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Norton C, Pollard C, Stalker K, Aston K, Jenkins T. Novel bioinformatic analyses of somatic cell contamination in sperm samples. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2024; 70:174-182. [PMID: 38908909 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2024.2368716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
The assessment of epigenetic profiles in sperm is sensitive to somatic cell contamination, which can influence methylation signals at gene promoters. This contamination is particularly problematic in the assessment of DNA methylation in samples with low sperm counts, where fractional amounts of somatic cell DNA can lead to significant shifts in measured methylation state. In this study, a new method of detecting possible somatic cell contamination is proposed through two multi-region bioinformatic models: a traditional differential methylation analysis and a machine learning logistic regression model. These models were trained on publicly available sperm (n = 489) and blood (n = 1029) DNA methylation array data and tested on a contamination set, wherein the sperm of four donors with normal sperm counts were run on a 450k methylation array with four permutations each, including pure blood, half blood and half sperm by DNA concentration, half blood and half sperm by cell count, and pure sperm (n = 16). The DMR and logistic regression model classified the contamination testing set with 100% and 94% accuracy, respectively. These new methods of detecting the effects of somatic cell contamination allow for more accurate differentiation between epigenetic profiles that contain a biological somatic-like shift and those that have somatic-like signatures because of contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carter Norton
- Department of Cell Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Chad Pollard
- Department of Cell Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Kelaney Stalker
- Department of Cell Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Kenneth Aston
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Timothy Jenkins
- Department of Cell Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
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2
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Jiang G, Xue Y, Arifuzzaman A, Huang X. Identification and characterization of the Dmrt1B gene in the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense. Dev Genes Evol 2024; 234:21-32. [PMID: 38616194 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-024-00715-3] [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: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Dmrt (doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor) is a protein family of transcription factors implicated in sexual regulation. Dmrt proteins are widely conserved and known for their involvement in sex determination and differentiation across species, from invertebrates to humans. In this study, we identified a novel gene with a DM (doublesex/Mab-3)-domain gene in the river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense, which we named MniDmrt1B due to its similarities and close phylogenetic relationship with Dmrt1B in Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Through amino acid alignments and structural predictions, we observed conservation and identified putative active sites within the DM domain. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that MniDmrt1B exhibited high expression levels in the testis, with consistently higher expression in males compared to females during development. Additionally, similar to other sex-regulated genes, the MniDmrt1B gene exhibited high expression levels during the sex differentiation-sensitive periods in M. nipponense. These results strongly indicated that MniDmrt1B probably plays an important role in testis development and sex differentiation in M. nipponense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Jiang
- Centre for Research On Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition (CREEFN) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Yucai Xue
- Centre for Research On Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition (CREEFN) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Arifuzzaman Arifuzzaman
- Centre for Research On Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition (CREEFN) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Xuxiong Huang
- Centre for Research On Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition (CREEFN) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
- China-ASEAN Belt and Road Joint Laboratory On Mariculture Technology (Shanghai), Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
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Jacques F, Tichopád T, Demko M, Bystrý V, Křížová KC, Seifertová M, Voříšková K, Fuad MMH, Vetešník L, Šimková A. Reproduction-associated pathways in females of gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) shed light on the molecular mechanisms of the coexistence of asexual and sexual reproduction. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:548. [PMID: 38824502 PMCID: PMC11144346 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10462-4] [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: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) is a cyprinid fish that originated in eastern Eurasia and is considered as invasive in European freshwater ecosystems. The populations of gibel carp in Europe are mostly composed of asexually reproducing triploid females (i.e., reproducing by gynogenesis) and sexually reproducing diploid females and males. Although some cases of coexisting sexual and asexual reproductive forms are known in vertebrates, the molecular mechanisms maintaining such coexistence are still in question. Both reproduction modes are supposed to exhibit evolutionary and ecological advantages and disadvantages. To better understand the coexistence of these two reproduction strategies, we performed transcriptome profile analysis of gonad tissues (ovaries) and studied the differentially expressed reproduction-associated genes in sexual and asexual females. We used high-throughput RNA sequencing to generate transcriptomic profiles of gonadal tissues of triploid asexual females and males, diploid sexual males and females of gibel carp, as well as diploid individuals from two closely-related species, C. auratus and Cyprinus carpio. Using SNP clustering, we showed the close similarity of C. gibelio and C. auratus with a basal position of C. carpio to both Carassius species. Using transcriptome profile analyses, we showed that many genes and pathways are involved in both gynogenetic and sexual reproduction in C. gibelio; however, we also found that 1500 genes, including 100 genes involved in cell cycle control, meiosis, oogenesis, embryogenesis, fertilization, steroid hormone signaling, and biosynthesis were differently expressed in the ovaries of asexual and sexual females. We suggest that the overall downregulation of reproduction-associated pathways in asexual females, and their maintenance in sexual ones, allows the populations of C. gibelio to combine the evolutionary and ecological advantages of the two reproductive strategies. However, we showed that many sexual-reproduction-related genes are maintained and expressed in asexual females, suggesting that gynogenetic gibel carp retains the genetic toolkits for meiosis and sexual reproduction. These findings shed new light on the evolution of this asexual and sexual complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Jacques
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic.
| | - Tomáš Tichopád
- Laboratory of Non-Mendelian Evolution, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the CAS, Liběchov, 277 21, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, Vodňany, 389 25, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Demko
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Bystrý
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Kristína Civáňová Křížová
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Mária Seifertová
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Kristýna Voříšková
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Md Mehedi Hasan Fuad
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Vetešník
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Science, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Šimková
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
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Noor Z, Zhao Z, Guo S, Wei Z, Cai B, Qin Y, Ma H, Yu Z, Li J, Zhang Y. A Testis-Specific DMRT1 (Double Sex and Mab-3-Related Transcription Factor 1) Plays a Role in Spermatogenesis and Gonadal Development in the Hermaphrodite Boring Giant Clam Tridacna crocea. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5574. [PMID: 38891762 PMCID: PMC11172331 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115574] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The testis-specific double sex and mab-3-related transcription factor 1 (DMRT1) has long been recognized as a crucial player in sex determination across vertebrates, and its essential role in gonadal development and the regulation of spermatogenesis is well established. Here, we report the cloning of the key spermatogenesis-related DMRT1 cDNA, named Tc-DMRT1, from the gonads of Tridacna crocea (T. crocea), with a molecular weight of 41.93 kDa and an isoelectric point of 7.83 (pI). Our hypothesis is that DMRT1 machinery governs spermatogenesis and regulates gonadogenesis. RNAi-mediated Tc-DMRT1 knockdown revealed its critical role in hindering spermatogenesis and reducing expression levels in boring giant clams. A histological analysis showed structural changes, with normal sperm cell counts in the control group (ds-EGFP) but significantly lower concentrations of sperm cells in the experimental group (ds-DMRT1). DMRT1 transcripts during embryogenesis exhibited a significantly high expression pattern (p < 0.05) during the early zygote stage, and whole-embryo in-situ hybridization confirmed its expression pattern throughout embryogenesis. A qRT-PCR analysis of various reproductive stages revealed an abundant expression of Tc-DMRT1 in the gonads during the male reproductive stage. In-situ hybridization showed tissue-specific expression of DMRT1, with a positive signal detected in male-stage gonadal tissues comprising sperm cells, while no signal was detected in other stages. Our study findings provide an initial understanding of the DMRT1 molecular machinery controlling spermatogenesis and its specificity in male-stage gonads of the key bivalve species, Tridacna crocea, and suggest that DMRT1 predominantly functions as a key regulator of spermatogenesis in giant clams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohaib Noor
- 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 510301, China; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Zhen Zhao
- 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 510301, China; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
- Animal Science and Technology College, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Shuming Guo
- 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 510301, China; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Zonglu Wei
- 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 510301, China; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
- Animal Science and Technology College, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Borui Cai
- 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 510301, China; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Yanping Qin
- 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 510301, China; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Haitao Ma
- 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 510301, China; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Ziniu Yu
- 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 510301, China; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Jun Li
- 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 510301, China; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Yuehuan Zhang
- 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 510301, China; (Z.N.); (Z.Z.); (S.G.); (Z.W.); (B.C.); (Y.Q.); (H.M.); (Z.Y.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519015, China
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biology Technology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
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Xu B, Zhou L, Zhang Q. Curcumin Inhibits the Progression of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by Regulating DMRT3/SLC7A11 Axis. Mol Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12033-024-01166-x. [PMID: 38744789 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-024-01166-x] [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: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a fatal malignancy all over the world. Emerging studies have shown that curcumin might repress NSCLC progression by regulating ferroptosis, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. 16HBE, LK-2, and H1650 cell viability was detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. LK-2 and H1650 cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiopoiesis were measured using 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, flow cytometry, and tube formation assay. Superoxide dismutase, Malondialdehyde, Glutathione, and lactate dehydrogenase levels in LK-2 and H1650 cells were examined using special assay kits. Fe+ level was assessed using an iron assay kit. Doublesex and Mab-3 related Transcription Factor 3 (DMRT3) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) protein levels were detected using western in NSCLC tissues, adjacent matched normal tissues, 16HBE cells, LK-2 cells, H1650 cells, and xenograft tumor tissues. Glutathione peroxidase 4, Acyl-CoA Synthetase Long Chain Family Member 4, and transferrin receptor 1 protein levels in LK-2 and H1650 cells were examined by western blot assay. DMRT3 and SLC7A11 levels were determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. After JASPAR prediction, binding between DMRT3 and SLC7A11 promoter was verified using Chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays in LK-2 and H1650 cells. Role of curcumin on NSCLC tumor growth was assessed using the xenograft tumor model in vivo. Curcumin blocked NSCLC cell proliferation and angiopoiesis, and induced apoptosis and ferroptosis. DMRT3 or SLC7A11 upregulation partly abolished the suppressive role of curcumin on NSCLC development. In mechanism, DMRT3 was a transcription factor of SLC7A11 and increased the transcription of SLC7A11 via binding to its promoter region. Curcumin inhibited NSCLC growth in vivo by modulating DMRT3. Curcumin might constrain NSCLC cell malignant phenotypes partly through the DMRT3/SLC7A11 axis, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xu
- Department of TCM, Changzhou Cancer Hospital, No.68, Honghe Road, Xinbei District, Changzhou City, 213000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Department of TCM, Changzhou Cancer Hospital, No.68, Honghe Road, Xinbei District, Changzhou City, 213000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of TCM, Changzhou Cancer Hospital, No.68, Honghe Road, Xinbei District, Changzhou City, 213000, Jiangsu, China.
