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Habib MR, Bu L, Posavi M, Zhong D, Yan G, Zhang SM. Yolk proteins of the schistosomiasis vector snail Biomphalaria glabrata revealed by multi-omics analysis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1820. [PMID: 38245605 PMCID: PMC10799875 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52392-x] [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: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Vitellogenesis is the most important process in animal reproduction, in which yolk proteins play a vital role. Among multiple yolk protein precursors, vitellogenin (Vtg) is a well-known major yolk protein (MYP) in most oviparous animals. However, the nature of MYP in the freshwater gastropod snail Biomphalaria glabrata remains elusive. In the current study, we applied bioinformatics, tissue-specific transcriptomics, ovotestis-targeted proteomics, and phylogenetics to investigate the large lipid transfer protein (LLTP) superfamily and ferritin-like family in B. glabrata. Four members of LLTP superfamily (BgVtg1, BgVtg2, BgApo1, and BgApo2), one yolk ferritin (Bg yolk ferritin), and four soma ferritins (Bg ferritin 1, 2, 3, and 4) were identified in B. glabrata genome. The proteomic analysis demonstrated that, among the putative yolk proteins, BgVtg1 was the yolk protein appearing in the highest amount in the ovotestis, followed by Bg yolk ferritin. RNAseq profile showed that the leading synthesis sites of BgVtg1 and Bg yolk ferritin are in the ovotestis (presumably follicle cells) and digestive gland, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that BgVtg1 is well clustered with Vtgs of other vertebrates and invertebrates. We conclude that, vitellogenin (BgVtg1), not yolk ferritin (Bg yolk ferritin), is the major yolk protein precursor in the schistosomiasis vector snail B. glabrata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed R Habib
- Department of Biology, Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Lijing Bu
- Department of Biology, Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Marijan Posavi
- Department of Biology, Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Daibin Zhong
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Guiyun Yan
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Si-Ming Zhang
- Department of Biology, Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
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Hillberg AK, Smith MK, Lausen BS, Suwansa-ard S, Johnston R, Mitu SA, MacDonald LE, Zhao M, Motti CA, Wang T, Elizur A, Nakashima K, Satoh N, Cummins SF. Crown-of-thorns starfish spines secrete defence proteins. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15689. [PMID: 37637177 PMCID: PMC10448888 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthaster species) is a slow-moving corallivore protected by an extensive array of long, sharp toxic spines. Envenomation can result in nausea, numbness, vomiting, joint aches and sometimes paralysis. Small molecule saponins and the plancitoxin proteins have been implicated in COTS toxicity. Methods Brine shrimp lethality assays were used to confirm the secretion of spine toxin biomolecules. Histological analysis, followed by spine-derived proteomics helped to explain the source and identity of proteins, while quantitative RNA-sequencing and phylogeny confirmed target gene expression and relative conservation, respectively. Results We demonstrate the lethality of COTS spine secreted biomolecules on brine shrimp, including significant toxicity using aboral spine semi-purifications of >10 kDa (p > 0.05, 9.82 µg/ml), supporting the presence of secreted proteins as toxins. Ultrastructure observations of the COTS aboral spine showed the presence of pores that could facilitate the distribution of secreted proteins. Subsequent purification and mass spectrometry analysis of spine-derived proteins identified numerous secretory proteins, including plancitoxins, as well as those with relatively high gene expression in spines, including phospholipase A2, protease inhibitor 16-like protein, ependymin-related proteins and those uncharacterized. Some secretory proteins (e.g., vitellogenin and deleted in malignant brain tumor protein 1) were not highly expressed in spine tissue, yet the spine may serve as a storage or release site. This study contributes to our understanding of the COTS through functional, ultrastructural and proteomic analysis of aboral spines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam K. Hillberg
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
| | - Meaghan K. Smith
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
| | - Blake S. Lausen
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
| | - Saowaros Suwansa-ard
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
| | - Ryan Johnston
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
| | - Shahida A. Mitu
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
| | - Leah E. MacDonald
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
| | - Min Zhao
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
| | - Cherie A. Motti
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
| | - Tianfang Wang
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
| | - Abigail Elizur
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
| | - Keisuke Nakashima
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Scott F. Cummins
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia
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Eckelbarger KJ, Hodgson AN. Invertebrate oogenesis – a review and synthesis: comparative ovarian morphology, accessory cell function and the origins of yolk precursors. INVERTEBR REPROD DEV 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/07924259.2021.1927861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J. Eckelbarger
- Darling Marine Center, School of Marine Sciences, The University of Maine, Walpole, Maine, U.S.A
| | - Alan N. Hodgson
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
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Thongbuakaew T, Suwansa-Ard S, Chaiyamoon A, Cummins SF, Sobhon P. Sex steroids and steroidogenesis-related genes in the sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra and their potential role in gonad maturation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2194. [PMID: 33500499 PMCID: PMC7838161 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81917-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The sea cucumber Holothuria scabra is an economically valuable marine species which is distributed throughout the Asia-Pacific region. With the natural population declining due to over fishing, aquaculture of this species is deemed necessary. Hence, it is essential to understand the mechanisms regulating the reproduction in order to increase their populations. Sex steroids, including estrogens, androgens and progestogens, play an important role in reproduction in most vertebrates and several invertebrates. It has been proposed that sea cucumbers have the same sex steroids as vertebrates but the steroidogenic pathway in the sea cucumbers is still unclear. In this study, we demonstrated by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) that sex steroids (estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone) were present in H. scabra neural and gonadal tissues. In silico searches of available sea cucumber transcriptome data identified 26 steroidogenesis-related genes. Comparative analysis of encoded proteins for the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (HscStAR), CYP P450 10, 17 and 3A (HscCYP10, HscCYP17, HscCYP3A) and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (Hsc3β-HSD, Hsc17β-HSD) with other species was performed to confirm their evolutionary conservation. Gene expression analyses revealed widespread tissue expression. