate specification, gene regulation, morphogenesis, and evolution. Here, we review the key studies that have probed the development of all the various muscle cell types in a wide variety of tunicate species. We seize this occasion to explore the implications and questions raised by these findings in the broader context of muscle evolution in chordates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Razy-Krajka
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
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64
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Lu Y, Li Q, Zheng K, Fu C, Jiang C, Zhou D, Xia C, Ma S. Development of a high efficient promoter finding method based on transient transfection. Gene 2019; 2:100008. [PMID: 32550544 PMCID: PMC7286058 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.100008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In metazoan genome, the mechanism of gene expression regulation between transcriptional regulatory elements and their target gene is spatiotemporal. Active promoters possess many specific chromosomal features, such as hypersensitive to DNaseI and enrichment of specific histone modifications. In this article, we proposed a novel method which possesses a high efficiency to find promoters in vitro. A promoter-trap library was constructed with totally 706 random mouse genomic DNA fragment clones, and 260 promoter-active fragments of the library were screened by transient transfection into 4T1 cells. To demonstrate the accuracy of this promoter finding method, 13 fragments with promoter activities were randomly selected for published DNase-seq and ChIP-seq data analysis, downstream transcripts prediction and expression confirmation. qRT-PCR results showed that six predicted transcription units were successfully amplified in different mouse tissues/cells or in reconstituted mouse mammary tumors. Our results indicate that this promoter finding method can successfully detect the promoter-active fragments and their downstream transcripts.
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Key Words
- ATAC-seq, Assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing
- Bioinformatics
- CAGE, cap analysis of gene expression
- CMV, Cytomegalovirus
- Cancer-specific promoter
- ChIP-seq, Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by massively parallel DNA sequencing
- Ct, threshold
- DHS, DNaseI hypersensitive sites
- DNase-seq, DNase I hypersensitive sites sequencing
- EF1a1, eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 1
- FBS, fetal bovine serum
- GRO-seq, global run-on sequencing
- Gene expression regulation
- Gene finding
- H3K4me3, histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation
- Itpr2, inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor 2
- LSINCT5, long stress-induced non-coding transcript 5
- MCS, multiple cloning site
- MPRA, Massively parallel reporter assays
- Mouse breast cancer
- PBS, phosphate buffered solution
- Promoter trap
- RNA-seq, RNA sequencing
- SD, standard deviation
- STARR-seq, Self-transcribing active regulatory region sequencing
- TFs, transcription factors
- TSS, transcription start sites
- dNTPs, deoxy-ribonucleoside triphosphate
- eRNAs, enhancer RNAs
- mSEAP, mouse synthetic secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase
- pNPP, p-nitropheny-phosate
- qRT-PCR, quantitative RT-PCR
- tpk1, thiamine pyrophosphokinase
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Lu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Qilong Li
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Kexin Zheng
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Chenghao Fu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Chunying Jiang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Dayu Zhou
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Chao Xia
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Shiliang Ma
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China
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65
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Nakayama S, Sekiguchi T, Ogasawara M. Molecular and evolutionary aspects of the protochordate digestive system. Cell Tissue Res 2019; 377:309-320. [PMID: 31049686 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-019-03035-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The digestive system is a functional unit consisting of an endodermal tubular structure (alimentary canal) and accessory organs that function in nutrition processing in most triploblastic animals. Various morphologies and apparatuses are formed depending on the phylogenetical relationship and food habits of the specific species. Nutrition processing and morphogenesis of the alimentary canal and accessory organs have both been investigated in vertebrates, mainly humans and mammals. When attempting to understand the evolutionary processes that led to the vertebrate digestive system, however, it is useful to examine other chordates, specifically protochordates, which share fundamental functional and morphogenetic molecules with vertebrates, which also possess non-duplicated genomes. In protochordates, basic anatomical and physiological studies have mainly described the characteristic traits of suspension feeders. Recent progress in genome sequencing has allowed researchers to comprehensively detail protochordate genes and has compared the genetic backgrounds among chordate nutrition processing and alimentary canal/accessory organ systems based on genomic information. Gene expression analyses have revealed spatiotemporal gene expression profiles in protochordate alimentary canals. Additionally, to investigate the basis of morphological diversity in the chordate alimentary canal and accessory organs, evolutionary developmental research has examined developmental transcription factors related to morphogenesis and anterior-posterior pattering of the alimentary canal and accessory organs. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of molecules involved in nutrition processing and the development of the alimentary canal and accessory organs with innate immune and endocrine roles in protochordates and we explore the molecular basis for understanding the evolution of the chordate digestive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Nakayama
- The Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Toshio Sekiguchi
- The Noto Marine Laboratory, Division of Marine Environmental Studies, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Hosu-gun, Ishikawa, 927-0553, Japan
| | - Michio Ogasawara
- The Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan.
