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Hwang H, Chen S, Ma M, Divyanshi, Fan HC, Borwick E, Böke E, Mei W, Yang J. Solubility phase transition of maternal RNAs during vertebrate oocyte-to-embryo transition. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2776-2788.e5. [PMID: 37922909 PMCID: PMC10841985 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The oocyte-to-embryo transition (OET) is regulated by maternal products stored in the oocyte cytoplasm, independent of transcription. How maternal products are precisely remodeled to dictate the OET remains largely unclear. In this work, we discover the dynamic solubility phase transition of maternal RNAs during Xenopus OET. We have identified 863 maternal transcripts that transition from a soluble state to a detergent-insoluble one after oocyte maturation. These RNAs are enriched in the animal hemisphere, and many of them encode key cell cycle regulators. In contrast, 165 transcripts, including nearly all Xenopus germline RNAs and some vegetally localized somatic RNAs, undergo an insoluble-to-soluble phase transition. This phenomenon is conserved in zebrafish. Our results demonstrate that the phase transition of germline RNAs influences their susceptibility to RNA degradation machinery and is mediated by the remodeling of germ plasm. This work thus identifies important remodeling mechanisms that act on RNAs to control vertebrate OET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyojeong Hwang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Sijie Chen
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Meng Ma
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Divyanshi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Hao-Chun Fan
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Elizabeth Borwick
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Elvan Böke
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wenyan Mei
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
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2
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Hwang H, Chen S, Ma M, Divyanshi, Fan HC, Borwick E, Böke E, Mei W, Yang J. Phase transition of maternal RNAs during vertebrate oocyte-to-embryo transition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.11.540463. [PMID: 37214813 PMCID: PMC10197690 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.11.540463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The oocyte-to-embryo transition (OET) is regulated by maternal products stored in the oocyte cytoplasm, independent of transcription. How maternal products are precisely remodeled to dictate the OET remains an open question. In this work, we discover the dynamic phase transition of maternal RNAs during Xenopus OET. We have identified 863 maternal transcripts that transition from a soluble state to a detergent-insoluble one after oocyte maturation. These RNAs are enriched in the animal hemisphere and many of them encode key cell cycle regulators. In contrast, 165 transcripts, including nearly all Xenopus germline RNAs and some vegetally localized somatic RNAs, undergo an insoluble-to-soluble phase transition. This phenomenon is conserved in zebrafish. Our results demonstrate that the phase transition of germline RNAs influences their susceptibility to RNA degradation machinery and is mediated by the remodeling of germ plasm. This work thus uncovers novel remodeling mechanisms that act on RNAs to regulate vertebrate OET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyojeong Hwang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Sijie Chen
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Meng Ma
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Divyanshi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Hao-Chun Fan
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Elizabeth Borwick
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Elvan Böke
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wenyan Mei
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61802, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
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3
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Aspatwar A, Syrjänen L, Parkkila S. Roles of Carbonic Anhydrases and Carbonic Anhydrase Related Proteins in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084342. [PMID: 35457162 PMCID: PMC9032886 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
During recent decades, zebrafish (Danio rerio) have become one of the most important model organisms in which to study different physiological and biological phenomena. The research field of carbonic anhydrases (CAs) and carbonic anhydrase related proteins (CARPs) is not an exception to this. The best-known function of CAs is the regulation of acid–base balance. However, studies performed with zebrafish, among others, have revealed important roles for these proteins in many other physiological processes, some of which had not yet been predicted in the light of previous studies and suggestions. Examples include roles in zebrafish pigmentation as well as motor coordination. Disruption of the function of these proteins may generate lethal outcomes. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of CA-related studies performed in zebrafish from 1993–2021 that was obtained from PubMed search.
