151
|
Frangedakis E, Saint‐Marcoux D, Moody LA, Rabbinowitsch E, Langdale JA. Nonreciprocal complementation of KNOX gene function in land plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2017; 216:591-604. [PMID: 27886385 PMCID: PMC5637896 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Class I KNOTTED-LIKE HOMEOBOX (KNOX) proteins regulate development of the multicellular diploid sporophyte in both mosses and flowering plants; however, the morphological context in which they function differs. In order to determine how Class I KNOX function was modified as land plants evolved, phylogenetic analyses and cross-species complementation assays were performed. Our data reveal that a duplication within the charophyte sister group to land plants led to distinct Class I and Class II KNOX gene families. Subsequently, Class I sequences diverged substantially in the nonvascular bryophyte groups (liverworts, mosses and hornworts), with moss sequences being most similar to those in vascular plants. Despite this similarity, moss mutants were not complemented by vascular plant KNOX genes. Conversely, the Arabidopsis brevipedicellus (bp-9) mutant was complemented by the PpMKN2 gene from the moss Physcomitrella patens. Lycophyte KNOX genes also complemented bp-9 whereas fern genes only partially complemented the mutant. This lycophyte/fern distinction is mirrored in the phylogeny of KNOX-interacting BELL proteins, in that a gene duplication occurred after divergence of the two groups. Together, our results imply that the moss MKN2 protein can function in a broader developmental context than vascular plant KNOX proteins, the narrower scope having evolved progressively as lycophytes, ferns and flowering plants diverged.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Denis Saint‐Marcoux
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of OxfordSouth Parks RoadOxfordOX1 3RBUK
| | - Laura A. Moody
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of OxfordSouth Parks RoadOxfordOX1 3RBUK
| | - Ester Rabbinowitsch
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of OxfordSouth Parks RoadOxfordOX1 3RBUK
| | - Jane A. Langdale
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of OxfordSouth Parks RoadOxfordOX1 3RBUK
| |
Collapse
|
152
|
Tweedt SM. Gene Regulatory Networks, Homology, and the Early Panarthropod Fossil Record. Integr Comp Biol 2017; 57:477-487. [PMID: 28957522 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icx095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The arthropod body plan is widely believed to have derived from an ancestral form resembling Cambrian-aged fossil lobopodians, and interpretations of morphological and molecular data have long favored this hypothesis. It is possible, however, that appendages and other morphologies observed in extinct and living panarthropods evolved independently. The key to distinguishing between morphological homology and homoplasy lies in the study of developmental gene regulatory networks (GRNs), and specifically, in determining the unique genetic circuits that construct characters. In this study, I discuss character identity and panarthropod appendage evolution within a developmental GRN framework, with a specific focus on potential limb character identity networks ("ChINs"). I summarize recent molecular studies, and argue that current data do not rule out the possibility of independent panarthropod limb evolution. The link between character identity and GRN architecture has broad implications for homology assessment, and this genetic framework offers alternative approaches to fossil character coding, phylogenetic analyses, and future research into the origin of the arthropod body plan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Tweedt
- Department of Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
153
|
Kondo M, Yamamoto T, Takahashi S, Taira M. Comprehensive analyses ofhoxgene expression inXenopus laevisembryos and adult tissues. Dev Growth Differ 2017; 59:526-539. [DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Kondo
- Misaki Marine Biological Station; Graduate School of Science and Center for Marine Biology; The University of Tokyo; 1024 Koajiro Misaki Miura Kanagawa 238-0225 Japan
| | - Takayoshi Yamamoto
- Department of Biological Sciences; Graduate School of Science; The University of Tokyo; 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
| | - Shuji Takahashi
- Institute for Amphibian Biology; Graduate School of Science; Hiroshima University; 1-3-1 Kagamiyama Higashi-Hiroshima Hiroshima 739-8526 Japan
| | - Masanori Taira
- Department of Biological Sciences; Graduate School of Science; The University of Tokyo; 7-3-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
154
|
Grau-Bové X, Torruella G, Donachie S, Suga H, Leonard G, Richards TA, Ruiz-Trillo I. Dynamics of genomic innovation in the unicellular ancestry of animals. eLife 2017; 6:26036. [PMID: 28726632 PMCID: PMC5560861 DOI: 10.7554/elife.26036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Which genomic innovations underpinned the origin of multicellular animals is still an open debate. Here, we investigate this question by reconstructing the genome architecture and gene family diversity of ancestral premetazoans, aiming to date the emergence of animal-like traits. Our comparative analysis involves genomes from animals and their closest unicellular relatives (the Holozoa), including four new genomes: three Ichthyosporea and Corallochytrium limacisporum. Here, we show that the earliest animals were shaped by dynamic changes in genome architecture before the emergence of multicellularity: an early burst of gene diversity in the ancestor of Holozoa, enriched in transcription factors and cell adhesion machinery, was followed by multiple and differently-timed episodes of synteny disruption, intron gain and genome expansions. Thus, the foundations of animal genome architecture were laid before the origin of complex multicellularity – highlighting the necessity of a unicellular perspective to understand early animal evolution. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.26036.001 Hundreds of millions of years ago, some single-celled organisms gained the ability to work together and form multicellular organisms. This transition was a major step in evolution and took place at separate times in several parts of the tree of life, including in animals, plants, fungi and algae. Animals are some of the most complex organisms on Earth. Their single-celled ancestors were also quite genetically complex themselves and their genomes (the complete set of the organism’s DNA) already contained many genes that now coordinate the activity of the cells in a multicellular organism. The genome of an animal typically has certain features: it is large, diverse and contains many segments (called introns) that are not genes. By seeing if the single-celled relatives of animals share these traits, it is possible to learn more about when specific genetic features first evolved, and whether they are linked to the origin of animals. Now, Grau-Bové et al. have studied the genomes of several of the animal kingdom’s closest single-celled relatives using a technique called whole genome sequencing. This revealed that there was a period of rapid genetic change in the single-celled ancestors of animals during which their genes became much more diverse. Another ‘explosion’ of diversity happened after animals had evolved. Furthermore, the overall amount of the genomic content inside cells and the number of introns found in the genome rapidly increased in separate, independent events in both animals and their single-celled ancestors. Future research is needed to investigate whether other multicellular life forms – such as plants, fungi and algae – originated in the same way as animal life. Understanding how the genetic material of animals evolved also helps us to understand the genetic structures that affect our health. For example, genes that coordinate the behavior of cells (and so are important for multicellular organisms) also play a role in cancer, where cells break free of this regulation to divide uncontrollably. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.26036.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Grau-Bové
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Guifré Torruella
- Unité d'Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Sud/Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, Orsay, France
| | - Stuart Donachie
- Department of Microbiology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, United States.,Advanced Studies in Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, United States
| | - Hiroshi Suga
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Guy Leonard
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A Richards
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
155
|
Monedero Cobeta I, Salmani BY, Thor S. Anterior-Posterior Gradient in Neural Stem and Daughter Cell Proliferation Governed by Spatial and Temporal Hox Control. Curr Biol 2017; 27:1161-1172. [PMID: 28392108 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
A readily evident feature of animal central nervous systems (CNSs), apparent in all vertebrates and many invertebrates alike, is its "wedge-like" appearance, with more cells generated in anterior than posterior regions. This wedge could conceivably be established by an antero-posterior (A-P) gradient in the number of neural progenitor cells, their proliferation behaviors, and/or programmed cell death (PCD). However, the contribution of each of these mechanisms, and the underlying genetic programs, are not well understood. Building upon recent progress in the Drosophila melanogaster (Drosophila) ventral nerve cord (VNC), we address these issues in a comprehensive manner. We find that, although PCD plays a role in controlling cell numbers along the A-P axis, the main driver of the wedge is a gradient of daughter proliferation, with divisions directly generating neurons (type 0) being more prevalent posteriorly and dividing daughters (type I) more prevalent anteriorly. In addition, neural progenitor (NB) cell-cycle exit occurs earlier posteriorly. The gradient of type I > 0 daughter proliferation switch and NB exit combine to generate radically different average lineage sizes along the A-P axis, differing by more than 3-fold in cell number. We find that the Hox homeotic genes, expressed in overlapping A-P gradients and with a late temporal onset in NBs, trigger the type I > 0 daughter proliferation switch and NB exit. Given the highly evolutionarily conserved expression of overlapping Hox homeotic genes in the CNS, our results point to a common mechanism for generating the CNS wedge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Monedero Cobeta
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linkoping University, 58185 Linkoping, Sweden
| | | | - Stefan Thor
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linkoping University, 58185 Linkoping, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
156
|
Fongang B, Kong F, Negi S, Braun W, Kudlicki A. A Conserved Structural Signature of the Homeobox Coding DNA in HOX genes. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35415. [PMID: 27739488 PMCID: PMC5064350 DOI: 10.1038/srep35415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The homeobox encodes a DNA-binding domain found in transcription factors regulating key developmental processes. The most notable examples of homeobox containing genes are the Hox genes, arranged on chromosomes in the same order as their expression domains along the body axis. The mechanisms responsible for the synchronous regulation of Hox genes and the molecular function of their colinearity remain unknown. Here we report the discovery of a conserved structural signature of the 180-base pair DNA fragment comprising the homeobox. We demonstrate that the homeobox DNA has a characteristic 3-base-pair periodicity in the hydroxyl radical cleavage pattern. This periodic pattern is significant in most of the 39 mammalian Hox genes and in other homeobox-containing transcription factors. The signature is present in segmented bilaterian animals as evolutionarily distant as humans and flies. It remains conserved despite the fact that it would be disrupted by synonymous mutations, which raises the possibility of evolutionary selective pressure acting on the structure of the coding DNA. The homeobox coding DNA may therefore have a secondary function, possibly as a regulatory element. The existence of such element may have important consequences for understanding how these genes are regulated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Fongang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Fanping Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Surendra Negi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Werner Braun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Andrzej Kudlicki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
157
|
Early mesodermal expression of Hox genes in the polychaete Alitta virens (Annelida, Lophotrochozoa). Dev Genes Evol 2016; 227:69-74. [PMID: 27695997 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-016-0563-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Hox genes are the key regulators of axial regionalization of bilaterian animals. However, their main function is fulfilled differently in the development of animals from different evolutionary branches. Early patterning of the developing embryos by Hox gene expression in the representatives of protostomes (arthropods, mollusks) starts in the ectodermal cells. On the contrary, the instructive role of the mesoderm in the axial patterning was demonstrated for vertebrates. This makes it difficult to understand if during the axial regionalization of ancestral bilaterians Hox genes first expressed in the developing mesoderm or the ectoderm. To resolve this question, it is necessary to expand the number of models for investigation of the early axial patterning. Here, we show that three Hox genes of the polychaete Alitta virens (formerly Nereis virens, Annelida, Lophotrochozoa)-Hox2, Hox4, and Lox5-are expressed in the mesodermal anlagen of the three future larval chaetigerous segments in spatially colinear manner before the initiation of Hox expression in the larval ectoderm. This is the first evidence of sequential Hox gene expression in the mesoderm of protostomes to date.
