1
|
Janssen R, Pechmann M. Expression of posterior Hox genes and opisthosomal appendage development in a mygalomorph spider. Dev Genes Evol 2023; 233:107-121. [PMID: 37495828 PMCID: PMC10746769 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-023-00707-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Spiders represent an evolutionary successful group of chelicerate arthropods. The body of spiders is subdivided into two regions (tagmata). The anterior tagma, the prosoma, bears the head appendages and four pairs of walking legs. The segments of the posterior tagma, the opisthosoma, either lost their appendages during the course of evolution or their appendages were substantially modified to fulfill new tasks such as reproduction, gas exchange, and silk production. Previous work has shown that the homeotic Hox genes are involved in shaping the posterior appendages of spiders. In this paper, we investigate the expression of the posterior Hox genes in a tarantula that possesses some key differences of posterior appendages compared to true spiders, such as the lack of the anterior pair of spinnerets and a second set of book lungs instead of trachea. Based on the observed differences in posterior Hox gene expression in true spiders and tarantulas, we argue that subtle changes in the Hox gene expression of the Hox genes abdA and AbdB are possibly responsible for at least some of the morphological differences seen in true spiders versus tarantulas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Janssen
- Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Matthias Pechmann
- Institute for Zoology, Biocenter, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mohtar JA, Shahimin MFM. Laboratory breeding and rearing of cellar spider, Crossopriza lyoni Blackwall. Dev Genes Evol 2022; 232:125-136. [PMID: 36190549 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-022-00697-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Spiders have emerged as one of the leading model organisms in many research fields due to their compelling biology. Often, scientific investigations involving the use of spiders face inevitable problems associated with the lack of specimens from laboratory stock, resulting in difficulties in yielding reproducible investigations for predictive research. Thus, several species of well-studied spiders, including Parasteatoda tepidariorum, have been successfully bred for such purposes. Crossopriza lyoni is a Haplogyne spider, globally distributed and widespread in human inhabitants, prompting interest in various studies over the last decades. Despite its scientific importance, no laboratory-bred C. lyoni has been documented. Therefore, we describe a successful captive breeding system of the species under controlled conditions to establish a laboratory stock culture. Methods for mating induction, egg collection and segregation, artificial embryo incubation, and colony husbandry are discussed. The technique presented is a simple and low-cost approach that is reliable for C. lyoni propagation in the laboratory over several generations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johan Ariff Mohtar
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 02100, Padang Besar, Perlis, Malaysia.
| | - Mohd Faidz Mohamad Shahimin
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 02100, Padang Besar, Perlis, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Iwasaki-Yokozawa S, Nanjo R, Akiyama-Oda Y, Oda H. Lineage-specific, fast-evolving GATA-like gene regulates zygotic gene activation to promote endoderm specification and pattern formation in the Theridiidae spider. BMC Biol 2022; 20:223. [PMID: 36203191 PMCID: PMC9535882 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01421-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
The process of early development varies across the species-rich phylum Arthropoda. Owing to the limited research strategies for dissecting lineage-specific processes of development in arthropods, little is known about the variations in early arthropod development at molecular resolution. The Theridiidae spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum, has its genome sequenced and could potentially contribute to dissecting early embryonic processes. Results We present genome-wide identification of candidate genes that exhibit locally restricted expression in germ disc forming stage embryos of P. tepidariorum, based on comparative transcriptomes of isolated cells from different regions of the embryo. A subsequent pilot screen by parental RNA interference identifies three genes required for body axis formation. One of them is a GATA-like gene that has been fast evolving after duplication and divergence from a canonical GATA family gene. This gene is designated fuchi nashi (fuchi) after its knockdown phenotypes, where the cell movement toward the formation of a germ disc was reversed. fuchi expression occurs in cells outside a forming germ disc and persists in the endoderm. Transcriptome and chromatin accessibility analyses of fuchi pRNAi embryos suggest that early fuchi activity regulates chromatin state and zygotic gene activation to promote endoderm specification and pattern formation. We also show that there are many uncharacterized genes regulated by fuchi. Conclusions Our genome-based research using an arthropod phylogenetically distant from Drosophila identifies a lineage-specific, fast-evolving gene with key developmental roles in one of the earliest, genome-wide regulatory events, and allows for molecular exploration of the developmental variations in early arthropod embryos. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01421-0.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sawa Iwasaki-Yokozawa