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4
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Hansen CL, Chamberlain TJ, Trevena RL, Kurek JE, Pelegri F. Conserved germ plasm characteristics across the Danio and Devario lineages. Genesis 2021; 59:e23452. [PMID: 34617657 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23452] [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: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In many animal species, germ cell specification requires the inheritance of germ plasm, a biomolecular condensate containing maternally derived RNAs and proteins. Most studies of germ plasm composition and function have been performed in widely evolutionarily divergent model organisms, such as Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, Xenopus laevis, and Danio rerio (zebrafish). In zebrafish, 12 RNAs localize to germ plasm at the furrows of the early embryo. Here, we tested for the presence of these RNAs in three additional species within the Danionin clade: Danio kyathit, Danio albolineatus, and Devario aequipinnatus. By visualizing nanos RNA, we find that germ plasm segregation patterns during early embryogenesis are conserved across these species. Ten additional germ plasm RNAs exhibit localization at the furrows of early embryos in all three non-zebrafish Danionin species, consistent with germ plasm localization. One component of zebrafish germ plasm, ca15b, lacked specific localization in embryos of the more distantly related D. aequipinnatus. Our findings show that within a subset of closely related Danionin species, the vast majority of germ plasm RNA components are conserved. At the same time, the lack of ca15b localization in D. aequipinnatus germ plasm highlights the potential for the divergence of germ plasm composition across a restricted phylogenetic space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L Hansen
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Trevor J Chamberlain
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ryan L Trevena
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jacob E Kurek
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Francisco Pelegri
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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5
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Hansen CL, Pelegri F. Primordial Germ Cell Specification in Vertebrate Embryos: Phylogenetic Distribution and Conserved Molecular Features of Preformation and Induction. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:730332. [PMID: 34604230 PMCID: PMC8481613 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.730332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of primordial germ cells (PGCs) occurs during early embryonic development and is critical for the survival and fitness of sexually reproducing species. Here, we review the two main mechanisms of PGC specification, induction, and preformation, in the context of four model vertebrate species: mouse, axolotl, Xenopus frogs, and zebrafish. We additionally discuss some notable molecular characteristics shared across PGC specification pathways, including the shared expression of products from three conserved germline gene families, DAZ (Deleted in Azoospermia) genes, nanos-related genes, and DEAD-box RNA helicases. Then, we summarize the current state of knowledge of the distribution of germ cell determination systems across kingdom Animalia, with particular attention to vertebrate species, but include several categories of invertebrates - ranging from the "proto-vertebrate" cephalochordates to arthropods, cnidarians, and ctenophores. We also briefly highlight ongoing investigations and potential lines of inquiry that aim to understand the evolutionary relationships between these modes of specification.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francisco Pelegri
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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6
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Cao Z, Yang Q, Luo L. Zebrafish as a Model for Germ Cell Regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:685001. [PMID: 34368134 PMCID: PMC8339553 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.685001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Germ cell acts as a link between transfer of genetic information and process of species evolution. Defects or malformations of germ cells can lead to infertility or tumors. Germ cell regeneration is one of the effective ways to treat the infertility. Therefore, it is of great scientific and clinical interests to dissect the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying germ cell regeneration. Progress have already been achieved in germ cell regeneration using model organisms for decades. However, key open issues regarding the underpinning mechanisms still remain poorly understood. Zebrafish is well known for its powerful regenerative capacity to regenerate various tissues and organs. Recently, advances in genomics, genetics, microscopy, and single cell technologies have made zebrafish an attractive model to study germ cell development and regeneration. Here we review recent technologies for the study of germ cell regeneration in zebrafish, highlight the potential of germline stem cells (GSCs) in the contribution to reproductive system regeneration, and discuss the nanos. Wnt signaling and germ cell-specific factors involved in the regulation of germ cell regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zigang Cao
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Organ Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, China
| | - Qifen Yang
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lingfei Luo
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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7
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Yan YL, Titus T, Desvignes T, BreMiller R, Batzel P, Sydes J, Farnsworth D, Dillon D, Wegner J, Phillips JB, Peirce J, Dowd J, Buck CL, Miller A, Westerfield M, Postlethwait JH. A fish with no sex: gonadal and adrenal functions partition between zebrafish NR5A1 co-orthologs. Genetics 2021; 217:iyaa030. [PMID: 33724412 PMCID: PMC8045690 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyaa030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