Collapse
|
158
|
Jouhilahti EM, Madissoon E, Vesterlund L, Töhönen V, Krjutškov K, Plaza Reyes A, Petropoulos S, Månsson R, Linnarsson S, Bürglin T, Lanner F, Hovatta O, Katayama S, Kere J. The human PRD-like homeobox gene LEUTX has a central role in embryo genome activation. Development 2016; 143:3459-3469. [PMID: 27578796 PMCID: PMC5087614 DOI: 10.1242/dev.134510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Leucine twenty homeobox (LEUTX) is a paired (PRD)-like homeobox gene that is expressed almost exclusively in human embryos during preimplantation development. We previously identified a novel transcription start site for the predicted human LEUTX gene based on the transcriptional analysis of human preimplantation embryos. The novel variant encodes a protein with a complete homeodomain. Here, we provide a detailed description of the molecular cloning of the complete homeodomain-containing LEUTX Using a human embryonic stem cell overexpression model we show that the complete homeodomain isoform is functional and sufficient to activate the transcription of a large proportion of the genes that are upregulated in human embryo genome activation (EGA), whereas the previously predicted partial homeodomain isoform is largely inactive. Another PRD-like transcription factor, DPRX, is then upregulated as a powerful repressor of transcription. We propose a two-stage model of human EGA in which LEUTX acts as a transcriptional activator at the 4-cell stage, and DPRX as a balancing repressor at the 8-cell stage. We conclude that LEUTX is a candidate regulator of human EGA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eeva-Mari Jouhilahti
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, Huddinge 141 83, Sweden
| | - Elo Madissoon
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, Huddinge 141 83, Sweden
| | - Liselotte Vesterlund
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, Huddinge 141 83, Sweden
| | - Virpi Töhönen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, Huddinge 141 83, Sweden
| | - Kaarel Krjutškov
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, Huddinge 141 83, Sweden Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu 50410, Estonia
| | - Alvaro Plaza Reyes
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm 141 86, Sweden
| | - Sophie Petropoulos
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm 141 86, Sweden
| | - Robert Månsson
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 14183, Sweden
| | - Sten Linnarsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden
| | - Thomas Bürglin
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - Fredrik Lanner
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm 141 86, Sweden
| | - Outi Hovatta
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm 141 86, Sweden
| | - Shintaro Katayama
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, Huddinge 141 83, Sweden
| | - Juha Kere
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Novum, Huddinge 141 83, Sweden Science for Life Laboratory, Tomtebodavägen 23 A, Solna 171 21, Sweden Molecular Neurology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Biomedicum 1, Haartmaninkatu 8, Helsinki 00290, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
159
|
Velandia-Huerto CA, Berkemer SJ, Hoffmann A, Retzlaff N, Romero Marroquín LC, Hernández-Rosales M, Stadler PF, Bermúdez-Santana CI. Orthologs, turn-over, and remolding of tRNAs in primates and fruit flies. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:617. [PMID: 27515907 PMCID: PMC4981973 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2927-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are ubiquitous in all living organism. They implement the genetic code so that most genomes contain distinct tRNAs for almost all 61 codons. They behave similar to mobile elements and proliferate in genomes spawning both local and non-local copies. Most tRNA families are therefore typically present as multicopy genes. The members of the individual tRNA families evolve under concerted or rapid birth-death evolution, so that paralogous copies maintain almost identical sequences over long evolutionary time-scales. To a good approximation these are functionally equivalent. Individual tRNA copies thus are evolutionary unstable and easily turn into pseudogenes and disappear. This leads to a rapid turnover of tRNAs and often large differences in the tRNA complements of closely related species. Since tRNA paralogs are not distinguished by sequence, common methods cannot not be used to establish orthology between tRNA genes. Results In this contribution we introduce a general framework to distinguish orthologs and paralogs in gene families that are subject to concerted evolution. It is based on the use of uniquely aligned adjacent sequence elements as anchors to establish syntenic conservation of sequence intervals. In practice, anchors and intervals can be extracted from genome-wide multiple sequence alignments. Syntenic clusters of concertedly evolving genes of different families can then be subdivided by list alignments, leading to usually small clusters of candidate co-orthologs. On the basis of recent advances in phylogenetic combinatorics, these candidate clusters can be further processed by cograph editing to recover their duplication histories. We developed a workflow that can be conceptualized as stepwise refinement of a graph of homologous genes. We apply this analysis strategy with different types of synteny anchors to investigate the evolution of tRNAs in primates and fruit flies. We identified a large number of tRNA remolding events concentrated at the tips of the phylogeny. With one notable exception all phylogenetically old tRNA remoldings do not change the isoacceptor class. Conclusions Gene families evolving under concerted evolution are not amenable to classical phylogenetic analyses since paralogs maintain identical, species-specific sequences, precluding the estimation of correct gene trees from sequence differences. This leaves conservation of syntenic arrangements with respect to “anchor elements” that are not subject to concerted evolution as the only viable source of phylogenetic information. We have demonstrated here that a purely synteny-based analysis of tRNA gene histories is indeed feasible. Although the choice of synteny anchors influences the resolution in particular when tight gene clusters are present, and the quality of sequence alignments, genome assemblies, and genome rearrangements limits the scope of the analysis, largely coherent results can be obtained for tRNAs. In particular, we conclude that a large fraction of the tRNAs are recent copies. This proliferation is compensated by rapid pseudogenization as exemplified by many very recent alloacceptor remoldings. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2927-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristian A Velandia-Huerto
- Biology Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 # 26-85, Edif. Uriel Gutiérrez, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia
| | - Sarah J Berkemer
- Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, Inselstraße 22, Leipzig, D-04103, Germany.,Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18D-04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anne Hoffmann
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18D-04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nancy Retzlaff
- Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, Inselstraße 22, Leipzig, D-04103, Germany.,Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18D-04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Liliana C Romero Marroquín
- Biology Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 # 26-85, Edif. Uriel Gutiérrez, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia
| | - Maribel Hernández-Rosales
- CONACYT - Instituto de Matemáticas, UNAM Juriquilla, Av. Juriquilla #3001, Santiago de Querétaro, MX-76230, QRO, México
| | - Peter F Stadler
- Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, Inselstraße 22, Leipzig, D-04103, Germany. .,Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18D-04107, Leipzig, Germany. .,Fraunhofer Institut for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, Leipzig, D-04103, Germany. .,Department of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, Vienna, A-1090, Austria. .,Center for non-coding RNA in Technology and Health, Grønegårdsvej 3, Frederiksberg C, DK-1870, Denmark. .,Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Rd., Santa Fe, NM87501, USA.
