1
|
Jun Park B, Bin Yoon Y, Cheol Park S, Ho Lee D, Chung D, Kwak HJ, Kim JW, Cho SJ. Differential inducibility of transmembrane peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) by bacterial challenges in the earthworm, Eisenia andrei. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 206:108166. [PMID: 39004164 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are highly conserved pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Earthworms possess genes encoding TLRs that specifically respond to Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, several PGRPs have been recently identified, which are predicted to exhibit amidase activity but lack receptor function. In lophotrochozoans, a membrane-bound PRR responsible for detecting Gram-negative bacteria remains unidentified. This study reveals several novel transmembrane peptidoglycan recognition proteins (Ean-PGRPLs) in earthworms, whose mRNA expression increases in response to Gram-negative but not Gram-positive bacteria. This indicates that Ean-PGRPLs may serve as a PRR associated with intracellular signaling for Gram-negative bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beom Jun Park
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoo Bin Yoon
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Cheol Park
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Ho Lee
- Da Vinci College of General Education, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - David Chung
- Natural Environment Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Jin Kwak
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Jung-Woong Kim
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sung-Jin Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk 28644, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gorbushin A, Ruparčič M, Anderluh G. Littoporins: Novel actinoporin-like proteins in caenogastropod genus Littorina. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 151:109698. [PMID: 38871141 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
In the course of searching for genes controlling the immune system in caenogastropod mollusks, we characterized and phylogenetically placed five new actinoporin-like cytolysins expressed in periwinkles of the genus Littorina. These newly discovered proteins, named littoporins (LitP), contain a central cytolysin/lectin domain and exhibit a predicted protein fold that is almost identical to the three-dimensional structures of actinoporins. Two of these proteins, LitP-1 and LitP-2, were found to be upregulated in L. littorea kidney tissues and immune cells in response to natural and experimental infection with the trematode Himasthla elongata, suggesting their potential role as perforins in the systemic anti-trematode immune response. The primary sequence divergence of littoporins is hypothesized to be attributed to the taxonomic range of cell membranes they can recognize and permeabilize.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Gorbushin
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry (IEPhB RAS), St Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Matija Ruparčič
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Anderluh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gerdol M, Nerelli DE, Martelossi N, Ogawa Y, Fujii Y, Pallavicini A, Ozeki Y. Taxonomic Distribution and Molecular Evolution of Mytilectins. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:614. [PMID: 38132935 PMCID: PMC10744619 DOI: 10.3390/md21120614] [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: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
R-type lectins are a widespread group of sugar-binding proteins found in nearly all domains of life, characterized by the presence of a carbohydrate-binding domain that adopts a β-trefoil fold. Mytilectins represent a recently described subgroup of β-trefoil lectins, which have been functionally characterized in a few mussel species (Mollusca, Bivalvia) and display attractive properties, which may fuel the development of artificial lectins with different biotechnological applications. The detection of different paralogous genes in mussels, together with the description of orthologous sequences in brachiopods, supports the formal description of mytilectins as a gene family. However, to date, an investigation of the taxonomic distribution of these lectins and their molecular diversification and evolution was still lacking. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the evolutionary history of mytilectins, revealing an ancient monophyletic evolutionary origin and a very broad but highly discontinuous taxonomic distribution, ranging from heteroscleromorphan sponges to ophiuroid and crinoid echinoderms. Moreover, the overwhelming majority of mytilectins display a chimera-like architecture, which combines the β-trefoil carbohydrate recognition domain with a C-terminal pore-forming domain, suggesting that the simpler structure of most functionally characterized mytilectins derives from a secondary domain loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Daniela Eugenia Nerelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Nicola Martelossi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Yukiko Ogawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo 859-3298, Japan
| | - Yuki Fujii
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo 859-3298, Japan
| | - Alberto Pallavicini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Yasuhiro Ozeki
- Graduate School of NanoBio Sciences, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0027, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chen Y, Yuan Z, Sun L. The evolutionary diversification and antimicrobial potential of MPEG1 in Metazoa. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:5818-5828. [PMID: 38213882 PMCID: PMC10781884 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophage-expressed gene 1 (MPEG1) is an ancient immune effector known to exist in Cnidaria, Mollusca, Actinopterygii, and Mammalia. In this study, we examined the evolution and antibacterial potential of MPEG1 across Metazoa. By unbiased data-mining, MPEG1 orthologs were found in 11 of 34 screened phyla. In invertebrates, MPEG1 is present in the major phyla and exhibits intensive duplication. In vertebrates, class-based clades were formed by the major, generic MPEG1 (gMPEG1) in each class. However, there is a minority of unique MPEG1 (uMPEG1) from 71 species of 4 classes that clustered into a separate clade detached from all major class-based clades. gMPEG1 and uMPEG1 exhibit strong genomic collinearity and are surrounded by high-density transposons. gMPEG1 and uMPEG1 transcript expressions were most abundant in immune organs, but differed markedly in tissue specificity. Systematic analysis identified an antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-like segment in the C-terminal (CT) tail of MPEG1. Peptides based on the AMP-like regions of 35 representative MPEG1 were synthesized. Bactericidal activities were displayed by all peptides. Together these results suggest transposon-propelled evolutionary diversification of MPEG1 in Metazoa that has likely led to functional specialisation. This study also reveals a possible antimicrobial mechanism mediated directly and solely by the CT tail of MPEG1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Chen
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao 266237, China
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zihao Yuan
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao 266237, China
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Li Sun
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao 266237, China
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Grinchenko A, Buriak I, Kumeiko V. Invertebrate C1q Domain-Containing Proteins: Molecular Structure, Functional Properties and Biomedical Potential. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:570. [PMID: 37999394 PMCID: PMC10672478 DOI: 10.3390/md21110570] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
C1q domain-containing proteins (C1qDC proteins) unexpectedly turned out to be widespread molecules among a variety of invertebrates, despite their lack of an integral complement system. Despite the wide distribution in the genomes of various invertebrates, data on the structure and properties of the isolated and characterized C1qDC proteins, which belong to the C1q/TNF superfamily, are sporadic, although they hold great practical potential for the creation of new biotechnologies. This review not only summarizes the current data on the properties of already-isolated or bioengineered C1qDC proteins but also projects further strategies for their study and biomedical application. It has been shown that further broad study of the carbohydrate specificity of the proteins can provide great opportunities, since for many of them only interactions with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) was evaluated and their antimicrobial, antiviral, and fungicidal activities were studied. However, data on the properties of C1qDC proteins, which researchers originally discovered as lectins and therefore studied their fine carbohydrate specificity and antitumor activity, intriguingly show the great potential of this family of proteins for the creation of targeted drug delivery systems, vaccines, and clinical assays for the differential diagnosis of cancer. The ability of invertebrate C1qDC proteins to recognize patterns of aberrant glycosylation of human cell surfaces and interact with mammalian immunoglobulins indicates the great biomedical potential of these molecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Grinchenko
- School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Far Eastern Federal University, 690922 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.G.); (I.B.)