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66
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Sharma S, Wang W, Stolfi A. Single-cell transcriptome profiling of the Ciona larval brain. Dev Biol 2019; 448:226-236. [PMID: 30392840 PMCID: PMC6487232 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The tadpole-type larva of Ciona has emerged as an intriguing model system for the study of neurodevelopment. The Ciona intestinalis connectome has been recently mapped, revealing the smallest central nervous system (CNS) known in any chordate, with only 177 neurons. This minimal CNS is highly reminiscent of larger CNS of vertebrates, sharing many conserved developmental processes, anatomical compartments, neuron subtypes, and even specific neural circuits. Thus, the Ciona tadpole offers a unique opportunity to understand the development and wiring of a chordate CNS at single-cell resolution. Here we report the use of single-cell RNAseq to profile the transcriptomes of single cells isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) from the whole brain of Ciona robusta (formerly intestinalis Type A) larvae. We have also compared these profiles to bulk RNAseq data from specific subsets of brain cells isolated by FACS using cell type-specific reporter plasmid expression. Taken together, these datasets have begun to reveal the compartment- and cell-specific gene expression patterns that define the organization of the Ciona larval brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarthak Sharma
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Wei Wang
- New York University, Department of Biology, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, Atlanta, GA, United States.
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67
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Yamada S, Tanaka Y, Imai KS, Saigou M, Onuma TA, Nishida H. Wavy movements of epidermis monocilia drive the neurula rotation that determines left-right asymmetry in ascidian embryos. Dev Biol 2019; 448:173-182. [PMID: 30059669 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Tadpole larvae of the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi, show morphological left-right asymmetry in the brain structures and the orientation of tail bending within the vitelline membrane. Neurula embryos rotate along the anterior-posterior axis in a counterclockwise direction, and then this rotation stops when the left side of the embryo is oriented downwards. Contact of the left-side epidermis with the vitelline membrane promotes nodal gene expression in the left-side epidermis. This is a novel mechanism in which rotation of whole embryos provides the initial cue for breaking left-right symmetry. Here we show that epidermal monocilia, which appear at the neurula rotation stage, generate the driving force for rotation. A ciliary protein, Arl13b, fused with Venus YFP was used for live imaging of ciliary movements. Although overexpression of wild-type Arl13b fusion protein resulted in aberrant movements of the cilia and abrogation of neurula rotation, mutant Arl13b fusion protein, in which the GTPase and coiled-coil domains were removed, did not affect the normal ciliary movements and neurula rotation. Epidermis cilia moved in a wavy and serpentine way like sperm flagella but not in a rotational way or beating way with effective stroke and recovery stroke. They moved very slowly, at 1/7 Hz, consistent with the low angular velocity of neurula rotation (ca. 43°/min). The tips of most cilia pointed in the opposite direction of embryonic rotation. Similar motility was also observed in Ciona robusta embryos. When embryos were treated with a dynein inhibitor, Ciliobrevin D, both ciliary movements and neurula rotation were abrogated, showing that ciliary movements drive neurula rotation in Halocynthia. The drug also inhibited Ciona neurula rotation. Our observations suggest that the driving force of rotation is generated using the vitelline membrane as a substrate but not by making a water current around the embryo. It is of evolutionary interest that ascidians use ciliary movements to break embryonic left-right symmetry, like in many vertebrates. Meanwhile, ascidian embryos rotate as a whole, similar to embryos of non-vertebrate deuterostomes, such as echinoderm, hemichordate, and amphioxus, while swimming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiori Yamada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Yuka Tanaka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Kaoru S Imai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Motohiko Saigou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Takeshi A Onuma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Hiroki Nishida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan.