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology, JT Biohistory Research Hall, Takatsuki, Osaka, 569-1125, Japan
| | - Ryota Nanjo
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology, JT Biohistory Research Hall, Takatsuki, Osaka, 569-1125, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan
| | - Yasuko Akiyama-Oda
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology, JT Biohistory Research Hall, Takatsuki, Osaka, 569-1125, Japan.,PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, 332-0012, Japan.,Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki, Japan
| | - Hiroki Oda
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology, JT Biohistory Research Hall, Takatsuki, Osaka, 569-1125, Japan. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Janeschik M, Schacht MI, Platten F, Turetzek N. It takes Two: Discovery of Spider Pax2 Duplicates Indicates Prominent Role in Chelicerate Central Nervous System, Eye, as Well as External Sense Organ Precursor Formation and Diversification After Neo- and Subfunctionalization. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.810077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Paired box genes are conserved across animals and encode transcription factors playing key roles in development, especially neurogenesis. Pax6 is a chief example for functional conservation required for eye development in most bilaterian lineages except chelicerates. Pax6 is ancestrally linked and was shown to have interchangeable functions with Pax2. Drosophila melanogaster Pax2 plays an important role in the development of sensory hairs across the whole body. In addition, it is required for the differentiation of compound eyes, making it a prime candidate to study the genetic basis of arthropod sense organ development and diversification, as well as the role of Pax genes in eye development. Interestingly, in previous studies identification of chelicerate Pax2 was either neglected or failed. Here we report the expression of two Pax2 orthologs in the common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum, a model organism for chelicerate development. The two Pax2 orthologs most likely arose as a consequence of a whole genome duplication in the last common ancestor of spiders and scorpions. Pax2.1 is expressed in the peripheral nervous system, including developing lateral eyes and external sensilla, as well as the ventral neuroectoderm of P. tepidariorum embryos. This not only hints at a conserved dual role of Pax2/5/8 orthologs in arthropod sense organ development but suggests that in chelicerates, Pax2 could have acquired the role usually played by Pax6. For the other paralog, Pt-Pax2.2, expression was detected in the brain, but not in the lateral eyes and the expression pattern associated with sensory hairs differs in timing, pattern, and strength. To achieve a broader phylogenetic sampling, we also studied the expression of both Pax2 genes in the haplogyne cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides. We found that the expression difference between paralogs is even more extreme in this species, since Pp-Pax2.2 shows an interesting expression pattern in the ventral neuroectoderm while the expression in the prosomal appendages is strictly mesodermal. This expression divergence indicates both sub- and neofunctionalization after Pax2 duplication in spiders and thus presents an opportunity to study the evolution of functional divergence after gene duplication and its impact on sense organ diversification.
Collapse
|
5
|
Janssen R, Turetzek N, Pechmann M. Lack of evidence for conserved parasegmental grooves in arthropods. Dev Genes Evol 2022; 232:27-37. [PMID: 35038005 PMCID: PMC8918137 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-022-00684-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In the arthropod model species Drosophila melanogaster, a dipteran fly, segmentation of the anterior–posterior body axis is under control of a hierarchic gene cascade. Segmental boundaries that form morphological grooves are established posteriorly within the segmental expression domain of the segment-polarity gene (SPG) engrailed (en). More important for the development of the fly, however, are the parasegmental boundaries that are established at the interface of en expressing cells and anteriorly adjacent wingless (wg) expressing cells. In Drosophila, both segmental and transient parasegmental grooves form. The latter are positioned anterior to the expression of en. Although the function of the SPGs in establishing and maintaining segmental and parasegmental boundaries is highly conserved among arthropods, parasegmental grooves have only been reported for Drosophila, and a spider (Cupiennius salei). Here, we present new data on en expression, and re-evaluate published data, from four distantly related spiders, including Cupiennius, and a distantly related chelicerate, the harvestman Phalangium opilio. Gene expression analysis of en genes in these animals does not corroborate the presence of parasegmental grooves. Consequently, our data question the general presence of parasegmental grooves in arthropods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Janssen
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, 75236, Palaeobiology, Sweden.