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Ivan Buriak
- School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Far Eastern Federal University, 690922 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.G.); (I.B.)
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Vadim Kumeiko
- School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Far Eastern Federal University, 690922 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.G.); (I.B.)
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Saco A, Suárez H, Novoa B, Figueras A. A Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of the C-Type Lectin Gene Family Reveals Highly Expanded and Diversified Repertoires in Bivalves. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:md21040254. [PMID: 37103393 PMCID: PMC10140915 DOI: 10.3390/md21040254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
C-type lectins belong to a widely conserved family of lectins characterized in Metazoa. They show important functional diversity and immune implications, mainly as pathogen recognition receptors. In this work, C-type lectin-like proteins (CTLs) of a set of metazoan species were analyzed, revealing an important expansion in bivalve mollusks, which contrasted with the reduced repertoires of other mollusks, such as cephalopods. Orthology relationships demonstrated that these expanded repertoires consisted of CTL subfamilies conserved within Mollusca or Bivalvia and of lineage-specific subfamilies with orthology only between closely related species. Transcriptomic analyses revealed the importance of the bivalve subfamilies in mucosal immunity, as they were mainly expressed in the digestive gland and gills and modulated with specific stimuli. CTL domain-containing proteins that had additional domains (CTLDcps) were also studied, revealing interesting gene families with different conservation degrees of the CTL domain across orthologs from different taxa. Unique bivalve CTLDcps with specific domain architectures were revealed, corresponding to uncharacterized bivalve proteins with putative immune function according to their transcriptomic modulation, which could constitute interesting targets for functional characterization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amaro Saco
- Institute of Marine Research IIM-CSIC, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Hugo Suárez
- Institute of Marine Research IIM-CSIC, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Beatriz Novoa
- Institute of Marine Research IIM-CSIC, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Orús-Alcalde A, Børve A, Hejnol A. The localization of Toll and Imd pathway and complement system components and their response to Vibrio infection in the nemertean Lineus ruber. BMC Biol 2023; 21:7. [PMID: 36635688 PMCID: PMC9835746 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01482-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innate immunity is the first line of defense against pathogens. In animals, the Toll pathway, the Imd pathway, the complement system, and lectins are well-known mechanisms involved in innate immunity. Although these pathways and systems are well understood in vertebrates and arthropods, they are understudied in other invertebrates. RESULTS To shed light on immunity in the nemertean Lineus ruber, we performed a transcriptomic survey and identified the main components of the Toll pathway (e.g., myD88, dorsal/dif/NFκB-p65), the Imd pathway (e.g., imd, relish/NFκB-p105/100), the complement system (e.g., C3, cfb), and some lectins (FreD-Cs and C-lectins). In situ hybridization showed that TLRβ1, TLRβ2, and imd are expressed in the nervous system; the complement gene C3-1 is expressed in the gut; and the lectins are expressed in the nervous system, the blood, and the gut. To reveal their potential role in defense mechanisms, we performed immune challenge experiments, in which Lineus ruber specimens were exposed to the gram-negative bacteria Vibrio diazotrophicus. Our results show the upregulation of specific components of the Toll pathway (TLRα3, TLRβ1, and TLRβ2), the complement system (C3-1), and lectins (c-lectin2 and fred-c5). CONCLUSIONS Therefore, similarly to what occurs in other invertebrates, our study shows that components of the Toll pathway, the complement system, and lectins are involved in the immune response in the nemertean Lineus ruber. The presence of these pathways and systems in Lineus ruber, but also in other spiralians; in ecdysozoans; and in deuterostomes suggests that these pathways and systems were involved in the immune response in the stem species of Bilateria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Orús-Alcalde
- grid.7914.b0000 0004 1936 7443Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway ,grid.7914.b0000 0004 1936 7443Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 53A, 5006 Bergen, Norway
| | - Aina Børve
- grid.7914.b0000 0004 1936 7443Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway ,grid.7914.b0000 0004 1936 7443Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 53A, 5006 Bergen, Norway
| | - Andreas Hejnol
- grid.7914.b0000 0004 1936 7443Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway ,grid.7914.b0000 0004 1936 7443Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 53A, 5006 Bergen, Norway ,grid.9613.d0000 0001 1939 2794Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Zoology and Evolutionary Research, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Stanovova MV, Gazizova GR, Gorbushin AM. Transcriptomic profiling of immune-associated molecules in the coelomocytes of lugworm Arenicola marina (Linnaeus, 1758). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2023; 340:34-55. [PMID: 35438249 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Organization and functioning of immune system remain unevenly studied in different taxa of lophotrochozoan animals. We analyzed transcriptomic data on coelomocytes of the lugworm Arenicola marina (Linnaeus, 1758; Annelida, Polychaeta) to gain insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in polychaete immunity. Coelomocytes are specialized motile cells populating coelomic fluid of annelids, responsible for cellular defense reactions and providing humoral immune factors. The transcriptome was enriched with immune-related transcripts by challenging the cells in vitro with lipopolysaccharides of Escherichia coli and Zymosan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our analysis revealed a multifaceted and complex internal defense system of the lugworm. A. marina possesses orthologs of proto-complement-like factors: six thioester-containing proteins, a complement-like receptor, and a MASP-related serine protease (MReM2). A. marina coelomocytes employ pattern-recognition receptors to detect pathogens and regulate immune responses. Among them, there are 18 Toll-like receptors and various putative lectin-like proteins with evolutionary conserved and taxa-specific domains. C-type lectins and a novel family of Gal-binding and CUB domains containing receptors were the most abundant in the transcriptome. The array of pore-forming proteins in the coelomocytes was surprisingly reduced compared to that of other invertebrate species. We characterized a set of conserved proteins metabolizing reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide and expanded the arsenal of potential antimicrobial peptides. Phenoloxidase activity in immune cells of lugworm is mediated only by laccase enzyme. The described repertoire of immune-associated molecules provides valuable candidates for further functional and comparative research on the immunity of annelids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Stanovova
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Guzel R Gazizova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Alexander M Gorbushin
