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Chess MM, Douglas W, Saunders J, Ettensohn CA. Genome-wide identification and spatiotemporal expression analysis of cadherin superfamily members in echinoderms. EvoDevo 2023; 14:15. [PMID: 38124068 PMCID: PMC10734073 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-023-00219-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cadherins are calcium-dependent transmembrane cell-cell adhesion proteins that are essential for metazoan development. They consist of three subfamilies: classical cadherins, which bind catenin, protocadherins, which contain 6-7 calcium-binding repeat domains, and atypical cadherins. Their functions include forming adherens junctions, establishing planar cell polarity (PCP), and regulating cell shape, proliferation, and migration. Because they are basal deuterostomes, echinoderms provide important insights into bilaterian evolution, but their only well-characterized cadherin is G-cadherin, a classical cadherin that is expressed by many embryonic epithelia. We aimed to better characterize echinoderm cadherins by conducting phylogenetic analyses and examining the spatiotemporal expression patterns of cadherin-encoding genes during Strongylocentrotus purpuratus development. RESULTS Our phylogenetic analyses conducted on two echinoid, three asteroid, and one crinoid species identified ten echinoderm cadherins, including one deuterostome-specific ortholog, cadherin-23, and an echinoderm-specific atypical cadherin that possibly arose in an echinoid-asteroid ancestor. Catenin-binding domains in dachsous-2 orthologs were found to be a deuterostome-specific innovation that was selectively lost in mouse, while those in Fat4 orthologs appeared to be Ambulacraria-specific and were selectively lost in non-crinoid echinoderms. The identified suite of echinoderm cadherins lacks vertebrate-specific innovations but contains two proteins that are present in protostomes and absent from mouse. The spatiotemporal expression patterns of four embryonically expressed cadherins (fat atypical cadherins 1 and 4, dachsous-2, and protocadherin-9) were dynamic and mirrored the expression pattern of Frizzled 5/8, a non-canonical Wnt PCP pathway receptor protein essential for archenteron morphogenesis. CONCLUSIONS The echinoderm cadherin toolkit is more similar to that of an ancient bilaterian predating protostomes and deuterostomes than it is to the suite of cadherins found in extant vertebrates. However, it also appears that deuterostomes underwent several cadherin-related innovations. Based on their similar spatiotemporal expression patterns and orthologous relationships to PCP-related and tumor-suppressing proteins, we hypothesize that sea urchin cadherins may play a role in regulating the shape and growth of embryonic epithelia and organs. Future experiments will examine cadherin expression in non-echinoid echinoderms and explore the functions of cadherins during echinoderm development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macie M Chess
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - William Douglas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Josiah Saunders
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Charles A Ettensohn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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Wijesena N, Sun H, Kumburegama S, Wikramanayake AH. Distinct Frizzled receptors independently mediate endomesoderm specification and primary archenteron invagination during gastrulation in Nematostella. Dev Biol 2021; 481:215-225. [PMID: 34767794 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Endomesodermal cell fate specification and archenteron formation during gastrulation are tightly linked developmental processes in most metazoans. However, studies have shown that in the anthozoan cnidarian Nematostella vectensis, Wnt/β-catenin (cWnt) signalling-mediated endomesodermal cell fate specification can be experimentally uncoupled from Wnt/Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) signalling-mediated primary archenteron invagination. The upstream signalling mechanisms regulating cWnt signalling-dependent endomesoderm cell fate specification and Wnt/PCP signalling-mediated primary archenteron invagination in Nematostella embryos are not well understood. By screening for potential upstream mediators of cWnt and Wnt/PCP signalling, we identified two Nematostella Frizzled homologs that are expressed early in development. NvFzd1 is expressed maternally and in a broad pattern during early development while NvFzd10 is zygotically expressed at the animal pole in blastula stage embryos and is restricted to the invaginating cells of the presumptive endomesoderm. Molecular and morphological characterization of NvFzd1 and NvFzd10 knock-down phenotypes provide evidence for distinct regulatory roles for the two receptors in endomesoderm cell fate specification and primary archenteron invagination. These results provide further experimental evidence for the independent regulation of endomesodermal cell fate specification and primary archenteron invagination during gastrulation in Nematostella. Moreover, these results provide additional support for the previously proposed two-step model for the independent evolution of cWnt-mediated cell fate specification and Wnt/PCP-mediated primary archenteron invagination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Wijesena
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL33146, USA; Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Hongyan Sun
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL33146, USA
| | - Shalika Kumburegama
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL33146, USA; Department of Zoology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