| | - Clara I Bermúdez-Santana
- Biology Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 # 26-85, Edif. Uriel Gutiérrez, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
160
|
Catarino B, Hetherington AJ, Emms DM, Kelly S, Dolan L. The Stepwise Increase in the Number of Transcription Factor Families in the Precambrian Predated the Diversification of Plants On Land. Mol Biol Evol 2016; 33:2815-2819. [PMID: 27499132 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msw155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The colonization of the land by streptophytes and their subsequent radiation is a major event in Earth history. We report a stepwise increase in the number of transcription factor (TF) families and subfamilies in Archaeplastida before the colonization of the land. The subsequent increase in TF number on land was through duplication within existing TF families and subfamilies. Almost all subfamilies of the Homeodomain (HD) and basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) had evolved before the radiation of extant land plant lineages from a common ancestor. We demonstrate that the evolution of these TF families independently followed similar trends in both plants and metazoans; almost all extant HD and bHLH subfamilies were present in the first land plants and in the last common ancestor of bilaterians. These findings reveal that the majority of innovation in plant and metazoan TF families occurred in the Precambrian before the Phanerozoic radiation of land plants and metazoans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Catarino
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - David M Emms
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Kelly
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Liam Dolan
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
161
|
Katz PS. Phylogenetic plasticity in the evolution of molluscan neural circuits. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2016; 41:8-16. [PMID: 27455462 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent research on molluscan nervous systems provides a unique perspective on the evolution of neural circuits. Molluscs evolved large, encephalized nervous systems independently from other phyla. Homologous body-patterning genes were re-specified in molluscs to create a plethora of body plans and nervous system organizations. Octopuses, having the largest brains of any invertebrate, independently evolved a learning circuit similar in organization and function to the mushroom body of insects and the hippocampus of mammals. In gastropods, homologous neurons have been re-specified for different functions. Even species exhibiting similar, possibly homologous behavior have fundamental differences in the connectivity of the neurons underlying that behavior. Thus, molluscan nervous systems provide clear examples of re-purposing of homologous genes and neurons for neural circuits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul S Katz
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, PO Box 5030, Atlanta, GA 30302-5030, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
162
|
Madissoon E, Jouhilahti EM, Vesterlund L, Töhönen V, Krjutškov K, Petropoulous S, Einarsdottir E, Linnarsson S, Lanner F, Månsson R, Hovatta O, Bürglin TR, Katayama S, Kere J. Characterization and target genes of nine human PRD-like homeobox domain genes expressed exclusively in early embryos. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28995. [PMID: 27412763 PMCID: PMC4944136 DOI: 10.1038/srep28995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PAIRED (PRD)-like homeobox genes belong to a class of predicted transcription factor genes. Several of these PRD-like homeobox genes have been predicted in silico from genomic sequence but until recently had no evidence of transcript expression. We found recently that nine PRD-like homeobox genes, ARGFX, CPHX1, CPHX2, DPRX, DUXA, DUXB, NOBOX, TPRX1 and TPRX2, were expressed in human preimplantation embryos. In the current study we characterized these PRD-like homeobox genes in depth and studied their functions as transcription factors. We cloned multiple transcript variants from human embryos and showed that the expression of these genes is specific to embryos and pluripotent stem cells. Overexpression of the genes in human embryonic stem cells confirmed their roles as transcription factors as either activators (CPHX1, CPHX2, ARGFX) or repressors (DPRX, DUXA, TPRX2) with distinct targets that could be explained by the amino acid sequence in homeodomain. Some PRD-like homeodomain transcription factors had high concordance of target genes and showed enrichment for both developmentally important gene sets and a 36 bp DNA recognition motif implicated in Embryo Genome Activation (EGA). Our data implicate a role for these previously uncharacterized PRD-like homeodomain proteins in the regulation of human embryo genome activation and preimplantation embryo development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elo Madissoon
- Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Virpi Töhönen
- Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kaarel Krjutškov
- Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sophie Petropoulous
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Einarsdottir
- Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Molecular Neurology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sten Linnarsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Lanner
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Robert Månsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Outi Hovatta
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Shintaro Katayama
- Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Juha Kere
- Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Molecular Neurology Research Program, University of Helsinki and Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
163
|
Maeso I, Dunwell TL, Wyatt CDR, Marlétaz F, Vető B, Bernal JA, Quah S, Irimia M, Holland PWH. Evolutionary origin and functional divergence of totipotent cell homeobox genes in eutherian mammals. BMC Biol 2016; 14:45. [PMID: 27296695 PMCID: PMC4904359 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-016-0267-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A central goal of evolutionary biology is to link genomic change to phenotypic evolution. The origin of new transcription factors is a special case of genomic evolution since it brings opportunities for novel regulatory interactions and potentially the emergence of new biological properties. RESULTS We demonstrate that a group of four homeobox gene families (Argfx, Leutx, Dprx, Tprx), plus a gene newly described here (Pargfx), arose by tandem gene duplication from the retinal-expressed Crx gene, followed by asymmetric sequence evolution. We show these genes arose as part of repeated gene gain and loss events on a dynamic chromosomal region in the stem lineage of placental mammals, on the forerunner of human chromosome 19. The human orthologues of these genes are expressed specifically in early embryo totipotent cells, peaking from 8-cell to morula, prior to cell fate restrictions; cow orthologues have similar expression. To examine biological roles, we used ectopic gene expression in cultured human cells followed by high-throughput RNA-seq and uncovered extensive transcriptional remodelling driven by three of the genes. Comparison to transcriptional profiles of early human embryos suggest roles in activating and repressing a set of developmentally-important genes that spike at 8-cell to morula, rather than a general role in genome activation. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that a dynamic chromosome region spawned a set of evolutionarily new homeobox genes, the ETCHbox genes, specifically in eutherian mammals. After these genes diverged from the parental Crx gene, we argue they were recruited for roles in the preimplantation embryo including activation of genes at the 8-cell stage and repression after morula. We propose these new homeobox gene roles permitted fine-tuning of cell fate decisions necessary for specification and function of embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues utilised in mammalian development and pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Maeso
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Thomas L Dunwell
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Chris D R Wyatt
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ferdinand Marlétaz
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Borbála Vető
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Juan A Bernal
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Shan Quah
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Peter W H Holland
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
164
|
Klinkebiel D, Zhang W, Akers SN, Odunsi K, Karpf AR. DNA Methylome Analyses Implicate Fallopian Tube Epithelia as the Origin for High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer. Mol Cancer Res 2016; 14:787-94. [PMID: 27259716 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-16-0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) is the most common and lethal form of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Two distinct tissues have been suggested as the tissue of origin: ovarian surface epithelia (OSE) and fallopian tube epithelia (FTE). We hypothesized that the DNA methylome of HGSC should more closely resemble the methylome of its tissue of origin. To this end, we profiled HGSC (n = 10), and patient-matched OSE and FTE (n = 5) primary fresh-frozen tissues, and analyzed the DNA methylome using Illumina 450K arrays (n = 20) and Agilent Sure Select methyl-seq (n = 7). Methylomes were compared using statistical analyses of differentially methylated CpG sites (DMC) and differentially methylated regions (DMR). In addition, methylation was evaluated within a variety of different genomic contexts, including CpG island shores and Homeobox (HOX) genes, due to their roles in tissue specification. Publicly available HGSC methylome data (n = 628) were interrogated to provide additional comparisons with FTE and OSE for validation. These analyses revealed that HGSC and FTE methylomes are significantly and consistently more highly conserved than are HGSC and OSE. Pearson correlations and hierarchal clustering of genes, promoters, CpG islands, CpG island shores, and HOX genes all revealed increased relatedness of HGSC and FTE methylomes. Thus, these findings reveal that the landscape of FTE more closely resembles HGSC, the most common and deadly EOC subtype. IMPLICATIONS DNA methylome analyses support the hypothesis that HGSC arise from the fallopian tube and that due to its tissue-specificity and biochemical stability, interrogation of the methylome may be a valuable approach to examine cell/tissue lineage in cancer. Mol Cancer Res; 14(9); 787-94. ©2016 AACR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Klinkebiel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Wa Zhang
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Stacey N Akers
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Kunle Odunsi
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York. Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York. Center for Immunotherapy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Adam R Karpf
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska. The Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
| |
Collapse
|
165
|
eghbx2, a homeobox gene involved in the maturation of calcified structures in Echinococcus granulosus. GENE REPORTS 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|
166
|
Abstract
Hox proteins are a deeply conserved group of transcription factors originally defined for their critical roles in governing segmental identity along the antero-posterior (AP) axis in
Drosophila. Over the last 30 years, numerous data generated in evolutionarily diverse taxa have clearly shown that changes in the expression patterns of these genes are closely associated with the regionalization of the AP axis, suggesting that
Hox genes have played a critical role in the evolution of novel body plans within Bilateria. Despite this deep functional conservation and the importance of these genes in AP patterning, key questions remain regarding many aspects of
Hox biology. In this commentary, we highlight recent reports that have provided novel insight into the origins of the mammalian
Hox cluster, the role of
Hox genes in the generation of a limbless body plan, and a novel putative mechanism in which
Hox genes may encode specificity along the AP axis. Although the data discussed here offer a fresh perspective, it is clear that there is still much to learn about
Hox biology and the roles it has played in the evolution of the Bilaterian body plan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Hrycaj
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Deneen M Wellik
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-2200, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-2200, USA
| |
Collapse
|
167
|
Tai WT, Chen YL, Chu PY, Chen LJ, Hung MH, Shiau CW, Huang JW, Tsai MH, Chen KF. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B dephosphorylates PITX1 and regulates p120RasGAP in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2016; 63:1528-43. [PMID: 26840794 DOI: 10.1002/hep.28478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The effective therapeutic targets for hepatocellular carcinoma remain limited. Pituitary homeobox 1 (PITX1) functions as a tumor suppressor in hepatocarcinogenesis by regulating the expression level of Ras guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein. Here, we report that protein tyrosine phosphatases 1B (PTP1B) directly dephosphorylated PITX1 at Y160, Y175, and Y179 to further weaken the protein stability of PITX. The PTP1B-dependent decline of PITX1 reduced its transcriptional activity for p120RasGAP (RASA1), a Ras guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein. Both silencing of PTP1B and PTP1B inhibitor up-regulated the PITX1-p120RasGAP axis through hyperphosphorylation of PITX1. Sorafenib, the first and only targeted drug approved for hepatocellular carcinoma, directly decreased PTP1B activity and promoted the expression of PITX1 and p120RasGAP by PITX1 hyperphosphorylation. Molecular docking also supported the potential interaction between PTP1B and sorafenib. PTP1B overexpression impaired the sensitivity of sorafenib in vitro and in vivo, implying that PTP1B has a significant effect on sorafenib-induced apoptosis. In sorafenib-treated tumor samples, we further found inhibition of PTP1B activity and up-regulation of the PITX1-p120RasGAP axis, suggesting that PTP1B inhibitor may be effective for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. By immunohistochemical staining of hepatic tumor tissue from 155 patients, the expression of PTP1B was significantly in tumor parts higher than nontumor parts (P = 0.02). Furthermore, high expression of PTP1B was significantly associated with poor tumor differentiation (P = 0.031). CONCLUSION PTP1B dephosphorylates PITX1 to weaken its protein stability and the transcriptional activity for p120RasGAP gene expression and acts as a determinant of the sorafenib-mediated drug effect; targeting the PITX1-p120RasGAP axis with a PTP1B inhibitor may provide a new therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Tien Tai
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,National Center of Excellence for Clinical Trial and Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Li Chen
- Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yi Chu
- Department of Pathology, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Li-Ju Chen
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,National Center of Excellence for Clinical Trial and Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Man-Hsin Hung
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Program in Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Wai Shiau
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Wen Huang
- Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hsien Tsai
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,National Center of Excellence for Clinical Trial and Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuen-Feng Chen
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,National Center of Excellence for Clinical Trial and Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
168
|
Ferrier DEK. Evolution of Homeobox Gene Clusters in Animals: The Giga-Cluster and Primary vs. Secondary Clustering. Front Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
|
169
|
Merabet S, Mann RS. To Be Specific or Not: The Critical Relationship Between Hox And TALE Proteins. Trends Genet 2016; 32:334-347. [PMID: 27066866 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Hox proteins are key regulatory transcription factors that act in different tissues of the embryo to provide specific spatial and temporal coordinates to each cell. These patterning functions often depend on the presence of the TALE-homeodomain class cofactors, which form cooperative DNA-binding complexes with all Hox proteins. How this family of cofactors contributes to the highly diverse and specific functions of Hox proteins in vivo remains an important unsolved question. We review here the most recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Hox-TALE function. In particular, we discuss the role of DNA shape, DNA-binding affinity, and protein-protein interaction flexibility in dictating Hox-TALE specificity. We propose several models to explain how these mechanisms are integrated with each other in the context of the many distinct functions that Hox and TALE factors carry out in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samir Merabet
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France.
