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He J, Van Eck J, Lippman ZB. Blooming balloons: Searching for mechanisms of the inflated calyx. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 81:102595. [PMID: 38943829 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2024.102595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Studying morphological novelties offers special insights into developmental biology and evolution. The inflated calyx syndrome (ICS) is a largely unrecognized but fascinating feature of flower development, where sepals form balloon-like husks that encapsulate fruits. Despite its independent emergence in many lineages of flowering plants, the genetic and molecular mechanisms of ICS remain unknown. Early studies in the Solanaceae genus Physalis put forth key roles of MADS-box genes in ICS. However, recent work suggests these classical floral identity transcription factors were false leads. With newfound capabilities that allow rapid development of genetic systems through genomics and genome editing, Physalis has re-emerged as the most tractable model species for dissecting ICS. This review revisits current understanding of ICS and highlights how recent advancements enable a reset in the search for genetic and molecular mechanisms using unbiased, systematic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia He
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Joyce Van Eck
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Zachary B Lippman
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
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2
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Singh PP, Reeves GA, Contrepois K, Papsdorf K, Miklas JW, Ellenberger M, Hu CK, Snyder MP, Brunet A. Evolution of diapause in the African turquoise killifish by remodeling the ancient gene regulatory landscape. Cell 2024; 187:3338-3356.e30. [PMID: 38810644 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.048] [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: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Suspended animation states allow organisms to survive extreme environments. The African turquoise killifish has evolved diapause as a form of suspended development to survive a complete drought. However, the mechanisms underlying the evolution of extreme survival states are unknown. To understand diapause evolution, we performed integrative multi-omics (gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and lipidomics) in the embryos of multiple killifish species. We find that diapause evolved by a recent remodeling of regulatory elements at very ancient gene duplicates (paralogs) present in all vertebrates. CRISPR-Cas9-based perturbations identify the transcription factors REST/NRSF and FOXOs as critical for the diapause gene expression program, including genes involved in lipid metabolism. Indeed, diapause shows a distinct lipid profile, with an increase in triglycerides with very-long-chain fatty acids. Our work suggests a mechanism for the evolution of complex adaptations and offers strategies to promote long-term survival by activating suspended animation programs in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - G Adam Reeves
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kévin Contrepois
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Jason W Miklas
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Chi-Kuo Hu
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael P Snyder
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Diabetes Research Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Anne Brunet
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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3
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Kocher AA, Dutrow EV, Uebbing S, Yim KM, Rosales Larios MF, Baumgartner M, Nottoli T, Noonan JP. CpG island turnover events predict evolutionary changes in enhancer activity. Genome Biol 2024; 25:156. [PMID: 38872220 PMCID: PMC11170920 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03300-z] [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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic changes that modify the function of transcriptional enhancers have been linked to the evolution of biological diversity across species. Multiple studies have focused on the role of nucleotide substitutions, transposition, and insertions and deletions in altering enhancer function. CpG islands (CGIs) have recently been shown to influence enhancer activity, and here we test how their turnover across species contributes to enhancer evolution. RESULTS We integrate maps of CGIs and enhancer activity-associated histone modifications obtained from multiple tissues in nine mammalian species and find that CGI content in enhancers is strongly associated with increased histone modification levels. CGIs show widespread turnover across species and species-specific CGIs are strongly enriched for enhancers exhibiting species-specific activity across all tissues and species. Genes associated with enhancers with species-specific CGIs show concordant biases in their expression, supporting that CGI turnover contributes to gene regulatory innovation. Our results also implicate CGI turnover in the evolution of Human Gain Enhancers (HGEs), which show increased activity in human embryonic development and may have contributed to the evolution of uniquely human traits. Using a humanized mouse model, we show that a highly conserved HGE with a large CGI absent from the mouse ortholog shows increased activity at the human CGI in the humanized mouse diencephalon. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our results point to CGI turnover as a mechanism driving gene regulatory changes potentially underlying trait evolution in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Acadia A Kocher
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emily V Dutrow
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
- Zoetis, Inc, 333 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA
| | - Severin Uebbing
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
- Genome Biology and Epigenetics, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kristina M Yim
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | | | | | - Timothy Nottoli
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
- Yale Genome Editing Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - James P Noonan
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
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4
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Szabó N, Fodor E, Varga Z, Tarján-Rácz A, Szabó K, Miklósi Á, Varga M. The paradise fish, an advanced animal model for behavioral genetics and evolutionary developmental biology. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2024; 342:189-199. [PMID: 37818738 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis) is an air-breathing freshwater fish species with a signature labyrinth organ capable of extracting oxygen from the air that helps these fish to survive in hypoxic environments. The appearance of this evolutionary innovation in anabantoids resulted in a rewired circulatory system, but also in the emergence of species-specific behaviors, such as territorial display, courtship and parental care in the case of the paradise fish. Early zoologists were intrigued by the structure and function of the labyrinth apparatus and a series of detailed descriptive histological studies at the beginning of the 20th century revealed the ontogenesis and function of this specialized system. A few decades later, these fish became the subject of numerous ethological studies, and detailed ethograms of their behavior were constructed. These latter studies also demonstrated a strong genetic component underlying their behavior, but due to lack of adequate molecular tools, the fine genetic dissection of the behavior was not possible at the time. The technological breakthroughs that transformed developmental biology and behavioral genetics in the past decades, however, give us now a unique opportunity to revisit these old questions. Building on the classic descriptive studies, the new methodologies will allow us to follow the development of the labyrinth apparatus at a cellular resolution, reveal the genes involved in this process and also the genetic architecture behind the complex behaviors that we can observe in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nóra Szabó
- Department of Genetics, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Erika Fodor
- Department of Genetics, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Varga
- Laboratory of Translational Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anita Tarján-Rácz
- Department of Genetics, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kata Szabó
- Department of Genetics, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ádám Miklósi
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Máté Varga
- Department of Genetics, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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5
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Rice G, Gaitan-Escudero T, Charles-Obi K, Zeitlinger J, Rebeiz M. Gene regulatory network co-option is sufficient to induce a morphological novelty in Drosophila. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.22.584840. [PMID: 38585823 PMCID: PMC10996490 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.22.584840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Identifying the molecular origins by which new morphological structures evolve is one of the long standing problems in evolutionary biology. To date, vanishingly few examples provide a compelling account of how new morphologies were initially formed, thereby limiting our understanding of how diverse forms of life derived their complex features. Here, we provide evidence that the large projections on the Drosophila eugracilis phallus that are implicated in sexual conflict have evolved through co-option of the trichome genetic network. These unicellular apical projections on the phallus postgonal sheath are reminiscent of trichomes that cover the Drosophila body but are up to 20-fold larger in size. During their development, they express the transcription factor Shavenbaby, the master regulator of the trichome network. Consistent with the co-option of the Shavenbaby network during the evolution of the D. eugracilis projections, somatic mosaic CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis shows that shavenbaby is necessary for their proper length. Moreover, mis-expression of Shavenbaby in the sheath of D. melanogaster , a naïve species that lacks these extensions, is sufficient to induce small trichomes. These induced extensions rely on a genetic network that is shared to a large extent with the D. eugracilis projections, indicating its co-option but also some genetic rewiring. Thus, by leveraging a genetically tractable evolutionarily novelty, our work shows that the trichome-forming network is flexible enough that it can be co-opted in a new context, and subsequently refined to produce unique apical projections that are barely recognizable compared to their simpler ancestral beginnings.
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6
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Ridgway AM, Hood EJ, Jimenez JF, Nunes MDS, McGregor AP. Sox21b underlies the rapid diversification of a novel male genital structure between Drosophila species. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1114-1121.e7. [PMID: 38309269 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.022] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
The emergence and diversification of morphological novelties is a major feature of animal evolution.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 However, relatively little is known about the genetic basis of the evolution of novel structures and the mechanisms underlying their diversification. The epandrial posterior lobes of male genitalia are a novelty of particular Drosophila species.10,11,12,13 The lobes grasp the female ovipositor and insert between her abdominal tergites and, therefore, are important for copulation and species recognition.10,11,12,14,15,16,17 The posterior lobes likely evolved from co-option of a Hox-regulated gene network from the posterior spiracles10 and have since diversified in morphology in the D. simulans clade, in particular, over the last 240,000 years, driven by sexual selection.18,19,20,21 The genetic basis of this diversification is polygenic but, to the best of our knowledge, none of the causative genes have been identified.22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30 Identifying the genes underlying the diversification of these secondary sexual structures is essential to understanding the evolutionary impact on copulation and species recognition. Here, we show that Sox21b negatively regulates posterior lobe size. This is consistent with expanded Sox21b expression in D. mauritiana, which develops smaller posterior lobes than D. simulans. We tested this by generating reciprocal hemizygotes and confirmed that changes in Sox21b underlie posterior lobe evolution between these species. Furthermore, we found that posterior lobe size differences caused by the species-specific allele of Sox21b significantly affect copulation duration. Taken together, our study reveals the genetic basis for the sexual-selection-driven diversification of a novel morphological structure and its functional impact on copulatory behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber M Ridgway
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Emily J Hood
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | | | - Maria D S Nunes
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK.
