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Gavazzi LM, Nair M, Suydam R, Usip S, Thewissen JGM, Cooper LN. Protein signaling and morphological development of the tail fluke in the embryonic beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas). Dev Dyn 2024. [PMID: 38494595 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the land-to-sea transition of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), the hindlimbs were lost and replaced by an elaborate tail fluke that evolved 32 Ma. All modern cetaceans utilize flukes for lift-based propulsion, and nothing is known of this organ's molecular origins during embryonic development. This study utilizes immunohistochemistry to identify the spatiotemporal location of protein signals known to drive appendage outgrowth in other vertebrates (e.g., Sonic Hedgehog [SHH], GREMLIN [GREM], wingless-type family member 7a [WNT], and fibroblast growth factors [FGFs]) and to test the hypothesis that signals associated with outgrowth and patterning of the tail fluke are similar to a tetrapod limb. Specifically, this study utilizes an embryo of a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) as a case study. RESULTS Results showed epidermal signals of WNT and FGFs, and mesenchymal/epidermal signals of SHH and GREM. These patterns are most consistent with vertebrate limb development. Overall, these data are most consistent with the hypothesis that outgrowth of tail flukes in cetaceans employs a signaling pattern that suggests genes essential for limb outgrowth and patterning shape this evolutionarily novel appendage. CONCLUSIONS While these data add insights into the molecular signals potentially driving the evolution and development of tail flukes in cetaceans, further exploration of the molecular drivers of fluke development is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Gavazzi
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
- Musculoskeletal Research Focus Area, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - M Nair
- Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - R Suydam
- Department of Wildlife Management, North Slope Borough, Utqiaġvik, Alaska, USA
| | - S Usip
- Musculoskeletal Research Focus Area, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - J G M Thewissen
- Musculoskeletal Research Focus Area, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
| | - L N Cooper
- Musculoskeletal Research Focus Area, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA
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Ehemann NR, Meyer A, Hulsey CD. Morphological description of spontaneous pelvic fin loss in a neotropical cichlid fish. J Morphol 2024; 285:e21663. [PMID: 38100744 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21663] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Pelvic fins are a characteristic structure of the vertebrate Bauplan. Yet, pelvic fin loss has occurred repeatedly across a wide diversity of other lineages of tetrapods and at least 48 times in teleost fishes. This pelvic finless condition is often associated with other morphological features such as body elongation, loss of additional structures, and bilateral asymmetry. However, despite the remarkable diversity in the several thousand cichlid fish species, none of them are characterized by the complete absence of pelvic fins. Here, we examined the musculoskeletal structure and associated bilateral asymmetry in Midas cichlids (Amphilophus cf. citrinellus) that lost their pelvic fins spontaneously in the laboratory. Due to this apparent mutational loss of the pelvic girdle and fins, the external and internal anatomy are described in a series of "normal" Midas individuals and their pelvic finless sibling tankmates. First, other traits associated with teleost pelvic fin loss, the genetic basis of pelvic fin loss, and the potential for pleiotropic effects of these genes on other traits in teleosts were all reviewed. Using these traits as a guide, we investigated whether other morphological differences were associated with the pelvic girdle/fin loss. The mean values of the masses of muscle of the pectoral fin, fin ray numbers in the unpaired fins, and oral jaw tooth numbers did not differ between the two pelvic fin morphotypes. However, significant differences in meristic values of the paired traits assessed were observed for the same side of the body between morphotypes. Notably, bilateral asymmetry was found exclusively for the posterior lateral line scales. Finally, we found limited evidence of pleiotropic effects, such as lateral line scale numbers and fluctuating asymmetry between the Midas pelvic fin morphotypes. The fast and relatively isolated changes in the Midas cichlids suggest minor but interesting pleiotropic effects could accompany loss of cichlid pelvic fins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Axel Meyer
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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Mendizábal-Castillero M, Merlo MA, Cross I, Rodríguez ME, Rebordinos L. Genomic Characterization of hox Genes in Senegalese Sole ( Solea senegalensis, Kaup 1858): Clues to Evolutionary Path in Pleuronectiformes. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243586. [PMID: 36552509 PMCID: PMC9774920 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup 1858), a marine flatfish, belongs to the Pleuronectiformes order. It is a commercially important species for fisheries and aquaculture. However, in aquaculture, several production bottlenecks have still to be resolved, including skeletal deformities and high mortality during the larval and juvenile phase. The study aims to characterize the hox gene clusters in S. senegalensis to understand better the developmental and metamorphosis process in this species. Using a BAC library, the clones that contain hox genes were isolated, sequenced by NGS and used as BAC-FISH probes. Subsequently the hox clusters were studied by sequence analysis, comparative genomics, and cytogenetic and phylogenetic analysis. Cytogenetic analysis demonstrated the localization of four BAC clones on chromosome pairs 4, 12, 13, and 16 of the Senegalese sole cytogenomic map. Comparative and phylogenetic analysis showed a highly conserved organization in each cluster and different phylogenetic clustering in each hox cluster. Analysis of structural and repetitive sequences revealed accumulations of polymorphisms mediated by repetitive elements in the hoxba cluster, mainly retroelements. Therefore, a possible loss of the hoxb7a gene can be established in the Pleuronectiformes lineage. This work allows the organization and regulation of hox clusters to be understood, and is a good base for further studies of expression patterns.