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Luthringer R, Raphalen M, Guerra C, Colin S, Martinho C, Zheng M, Hoshino M, Badis Y, Lipinska AP, Haas FB, Barrera-Redondo J, Alva V, Coelho SM. Repeated co-option of HMG-box genes for sex determination in brown algae and animals. Science 2024; 383:eadk5466. [PMID: 38513029 DOI: 10.1126/science.adk5466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
In many eukaryotes, genetic sex determination is not governed by XX/XY or ZW/ZZ systems but by a specialized region on the poorly studied U (female) or V (male) sex chromosomes. Previous studies have hinted at the existence of a dominant male-sex factor on the V chromosome in brown algae, a group of multicellular eukaryotes distantly related to animals and plants. The nature of this factor has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that an HMG-box gene acts as the male-determining factor in brown algae, mirroring the role HMG-box genes play in sex determination in animals. Over a billion-year evolutionary timeline, these lineages have independently co-opted the HMG box for male determination, representing a paradigm for evolution's ability to recurrently use the same genetic "toolkit" to accomplish similar tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémy Luthringer
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Morgane Raphalen
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carla Guerra
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sébastien Colin
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Martinho
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Min Zheng
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Masakazu Hoshino
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Research Center for Inland Seas, Kobe University, Kobe 658-0022, Japan
| | - Yacine Badis
- Roscoff Biological Station, CNRS-Sorbonne University, Place Georges Teissier, 29680 Roscoff, France
| | - Agnieszka P Lipinska
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Fabian B Haas
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Josué Barrera-Redondo
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Vikram Alva
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susana M Coelho
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Wilson CA, Batzel P, Postlethwait JH. Direct male development in chromosomally ZZ zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1362228. [PMID: 38529407 PMCID: PMC10961373 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1362228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The genetics of sex determination varies across taxa, sometimes even within a species. Major domesticated strains of zebrafish (Danio rerio), including AB and TU, lack a strong genetic sex determining locus, but strains more recently derived from nature, like Nadia (NA), possess a ZZ male/ZW female chromosomal sex-determination system. AB fish pass through a juvenile ovary stage, forming oocytes that survive in fish that become females but die in fish that become males. To understand mechanisms of gonad development in NA zebrafish, we studied histology and single cell transcriptomics in developing ZZ and ZW fish. ZW fish developed oocytes by 22 days post-fertilization (dpf) but ZZ fish directly formed testes, avoiding a juvenile ovary phase. Gonads of some ZW and WW fish, however, developed oocytes that died as the gonad became a testis, mimicking AB fish, suggesting that the gynogenetically derived AB strain is chromosomally WW. Single-cell RNA-seq of 19dpf gonads showed similar cell types in ZZ and ZW fish, including germ cells, precursors of gonadal support cells, steroidogenic cells, interstitial/stromal cells, and immune cells, consistent with a bipotential juvenile gonad. In contrast, scRNA-seq of 30dpf gonads revealed that cells in ZZ gonads had transcriptomes characteristic of testicular Sertoli, Leydig, and germ cells while ZW gonads had granulosa cells, theca cells, and developing oocytes. Hematopoietic and vascular cells were similar in both sex genotypes. These results show that juvenile NA zebrafish initially develop a bipotential gonad; that a factor on the NA W chromosome, or fewer than two Z chromosomes, is essential to initiate oocyte development; and without the W factor, or with two Z doses, NA gonads develop directly into testes without passing through the juvenile ovary stage. Sex determination in AB and TU strains mimics NA ZW and WW zebrafish, suggesting loss of the Z chromosome during domestication. Genetic analysis of the NA strain will facilitate our understanding of the evolution of sex determination mechanisms.