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry (IEPhB RAS), St. Petersburg, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li J, Liu S, Zhang Y, Huang Q, Zhang H, OuYang J, Mao F, Fan H, Yi W, Dong M, Xu A, Huang S. Two novel mollusk short-form ApeC-containing proteins act as pattern recognition proteins for peptidoglycan. Front Immunol 2022; 13:971883. [PMID: 36275759 PMCID: PMC9585378 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.971883] [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: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Apextrin C-terminal (ApeC) domain is a new protein domain largely specific to aquatic invertebrates. In amphioxus, a short-form ApeC-containing protein (ACP) family is capable of binding peptidoglycan (PGN) and agglutinating bacteria via its ApeC domain. However, the functions of ApeC in other phyla remain unknown. Here we examined 130 ACPs from gastropods and bivalves, the first and second biggest mollusk classes. They were classified into nine groups based on their phylogenetics and architectures, including three groups of short-form ACPs, one group of apextrins and two groups of ACPs of complex architectures. No groups have orthologs in other phyla and only four groups have members in both gastropods and bivalves, suggesting that mollusk ACPs are highly diversified. We selected one bivalve ACP (CgACP1; from the oyster Crossostrea gigas) and one gastropod ACP (BgACP1; from the snail Biomphalaria glabrata) for functional experiments. Both are highly-expressed, secreted short-form ACPs and hence comparable to the amphioxus ACPs previously reported. We found that recombinant CgACP1 and BgACP1 bound with yeasts and several bacteria with different affinities. They also agglutinated these microbes, but showed no inhibiting or killing effects. Further analyses show that both ACPs had high affinities to the Lys-type PGN from S. aureus but weak or no affinities to the DAP-type PGN from Bacillus subtilis. Both recombinant ACPs displayed weak or no affinities to other microbial cell wall components, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lipoteichoic acid (LTA), zymosan A, chitin, chitosan and cellulose, as well as to several PGN moieties, including muramyl dipeptide (MDP), N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc). Besides, CgACP1 had the highest expression in the gill and could be greatly up-regulated quickly after bacterial challenge. This is reminiscent of the amphioxus ACP1/2 which serve as essential mucus lectins in the gill. Taken together, the current findings from mollusk and amphioxus ACPs suggest several basic common traits for the ApeC domains, including the high affinity to Lys-type PGN, the bacterial binding and agglutinating capacity, and the role as mucus proteins to protect the mucosal surface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Shumin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiuyun Huang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Jihua OuYang
- Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Fan Mao
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiping Fan
- Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenjie Yi
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meiling Dong
- Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Anlong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Anlong Xu, ; Shengfeng Huang,
| | - Shengfeng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Anlong Xu, ; Shengfeng Huang,
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Divergences of the RLR Gene Families across Lophotrochozoans: Domain Grafting, Exon-Intron Structure, Expression, and Positive Selection. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073415. [PMID: 35408776 PMCID: PMC8998645 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Invertebrates do not possess adaptive immunity but have evolved a variety of unique repertoires of innate immune sensors. In this study, we explored the immune diversity and specificity of invertebrates based on the lophotrochozoan RLRs, a major component in antiviral immune recognition. By annotating RLRs in the genomes of 58 representative species across metazoan evolution, we explored the gene expansion of RLRs in Lophotrochozoa. Of note, the N-terminal domains of lophotrochozoan RLRs showed the most striking diversity which evolved independently by domain grafting. Exon–intron structures were revealed to be prevalent in the domain grafting of lophotrochozoan RLRs based on an analysis of sibling paralogs and orthologs. In more than half of the cases, the mechanism of ‘exonization/pseudoexonization’ led to the generation of non-canonical N-terminal domains. Transcriptomic studies revealed that many non-canonical RLRs display immune-related expression patterns. Two of these RLRs showed obvious evidence of positive selection, which may be the result of host defense selection pressure. Overall, our study suggests that the complex and unique domain arrangement of lophotrochozoan RLRs might result from domain grafting, exon–intron divergence, expression diversification, and positive selection, which may have led to functionally distinct lophotrochozoan RLRs.
Collapse
|
11
|
Witkop EM, Proestou DA, Gomez-Chiarri M. The expanded inhibitor of apoptosis gene family in oysters possesses novel domain architectures and may play diverse roles in apoptosis following immune challenge. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:201. [PMID: 35279090 PMCID: PMC8917759 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08233-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Apoptosis plays important roles in a variety of functions, including immunity and response to environmental stress. The Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) gene family of apoptosis regulators is expanded in molluscs, including eastern, Crassostrea virginica, and Pacific, Crassostrea gigas, oysters. The functional importance of IAP expansion in apoptosis and immunity in oysters remains unknown. Results Phylogenetic analysis of IAP genes in 10 molluscs identified lineage specific gene expansion in bivalve species. Greater IAP gene family expansion was observed in C. virginica than C. gigas (69 vs. 40), resulting mainly from tandem duplications. Functional domain analysis of oyster IAP proteins revealed 3 novel Baculoviral IAP Repeat (BIR) domain types and 14 domain architecture types across gene clusters, 4 of which are not present in model organisms. Phylogenetic analysis of bivalve IAPs suggests a complex history of domain loss and gain. Most IAP genes in oysters (76% of C. virginica and 82% of C. gigas), representing all domain architecture types, were expressed in response to immune challenge (Ostreid Herpesvirus OsHV-1, bacterial probionts Phaeobacter inhibens and Bacillus pumilus, several Vibrio spp., pathogenic Aliiroseovarius crassostreae, and protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus). Patterns of IAP and apoptosis-related differential gene expression differed between the two oyster species, where C. virginica, in general, differentially expressed a unique set of IAP genes in each challenge, while C. gigas differentially expressed an overlapping set of IAP genes across challenges. Apoptosis gene expression patterns clustered mainly by resistance/susceptibility of the oyster host to immune challenge. Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA) revealed unique combinations of transcripts for 1 to 12 IAP domain architecture types, including novel types, were significantly co-expressed in response to immune challenge with transcripts in apoptosis-related pathways. Conclusions Unprecedented diversity characterized by novel BIR domains and protein domain architectures was observed in oyster IAPs. Complex patterns of gene expression of novel and conserved IAPs in response to a variety of ecologically-relevant immune challenges, combined with evidence of direct co-expression of IAP genes with apoptosis-related transcripts, suggests IAP expansion facilitates complex and nuanced regulation of apoptosis and other immune responses in oysters. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-08233-6.