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7
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Jasim SA, Almajidi YQ, Al-Rashidi RR, Hjazi A, Ahmad I, Alawadi AHR, Alwaily ER, Alsaab HO, Haslany A, Hameed M. The interaction between lncRNAs and transcription factors regulating autophagy in human cancers: A comprehensive and therapeutical survey. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3971. [PMID: 38509767 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3971] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Autophagy, as a highly conserved cellular process, participates in cellular homeostasis by degradation and recycling of damaged organelles and proteins. Besides, autophagy has been evidenced to play a dual role through cancer initiation and progression. In the early stage, it may have a tumor-suppressive function through inducing apoptosis and removing damaged cells and organelles. However, late stages promote tumor progression by maintaining stemness features and induction of chemoresistance. Therefore, identifying and targeting molecular mechanisms involved in autophagy is a potential therapeutic strategy for human cancers. Multiple transcription factors (TFs) are involved in the regulation of autophagy by modulating the expression of autophagy-related genes (ATGs). In addition, a wide array of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a group of regulatory ncRNAs, have been evidenced to regulate the function of these autophagy-related TFs through tumorigenesis. Subsequently, the lncRNAs/TFs/ATGs axis shows great potential as a therapeutic target for human cancers. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize new findings about the role of lncRNAs in regulating autophagy-related TFs with therapeutic perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yasir Qasim Almajidi
- Department of Pharmacy (Pharmaceutics), Baghdad College of Medical Sciences, Baghdad, Iraq
| | | | - Ahmed Hjazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Irfan Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Hussien Radie Alawadi
- College of Technical Engineering, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
- College of Technical Engineering, The Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq
- College of Technical Engineering, The Islamic University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
| | - Enas R Alwaily
- Microbiology Research Group, College of Pharmacy, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq
| | - Hashem O Alsaab
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Haslany
- Medical Technical College, Al-Farahidi University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Mohamood Hameed
- Medical Technical College, Al-Farahidi University, Baghdad, Iraq
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8
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Ali S, Abrar M, Hussain I, Batool F, Raza RZ, Khatoon H, Zoia M, Visel A, Shubin NH, Osterwalder M, Abbasi AA. Identification of ancestral gnathostome Gli3 enhancers with activity in mammals. Dev Growth Differ 2024; 66:75-88. [PMID: 37925606 PMCID: PMC10841732 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12901] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal expression of the transcriptional regulator and hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway effector Gli3 is known to trigger congenital disease, most frequently affecting the central nervous system (CNS) and the limbs. Accurate delineation of the genomic cis-regulatory landscape controlling Gli3 transcription during embryonic development is critical for the interpretation of noncoding variants associated with congenital defects. Here, we employed a comparative genomic analysis on fish species with a slow rate of molecular evolution to identify seven previously unknown conserved noncoding elements (CNEs) in Gli3 intronic intervals (CNE15-21). Transgenic assays in zebrafish revealed that most of these elements drive activities in Gli3 expressing tissues, predominantly the fins, CNS, and the heart. Intersection of these CNEs with human disease associated SNPs identified CNE15 as a putative mammalian craniofacial enhancer, with conserved activity in vertebrates and potentially affected by mutation associated with human craniofacial morphology. Finally, comparative functional dissection of an appendage-specific CNE conserved in slowly evolving fish (elephant shark), but not in teleost (CNE14/hs1586) indicates co-option of limb specificity from other tissues prior to the divergence of amniotes and lobe-finned fish. These results uncover a novel subset of intronic Gli3 enhancers that arose in the common ancestor of gnathostomes and whose sequence components were likely gradually modified in other species during the process of evolutionary diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Ali
- National Center for Bioinformatics, Program of Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad Pakistan
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Muhammad Abrar
- National Center for Bioinformatics, Program of Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad Pakistan
| | - Irfan Hussain
- National Center for Bioinformatics, Program of Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad Pakistan
| | - Fatima Batool
- National Center for Bioinformatics, Program of Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad Pakistan
| | - Rabail Zehra Raza
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies, National University of Medical Sciences Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Hizran Khatoon
- National Center for Bioinformatics, Program of Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad Pakistan
| | - Matteo Zoia
- Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Axel Visel
- Environmental Genomics and System Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Neil H. Shubin
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Marco Osterwalder
- Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Amir Ali Abbasi
- National Center for Bioinformatics, Program of Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320, Islamabad Pakistan
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Jonker T, Barnett P, Boink GJJ, Christoffels VM. Role of Genetic Variation in Transcriptional Regulatory Elements in Heart Rhythm. Cells 2023; 13:4. [PMID: 38201209 PMCID: PMC10777909 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010004] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic predisposition to cardiac arrhythmias has been a field of intense investigation. Research initially focused on rare hereditary arrhythmias, but over the last two decades, the role of genetic variation (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in heart rate, rhythm, and arrhythmias has been taken into consideration as well. In particular, genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of genomic loci associated with quantitative electrocardiographic traits, atrial fibrillation, and less common arrhythmias such as Brugada syndrome. A significant number of associated variants have been found to systematically localize in non-coding regulatory elements that control the tissue-specific and temporal transcription of genes encoding transcription factors, ion channels, and other proteins. However, the identification of causal variants and the mechanism underlying their impact on phenotype has proven difficult due to the complex tissue-specific, time-resolved, condition-dependent, and combinatorial function of regulatory elements, as well as their modest conservation across different model species. In this review, we discuss research efforts aimed at identifying and characterizing-trait-associated variant regulatory elements and the molecular mechanisms underlying their impact on heart rate or rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Jonker
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
| | - Phil Barnett
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
| | - Gerard J. J. Boink
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent M. Christoffels
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
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10
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Hollingsworth EW, Liu TA, Jacinto SH, Chen CX, Alcantara JA, Kvon EZ. Rapid and Quantitative Functional Interrogation of Human Enhancer Variant Activity in Live Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.10.570890. [PMID: 38105996 PMCID: PMC10723448 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.10.570890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Functional analysis of non-coding variants associated with human congenital disorders remains challenging due to the lack of efficient in vivo models. Here we introduce dual-enSERT, a robust Cas9-based two-color fluorescent reporter system which enables rapid, quantitative comparison of enhancer allele activities in live mice of any genetic background. We use this new technology to examine and measure the gain- and loss-of-function effects of enhancer variants linked to limb polydactyly, autism, and craniofacial malformation. By combining dual-enSERT with single-cell transcriptomics, we characterize variant enhancer alleles at cellular resolution, thereby implicating candidate molecular pathways in pathogenic enhancer misregulation. We further show that independent, polydactyly-linked enhancer variants lead to ectopic expression in the same cell populations, indicating shared genetic mechanisms underlying non-coding variant pathogenesis. Finally, we streamline dual-enSERT for analysis in F0 animals by placing both reporters on the same transgene separated by a synthetic insulator. Dual-enSERT allows researchers to go from identifying candidate enhancer variants to analysis of comparative enhancer activity in live embryos in under two weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan W. Hollingsworth
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Taryn A. Liu
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Sandra H. Jacinto
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Cindy X. Chen
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Joshua A. Alcantara
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Evgeny Z. Kvon
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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11
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Moyers BA, Loupe JM, Felker SA, Lawlor JM, Anderson AG, Rodriguez-Nunez I, Bunney WE, Bunney BG, Cartagena PM, Sequeira A, Watson SJ, Akil H, Mendenhall EM, Cooper GM, Myers RM. Allele biased transcription factor binding across human brain regions gives mechanistic insight into eQTLs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.06.561245. [PMID: 37873117 PMCID: PMC10592666 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.06.561245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Transcription Factors (TFs) influence gene expression by facilitating or disrupting the formation of transcription initiation machinery at particular genomic loci. Because genomic localization of TFs is in part driven by TF recognition of DNA sequence, variation in TF binding sites can disrupt TF-DNA associations and affect gene regulation. To identify variants that impact TF binding in human brain tissues, we quantified allele bias for 93 TFs analyzed with ChIP-seq experiments of multiple structural brain regions from two donors. Using graph genomes constructed from phased genomic sequence data, we compared ChIP-seq signal between alleles at heterozygous variants within each tissue sample from each donor. Comparison of results from different brain regions within donors and the same regions between donors provided measures of allele bias reproducibility. We identified thousands of DNA variants that show reproducible bias in ChIP-seq for at least one TF. We found that alleles that are rarer in the general population were more likely than common alleles to exhibit large biases, and more frequently led to reduced TF binding. Combining ChIP-seq with RNA-seq, we identified TF-allele interaction biases with RNA bias in a phased allele linked to 6,709 eQTL variants identified in GTEx data, 3,309 of which were found in neural contexts. Our results provide insights into the effects of both common and rare variation on gene regulation in the brain. These findings can facilitate mechanistic understanding of cis-regulatory variation associated with biological traits, including disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacob M. Loupe
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville AL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - William E. Bunney
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine CA, USA
| | - Blynn G. Bunney
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine CA, USA
| | - Preston M. Cartagena
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine CA, USA
| | - Adolfo Sequeira
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine CA, USA
| | - Stanley J. Watson
- The Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI, USA
| | - Huda Akil
- The Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI, USA
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12
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Mattick JS. A Kuhnian revolution in molecular biology: Most genes in complex organisms express regulatory RNAs. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2300080. [PMID: 37318305 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300080] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Thomas Kuhn described the progress of science as comprising occasional paradigm shifts separated by interludes of 'normal science'. The paradigm that has held sway since the inception of molecular biology is that genes (mainly) encode proteins. In parallel, theoreticians posited that mutation is random, inferred that most of the genome in complex organisms is non-functional, and asserted that somatic information is not communicated to the germline. However, many anomalies appeared, particularly in plants and animals: the strange genetic phenomena of paramutation and transvection; introns; repetitive sequences; a complex epigenome; lack of scaling of (protein-coding) genes and increase in 'noncoding' sequences with developmental complexity; genetic loci termed 'enhancers' that control spatiotemporal gene expression patterns during development; and a plethora of 'intergenic', overlapping, antisense and intronic transcripts. These observations suggest that the original conception of genetic information was deficient and that most genes in complex organisms specify regulatory RNAs, some of which convey intergenerational information. Also see the video abstract here: https://youtu.be/qxeGwahBANw.