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Lü Z, Gong L, Ren Y, Chen Y, Wang Z, Liu L, Li H, Chen X, Li Z, Luo H, Jiang H, Zeng Y, Wang Y, Wang K, Zhang C, Jiang H, Wan W, Qin Y, Zhang J, Zhu L, Shi W, He S, Mao B, Wang W, Kong X, Li Y. Large-scale sequencing of flatfish genomes provides insights into the polyphyletic origin of their specialized body plan. Nat Genet 2021; 53:742-751. [PMID: 33875864 PMCID: PMC8110480 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00836-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionary and genetic origins of the specialized body plan of flatfish are largely unclear. We analyzed the genomes of 11 flatfish species representing 9 of the 14 Pleuronectiforme families and conclude that Pleuronectoidei and Psettodoidei do not form a monophyletic group, suggesting independent origins from different percoid ancestors. Genomic and transcriptomic data indicate that genes related to WNT and retinoic acid pathways, hampered musculature and reduced lipids might have functioned in the evolution of the specialized body plan of Pleuronectoidei. Evolution of Psettodoidei involved similar but not identical genes. Our work provides valuable resources and insights for understanding the genetic origins of the unusual body plan of flatfishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenming Lü
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Li Gong
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Yandong Ren
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yongjiu Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Zhongkai Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Liqin Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Haorong Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xianqing Chen
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhenzhu Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hairong Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Yan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yifan Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Kun Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Haifeng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenting Wan
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanli Qin
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jianshe Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Marine Germplasm Resources Exploration and Utilization, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, China
| | - Liang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Wei Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shunping He
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingyu Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Wen Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Kong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yongxin Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.
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Stewart TA, Bonilla MM, Ho RK, Hale ME. Adipose fin development and its relation to the evolutionary origins of median fins. Sci Rep 2019; 9:512. [PMID: 30679662 PMCID: PMC6346007 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37040-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The dorsal, anal and caudal fins of vertebrates are proposed to have originated by the partitioning and transformation of the continuous median fin fold that is plesiomorphic to chordates. Evaluating this hypothesis has been challenging, because it is unclear how the median fin fold relates to the adult median fins of vertebrates. To understand how new median fins originate, here we study the development and diversity of adipose fins. Phylogenetic mapping shows that in all lineages except Characoidei (Characiformes) adipose fins develop from a domain of the larval median fin fold. To inform how the larva's median fin fold contributes to the adipose fin, we study Corydoras aeneus (Siluriformes). As the fin fold reduces around the prospective site of the adipose fin, a fin spine develops in the fold, growing both proximally and distally, and sensory innervation, which appears to originate from the recurrent ramus of the facial nerve and from dorsal rami of the spinal cord, develops in the adipose fin membrane. Collectively, these data show how a plesiomorphic median fin fold can serve as scaffolding for the evolution and development of novel, individuated median fins, consistent with the median fin fold hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Stewart
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, 1027 E. 57th St, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Melvin M Bonilla
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, 1027 E. 57th St, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Robert K Ho
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, 1027 E. 57th St, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Melina E Hale
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, 1027 E. 57th St, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
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