Collapse
|
12
|
First Insights into the Repertoire of Secretory Lectins in Rotifers. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20020130. [PMID: 35200659 PMCID: PMC8878817 DOI: 10.3390/md20020130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their high biodiversity and adaptation to a mutable and challenging environment, aquatic lophotrochozoan animals are regarded as a virtually unlimited source of bioactive molecules. Among these, lectins, i.e., proteins with remarkable carbohydrate-recognition properties involved in immunity, reproduction, self/nonself recognition and several other biological processes, are particularly attractive targets for biotechnological research. To date, lectin research in the Lophotrochozoa has been restricted to the most widespread phyla, which are the usual targets of comparative immunology studies, such as Mollusca and Annelida. Here we provide the first overview of the repertoire of the secretory lectin-like molecules encoded by the genomes of six target rotifer species: Brachionus calyciflorus, Brachionus plicatilis, Proales similis (class Monogononta), Adineta ricciae, Didymodactylos carnosus and Rotaria sordida (class Bdelloidea). Overall, while rotifer secretory lectins display a high molecular diversity and belong to nine different structural classes, their total number is significantly lower than for other groups of lophotrochozoans, with no evidence of lineage-specific expansion events. Considering the high evolutionary divergence between rotifers and the other major sister phyla, their widespread distribution in aquatic environments and the ease of their collection and rearing in laboratory conditions, these organisms may represent interesting targets for glycobiological studies, which may allow the identification of novel carbohydrate-binding proteins with peculiar biological properties.
Collapse
|
13
|
Sandoval K, McCormack GP. Actinoporin-like Proteins Are Widely Distributed in the Phylum Porifera. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20010074. [PMID: 35049929 PMCID: PMC8778704 DOI: 10.3390/md20010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Actinoporins are proteinaceous toxins known for their ability to bind to and create pores in cellular membranes. This quality has generated interest in their potential use as new tools, such as therapeutic immunotoxins. Isolated historically from sea anemones, genes encoding for similar actinoporin-like proteins have since been found in a small number of other animal phyla. Sequencing and de novo assembly of Irish Haliclona transcriptomes indicated that sponges also possess similar genes. An exhaustive analysis of publicly available sequencing data from other sponges showed that this is a potentially widespread feature of the Porifera. While many sponge proteins possess a sequence similarity of 27.70–59.06% to actinoporins, they show consistency in predicted structure. One gene copy from H. indistincta has significant sequence similarity to sea anemone actinoporins and possesses conserved residues associated with the fundamental roles of sphingomyelin recognition, membrane attachment, oligomerization, and pore formation, indicating that it may be an actinoporin. Phylogenetic analyses indicate frequent gene duplication, no distinct clade for sponge-derived proteins, and a stronger signal towards actinoporins than similar proteins from other phyla. Overall, this study provides evidence that a diverse array of Porifera represents a novel source of actinoporin-like proteins which may have biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.
Collapse
|
14
|
Tassia MG, David KT, Townsend JP, Halanych KM. TIAMMAt: Leveraging biodiversity to revise protein domain models, evidence from innate immunity. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:5806-5818. [PMID: 34459919 PMCID: PMC8662601 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sequence annotation is fundamental for studying the evolution of protein families, particularly when working with nonmodel species. Given the rapid, ever-increasing number of species receiving high-quality genome sequencing, accurate domain modeling that is representative of species diversity is crucial for understanding protein family sequence evolution and their inferred function(s). Here, we describe a bioinformatic tool called Taxon-Informed Adjustment of Markov Model Attributes (TIAMMAt) which revises domain profile hidden Markov models (HMMs) by incorporating homologous domain sequences from underrepresented and nonmodel species. Using innate immunity pathways as a case study, we show that revising profile HMM parameters to directly account for variation in homologs among underrepresented species provides valuable insight into the evolution of protein families. Following adjustment by TIAMMAt, domain profile HMMs exhibit changes in their per-site amino acid state emission probabilities and insertion/deletion probabilities while maintaining the overall structure of the consensus sequence. Our results show that domain revision can heavily impact evolutionary interpretations for some families (i.e., NLR’s NACHT domain), whereas impact on other domains (e.g., rel homology domain and interferon regulatory factor domains) is minimal due to high levels of sequence conservation across the sampled phylogenetic depth (i.e., Metazoa). Importantly, TIAMMAt revises target domain models to reflect homologous sequence variation using the taxonomic distribution under consideration by the user. TIAMMAt’s flexibility to revise any subset of the Pfam database using a user-defined taxonomic pool will make it a valuable tool for future protein evolution studies, particularly when incorporating (or focusing) on nonmodel species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Tassia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Kyle T David
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - James P Townsend
- Whitman Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.,Department of Biology, Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Fujii Y. [Cell Function Research of β-Trefoil Lectins from Mytilidae]. YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 2021; 141:481-488. [PMID: 33790114 DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.20-00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Two novel β-trefoil lectins, MytiLec-1 and SeviL were found from mussels in the coast of Yokohama and Nagasaki. MytiLec-1 was purified from gill and mantle of Mytilus galloprovincialis. It was consisted of 149 amino acid residues and there was no similarity with any other proteins when it was discovered. We advocate for this "Mytilectin" as a new protein family because of their novelty of its primary structure and homologues were also found in other mussels. Glycan array analysis revealed that MytiLec-1 specifically bound to the Gb3 and Gb4 glycan which contained the α-galactoside. MytiLec-1 caused the apoptosis against the Burkitt's lymphoma cells through the interaction of Gb3 express in their cell surface. On the other hand, SeviL obtained from gill and mantle of Mytilisepta virgata showed the specific binding against GM1b, asialo GM1 and SSEA-4 which are known as glycosphingolipid glycan including the β-galactoside. In addition, SeviL was identified as R type lectin by confirmation of QXW motif within its primary structure. Messenger RNA of SeviL like R type lectins was also found among the musssels including Mytilus galloprovincialis. SeviL also showed the apoptosis against asialo GM1 expressing cells. To apply the anticancer lectin as a novel molecular target drug, primary structure of MytiLec-1 was analyzed to enhance the stabilization of confirmation by computational design technique. It was succeeded to produce a monomeric artificial β-trefoil lectin, Mitsuba-1 without losing the Gb3 binding ability. Comparison of biological function between Mitsuba-1 and MytiLec-1 is also described in this study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Fujii