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Sun H, Peng CFJ, Wang L, Feng H, Wikramanayake AH. An early global role for Axin is required for correct patterning of the anterior-posterior axis in the sea urchin embryo. Development 2021; 148:dev.191197. [PMID: 33688076 PMCID: PMC8034878 DOI: 10.1242/dev.191197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Activation of Wnt/β-catenin (cWnt) signaling at the future posterior end of early bilaterian embryos is a highly conserved mechanism for establishing the anterior-posterior (AP) axis. Moreover, inhibition of cWnt at the anterior end is required for development of anterior structures in many deuterostome taxa. This phenomenon, which occurs around the time of gastrulation, has been fairly well characterized, but the significance of intracellular inhibition of cWnt signaling in cleavage-stage deuterostome embryos for normal AP patterning is less well understood. To investigate this process in an invertebrate deuterostome, we defined Axin function in early sea urchin embryos. Axin is ubiquitously expressed at relatively high levels in early embryos and functional analysis revealed that Axin suppresses posterior cell fates in anterior blastomeres by blocking ectopic cWnt activation in these cells. Structure-function analysis of sea urchin Axin demonstrated that only its GSK-3β-binding domain is required for cWnt inhibition. These observations and results in other deuterostomes suggest that Axin plays a crucial conserved role in embryonic AP patterning by preventing cWnt activation in multipotent early blastomeres, thus protecting them from assuming ectopic cell fates. Summary: Axin function is required in the early sea urchin embryo to regulate nuclear β-catenin levels and prevent ectopic cell fates in multipotent early blastomeres, and to ensure correct anterior-posterior axis patterning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Sun
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | | | - Lingyu Wang
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Honglin Feng
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
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4
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Molina MD, Gache C, Lepage T. Expression of exogenous mRNAs to study gene function in echinoderm embryos. Methods Cell Biol 2019; 151:239-282. [PMID: 30948011 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
With the completion of the genome sequencing projects, a new challenge for developmental biologists is to assign a function to the thousands of genes identified. Expression of exogenous mRNAs is a powerful, versatile and rapid technique that can be used to study gene function during development of the sea urchin. This chapter describes how this technique can be used to analyze gene function in echinoderm embryos, how it can be combined with cell transplantation to perform mosaic analysis and how it can be applied to identify downstream targets genes of transcription factors and signaling pathways. We describe specific examples of the use of overexpression of mRNA to analyze gene function, mention the benefits and current limitations of the technique and emphasize the importance of using different controls to assess the specificity of the effects observed. Finally, this chapter details the different steps, vectors and protocols for in vitro production of mRNA and phenotypic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Gache
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Observatoire Océanologique de Villefranche sur Mer, UMR7009 CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Thierry Lepage
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, iBV, Nice, France.
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5
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Sampilo NF, Stepicheva NA, Zaidi SAM, Wang L, Wu W, Wikramanayake A, Song JL. Inhibition of microRNA suppression of Dishevelled results in Wnt pathway-associated developmental defects in sea urchin. Development 2018; 145:dev167130. [PMID: 30389855 PMCID: PMC6288383 DOI: 10.1242/dev.167130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved, small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expressions by binding to the 3' untranslated region of target mRNAs thereby silencing translation. Some miRNAs are key regulators of the Wnt signaling pathways, which impact developmental processes. This study investigates miRNA regulation of different isoforms of Dishevelled (Dvl/Dsh), which encode a key component in the Wnt signaling pathway. The sea urchin Dvl mRNA isoforms have similar spatial distribution in early development, but one isoform is distinctively expressed in the larval ciliary band. We demonstrated that Dvl isoforms are directly suppressed by miRNAs. By blocking miRNA suppression of Dvl isoforms, we observed dose-dependent defects in spicule length, patterning of the primary mesenchyme cells, gut morphology, and cilia. These defects likely result from increased Dvl protein levels, leading to perturbation of Wnt-dependent signaling pathways and additional Dvl-mediated processes. We further demonstrated that overexpression of Dvl isoforms recapitulated some of the Dvl miRNATP-induced phenotypes. Overall, our results indicate that miRNA suppression of Dvl isoforms plays an important role in ensuring proper development and function of primary mesenchyme cells and cilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Faye Sampilo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Nadezda A Stepicheva
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | | | - Lingyu Wang
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
| | | | - Jia L Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
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6
