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Slos D, Yushin VV, Claeys M, Ivanova ES, Kosaka H, Bert W. Structure, development, and evolutive patterns of spermatozoa in rhabditid nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditida). J Morphol 2020; 281:1411-1435. [PMID: 32845531 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis of five rhabditid nematodes was studied using transmission electron microscopy and is described herein. Structure and development of nematode sperm in all available representatives of the extensive order Rhabditida have been analysed and the main characteristics of each infraorder are discussed. The ancestral sperm of the order Rhabditida was reconstructed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods based on 44 ultrastructural sperm characters. The hypothetical ancestral spermatogenesis of the order Rhabditida agrees with the previously suggested "rhabditid" pattern and appears to be conserved throughout the order Rhabditida. Despite the enormous variation of rhabditid nematodes, few groups deviate from the ancestral pattern. This conserved pattern can be informative within the phylum Nematoda at order level, but poses limitations when used in taxonomic and phylogenetic analysis within Rhabditida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Slos
- Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vladimir V Yushin
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Myriam Claeys
- Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elena S Ivanova
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Hajime Kosaka
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Wim Bert
- Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Amargant F, Barragan M, Vassena R, Vernos I. Insights of the tubulin code in gametes and embryos: from basic research to potential clinical applications in humans†. Biol Reprod 2020; 100:575-589. [PMID: 30247519 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubules are intracellular filaments that define in space and in time a large number of essential cellular functions such as cell division, morphology and motility, intracellular transport and flagella and cilia assembly. They are therefore essential for spermatozoon and oocyte maturation and function, and for embryo development. The dynamic and functional properties of the microtubules are in large part defined by various classes of interacting proteins including MAPs (microtubule associated proteins), microtubule-dependent motors, and severing and modifying enzymes. Multiple mechanisms regulate these interactions. One of them is defined by the high diversity of the microtubules themselves generated by the combination of different tubulin isotypes and by several tubulin post-translational modifications (PTMs). This generates a so-called tubulin code that finely regulates the specific set of proteins that associates with a given microtubule thereby defining the properties and functions of the network. Here we provide an in depth review of the current knowledge on the tubulin isotypes and PTMs in spermatozoa, oocytes, and preimplantation embryos in various model systems and in the human species. We focus on functional implications of the tubulin code for cytoskeletal function, particularly in the field of human reproduction and development, with special emphasis on gamete quality and infertility. Finally, we discuss some of the knowledge gaps and propose future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farners Amargant
- Clínica EUGIN, Barcelona, Spain.,Cell and Developmental Biology Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Isabelle Vernos
- Cell and Developmental Biology Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca I Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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Ding H, Liu F, Zhu L, Wu F, Liu Q, He S, Shao W, Du Y, Ren C, Shen J, Liu M. Tyrosine kinase 4 is involved in the reproduction of the platyhelminth parasite Schistosoma japonicum. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:498. [PMID: 29047397 PMCID: PMC5648501 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2453-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis is one of the most common parasitic diseases affecting millions of humans and animals worldwide. Understanding the signal transduction pathways and the molecular basis of reproductive regulation in schistosomes is critically important for developing new strategies for preventing and treating these infections. Syk kinases regulate the proliferation, differentiation, morphogenesis, and survival of various types of cells and have been identified in invertebrates. Tyrosine kinase 4 (TK4), a member of the Syk kinase family, plays a pivotal role in gametogenesis in S. mansoni, affecting the development of the testis and ovaries in this parasite. The role of TK4, however, in the reproduction of S. japonicum is poorly understood. METHODS Here, the complete coding sequence of TK4 gene in S. japonicum (SjTK4) was cloned and characterized. The expression of SjTK4 was analyzed at different life-cycle stages and in various tissues of S. japonicum by qPCR. Piceatannol, a Syk kinase inhibitor, was applied to S. japonicum in vitro. The piceatannol-induced morphological changes of the parasites were observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy and the alterations in important egg-shell synthesis-related genes were examined using qPCR analyses. RESULTS SjTK4 mRNA was differentially expressed throughout the life-cycle of S. japonicum. SjTK4 mRNA was highly expressed in the ovary and testis of S. japonicum, with the level of gene expression significantly higher in males than in females. The expression levels of some important egg-shell synthesis related genes were higher in the piceatannol-treated groups than in the vehicle-treated control group and the number of eggs and germ cells also decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Importantly, large pore-like structures can be found in the testis and ovaries of males and females after treating with piceatannol. CONCLUSION The results suggest that SjTK4 may play an important role in regulating gametogenesis of S. japonicum. The findings may help better understand the fundamental biology of S. japonicum. Moreover, the effect of S. japonicum treatment by piceatannol provides us with a new idea that inhibition of SjTK4 signaling pathway can effectively retard the development of the testis and ovaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Ding
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengchun Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Lulu Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Quan Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyu He
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Shao
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinan Du
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuiping Ren
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.,Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Jijia Shen
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China. .,Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.
| | - Miao Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China. .,Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.
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Beckmann S, Buro C, Dissous C, Hirzmann J, Grevelding CG. The Syk kinase SmTK4 of Schistosoma mansoni is involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis and oogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2010; 6:e1000769. [PMID: 20169182 PMCID: PMC2820527 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2009] [Accepted: 01/13/2010] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The signal transduction protein SmTK4 from Schistosoma mansoni belongs to the family of Syk kinases. In vertebrates, Syk kinases are known to play specialized roles in signaling pathways in cells of the hematopoietic system. Although Syk kinases were identified in some invertebrates, their role in this group of animals has not yet been elucidated. Since SmTK4 is the first Syk kinase from a parasitic helminth, shown to be predominantly expressed in the testes and ovary of adult worms, we investigated its function. To unravel signaling cascades in which SmTK4 is involved, yeast two-/three-hybrid library screenings were performed with either the tandem SH2-domain, or with the linker region including the tyrosine kinase domain of SmTK4. Besides the Src kinase SmTK3 we identified a new Src kinase (SmTK6) acting upstream of SmTK4 and a MAPK-activating protein, as well as mapmodulin acting downstream. Their identities and colocalization studies pointed to a role of SmTK4 in a signaling cascade regulating the proliferation and/or differentiation of cells in the gonads of schistosomes. To confirm this decisive role we performed biochemical and molecular approaches to knock down SmTK4 combined with a novel protocol for confocal laser scanning microscopy for morphological analyses. Using the Syk kinase-specific inhibitor Piceatannol or by RNAi treatment of adult schistosomes in vitro, corresponding phenotypes were detected in the testes and ovary. In the Xenopus oocyte system it was finally confirmed that Piceatannol suppressed the activity of the catalytic kinase domain of SmTK4. Our findings demonstrate a pivotal role of SmTK4 in gametogenesis, a new function for Syk kinases in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Beckmann
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christin Buro
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Colette Dissous
- Inserm, U547, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Jörg Hirzmann
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
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