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68
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Racioppi C, Coppola U, Christiaen L, Ristoratore F. Transcriptional regulation of Rab32/38, a specific marker of pigment cell formation in Ciona robusta. Dev Biol 2019; 448:111-118. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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69
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Almazán A, Ferrández-Roldán A, Albalat R, Cañestro C. Developmental atlas of appendicularian Oikopleura dioica actins provides new insights into the evolution of the notochord and the cardio-paraxial muscle in chordates. Dev Biol 2019; 448:260-270. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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70
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Functional conserved non-coding elements among tunicates and chordates. Dev Biol 2019; 448:101-110. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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71
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Tanaka Y, Yamada S, Connop SL, Hashii N, Sawada H, Shih Y, Nishida H. Vitelline membrane proteins promote left-sided nodal expression after neurula rotation in the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi. Dev Biol 2019; 449:52-61. [PMID: 30710513 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Stereotyped left-right asymmetry both in external and internal organization is found in various animals. Left-right symmetry is broken by the neurula rotation in the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi. Neurula embryos rotate along the anterior-posterior axis in a counterclockwise direction, and the rotation stops when the left side of the embryo is oriented downwards, resulting in contact of the left-side epidermis with the vitelline membrane at the bottom of perivitelline space. Then, such contact induces the expression of nodal and its downstream Pitx2 gene in the left-side epidermis. Vitelline membrane is required for the promotion of nodal expression. Here, we showed that a chemical signal from the vitelline membrane promotes nodal gene expression, but mechanical stimulus at the point of contact is unnecessary since the treatment of devitellinated neurulae with an extract of the vitelline membrane promoted nodal expression on both sides. The signal molecules are already present in the vitelline membranes of unfertilized eggs. These signal molecules are proteins but not sugars. Specific fractions in gel filtration chromatography had the nodal promoting activity. By mass spectrometry, we selected 48 candidate proteins. Proteins that contain both a zona pellucida (ZP) domain and epidermal growth factor (EGF) repeats were enriched in the candidates of the nodal inducing molecules. Six of the ZP proteins had multiple EGF repeats that are only found in ascidian ZP proteins. These were considered to be the most viable candidates of the nodal-inducing molecules. Signal molecules are anchored to the entire vitelline membrane, and contact sites of signal-receiving cells are spatially and mechanically controlled by the neurula rotation. In this context, ascidians are unusual with respect to mechanisms for specification of the left-right axis. By suppressing formation of epidermis monocilia, we also showed that epidermal cilia drive the neurula rotation but are dispensable for sensing the signal from the vitelline membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Tanaka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Shiori Yamada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Samantha L Connop
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Noritaka Hashii
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Biologicals, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Sawada
- Sugashima Marine Biological Laboratory, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Sugashima, Toba 517-0004, Japan
| | - Yu Shih
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Hiroki Nishida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan.
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72
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Madgwick A, Magri MS, Dantec C, Gailly D, Fiuza UM, Guignard L, Hettinger S, Gomez-Skarmeta JL, Lemaire P. Evolution of embryonic cis-regulatory landscapes between divergent Phallusia and Ciona ascidians. Dev Biol 2019; 448:71-87. [PMID: 30661644 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Ascidian species of the Phallusia and Ciona genera are distantly related, their last common ancestor dating several hundred million years ago. Although their genome sequences have extensively diverged since this radiation, Phallusia and Ciona species share almost identical early morphogenesis and stereotyped cell lineages. Here, we explored the evolution of transcriptional control between P. mammillata and C. robusta. We combined genome-wide mapping of open chromatin regions in both species with a comparative analysis of the regulatory sequences of a test set of 10 pairs of orthologous early regulatory genes with conserved expression patterns. We find that ascidian chromatin accessibility landscapes obey similar rules as in other metazoa. Open-chromatin regions are short, highly conserved within each genus and cluster around regulatory genes. The dynamics of chromatin accessibility and closest-gene expression are strongly correlated during early embryogenesis. Open-chromatin regions are highly enriched in cis-regulatory elements: 73% of 49 open chromatin regions around our test genes behaved as either distal enhancers or proximal enhancer/promoters following electroporation in Phallusia eggs. Analysis of this datasets suggests a pervasive use in ascidians of "shadow" enhancers with partially overlapping activities. Cross-species electroporations point to a deep conservation of both the trans-regulatory logic between these distantly-related ascidians and the cis-regulatory activities of individual enhancers. Finally, we found that the relative order and approximate distance to the transcription start site of open chromatin regions can be conserved between Ciona and Phallusia species despite extensive sequence divergence, a property that can be used to identify orthologous enhancers, whose regulatory activity can partially diverge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Madgwick