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Canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways define the expression domains of Frizzled 5/8 and Frizzled 1/2/7 along the early anterior-posterior axis in sea urchin embryos. Dev Biol 2018; 444:83-92. [PMID: 30332609 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The spatiotemporal expression of Frizzled receptors is critical for patterning along the early anterior-posterior axis during embryonic development in many animal species. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the expression of Frizzled receptors are incompletely understood in any species. In this study, I examine how the expression of two Frizzled receptors, Fzl1/2/7 and Fzl5/8, is controlled by the Wnt signaling network which directs specification and positioning of early regulatory states along the anterior-posterior (AP) axis of sea urchin embryos. I used a combination of morpholino- and dominant negative-mediated interference to knock down each Wnt signaling pathway involved in the AP Wnt signaling network. I found that the expression of zygotic fzl5/8 as well as that of the anterior neuroectoderm gene regulatory network (ANE GRN) is activated by an unknown broadly expressed regulatory state and that posterior Wnt/β-catenin signaling is necessary to down regulate fzl5/8's expression in posterior blastomeres. I show that zygotic expression of fzl1/2/7 in the equatorial ectodermal belt is dependent on an uncharacterized regulatory mechanism that works in the same cells receiving the TGF-β signals patterning this territory along the dorsal-ventral axis. In addition, my data indicate that Fzl1/2/7 signaling represses its own expression in a negative feedback mechanism. Finally, we discovered that a balance between the activities of posterior Wnt8 and anterior Dkk1 is necessary to establish the correct spatial expression of zygotic fzl12/7 expression in the equatorial ectodermal domain during blastula and gastrula stages. Together, these studies lead to a better understanding of the complex interactions among the three Wnt signaling pathway governing AP axis specification and patterning in sea urchin embryos.
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Cai X, Yao Z, Li L, Huang J. Role of DKK4 in Tumorigenesis and Tumor Progression. Int J Biol Sci 2018; 14:616-621. [PMID: 29904276 PMCID: PMC6001654 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.24329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor is the most public health problem. The Wnt signal pathway extensively participates in diverse progresses containing embryonic development, maintenance of homeostasis and tumor pathogenesis. The Wnt signal pathway consists of canonical signal pathway, noncanonical Wnt/PCP pathway and noncanonical Wnt/Ca2+ pathway. The deletion of the ligand of Wnts results in cytoplasmic β-catenin phosphorylation, stopping entry of β-catenin to nuclear in canonical Wnt signaling. Instead, binding of Wnts to frizzled (FZ/FZD) as well as LRP5/6 causes activation of Wnt signal pathways. This facilitates entry of β-catenin to nuclear. The Dickkopf proteins (DKKs) have been known as the antagonist of Wnt signal pathway. A number of research of DKK1, 2, 3 have been reported, however, the effect of DKK4 on tumor process is still mysterious. A more distinct comprehension about the effect of DKK4 on tumorigenesis and tumor process will shed light on biomedical research of DKK4 and tumor research. This review summarizes the current knowledge of DKK4 in various kinds of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjia Cai
- Department of Oral Pathology, Xiangya Stomalogical Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Chansha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhigang Yao
- Department of Oral Pathology, Xiangya Stomalogical Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Chansha, Hunan, China
| | - Long Li
- Department of Oral Pathology, Xiangya Stomalogical Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Chansha, Hunan, China
| | - Junhui Huang
- Department of Oral Pathology, Xiangya Stomalogical Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Chansha, Hunan, China
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8
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Shevidi S, Uchida A, Schudrowitz N, Wessel GM, Yajima M. Single nucleotide editing without DNA cleavage using CRISPR/Cas9-deaminase in the sea urchin embryo. Dev Dyn 2017; 246:1036-1046. [PMID: 28857338 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2017] [Revised: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A single base pair mutation in the genome can result in many congenital disorders in humans. The recent gene editing approach using CRISPR/Cas9 has rapidly become a powerful tool to replicate or repair such mutations in the genome. These approaches rely on cleaving DNA, while presenting unexpected risks. RESULTS In this study, we demonstrate a modified CRISPR/Cas9 system fused to cytosine deaminase (Cas9-DA), which induces a single nucleotide conversion in the genome. Cas9-DA was introduced into sea urchin eggs with sgRNAs targeted for SpAlx1, SpDsh, or SpPks, each of which is critical for skeletogenesis, embryonic axis formation, or pigment formation, respectively. We found that both Cas9 and Cas9-DA edit the genome, and cause predicted phenotypic changes at a similar efficiency. Cas9, however, resulted in significant deletions in the genome centered on the gRNA target sequence, whereas Cas9-DA resulted in single or double nucleotide editing of C to T conversions within the gRNA target sequence. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the Cas9-DA approach may be useful for manipulating gene activity with decreased risks of genomic aberrations. Developmental Dynamics 246:1036-1046, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saba Shevidi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode, Island
| | - Alicia Uchida
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode, Island
| | - Natalie Schudrowitz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode, Island
| | - Gary M Wessel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode, Island