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Schultz JH, Bu L, Kamel B, Adema CM. RNA-seq: The early response of the snail Physella acuta to the digenetic trematode Echinostoma paraensei. J Parasitol 2021; 106:490-505. [PMID: 32726421 DOI: 10.1645/19-36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
To analyze the response of the snail Physella acuta to Echinostoma paraensei, a compatible digenetic trematode, Illumina RNA-seq data were collected from snails with early infection (5 snails at 2 days post-exposure [DPE]) and established infection (4 snails, 8 DPE), and 7 control (unexposed) snails. A reference transcriptome (325,563 transcripts, including 98% of eukaryotic universal single-copy orthologs; BUSCO) and a draft P. acuta genome (employing available genomic Illumina reads; 799,945 scaffolds, includes 88% BUSCO genes) were assembled to guide RNA-seq analyses. Parasite exposure of P. acuta led to 10,195 differentially expressed (DE) genes at 2 DPE and 8,876 DE genes at 8 DPE with only 18% of up-regulated and 22% of down-regulated sequences shared between these time points. Gene ontology (GO) analysis yielded functional annotation of only 1.2% of DE genes but did not indicate major changes in biological activities of P. acuta between 2 and 8 DPE. Increased insights were achieved by analysis of expression profiles of 460 immune-relevant DE transcripts, identified by BLAST and InterProScan. Physella acuta has expanded gene families that encode immune-relevant domains, including CD109/TEP, GTPase IMAP, Limulus agglutination factor (dermatopontin), FReD (≥82 sequences with fibrinogen-related domains), and transcripts that combine C-type lectin (C-LECT) and C1q domains, novel among metazoa. Notably, P. acuta expressed sequences from these immune gene families at all time points, but the assemblages of unique transcripts from particular immune gene families differed between 2 and 8 DPE. The shift in profiles of DE immune genes, from early exposure to parasite establishment, suggests that compatible P. acuta initially respond to infection but switch to express immune genes that likely are less effective against E. paraensei but counter other types of (opportunistic) pathogens and parasites. We propose that the latter expression profile is part of an extended phenotype of E. paraensei, imposed upon P. acuta through parasite manipulation of the host, following successful parasite establishment in the snail after 2 DPE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan H Schultz
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology (CETI), Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131.,Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106
| | - Lijing Bu
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology (CETI), Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
| | - Bishoy Kamel
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology (CETI), Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
| | - Coen M Adema
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology (CETI), Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Varney RM, Speiser DI, McDougall C, Degnan BM, Kocot KM. The Iron-Responsive Genome of the Chiton Acanthopleura granulata. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:evaa263. [PMID: 33320175 PMCID: PMC7850002 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Molluscs biomineralize structures that vary in composition, form, and function, prompting questions about the genetic mechanisms responsible for their production and the evolution of these mechanisms. Chitons (Mollusca, Polyplacophora) are a promising system for studies of biomineralization because they build a range of calcified structures including shell plates and spine- or scale-like sclerites. Chitons also harden the calcified teeth of their rasp-like radula with a coat of iron (as magnetite). Here we present the genome of the West Indian fuzzy chiton Acanthopleura granulata, the first from any aculiferan mollusc. The A. granulata genome contains homologs of many genes associated with biomineralization in conchiferan molluscs. We expected chitons to lack genes previously identified from pathways conchiferans use to make biominerals like calcite and nacre because chitons do not use these materials in their shells. Surprisingly, the A. granulata genome has homologs of many of these genes, suggesting that the ancestral mollusc may have had a more diverse biomineralization toolkit than expected. The A. granulata genome has features that may be specialized for iron biomineralization, including a higher proportion of genes regulated directly by iron than other molluscs. A. granulata also produces two isoforms of soma-like ferritin: one is regulated by iron and similar in sequence to the soma-like ferritins of other molluscs, and the other is constitutively translated and is not found in other molluscs. The A. granulata genome is a resource for future studies of molluscan evolution and biomineralization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Varney
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
| | - Daniel I Speiser
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | - Carmel McDougall
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bernard M Degnan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kevin M Kocot
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Alabama Museum of Natural History, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Gerdol M, Schmitt P, Venier P, Rocha G, Rosa RD, Destoumieux-Garzón D. Functional Insights From the Evolutionary Diversification of Big Defensins. Front Immunol 2020; 11:758. [PMID: 32425943 PMCID: PMC7203481 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Big defensins are antimicrobial polypeptides believed to be the ancestors of β-defensins, the most evolutionary conserved family of host defense peptides (HDPs) in vertebrates. Nevertheless, big defensins underwent several independent gene loss events during animal evolution, being only retained in a limited number of phylogenetically distant invertebrates. Here, we explore the evolutionary history of this fascinating HDP family and investigate its patchy distribution in extant metazoans. We highlight the presence of big defensins in various classes of lophotrochozoans, as well as in a few arthropods and basal chordates (amphioxus), mostly adapted to life in marine environments. Bivalve mollusks often display an expanded repertoire of big defensin sequences, which appear to be the product of independent lineage-specific gene tandem duplications, followed by a rapid molecular diversification of newly acquired gene copies. This ongoing evolutionary process could underpin the simultaneous presence of canonical big defensins and non-canonical (β-defensin-like) sequences in some species. The big defensin genes of mussels and oysters, two species target of in-depth studies, are subjected to gene presence/absence variation (PAV), i.e., they can be present or absent in the genomes of different individuals. Moreover, big defensins follow different patterns of gene expression within a given species and respond differently to microbial challenges, suggesting functional divergence. Consistently, current structural data show that big defensin sequence diversity affects the 3D structure and biophysical properties of these polypeptides. We discuss here the role of the N-terminal hydrophobic domain, lost during evolution toward β-defensins, in the big defensin stability to high salt concentrations and its mechanism of action. Finally, we discuss the potential of big defensins as markers for animal health and for the nature-based design of novel therapeutics active at high salt concentrations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Paulina Schmitt