People with NR5A1 mutations experience testicular dysgenesis, ovotestes, or adrenal insufficiency, but we do not completely understand the origin of this phenotypic diversity. NR5A1 is expressed in gonadal soma precursor cells before expression of the sex-determining gene SRY. Many fish have two co-orthologs of NR5A1 that likely partitioned ancestral gene subfunctions between them. To explore ancestral roles of NR5A1, we knocked out nr5a1a and nr5a1b in zebrafish. Single-cell RNA-seq identified nr5a1a-expressing cells that co-expressed genes for steroid biosynthesis and the chemokine receptor Cxcl12a in 1-day postfertilization (dpf) embryos, as does the mammalian adrenal-gonadal (interrenal-gonadal) primordium. In 2dpf embryos, nr5a1a was expressed stronger in the interrenal-gonadal primordium than in the early hypothalamus but nr5a1b showed the reverse. Adult Leydig cells expressed both ohnologs and granulosa cells expressed nr5a1a stronger than nr5a1b. Mutants for nr5a1a lacked the interrenal, formed incompletely differentiated testes, had no Leydig cells, and grew far larger than normal fish. Mutants for nr5a1b formed a disorganized interrenal and their gonads completely disappeared. All homozygous mutant genotypes lacked secondary sex characteristics, including male breeding tubercles and female sex papillae, and had exceedingly low levels of estradiol, 11-ketotestosterone, and cortisol. RNA-seq showed that at 21dpf, some animals were developing as females and others were not, independent of nr5a1 genotype. By 35dpf, all mutant genotypes greatly under-expressed ovary-biased genes. Because adult nr5a1a mutants form gonads but lack an interrenal and conversely, adult nr5a1b mutants lack a gonad but have an interrenal, the adrenal, and gonadal functions of the ancestral nr5a1 gene partitioned between ohnologs after the teleost genome duplication, likely owing to reciprocal loss of ancestral tissue-specific regulatory elements. Identifying such elements could provide hints to otherwise unexplained cases of Differences in Sex Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Lin Yan
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Tom Titus
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Thomas Desvignes
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Ruth BreMiller
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Peter Batzel
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Jason Sydes
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Dylan Farnsworth
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Danielle Dillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Jeremy Wegner
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | | | - Judy Peirce
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - John Dowd
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | | | - Charles Loren Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Adam Miller
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Monte Westerfield
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
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8
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Redl S, de Jesus Domingues AM, Caspani E, Möckel S, Salvenmoser W, Mendez-Lago M, Ketting RF. Extensive nuclear gyration and pervasive non-genic transcription during primordial germ cell development in zebrafish. Development 2021; 148:dev193060. [PMID: 33298460 PMCID: PMC7847270 DOI: 10.1242/dev.193060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the precursors of germ cells, which migrate to the genital ridge during early development. Relatively little is known about PGCs after their migration. We studied this post-migratory stage using microscopy and sequencing techniques, and found that many PGC-specific genes, including genes known to induce PGC fate in the mouse, are only activated several days after migration. At this same time point, PGC nuclei become extremely gyrated, displaying general broad opening of chromatin and high levels of intergenic transcription. This is accompanied by changes in nuage morphology, expression of large loci (PGC-expressed non-coding RNA loci, PERLs) that are enriched for retro-transposons and piRNAs, and a rise in piRNA biogenesis signatures. Interestingly, no nuclear Piwi protein could be detected at any time point, indicating that the zebrafish piRNA pathway is fully cytoplasmic. Our data show that the post-migratory stage of zebrafish PGCs holds many cues to both germ cell fate establishment and piRNA pathway activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Redl
- Biology of Non-coding RNA Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Edoardo Caspani
- Biology of Non-coding RNA Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- International PhD Programme on Gene Regulation, Epigenetics & Genome Stability, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefanie Möckel
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Willi Salvenmoser
- Institute of Zoology, Evolution and Developmental Biology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraβe 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maria Mendez-Lago
- Genomics Core Facility, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - René F Ketting
- Biology of Non-coding RNA Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55099 Mainz, Germany
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9
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Chang CT, Lee YH, HuangFu WC, Liu IH. Cell-intrinsic Fgf signaling contributes to primordial germ cell homing in zebrafish. Theriogenology 2020; 158:424-431. [PMID: 33039926 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.09.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are specified before gastrulation and migrate toward the developing gonads. Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated a cell-intrinsic requirement of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) by PGCs; however, no evidence suggests FGFs signal directly to PGCs in vivo. Here, using zebrafish as the animal model, we identified the mRNA expressions of Fgf receptors (Fgfrs) and determined the roles of Fgf signaling in migrating PGCs. To clarify the functions of Fgf signaling, we manipulated Fgf signaling specifically in PGCs using dominant-negative (dn) and constitutively-active (ca) Fgfrs and revealed a requirement of a basal Fgf signaling level for the robust arrival of PGCs. Repression of Fgf signaling in PGCs swayed the marginal positioning of PGCs as early as 6 h post-fertilization (6 hpf) and disrupted their arrival at the gonadal ridge at 24 hpf. On the other hand, the ectopic PGC phenotypes caused by the dn-Fgfrs could be alleviated by constitutive activation of Fgf signaling. In addition, we carefully ruled out the somatic effects in mosaic embryos by injecting RNA materials into one blastomere of the four- or eight-cell stage embryos. Injection of dn-Fgfrs into one of eight blastomeres hampered the arrival of only the treated PGCs, while the other PGCs remained unaffected. Furthermore, mosaic treatment of ca-Fgfrs rescued the ectopic rates of dn-Fgfr treated PGCs, while the other PGCs remained more ectopic within the same embryos. Interestingly, PGC-specific repression of Fgf signaling did not compromise the PGC number. To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo evidence to show that Fgf signaling plays a cell-intrinsic role in the migration of vertebrate PGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Teng Chang