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Affiliation(s)
- John S Mattick
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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13
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Brandon AA, Almeida D, Powder KE. Neural crest cells as a source of microevolutionary variation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 145:42-51. [PMID: 35718684 PMCID: PMC10482117 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Vertebrates have some of the most complex and diverse features in animals, from varied craniofacial morphologies to colorful pigmentation patterns and elaborate social behaviors. All of these traits have their developmental origins in a multipotent embryonic lineage of neural crest cells. This "fourth germ layer" is a vertebrate innovation and the source of a wide range of adult cell types. While others have discussed the role of neural crest cells in human disease and animal domestication, less is known about their role in contributing to adaptive changes in wild populations. Here, we review how variation in the development of neural crest cells and their derivatives generates considerable phenotypic diversity in nature. We focus on the broad span of traits under natural and sexual selection whose variation may originate in the neural crest, with emphasis on behavioral factors such as intraspecies communication that are often overlooked. In all, we encourage the integration of evolutionary ecology with developmental biology and molecular genetics to gain a more complete understanding of the role of this single cell type in trait covariation, evolutionary trajectories, and vertebrate diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Allyson Brandon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Daniela Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Kara E Powder
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
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14
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Kaucka M. Cis-regulatory landscapes in the evolution and development of the mammalian skull. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220079. [PMID: 37183897 PMCID: PMC10184250 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive morphological variation found in mammals reflects the wide spectrum of their ecological adaptations. The highest morphological diversity is present in the craniofacial region, where geometry is mainly dictated by the bony skull. Mammalian craniofacial development represents complex multistep processes governed by numerous conserved genes that require precise spatio-temporal control. A central question in contemporary evolutionary biology is how a defined set of conserved genes can orchestrate formation of fundamentally different structures, and therefore how morphological variability arises. In principle, differential gene expression patterns during development are the source of morphological variation. With the emergence of multicellular organisms, precise regulation of gene expression in time and space is attributed to cis-regulatory elements. These elements contribute to higher-order chromatin structure and together with trans-acting factors control transcriptional landscapes that underlie intricate morphogenetic processes. Consequently, divergence in cis-regulation is believed to rewire existing gene regulatory networks and form the core of morphological evolution. This review outlines the fundamental principles of the genetic code and genomic regulation interplay during development. Recent work that deepened our comprehension of cis-regulatory element origin, divergence and function is presented here to illustrate the state-of-the-art research that uncovered the principles of morphological novelty. This article is part of the theme issue 'The mammalian skull: development, structure and function'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marketa Kaucka
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön 24306, Germany
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15
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Fletcher A, Wunderlich Z, Enciso G. Shadow enhancers mediate trade-offs between transcriptional noise and fidelity. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011071. [PMID: 37205714 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhancers are stretches of regulatory DNA that bind transcription factors (TFs) and regulate the expression of a target gene. Shadow enhancers are two or more enhancers that regulate the same target gene in space and time and are associated with most animal developmental genes. These multi-enhancer systems can drive more consistent transcription than single enhancer systems. Nevertheless, it remains unclear why shadow enhancer TF binding sites are distributed across multiple enhancers rather than within a single large enhancer. Here, we use a computational approach to study systems with varying numbers of TF binding sites and enhancers. We employ chemical reaction networks with stochastic dynamics to determine the trends in transcriptional noise and fidelity, two key performance objectives of enhancers. This reveals that while additive shadow enhancers do not differ in noise and fidelity from their single enhancer counterparts, sub- and superadditive shadow enhancers have noise and fidelity trade-offs not available to single enhancers. We also use our computational approach to compare the duplication and splitting of a single enhancer as mechanisms for the generation of shadow enhancers and find that the duplication of enhancers can decrease noise and increase fidelity, although at the metabolic cost of increased RNA production. A saturation mechanism for enhancer interactions similarly improves on both of these metrics. Taken together, this work highlights that shadow enhancer systems may exist for several reasons: genetic drift or the tuning of key functions of enhancers, including transcription fidelity, noise and output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Fletcher
- Mathematical, Computational, and Systems Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Zeba Wunderlich
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - German Enciso
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States of America
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16
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Kocher AA, Dutrow EV, Uebbing S, Yim KM, Larios MFR, Baumgartner M, Nottoli T, Noonan JP. CpG island turnover events predict evolutionary changes in enhancer activity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.09.540063. [PMID: 37214934 PMCID: PMC10197647 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.09.540063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Genetic changes that modify the function of transcriptional enhancers have been linked to the evolution of biological diversity across species. Multiple studies have focused on the role of nucleotide substitutions, transposition, and insertions and deletions in altering enhancer function. Here we show that turnover of CpG islands (CGIs), which contribute to enhancer activation, is broadly associated with changes in enhancer activity across mammals, including humans. We integrated maps of CGIs and enhancer activity-associated histone modifications obtained from multiple tissues in nine mammalian species and found that CGI content in enhancers was strongly associated with increased histone modification levels. CGIs showed widespread turnover across species and species-specific CGIs were strongly enriched for enhancers exhibiting species-specific activity across all tissues and species we examined. Genes associated with enhancers with species-specific CGIs showed concordant biases in their expression, supporting that CGI turnover contributes to gene regulatory innovation. Our results also implicate CGI turnover in the evolution of Human Gain Enhancers (HGEs), which show increased activity in human embryonic development and may have contributed to the evolution of uniquely human traits. Using a humanized mouse model, we show that a highly conserved HGE with a large CGI absent from the mouse ortholog shows increased activity at the human CGI in the humanized mouse diencephalon. Collectively, our results point to CGI turnover as a mechanism driving gene regulatory changes potentially underlying trait evolution in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Acadia A. Kocher
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven CT 06510, USA
| | - Emily V. Dutrow
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven CT 06510, USA
- Present address: Cancer Genetics and Comparative Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Severin Uebbing
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven CT 06510, USA
| | - Kristina M. Yim
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven CT 06510, USA
| | | | | | - Timothy Nottoli
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Yale Genome Editing Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - James P. Noonan
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven CT 06510, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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17
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Farfán-Pira KJ, Martínez-Cuevas TI, Evans TA, Nahmad M. A cis-regulatory sequence of the selector gene vestigial drives the evolution of wing scaling in Drosophila species. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb244692. [PMID: 37078652 PMCID: PMC10234621 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244692] [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: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Scaling between specific organs and overall body size has long fascinated biologists, being a primary mechanism by which organ shapes evolve. Yet, the genetic mechanisms that underlie the evolution of scaling relationships remain elusive. Here, we compared wing and fore tibia lengths (the latter as a proxy of body size) in Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila simulans, Drosophila ananassae and Drosophila virilis, and show that the first three of these species have roughly a similar wing-to-tibia scaling behavior. In contrast, D. virilis exhibits much smaller wings relative to their body size compared with the other species and this is reflected in the intercept of the wing-to-tibia allometry. We then asked whether the evolution of this relationship could be explained by changes in a specific cis-regulatory region or enhancer that drives expression of the wing selector gene, vestigial (vg), whose function is broadly conserved in insects and contributes to wing size. To test this hypothesis directly, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to replace the DNA sequence of the predicted Quadrant Enhancer (vgQE) from D. virilis for the corresponding vgQE sequence in the genome of D. melanogaster. Strikingly, we discovered that D. melanogaster flies carrying the D. virilis vgQE sequence have wings that are significantly smaller with respect to controls, partially shifting the intercept of the wing-to-tibia scaling relationship towards that observed in D. virilis. We conclude that a single cis-regulatory element in D. virilis contributes to constraining wing size in this species, supporting the hypothesis that scaling could evolve through genetic variations in cis-regulatory elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keity J. Farfán-Pira
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neurosciences, Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav-IPN), Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Teresa I. Martínez-Cuevas
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neurosciences, Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav-IPN), Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Timothy A. Evans
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Marcos Nahmad
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neurosciences, Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav-IPN), Mexico City 07360, Mexico
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18
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Murugesan SN, Monteiro A. Evolution of modular and pleiotropic enhancers. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2023; 340:105-115. [PMID: 35334158 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Cis-regulatory elements (CREs), or enhancers, are segments of noncoding DNA that regulate the spatial and temporal expression of nearby genes. Sometimes, genes are expressed in more than one tissue, and this can be driven by two main types of CREs: tissue-specific "modular" CREs, where different CREs drive expression of the gene in the different tissues, or by "pleiotropic" CREs, where the same CRE drives expression in the different tissues. In this perspective, we will discuss some of the ways (i) modular and pleiotropic CREs might originate; (ii) propose that modular CREs might derive from pleiotropic CREs via a process of duplication, degeneration, and complementation (the CRE-DDC model); and (iii) propose that hotspot loci of evolution are associated with the origin of modular CREs belonging to any gene in a regulatory network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suriya N Murugesan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Antónia Monteiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, Singapore
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19