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8
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Fujiwara K, Miyazaki S, Maekawa K. Candidate target genes of the male-specific expressed Doublesex in the termite Reticulitermes speratus. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299900. [PMID: 38427681 PMCID: PMC10906832 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Eusocial insects such as termites, ants, bees, and wasps exhibit a reproductive division of labor. The developmental regulation of reproductive organ (ovaries and testes) is crucial for distinguishing between reproductive and sterile castes. The development of reproductive organ in insects is regulated by sex-determination pathways. The sex determination gene Doublesex (Dsx), encoding transcription factors, plays an important role in this pathway. Therefore, clarifying the function of Dsx in the developmental regulation of sexual traits is important to understand the social evolution of eusocial insects. However, no studies have reported the function of Dsx in hemimetabolous eusocial group termites. In this study, we searched for binding sites and candidate target genes of Dsx in species with available genome information as the first step in clarifying the function of Dsx in termites. First, we focused on the Reticulitermes speratus genome and identified 101 candidate target genes of Dsx. Using a similar method, we obtained 112, 39, and 76 candidate Dsx target genes in Reticulitermes lucifugus, Coptotermes formosanus, and Macrotermes natalensis, respectively. Second, we compared the candidate Dsx target genes between species and identified 37 common genes between R. speratus and R. lucifugus. These included several genes probably involved in spermatogenesis and longevity. However, only a few common target genes were identified between R. speratus and the other two species. Finally, Dsx dsRNA injection resulted in the differential expression of several target genes, including piwi-like protein and B-box type zinc finger protein ncl-1 in R. speratus. These results provide valuable resource data for future functional analyses of Dsx in termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kokuto Fujiwara
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Miyazaki
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Maekawa
- Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, Japan
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Peedikayil-Kurien S, Setty H, Oren-Suissa M. Environmental experiences shape sexually dimorphic neuronal circuits and behaviour. FEBS J 2024; 291:1080-1101. [PMID: 36582142 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16714] [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: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Dimorphic traits, shaped by both natural and sexual selection, ensure optimal fitness and survival of the organism. This includes neuronal circuits that are largely affected by different experiences and environmental conditions. Recent evidence suggests that sexual dimorphism of neuronal circuits extends to different levels such as neuronal activity, connectivity and molecular topography that manifest in response to various experiences, including chemical exposures, starvation and stress. In this review, we propose some common principles that govern experience-dependent sexually dimorphic circuits in both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. While sexually dimorphic neuronal circuits are predetermined, they have to maintain a certain level of fluidity to be adaptive to different experiences. The first layer of dimorphism is at the level of the neuronal circuit, which appears to be dictated by sex-biased transcription factors. This could subsequently lead to differences in the second layer of regulation namely connectivity and synaptic properties. The third regulator of experience-dependent responses is the receptor level, where dimorphic expression patterns determine the primary sensory encoding. We also highlight missing pieces in this field and propose future directions that can shed light onto novel aspects of sexual dimorphism with potential benefits to sex-specific therapeutic approaches. Thus, sexual identity and experience simultaneously determine behaviours that ultimately result in the maximal survival success.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hagar Setty
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Meital Oren-Suissa
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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10
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Roggenbuck EC, Hall EA, Hanson IB, Roby AA, Zhang KK, Alkatib KA, Carter JA, Clewner JE, Gelfius AL, Gong S, Gordon FR, Iseler JN, Kotapati S, Li M, Maysun A, McCormick EO, Rastogi G, Sengupta S, Uzoma CU, Wolkov MA, Clowney EJ. Let's talk about sex: Mechanisms of neural sexual differentiation in Bilateria. WIREs Mech Dis 2024; 16:e1636. [PMID: 38185860 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
In multicellular organisms, sexed gonads have evolved that facilitate release of sperm versus eggs, and bilaterian animals purposefully combine their gametes via mating behaviors. Distinct neural circuits have evolved that control these physically different mating events for animals producing eggs from ovaries versus sperm from testis. In this review, we will describe the developmental mechanisms that sexually differentiate neural circuits across three major clades of bilaterian animals-Ecdysozoa, Deuterosomia, and Lophotrochozoa. While many of the mechanisms inducing somatic and neuronal sex differentiation across these diverse organisms are clade-specific rather than evolutionarily conserved, we develop a common framework for considering the developmental logic of these events and the types of neuronal differences that produce sex-differentiated behaviors. This article is categorized under: Congenital Diseases > Stem Cells and Development Neurological Diseases > Stem Cells and Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Roggenbuck
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elijah A Hall
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Isabel B Hanson
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Alyssa A Roby
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Katherine K Zhang
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Kyle A Alkatib
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Joseph A Carter
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jarred E Clewner
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Anna L Gelfius
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Shiyuan Gong
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Finley R Gordon
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jolene N Iseler
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Samhita Kotapati
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Marilyn Li
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Areeba Maysun
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elise O McCormick
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Geetanjali Rastogi
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Srijani Sengupta
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chantal U Uzoma
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Madison A Wolkov
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - E Josephine Clowney
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute Affiliate, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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11
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Zeng Y, Zheng H, He C, Zhang C, Zhang H, Zheng H. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of Dmrt gene family and their role in gonad development of Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 269:110904. [PMID: 37751789 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2023.110904] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Doublesex and Mab-3-related transcription factor (Dmrt) is a type of transcription factor with a zinc-finger DM structural domain, which plays a significant role in sex determination and differentiation in animals. Although Dmrt has been reported in many vertebrates and invertebrates, it has rarely been studied in bivalves. In this study, a total of three members of the Dmrt gene family were identified and characterized in Crassostrea gigas, and all these CgDmrt genes contained a conserved DM domain. Analysis of the phylogenetic tree and gene structure revealed that Dmrt genes clustered on one branch may have similar functions in bivalves. Expression profiling of CgDmrt mRNA in different tissues and stages of gonad development indicated that CgDmrt3 exhibited sexually dimorphic expression and played an important role in the development of the male gonad in C. gigas. Furthermore, analysis of CgDmrt mRNA expression between fertile triploids and sterile triploids showed that CgDmrt3 may be involved in sperm production. Collectively, the systematic analysis of the CgDmrt genes will provide potential insights into the function of these genes in gonadal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yetao Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Haiqian Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Cheng He
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Chuanxu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Hongkuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China.
| | - Huaiping Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China.
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12
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Wilson CA, Batzel P, Postlethwait JH. Direct Male Development in Chromosomally ZZ Zebrafish. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.27.573483. [PMID: 38234788 PMCID: PMC10793451 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.27.573483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The genetics of sex determination varies across taxa, sometimes even within a species. Major domesticated strains of zebrafish ( Danio rerio ), including AB and TU, lack a strong genetic sex determining locus, but strains more recently derived from nature, like Nadia (NA), possess a ZZ male/ZW female chromosomal sex-determination system. AB strain fish pass through a juvenile ovary stage, forming oocytes that survive in fish that become females but die in fish that become males. To understand mechanisms of gonad development in NA zebrafish, we studied histology and single cell transcriptomics in developing ZZ and ZW fish. ZW fish developed oocytes by 22 days post-fertilization (dpf) but ZZ fish directly formed testes, avoiding a juvenile ovary phase. Gonads of some ZW and WW fish, however, developed oocytes that died as the gonad became a testis, mimicking AB fish, suggesting that the gynogenetically derived AB strain is chromosomally WW. Single-cell RNA-seq of 19dpf gonads showed similar cell types in ZZ and ZW fish, including germ cells, precursors of gonadal support cells, steroidogenic cells, interstitial/stromal cells, and immune cells, consistent with a bipotential juvenile gonad. In contrast, scRNA-seq of 30dpf gonads revealed that cells in ZZ gonads had transcriptomes characteristic of testicular Sertoli, Leydig, and germ cells while ZW gonads had granulosa cells, theca cells, and developing oocytes. Hematopoietic and vascular cells were similar in both sex genotypes. These results show that juvenile NA zebrafish initially develop a bipotential gonad; that a factor on the NA W chromosome or fewer than two Z chromosomes is essential to initiate oocyte development; and without the W factor or with two Z doses, NA gonads develop directly into testes without passing through the juvenile ovary stage. Sex determination in AB and TU strains mimics NA ZW and WW zebrafish, suggesting loss of the Z chromosome during domestication. Genetic analysis of the NA strain will facilitate our understanding of the evolution of sex determination mechanisms.