| | - Mamiko Yajima
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode, Island
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9
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Hale R, Strutt D. Conservation of Planar Polarity Pathway Function Across the Animal Kingdom. Annu Rev Genet 2015; 49:529-51. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-112414-055224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rosalind Hale
- Bateson Centre,
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom;
| | - David Strutt
- Bateson Centre,
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom;
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10
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Song JL, Nigam P, Tektas SS, Selva E. microRNA regulation of Wnt signaling pathways in development and disease. Cell Signal 2015; 27:1380-91. [PMID: 25843779 PMCID: PMC4437805 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2015.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Wnt signaling pathways and microRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators of development. Aberrant Wnt signaling pathways and miRNA levels lead to developmental defects and diverse human pathologies including but not limited to cancer. Wnt signaling pathways regulate a plethora of cellular processes during embryonic development and maintain homeostasis of adult tissues. A majority of Wnt signaling components are regulated by miRNAs which are small noncoding RNAs that are expressed in both animals and plants. In animal cells, miRNAs fine tune gene expression by pairing primarily to the 3'untranslated region of protein coding mRNAs to repress target mRNA translation and/or induce target degradation. miRNA-mediated regulation of signaling transduction pathways is important in modulating dose-sensitive response of cells to signaling molecules. This review discusses components of the Wnt signaling pathways that are regulated by miRNAs in the context of development and diseases. A fundamental understanding of miRNA functions in Wnt signaling transduction pathways may yield new insight into crosstalks of regulatory mechanisms essential for development and disease pathophysiology leading to novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia L Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
| | - Priya Nigam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Senel S Tektas
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Erica Selva
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
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11
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Li H, Zhang Z, Bi Y, Yang D, Zhang L, Liu J. Expression characteristics of β-catenin in scallop Chlamys farreri gonads and its role as a potential upstream gene of Dax1 through canonical Wnt signalling pathway regulating the spermatogenesis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e115917. [PMID: 25549092 PMCID: PMC4280107 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
β-catenin is a key signaling molecule in the canonical Wnt pathway, which is involved in animal development. However, little information has been reported for β-catenin in bivalves. In the present study, we cloned a homolog of β-catenin from the scallop Chlamys farreri and determined its expression characteristics. The full-length cDNA of β-catenin was 3,353 bp, including a 2,511 bp open reading frame that encoded a predicted 836 amino acid protein. Level of the β-catenin mRNA increased significantly (P<0.05) with C. farreri gonadal development and presented a sexually dimorphic expression pattern in the gonads, which was significantly high in ovaries detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the β-catenin was mainly located in germ cells of the gonads, with obvious positive immune signals in the oogonia and oocytes of ovaries as well as in the spermatogonia and spermatocytes of testes, implying β-catenin might be involved in the gametogenesis of C. farreri. Furthermore, when 0.1 µg/mL and 0.2 µg/mL DKK-1 (an inhibitor of the canonical Wnt pathway) were added in vitro to culture medium containing testis cells of C. farreri, the expression of β-catenin decreased significantly detected by qRT-PCR (P<0.05), suggesting the canonical Wnt signal pathway exists in the scallop testis. Similarly, when 50 µM and 100 µM quercetin (an inhibitor of β-catenin) were added in vitro to the culture system, Dax1 expression was significantly down-regulated compared with controls (P<0.05), implying the β-catenin is an upstream gene of Dax1 and is involved in the regulation of C. farreri spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China; Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhifeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Ying Bi
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Dandan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Litao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Jianguo Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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12
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Su YH. Telling left from right: Left-right asymmetric controls in sea urchins. Genesis 2014; 52:269-78. [DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsien Su
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology; Academia Sinica; Nankang Taipei Taiwan
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13