- Laboratorio de Genética e Inmunología Molecular, Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Paola Venier
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Gustavo Rocha
- Laboratory of Immunology Applied to Aquaculture, Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Rafael Diego Rosa
- Laboratory of Immunology Applied to Aquaculture, Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Purification and Functional Characterization of the Effects on Cell Signaling of Mytilectin: A Novel β-Trefoil Lectin from Marine Mussels. Methods Mol Biol 2020. [PMID: 32306329 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0430-4_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
In the 2010s, a novel lectin family with β-trefoil folding has been identified in marine mussels from the family Mytilidae (phylum Mollusca). "MytiLec-1," the lectin described in this chapter, was the first member of this family to be isolated and characterized from the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, a commercially and ecologically important species, spread in marine coastal areas worldwide. MytiLec-1 bound to the sugar moiety of globotriose (Gb3: Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glc), an α-galactoside, leading to apoptosis of Gb3-expressing Burkitt's lymphoma cells. Although the primary structure of MytiLec-1 was quite unusual, its three-dimensional structure was arranged as a β-trefoil fold, which is the typical architecture of "Ricin B chain (or R)-type" lectins, which are found in a broad range of organisms. To date, MytiLec-1-like lectins have been exclusively found in a few species of the mollusk family Mytilidae (M. galloprovincialis, M. trossulus, M. californianus, and Crenomytilus grayanus) and in the phylum Brachiopoda. Transcriptome data revealed the presence of different structural forms of mytilectin in mussels, which included prototype and chimera-type proteins. The primary sequence of these lectins did not match any previously described known protein family, leading to their assignment to the new "mytilectin family." We here report the method of purification of this lectin and describe its use in cell biology.
Collapse
|
20
|
Wu C, Muhataer X, Wang W, Deng M, Jin R, Lian Z, Luo D, Li Y, Yang X. Abnormal DNA methylation patterns in patients with infection‑caused leukocytopenia based on methylation microarrays. Mol Med Rep 2020; 21:2335-2348. [PMID: 32323775 PMCID: PMC7185277 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the association between gene methylation and leukocytopenia from the perspective of gene regulation. A total of 30 patients confirmed as having post-infection leukocytopenia at People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between January 2016 and June 2017 were successively recruited as the leukocytopenia group; 30 patients with post-infection leukocytosis were enrolled as the leukocytosis group. In addition, 30 healthy volunteers who received a health examination at the hospital during the same period were included as the normal control group. In each group, four individuals were randomly selected for whole genome methylation screening. After selection of key methylation sites, the remaining samples in each group were used for verification using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. The levels of serum complement factors C3 and C5 in the leukocytopenia group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups (P<0.05). According to whole-genome DNA methylation detection, 66 and 27 methylation loci may be associated with leukocytopenia and leukocytosis, respectively. Most of these abnormal loci are located on chromosomes 2, 6, 7, 1, 17 and 11. The rates of WW domain containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 2 gene methylation at cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG)_1, CpG_5/6 and CpG_7 in the leukocytopenia group were higher than in the other two groups (P<0.05); the rate of AKT2 CpG_1 methylation was higher in the leukocytopenia group than in the other two groups (P<0.05); the rate of calcium-binding atopy-related autoantigen 1 gene CpG_2 methylation was higher in the leukocytosis group than in the normal control group (P<0.05); and the rate of NADPH oxidase 5 gene CpG_3 methylation was higher in the leukocytosis group than in the normal control group (P<0.05). Chemotactic factor secretion and cell migration abnormalities, ubiquitination modification disorders and reduced oxidative burst may participate in infection-complicated leukocytopenia. The results of this study shed new light on the molecular biological mechanisms of infection-complicated leukocytopenia and provide novel avenues for diagnosis and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 830001, P.R. China
| | - Xirennayi Muhataer
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 830001, P.R. China
| | - Wenyi Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 830001, P.R. China
| | - Mingqin Deng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 830001, P.R. China
| | - Rong Jin
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 830001, P.R. China
| | - Zhichuang Lian
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 830001, P.R. China
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 830001, P.R. China
| | - Yafang Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 830001, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohong Yang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 830001, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Fujii Y, Gerdol M, Kawsar SMA, Hasan I, Spazzali F, Yoshida T, Ogawa Y, Rajia S, Kamata K, Koide Y, Sugawara S, Hosono M, Tame JRH, Fujita H, Pallavicini A, Ozeki Y. A GM1b/asialo-GM1 oligosaccharide-binding R-type lectin from purplish bifurcate mussels Mytilisepta virgata and its effect on MAP kinases. FEBS J 2019; 287:2612-2630. [PMID: 31769916 PMCID: PMC7317968 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A 15‐kDa lectin, termed SeviL, was isolated from Mytilisepta virgata (purplish bifurcate mussel). SeviL forms a noncovalent dimer that binds strongly to ganglio‐series GM1b oligosaccharide (Neu5Acɑ2‐3Galβ1‐3GalNAcβ1‐4Galβ1‐4Glc) and its precursor, asialo‐GM1 (Galβ1‐3GalNAcβ1‐4Galβ1‐4Glc). SeviL also interacts weakly with the glycan moiety of SSEA‐4 hexaose (Neu5Acα2‐3Galβ1‐3GalNAcβ1‐3Galα1‐4Galβ1‐4Glc). A partial protein sequence of the lectin was determined by mass spectrometry, and the complete sequence was identified from transcriptomic analysis. SeviL, consisting of 129 amino acids, was classified as an R(icin B)‐type lectin, based on the presence of the QxW motif characteristic of this fold. SeviL mRNA is highly expressed in gills and, in particular, mantle rim tissues. Orthologue sequences were identified in other species of the family Mytilidae, including Mytilus galloprovincialis, from which lectin MytiLec‐1 was isolated and characterized in our previous studies. Thus, mytilid species contain lectins belonging to at least two distinct families (R‐type lectins and mytilectins) that have a common β‐trefoil fold structure but differing glycan‐binding specificities. SeviL displayed notable cytotoxic (apoptotic) effects against various cultured cell lines (human breast, ovarian, and colonic cancer; dog kidney) that possess asialo‐GM1 oligosaccharide at the cell surface. This cytotoxic effect was inhibited by the presence of anti‐asialo‐GM1 oligosaccharide antibodies. With HeLa ovarian cancer cells, SeviL showed dose‐ and time‐dependent activation of kinase MKK3/6, p38 MAPK, and caspase‐3/9. The transduction pathways activated by SeviL via the glycosphingolipid oligosaccharide were triggered apoptosis. Database Nucleotide sequence data have been deposited in the GenBank database under accession numbers MK434191, MK434192, MK434193, MK434194, MK434195, MK434196, MK434197, MK434198, MK434199, MK434200, and MK434201.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Fujii