| | - Natascha Turetzek
- Evolutionary Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Grosshaderner Strasse 2, 82152, Biozentrum, Germany
| | - Matthias Pechmann
- Institute for Zoology, Department of Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, 50674, Biocenter, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Janssen R, Pechmann M, Turetzek N. A chelicerate Wnt gene expression atlas: novel insights into the complexity of arthropod Wnt-patterning. EvoDevo 2021; 12:12. [PMID: 34753512 PMCID: PMC8579682 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-021-00182-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt genes represent a large family of secreted glycoprotein ligands that date back to early animal evolution. Multiple duplication events generated a set of 13 Wnt families of which 12 are preserved in protostomes. Embryonic Wnt expression patterns (Wnt-patterning) are complex, representing the plentitude of functions these genes play during development. Here, we comprehensively investigated the embryonic expression patterns of Wnt genes from three species of spiders covering both main groups of true spiders, Haplogynae and Entelegynae, a mygalomorph species (tarantula), as well as a distantly related chelicerate outgroup species, the harvestman Phalangium opilio. All spiders possess the same ten classes of Wnt genes, but retained partially different sets of duplicated Wnt genes after whole genome duplication, some of which representing impressive examples of sub- and neo-functionalization. The harvestman, however, possesses a more complete set of 11 Wnt genes but with no duplicates. Our comprehensive data-analysis suggests a high degree of complexity and evolutionary flexibility of Wnt-patterning likely providing a firm network of mutational protection. We discuss the new data on Wnt gene expression in terms of their potential function in segmentation, posterior elongation, and appendage development and critically review previous research on these topics. We conclude that earlier research may have suffered from the absence of comprehensive gene expression data leading to partial misconceptions about the roles of Wnt genes in development and evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Janssen
- Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Matthias Pechmann
- Department of Developmental Biology, Biocenter, Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Natascha Turetzek
- Evolutionary Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Grosshaderner Strasse 2, 82152, Biozentrum, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Oda H, Iwasaki-Yokozawa S, Usui T, Akiyama-Oda Y. Experimental duplication of bilaterian body axes in spider embryos: Holm's organizer and self-regulation of embryonic fields. Dev Genes Evol 2020; 230:49-63. [PMID: 30972574 PMCID: PMC7128006 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-019-00631-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Bilaterally symmetric body plans of vertebrates and arthropods are defined by a single set of two orthogonal axes, the anterior-posterior (or head-tail) and dorsal-ventral axes. In vertebrates, and especially amphibians, complete or partial doubling of the bilaterian body axes can be induced by two different types of embryological manipulations: transplantation of an organizer region or bi-sectioning of an embryo. Such axis doubling relies on the ability of embryonic fields to flexibly respond to the situation and self-regulate toward forming a whole body. This phenomenon has facilitated experimental efforts to investigate the mechanisms of vertebrate body axes formation. However, few studies have addressed the self-regulatory capabilities of embryonic fields associated with body axes formation in non-vertebrate bilaterians. The pioneer spider embryologist Åke Holm reported twinning of spider embryos induced by both types of embryological manipulations in 1952; yet, his experiments have not been replicated by other investigators, and access to spider or non-vertebrate twins has been limited. In this review, we provide a historical background on twinning experiments in spiders, and an overview of current twinning approaches in familiar spider species and related molecular studies. Moreover, we discuss the benefits of the spider model system for a deeper understanding of the ancestral mechanisms of body axes formation in arthropods, as well as in bilaterians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Oda
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology, JT Biohistory Research Hall, 1-1 Murasaki-cho, Takatsuki, Osaka, 569-1125, Japan.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Sawa Iwasaki-Yokozawa
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology, JT Biohistory Research Hall, 1-1 Murasaki-cho, Takatsuki, Osaka, 569-1125, Japan
| | | | - Yasuko Akiyama-Oda
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology, JT Biohistory Research Hall, 1-1 Murasaki-cho, Takatsuki, Osaka, 569-1125, Japan