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McCauley BS, Akyar E, Filliger L, Hinman VF. Expression of wnt and frizzled genes during early sea star development. Gene Expr Patterns 2013; 13:437-44. [PMID: 23899422 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2013.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Revised: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 07/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway is highly conserved across metazoa and has pleiotropic functions in the development of many animals. Binding of a secreted Wnt ligand to its Frizzled (Fz) receptor activates Dishevelled, which then drives one of three major signaling cascades, canonical (β-catenin), calcium, or planar cell polarity signaling. These pathways have distinct developmental effects and function in different processes in different organisms. Here we report the expression of six wnt and three fz genes during embryogenesis of the sea star, Patiria miniata, as a first step in uncovering the roles of Wnt signaling in the development of this organism. wnt3, wnt4, wnt8, and wnt16 are expressed in nested domains in the endoderm and lateral ectoderm from blastula through late gastrula stages; wnt2 and wnt5 are expressed in the mesoderm and anterior endoderm. Expression of different fz paralogs is detected in the mesoderm; posterior endoderm and ectoderm; and anterior ectoderm. Taken together, this suggests that Wnt signaling can occur throughout most of the embryo and may therefore play multiple roles during sea star development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenna S McCauley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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14
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Evans TG, Chan F, Menge BA, Hofmann GE. Transcriptomic responses to ocean acidification in larval sea urchins from a naturally variable pH environment. Mol Ecol 2013; 22:1609-25. [PMID: 23317456 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Revised: 11/08/2012] [Accepted: 11/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Some marine ecosystems already experience natural declines in pH approximating those predicted with future anthropogenic ocean acidification (OA), the decline in seawater pH caused by the absorption of atmospheric CO2 . The molecular mechanisms that allow organisms to inhabit these low pH environments, particularly those building calcium carbonate skeletons, are unknown. Also uncertain is whether an enhanced capacity to cope with present day pH variation will confer resistance to future OA. To address these issues, we monitored natural pH dynamics within an intertidal habitat in the Northeast Pacific, demonstrating that upwelling exposes resident species to pH regimes not predicted to occur elsewhere until 2100. Next, we cultured the progeny of adult purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) collected from this region in CO2 -acidified seawater representing present day and near future ocean scenarios and monitored gene expression using transcriptomics. We hypothesized that persistent exposure to upwelling during evolutionary history will have selected for increased pH tolerance in this population and that their transcriptomic response to low pH seawater would provide insight into mechanisms underlying pH tolerance in a calcifying species. Resulting expression patterns revealed two important trends. Firstly, S. purpuratus larvae may alter the bioavailability of calcium and adjust skeletogenic pathways to sustain calcification in a low pH ocean. Secondly, larvae use different strategies for coping with different magnitudes of pH stress: initiating a robust transcriptional response to present day pH regimes but a muted response to near future conditions. Thus, an enhanced capacity to cope with present day pH variation may not translate into success in future oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler G Evans
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9620, USA.
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15
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Momose T, Kraus Y, Houliston E. A conserved function for Strabismus in establishing planar cell polarity in the ciliated ectoderm during cnidarian larval development. Development 2012; 139:4374-82. [PMID: 23095884 DOI: 10.1242/dev.084251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Functional and morphological planar cell polarity (PCP) oriented along the oral-aboral body axis is clearly evident in the ectoderm of torpedo-shaped planula larvae of hydrozoan cnidarians such as Clytia hemisphaerica. Ectodermal epithelial cells bear a single motile cilium the beating of which is coordinated between cells, causing directional swimming towards the blunt, aboral pole. We have characterised PCP during Clytia larval development and addressed its molecular basis. PCP is first detectable in ectodermal cells during gastrulation as coordinated basal body positioning, the ciliary root becoming consistently positioned on the oral side of the apical surface of the cell. At later stages, more pronounced structural polarity develops around the base of each cilium in relation to the cilia beating direction, including a characteristic asymmetric cortical actin organisation. Morpholino antisense oligonucleotide and mRNA injection studies showed that PCP development requires the Clytia orthologues of the core Fz-PCP pathway components Strabismus (CheStbm), Frizzled (CheFz1) and Dishevelled (CheDsh). Morpholinos targeting any of these components prevented ectodermal PCP, disrupted ciliogenesis and inhibited embryo elongation during gastrulation, which involves cell intercalation. We show that YFP-tagged CheStbm adopts a polarised intracellular distribution, localising preferentially to the aboral boundary of each cell, as has been demonstrated in Drosophila and some vertebrate PCP studies. Our findings in a cnidarian strongly suggest that the Fz-PCP pathway is a highly conserved and evolutionary ancient metazoan feature that is probably widely responsible for oriented swimming and/or feeding in relation to body axis in the many ciliated larval types found throughout the animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Momose
- University of Pierre and Marie Curie, Developmental Biology Unit, Observatoire Océanologique, 06234 Villefranche-sur-mer, France.
