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Sugino A, Kobayashi M, Sugiura M, Harumoto T. Possible Third Step Preventing Conjugation between Different Species of Blepharisma. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11010188. [PMID: 36677480 PMCID: PMC9866912 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In the genus Blepharisma, reproductive isolation between different species appears to be established at least by two barriers: (1) a mating pheromone, i.e., gamone 1, and (2) a factor involved in pair formation. Using four species, we experimentally investigated other potential barriers to interspecific conjugation in Blepharisma, as well as the first and second barriers. Cell-free fluid from type I cells (CFF1) of B. americanum had no effect on B. undulans, B. japonicum, or B. stoltei. Type II cells of B. americanum responded to CFF1 from B. americanum but not to CFF1 from B. undulans, B. japonicum, or B. stoltei. Gamone 1, therefore, seems to be the first reproductive barrier (with the inclusion of B. americanum species [megakaryotype 3]) as reported previously. In pretreated cells with complementary gamones in B. undulans and B. americanum, inter-species pair formation was rare, but pair formation between B. americanum and B. japonicum and between B. americanum and B. stoltei occurred at relatively high frequency. Most of the inter-species B. americanum−B. stoltei pairs underwent nuclear changes specific to conjugation. No significant difference was observed between the intra- and inter-species pairs over the time course of the nuclear changes, but the percentage of abnormal cells was higher in inter-species pairs than in intra-species pairs, and no progenies were produced by inter-species pairs. These results suggest a third barrier or step, in addition to the first and second ones, in nuclear changes after pair formation that prevents interspecific conjugation in Blepharisma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayu Sugino
- Biological Sciences Course, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Nara Women’s University, Nara 630-8506, Japan
| | - Mayumi Kobayashi
- Division of Science, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Nara Women’s University, Nara 630-8506, Japan
| | - Mayumi Sugiura
- Research Group of Biological Sciences, Division of Natural Sciences, Nara Women’s University, Nara 630-8506, Japan
- Correspondence: (M.S.); (T.H.)
| | - Terue Harumoto
- Research Group of Biological Sciences, Division of Natural Sciences, Nara Women’s University, Nara 630-8506, Japan
- Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Nara Women’s University, Nara 630-8506, Japan
- Correspondence: (M.S.); (T.H.)
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Kobayashi M, Miura M, Takusagawa M, Sugiura M, Harumoto T. Two possible barriers blocking conjugation between different megakaryotypes of Blepharisma. Zoolog Sci 2016; 32:53-61. [PMID: 25660697 DOI: 10.2108/zs140151] [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] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We investigated mating pair formation between three Blepharisma species Blepharisma undulans, Blepharisma japonicum, and Blepharisma stoltei to determine whether their respective gamones (mating pheromones) effectively induce mating pairs between different species. Cell-free fluid from type II cells (CFF2) of B. undulans (megakaryotype II) induced pairing of B. japonicum and B. stoltei type I cells (megakaryotype IV), and CFF2 of B. japonicum and B. stoltei induced pairing of B. undulans type I cells. Cell-free fluid from B. undulans type I cells (CFF1) did not induce pairing of B. japonicum and B. stoltei type II cells, and CFF1 of B. japonicum and B. stoltei failed to induce pairing of B. undulans. CFF1 from B. japonicum and B. stoltei mutually induced pairing, as previously reported. These results indicate that gamone 2 is common among megakaryotypes II and IV, and that gamone 1 appears to be at least megakaryotype-specific. When cells belonging to megakaryotypes II and IV are separately pre-treated with effective gamones and mixed, mating pairs between megakaryotypes rarely form. Taken together, these results suggest at least two barriers, a gamone and a factor involved in pair formation, that prevent conjugation between different megakaryotypes of Blepharisma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Kobayashi
- 1 Graduate School of Natural Science and Ecological Awareness, Nara Women's University, Kitauoya-nishi-machi, Nara 630-8506, Japan