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hua Lee
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chun HuangFu
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - I-Hsuan Liu
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan; Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan; School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
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10
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Ye M, Chen Y. Zebrafish as an emerging model to study gonad development. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:2373-2380. [PMID: 32994895 PMCID: PMC7498840 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a popular model organism in developmental biology and pharmacogenetics due to its attribute of pathway conservation. Coupled with the availability of robust genetic and transgenic tools, transparent embryos and rapid larval development, studies of zebrafish allow detailed cellular analysis of many dynamic processes. In recent decades, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the process of gonad development have been the subject of intense research using zebrafish models. In this mini-review, we give a brief overview of these studies, and highlight the essential genes involved in sex determination and gonad development in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengling Ye
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ye Chen
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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11
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Yan YL, Batzel P, Titus T, Sydes J, Desvignes T, BreMiller R, Draper B, Postlethwait JH. A Hormone That Lost Its Receptor: Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) in Zebrafish Gonad Development and Sex Determination. Genetics 2019; 213:529-553. [PMID: 31399485 PMCID: PMC6781894 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal mammalian testes secrete Anti-Müllerian hormone (Amh), which inhibits female reproductive tract (Müllerian duct) development. Amh also derives from mature mammalian ovarian follicles, which marks oocyte reserve and characterizes polycystic ovarian syndrome. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) lacks Müllerian ducts and the Amh receptor gene amhr2 but, curiously, retains amh To discover the roles of Amh in the absence of Müllerian ducts and the ancestral receptor gene, we made amh null alleles in zebrafish. Results showed that normal amh prevents female-biased sex ratios. Adult male amh mutants had enormous testes, half of which contained immature oocytes, demonstrating that Amh regulates male germ cell accumulation and inhibits oocyte development or survival. Mutant males formed sperm ducts and some produced a few offspring. Young female mutants laid a few fertile eggs, so they also had functional sex ducts. Older amh mutants accumulated nonvitellogenic follicles in exceedingly large but sterile ovaries, showing that Amh helps control ovarian follicle maturation and proliferation. RNA-sequencing data partitioned juveniles at 21 days postfertilization (dpf) into two groups that each contained mutant and wild-type fish. Group21-1 upregulated ovary genes compared to Group21-2, which were likely developing as males. By 35 dpf, transcriptomes distinguished males from females and, within each sex, mutants from wild types. In adult mutants, ovaries greatly underexpressed granulosa and theca genes, and testes underexpressed Leydig cell genes. These results show that ancestral Amh functions included development of the gonadal soma in ovaries and testes and regulation of gamete proliferation and maturation. A major gap in our understanding is the identity of the gene encoding a zebrafish Amh receptor; we show here that the loss of amhr2 is associated with the breakpoint of a chromosome rearrangement shared among cyprinid fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Lin Yan
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
| | - Peter Batzel
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
| | - Tom Titus
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
| | - Jason Sydes
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
| | - Thomas Desvignes
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
| | - Ruth BreMiller
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
| | - Bruce Draper
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
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12
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Roovers EF, Kaaij LJT, Redl S, Bronkhorst AW, Wiebrands K, de Jesus Domingues AM, Huang HY, Han CT, Riemer S, Dosch R, Salvenmoser W, Grün D, Butter F, van Oudenaarden A, Ketting RF. Tdrd6a Regulates the Aggregation of Buc into Functional Subcellular Compartments that Drive Germ Cell Specification. Dev Cell 2018; 46:285-301.e9. [PMID: 30086300 PMCID: PMC6084408 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Phase separation represents an important form of subcellular compartmentalization. However, relatively little is known about how the formation or disassembly of such compartments is regulated. In zebrafish, the Balbiani body (Bb) and the germ plasm (Gp) are intimately linked phase-separated structures essential for germ cell specification and home to many germ cell-specific mRNAs and proteins. Throughout development, these structures occur as a single large aggregate (Bb), which disperses throughout oogenesis and upon fertilization accumulates again into relatively large assemblies (Gp). Formation of the Bb requires Bucky ball (Buc), a protein with prion-like properties. We found that the multi-tudor domain-containing protein Tdrd6a interacts with Buc, affecting its mobility and aggregation properties. Importantly, lack of this regulatory interaction leads to significant defects in germ cell development. Our work presents insights into how prion-like protein aggregations can be regulated and highlights the biological relevance of such regulatory events. Tdrd6a is required for Bucky ball mobility within aggregates, and for PGC formation Maternal Tdrd6a coordinates transcript deposition into future PGCs A dimethylated tri-RG motif in Bucky ball mediates interaction with Tdrd6a The tri-RG motif is essential for Balbiani body and germ cell formation