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Marta Silvia Magri
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Christelle Dantec
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Damien Gailly
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Ulla-Maj Fiuza
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Léo Guignard
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix drive, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Sabrina Hettinger
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Jose Luis Gomez-Skarmeta
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Patrick Lemaire
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
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73
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Ferrández-Roldán A, Martí-Solans J, Cañestro C, Albalat R. Oikopleura dioica: An Emergent Chordate Model to Study the Impact of Gene Loss on the Evolution of the Mechanisms of Development. Results Probl Cell Differ 2019; 68:63-105. [PMID: 31598853 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-23459-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The urochordate Oikopleura dioica is emerging as a nonclassical animal model in the field of evolutionary developmental biology (a.k.a. evo-devo) especially attractive for investigating the impact of gene loss on the evolution of mechanisms of development. This is because this organism fulfills the requirements of an animal model (i.e., has a simple and accessible morphology, a short generation time and life span, and affordable culture in the laboratory and amenable experimental manipulation), but also because O. dioica occupies a key phylogenetic position to understand the diversification and origin of our own phylum, the chordates. During its evolution, O. dioica genome has suffered a drastic process of compaction, becoming the smallest known chordate genome, a process that has been accompanied by exacerbating amount of gene losses. Interestingly, however, despite the extensive gene losses, including entire regulatory pathways essential for the embryonic development of other chordates, O. dioica retains the typical chordate body plan. This unexpected situation led to the formulation of the so-called inverse paradox of evo-devo, that is, when a genetic diversity is able to maintain a phenotypic unity. This chapter reviews the biological features of O. dioica as a model animal, along with the current data on the evolution of its genes and genome. We pay special attention to the numerous examples of gene losses that have taken place during the evolution of this unique animal model, which is helping us to understand to which the limits of evo-devo can be pushed off.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Ferrández-Roldán
- Facultat de Biologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Josep Martí-Solans
- Facultat de Biologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Cristian Cañestro
- Facultat de Biologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Facultat de Biologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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74
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Transcriptional regulation of the Ciona Gsx gene in the neural plate. Dev Biol 2018; 448:88-100. [PMID: 30583796 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The ascidian neural plate consists of a defined number of identifiable cells organized in a grid of rows and columns, representing a useful model to investigate the molecular mechanisms controlling neural patterning in chordates. Distinct anterior brain lineages are specified via unique combinatorial inputs of signalling pathways with Nodal and Delta-Notch signals patterning along the medial-lateral axis and FGF/MEK/ERK signals patterning along the anterior-posterior axis of the neural plate. The Ciona Gsx gene is specifically expressed in the a9.33 cells in the row III/column 2 position of anterior brain lineages, characterised by a combinatorial input of Nodal-OFF, Notch-ON and FGF-ON. Here, we identify the minimal cis-regulatory element (CRE) of 376 bp, which can recapitulate the early activation of Gsx. We show that this minimal CRE responds in the same way as the endogenous Gsx gene to manipulation of FGF- and Notch-signalling pathways and to overexpression of Snail, a mediator of Nodal signals, and Six3/6, which is required to demarcate the anterior boundary of Gsx expression at the late neurula stage. We reveal that sequences proximal to the transcription start site include a temporal regulatory element required for the precise transcriptional onset of gene expression. We conclude that sufficient spatial and temporal information for Gsx expression is integrated in 376 bp of non-coding cis-regulatory sequences.