| | | |
Collapse
|
170
|
Currie KW, Brown DDR, Zhu S, Xu C, Voisin V, Bader GD, Pearson BJ. HOX gene complement and expression in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. EvoDevo 2016; 7:7. [PMID: 27034770 PMCID: PMC4815179 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-016-0044-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Freshwater planarians are well known for their regenerative abilities. Less well known is how planarians maintain spatial patterning in long-lived adult animals or how they re-pattern tissues during regeneration. HOX genes are good candidates to regulate planarian spatial patterning, yet the full complement or genomic clustering of planarian HOX genes has not yet been described, primarily because only a few have been detectable by in situ hybridization, and none have given morphological phenotypes when knocked down by RNAi. Results Because the planarian Schmidteamediterranea (S. mediterranea) is unsegmented, appendage less, and morphologically simple, it has been proposed that it may have a simplified HOX gene complement. Here, we argue against this hypothesis and show that S. mediterranea has a total of 13 HOX genes, which represent homologs to all major axial categories, and can be detected by whole-mount in situ hybridization using a highly sensitive method. In addition, we show that planarian HOX genes do not cluster in the genome, yet 5/13 have retained aspects of axially restricted expression. Finally, we confirm HOX gene axial expression by RNA deep-sequencing 6 anterior–posterior “zones” of the animal, which we provide as a dataset to the community to discover other axially restricted transcripts. Conclusions Freshwater planarians have an unappreciated HOX gene complexity, with all major axial categories represented. However, we conclude based on adult expression patterns that planarians have a derived body plan and their asexual lifestyle may have allowed for large changes in HOX expression from the last common ancestor between arthropods, flatworms, and vertebrates. Using our in situ method and axial zone RNAseq data, it should be possible to further understand the pathways that pattern the anterior–posterior axis of adult planarians. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13227-016-0044-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ko W Currie
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada ; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada
| | - David D R Brown
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada ; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada
| | - Shujun Zhu
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada ; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada
| | - ChangJiang Xu
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada
| | - Veronique Voisin
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada
| | - Gary D Bader
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada ; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada
| | - Bret J Pearson
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada ; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada ; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G10A4 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
171
|
Li W, Itou J, Tanaka S, Nishimura T, Sato F, Toi M. A homeobox protein, NKX6.1, up-regulates interleukin-6 expression for cell growth in basal-like breast cancer cells. Exp Cell Res 2016; 343:177-189. [PMID: 27032575 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2016.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Revised: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Among breast cancer subtypes, basal-like breast cancer is particularly aggressive, and research on the molecules involved in its pathology might contribute to therapy. In this study, we found that expression of NKX6.1, a homeobox transcription factor, is higher in basal-like breast cancer than in other subtypes. In loss-of-function experiments on basal-like breast cancer cell lines, NKX6.1-depleted cells exhibited reduced cell growth. Because cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is expressed in basal-like breast cancer, and increases cell growth, we analyzed expression levels of IL6, an IL-6 gene, and observed reduced IL6 expression in NKX6.1-depleted cells. In a reporter assay, IL6 promoter activity was reduced by loss of NKX6.1 function. A pull-down assay showed that NKX6.1 binds to the proximal region in IL6 promoter. These results indicate that NKX6.1 directly up-regulates IL6 expression. To investigate further, we established cells with forced expression of IL-6. We observed that exogenous IL-6 expression restored the reduced cell growth of NKX6.1-depleted cells. Furthermore, orthotopic xenografts showed that NKX6.1-depleted cells lost the capacity for tumor formation. We therefore conclude that NKX6.1 is a factor for IL-6-regulated growth and tumor formation in basal-like breast cancer. Our findings facilitate profound understanding of basal-like breast cancer, and the development of suitable therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhao Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Junji Itou
- Department of Breast Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Sunao Tanaka
- Department of Breast Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Tomomi Nishimura
- Department of Breast Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Sato
- Department of Breast Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Masakazu Toi
- Department of Breast Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
172
|
Barucca M, Canapa A, Biscotti MA. An Overview of Hox Genes in Lophotrochozoa: Evolution and Functionality. J Dev Biol 2016; 4:jdb4010012. [PMID: 29615580 PMCID: PMC5831810 DOI: 10.3390/jdb4010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Hox genes are regulators of animal embryonic development. Changes in the number and sequence of Hox genes as well as in their expression patterns have been related to the evolution of the body plan. Lophotrochozoa is a clade of Protostomia characterized by several phyla which show a wide morphological diversity. Despite that the works summarized in this review emphasize the fragmentary nature of the data available regarding the presence and expression of Hox genes, they also offer interesting insight into the evolution of the Hox cluster and the role played by Hox genes in several phyla. However, the number of genes involved in the cluster of the lophotrochozoan ancestor is still a question of debate. The data presented here suggest that at least nine genes were present while two other genes, Lox4 and Post-2, may either have been present in the ancestor or may have arisen as a result of duplication in the Brachiopoda-Mollusca-Annelida lineage. Spatial and temporal collinearity is a feature of Hox gene expression which was probably present in the ancestor of deuterostomes and protostomes. However, in Lophotrochozoa, it has been detected in only a few species belonging to Annelida and Mollusca.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Barucca
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Adriana Canapa
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Maria Assunta Biscotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
173
|
Kenny NJ, Chan KW, Nong W, Qu Z, Maeso I, Yip HY, Chan TF, Kwan HS, Holland PWH, Chu KH, Hui JHL. Ancestral whole-genome duplication in the marine chelicerate horseshoe crabs. Heredity (Edinb) 2016; 116:190-9. [PMID: 26419336 PMCID: PMC4806888 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2015.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2015] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Whole-genome duplication (WGD) results in new genomic resources that can be exploited by evolution for rewiring genetic regulatory networks in organisms. In metazoans, WGD occurred before the last common ancestor of vertebrates, and has been postulated as a major evolutionary force that contributed to their speciation and diversification of morphological structures. Here, we have sequenced genomes from three of the four extant species of horseshoe crabs-Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, Limulus polyphemus and Tachypleus tridentatus. Phylogenetic and sequence analyses of their Hox and other homeobox genes, which encode crucial transcription factors and have been used as indicators of WGD in animals, strongly suggests that WGD happened before the last common ancestor of these marine chelicerates >135 million years ago. Signatures of subfunctionalisation of paralogues of Hox genes are revealed in the appendages of two species of horseshoe crabs. Further, residual homeobox pseudogenes are observed in the three lineages. The existence of WGD in the horseshoe crabs, noted for relative morphological stasis over geological time, suggests that genomic diversity need not always be reflected phenotypically, in contrast to the suggested situation in vertebrates. This study provides evidence of ancient WGD in the ecdysozoan lineage, and reveals new opportunities for studying genomic and regulatory evolution after WGD in the Metazoa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N J Kenny
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory,
School of Life Sciences, Center of Soybean Research, State Key Laboratory of
Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin,
Hong Kong
| | - K W Chan
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory,
School of Life Sciences, Center of Soybean Research, State Key Laboratory of
Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin,
Hong Kong
| | - W Nong
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory,
School of Life Sciences, Center of Soybean Research, State Key Laboratory of
Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin,
Hong Kong
| | - Z Qu
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory,
School of Life Sciences, Center of Soybean Research, State Key Laboratory of
Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin,
Hong Kong
| | - I Maeso
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del
Desarrollo (CABD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla,
Spain
| | - H Y Yip
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory,
School of Life Sciences, Center of Soybean Research, State Key Laboratory of
Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin,
Hong Kong
| | - T F Chan
- School of Life Sciences, Center of
Soybean Research, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - H S Kwan
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - P W H Holland
- Department of Zoology, University of
Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - K H Chu
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory,
School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong,
Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - J H L Hui
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory,
School of Life Sciences, Center of Soybean Research, State Key Laboratory of
Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin,
Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
174
|
