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Oulhen N, Morita S, Pieplow C, Onorato TM, Foster S, Wessel G. Conservation and contrast in cell states of echinoderm ovaries. Mol Reprod Dev 2023:10.1002/mrd.23721. [PMID: 38054259 PMCID: PMC11153327 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23721] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Echinoderms produce functional gametes throughout their lifespan, in some cases exceeding 200 years. The histology and ultrastructure of echinoderm ovaries has been described but how these ovaries function and maintain the production of high-quality gametes remains a mystery. Here, we present the first single cell RNA sequencing data sets of mature ovaries from two sea urchin species (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus [Sp] and Lytechinus variegatus [Lv]), and one sea star species (Patiria miniata [Pm]). We find 14 cell states in the Sp ovary, 16 cell states in the Lv ovary and 13 cell states in the ovary of the sea star. This resource is essential to understand the structure and functional biology of the ovary in echinoderms, and better informs decisions in the utilization of in situ RNA hybridization probes selective for various cell types. We link key genes with cell clusters in validation of this approach. This resource also aids in the identification of the stem cells for prolonged and continuous gamete production, is a foundation for testing changes in the annual reproductive cycle, and is essential for understanding the evolution of reproduction of this important phylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Oulhen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Shumpei Morita
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Asamushi Research Center for Marine Biology, Tohoku University, Aomori, 039-3501, Japan
| | - Cosmo Pieplow
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Thomas M. Onorato
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Department of Natural Sciences, LaGuardia Community College, Long Island City, NY 11101, USA
| | - Stephany Foster
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Gary Wessel
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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Pieplow CA, Furze AR, Wessel GM. A case of hermaphroditism in the gonochoristic sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, reveals key mechanisms of sex determination†. Biol Reprod 2023; 108:960-973. [PMID: 36943312 PMCID: PMC10266946 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Sea urchins are usually gonochoristic, with all of their five gonads either testes or ovaries. Here, we report an unusual case of hermaphroditism in the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. The hermaphrodite is self-fertile, and one of the gonads is an ovotestis; it is largely an ovary with a small segment containing fully mature sperm. Molecular analysis demonstrated that each gonad producedviable gametes, and we identified for the first time a somatic sex-specific marker in this phylum: Doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1 (DMRT1). This finding also enabled us to analyze the somatic tissues of the hermaphrodite, and we found that the oral tissues (including gut) were out of register with the aboral tissues (including tube feet) enabling a genetic lineage analysis. Results from this study support a genetic basis of sex determination in sea urchins, the viability of hermaphroditism, and distinguish gonad determination from somatic tissue organization in the adult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosmo A Pieplow
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Aidan R Furze
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Gary M Wessel
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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Kipryushina YO, Maiorova MA, Yakovlev KV. An approach to quantitate maternal transcripts localized in sea urchin egg cortex using RT-qPCR with accurate normalization. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0260831. [PMID: 35709154 PMCID: PMC9202947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The sea urchin egg cortex is a peripheral region of eggs comprising a cell membrane and adjacent cytoplasm, which contains actin and tubulin cytoskeleton, cortical granules and some proteins required for early development. Method for isolation of cortices from sea urchin eggs and early embryos was developed in 1970s. Since then, this method has been reliable tool to study protein localization and cytoskeletal organization in cortex of unfertilized eggs and embryos during first cleavages. This study was aimed to estimate the reliability of RT-qPCR to analyze levels of maternal transcripts that are localized in egg cortex. Firstly, we selected seven potential reference genes, 28S, Cycb, Ebr1, GAPDH, Hmg1, Smtnl1 and Ubb, the transcripts of which are maternally deposited in sea urchin eggs. The candidate reference genes were ranked by five different algorithms (BestKeeper, CV, ΔCt, geNorm and NormFinder) based on calculated level of stability in both eggs as well as isolated cortices. Our results showed that gene ranking differs in total RNA and mRNA samples, though Ubb is most suitable reference gene in both cases. To validate feasibility of comparative analysis of eggs and isolated egg cortices, we selected Daglb-2 as a gene of interest, which transcripts are potentially localized in cortex according to transcriptome analysis, and observed increased level of Daglb-2 in egg cortices by RT-qPCR. This suggests that proposed RNA isolation method with subsequent quantitative RT-qPCR analysis can be used to determine cortical association of transcripts in sea urchin eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia O. Kipryushina
- Laboratory of Cytotechnology, A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Mariia A. Maiorova
- Laboratory of Cytotechnology, A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Konstantin V. Yakovlev
- Laboratory of Cytotechnology, A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
- * E-mail:
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Cui Z, Zhang J, Sun Z, Liu B, Han Y, Zhao C, Chang Y. Testis-specific expression pattern of dmrt1 and its putative regulatory region in the sea urchin (Mesocentrotus nudus). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 257:110668. [PMID: 34384887 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110668] [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: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Sea urchin (Mseocentrotus nudus) is an economically important mariculture species in several Asian countries. The growth rate and immunocompetence differ by sex in this species. However, the mechanisms of sex determination in M. nudus have remain unclear. In the present study, we focus on the dmrt1 gene of M. nudus (Mndmrt1) to investigate its dynamic expression pattern during different developmental stages. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed that Mndmrt1 exhibits testis-specific expression and undetectable during the whole embryogenesis. With the development of ontogenetic, Mndmrt1 transcripts are first detected at 9 months post-fertilization (mpf). In addition, both the transcripts and protein of Mndmrt1 gene were specifically expressed in spermatogonia and spermatocytes, indicating that it might be a male germ cells marker in sea urchin. Significantly, the 1441 bp promoter sequence of Mndmrt1 gene was obtained by DNA walking, and one positive regulatory region at -1197/ -968 in the promoter, as well as one negative regulatory region at -1441/ -1198 have been identified by promoter activity analysis. Moreover, two regulatory regions contain multiple putative binding sites for transcription factors, including Sp1, Egr1, Sox5, CEBP, GATA and SRY. These findings suggest that Mndmrt1 may be related to testis differentiation and spermatogenesis in sea urchin and will provide an insight into understanding the regulatory mechanism of the dmrt1 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhouping Cui