- Microbiology and Infection Control, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pechmann M. Embryonic development and secondary axis induction in the Brazilian white knee tarantula Acanthoscurria geniculata, C. L. Koch, 1841 (Araneae; Mygalomorphae; Theraphosidae). Dev Genes Evol 2020; 230:75-94. [PMID: 32076811 PMCID: PMC7128004 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-020-00653-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tarantulas represent some of the heaviest and most famous spiders. However, there is little information about the embryonic development of these spiders or their relatives (infraorder Mygalomorphae) and time-lapse recording of the embryonic development is entirely missing. I here describe the complete development of the Brazilian white knee tarantula, Acanthoscurria geniculata, in fixed and live embryos. The establishment of the blastoderm, the formation, migration and signalling of the cumulus and the shape changes that occur in the segment addition zone are analysed in detail. In addition, I show that there might be differences in the contraction process of early embryos of different theraphosid spider species. A new embryonic reference transcriptome was generated for this study and was used to clone and analyse the expression of several important developmental genes. Finally, I show that embryos of A. geniculata are amenable to tissue transplantation and bead insertion experiments. Using these functional approaches, I induced axis duplication in embryos via cumulus transplantation and ectopic activation of BMP signalling. Overall, the mygalomorph spider A. geniculata is a useful laboratory system to analyse evolutionary developmental questions, and the availability of such a system will help understanding conserved and divergent aspects of spider/chelicerate development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Pechmann
- Institute for Zoology, Department for Developmental Biology, Biocenter, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, 50674, Cologne, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Expression and function of the zinc finger transcription factor Sp6-9 in the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum. Dev Genes Evol 2017; 227:389-400. [PMID: 29116381 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-017-0595-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Zinc finger transcription factors of the Sp6-9 group are evolutionarily conserved in all metazoans and have important functions in, e.g., limb formation and heart development. The function of Sp6-9-related genes has been studied in a number of vertebrates and invertebrates, but data from chelicerates (spiders and allies) was lacking so far. We have isolated the ortholog of Sp6-9 from the common house spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum and the cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides. We show that the Sp6-9 gene in these spider species is expressed in the developing appendages thus suggesting a conserved role in limb formation. Indeed, RNAi with Sp6-9 in P. tepidariorum leads not only to strong limb defects, but also to the loss of body segments and head defects in more strongly affected animals. Together with a new expression domain in the early embryo, these data suggest that Sp6-9 has a dual role P. tepidariorum. The early role in head and body segment formation is not known from other arthropods, but the role in limb formation is evolutionarily highly conserved.
Collapse
|
10
|
Turetzek N, Khadjeh S, Schomburg C, Prpic NM. Rapid diversification of homothorax expression patterns after gene duplication in spiders. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:168. [PMID: 28709396 PMCID: PMC5513375 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-1013-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Gene duplications provide genetic material for the evolution of new morphological and physiological features. One copy can preserve the original gene functions while the second copy may evolve new functions (neofunctionalisation). Gene duplications may thus provide new genes involved in evolutionary novelties. Results We have studied the duplicated homeobox gene homothorax (hth) in the spider species Parasteatoda tepidariorum and Pholcus phalangioides and have compared these data with previously published data from additional spider species. We show that the expression pattern of hth1 is highly conserved among spiders, consistent with the notion that this gene copy preserves the original hth functions. By contrast, hth2 has a markedly different expression profile especially in the prosomal appendages. The pattern in the pedipalps and legs consists of several segmental rings, suggesting a possible role of hth2 in limb joint development. Intriguingly, however, the hth2 pattern is much less conserved between the species than hth1 and shows a species specific pattern in each species investigated so far. Conclusions We hypothesise that the hth2 gene has gained a new patterning function after gene duplication, but has then undergone a second phase of diversification of its new role in the spider clade. The evolution of hth2 may thus provide an interesting example for a duplicated gene that has not only contributed to genetic diversity through neofunctionalisation, but beyond that has been able to escape evolutionary conservation after neofunctionalisation thus forming the basis for further genetic diversification. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-017-1013-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Turetzek
- Abteilung für Entwicklungsbiologie, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Göttingen, Germany.,Current address: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Abteilung Zelluläre Neurobiologie, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sara Khadjeh
- Abteilung für Entwicklungsbiologie, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Göttingen, Germany.,Present address: Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Schomburg
- Abteilung für Entwicklungsbiologie, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany.,Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nikola-Michael Prpic
- Abteilung für Entwicklungsbiologie, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany. .,Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Ernst-Caspari-Haus, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|