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Rice GR, David JR, Gompel N, Yassin A, Rebeiz M. Resolving between novelty and homology in the rapidly evolving phallus of Drosophila. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2023; 340:182-196. [PMID: 34958528 PMCID: PMC10155935 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The genitalia present some of the most rapidly evolving anatomical structures in the animal kingdom, possessing a variety of parts that can distinguish recently diverged species. In the Drosophila melanogaster group, the phallus is adorned with several processes, pointed outgrowths, that are similar in size and shape between species. However, the complex three-dimensional nature of the phallus can obscure the exact connection points of each process. Previous descriptions based upon adult morphology have primarily assigned phallic processes by their approximate positions in the phallus and have remained largely agnostic regarding their homology relationships. In the absence of clearly identified homology, it can be challenging to model when each structure first evolved. Here, we employ a comparative developmental analysis of these processes in eight members of the melanogaster species group to precisely identify the tissue from which each process forms. Our results indicate that adult phallic processes arise from three pupal primordia in all species. We found that in some cases the same primordia generate homologous structures whereas in other cases, different primordia produce phenotypically similar but remarkably non-homologous structures. This suggests that the same gene regulatory network may have been redeployed to different primordia to induce phenotypically similar traits. Our results highlight how traits diversify and can be redeployed, even at short evolutionary scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin R Rice
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jean R David
- Laboratoire Evolution, Génomes, Comportement, Ecologie (EGCE), UMR 9191, CNRS,IRD, Univ.Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, Cedex, France
| | - Nicolas Gompel
- Fakultät für Biologie, Biozentrum, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Amir Yassin
- Laboratoire Evolution, Génomes, Comportement, Ecologie (EGCE), UMR 9191, CNRS,IRD, Univ.Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, Cedex, France.,Institut de Systématique, Evolution et Biodiversité, UMR7205, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, MNHN, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Mark Rebeiz
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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20
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Gallego Romero I, Lea AJ. Leveraging massively parallel reporter assays for evolutionary questions. Genome Biol 2023; 24:26. [PMID: 36788564 PMCID: PMC9926830 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-02856-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
A long-standing goal of evolutionary biology is to decode how gene regulation contributes to organismal diversity. Doing so is challenging because it is hard to predict function from non-coding sequence and to perform molecular research with non-model taxa. Massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) enable the testing of thousands to millions of sequences for regulatory activity simultaneously. Here, we discuss the execution, advantages, and limitations of MPRAs, with a focus on evolutionary questions. We propose solutions for extending MPRAs to rare taxa and those with limited genomic resources, and we underscore MPRA's broad potential for driving genome-scale, functional studies across organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Gallego Romero
- Melbourne Integrative Genomics, University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia. .,School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, 3010, Australia. .,The Centre for Stem Cell Systems, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia. .,Center for Genomics, Evolution and Medicine, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Riia 23b, 51010, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Amanda J. Lea
- grid.152326.10000 0001 2264 7217Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240 USA ,grid.152326.10000 0001 2264 7217Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240 USA ,grid.152326.10000 0001 2264 7217Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240 USA ,Child and Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Study, Toronto, Canada
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21
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Mazo-Vargas A, Langmüller AM, Wilder A, van der Burg KRL, Lewis JJ, Messer PW, Zhang L, Martin A, Reed RD. Deep cis-regulatory homology of the butterfly wing pattern ground plan. Science 2022; 378:304-308. [PMID: 36264807 DOI: 10.1126/science.abi9407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Butterfly wing patterns derive from a deeply conserved developmental ground plan yet are diverse and evolve rapidly. It is poorly understood how gene regulatory architectures can accommodate both deep homology and adaptive change. To address this, we characterized the cis-regulatory evolution of the color pattern gene WntA in nymphalid butterflies. Comparative assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) and in vivo deletions spanning 46 cis-regulatory elements across five species revealed deep homology of ground plan-determining sequences, except in monarch butterflies. Furthermore, noncoding deletions displayed both positive and negative regulatory effects that were often broad in nature. Our results provide little support for models predicting rapid enhancer turnover and suggest that deeply ancestral, multifunctional noncoding elements can underlie rapidly evolving trait systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anyi Mazo-Vargas
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Anna M Langmüller
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Alexis Wilder
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - James J Lewis
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Philipp W Messer
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Linlin Zhang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Arnaud Martin
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Robert D Reed
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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22
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Rowley AJ, Square TA, Miller CT. Site pleiotropy of a stickleback Bmp6 enhancer. Dev Biol 2022; 492:111-118. [PMID: 36198347 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Development and regeneration are orchestrated by gene regulatory networks that operate in part through transcriptional enhancers. Although many enhancers are pleiotropic and are active in multiple tissues, little is known about whether enhancer pleiotropy is due to 1) site pleiotropy, in which individual transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) are required for activity in multiple tissues, or 2) multiple distinct sites that regulate expression in different tissues. Here, we investigated the pleiotropy of an intronic enhancer of the stickleback Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (Bmp6) gene. This enhancer was previously shown to regulate evolved changes in tooth number and tooth regeneration, and is highly pleiotropic, with robust activity in both fins and teeth throughout embryonic, larval, and adult life, and in the heart and kidney in adult fish. We tested the hypothesis that the pleiotropy of this enhancer is due to site pleiotropy of an evolutionarily conserved predicted Foxc1 TFBS. Transgenic analysis and site-directed mutagenesis experiments both deleting and scrambling this predicted Foxc1 TFBS revealed that the binding site is required for enhancer activity in both teeth and fins throughout embryonic, larval, and adult development, and in the heart and kidney in adult fish. Collectively these data support a model where the pleiotropy of this Bmp6 enhancer is due to site pleiotropy and this putative binding site is required for enhancer activity in multiple anatomical sites from the embryo to the adult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa J Rowley
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Tyler A Square
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Craig T Miller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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23
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Smith SS, Chu D, Qu T, Aggleton JA, Schneider RA. Species-specific sensitivity to TGFβ signaling and changes to the Mmp13 promoter underlie avian jaw development and evolution. eLife 2022; 11:e66005. [PMID: 35666955 PMCID: PMC9246370 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise developmental control of jaw length is critical for survival, but underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. The jaw skeleton arises from neural crest mesenchyme (NCM), and we previously demonstrated that these progenitor cells express more bone-resorbing enzymes including Matrix metalloproteinase 13 (Mmp13) when they generate shorter jaws in quail embryos versus longer jaws in duck. Moreover, if we inhibit bone resorption or Mmp13, we can increase jaw length. In the current study, we uncover mechanisms establishing species-specific levels of Mmp13 and bone resorption. Quail show greater activation of and sensitivity to transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling than duck; where intracellular mediators like SMADs and targets like Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), which bind Mmp13, become elevated. Inhibiting TGFβ signaling decreases bone resorption, and overexpressing Mmp13 in NCM shortens the duck lower jaw. To elucidate the basis for this differential regulation, we examine the Mmp13 promoter. We discover a SMAD-binding element and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near a RUNX2-binding element that distinguish quail from duck. Altering the SMAD site and switching the SNPs abolish TGFβ sensitivity in the quail Mmp13 promoter but make the duck promoter responsive. Thus, differential regulation of TGFβ signaling and Mmp13 promoter structure underlie avian jaw development and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spenser S Smith
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Daniel Chu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Tiange Qu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Jessye A Aggleton
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Richard A Schneider
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
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24
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Perry BW, Gopalan SS, Pasquesi GIM, Schield DR, Westfall AK, Smith CF, Koludarov I, Chippindale PT, Pellegrino MW, Chuong EB, Mackessy SP, Castoe TA. Snake venom gene expression is coordinated by novel regulatory architecture and the integration of multiple co-opted vertebrate pathways. Genome Res 2022; 32:1058-1073. [PMID: 35649579 PMCID: PMC9248877 DOI: 10.1101/gr.276251.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how regulatory mechanisms evolve is critical for understanding the processes that give rise to novel phenotypes. Snake venom systems represent a valuable and tractable model for testing hypotheses related to the evolution of novel regulatory networks, yet the regulatory mechanisms underlying venom production remain poorly understood. Here, we use functional genomics approaches to investigate venom regulatory architecture in the prairie rattlesnake and identify cis-regulatory sequences (enhancers and promoters), trans-regulatory transcription factors, and integrated signaling cascades involved in the regulation of snake venom genes. We find evidence that two conserved vertebrate pathways, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and unfolded protein response pathways, were co-opted to regulate snake venom. In one large venom gene family (snake venom serine proteases), this co-option was likely facilitated by the activity of transposable elements. Patterns of snake venom gene enhancer conservation, in some cases spanning 50 million yr of lineage divergence, highlight early origins and subsequent lineage-specific adaptations that have accompanied the evolution of venom regulatory architecture. We also identify features of chromatin structure involved in venom regulation, including topologically associated domains and CTCF loops that underscore the potential importance of novel chromatin structure to coevolve when duplicated genes evolve new regulatory control. Our findings provide a model for understanding how novel regulatory systems may evolve through a combination of genomic processes, including tandem duplication of genes and regulatory sequences, cis-regulatory sequence seeding by transposable elements, and diverse transcriptional regulatory proteins controlled by a co-opted regulatory cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blair W Perry
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA.,School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA
| | - Siddharth S Gopalan
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA
| | - Giulia I M Pasquesi
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Drew R Schield
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Aundrea K Westfall
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA
| | - Cara F Smith
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado 80639, USA
| | - Ivan Koludarov
- Animal Venomics Group, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, 35390, Germany
| | - Paul T Chippindale
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA
| | - Mark W Pellegrino
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA
| | - Edward B Chuong