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China; School of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, China
| | - Zhihui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Bingzheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Yalun Han
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Chong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Yaqing Chang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
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Zhang J, Han X, Wang J, Liu BZ, Wei JL, Zhang WJ, Sun ZH, Chang YQ. Molecular Cloning and Sexually Dimorphic Expression Analysis of nanos2 in the Sea Urchin, Mesocentrotus nudus. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20112705. [PMID: 31159444 PMCID: PMC6600436 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20112705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea urchin (Mesocentrotus nudus) is an economically important mariculture species in China and the gonads are the solely edible parts to human. The molecular mechanisms of gonad development have attracted increasing attention in recent years. Although the nanos2 gene has been identified as a germ cell marker in several invertebrates, little is known about nanos2 in adult sea urchins. Hereinto, we report the characterization of Mnnano2, an M. nudus nanos2 homology gene. Mnnanos2 is a maternal factor and can be detected continuously during embryogenesis and early ontogeny. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and section in situ hybridization (ISH) analysis revealed a dynamic and sexually dimorphic expression pattern of Mnnano2 in the gonads. Its expression reached the maximal level at Stage 2 along with the gonad development in both ovary and testis. In the ovary, Mnnanos2 is specifically expressed in germ cells. In contrast, Mnnanos2 is expressed in both nutritive phagocytes (NP) cells and male germ cells in testis. Moreover, knocking down of Mnnanos2 by means of RNA interference (RNAi) reduced nanos2 and boule expression but conversely increased the expression of foxl2. Therefore, our data suggest that Mnnanos2 may serve as a female germ cell marker during gametogenesis and provide chances to uncover its function in adult sea urchin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Xiao Han
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Jin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Bing-Zheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Jin-Liang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Wei-Jie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Zhi-Hui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Ya-Qing Chang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
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Yakovlev KV. Localization of germ plasm-related structures during sea urchin oogenesis. Dev Dyn 2015; 245:56-66. [PMID: 26385846 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal germ cells have specific organelles that are similar to ribonucleoprotein complex, called germ plasm, which is accumulated in eggs. Germ plasm is essential for inherited mechanism of germ line segregation in early embryogenesis. Sea urchins have early germ line segregation in early embryogenesis. Nevertheless, organization of germ plasm-related organelles and their molecular composition are still unclear. Another issue is whether maternally accumulated germ plasm exists in the sea urchin eggs. RESULTS I analyzed intracellular localization of germ plasm during oogenesis in sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius by using morphological approach and immunocytochemical detection of Vasa, a germ plasm marker. All ovarian germ cells have germ plasm-related organelles in the form of germ granules, Balbiani bodies, and perinuclear nuage found previously in germ cells in other animals. Maternal germ plasm is accumulated in late oogenesis at the cell periphery. Cytoskeletal drug treatment showed an association of Vasa-positive granules with actin filaments in the egg cortex. CONCLUSIONS All female germ cells of sea urchins have germ plasm-related organelles. Eggs have a maternally accumulated germ plasm associated with cortical cytoskeleton. These findings correlate with early segregation of germ line in sea urchins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin V Yakovlev
- Laboratory of Cytotechnology, A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
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Mercurio S, Di Benedetto C, Sugni M, Candia Carnevali MD. Primary cell cultures from sea urchin ovaries: a new experimental tool. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2013; 50:139-45. [PMID: 24002666 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-013-9686-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In the present work, primary cell cultures from ovaries of the edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus were developed in order to provide a simple and versatile experimental tool for researches in echinoderm reproductive biology. Ovary cell phenotypes were identified and characterized by different microscopic techniques. Although cell cultures could be produced from ovaries at all stages of maturation, the cells appeared healthier and viable, displaying a higher survival rate, when ovaries at early stages of gametogenesis were used. In terms of culture medium, ovarian cells were successfully cultured in modified Leibovitz-15 medium, whereas poor results were obtained in minimum essential medium Eagle and medium 199. Different substrates were tested, but ovarian cells completely adhered only on poly-L-lysine. To improve in vitro conditions and stimulate cell proliferation, different serum-supplements were tested. Fetal calf serum and an originally developed pluteus extract were detrimental to cell survival, apparently accelerating processes of cell death. In contrast, cells cultured with sea urchin egg extract appeared larger and healthier, displaying an increased longevity that allowed maintaining them for up to 1 month. Overall, our study provides new experimental bases and procedures for producing successfully long-term primary cell cultures from sea urchin ovaries offering a good potential to study echinoid oogenesis in a controlled system and to investigate different aspects of echinoderm endocrinology and reproductive biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Mercurio
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, via Celoria, 26-20133, Milan, Italy,
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Yan M, Sui J, Sheng W, Shao M, Zhang Z. Expression pattern of vasa in gonads of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus during gametogenesis and reproductive cycle. Gene Expr Patterns 2013; 13:171-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2013.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2012] [Revised: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Walker CW, Lesser M, Unuma T. Sea Urchin Gametogenesis – Structural, Functional and Molecular/Genomic Biology. DEVELOPMENTS IN AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES SCIENCE 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-396491-5.00003-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Hidden Treasures in Stem Cells of Indeterminately Growing Bilaterian Invertebrates. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2011; 8:305-17. [DOI: 10.1007/s12015-011-9303-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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