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Sugiura M, Shiotani H, Suzaki T, Harumoto T. Behavioural changes induced by the conjugation-inducing pheromones, gamone 1 and 2, in the ciliate Blepharisma japonicum. Eur J Protistol 2010; 46:143-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2010.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2009] [Revised: 12/04/2009] [Accepted: 12/18/2009] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Uruma Y, Sugiura M, Harumoto T, Usuki Y, Iio H. Synthesis of fluorescent molecular probes specific for the receptor of blepharismone, a mating-inducing pheromone of the ciliate Blepharisma japonicum. Bioorg Med Chem 2006; 15:1622-7. [PMID: 17189699 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2006.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2006] [Revised: 12/10/2006] [Accepted: 12/12/2006] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Blepharismone (gamone 2) is a mating-inducing pheromone of the ciliate Blepharisma japonicum. N-Pyrenylbutyryl-blepharismone and N-biphenylacetyl-blepharismone, which are fluorescent derivatives of blepharismone, were synthesized as molecular probes for the gamone 2 receptor. Further, we proved that they have inhibitory activities against the blepharismone-induced monotypic pairing of B. japonicum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiyuki Uruma
- Department of Material Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
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Sugiura M, Harumoto T. Identification, characterization, and complete amino acid sequence of the conjugation-inducing glycoprotein (blepharmone) in the ciliate Blepharisma japonicum. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001; 98:14446-51. [PMID: 11724922 PMCID: PMC64701 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.221457698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Conjugation in Blepharisma japonicum is induced by interaction between complementary mating-types I and II, which excrete blepharmone (gamone 1) and blepharismone (gamone 2), respectively. Gamone 1 transforms type II cells such that they can unite, and gamone 2 similarly transforms type I cells. Moreover, each gamone promotes the production of the other gamone. Gamone 2 has been identified as calcium-3-(2'-formylamino-5'-hydroxy-benzoyl) lactate and has been synthesized chemically. Gamone 1 was isolated and characterized as a glycoprotein of 20-30 kDa containing 175 amino acids and 6 sugars. However, the amino acid sequence and arrangement of sugars in this gamone are still unknown. To determine partial amino acid sequences of gamone 1, we established a method of isolation based on the finding that this glycoprotein can be concentrated by a Con A affinity column. Gamone 1 is extremely unstable and loses its biological activity once adsorbed to any of the columns that we tested. By using a Con A affinity column and native PAGE, we detected a 30-kDa protein corresponding to gamone 1 activity and determined the partial amino acid sequences of the four peptides. To isolate gamone 1 cDNA, we isolated mRNA from mating-type I cells stimulated by synthetic gamone 2 and then performed rapid amplification of cDNA ends procedures by using gene-specific primers and cloned cDNA of gamone 1. The cDNA sequence contains an ORF of 305 amino acids and codes a possibly novel protein. We also estimated the arrangement of sugars by comparing the affinity to various lectin columns.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sugiura
- Department of Biological Science, Nara Women's University, Nara 630-8506, Japan
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Hirschmann R, Yager KM, Taylor CM, Witherington J, Sprengeler PA, Phillips BW, Moore W, Smith AB. Phosphonate Diester and Phosphonamide Synthesis. Reaction Coordinate Analysis by 31P NMR Spectroscopy: Identification of Pyrophosphonate Anhydrides and Highly Reactive Phosphonylammonium Salts1. J Am Chem Soc 1997. [DOI: 10.1021/ja962465o] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Hirschmann
- Contribution from the Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, and Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Kraig M. Yager
- Contribution from the Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, and Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Carol M. Taylor
- Contribution from the Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, and Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Jason Witherington
- Contribution from the Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, and Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Paul A. Sprengeler
- Contribution from the Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, and Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Barton W. Phillips
- Contribution from the Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, and Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - William Moore
- Contribution from the Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, and Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Amos B. Smith
- Contribution from the Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, and Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
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