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13
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Song A, Gao Z, Zhou Y, Miao J, Xu R, Pan L. Effects of Benzo[a]pyrene on Food Metabolism and Reproductive Endocrine and Ovarian Development in Female Scallop Chlamys farreri at Different Reproductive Stages. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 38088252 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) with the most carcinogenic effects of all the PAHs, has multiple toxic effects on marine bivalves. We investigated the interference mechanism of B[a]P on food metabolism (sugars, proteins, and sugars), and on reproductive endocrine and ovarian development in female scallops (Chlamys farreri). Scallops were exposed to different concentrations of B[a]P concentrations of 0, 0.38, 3.8, and 38 μg/L throughout gonadal development. Total cholesterol and triglyceride contents in the digestive glands were increased, and their synthesis genes were upregulated. The plasma glucose contents decreased with the inhibition of glycogen synthesis genes and the induction of glycolysis genes in the digestive gland. The results showed that B[a]P had endocrine-disrupting effects on scallops, that it negatively affected genes related to ovarian cell proliferation, sex differentiation, and egg development, and that it caused damage to ovarian tissue. Our findings supplement the information on B[a]P disruption in gonadal development of marine bivalves. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-14. © 2023 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimin Song
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhongyuan Gao
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yueyao Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Jingjing Miao
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Ruiyi Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Luqing Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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14
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Nicolini F, Ghiselli F, Luchetti A, Milani L. Bivalves as Emerging Model Systems to Study the Mechanisms and Evolution of Sex Determination: A Genomic Point of View. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad181. [PMID: 37850870 PMCID: PMC10588774 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bivalves are a diverse group of molluscs that have recently attained a central role in plenty of biological research fields, thanks to their peculiar life history traits. Here, we propose that bivalves should be considered as emerging model systems also in sex-determination (SD) studies, since they would allow to investigate: 1) the transition between environmental and genetic SD, with respect to different reproductive backgrounds and sexual systems (from species with strict gonochorism to species with various forms of hermaphroditism); 2) the genomic evolution of sex chromosomes (SCs), considering that no heteromorphic SCs are currently known and that homomorphic SCs have been identified only in a few species of scallops; 3) the putative role of mitochondria at some level of the SD signaling pathway, in a mechanism that may resemble the cytoplasmatic male sterility of plants; 4) the evolutionary history of SD-related gene (SRG) families with respect to other animal groups. In particular, we think that this last topic may lay the foundations for expanding our understanding of bivalve SD, as our current knowledge is quite fragmented and limited to a few species. As a matter of fact, tracing the phylogenetic history and diversity of SRG families (such as the Dmrt, Sox, and Fox genes) would allow not only to perform more targeted functional experiments and genomic analyses, but also to foster the possibility of establishing a solid comparative framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Nicolini
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Fano Marine Center, Fano, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Ghiselli
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Luchetti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Liliana Milani
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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15
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Wang Q, Cao T, Wang C. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of Dmrt genes in bivalves. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:457. [PMID: 37582778 PMCID: PMC10428544 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09536-6] [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: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, some common themes in the development of sex-specific traits in different animal lineages have started to emerge since the discovery of the Dmrt (doublesex-mab3-related transcription factor gene) genes. Bivalves are characterized by a diversity of sexual systems, including simultaneous hermaphroditism, sequential hermaphroditism, and strict gonochorism. However, to date, no research has focused on the genome-wide characterization and analysis of Dmrt genes in bivalves. In this study, the identification and analysis of Dmrt genes in 15 bivalves were performed using bioinformatics methods. A total of 55 Dmrt genes were retrieved in the studied bivalve genomes. The number of Dmrt genes in different species ranged from 3 to 5. The phylogenetic tree showed that Dmrt genes in bivalves can be subdivided into 5 classes: the Dmrt2-like class, Dmrt3-like class, Dmrt4/5-like class, Dsx-like class, and scallop-specific Dmrt class. The Ka/Ks ratios suggested that all Dmrt classes underwent purifying selection pressure. Furthermore, the spatiotemporal expression of Dmrt genes in four bivalve species suggested that different Dmrt genes may have different functions, and scallop-specific Dmrt genes may play a key role in sex determination/differentiation. In general, this study provides a molecular basis for in-depth examination of the functions of Dmrt genes and phylogenomic analyses in bivalves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanchao Wang
- Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Warning, Protection & Restoration for Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, 266061, China
| | - Tiangui Cao
- Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Chunde Wang
- Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China.
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16
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Luo JY, Shen SQ, Xu HJ, Yang JS, Ma WM. The transcription factor masculinizer in sexual differentiation and achieved full functional sex reversal in prawn. iScience 2023; 26:106968. [PMID: 37534170 PMCID: PMC10391606 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Some Zinc finger (ZnF) proteins are required for masculinization in silkworms. In the present study, a masculinizer gene (Mr-Masc) with multi-tissue expression is identified in the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The Mr-Masc is clustered into a separate branch with ZnF proteins from decapoda by phylogenetic tree analysis. Moreover, Mr-Masc silencing in male postlarvae prawn results in functional sex reversal females known as neo-females, which are applied to all-male monosex offspring breeding. This manipulation has been significant in sexually dimorphic cultured species. In addition, several significantly expressed transcripts are enriched and the effects of crucial signal pathways are focused through the comparative transcriptomic analysis in Mr-Masc gene knockdown. The significantly differentially expressed epidermal growth factor, upregulated low-density lipoprotein receptor, flotillin, and sex-lethal unigenes, downregulated heat shock proteins and forkhead box homologs are focused. The finding offers an innovative perspective on Masc proteins' evolution and physiological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Yu Luo
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuai-Qi Shen
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, People’s Republic of China
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hai-Jing Xu
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jin-Shu Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wen-Ming Ma
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, People’s Republic of China
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17
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Schenkel MA, Billeter JC, Beukeboom LW, Pen I. Divergent evolution of genetic sex determination mechanisms along environmental gradients. Evol Lett 2023; 7:132-147. [PMID: 37251583 PMCID: PMC10210438 DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrad011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex determination (SD) is a crucial developmental process, but its molecular underpinnings are very diverse, both between and within species. SD mechanisms have traditionally been categorized as either genetic (GSD) or environmental (ESD), depending on the type of cue that triggers sexual differentiation. However, mixed systems, with both genetic and environmental components, are more prevalent than previously thought. Here, we show theoretically that environmental effects on expression levels of genes within SD regulatory mechanisms can easily trigger within-species evolutionary divergence of SD mechanisms. This may lead to the stable coexistence of multiple SD mechanisms and to spatial variation in the occurrence of different SD mechanisms along environmental gradients. We applied the model to the SD system of the housefly, a global species with world-wide latitudinal clines in the frequencies of different SD systems, and found that it correctly predicted these clines if specific genes in the housefly SD system were assumed to have temperature-dependent expression levels. We conclude that environmental sensitivity of gene regulatory networks may play an important role in diversification of SD mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn A Schenkel
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Christophe Billeter
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Leo W Beukeboom
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ido Pen
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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18
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Zhang P, Yang Y, Xu Y, Cui Z. Analyses of the Dmrt family in a decapod crab, Eriocheir sinensis uncover new facets on the evolution of DM domain genes. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1201846. [PMID: 37304820 PMCID: PMC10252143 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1201846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
DM domain genes are a group of transcription factors that are integral to sexual development and its evolution in metazoans. Their functions and regulatory mechanisms are not well understood in Malacostraca (crabs and crayfish) while these sex regulators have been widely identified in the past decade. In this study, the Dmrt family was investigated in the decapod crab, Eriocheir sinensis. We find that most members of the EsDmrt family begin to enrich around the juvenile 1 stage. In reproductive organs, EsDsx1, EsDsx2, EsiDMY and EsiDmrt1a highly express in the male-specific androgenic gland (AG), while EsDmrt-like, EsDsx-like, EsDmrt11E, and EsiDmrt1b show relatively high expression in testis. Also, we find the highly aberrant expression of EsiDMY and EsiDmrt1a in the chimeric AG, strongly indicating their function in AG development. Moreover, RNA interference of EsDsx1, EsiDMY, and EsiDmrt1a results in a significant decrease in transcription of the Insulin-like androgenic hormone (IAG), respectively. Our findings suggest that Dmrt genes in E. sinensis primarily function in male sexual differentiation, especially in AG development. Besides, this study identifies two unique groups of Dmrt genes in Malacostraca: Dsx and iDmrt1. In Malacostraca Dsx, we uncover a cryptic mutation in the eight zinc motif-specific residues, which were firmly believed to be invariant across the Dmrt family. This mutation sets the Malacostraca Dsx apart from all the other Dmrt genes and implies a different way of transcriptional regulation. Genes from the iDmrt1 group show phylogenetical limitation to the malacostracan species and underwent positive selection, suggesting their highly specialized gene function to this class. Based on these findings, we propose that Dsx and iDmrt1 in Malacostraca have developed unique transcriptional regulation mechanisms to facilitate AG development. We hope that this study would contribute to our understandings of sexual development in Malacostraca and provide new insights into the evolutionary history of the Dmrt family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yanan Yang
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yuanfeng Xu
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Zhaoxia Cui
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
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19
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Wang Q, Cao T, Wang Y, Li X, Wang Y. Genome-wide identification and comparative analysis of Dmrt genes in echinoderms. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7664. [PMID: 37169947 PMCID: PMC10175285 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34819-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The Dmrt (Doublesex-mab3-related transcription factor) gene family is a class of crucial transcription factors characterized by one or several conserved DM (Doublesex/Mab-3) domains. Dmrt family genes can participate in various physiological developmental processes, especially in sex determination/differentiation. Echinoderms are extremely important research objects in various fields, such as sex determination/differentiation and neuroscience. However, to date, the genome-wide characterization and analysis of Dmrt genes in echinoderms have not been investigated. In this study, the identification and analysis of Dmrt genes in 11 representative echinoderms were performed using bioinformatics methods. A total of 43 Dmrt genes have been found in the studied echinoderms, and the number of Dmrt genes in different species ranges from 2 to 5. The phylogenetic tree showed that all Dmrt genes from echinoderms can be subdivided into 5 classes, the Dmrt2-like class, Dmrt3-like class, Dmrt4/5-like class, Dsx-like class, and a novel Dmrt (starfish-specific) class. Furthermore, selective pressure assessment suggested that the Dmrt genes underwent purifying selection pressure. In general, this study provides a molecular basis for echinoderm Dmrt genes and may serve as a reference for in-depth phylogenomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanchao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Warning, Protection and Restoration for Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, 266061, China
| | - Tiangui Cao
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Yanxia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Xiaojing Li
- Yantai Vocational College, Yantai, 264670, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Yantai Vocational College, Yantai, 264670, China.