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, Sasebo, Japan
| | - Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy
| | - Sarkar M A Kawsar
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh.,School of Sciences, Yokohama City University, Japan
| | - Imtiaj Hasan
- School of Sciences, Yokohama City University, Japan.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | | | - Tatsusada Yoshida
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, Sasebo, Japan
| | - Yukiko Ogawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, Sasebo, Japan
| | - Sultana Rajia
- School of Sciences, Yokohama City University, Japan.,Department of Pharmacy, Varendra University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Kenichi Kamata
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Japan
| | | | - Shigeki Sugawara
- Institute of Molecular Biomembrane and Glycobiology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hosono
- Institute of Molecular Biomembrane and Glycobiology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Jeremy R H Tame
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Japan
| | - Hideaki Fujita
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, Sasebo, Japan
| | - Alberto Pallavicini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy.,Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Gerdol M, Greco S, Pallavicini A. Extensive Tandem Duplication Events Drive the Expansion of the C1q-Domain-Containing Gene Family in Bivalves. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17100583. [PMID: 31615007 PMCID: PMC6835236 DOI: 10.3390/md17100583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
C1q-domain-containing (C1qDC) proteins are rapidly emerging as key players in the innate immune response of bivalve mollusks. Growing experimental evidence suggests that these highly abundant secretory proteins are involved in the recognition of microbe-associated molecular patterns, serving as lectin-like molecules in the bivalve proto-complement system. While a large amount of functional data concerning the binding specificity of the globular head C1q domain and on the regulation of these molecules in response to infection are quickly accumulating, the genetic mechanisms that have led to the extraordinary lineage-specific expansion of the C1qDC gene family in bivalves are still largely unknown. The analysis of the chromosome-scale genome assembly of the Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica revealed that the 476 oyster C1qDC genes, far from being uniformly distributed along the genome, are located in large clusters of tandemly duplicated paralogs, mostly found on chromosomes 7 and 8. Our observations point out that the evolutionary process behind the development of a large arsenal of C1qDC lectin-like molecules in marine bivalves is still ongoing and likely based on an unequal crossing over.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Samuele Greco
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Alberto Pallavicini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, 34151 Trieste, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Li H, Kong N, Sun J, Wang W, Li M, Gong C, Dong M, Wang M, Wang L, Song L. A C1qDC (CgC1qDC-6) with a collagen-like domain mediates hemocyte phagocytosis and migration in oysters. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 98:157-165. [PMID: 31028761 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Most of the bivalve C1q domain containing proteins (C1qDCs) are either only composed of the globular head domain, or contain an N-terminal coiled-coil domain, presumed to cover a role in oligomerization. On the other hand, collagen regions, widespread in vertebrate C1qDCs, are very uncommon in bivalves. In the present study, a C1qDC with a collagen-like domain (designated CgC1qDC-6) was identified from the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas and its possible involvement in immune responses was also characterized. The coding sequence of CgC1qDC-6 was of 756 bp, encoding a peptide of 251 amino acids with an N-terminal signal peptide, a central collagen-like domain, and a C-terminal ghC1q domain. CgC1qDC-6 was clustered with the C1qDCs from several mollusks in the phylogenetic tree. CgC1qDC-6 was detected at both mRNA and protein levels in all tested tissues including hepatopancreas, gonad, gill, mantle, adductor muscle, and hemocytes. The recombinant CgC1qDC-6 protein (rCgC1qDC-6) exhibited binding activity to various pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) including LPS, PGN, mannose and Poly I:C, and microorganisms including Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Vibrio splendidus), Gram-positive bacteria (Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus), and fungus (Pichia pastoris). The phagocytic rates of oyster hemocytes towards V. splendidus pre-incubation with rCgC1qDC-6 were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05). In the chemotaxis assay, rCgC1qDC-6 could mediate the migration of oyster hemocytes in a dose-dependent manner, which exhibited a positive chemotactic effect at low concentration (<10 nM). These results collectively indicated that CgC1qDC-6 could serve as a pattern recognition receptor and mediate the hemocyte phagocytosis and migration to eliminate the invading pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huan Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Ning Kong
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Jiejie Sun
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Weilin Wang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Meijia Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Changhao Gong
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Miren Dong
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Min Wang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Linsheng Song
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Functional Laboratory of Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266235, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology and Disease Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Gerdol M, Cervelli M, Oliverio M, Modica MV. Piercing Fishes: Porin Expansion and Adaptation to Hematophagy in the Vampire Snail Cumia reticulata. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 35:2654-2668. [PMID: 30099551 PMCID: PMC6231492 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msy156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytolytic pore-forming proteins are widespread in living organisms, being mostly involved in both sides of the host-pathogen interaction, either contributing to the innate defense or promoting infection. In venomous organisms, such as spiders, insects, scorpions, and sea anemones, pore-forming proteins are often secreted as key components of the venom. Coluporins are pore-forming proteins recently discovered in the Mediterranean hematophagous snail Cumia reticulata (Colubrariidae), highly expressed in the salivary glands that discharge their secretion at close contact with the host. To understand their putative functional role, we investigated coluporins' molecular diversity and evolutionary patterns. Coluporins is a well-diversified family including at least 30 proteins, with an overall low sequence similarity but sharing a remarkably conserved actinoporin-like predicted structure. Tracking the evolutionary history of the molluscan porin genes revealed a scattered distribution of this family, which is present in some other lineages of predatory gastropods, including venomous conoidean snails. Comparative transcriptomic analyses highlighted the expansion of porin genes as a lineage-specific feature of colubrariids. Coluporins seem to have evolved from a single ancestral porin gene present in the latest common ancestor of all Caenogastropoda, undergoing massive expansion and diversification in this colubrariid lineage through repeated gene duplication events paired with widespread episodic positive selection. As for other parasites, these findings are congruent with a "one-sided arms race," equipping the parasite with multiple variants in order to broaden its host spectrum. Overall, our results pinpoint a crucial adaptive role for coluporins in the evolution of the peculiar trophic ecology of vampire snails.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, Trieste University, Italy