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Stephen P Mackessy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado 80639, USA
| | - Todd A Castoe
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA
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25
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Smith SJ, Guillon E, Holley SA. The roles of inter-tissue adhesion in development and morphological evolution. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:275268. [PMID: 35522159 PMCID: PMC9264361 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of how neighboring tissues physically interact with each other, inter-tissue adhesion, is an emerging field at the interface of cell biology, biophysics and developmental biology. Inter-tissue adhesion can be mediated by either cell-extracellular matrix adhesion or cell-cell adhesion, and both the mechanisms and consequences of inter-tissue adhesion have been studied in vivo in numerous vertebrate and invertebrate species. In this Review, we discuss recent progress in understanding the many functions of inter-tissue adhesion in development and evolution. Inter-tissue adhesion can couple the motion of adjacent tissues, be the source of mechanical resistance that constrains morphogenesis, and transmit tension required for normal development. Tissue-tissue adhesion can also create mechanical instability that leads to tissue folding or looping. Transient inter-tissue adhesion can facilitate tissue invasion, and weak tissue adhesion can generate friction that shapes and positions tissues within the embryo. Lastly, we review studies that reveal how inter-tissue adhesion contributes to the diversification of animal morphologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jacquelyn Smith
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Emilie Guillon
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Scott A Holley
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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26
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Luecke D, Rice G, Kopp A. Sex-specific evolution of a Drosophila sensory system via interacting cis- and trans-regulatory changes. Evol Dev 2022; 24:37-60. [PMID: 35239254 PMCID: PMC9179014 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of gene expression via cis-regulatory changes is well established as a major driver of phenotypic evolution. However, relatively little is known about the influence of enhancer architecture and intergenic interactions on regulatory evolution. We address this question by examining chemosensory system evolution in Drosophila. Drosophila prolongata males show a massively increased number of chemosensory bristles compared to females and males of sibling species. This increase is driven by sex-specific transformation of ancestrally mechanosensory organs. Consistent with this phenotype, the Pox neuro transcription factor (Poxn), which specifies chemosensory bristle identity, shows expanded expression in D. prolongata males. Poxn expression is controlled by nonadditive interactions among widely dispersed enhancers. Although some D. prolongata Poxn enhancers show increased activity, the additive component of this increase is slight, suggesting that most changes in Poxn expression are due to epistatic interactions between Poxn enhancers and trans-regulatory factors. Indeed, the expansion of D. prolongata Poxn enhancer activity is only observed in cells that express doublesex (dsx), the gene that controls sexual differentiation in Drosophila and also shows increased expression in D. prolongata males due to cis-regulatory changes. Although expanded dsx expression may contribute to increased activity of D. prolongata Poxn enhancers, this interaction is not sufficient to explain the full expansion of Poxn expression, suggesting that cis-trans interactions between Poxn, dsx, and additional unknown genes are necessary to produce the derived D. prolongata phenotype. Overall, our results demonstrate the importance of epistatic gene interactions for evolution, particularly when pivotal genes have complex regulatory architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Luecke
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis,Current Address: Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University
| | - Gavin Rice
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis,Current Address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
| | - Artyom Kopp
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California – Davis
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27
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Khor JM, Ettensohn CA. Architecture and evolution of the cis-regulatory system of the echinoderm kirrelL gene. eLife 2022; 11:72834. [PMID: 35212624 PMCID: PMC8903837 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The gene regulatory network (GRN) that underlies echinoderm skeletogenesis is a prominent model of GRN architecture and evolution. KirrelL is an essential downstream effector gene in this network and encodes an Ig-superfamily protein required for the fusion of skeletogenic cells and the formation of the skeleton. In this study, we dissected the transcriptional control region of the kirrelL gene of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Using plasmid- and bacterial artificial chromosome-based transgenic reporter assays, we identified key cis-regulatory elements (CREs) and transcription factor inputs that regulate Sp-kirrelL, including direct, positive inputs from two key transcription factors in the skeletogenic GRN, Alx1 and Ets1. We next identified kirrelL cis-regulatory regions from seven other echinoderm species that together represent all classes within the phylum. By introducing these heterologous regulatory regions into developing sea urchin embryos we provide evidence of their remarkable conservation across ~500 million years of evolution. We dissected in detail the kirrelL regulatory region of the sea star, Patiria miniata, and demonstrated that it also receives direct inputs from Alx1 and Ets1. Our findings identify kirrelL as a component of the ancestral echinoderm skeletogenic GRN. They support the view that GRN subcircuits, including specific transcription factor–CRE interactions, can remain stable over vast periods of evolutionary history. Lastly, our analysis of kirrelL establishes direct linkages between a developmental GRN and an effector gene that controls a key morphogenetic cell behavior, cell–cell fusion, providing a paradigm for extending the explanatory power of GRNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Ming Khor
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Charles A Ettensohn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States
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28
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Neal S, McCulloch KJ, Napoli FR, Daly CM, Coleman JH, Koenig KM. Co-option of the limb patterning program in cephalopod eye development. BMC Biol 2022; 20:1. [PMID: 34983491 PMCID: PMC8728989 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01182-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Across the Metazoa, similar genetic programs are found in the development of analogous, independently evolved, morphological features. The functional significance of this reuse and the underlying mechanisms of co-option remain unclear. Cephalopods have evolved a highly acute visual system with a cup-shaped retina and a novel refractive lens in the anterior, important for a number of sophisticated behaviors including predation, mating, and camouflage. Almost nothing is known about the molecular-genetics of lens development in the cephalopod. Results Here we identify the co-option of the canonical bilaterian limb patterning program during cephalopod lens development, a functionally unrelated structure. We show radial expression of transcription factors SP6-9/sp1, Dlx/dll, Pbx/exd, Meis/hth, and a Prdl homolog in the squid Doryteuthis pealeii, similar to expression required in Drosophila limb development. We assess the role of Wnt signaling in the cephalopod lens, a positive regulator in the developing Drosophila limb, and find the regulatory relationship reversed, with ectopic Wnt signaling leading to lens loss. Conclusion This regulatory divergence suggests that duplication of SP6-9 in cephalopods may mediate the co-option of the limb patterning program. Thus, our study suggests that this program could perform a more universal developmental function in radial patterning and highlights how canonical genetic programs are repurposed in novel structures. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01182-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Neal
- John Harvard Distinguished Science Fellowship Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Kyle J McCulloch
- John Harvard Distinguished Science Fellowship Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Francesca R Napoli
- John Harvard Distinguished Science Fellowship Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Christina M Daly
- John Harvard Distinguished Science Fellowship Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - James H Coleman
- John Harvard Distinguished Science Fellowship Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Kristen M Koenig
- John Harvard Distinguished Science Fellowship Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA. .,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
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29
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Stepaniak MD, Square TA, Miller CT. Evolved Bmp6 enhancer alleles drive spatial shifts in gene expression during tooth development in sticklebacks. Genetics 2021; 219:6374454. [PMID: 34849839 PMCID: PMC8664583 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in enhancers have been shown to often underlie natural variation but the evolved differences in enhancer activity can be difficult to identify in vivo. Threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) are a robust system for studying enhancer evolution due to abundant natural genetic variation, a diversity of evolved phenotypes between ancestral marine and derived freshwater forms, and the tractability of transgenic techniques. Previous work identified a series of polymorphisms within an intronic enhancer of the Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (Bmp6) gene that are associated with evolved tooth gain, a derived increase in freshwater tooth number that arises late in development. Here, we use a bicistronic reporter construct containing a genetic insulator and a pair of reciprocal two-color transgenic reporter lines to compare enhancer activity of marine and freshwater alleles of this enhancer. In older fish, the two alleles drive partially overlapping expression in both mesenchyme and epithelium of developing teeth, but the freshwater enhancer drives a reduced mesenchymal domain and a larger epithelial domain relative to the marine enhancer. In younger fish, these spatial shifts in enhancer activity are less pronounced. Comparing Bmp6 expression by in situ hybridization in developing teeth of marine and freshwater fish reveals similar evolved spatial shifts in gene expression. Together, these data support a model in which the polymorphisms within this enhancer underlie evolved tooth gain by shifting the spatial expression of Bmp6 during tooth development, and provide a general strategy to identify spatial differences in enhancer activity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Stepaniak
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Tyler A Square
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Craig T Miller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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30
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Pu J, Wang Z, Cong H, Chin JSR, Justen J, Finet C, Yew JY, Chung H. Repression precedes independent evolutionary gains of a highly specific gene expression pattern. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109896. [PMID: 34706247 PMCID: PMC8578697 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Highly specific expression patterns can be caused by the overlapping activities of activator and repressor sequences in enhancers. However, few studies illuminate how these sequences evolve in the origin of new enhancers. Here, we show that expression of the bond gene in the semicircular wall epithelium (swe) of the Drosophila melanogaster male ejaculatory bulb (EB) is controlled by an enhancer consisting of an activator region that requires Abdominal-B driving expression in the entire EB and a repressor region that restricts this expression to the EB swe. Although this expression pattern is independently gained in the distantly related Scaptodrosophila lebanonensis and does not require Abdominal-B, we show that functionally similar repressor sequences are present in Scaptodrosophila and also in species that do not express bond in the EB. We suggest that during enhancer evolution, repressor sequences can precede the evolution of activator sequences and may lead to similar but independently evolved expression patterns. Pu et al. show that the independent gain of a highly specific expression pattern across distantly related species may be because of the preexistence of repressor sequences that precedes the diversification of these species. This may reflect a general mechanism underlying the evolution of highly specific enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Pu
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Zinan Wang
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Haosu Cong
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jacqueline S R Chin