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that HscStAR, HscCYP10, Hsc3β-HSD, and Hsc17β-HSD gene expressions were similar to those in ovaries and testes, which increased during the gonad maturation. HscCYP17 mRNA was increased during ovarian development and its expression declined at late stages in females but continued high level in males. The expression of the HscCYP3A was high at the early stages of ovarian development, but not at other later stages in ovaries, however it remained low in testes. Moreover, a role for steroids in reproduction was confirmed following the effect of sex steroids on vitellogenin (Vtg) expression in ovary explant culture, showing upregulation of Vtg level. Collectively, this study has confirmed the existence of steroids in an echinoderm, as well as characterizing key genes associated with the steroidogenic pathway. We propose that sex steroids might also be associated with the reproduction of H. scabra, and the identification of biosynthetic genes enables future functional studies to be performed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saowaros Suwansa-Ard
- Genecology Research Centre, School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Arada Chaiyamoon
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Scott F Cummins
- Genecology Research Centre, School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Prasert Sobhon
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
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Chen C, Li HW, Ku WL, Lin CJ, Chang CF, Wu GC. Two distinct vitellogenin genes are similar in function and expression in the bigfin reef squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana. Biol Reprod 2019; 99:1034-1044. [PMID: 29901793 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Unlike vitellogenin, which is the sole major precursor of yolk protein in all oviparous vertebrates, a variety of major precursor of yolk proteins are found among oviparous invertebrates. Sea urchins have a transferrin-like yolk protein, while all other major precursors of yolk proteins in oviparous invertebrates belong to the superfamily of large lipid transfer proteins (LLTPs). However, a comprehensive understanding of vitellogenesis is absent in cephalopods. To understand control of vitellogenesis by the LLTPs gene, two vitellogenins (VTG1 and VTG2), two apolipophorins (APOLP2A and APOLP2B), and a cytosolic large subunit of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP) found in the bigfin reef squid. Only the two VTGs showed high levels of expression in mature females compared to males. We further analyzed the expression profile and localization of both VTGs/VTGs during ovarian development. Our data showed that VTGs/VTGs expressions were correlated to the female reproductive cycle. Ovarian VTG1 and VTG2 were localized in the follicle cells but not in oocytes. In addition, VTG1 and VTG2 were represented in follicle cells and oocytes. Thus, our results showed that both VTGs were synthesized by follicle cells and are then delivered to oocytes. In addition, we demonstrated that VTGs were the major precursor of yolk protein in bigfin reef squid. We also found differential proteolytic cleavage processes of VTG1 and VTG2 during VTGs accumulation in oocytes. Therefore, our data shed light on the molecular mechanism of the yolk accumulation pathway in cephalopods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih Chen
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Hau-Wen Li
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Lun Ku
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ju Lin
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Fong Chang
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.,Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Chung Wu
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.,Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
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Kitano H, Nagano N, Sakaguchi K, Matsuyama M. Two vitellogenins in the loliginid squid Uroteuthis edulis: Identification and specific expression in ovarian follicles. Mol Reprod Dev 2017; 84:363-375. [PMID: 28218427 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Vitellogenenesis is a physiological process common in oviparous animals. The molecular profile, modifications, and utilization of vitellogenin (VTG), a precursor of yolk protein, have been characterized in various taxa to understand oogenesis within different modes of reproduction. Hormonal regulation of VTGs has been investigated in invertebrates, such as insects and crustaceans; conversely, little is known for cephalopods. In this study, we isolated two VTG genes (ue-VTG1 and ue-VTG2) from the loliginid swordtip squid, Uroteuthis edulis, via a comprehensive survey of a transcriptome database and subsequent cDNA cloning. Structural analysis of the two ue-VTGs revealed their unique features, namely the absence of two domains usually found in VTGs from other organisms: the von Willebrand factor D domain (vWD) and the domain of unknown function 1943 (DUF1943). Levels of ue-VTG1 and ue-VTG2 transcripts in the ovary, specifically in follicular cells, increased during the late-vitellogenic phase, suggesting that yolk accumulation progresses via paracrine interactions involving follicular cells and oocytes. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of biochemically purified yolk protein revealed its origins from these two VTGs, indicating that both are functional precursors of yolk protein. These results provide information that is essential to understanding the physiological pathway of yolk synthesis, accumulation, and storage in loliginid squids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajime Kitano
- Department of Joint Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries Research Institute of Karatsu, Kyushu University, Karatsu, Saga, Japan
| | - Naoki Nagano
- Department of Joint Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries Research Institute of Karatsu, Kyushu University, Karatsu, Saga, Japan
| | - Keishi Sakaguchi
- Department of Joint Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Fisheries Research Institute of Karatsu, Kyushu University, Karatsu, Saga, Japan
| | - Michiya Matsuyama
- Department of Bioresource Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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