Vidal NM, Grazziotin AL, Iyer LM, Aravind L, Venancio TM. Transcription factors, chromatin proteins and the diversification of Hemiptera. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 69:1-13. [PMID: 26226651 PMCID: PMC4732926 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Revised: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Availability of complete genomes provides a means to explore the evolution of enormous developmental, morphological, and behavioral diversity among insects. Hemipterans in particular show great diversity of both morphology and life history within a single order. To better understand the role of transcription regulators in the diversification of hemipterans, using sequence profile searches and hidden Markov models we computationally analyzed transcription factors (TFs) and chromatin proteins (CPs) in the recently available Rhodnius prolixus genome along with 13 other insect and 4 non-insect arthropod genomes. We generated a comprehensive collection of TFs and CPs across arthropods including 303 distinct types of domains in TFs and 139 in CPs. This, along with the availability of two hemipteran genomes, R. prolixus and Acyrthosiphon pisum, helped us identify possible determinants for their dramatic morphological and behavioral divergence. We identified five domain families (i.e. Pipsqueak, SAZ/MADF, THAP, FLYWCH and BED finger) as having undergone differential patterns of lineage-specific expansion in hemipterans or within hemipterans relative to other insects. These expansions appear to be at least in part driven by transposons, with the DNA-binding domains of transposases having provided the raw material for emergence of new TFs. Our analysis suggests that while R. prolixus probably retains a state closer to the ancestral hemipteran, A. pisum represents a highly derived state, with the emergence of asexual reproduction potentially favoring genome duplication and transposon expansion. Both hemipterans are predicted to possess active DNA methylation systems. However, in the course of their divergence, aphids seem to have expanded the ancestral hemipteran DNA methylation along with a distinctive linkage to the histone methylation system, as suggested by expansion of SET domain methylases, including those fused to methylated CpG recognition domains. Thus, differential use of DNA methylation and histone methylation might have played a role in emergence of polyphenism and cyclic parthenogenesis from the ancestral hemipteran.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Newton M Vidal
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Ana Laura Grazziotin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Lakshminarayan M Iyer
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
| | - L Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
| | - Thiago M Venancio
- Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
175
|
De Kumar B, Krumlauf R. HOXs and lincRNAs: Two sides of the same coin. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2016; 2:e1501402. [PMID: 27034976 PMCID: PMC4805430 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1501402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 11/28/2015] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The clustered Hox genes play fundamental roles in regulation of axial patterning and elaboration of the basic body plan in animal development. There are common features in the organization and regulatory landscape of Hox clusters associated with their highly conserved functional roles. The presence of transcribed noncoding sequences embedded within the vertebrate Hox clusters is providing insight into a new layer of regulatory information associated with Hox genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bony De Kumar
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Robb Krumlauf
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| |
Collapse
|
176
|
Wollesen T, Rodríguez Monje SV, McDougall C, Degnan BM, Wanninger A. The ParaHox gene Gsx patterns the apical organ and central nervous system but not the foregut in scaphopod and cephalopod mollusks. EvoDevo 2015; 6:41. [PMID: 26715985 PMCID: PMC4693441 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-015-0037-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background It has been hypothesized that the ParaHox gene Gsx patterned the foregut of the last common bilaterian ancestor. This notion was corroborated by Gsx expression in three out of four lophotrochozoan species, several ecdysozoans, and some deuterostomes. Remarkably, Gsx is also expressed in the bilaterian anterior-most central nervous system (CNS) and the gastropod and annelid apical organ. To infer whether these findings are consistent with other mollusks or even lophotrochozoans, we investigated Gsx expression in developmental stages of representatives of two other molluscan classes, the scaphopod Antalis entalis and the cephalopod Idiosepius notoides. Results Gsx is not expressed in the developing digestive tract of Antalis entalis and Idiosepius notoides. Instead, it is expressed in cells of the apical organ in the scaphopod trochophore and in two cells adjacent to this organ. Late-stage trochophores express Aen-Gsx in cells of the developing cerebral and pedal ganglia and in cells close to the pavilion, mantle, and foot. In postmetamorphic specimens, Aen-Gsx is expressed in the cerebral and pedal ganglia, the foot, and the nascent captacula. In early squid embryos, Ino-Gsx is expressed in the cerebral, palliovisceral, and optic ganglia. In late-stage embryos, Ino-Gsx is additionally expressed close to the eyes and in the supraesophageal and posterior subesophageal masses and optic lobes. Developmental stages close to hatching express Ino-Gsx only close to the eyes. Conclusions Our results suggest that Gsx expression in the foregut might not be a plesiomorphic trait of the Lophotrochozoa as insinuated previously. Since neither ecdysozoans nor deuterostomes express Gsx in their gut, a role in gut formation in the last common bilaterian ancestor appears unlikely. Gsx is consistently expressed in the bilaterian anterior-most CNS and the apical organ of lophotrochozoan larvae, suggesting a recruitment of Gsx into the formation of this organ in the Lophotrochozoa. The cephalopod posterior subesophageal mass and optic ganglia and the scaphopod pedal ganglia also express Gsx. In summary, Gsx expression only appears to be conserved in the anterior-most brain region during evolution. Accordingly, Gsx appears to have been recruited into the formation of other expression domains, e.g., the apical organ or the foregut, in some lophotrochozoans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tim Wollesen
- Department of Integrative Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Carmel McDougall
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Bernard M Degnan
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Andreas Wanninger
- Department of Integrative Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
177
|
Ghosh AK, Wangsanut T, Fonzi WA, Rolfes RJ. The GRF10 homeobox gene regulates filamentous growth in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. FEMS Yeast Res 2015; 15:fov093. [PMID: 26472755 PMCID: PMC4705307 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/fov093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen and can cause life-threatening infections. Filamentous growth is critical in the pathogenicity of C. albicans, as the transition from yeast to hyphal forms is linked to virulence and is also a pivotal process in fungal biofilm development. Homeodomain-containing transcription factors have been linked to developmental processes in fungi and other eukaryotes. We report here on GRF10, a homeobox transcription factor-encoding gene that plays a role in C. albicans filamentation. Deletion of the GRF10 gene, in both C. albicans SN152 and BWP17 strain backgrounds, results in mutants with strongly decreased hyphal growth. The mutants are defective in chlamydospore and biofilm formation, as well as showing dramatically attenuated virulence in a mouse infection model. Expression of the GRF10 gene is highly induced during stationary phase and filamentation. In summary, our study emphasizes a new role for the homeodomain-containing transcription factor in morphogenesis and pathogenicity of C. albicans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anup K Ghosh
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | | | - William A Fonzi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Ronda J Rolfes
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| |
Collapse
|
178
|
Pick L. Hox genes, evo-devo, and the case of the ftz gene. Chromosoma 2015; 125:535-51. [PMID: 26596987 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-015-0553-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Revised: 10/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of the broad conservation of embryonic regulatory genes across animal phyla, launched by the cloning of homeotic genes in the 1980s, was a founding event in the field of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo). While it had long been known that fundamental cellular processes, commonly referred to as housekeeping functions, are shared by animals and plants across the planet-processes such as the storage of information in genomic DNA, transcription, translation and the machinery for these processes, universal codon usage, and metabolic enzymes-Hox genes were different: mutations in these genes caused "bizarre" homeotic transformations of insect body parts that were certainly interesting but were expected to be idiosyncratic. The isolation of the genes responsible for these bizarre phenotypes turned out to be highly conserved Hox genes that play roles in embryonic patterning throughout Metazoa. How Hox genes have changed to promote the development of diverse body plans remains a central issue of the field of evo-devo today. For this Memorial article series, I review events around the discovery of the broad evolutionary conservation of Hox genes and the impact of this discovery on the field of developmental biology. I highlight studies carried out in Walter Gehring's lab and by former lab members that have continued to push the field forward, raising new questions and forging new approaches to understand the evolution of developmental mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Pick
- Department of Entomology and Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
179
|
Heckscher ES, Zarin AA, Faumont S, Clark MQ, Manning L, Fushiki A, Schneider-Mizell CM, Fetter RD, Truman JW, Zwart MF, Landgraf M, Cardona A, Lockery SR, Doe CQ. Even-Skipped(+) Interneurons Are Core Components of a Sensorimotor Circuit that Maintains Left-Right Symmetric Muscle Contraction Amplitude. Neuron 2015; 88:314-29. [PMID: 26439528 PMCID: PMC4619170 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Bilaterally symmetric motor patterns--those in which left-right pairs of muscles contract synchronously and with equal amplitude (such as breathing, smiling, whisking, and locomotion)--are widespread throughout the animal kingdom. Yet, surprisingly little is known about the underlying neural circuits. We performed a thermogenetic screen to identify neurons required for bilaterally symmetric locomotion in Drosophila larvae and identified the evolutionarily conserved Even-skipped(+) interneurons (Eve/Evx). Activation or ablation of Eve(+) interneurons disrupted bilaterally symmetric muscle contraction amplitude, without affecting the timing of motor output. Eve(+) interneurons are not rhythmically active and thus function independently of the locomotor CPG. GCaMP6 calcium imaging of Eve(+) interneurons in freely moving larvae showed left-right asymmetric activation that correlated with larval behavior. TEM reconstruction of Eve(+) interneuron inputs and outputs showed that the Eve(+) interneurons are at the core of a sensorimotor circuit capable of detecting and modifying body wall muscle contraction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellie S Heckscher
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
| | - Aref Arzan Zarin
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Serge Faumont
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Matthew Q Clark
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Laurina Manning
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Akira Fushiki
- Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | | | | | | | - Maarten F Zwart
- Janelia Research Campus, HHMI, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Matthias Landgraf
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | | | - Shawn R Lockery
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Chris Q Doe
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
180
|
