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Guo L, Kruglyak L. Genetics and biology of coloration in reptiles: the curious case of the Lemon Frost geckos. Physiol Genomics 2023; 55:479-486. [PMID: 37642275 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00015.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Although there are more than 10,000 reptile species, and reptiles have historically contributed to our understanding of biology, genetics research into class Reptilia has lagged compared with other animals. Here, we summarize recent progress in genetics of coloration in reptiles, with a focus on the leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius. We highlight genetic approaches that have been used to examine variation in color and pattern formation in this species as well as to provide insights into mechanisms underlying skin cancer. We propose that their long breeding history in captivity makes leopard geckos one of the most promising emerging reptilian models for genetic studies. More broadly, technological advances in genetics, genomics, and gene editing may herald a golden era for studies of reptile biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longhua Guo
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Geriatrics Center and Institute of Gerontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Leonid Kruglyak
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States
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Yang L, Liu M, Zhu Y, Li Y, Pan T, Li E, Wu X. Candidate Regulatory Genes for Hindlimb Development in the Embryos of the Chinese Alligator ( Alligator sinensis). Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3126. [PMID: 37835732 PMCID: PMC10571561 DOI: 10.3390/ani13193126] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Crocodilians, which are a kind of animal secondary adaptation to an aquatic environment, their hindlimb can provide the power needed to engage in various life activities, even in low-oxygen water environments. The development of limbs is an important aspect of animal growth and development, as it is closely linked to body movement, support, heat production, and other critical functions. For the Chinese alligator, the hindlimb is one of the main sources of power, and its development and differentiation will directly influence the survival ability in the wild. Furthermore, a better understanding of the hindlimb developmental process will provide data support for the comparative evolutionary and functional genomics of crocodilians. In this study, the expression levels of genes related to hindlimb development in the Chinese alligator embryos during fetal development (on days 29, 35, 41, and 46) were investigated through transcriptome analysis. A total of 1675 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at different stages were identified by using limma software. These DEGs were then analyzed using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), and 4 gene expression modules and 20 hub genes were identified that were associated with the development of hindlimbs in the Chinese alligator at different periods. The results of GO enrichment and hub gene expression showed that the hindlimb development of the Chinese alligator embryos involves the development of the embryonic structure, nervous system, and hindlimb muscle in the early stage (H29) and the development of metabolic capacity occurs in the later stage (H46). Additionally, the enrichment results showed that the AMPK signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction are involved in the development of the hindlimb of the Chinese alligator. Among these, the HIF-1 signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction may be related to the adaptation of Chinese alligators to low-oxygen environments. Additionally, five DEGs (CAV1, IRS2, LDHA, LDB3, and MYL3) were randomly selected for qRT-PCR to verify the transcriptome results. It is expected that further research on these genes will help us to better understand the process of embryonic hindlimb development in the Chinese alligator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuyang Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (L.Y.); (M.L.); (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (T.P.)
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Mengqin Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (L.Y.); (M.L.); (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (T.P.)
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Yunzhen Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (L.Y.); (M.L.); (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (T.P.)
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Yanan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (L.Y.); (M.L.); (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (T.P.)
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Tao Pan
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (L.Y.); (M.L.); (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (T.P.)
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - En Li
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (L.Y.); (M.L.); (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (T.P.)
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Xiaobing Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; (L.Y.); (M.L.); (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (T.P.)
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
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Gros J, Davey M, Sears KE. Limb development, evolution, and regeneration and repair: Part two. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:1387-1388. [PMID: 36052833 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Gros
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3738, Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Department, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Megan Davey
- Functional Genetics and Development, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Karen E Sears
- Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
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