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A(∗)STAR), Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, Singapore 117609, Singapore
| | - Jessa Justen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Cédric Finet
- Yale-NUS College, 16 College Avenue West, Singapore 138527, Singapore
| | - Joanne Y Yew
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Henry Chung
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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31
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Judd J, Sanderson H, Feschotte C. Evolution of mouse circadian enhancers from transposable elements. Genome Biol 2021; 22:193. [PMID: 34187518 PMCID: PMC8240256 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02409-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transposable elements are increasingly recognized as a source of cis-regulatory variation. Previous studies have revealed that transposons are often bound by transcription factors and some have been co-opted into functional enhancers regulating host gene expression. However, the process by which transposons mature into complex regulatory elements, like enhancers, remains poorly understood. To investigate this process, we examined the contribution of transposons to the cis-regulatory network controlling circadian gene expression in the mouse liver, a well-characterized network serving an important physiological function. RESULTS ChIP-seq analyses reveal that transposons and other repeats contribute ~ 14% of the binding sites for core circadian regulators (CRs) including BMAL1, CLOCK, PER1/2, and CRY1/2, in the mouse liver. RSINE1, an abundant murine-specific SINE, is the only transposon family enriched for CR binding sites across all datasets. Sequence analyses and reporter assays reveal that the circadian regulatory activity of RSINE1 stems from the presence of imperfect CR binding motifs in the ancestral RSINE1 sequence. These motifs matured into canonical motifs through point mutations after transposition. Furthermore, maturation occurred preferentially within elements inserted in the proximity of ancestral CR binding sites. RSINE1 also acquired motifs that recruit nuclear receptors known to cooperate with CRs to regulate circadian gene expression specifically in the liver. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the birth of enhancers from transposons is predicated both by the sequence of the transposon and by the cis-regulatory landscape surrounding their genomic integration site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Judd
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Hayley Sanderson
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Cédric Feschotte
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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32
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Westerman EL, Bowman SEJ, Davidson B, Davis MC, Larson ER, Sanford CPJ. Deploying Big Data to Crack the Genotype to Phenotype Code. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 60:385-396. [PMID: 32492136 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanistically connecting genotypes to phenotypes is a longstanding and central mission of biology. Deciphering these connections will unite questions and datasets across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Although high-throughput sequencing has provided a rich platform on which to launch this effort, tools for deciphering mechanisms further along the genome to phenome pipeline remain limited. Machine learning approaches and other emerging computational tools hold the promise of augmenting human efforts to overcome these obstacles. This vision paper is the result of a Reintegrating Biology Workshop, bringing together the perspectives of integrative and comparative biologists to survey challenges and opportunities in cracking the genotype to phenotype code and thereby generating predictive frameworks across biological scales. Key recommendations include promoting the development of minimum "best practices" for the experimental design and collection of data; fostering sustained and long-term data repositories; promoting programs that recruit, train, and retain a diversity of talent; and providing funding to effectively support these highly cross-disciplinary efforts. We follow this discussion by highlighting a few specific transformative research opportunities that will be advanced by these efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica L Westerman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Sarah E J Bowman
- High-Throughput Crystallization Screening Center, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Bradley Davidson
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA
| | - Marcus C Davis
- Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA
| | - Eric R Larson
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Christopher P J Sanford
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
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33
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Marand AP, Chen Z, Gallavotti A, Schmitz RJ. A cis-regulatory atlas in maize at single-cell resolution. Cell 2021; 184:3041-3055.e21. [PMID: 33964211 DOI: 10.1101/2020.09.27.315499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
cis-regulatory elements (CREs) encode the genomic blueprints of spatiotemporal gene expression programs enabling highly specialized cell functions. Using single-cell genomics in six maize organs, we determined the cis- and trans-regulatory factors defining diverse cell identities and coordinating chromatin organization by profiling transcription factor (TF) combinatorics, identifying TFs with non-cell-autonomous activity, and uncovering TFs underlying higher-order chromatin interactions. Cell-type-specific CREs were enriched for enhancer activity and within unmethylated long terminal repeat retrotransposons. Moreover, we found cell-type-specific CREs are hotspots for phenotype-associated genetic variants and were targeted by selection during modern maize breeding, highlighting the biological implications of this CRE atlas. Through comparison of maize and Arabidopsis thaliana developmental trajectories, we identified TFs and CREs with conserved and divergent chromatin dynamics, showcasing extensive evolution of gene regulatory networks. In addition to this rich dataset, we developed single-cell analysis software, Socrates, which can be used to understand cis-regulatory variation in any species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zongliang Chen
- Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Andrea Gallavotti
- Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Robert J Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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34
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Fuiten AM, Cresko WA. Evolutionary divergence of a Hoxa2b hindbrain enhancer in syngnathids mimics results of functional assays. Dev Genes Evol 2021; 231:57-71. [PMID: 34003345 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-021-00676-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: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Hoxa2 genes provide critical patterning signals during development, and their regulation and function have been extensively studied. We report a previously uncharacterized significant sequence divergence of a highly conserved hindbrain hoxa2b enhancer element in the family syngnathidae (pipefishes, seahorses, pipehorses, seadragons). We compared the hox cis-regulatory element variation in the Gulf pipefish and two species of seahorse against eight other species of fish, as well as human and mouse. We annotated the hoxa2b enhancer element binding sites across three species of seahorse, four species of pipefish, and one species of ghost pipefish. Finally, we performed in situ hybridization analysis of hoxa2b expression in Gulf pipefish embryos. We found that all syngnathid fish examined share a modified rhombomere 4 hoxa2b enhancer element, despite the fact that this element has been found to be highly conserved across all vertebrates examined previously. Binding element sequence motifs and spacing between binding elements have been modified for the hoxa2b enhancer in several species of pipefish and seahorse, and that the loss of the Prep/Meis binding site and further space shortening happened after ghost pipefish split from the rest of the syngnathid clade. We showed that expression of this gene in rhombomere 4 is lower relative to the surrounding rhombomeres in developing Gulf pipefish embryos, reflecting previously published functional tests for this enhancer. Our findings highlight the benefits of studying highly derived, diverse taxa for understanding of gene regulatory evolution and support the hypothesis that natural mutations can occur in deeply conserved pathways in ways potentially related to phenotypic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Fuiten
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
- Present address: Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - William A Cresko
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
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35
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A cis-regulatory atlas in maize at single-cell resolution. Cell 2021; 184:3041-3055.e21. [PMID: 33964211 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
cis-regulatory elements (CREs) encode the genomic blueprints of spatiotemporal gene expression programs enabling highly specialized cell functions. Using single-cell genomics in six maize organs, we determined the cis- and trans-regulatory factors defining diverse cell identities and coordinating chromatin organization by profiling transcription factor (TF) combinatorics, identifying TFs with non-cell-autonomous activity, and uncovering TFs underlying higher-order chromatin interactions. Cell-type-specific CREs were enriched for enhancer activity and within unmethylated long terminal repeat retrotransposons. Moreover, we found cell-type-specific CREs are hotspots for phenotype-associated genetic variants and were targeted by selection during modern maize breeding, highlighting the biological implications of this CRE atlas. Through comparison of maize and Arabidopsis thaliana developmental trajectories, we identified TFs and CREs with conserved and divergent chromatin dynamics, showcasing extensive evolution of gene regulatory networks. In addition to this rich dataset, we developed single-cell analysis software, Socrates, which can be used to understand cis-regulatory variation in any species.
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36
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Liu A, Bergmann DC. How to build a crop plant: Defining the cis-regulatory landscape of maize. Cell 2021; 184:2804-2806. [PMID: 34048703 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The functional regulatory elements of agronomically important plant genomes have been long sought after. Marand et. al. generate a comprehensive atlas of cis-regulatory elements at single cell resolution in maize, providing a powerful resource for inquiries into the rules of multicellular development and for precision crop engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao Liu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Dominique C Bergmann
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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37
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Hendelman A, Zebell S, Rodriguez-Leal D, Dukler N, Robitaille G, Wu X, Kostyun J, Tal L, Wang P, Bartlett ME, Eshed Y, Efroni I, Lippman ZB. Conserved pleiotropy of an ancient plant homeobox gene uncovered by cis-regulatory dissection. Cell 2021; 184:1724-1739.e16. [PMID: 33667348 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Divergence of gene function is a hallmark of evolution, but assessing functional divergence over deep time is not trivial. The few alleles available for cross-species studies often fail to expose the entire functional spectrum of genes, potentially obscuring deeply conserved pleiotropic roles. Here, we explore the functional divergence of WUSCHEL HOMEOBOX9 (WOX9), suggested to have species-specific roles in embryo and inflorescence development. Using a cis-regulatory editing drive system, we generate a comprehensive allelic series in tomato, which revealed hidden pleiotropic roles for WOX9. Analysis of accessible chromatin and conserved cis-regulatory sequences identifies the regions responsible for this pleiotropic activity, the functions of which are conserved in groundcherry, a tomato relative. Mimicking these alleles in Arabidopsis, distantly related to tomato and groundcherry, reveals new inflorescence phenotypes, exposing a deeply conserved pleiotropy. We suggest that targeted cis-regulatory mutations can uncover conserved gene functions and reduce undesirable effects in crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Hendelman
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Sophia Zebell
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | | | - Noah Dukler
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Gina Robitaille
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Xuelin Wu
- The Salk Institute for Biological Research, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jamie Kostyun
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Lior Tal
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Peipei Wang
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Yuval Eshed
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Idan Efroni
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Zachary B Lippman
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA.