Bürglin TR, Affolter M. Homeodomain proteins: an update. Chromosoma 2015; 125:497-521. [PMID: 26464018 PMCID: PMC4901127 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-015-0543-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 256] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2015] [Revised: 09/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Here, we provide an update of our review on homeobox genes that we wrote together with Walter Gehring in 1994. Since then, comprehensive surveys of homeobox genes have become possible due to genome sequencing projects. Using the 103 Drosophila homeobox genes as example, we present an updated classification. In animals, there are 16 major classes, ANTP, PRD, PRD-LIKE, POU, HNF, CUT (with four subclasses: ONECUT, CUX, SATB, and CMP), LIM, ZF, CERS, PROS, SIX/SO, plus the TALE superclass with the classes IRO, MKX, TGIF, PBC, and MEIS. In plants, there are 11 major classes, i.e., HD-ZIP (with four subclasses: I to IV), WOX, NDX, PHD, PLINC, LD, DDT, SAWADEE, PINTOX, and the two TALE classes KNOX and BEL. Most of these classes encode additional domains apart from the homeodomain. Numerous insights have been obtained in the last two decades into how homeodomain proteins bind to DNA and increase their specificity by interacting with other proteins to regulate cell- and tissue-specific gene expression. Not only protein-DNA base pair contacts are important for proper target selection; recent experiments also reveal that the shape of the DNA plays a role in specificity. Using selected examples, we highlight different mechanisms of homeodomain protein-DNA interaction. The PRD class of homeobox genes was of special interest to Walter Gehring in the last two decades. The PRD class comprises six families in Bilateria, and tinkers with four different motifs, i.e., the PAIRED domain, the Groucho-interacting motif EH1 (aka Octapeptide or TN), the homeodomain, and the OAR motif. Homologs of the co-repressor protein Groucho are also present in plants (TOPLESS), where they have been shown to interact with small amphipathic motives (EAR), and in yeast (TUP1), where we find an EH1-like motif in MATα2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R. Bürglin
- />Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- />Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 28, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Affolter
- />Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
181
|
Quah S, Holland PWH. The Hox cluster microRNA miR-615: a case study of intronic microRNA evolution. EvoDevo 2015; 6:31. [PMID: 26451238 PMCID: PMC4597612 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-015-0027-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Introns represent a potentially rich source of existing transcription for the evolution of novel microRNAs (miRNAs). Within the Hox gene clusters, a miRNA gene, miR-615, is located within the intron of the Hoxc5 gene. This miRNA has a restricted phylogenetic distribution, providing an opportunity to examine the origin and evolution of a new miRNA within the intron of a developmentally-important homeobox gene. RESULTS Alignment and structural analyses show that the sequence is highly conserved across eutherian mammals and absent in non-mammalian tetrapods. Marsupials possess a similar sequence which we predict will not be efficiently processed as a miRNA. Our analyses suggest that transcription of HOXC5 in humans is accompanied by expression of miR-615 in all cases, but that the miRNA can also be transcribed independently of its host gene through the use of an intragenic promoter. We present scenarios for the evolution of miR-615 through intronic exaptation, and speculate on the acquisition of independent transcriptional regulation. Target prediction and transcriptomic analyses suggest that the dominant product of miR-615 is involved in the regulation of growth and a range of developmental processes. CONCLUSIONS The miR-615 gene evolved within the intron of Hoxc5 in the ancestor of placental mammals. Using miR-615 as a case study, we propose a model by which a functional miRNA can emerge within an intron gradually, by selection on secondary structure followed by evolution of an independent miRNA promoter. The location within a Hox gene intron is of particular interest as the miRNA is specific to placental mammals, is co-expressed with its host gene and may share complementary functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shan Quah
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS UK
| | - Peter W. H. Holland
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS UK
| |
Collapse
|
182
|
Gou Y, Zhang T, Xu J. Transcription Factors in Craniofacial Development: From Receptor Signaling to Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation. Curr Top Dev Biol 2015; 115:377-410. [PMID: 26589933 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2015.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Craniofacial morphogenesis is driven by spatial-temporal terrains of gene expression, which give rise to stereotypical pattern formation. Transcription factors are key cellular components that control these gene expressions. They are information hubs that integrate inputs from extracellular factors and environmental cues, direct epigenetic modifications, and define transcriptional status. These activities allow transcription factors to confer specificity and potency to transcription regulation during development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongchao Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Orthodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Tingwei Zhang
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA; State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Prosthodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
183
|
Matassi G, Imai JH, Di Gregorio A. Molecular phylogeny of four homeobox genes from the purple sea star Pisaster ochraceus. Dev Genes Evol 2015; 225:359-65. [PMID: 26432455 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-015-0516-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Homeobox genes cloned from the purple sea star Pisaster ochraceus (Phylum Echinodermata/Class Asteroidea) were used along with related sequences available from members of other representative animal phyla to generate molecular phylogenies for Distal-less/Dlx, Hox5, Hox7, and Hox9/10 homeobox genes. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred based on the predicted 60 amino acid homeodomain, using amino acid (AA) and nucleotide (NT) models as well as the recently developed codon substitution models of sequence evolution. The resulting phylogenetic trees were mostly congruent with the consensus species-tree, grouping these newly identified genes with those isolated from other Asteroidea. This analysis also allowed a preliminary comparison of the performance of codon models with that of NT and AA evolutionary models in the inference of homeobox phylogeny. We found that, overall, the NT models displayed low reliability in recovering major clades at the Superphylum/Phylum level, and that codon models were slightly more dependable than AA models. Remarkably, in the majority of cases, codon substitution models seemed to outperform both AA and NT models at both the Class level and homeobox paralogy-group level of classification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Matassi
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 208, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Janice Hitomi Imai
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Anna Di Gregorio
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA. .,Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 E 24th Street, New York, NY, 10010, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
184
|
Wilming LG, Boychenko V, Harrow JL. Comprehensive comparative homeobox gene annotation in human and mouse. DATABASE-THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DATABASES AND CURATION 2015; 2015:bav091. [PMID: 26412852 PMCID: PMC4584094 DOI: 10.1093/database/bav091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Homeobox genes are a group of genes coding for transcription factors with a DNA-binding helix-turn-helix structure called a homeodomain and which play a crucial role in pattern formation during embryogenesis. Many homeobox genes are located in clusters and some of these, most notably the HOX genes, are known to have antisense or opposite strand long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes that play a regulatory role. Because automated annotation of both gene clusters and non-coding genes is fraught with difficulty (over-prediction, under-prediction, inaccurate transcript structures), we set out to manually annotate all homeobox genes in the mouse and human genomes. This includes all supported splice variants, pseudogenes and both antisense and flanking lncRNAs. One of the areas where manual annotation has a significant advantage is the annotation of duplicated gene clusters. After comprehensive annotation of all homeobox genes and their antisense genes in human and in mouse, we found some discrepancies with the current gene set in RefSeq regarding exact gene structures and coding versus pseudogene locus biotype. We also identified previously un-annotated pseudogenes in the DUX, Rhox and Obox gene clusters, which helped us re-evaluate and update the gene nomenclature in these regions. We found that human homeobox genes are enriched in antisense lncRNA loci, some of which are known to play a role in gene or gene cluster regulation, compared to their mouse orthologues. Of the annotated set of 241 human protein-coding homeobox genes, 98 have an antisense locus (41%) while of the 277 orthologous mouse genes, only 62 protein coding gene have an antisense locus (22%), based on publicly available transcriptional evidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laurens G Wilming
- HAVANA Group, Informatics Department, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Veronika Boychenko
- HAVANA Group, Informatics Department, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jennifer L Harrow
- HAVANA Group, Informatics Department, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| |
Collapse
|
185
|
Abstract
The non-bilaterian animals comprise organisms in the phyla Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora and Placozoa. These early-diverging phyla are pivotal to understanding the evolution of bilaterian animals. After the exponential increase in research in evolutionary development (evo-devo) in the last two decades, these organisms are again in the spotlight of evolutionary biology. In this work, I briefly review some aspects of the developmental biology of nonbilaterians that contribute to understanding the evolution of development and of the metazoans. The evolution of the developmental genetic toolkit, embryonic polarization, the origin of gastrulation and mesodermal cells, and the origin of neural cells are discussed. The possibility that germline and stem cell lineages have the same origin is also examined. Although a considerable number of non-bilaterian species are already being investigated, the use of species belonging to different branches of non-bilaterian lineages and functional experimentation with gene manipulation in the majority of the non-bilaterian lineages will be necessary for further progress in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Lanna
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
186
|
Merabet S, Galliot B. The TALE face of Hox proteins in animal evolution. Front Genet 2015; 6:267. [PMID: 26347770 PMCID: PMC4539518 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hox genes are major regulators of embryonic development. One of their most conserved functions is to coordinate the formation of specific body structures along the anterior-posterior (AP) axis in Bilateria. This architectural role was at the basis of several morphological innovations across bilaterian evolution. In this review, we traced the origin of the Hox patterning system by considering the partnership with PBC and Meis proteins. PBC and Meis belong to the TALE-class of homeodomain-containing transcription factors and act as generic cofactors of Hox proteins for AP axis patterning in Bilateria. Recent data indicate that Hox proteins acquired the ability to interact with their TALE partners in the last common ancestor of Bilateria and Cnidaria. These interactions relied initially on a short peptide motif called hexapeptide (HX), which is present in Hox and non-Hox protein families. Remarkably, Hox proteins can also recruit the TALE cofactors by using specific PBC Interaction Motifs (SPIMs). We describe how a functional Hox/TALE patterning system emerged in eumetazoans through the acquisition of SPIMs. We anticipate that interaction flexibility could be found in other patterning systems, being at the heart of the astonishing morphological diversity observed in the animal kingdom.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samir Merabet
- Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon Lyon, France ; Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon Lyon, France
| | - Brigitte Galliot
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Science, Institute of Genetics and Genomics in Geneva, University of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
187
|
Fortunato SAV, Adamski M, Adamska M. Comparative analyses of developmental transcription factor repertoires in sponges reveal unexpected complexity of the earliest animals. Mar Genomics 2015; 24 Pt 2:121-9. [PMID: 26253310 DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2015] [Revised: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Developmental transcription factors (DTFs) control development of animals by affecting expression of target genes, some of which are transcription factors themselves. In bilaterians and cnidarians, conserved DTFs are involved in homologous processes such as gastrulation or specification of neurons. The genome of Amphimedon queenslandica, the first sponge to be sequenced, revealed that only a fraction of these conserved DTF families are present in demosponges. This finding was in line with the view that morphological complexity in the animal lineage correlates with developmental toolkit complexity. However, as the phylum Porifera is very diverse, Amphimedon's genome may not be representative of all sponges. The recently sequenced genomes of calcareous sponges Sycon ciliatum and Leucosolenia complicata allowed investigations of DTFs in a sponge lineage evolutionarily distant from demosponges. Surprisingly, the phylogenetic analyses of identified DTFs revealed striking differences between the calcareous sponges and Amphimedon. As these differences appear to be a result of independent gene loss events in the two sponge lineages, the last common ancestor of sponges had to possess a much more diverse repertoire of DTFs than extant sponges. Developmental expression of sponge homologs of genes involved in specification of the Bilaterian endomesoderm and the neurosensory cells suggests that roles of many DTFs date back to the last common ancestor of all animals. Strikingly, even DTFs displaying apparent pan-metazoan conservation of sequence and function are not immune to being lost from individual species genomes. The quest for a comprehensive picture of the developmental toolkit in the last common metazoan ancestor is thus greatly benefitting from the increasing accessibility of sequencing, allowing comparisons of multiple genomes within each phylum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia A V Fortunato
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway; Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Marcin Adamski
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Maja Adamska
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
188
|
Hickey CM, Hochstrasser M. STUbL-mediated degradation of the transcription factor MATα2 requires degradation elements that coincide with corepressor binding sites. Mol Biol Cell 2015; 26:3401-12. [PMID: 26246605 PMCID: PMC4591686 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e15-06-0436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The yeast cell type regulator MATα (α2) is degraded through two ubiquitylation pathways, one of which has been minimally characterized. We identify two regions in α2 important for this pathway and show that these regions overlap specific binding sites for α2 corepressors, suggesting that α2 degradation is coordinated with its functional status. The yeast transcription factor MATα2 (α2) is a short-lived protein known to be ubiquitylated by two distinct pathways, one involving the ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) Ubc6 and Ubc7 and the ubiquitin ligase (E3) Doa10 and the other operating with the E2 Ubc4 and the heterodimeric E3 Slx5/Slx8. Although Slx5/Slx8 is a small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL), it does not require SUMO to target α2 but instead directly recognizes α2. Little is known about the α2 determinants required for its Ubc4- and STUbL-mediated degradation or how these determinants substitute for SUMO in recognition by the STUbL pathway. We describe two distinct degradation elements within α2, both of which are necessary for α2 recognition specifically by the Ubc4 pathway. Slx5/Slx8 can directly ubiquitylate a C-terminal fragment of α2, and mutating one of the degradation elements impairs this ubiquitylation. Surprisingly, both degradation elements identified here overlap specific interaction sites for α2 corepressors: the Mcm1 interaction site in the central α2 linker and the Ssn6 (Cyc8) binding site in the α2 homeodomain. We propose that competitive binding to α2 by the ubiquitylation machinery and α2 cofactors is balanced so that α2 can function in transcription repression yet be short lived enough to allow cell-type switching.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Hickey
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Mark Hochstrasser
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520
| |
Collapse
|
189
|
Origins and evolvability of the PAX family. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2015; 44:64-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2015] [Revised: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
|
190
|
Bier E, De Robertis EM. BMP gradients: A paradigm for morphogen-mediated developmental patterning. Science 2015; 348:aaa5838. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa5838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
|
191
|
Javeed N, Tardi NJ, Maher M, Singari S, Edwards KA. Controlled expression of Drosophila homeobox loci using the Hostile takeover system. Dev Dyn 2015; 244:808-25. [PMID: 25820349 PMCID: PMC4449281 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Revised: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hostile takeover (Hto) is a Drosophila protein trapping system that allows the investigator to both induce a gene and tag its product. The Hto transposon carries a GAL4-regulated promoter expressing an exon encoding a FLAG-mCherry tag. Upon expression, the Hto exon can splice to a downstream genomic exon, generating a fusion transcript and tagged protein. RESULTS Using rough-eye phenotypic screens, Hto inserts were recovered at eight homeobox or Pax loci: cut, Drgx/CG34340, Pox neuro, araucan, shaven/D-Pax2, Zn finger homeodomain 2, Sex combs reduced (Scr), and the abdominal-A region. The collection yields diverse misexpression phenotypes. Ectopic Drgx was found to alter the cytoskeleton and cell adhesion in ovary follicle cells. Hto expression of cut, araucan, or shaven gives phenotypes similar to those of the corresponding UAS-cDNA constructs. The cut and Pox neuro phenotypes are suppressed by the corresponding RNAi constructs. The Scr and abdominal-A inserts do not make fusion proteins, but may act by chromatin- or RNA-based mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS Hto can effectively express tagged homeodomain proteins from their endogenous loci; the Minos vector allows inserts to be obtained even in transposon cold-spots. Hto screens may recover homeobox genes at high rates because they are particularly sensitive to misexpression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naureen Javeed
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Tardi
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Maggie Maher
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Swetha Singari
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Kevin A. Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| |
Collapse
|
192
|
Bajaj D, Saxena MS, Kujur A, Das S, Badoni S, Tripathi S, Upadhyaya HD, Gowda CLL, Sharma S, Singh S, Tyagi AK, Parida SK. Genome-wide conserved non-coding microsatellite (CNMS) marker-based integrative genetical genomics for quantitative dissection of seed weight in chickpea. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2015; 66:1271-90. [PMID: 25504138 PMCID: PMC4339591 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eru478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Phylogenetic footprinting identified 666 genome-wide paralogous and orthologous CNMS (conserved non-coding microsatellite) markers from 5'-untranslated and regulatory regions (URRs) of 603 protein-coding chickpea genes. The (CT)n and (GA)n CNMS carrying CTRMCAMV35S and GAGA8BKN3 regulatory elements, respectively, are abundant in the chickpea genome. The mapped genic CNMS markers with robust amplification efficiencies (94.7%) detected higher intraspecific polymorphic potential (37.6%) among genotypes, implying their immense utility in chickpea breeding and genetic analyses. Seventeen differentially expressed CNMS marker-associated genes showing strong preferential and seed tissue/developmental stage-specific expression in contrasting genotypes were selected to narrow down the gene targets underlying seed weight quantitative trait loci (QTLs)/eQTLs (expression QTLs) through integrative genetical genomics. The integration of transcript profiling with seed weight QTL/eQTL mapping, molecular haplotyping, and association analyses identified potential molecular tags (GAGA8BKN3 and RAV1AAT regulatory elements and alleles/haplotypes) in the LOB-domain-containing protein- and KANADI protein-encoding transcription factor genes controlling the cis-regulated expression for seed weight in the chickpea. This emphasizes the potential of CNMS marker-based integrative genetical genomics for the quantitative genetic dissection of complex seed weight in chickpea.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Bajaj
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Maneesha S Saxena
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Alice Kujur
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Shouvik Das
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Saurabh Badoni
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Shailesh Tripathi
- Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Hari D Upadhyaya
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502324, Telangana, India
| | - C L L Gowda
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502324, Telangana, India
| | - Shivali Sharma
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502324, Telangana, India
| | - Sube Singh
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502324, Telangana, India
| | - Akhilesh K Tyagi
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Swarup K Parida
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| |
Collapse
|
193
|
Chromatin-Driven Behavior of Topologically Associating Domains. J Mol Biol 2015; 427:608-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2014.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Revised: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
|
194
|
Cheatle Jarvela AM, Hinman VF. Evolution of transcription factor function as a mechanism for changing metazoan developmental gene regulatory networks. EvoDevo 2015; 6:3. [PMID: 25685316 PMCID: PMC4327956 DOI: 10.1186/2041-9139-6-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The form that an animal takes during development is directed by gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Developmental GRNs interpret maternally deposited molecules and externally supplied signals to direct cell-fate decisions, which ultimately leads to the arrangements of organs and tissues in the organism. Genetically encoded modifications to these networks have generated the wide range of metazoan diversity that exists today. Most studies of GRN evolution focus on changes to cis-regulatory DNA, and it was historically theorized that changes to the transcription factors that bind to these cis-regulatory modules (CRMs) contribute to this process only rarely. A growing body of evidence suggests that changes to the coding regions of transcription factors play a much larger role in the evolution of developmental gene regulatory networks than originally imagined. Just as cis-regulatory changes make use of modular binding site composition and tissue-specific modules to avoid pleiotropy, transcription factor coding regions also predominantly evolve in ways that limit the context of functional effects. Here, we review the recent works that have led to this unexpected change in the field of Evolution and Development (Evo-Devo) and consider the implications these studies have had on our understanding of the evolution of developmental processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alys M Cheatle Jarvela