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Wu WT, Xu LY, Yan ZJ, Bi N, Cheng CY, Yang F, Yang WJ, Yang JS. Identification and characterization of the Doublesex gene and its mRNA isoforms in the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Biochem J 2023; 480:385-401. [PMID: 36852878 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220495] [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: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Doublesex (DSX) proteins are members of the Doublesex/mab-3-related (DMRT) protein family and play crucial roles in sex determination and differentiation among the animal kingdom. In the present study, we identified two Doublesex (Dsx)-like mRNA isoforms in the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana (Kellogg 1906), which are generated by the combination of alternative promoters, alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation. The two transcripts exhibited sex-biased enrichment, which we termed AfrDsxM and AfrDsxF. They share a common region which encodes an identical N-terminal DNA-binding (DM) domain. RT-qPCR analyses showed that AfrDsxM is dominantly expressed in male Artemia while AfrDsxF is specifically expressed in females. Expression levels of both isoforms increased along with the developmental stages of their respective sexes. RNA interference with dsRNA showed that the knockdown of AfrDsxM in male larvae led to the appearance of female traits including an ovary-like structure in the original male reproductive system and an elevated expression of vitellogenin. However, silencing of AfrDsxF induced no clear phenotypic change in female Artemia. These results indicated that the male AfrDSXM may act as inhibiting regulator upon the default female developmental mode in Artemia. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses revealed that the unique DM domain of AfrDSXs can specifically bind to promoter segments of potential downstream target genes like AfrVtg. These data show that AfrDSXs play crucial roles in regulating sexual development in Artemia, and further provide insight into the evolution of sex determination/differentiation in sexual organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Tao Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lian-Ying Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ning Bi
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cai-Yuan Cheng
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fan Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei-Jun Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jin-Shu Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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21
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Laslo M, Just J, Angelini DR. Theme and variation in the evolution of insect sex determination. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2023; 340:162-181. [PMID: 35239250 PMCID: PMC10078687 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The development of dimorphic adult sexes is a critical process for most animals, one that is subject to intense selection. Work in vertebrate and insect model species has revealed that sex determination mechanisms vary widely among animal groups. However, this variation is not uniform, with a limited number of conserved factors. Therefore, sex determination offers an excellent context to consider themes and variations in gene network evolution. Here we review the literature describing sex determination in diverse insects. We have screened public genomic sequence databases for orthologs and duplicates of 25 genes involved in insect sex determination, identifying patterns of presence and absence. These genes and a 3.5 reference set of 43 others were used to infer phylogenies and compared to accepted organismal relationships to examine patterns of congruence and divergence. The function of candidate genes for roles in sex determination (virilizer, female-lethal-2-d, transformer-2) and sex chromosome dosage compensation (male specific lethal-1, msl-2, msl-3) were tested using RNA interference in the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus. None of these candidate genes exhibited conserved roles in these processes. Amidst this variation we wish to highlight the following themes for the evolution of sex determination: (1) Unique features within taxa influence network evolution. (2) Their position in the network influences a component's evolution. Our analyses also suggest an inverse association of protein sequence conservation with functional conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Laslo
- Department of Cell Biology, Curriculum Fellows ProgramHarvard Medical School25 Shattuck StBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Josefine Just
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyHarvard University26 Oxford StCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
- Department of BiologyColby College5734 Mayflower Hill DrWatervilleMaineUSA
| | - David R. Angelini
- Department of BiologyColby College5734 Mayflower Hill DrWatervilleMaineUSA
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22
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Just J, Laslo M, Lee YJ, Yarnell M, Zhang Z, Angelini DR. Distinct developmental mechanisms influence sexual dimorphisms in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222083. [PMID: 36722087 PMCID: PMC9890105 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2083] [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: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism is common in animals. The most complete model of sex determination comes from Drosophila melanogaster, where the relative dosage of autosomes and X chromosomes leads indirectly to sex-specific transcripts of doublesex (dsx). Female Dsx interacts with a mediator complex protein encoded by intersex (ix) to activate female development. In males, the transcription factor encoded by fruitless (fru) promotes male-specific behaviour. The genetics of sex determination have been examined in a small number of other insects, yet several questions remain about the plesiomorphic state. Is dsx required for female and male development? Is fru conserved in male behaviour or morphology? Are other components such as ix functionally conserved? To address these questions, we report expression and functional tests of dsx, ix and fru in the hemipteran Oncopeltus fasciatus, characterizing three sexual dimorphisms. dsx prevents ix phenotypes in all sexes and dimorphic traits in the milkweed bug. ix and fru are expressed across the body, in females and males. fru and ix also affect the genitalia of both sexes, but have effects limited to different dimorphic structures in different sexes. These results reveal roles for ix and fru distinct from other insects, and demonstrate distinct development mechanisms in different sexually dimorphic structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Just
- Department of Biology, Colby College, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Mara Laslo
- Curriculum Fellows Program, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ye Jin Lee
- Department of Biology, Colby College, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
| | - Michael Yarnell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13123 East 16th Avenue, B065, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Zhuofan Zhang
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 777 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - David R. Angelini
- Department of Biology, Colby College, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
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23
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Ye Z, Bishop T, Wang Y, Shahriari R, Lynch M. Evolution of sex determination in crustaceans. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 5:1-11. [PMID: 37073332 PMCID: PMC10077267 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-023-00163-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Sex determination (SD) involves mechanisms that determine whether an individual will develop into a male, female, or in rare cases, hermaphrodite. Crustaceans harbor extremely diverse SD systems, including hermaphroditism, environmental sex determination (ESD), genetic sex determination (GSD), and cytoplasmic sex determination (e.g., Wolbachia controlled SD systems). Such diversity lays the groundwork for researching the evolution of SD in crustaceans, i.e., transitions among different SD systems. However, most previous research has focused on understanding the mechanism of SD within a single lineage or species, overlooking the transition across different SD systems. To help bridge this gap, we summarize the understanding of SD in various clades of crustaceans, and discuss how different SD systems might evolve from one another. Furthermore, we review the genetic basis for transitions between different SD systems (i.e., Dmrt genes) and propose the microcrustacean Daphnia (clade Branchiopoda) as a model to study the transition from ESD to GSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Ye
- Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 USA
| | - Trent Bishop
- Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 USA
| | - Yaohai Wang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, KLMME, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Ryan Shahriari
- Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 USA
| | - Michael Lynch
- Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 USA
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24
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Liu BZ, Cong JJ, Su WY, Hao ZL, Sun ZH, Chang YQ. Identification and functional analysis of Dmrt1 gene and the SoxE gene in the sexual development of sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. Front Genet 2023; 14:1097825. [PMID: 36741310 PMCID: PMC9894652 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1097825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the Doublesex and Mab-3-related transcription factor (Dmrt) gene family handle various vital functions in several biological processes, including sex determination/differentiation and gonad development. Dmrt1 and Sox9 (SoxE in invertebrates) exhibit a very conserved interaction function during testis formation in vertebrates. However, the dynamic expression pattern and functional roles of the Dmrt gene family and SoxE have not yet been identified in any echinoderm species. Herein, five members of the Dmrt gene family (Dmrt1, 2, 3a, 3b and 5) and the ancestor SoxE gene were identified from the genome of Apostichopus japonicus. Expression studies of Dmrt family genes and SoxE in different tissues of adult males and females revealed different expression patterns of each gene. Transcription of Dmrt2, Dmrt3a and Dmrt3b was higher expressed in the tube feet and coelomocytes instead of in gonadal tissues. The expression of Dmrt1 was found to be sustained throughout spermatogenesis. Knocking-down of Dmrt1 by means of RNA interference (RNAi) led to the downregulation of SoxE and upregulation of the ovarian regulator foxl2 in the testes. This indicates that Dmrt1 may be a positive regulator of SoxE and may play a role in the development of the testes in the sea cucumber. The expression level of SoxE was higher in the ovaries than in the testes, and knocking down of SoxE by RNAi reduced SoxE and Dmrt1 expression but conversely increased the expression of foxl2 in the testes. In summary, this study indicates that Dmrt1 and SoxE are indispensable for testicular differentiation, and SoxE might play a functional role during ovary differentiation in the sea cucumber.