| | | | - Marco Oliverio
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Roma, Italy
| | - Maria Vittoria Modica
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.,UMR5247, University of Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Gorbushin AM. Derivatives of the lectin complement pathway in Lophotrochozoa. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 94:35-58. [PMID: 30682446 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2019.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
A plethora of non-overlapping immune molecular mechanisms in metazoans is the most puzzling issue in comparative immunobiology. No valid evolutionary retrospective on these mechanisms has been developed. In this study, we aimed to reveal the origin and evolution of the immune complement-like system in Lophotrochozoa. For this, we analyzed publicly available transcriptomes of prebilaterian and lophotrochozoan species, mapping lineage-specific molecular events on the phylogenetic tree. We found that there were no orthologs of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolins (FCN) in Lophotrochozoa but C1q-like proteins (C1qL), bearing both a collagen domain and a globular C1q domain, were omnipresent in them. This suggests that among all complement-like activators the C1qL-specific domain architecture was an evolutionarily first. Two novel protostomian MASP-Related Molecules, MReM1 and MReM2, might hypothetically compensate for the loss of a prebilaterian MASP-orthologous gene and act in complex with C1qL and C1qDC as a "proto-activator" of an ancient "proto-complement". We proposed a new model of the complement evolution predicting that numerous lineage-specific complement-like systems should have evolved from a stem "antique" molecular complex. First evolved in the common ancestor of coelomic animals, the "antique" humoral complex consisted of a TEP molecule, the common ancestor of TEP-associated proteases (C2/Bf/Сf/Lf), the common ancestor of MASP-like proteases (MASP/C1r/C1s, MReM1/MReM2) and multimeric recognition proteins (C1q-, MBL- and FCN-homologs). Further evolutionary specialization and expansion of the complex was independent and lineage-specific, examples being the mammalian complement system and the Apogastropoda complement-like complex. The latter includes an impressive array of multimeric recognition proteins, the variable immunoglobulin and lectin domain containing molecules (VIgL), homologous to C1q, MBL, FCN and other lectins. Four novel polymorphic subfamilies of VIgLs were found to be expressed in Apogastropoda: C1q-related proteins (QREP), zona pellucida-related proteins (ZREP), Scavenger Receptor Cys-Rich-related proteins (SREP) and HPA-lectin related proteins (HREP). The transcriptional response of fibrinogen-related proteins of VIgL family (LlFREP), LlQREP and LlSREP to infestation of common periwinkle, Littorina littorea, with digenean parasite Himasthla elongata correlates with that of LlMReM1, supporting the model suggested in this study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Gorbushin
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry (IEPhB RAS), Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Kamm K, Schierwater B, DeSalle R. Innate immunity in the simplest animals - placozoans. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:5. [PMID: 30611207 PMCID: PMC6321704 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5377-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innate immunity provides the core recognition system in animals for preventing infection, but also plays an important role in managing the relationship between an animal host and its symbiont. Most of our knowledge about innate immunity stems from a few animal model systems, but substantial variation between metazoan phyla has been revealed by comparative genomic studies. The exploration of more taxa is still needed to better understand the evolution of immunity related mechanisms. Placozoans are morphologically the simplest organized metazoans and the association between these enigmatic animals and their rickettsial endosymbionts has recently been elucidated. Our analyses of the novel placozoan nuclear genome of Trichoplax sp. H2 and its associated rickettsial endosymbiont genome clearly pointed to a mutualistic and co-evolutionary relationship. This discovery raises the question of how the placozoan holobiont manages symbiosis and, conversely, how it defends against harmful microorganisms. In this study, we examined the annotated genome of Trichoplax sp. H2 for the presence of genes involved in innate immune recognition and downstream signaling. RESULTS A rich repertoire of genes belonging to the Toll-like and NOD-like receptor pathways, to scavenger receptors and to secreted fibrinogen-related domain genes was identified in the genome of Trichoplax sp. H2. Nevertheless, the innate immunity related pathways in placozoans deviate in several instances from well investigated vertebrates and invertebrates. While true Toll- and NOD-like receptors are absent, the presence of many genes of the downstream signaling cascade suggests at least primordial Toll-like receptor signaling in Placozoa. An abundance of scavenger receptors, fibrinogen-related domain genes and Apaf-1 genes clearly constitutes an expansion of the immunity related gene repertoire specific to Placozoa. CONCLUSIONS The found wealth of immunity related genes present in Placozoa is surprising and quite striking in light of the extremely simple placozoan body plan and their sparse cell type makeup. Research is warranted to reveal how Placozoa utilize this immune repertoire to manage and maintain their associated microbiota as well as to fend-off pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Kamm
- ITZ Ecology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17d, D-30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Bernd Schierwater
- ITZ Ecology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17d, D-30559 Hannover, Germany
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics and Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY USA
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520 USA
| | - Rob DeSalle
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics and Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Fujii Y, Gerdol M, Hasan I, Koide Y, Matsuzaki R, Ikeda M, Rajia S, Ogawa Y, Kawsar SMA, Ozeki Y. Phylogeny and Properties of a Novel Lectin Family with β-Trefoil Folding in Mussels. TRENDS GLYCOSCI GLYC 2018. [DOI: 10.4052/tigg.1717.1e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Fujii
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University
| | - Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
| | - Imtiaj Hasan
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi
| | - Yasuhiro Koide
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
| | - Risa Matsuzaki
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
| | - Mayu Ikeda
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
| | - Sultana Rajia
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Varendra University
| | - Yukiko Ogawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University
| | - S. M. Abe Kawsar
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Chittagong
| | - Yasuhiro Ozeki
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
| |
Collapse
|