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke F Roovers
- Biology of Non-coding RNA Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Lucas J T Kaaij
- Biology of Non-coding RNA Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Redl
- Biology of Non-coding RNA Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Alfred W Bronkhorst
- Biology of Non-coding RNA Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Kay Wiebrands
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Hsin-Yi Huang
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Chung-Ting Han
- Genomics Core Facility, Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany; CeGaT GmbH, Center for Genomics and Transcriptomics, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 23, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephan Riemer
- Institute of Developmental Biochemistry, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Roland Dosch
- Institute of Developmental Biochemistry, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Willi Salvenmoser
- Institute of Zoology, Center of Molecular Bioscience, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraβe 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dominic Grün
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands; Max Planck Institute of Immunology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Falk Butter
- Quantitative Proteomics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Alexander van Oudenaarden
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - René F Ketting
- Biology of Non-coding RNA Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
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Wang H, Liu Y, Ye D, Li J, Liu J, Deng F. Knockdown of zebrafish Nanog increases primordial germ cells during early embryonic development. Dev Growth Differ 2016; 58:355-66. [PMID: 27125179 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2015] [Revised: 02/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Nanog is a homeodomain transcription factor that plays a prominent role in maintaining the pluripotency and self-renewal capacity of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in mammals. Medaka Nanog is necessary for S-phase transition and proliferation during embryonic development. However, whether Nanog regulates the proliferation of primordial germ cells (PGCs) during embryonic development has not yet been investigated. In this study, we identified the homologue of the mammalian Nanog gene in zebrafish (zNanog). The expression of both zNanog mRNA and protein was demonstrated in the spermatogonia (male germ stem cells) of the testis and the early oocytes of the ovary. During the embryonic development, zNanog mRNA is expressed in the cytoplasm of PGCs, and its protein is localized to the PGC nuclei. We also found that zNanog depletion using morpholinos resulted in the increases and aberrant localization of PGCs in the zebrafish embryos from the sphere stage to the 50% epiboly stage. These data indicated that zNanog inhibits the PGCs proliferation in early embryonic development of zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huannan Wang
- The Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Yanhua Liu
- The Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Ding Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Jianzhen Li
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, Gansu, China
| | - Jiangdong Liu
- The Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China
| | - Fengjiao Deng
- The Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, China
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14
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Chemokine-Dependent pH Elevation at the Cell Front Sustains Polarity in Directionally Migrating Zebrafish Germ Cells. Curr Biol 2015; 25:1096-103. [PMID: 25843033 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.02.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 01/06/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Directional cell migration requires cell polarization with respect to the distribution of the guidance cue. Cell polarization often includes asymmetric distribution of response components as well as elements of the motility machinery. Importantly, the function and regulation of most of these molecules are known to be pH dependent. Intracellular pH gradients were shown to occur in certain cells migrating in vitro, but the functional relevance of such gradients for cell migration and for the response to directional cues, particularly in the intact organism, is currently unknown. In this study, we find that primordial germ cells migrating in the context of the developing embryo respond to the graded distribution of the chemokine Cxcl12 by establishing elevated intracellular pH at the cell front. We provide insight into the mechanisms by which a polar pH distribution contributes to efficient cell migration. Specifically, we show that Carbonic Anhydrase 15b, an enzyme controlling the pH in many cell types, including metastatic cancer cells, is expressed in migrating germ cells and is crucial for establishing and maintaining an asymmetric pH distribution within them. Reducing the level of the protein and thereby erasing the pH elevation at the cell front resulted in abnormal cell migration and impaired arrival at the target. The basis for the disrupted migration is found in the stringent requirement for pH conditions in the cell for regulating contractility, for the polarization of Rac1 activity, and hence for the formation of actin-rich structures at the leading edge of the migrating cells.
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