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25
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Jönsson M, Morin M, Wang CK, Craik DJ, Degnan SM, Degnan BM. Sex-specific expression of pheromones and other signals in gravid starfish. BMC Biol 2022; 20:288. [PMID: 36528687 PMCID: PMC9759900 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01491-0] [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: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many echinoderms form seasonal aggregations prior to spawning. In some fecund species, a spawning event can lead to population outbreaks with detrimental ecosystem impacts. For instance, outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), a corallivore, can destroy coral reefs. Here, we examine the gene expression in gravid male and female COTS prior to spawning in the wild, to identify genome-encoded factors that may regulate aggregation and spawning. This study is informed by a previously identified exoproteome that attracts conspecifics. To capture the natural gene expression profiles, we isolated RNAs from gravid female and male COTS immediately after they were removed from the Great Barrier Reef. RESULTS: Sexually dimorphic gene expression is present in all seven somatic tissues and organs that we surveyed and in the gonads. Approximately 40% of the exoproteome transcripts are differentially expressed between sexes. Males uniquely upregulate an additional 68 secreted factors in their testes. A suite of neuropeptides in sensory organs, coelomocytes and gonads is differentially expressed between sexes, including the relaxin-like gonad-stimulating peptide and gonadotropin-releasing hormones. Female sensory tentacles-chemosensory organs at the distal tips of the starfish arms-uniquely upregulate diverse receptors and signalling molecules, including chemosensory G-protein-coupled receptors and several neuropeptides, including kisspeptin, SALMFamide and orexin. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of 103 tissue/organ transcriptomes from 13 wild COTS has revealed genes that are consistently differentially expressed between gravid females and males and that all tissues surveyed are sexually dimorphic at the molecular level. This finding is consistent with female and male COTS using sex-specific pheromones to regulate reproductive aggregations and synchronised spawning events. These pheromones appear to be received primarily by the sensory tentacles, which express a range of receptors and signalling molecules in a sex-specific manner. Furthermore, coelomocytes and gonads differentially express signalling and regulatory factors that control gametogenesis and spawning in other echinoderms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Jönsson
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Centre for Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Marie Morin
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Centre for Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Conan K. Wang
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Institute for Molecular Bioscience, ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Institute for Molecular Bioscience, ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Sandie M. Degnan
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Centre for Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Bernard M. Degnan
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Centre for Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
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26
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Yang D, Liu M, Jiang J, Luo Y, Wang Y, Chen H, Li D, Wang D, Yang Z, Chen H. Comprehensive Analysis of DMRT3 as a Potential Biomarker Associated with the Immune Infiltration in a Pan-Cancer Analysis and Validation in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246220. [PMID: 36551704 PMCID: PMC9777283 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246220] [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: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Doublesex and Mab-3 related Transcription Factor 3 (DMRT3) is associated with the prognosis of some tumors. It is possible to explore the role of DMRT3 in the cancer process using bioinformatic approaches and experimental validation. We comprehensively explored the clinical and immunological characteristics of DMRT3. The DMRT3 expression is abnormal in human cancers and correlates with clinical staging. A high DMRT3 expression is significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) in KIRC, KIRP, LUAD, and UCEC. Amplification was the greatest frequency of the DMRT3 alterations in pan-cancer. The OS was significantly lower in the DMRT3 altered group than in the DMRT3 unaltered group (P = 0.0276). The DMRT3 expression was significantly associated with MSI in three cancer types and TMB in six cancer types. The DMRT3 expression was significantly correlated with the level of the immune cell infiltration and the immune checkpoint genes. The DMRT3 was involved in some pathways in pan-cancer. DMRT3 may play a role in chemotherapy and may be associated with chemoresistance. A ceRNA network of KCNQ1OT1/miR-335-5p/DMRT3 was constructed in LUAD. DMRT3 was significantly upregulated in the LUAD cell lines. DMRT3 was aberrantly expressed in pan-cancer and may promote tumorigenesis and progression via different mechanisms. DMRT3 can be used as a therapeutic target to treat cancer in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghong Yang
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Meilian Liu
- Department of Pulmonary Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Junhong Jiang
- Department of Pulmonary Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Yiping Luo
- Department of Pulmonary Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Yongcun Wang
- Department of Pulmonary Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Huoguang Chen
- Department of Pulmonary Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Dongbing Li
- Department of Medicine, ChosenMed Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Dongliang Wang
- Department of Medicine, ChosenMed Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Zhixiong Yang
- Department of Pulmonary Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
- Correspondence: (Z.Y.); (H.C.); Tel.: +86-0759-2387458 (Z.Y.); +86-0759-2387458 (H.C.)
| | - Hualin Chen
- Department of Pulmonary Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
- Correspondence: (Z.Y.); (H.C.); Tel.: +86-0759-2387458 (Z.Y.); +86-0759-2387458 (H.C.)
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27
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Li Y, Liu L, Zhang L, Wei H, Wu S, Liu T, Shu Y, Yang Y, Yang Z, Wang S, Bao Z, Zhang L. Dynamic transcriptome analysis reveals the gene network of gonadal development from the early history life stages in dwarf surfclam Mulinia lateralis. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:69. [PMID: 36461090 PMCID: PMC9716669 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00479-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gonadal development is driven by a complex genetic cascade in vertebrates. However, related information remains limited in molluscs owing to the long generation time and the difficulty in maintaining whole life cycle in the lab. The dwarf surfclam Mulinia lateralis is considered an ideal bivalve model due to the short generation time and ease to breed in the lab. RESULTS To gain a comprehensive understanding of gonadal development in M. lateralis, we conducted a combined morphological and molecular analysis on the gonads of 30 to 60 dpf. Morphological analysis showed that gonad formation and sex differentiation occur at 35 and 40-45 dpf, respectively; then the gonads go through gametogenic cycle. Gene co-expression network analysis on 40 transcriptomes of 35-60 dpf gonads identifies seven gonadal development-related modules, including two gonad-forming modules (M6, M7), three sex-specific modules (M14, M12, M11), and two sexually shared modules (M15, M13). The modules participate in different biological processes, such as cell communication, glycan biosynthesis, cell cycle, and ribosome biogenesis. Several hub transcription factors including SOX2, FOXZ, HSFY, FOXL2 and HES1 are identified. The expression of top hub genes from sex-specific modules suggests molecular sex differentiation (35 dpf) occurs earlier than morphological sex differentiation (40-45 dpf). CONCLUSION This study provides a deep insight into the molecular basis of gonad formation, sex differentiation and gametogenesis in M. lateralis, which will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the reproductive regulation network in molluscs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Li
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Liangjie Liu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Lijing Zhang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Huilan Wei
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Shaoxuan Wu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Tian Liu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Ya Shu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Yaxin Yang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Zujing Yang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Shi Wang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China ,grid.484590.40000 0004 5998 3072Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology & Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China ,grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Zhenmin Bao
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China ,grid.484590.40000 0004 5998 3072Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology & Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China ,grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Lingling Zhang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China ,grid.484590.40000 0004 5998 3072Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology & Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
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Saccone G. A history of the genetic and molecular identification of genes and their functions controlling insect sex determination. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 151:103873. [PMID: 36400424 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The genetics of the sex determination regulatory cascade in Drosophila melanogaster has a fascinating history, interlinked with the foundation of the Genetics discipline itself. The discovery that alternative splicing rather than differential transcription is the molecular mechanism underlying the upstream control of sex differences in the Drosophila model system was surprising. This notion is now fully integrated into the scientific canon, appearing in many genetics textbooks and online education resources. In the last three decades, it was a key reference point for starting evolutionary studies in other insect species by using homology-based approaches. This review will introduce a very brief history of Drosophila genetics. It will describe the genetic and molecular approaches applied for the identifying and cloning key genes involved in sex determination in Drosophila and in many other insect species. These comparative analyses led to supporting the idea that sex-determining pathways have evolved mainly by recruiting different upstream signals/genes while maintaining widely conserved intermediate and downstream regulatory genes. The review also provides examples of the link between technological advances and research achievements, to stimulate reflections on how science is produced. It aims to hopefully strengthen the related historical and conceptual knowledge of general readers of other disciplines and of younger geneticists, often focused on the latest technical-molecular approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Saccone
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126, Naples, Italy.