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Select microRNAs are essential for early development in the sea urchin. Dev Biol 2011; 362:104-13. [PMID: 22155525 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2011] [Revised: 10/22/2011] [Accepted: 11/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that mediate post-transcriptional gene regulation and have emerged as essential regulators of many developmental events. The transcriptional network during early embryogenesis of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, is well described and can serve as an excellent model to test functional contributions of miRNAs in embryogenesis. We examined the loss of function phenotypes of major components of the miRNA biogenesis pathway. Inhibition of de novo synthesis of Drosha and Dicer in the embryo led to consistent developmental defects, a failure to gastrulate, and embryonic lethality, including changes in the steady state levels of transcription factors and signaling molecules involved in germ layer specification. We annotated and profiled small RNA expression from the ovary and several early embryonic stages by deep sequencing followed by computational analysis. miRNAs as well as a large population of putative piRNAs (piwi-interacting RNAs) had dynamic accumulation profiles through early development. Defects in morphogenesis caused by loss of Drosha could be rescued with four miRNAs. Taken together our results indicate that post-transcriptional gene regulation directed by miRNAs is functionally important for early embryogenesis and is an integral part of the early embryonic gene regulatory network in S. purpuratus.
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Angerer LM, Yaguchi S, Angerer RC, Burke RD. The evolution of nervous system patterning: insights from sea urchin development. Development 2011; 138:3613-23. [PMID: 21828090 PMCID: PMC3152920 DOI: 10.1242/dev.058172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies of the sea urchin embryo have elucidated the mechanisms that localize and pattern its nervous system. These studies have revealed the presence of two overlapping regions of neurogenic potential at the beginning of embryogenesis, each of which becomes progressively restricted by separate, yet linked, signals, including Wnt and subsequently Nodal and BMP. These signals act to specify and localize the embryonic neural fields - the anterior neuroectoderm and the more posterior ciliary band neuroectoderm - during development. Here, we review these conserved nervous system patterning signals and consider how the relationships between them might have changed during deuterostome evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynne M Angerer
- National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Peter IS, Davidson EH. A gene regulatory network controlling the embryonic specification of endoderm. Nature 2011; 474:635-9. [PMID: 21623371 DOI: 10.1038/nature10100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2010] [Accepted: 04/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Specification of endoderm is the prerequisite for gut formation in the embryogenesis of bilaterian organisms. Modern lineage labelling studies have shown that in the sea urchin embryo model system, descendants of the veg1 and veg2 cell lineages produce the endoderm, and that the veg2 lineage also gives rise to mesodermal cell types. It is known that Wnt/β-catenin signalling is required for endoderm specification and Delta/Notch signalling is required for mesoderm specification. Some direct cis-regulatory targets of these signals have been found and various phenomenological patterns of gene expression have been observed in the pre-gastrular endomesoderm. However, no comprehensive, causal explanation of endoderm specification has been conceived for sea urchins, nor for any other deuterostome. Here we propose a model, on the basis of the underlying genomic control system, that provides such an explanation, built at several levels of biological organization. The hardwired core of the control system consists of the cis-regulatory apparatus of endodermal regulatory genes, which determine the relationship between the inputs to which these genes are exposed and their outputs. The architecture of the network circuitry controlling the dynamic process of endoderm specification then explains, at the system level, a sequence of developmental logic operations, which generate the biological process. The control system initiates non-interacting endodermal and mesodermal gene regulatory networks in veg2-derived cells and extinguishes the endodermal gene regulatory network in mesodermal precursors. It also generates a cross-regulatory network that specifies future anterior endoderm in veg2 descendants and institutes a distinct network specifying posterior endoderm in veg1-derived cells. The network model provides an explanatory framework that relates endoderm specification to the genomic regulatory code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle S Peter
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
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