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38
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Onimaru K, Tatsumi K, Tanegashima C, Kadota M, Nishimura O, Kuraku S. Developmental hourglass and heterochronic shifts in fin and limb development. eLife 2021; 10:62865. [PMID: 33560225 PMCID: PMC7932699 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
How genetic changes are linked to morphological novelties and developmental constraints remains elusive. Here, we investigate genetic apparatuses that distinguish fish fins from tetrapod limbs by analyzing transcriptomes and open-chromatin regions (OCRs). Specifically, we compared mouse forelimb buds with the pectoral fin buds of an elasmobranch, the brown-banded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum). A transcriptomic comparison with an accurate orthology map revealed both a mass heterochrony and hourglass-shaped conservation of gene expression between fins and limbs. Furthermore, open-chromatin analysis suggested that access to conserved regulatory sequences is transiently increased during mid-stage limb development. During this stage, stage-specific and tissue-specific OCRs were also enriched. Together, early and late stages of fin/limb development are more permissive to mutations than middle stages, which may have contributed to major morphological changes during the fin-to-limb evolution. We hypothesize that the middle stages are constrained by regulatory complexity that results from dynamic and tissue-specific transcriptional controls. Animals come in all shapes and sizes. This diversity arose through genetic mutations during evolution, but it is unclear exactly how these variations led to the formation of new shapes. There is increasing evidence to suggest that not all shapes are possible and that variability between animals is limited by a phenomenon known as “developmental constraint”. These limitations direct parts of the body towards a specific shape as they develop in the embryo. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying these developmental constraints could help explain how different body shapes evolved. The limbs of humans and other mammals evolved from the fins of fish, and this transition is often used to study the role developmental constraints play in evolution. This is an ideal model as there is already a detailed fossil record mapping this evolutionary event, and data pinpointing some of the genes involved in the development of limbs and fins. But this data is incomplete, and a full comparison between the genes activated in the fin and the limb during embryonic development had not been achieved. This is because most fish used for research have undergone recent genetic changes, making it hard to spot which genetic differences are linked to the evolution of the limb. To overcome this barrier, Onimaru et al. compared genetic data from the developing limbs of mice to the developing fins of the brown-banded bamboo shark, which evolves much slower than other fish. This revealed that although many genes commonly played a role in the development of the fin and the limb in the embryo, the activity of these shared genes was not the same. For example, genes that switched on in the late stages of limb development, switched off in the late stages of fin development. But in the middle of development, those differences were relatively small and both species activated very similar sets of genes. Many of these genes were pleiotropic, which means they have important roles in other tissues and therefore mutate less often. This suggests that the mid-stage of limb development is under the strongest level of constraint. Darwin’s theory of natural selection explains that mutations drive evolution. But the theory cannot predict what kinds of new body shapes new mutations will produce. Understanding how the activity levels of different genes affect development could help to fill this knowledge gap. This has potential medical applications, for example, understanding why some genetic changes cause more serious problems than others. This work suggests that mutations in genes that are active during the mid-stage of limb development may have the most serious impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koh Onimaru
- Laboratory for Phyloinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Kobe, Japan.,Laboratory for Bioinformatics Research, RIKEN BDR, Wako City, Japan.,Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kaori Tatsumi
- Laboratory for Phyloinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Kobe, Japan
| | - Chiharu Tanegashima
- Laboratory for Phyloinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Kobe, Japan
| | - Mitsutaka Kadota
- Laboratory for Phyloinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Kobe, Japan
| | - Osamu Nishimura
- Laboratory for Phyloinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Kobe, Japan
| | - Shigehiro Kuraku
- Laboratory for Phyloinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Kobe, Japan
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Coulcher JF, Roure A, Chowdhury R, Robert M, Lescat L, Bouin A, Carvajal Cadavid J, Nishida H, Darras S. Conservation of peripheral nervous system formation mechanisms in divergent ascidian embryos. eLife 2020; 9:e59157. [PMID: 33191918 PMCID: PMC7710358 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Ascidians with very similar embryos but highly divergent genomes are thought to have undergone extensive developmental system drift. We compared, in four species (Ciona and Phallusia for Phlebobranchia, Molgula and Halocynthia for Stolidobranchia), gene expression and gene regulation for a network of six transcription factors regulating peripheral nervous system (PNS) formation in Ciona. All genes, but one in Molgula, were expressed in the PNS with some differences correlating with phylogenetic distance. Cross-species transgenesis indicated strong levels of conservation, except in Molgula, in gene regulation despite lack of sequence conservation of the enhancers. Developmental system drift in ascidians is thus higher for gene regulation than for gene expression and is impacted not only by phylogenetic distance, but also in a clade-specific manner and unevenly within a network. Finally, considering that Molgula is divergent in our analyses, this suggests deep conservation of developmental mechanisms in ascidians after 390 My of separate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua F Coulcher
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM)Banyuls-sur-MerFrance
| | - Agnès Roure
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM)Banyuls-sur-MerFrance
| | - Rafath Chowdhury
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM)Banyuls-sur-MerFrance
| | - Méryl Robert
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM)Banyuls-sur-MerFrance
| | - Laury Lescat
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM)Banyuls-sur-MerFrance
| | - Aurélie Bouin
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM)Banyuls-sur-MerFrance
| | - Juliana Carvajal Cadavid
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM)Banyuls-sur-MerFrance
| | - Hiroki Nishida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka UniversityToyonakaJapan
| | - Sébastien Darras
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM)Banyuls-sur-MerFrance
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40
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Abstract
DNA methylation is a key layer of epigenetic regulation. The deposition of methylation marks relies on the catalytic activity of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), and their active removal relies on the activity of ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes. Paradoxically, in important biological contexts these antagonistic factors are co-expressed and target overlapping genomic regions. The ensuing cyclic biochemistry of cytosine modifications gives rise to a continuous, out-of-thermal equilibrium transition through different methylation states. But what is the purpose of this intriguing turnover of DNA methylation? Recent evidence demonstrates that methylation turnover is enriched at gene distal regulatory elements, including enhancers, and can give rise to large-scale oscillatory dynamics. We discuss this phenomenon and propose that DNA methylation turnover might facilitate key lineage decisions.
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White LJ, Sutton G, Shechonge A, Day JJ, Dasmahapatra KK, Pownall ME. Adaptation of the carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase enzyme in an extremophile fish. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:201200. [PMID: 33204476 PMCID: PMC7657897 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Tetrapods and fish have adapted distinct carbamoyl-phosphate synthase (CPS) enzymes to initiate the ornithine urea cycle during the detoxification of nitrogenous wastes. We report evidence that in the ureotelic subgenus of extremophile fish Oreochromis Alcolapia, CPS III has undergone convergent evolution and adapted its substrate affinity to ammonia, which is typical of terrestrial vertebrate CPS I. Unusually, unlike in other vertebrates, the expression of CPS III in Alcolapia is localized to the skeletal muscle and is activated in the myogenic lineage during early embryonic development with expression remaining in mature fish. We propose that adaptation in Alcolapia included both convergent evolution of CPS function to that of terrestrial vertebrates, as well as changes in development mechanisms redirecting CPS III gene expression to the skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis J. White
- Biology Department, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
- Author for correspondence: Lewis J. White e-mail:
| | - Gemma Sutton
- Biology Department, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Asilatu Shechonge
- Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, PO BOX 98, Kyela, Mbeya, Tanzania
| | - Julia J. Day
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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Abstract
Form diversity is fueled by changes in the expression of genes that build organisms. New expression often results from the emergence of new DNA switches, known as transcriptional enhancers. Many enhancers are thought to appear through the recycling of older enhancers, a process called evolutionary co-option. Enhancer co-option is difficult to assess, and the molecular mechanisms explaining its prevalence are elusive. Using state-of-the-art quantification and analyses, we reveal that the sequences of an ancestral and a derived enhancer overlap extensively. They contain specific binding sites for regulators imparting spatial activities. We found that the two enhancers also share a site facilitating access to chromatin in a region where they overlap. The diversity of forms in multicellular organisms originates largely from the spatial redeployment of developmental genes [S. B. Carroll, Cell 134, 25–36 (2008)]. Several scenarios can explain the emergence of cis-regulatory elements that govern novel aspects of a gene expression pattern [M. Rebeiz, M. Tsiantis, Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 45, 115–123 (2017)]. One scenario, enhancer co-option, holds that a DNA sequence producing an ancestral regulatory activity also becomes the template for a new regulatory activity, sharing regulatory information. While enhancer co-option might fuel morphological diversification, it has rarely been documented [W. J. Glassford et al., Dev. Cell 34, 520–531 (2015)]. Moreover, if two regulatory activities are borne from the same sequence, their modularity, considered a defining feature of enhancers [J. Banerji, L. Olson, W. Schaffner, Cell 33, 729–740 (1983)], might be affected by pleiotropy. Sequence overlap may thereby play a determinant role in enhancer function and evolution. Here, we investigated this problem with two regulatory activities of the Drosophila gene yellow, the novel spot enhancer and the ancestral wing blade enhancer. We used precise and comprehensive quantification of each activity in Drosophila wings to systematically map their sequences along the locus. We show that the spot enhancer has co-opted the sequences of the wing blade enhancer. We also identified a pleiotropic site necessary for DNA accessibility of a shared regulatory region. While the evolutionary steps leading to the derived activity are still unknown, such pleiotropy suggests that enhancer accessibility could be one of the molecular mechanisms seeding evolutionary co-option.