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29
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Han C, Peng Q, Su X, Xing L, Ji X, Pan Y. A male-specific doublesex isoform reveals an evolutionary pathway of sexual development via distinct alternative splicing mechanisms. Commun Biol 2022; 5:728. [PMID: 35869175 PMCID: PMC9307624 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03664-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The doublesex/mab-3 related transcription factor (Dmrt) genes regulate sexual development in metazoans. Studies of the doublesex (dsx) gene in insects, in particular Drosophila melanogaster, reveal that alternative splicing of dsx generates sex-specific Dsx isoforms underlying sexual differentiation. Such a splicing-based mechanism underlying sex-specific Dmrt function is thought to be evolved from a transcription-based mechanism used in non-insect species, but how such transition occurs during evolution is not known. Here we identified a male-specific dsx transcript (dsxM2) through intron retention (IR), in addition to previously identified dsxM and dsxF transcripts through alternative polyadenylation (APA) with mutually exclusive exons. We found that DsxM2 had similarly masculinizing function as DsxM. We also found that the IR-based mechanism generating sex-specific dsx transcripts was conserved from flies to cockroaches. Further analysis of these dsx transcripts suggested an evolutionary pathway from sexually monomorphic to sex-specific dsx via the sequential use of IR-based and APA-based alternative splicing. An ancestral male-specific doublesex isoform, dsxM2, is identified via intron retention, with a masculinizing function weaker than the modern dsxM
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30
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Zhong Z, Wang Y, Feng Y, Xu Y, Zhao L, Jiang Y, Zhang Z. The molecular regulation mechanism of dmrt1-based on the establishment of the testis cell line derived from two-spot puffer Takifugu bimaculatus. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2022; 48:1475-1494. [PMID: 36445491 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-022-01150-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The establishment of fish cell lines can provide an important in vitro model for developmental biology, pathology, and genetics and also an effective tool to investigate the interactions and related functions of genes. Two-spot puffer Takifugu bimaculatus is a high economic and nutritional value marine fish in Fujian in recent years. Nevertheless, dmrt1 plays a key role in the male differentiation from invertebrates to vertebrates. To understand the molecular regulatory mechanisms of dmrt1 in T. bimaculatus, a testis cell line called TBTc from a juvenile testis of this organism was established with modified Leibovitz's L-15 medium supplemented with 20% FBS, fish serum, embryo extract, and other growth factors. The TBTc with a stable karyotype can be passaged continuously, which was composed of fibroblast-like cells and expressed the marker genes of male-special cells, dmrt1, and amh, and the absence of vasa expression may rule out the possibility of the presence of germ cells. Therefore, TBTc appeared to consist of the mixture of the Sertoli cell and germ cell of the testis. The dmrt1 was significantly expressed in the testes and slightly expressed in the late embryonic development, illustrating that the dmrt1 may participate in the molecular regulation of gonads development and sex differentiation. With the high transfection efficiency of TBTc by electroporation, the cell lines could be used effectively in the study for the expression of exogenous and endogenous genes. Meanwhile, after the knockdown of dmrt1, the morphological changes and survival rates of cells proved that dmrt1 could affect the growth of testicular cells. Furthermore, with the loss of dmrt1, the expression of male-bias genes amh, sox9, and cyp11a was significantly decreased, and the expression of female-bias genes foxl2, sox3, and cyp19a was increased, which suggested that dmrt1 upregulates amh, sox9, and cyp11a and downregulates foxl2, sox3, and cyp19a to participate in the testis development. As a first fish gonadal cell lines of T. bimaculatus, which can be a more convenient, efficient, and rapid model for the investigation of the expression and function of genes, the results will lay a foundation for the next study of the molecular regulation mechanism in gonadal development and sex determination of fish in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaowei Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yilei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yan Feng
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Liping Zhao
- College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yonghua Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China.
| | - Ziping Zhang
- College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Fujian Province, Institute of Oceanology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
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31
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Rohner PT, Hu Y, Moczek AP. Developmental bias in the evolution and plasticity of beetle horn shape. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221441. [PMID: 36168764 PMCID: PMC9515630 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1441] [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: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The degree to which developmental systems bias the phenotypic effects of environmental and genetic variation, and how these biases affect evolution, is subject to much debate. Here, we assess whether developmental variability in beetle horn shape aligns with the phenotypic effects of plasticity and evolutionary divergence, yielding three salient results. First, we find that most pathways previously shown to regulate horn length also affect shape. Second, we find that the phenotypic effects of manipulating divergent developmental pathways are correlated with each other as well as multivariate fluctuating asymmetry-a measure of developmental variability. Third, these effects further aligned with thermal plasticity, population differences and macroevolutionary divergence between sister taxa and more distantly related species. Collectively, our results support the hypothesis that changes in horn shape-whether brought about by environmentally plastic responses, functional manipulations or evolutionary divergences-converge along 'developmental lines of least resistance', i.e. are biased by the developmental system underpinning horn shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick T. Rohner
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Yonggang Hu
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Institute of Sericulture and Systems Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People's Republic of China
| | - Armin P. Moczek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
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32
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The doublesex gene regulates dimorphic sexual and aggressive behaviors in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2201513119. [PMID: 36067320 PMCID: PMC9477402 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201513119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Most animal species display dimorphic sexual behaviors and male-biased aggressiveness. Current models have focused on the male-specific product from the fruitless (fruM) gene, which controls male courtship and male-specific aggression patterns in fruit flies, and describe a male-specific mechanism underlying sexually dimorphic behaviors. Here we show that the doublesex (dsx) gene, which expresses male-specific DsxM and female-specific DsxF transcription factors, functions in the nervous system to control both male and female sexual and aggressive behaviors. We find that Dsx is not only required in central brain neurons for male and female sexual behaviors, but also functions in approximately eight pairs of male-specific neurons to promote male aggressiveness and approximately two pairs of female-specific neurons to inhibit female aggressiveness. DsxF knockdown females fight more frequently, even with males. Our findings reveal crucial roles of dsx, which is broadly conserved from worms to humans, in a small number of neurons in both sexes to establish dimorphic sexual and aggressive behaviors.
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33
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Gao JJ, Barmina O, Thompson A, Kim BY, Suvorov A, Tanaka K, Watabe H, Toda MJ, Chen JM, Katoh TK, Kopp A. Secondary reversion to sexual monomorphism associated with tissue-specific loss of doublesex expression. Evolution 2022; 76:2089-2104. [PMID: 35841603 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Animal evolution is characterized by frequent turnover of sexually dimorphic traits-new sex-specific characters are gained, and some ancestral sex-specific characters are lost, in many lineages. In insects, sexual differentiation is predominantly cell autonomous and depends on the expression of the doublesex (dsx) transcription factor. In most cases, cells that transcribe dsx have the potential to undergo sex-specific differentiation, while those that lack dsx expression do not. Consistent with this mode of development, comparative research has shown that the origin of new sex-specific traits can be associated with the origin of new spatial domains of dsx expression. In this report, we examine the opposite situation-a secondary loss of the sex comb, a male-specific grasping structure that develops on the front legs of some drosophilid species. We show that while the origin of the sex comb is linked to an evolutionary gain of dsx expression in the leg, sex comb loss in a newly identified species of Lordiphosa (Drosophilidae) is associated with a secondary loss of dsx expression. We discuss how the developmental control of sexual dimorphism affects the mechanisms by which sex-specific traits can evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Jun Gao
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology, Yunnan University, China.,State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bioresources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, China
| | - Olga Barmina
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Ammon Thompson
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Bernard Y Kim
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Anton Suvorov
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kohtaro Tanaka
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Hideaki Watabe
- The Hokkaido University Museum, Kita-10, Nishi-8, Kitaku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Masanori J Toda
- The Hokkaido University Museum, Kita-10, Nishi-8, Kitaku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Ji-Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bioresources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, China
| | - Takehiro K Katoh
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology, Yunnan University, China
| | - Artyom Kopp
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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34
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Casado-Navarro R, Serrano-Saiz E. DMRT Transcription Factors in the Control of Nervous System Sexual Differentiation. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:937596. [PMID: 35958734 PMCID: PMC9361473 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.937596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual phenotypic differences in the nervous system are one of the most prevalent features across the animal kingdom. The molecular mechanisms responsible for sexual dimorphism throughout metazoan nervous systems are extremely diverse, ranging from intrinsic cell autonomous mechanisms to gonad-dependent endocrine control of sexual traits, or even extrinsic environmental cues. In recent years, the DMRT ancient family of transcription factors has emerged as being central in the development of sex-specific differentiation in all animals in which they have been studied. In this review, we provide an overview of the function of Dmrt genes in nervous system sexual regulation from an evolutionary perspective.