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75
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Harder M, Reeves W, Byers C, Santiago M, Veeman M. Multiple inputs into a posterior-specific regulatory network in the Ciona notochord. Dev Biol 2018; 448:136-146. [PMID: 30287118 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The gene regulatory networks underlying Ciona notochord fate specification and differentiation have been extensively investigated, but the regulatory basis for regionalized expression within the notochord is not understood. Here we identify three notochord-expressed genes, C11.331, C12.115 and C8.891, with strongly enriched expression in the secondary notochord cells at the posterior tip of the tail. C11.331 and C12.115 share a distinctive expression pattern that is highly enriched in the secondary notochord lineage but also graded within that lineage with the strongest expression at the posterior tip. Both genes show similar responses to pharmacological perturbations of Wnt and FGF signaling, consistent with an important role for Wnt and FGF ligands expressed at the tail tip. Reporter analysis indicates that the C11.331 cis-regulatory regions are extensively distributed, with multiple non-overlapping regions conferring posterior notochord-enriched expression. Fine-scale analysis of a minimal cis-regulatory module identifies discrete positive and negative elements including a strong silencer. Truncation of the silencer region leads to increased expression in the primary notochord, indicating that C11.331 expression is influenced by putative regulators of primary versus secondary notochord fate. The minimal CRM contains predicted ETS, GATA, LMX and Myb sites, all of which lead to reduced expression in secondary notochord when mutated. These results show that the posterior-enriched notochord expression of C11.331 depends on multiple inputs, including Wnt and FGF signals from the tip of the tail, multiple notochord-specific regulators, and yet-to-be identified regulators of regional identity within the notochord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Harder
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Wendy Reeves
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Chase Byers
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Mercedes Santiago
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Michael Veeman
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
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76
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Somorjai IML, Martí-Solans J, Diaz-Gracia M, Nishida H, Imai KS, Escrivà H, Cañestro C, Albalat R. Wnt evolution and function shuffling in liberal and conservative chordate genomes. Genome Biol 2018; 19:98. [PMID: 30045756 PMCID: PMC6060547 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-018-1468-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND What impact gene loss has on the evolution of developmental processes, and how function shuffling has affected retained genes driving essential biological processes, remain open questions in the fields of genome evolution and EvoDevo. To investigate these problems, we have analyzed the evolution of the Wnt ligand repertoire in the chordate phylum as a case study. RESULTS We conduct an exhaustive survey of Wnt genes in genomic databases, identifying 156 Wnt genes in 13 non-vertebrate chordates. This represents the most complete Wnt gene catalog of the chordate subphyla and has allowed us to resolve previous ambiguities about the orthology of many Wnt genes, including the identification of WntA for the first time in chordates. Moreover, we create the first complete expression atlas for the Wnt family during amphioxus development, providing a useful resource to investigate the evolution of Wnt expression throughout the radiation of chordates. CONCLUSIONS Our data underscore extraordinary genomic stasis in cephalochordates, which contrasts with the liberal and dynamic evolutionary patterns of gene loss and duplication in urochordate genomes. Our analysis has allowed us to infer ancestral Wnt functions shared among all chordates, several cases of function shuffling among Wnt paralogs, as well as unique expression domains for Wnt genes that likely reflect functional innovations in each chordate lineage. Finally, we propose a potential relationship between the evolution of WntA and the evolution of the mouth in chordates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildikó M L Somorjai
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9ST, Scotland, UK.
- Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, Scotland, UK.
| | - Josep Martí-Solans
- Departament de Genètica, , Microbiologia i Estadística, and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miriam Diaz-Gracia
- Departament de Genètica, , Microbiologia i Estadística, and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hiroki Nishida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-0043, Japan
| | - Kaoru S Imai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-0043, Japan
| | - Hector Escrivà
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM), Observatoire Océanologique, F-66650, Banyuls/Mer, France
| | - Cristian Cañestro
- Departament de Genètica, , Microbiologia i Estadística, and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Departament de Genètica, , Microbiologia i Estadística, and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Lowe EK, Stolfi A. Developmental system drift in motor ganglion patterning between distantly related tunicates. EvoDevo 2018; 9:18. [PMID: 30062003 PMCID: PMC6057086 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-018-0107-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The larval nervous system of the solitary tunicate Ciona is a simple model for the study of chordate neurodevelopment. The development and connectivity of the Ciona motor ganglion have been studied in fine detail, but how this important structure develops in other tunicates is not well known. METHODS AND RESULTS By comparing gene expression patterns in the developing MG of the distantly related tunicate Molgula occidentalis, we found that its patterning is highly conserved compared to the Ciona MG. MG neuronal subtypes in Molgula were specified in the exact same positions as in Ciona, though the timing of subtype-specific gene expression onset was slightly shifted to begin earlier, relative to mitotic exit and differentiation. In transgenic Molgula embryos electroporated with Dmbx reporter plasmids, we were also able to characterize the morphology of the lone pair of descending decussating neurons (ddNs) in Molgula, revealing the same unique contralateral projection seen in Ciona ddNs and their putative vertebrate homologs the Mauthner cells. Although Dmbx expression labels the ddNs in both species, cross-species transgenic assays revealed significant changes to the regulatory logic underlying Dmbx transcription. We found that Dmbx cis-regulatory DNAs from Ciona can drive highly specific reporter gene expression in Molgula ddNs, but Molgula sequences are not active in Ciona ddNs. CONCLUSIONS This acute divergence in the molecular mechanisms that underlie otherwise functionally conserved cis-regulatory DNAs supports the recently proposed idea that the extreme genetic plasticity observed in tunicates may be attributed to the extreme rigidity of the spatial organization of their embryonic cell lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elijah K. Lowe
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA USA
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