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 5th Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| | - Veronica F Hinman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 5th Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| |
Collapse
|
195
|
Paps J, Xu F, Zhang G, Holland PWH. Reinforcing the egg-timer: recruitment of novel lophotrochozoa homeobox genes to early and late development in the pacific oyster. Genome Biol Evol 2015; 7:677-88. [PMID: 25631164 PMCID: PMC5322547 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evv018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The metazoan superclade Lophotrochozoa includes mollusks, annelids, and several other animal phyla. It is reasonable to assume that this organismal diversity may be traced, in part, to changes in developmentally important genes, such as the homeobox genes. Although most comparative studies have focussed on ancient homeobox gene families conserved across bilaterians, there are also "novel" homeobox genes that have arisen more recently in evolution, presumably by duplication followed by radical divergence and functional change. We classify 136 homeobox genes in the genome sequence of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. The genome shows an unusually low degree of homeobox gene clustering, with disruption of the NK, Hox, and ParaHox gene clusters. Among the oyster genes, 31 do not fall into ancient metazoan or bilaterian homeobox gene families; we deduce that they originated in the lophotrochozoan clade. We compared eight lophotrochozoan genomes to trace the pattern of homeobox gene evolution across this clade, allowing us to define 19 new lophotrochozoan-specific clades within the ANTP, PRD, TALE, ZF, SIX, and CUT classes. Using transcriptome data, we compared temporal expression of each homeobox gene in oyster development, and discovered that the lophotrochozoan-specific homeobox genes have peak expression either in early development (egg to gastrula) or in late development (after the trochophore larval stage), but rarely in between. This finding is consistent with the egg-timer, hourglass or phylotypic stage model of developmental evolution, in which there is a conserved central phase of development, but more evolutionarily labile early and late phases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Paps
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Fei Xu
- National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Ecological Mariculture, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Guofan Zhang
- National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Ecological Mariculture, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
196
|
Holland PWH. Did homeobox gene duplications contribute to the Cambrian explosion? ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2015; 1:1. [PMID: 26605046 PMCID: PMC4604119 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-014-0004-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 05/03/2014] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The Cambrian explosion describes an apparently rapid increase in the diversity of bilaterian animals around 540-515 million years ago. Bilaterian animals explore the world in three-dimensions deploying forward-facing sense organs, a brain, and an anterior mouth; they possess muscle blocks enabling efficient crawling and burrowing in sediments, and they typically have an efficient 'through-gut' with separate mouth and anus to process bulk food and eject waste, even when burrowing in sediment. A variety of ecological, environmental, genetic, and developmental factors have been proposed as possible triggers and correlates of the Cambrian explosion, and it is likely that a combination of factors were involved. Here, I focus on a set of developmental genetic changes and propose these are part of the mix of permissive factors. I describe how ANTP-class homeobox genes, which encode transcription factors involved in body patterning, increased in number in the bilaterian stem lineage and earlier. These gene duplications generated a large array of ANTP class genes, including three distinct gene clusters called NK, Hox, and ParaHox. Comparative data supports the idea that NK genes were deployed primarily to pattern the bilaterian mesoderm, Hox genes coded position along the central nervous system, and ParaHox genes most likely originally specified the mouth, midgut, and anus of the newly evolved through-gut. It is proposed that diversification of ANTP class genes played a role in the Cambrian explosion by contributing to the patterning systems used to build animal bodies capable of high-energy directed locomotion, including active burrowing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter W H Holland
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS UK
| |
Collapse
|
197
|
Savych I, Subianto S, Nabil Y, Cavaliere S, Jones D, Rozière J. Negligible degradation upon in situ voltage cycling of a PEMFC using an electrospun niobium-doped tin oxide supported Pt cathode. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:16970-6. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp01542a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Pt/Nb–SnO2 loose-tubes constitute a mitigation strategy for two known degradation mechanisms in PEMFC: corrosion of the carbon support at the cathode, and dissolution of Pt at high cell voltages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iuliia Savych
- Institut Charles Gerhardt
- UMR CNRS 5253
- Agrégats Interfaces Matériaux pour l'Energie
- Université de Montpellier
- 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5
| | - Surya Subianto
- Institut Charles Gerhardt
- UMR CNRS 5253
- Agrégats Interfaces Matériaux pour l'Energie
- Université de Montpellier
- 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5
| | - Yannick Nabil
- Institut Charles Gerhardt
- UMR CNRS 5253
- Agrégats Interfaces Matériaux pour l'Energie
- Université de Montpellier
- 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5
| | - Sara Cavaliere
- Institut Charles Gerhardt
- UMR CNRS 5253
- Agrégats Interfaces Matériaux pour l'Energie
- Université de Montpellier
- 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5
| | - Deborah Jones
- Institut Charles Gerhardt
- UMR CNRS 5253
- Agrégats Interfaces Matériaux pour l'Energie
- Université de Montpellier
- 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5
| | - Jacques Rozière
- Institut Charles Gerhardt
- UMR CNRS 5253
- Agrégats Interfaces Matériaux pour l'Energie
- Université de Montpellier
- 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5
| |
Collapse
|
198
|
Wisecaver JH, Slot JC, Rokas A. The evolution of fungal metabolic pathways. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004816. [PMID: 25474404 PMCID: PMC4256263 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi contain a remarkable range of metabolic pathways, sometimes encoded by gene clusters, enabling them to digest most organic matter and synthesize an array of potent small molecules. Although metabolism is fundamental to the fungal lifestyle, we still know little about how major evolutionary processes, such as gene duplication (GD) and horizontal gene transfer (HGT), have interacted with clustered and non-clustered fungal metabolic pathways to give rise to this metabolic versatility. We examined the synteny and evolutionary history of 247,202 fungal genes encoding enzymes that catalyze 875 distinct metabolic reactions from 130 pathways in 208 diverse genomes. We found that gene clustering varied greatly with respect to metabolic category and lineage; for example, clustered genes in Saccharomycotina yeasts were overrepresented in nucleotide metabolism, whereas clustered genes in Pezizomycotina were more common in lipid and amino acid metabolism. The effects of both GD and HGT were more pronounced in clustered genes than in their non-clustered counterparts and were differentially distributed across fungal lineages; specifically, GD, which was an order of magnitude more abundant than HGT, was most frequently observed in Agaricomycetes, whereas HGT was much more prevalent in Pezizomycotina. The effect of HGT in some Pezizomycotina was particularly strong; for example, we identified 111 HGT events associated with the 15 Aspergillus genomes, which sharply contrasts with the 60 HGT events detected for the 48 genomes from the entire Saccharomycotina subphylum. Finally, the impact of GD within a metabolic category was typically consistent across all fungal lineages, whereas the impact of HGT was variable. These results indicate that GD is the dominant process underlying fungal metabolic diversity, whereas HGT is episodic and acts in a category- or lineage-specific manner. Both processes have a greater impact on clustered genes, suggesting that metabolic gene clusters represent hotspots for the generation of fungal metabolic diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer H. Wisecaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jason C. Slot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JCS); (AR)
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JCS); (AR)
| |
Collapse
|
199
|
Biscotti MA, Canapa A, Forconi M, Barucca M. HoxandParaHoxgenes: A review on molluscs. Genesis 2014; 52:935-45. [DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Assunta Biscotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente; Università Politecnica delle Marche; Ancona Italy
| | - Adriana Canapa
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente; Università Politecnica delle Marche; Ancona Italy
| | - Mariko Forconi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente; Università Politecnica delle Marche; Ancona Italy
| | - Marco Barucca
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente; Università Politecnica delle Marche; Ancona Italy
| |
Collapse
|
200
|
Costanzo E, Trehin C, Vandenbussche M. The role of WOX genes in flower development. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2014; 114:1545-53. [PMID: 24973416 PMCID: PMC4204783 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcu123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND WOX (Wuschel-like homeobOX) genes form a family of plant-specific HOMEODOMAIN transcription factors, the members of which play important developmental roles in a diverse range of processes. WOX genes were first identified as determining cell fate during embryo development, as well as playing important roles in maintaining stem cell niches in the plant. In recent years, new roles have been identified in plant architecture and organ development, particularly at the flower level. SCOPE In this review, the role of WOX genes in flower development and flower architecture is highlighted, as evidenced from data obtained in the last few years. The roles played by WOX genes in different species and different flower organs are compared, and differential functional recruitment of WOX genes during flower evolution is considered. CONCLUSIONS This review compares available data concerning the role of WOX genes in flower and organ architecture among different species of angiosperms, including representatives of monocots and eudicots (rosids and asterids). These comparative data highlight the usefulness of the WOX gene family for evo-devo studies of floral development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Costanzo
- Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Plants, UMR5667 (ENS de Lyon, CNRS, INRA, UCBL), Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Christophe Trehin
- Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Plants, UMR5667 (ENS de Lyon, CNRS, INRA, UCBL), Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Michiel Vandenbussche
- Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Plants, UMR5667 (ENS de Lyon, CNRS, INRA, UCBL), Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| |
Collapse
|