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Abstract
Cell-type- and condition-specific profiles of gene expression require coordination between protein-coding gene promoters and cis-regulatory sequences called enhancers. Enhancers can stimulate gene activity at great genomic distances from their targets, raising questions about how enhancers communicate with specific gene promoters and what molecular mechanisms underlie enhancer function. Characterization of enhancer loci has identified the molecular features of active enhancers that accompany the binding of transcription factors and local opening of chromatin. These characteristics include coactivator recruitment, histone modifications, and noncoding RNA transcription. However, it remains unclear which of these features functionally contribute to enhancer activity. Here, we discuss what is known about how enhancers regulate their target genes and how enhancers and promoters communicate. Further, we describe recent data demonstrating many similarities between enhancers and the gene promoters they control, and we highlight unanswered questions in the field, such as the potential roles of transcription at enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Field
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Karen Adelman
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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44
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Kuroiwa A. Enhancers, development, and evolution. Dev Growth Differ 2020; 62:265-268. [DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Temporal flexibility of gene regulatory network underlies a novel wing pattern in flies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:11589-11596. [PMID: 32393634 PMCID: PMC7261121 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2002092117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental genes can be coopted to generate evolutionary novelties by changing their spatial regulation. However, developmental genes seldom act independently, but rather work in a gene regulatory network (GRN). How is it possible to recruit a single gene from a whole GRN? What are the properties that allow parallel cooptions of the same genes during evolution? Here, we show that a novel engrailed gene expression underlies a novel wing color pattern in flies. We show that cooption is facilitated 1) because of GRN flexibility over development and 2) because every single gene of the GRN has its own functional time window. We suggest these two temporal properties could explain why the same gene can be independently recruited several times during evolution. Organisms have evolved endless morphological, physiological, and behavioral novel traits during the course of evolution. Novel traits were proposed to evolve mainly by orchestration of preexisting genes. Over the past two decades, biologists have shown that cooption of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) indeed underlies numerous evolutionary novelties. However, very little is known about the actual GRN properties that allow such redeployment. Here we have investigated the generation and evolution of the complex wing pattern of the fly Samoaia leonensis. We show that the transcription factor Engrailed is recruited independently from the other players of the anterior–posterior specification network to generate a new wing pattern. We argue that partial cooption is made possible because 1) the anterior–posterior specification GRN is flexible over time in the developing wing and 2) this flexibility results from the fact that every single gene of the GRN possesses its own functional time window. We propose that the temporal flexibility of a GRN is a general prerequisite for its possible cooption during the course of evolution.
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On the specificity of gene regulatory networks: How does network co-option affect subsequent evolution? Curr Top Dev Biol 2020; 139:375-405. [PMID: 32450967 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The process of multicellular organismal development hinges upon the specificity of developmental programs: for different parts of the organism to form unique features, processes must exist to specify each part. This specificity is thought to be hardwired into gene regulatory networks, which activate cohorts of genes in particular tissues at particular times during development. However, the evolution of gene regulatory networks sometimes occurs by mechanisms that sacrifice specificity. One such mechanism is network co-option, in which existing gene networks are redeployed in new developmental contexts. While network co-option may offer an efficient mechanism for generating novel phenotypes, losses of tissue specificity at redeployed network genes could restrict the ability of the affected traits to evolve independently. At present, there has not been a detailed discussion regarding how tissue specificity of network genes might be altered due to gene network co-option at its initiation, as well as how trait independence can be retained or restored after network co-option. A lack of clarity about network co-option makes it more difficult to speculate on the long-term evolutionary implications of this mechanism. In this review, we will discuss the possible initial outcomes of network co-option, outline the mechanisms by which networks may retain or subsequently regain specificity after network co-option, and comment on some of the possible evolutionary consequences of network co-option. We place special emphasis on the need to consider selectively-neutral outcomes of network co-option to improve our understanding of the role of this mechanism in trait evolution.
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47
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Miller SW, Posakony JW. Disparate expression specificities coded by a shared Hox-C enhancer. eLife 2020; 9:39876. [PMID: 32342858 PMCID: PMC7188484 DOI: 10.7554/elife.39876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Can a single regulatory sequence be shared by two genes undergoing functional divergence? Here we describe a single promiscuous enhancer within the Drosophila Antennapedia Complex, EO053, that directs aspects of the expression of two adjacent genes, pb (a Hox2 ortholog) and zen2 (a divergent Hox3 paralog), with disparate spatial and temporal expression patterns. We were unable to separate the pb-like and zen2-like specificities within EO053, and we identify sequences affecting both expression patterns. Importantly, genomic deletion experiments demonstrate that EO053 cooperates with additional pb- and zen2-specific enhancers to regulate the mRNA expression of both genes. We examine sequence conservation of EO053 within the Schizophora, and show that patterns of synteny between the Hox2 and Hox3 orthologs in Arthropods are consistent with a shared regulatory relationship extending prior to the Hox3/zen divergence. Thus, EO053 represents an example of two genes having evolved disparate outputs while utilizing this shared regulatory region. Editorial note: This article has been through an editorial process in which the authors decide how to respond to the issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor's assessment is that all the issues have been addressed (see decision letter).
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve W Miller
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, United States
| | - James W Posakony
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, United States
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48
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Koshikawa S. Evolution of wing pigmentation in Drosophila: Diversity, physiological regulation, and cis-regulatory evolution. Dev Growth Differ 2020; 62:269-278. [PMID: 32171022 PMCID: PMC7384037 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Fruit flies (Drosophila and its close relatives, or “drosophilids”) are a group that includes an important model organism, Drosophila melanogaster, and also very diverse species distributed worldwide. Many of these species have black or brown pigmentation patterns on their wings, and have been used as material for evo‐devo research. Pigmentation patterns are thought to have evolved rapidly compared with body plans or body shapes; hence they are advantageous model systems for studying evolutionary gains of traits and parallel evolution. Various groups of drosophilids, including genus Idiomyia (Hawaiian Drosophila), have a variety of pigmentations, ranging from simple black pigmentations around crossveins to a single antero‐distal spot and a more complex mottled pattern. Pigmentation patterns are sometimes obviously used for sexual displays; however, in some cases they may have other functions. The process of wing formation in Drosophila, the general mechanism of pigmentation formation, and the transport of substances necessary for pigmentation, including melanin precursors, through wing veins are summarized here. Lastly, the evolution of the expression of genes regulating pigmentation patterns, the role of cis‐regulatory regions, and the conditions required for the evolutionary emergence of pigmentation patterns are discussed. Future prospects for research on the evolution of wing pigmentation pattern formation in drosophilids are presented, particularly from the point of view of how they compare with other studies of the evolution of new traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeyuki Koshikawa
- Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.,Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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49
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Lai X, Chahtane H, Martin-Arevalillo R, Zubieta C, Parcy F. Contrasted evolutionary trajectories of plant transcription factors. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 54:101-107. [PMID: 32417720 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Because of their prominent roles in plant development, transcription factors (TF) play central roles as drivers of innovation in the evolution of the green lineage (viridiplantae). The advent of massive sequencing combined with comparative genetics/genomics allows a rigorous investigation of how TF families have contributed to plant diversification from charophyte algae to bryophytes to angiosperms. Here, we review recent progress on TF family reconstruction and the identification of distantly related TFs present throughout the evolutionary timeline from algae to angiosperms. These data provide examples of contrasting evolutionary trajectories of TF families and illustrate how conserved TFs adopt diverse roles over the course of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelei Lai
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-LPCV, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Hicham Chahtane
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-LPCV, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Raquel Martin-Arevalillo
- Laboratoire de Reproduction et de Développement des Plantes, INRAE, CNRS, ENS de Lyon, UCB Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, France
| | - Chloe Zubieta
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-LPCV, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - François Parcy
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-LPCV, 38000 Grenoble, France.
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50
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Aneklaphakij C, Bunsupa S, Sirichamorn Y, Bongcheewin B, Satitpatipan V. Taxonomic Notes on the 'Mahat' ( Artocarpus lacucha and A. thailandicus, Moraceae) Species Complex in Thailand. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9030391. [PMID: 32235808 PMCID: PMC7154811 DOI: 10.3390/plants9030391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
‘Mahat’ is a well-known medicinal plant utilized in Thailand. The Thai name ‘Mahat’ has been used in many scientific articles for years. However, it is, unpredictably, a homonym of two scientific names in Flora of Thailand, i.e., A. lacucha and A. thailandicus. Additionally, both species are complex due to their high morphological variation. This causes difficulties in species identification especially when this Thai name is referred to as the scientific name for research publication, quality control of pharmaceutical raw materials, and registration of pharmaceutical products. In this study, we scrutinized the taxonomy of ‘Mahat’ by detailed examination of its morphology and distribution, including molecular and qualitative phytochemical studies. Leaf surfaces were inspected using scanning electron microscopy. The phylogeny of both species was studied using DNA sequences of nuclear and plastid regions. Chromatographic fingerprints, focusing on the major active compound oxyresveratrol, were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography. According to our current study, phylogenetic evidence showed that some samples of both species were clustered together in the same clade and phytochemical fingerprints were almost identical. These results are valuable data for taxonomic revision in the near future and reveal the possible utilization of A. thailandicus as a new material source of oxyresveratrol in the pharmaceutical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaiwat Aneklaphakij
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (C.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Somnuk Bunsupa
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (C.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Yotsawate Sirichamorn
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Sanam Chandra Palace Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand;
| | - Bhanubong Bongcheewin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Veena Satitpatipan
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (C.A.); (S.B.)
- Correspondence:
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