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35
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Chikami Y, Okuno M, Toyoda A, Itoh T, Niimi T. Evolutionary history of sexual differentiation mechanism in insects. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6618292. [PMID: 35820410 PMCID: PMC9290531 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing underpins functional diversity in proteins and the complexity and diversity of eukaryotes. An example is the doublesex gene, the key transcriptional factor in arthropod sexual differentiation. doublesex is controlled by sex-specific splicing and promotes both male and female differentiation in holometabolan insects, whereas in hemimetabolan species, doublesex has sex-specific isoforms but is not required for female differentiation. How doublesex evolved to be essential for female development remains largely unknown. Here, we investigate ancestral states of doublesex using Thermobia domestica belonging to Zygentoma, the sister group of Pterygota, that is, winged insects. We find that, in T. domestica, doublesex expresses sex-specific isoforms but is only necessary for male differentiation of sexual morphology. This result supports the hypothesis that doublesex initially promoted male differentiation during insect evolution. However, T. domestica doublesex has a short female-specific region and upregulates the expression of vitellogenin homologs in females, suggesting that doublesex may already play some role in female morphogenesis of the common ancestor of Pterygota. Reconstruction of the ancestral sequence and prediction of protein structures show that the female-specific isoform of doublesex has an extended C-terminal disordered region in holometabolan insects but not in nonholometabolan species. We propose that doublesex acquired its function in female morphogenesis through a change in the protein motif structure rather than the emergence of the female-specific exon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiko Chikami
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Miki Okuno
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, School of Medicine, Kurume University, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan.,Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Takehiko Itoh
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
| | - Teruyuki Niimi
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
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36
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Deep conservation and co-option of programmed cell death facilitates evolution of alternative phenotypes at multiple biological levels. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 145:28-41. [PMID: 35654666 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.05.024] [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: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Alternative phenotypes, such as polyphenisms and sexual dimorphisms, are widespread in nature and appear at all levels of biological organization, from genes and cells to morphology and behavior. Yet, our understanding of the mechanisms through which alternative phenotypes develop and how they evolve remains understudied. In this review, we explore the association between alternative phenotypes and programmed cell death, a mechanism responsible for the elimination of superfluous cells during development. We discuss the ancient origins and deep conservation of programmed cell death (its function, forms and underlying core regulatory gene networks), and propose that it was co-opted repeatedly to generate alternative phenotypes at the level of cells, tissues, organs, external morphology, and even individuals. We review several examples from across the tree of life to explore the conditions under which programmed cell death is likely to facilitate the evolution of alternative phenotypes.
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37
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Comparative Transcriptomics of Gonads Reveals the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Gonadal Development in Giant Freshwater Prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10060737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is a prawn that has economic significance throughout the world. It exhibits sex-related growth dimorphism, whereby the males grow significantly more rapidly than the females. Therefore, a study on the molecular regulatory mechanism, which underlies the sexual differentiation of M. rosenbergii, is of both scientific and commercial importance. However, a scarcity of genomic and transcriptomic resources severely limits our knowledge of the sexual differentiation mechanisms in M. rosenbergii. Here, transcriptome sequencing of several gonadic samples of males and females in M. rosenbergii was performed to investigate the molecular basis underlying gonadal development. Our results showed that 2149 unigenes presented as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ovaries of females compared to the testes of males, which contained 484 down-regulated and 1665 up-regulated genes. Enrichment analysis of DEGs revealed many of these genes to be related to sexual differentiation and gonadal development. From our transcriptome analyses, and as confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR, male-related genes (Mrr, MRPINK, IR, IAGBP, TESK1, and dsx) in the testes were significantly up-regulated, and female-related genes (ERR, Sxl3, cyclinB, Dmrt99B, PPP2A, and ADCY9) in the ovaries were also significantly up-regulated. This indicates the potential role these genes play in the gonadal development of M. rosenbergii. Furthermore, multiple signal transduction pathways relating to gonadal maturation and spermatogenesis, including MAPK, were identified herein. Our data also supports previous ideas that IAG and IAGBP-IR signaling schemes could help in the regulation of testis’ development in M. rosenbergii and the ERR gene could regulate ovarian development by affecting the expression of cyclinB, PPP2A, and ADCY9. The data from this study provides incredibly usefully genomic resources for future research on the sexual differentiation and practical aquaculture of M. rosenbergii.
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38
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Evensen KG, Robinson WE, Krick K, Murray HM, Poynton HC. Comparative phylotranscriptomics reveals putative sex differentiating genes across eight diverse bivalve species. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2022; 41:100952. [PMID: 34952324 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mollusks, especially bivalves, exhibit a great diversity of sex determining mechanisms, including both genetic and environmental sex determination. Some bivalve species can be gonochoristic (separate sexes), while others are hermaphroditic (sequential or simultaneous). Several models have been proposed for specific bivalve species, utilizing information gained from gene expression data, as well as limited RAD-seq data (e.g., from Crassostrea gigas). However, these mechanisms are not as well studied as those in model organisms (e.g., Mus musculus, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans) and many genes involved in sex differentiation are not well characterized. We used phylotranscriptomics to better understand which possible sex differentiating genes are in bivalves and how these genes relate to similar genes in diverse phyla. We collected RNAseq data from eight phylogenetically diverse bivalve species: Argopecten irradians, Ensis directus, Geukensia demissa, Macoma tenta, Mercenaria mercenaria, Mya arenaria, Mytilus edulis, and Solemya velum. Using these data, we assembled representative transcriptomes for each species. We then searched for candidate sex differentiating genes using BLAST and confirmed the identity of nine genes using phylogenetics analyses from nine phyla. To increase the confidence of identification, we included ten bivalve genomes in our analyses. From the analysis of doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor (DMRT) genes, we confirmed the identify of a Mollusk-specific sex determining DMRT gene: DMRT1L. Based on gene expression data from M. edulis and previous research, DMRT1L and FoxL2 are key genes for male and female development, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Garrett Evensen
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America
| | - William E Robinson
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America
| | - Keegan Krick
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America
| | - Harry M Murray
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 80 East White Hills Road, St John's, NL A1C 5X1, Canada
| | - Helen C Poynton
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America.
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39
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Kwak HJ, Lee SG, Park SC, Kim JH, Weisblat DA, Park C, Cho SJ. Head transcriptome profiling of glossiphoniid leech ( Helobdella austinensis) reveals clues about proboscis development. Open Biol 2022; 12:210298. [PMID: 35232253 PMCID: PMC8889196 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cephalization refers to the evolutionary trend towards the concentration of neural tissues, sensory organs, mouth and associated structures at the front end of bilaterian animals. Comprehensive studies on gene expression related to the anterior formation in invertebrate models are currently lacking. In this study, we performed de novo transcriptional profiling on a proboscis-bearing leech (Helobdella austinensis) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the anterior versus other parts of the body, in particular to find clues as to the development of the proboscis. Between the head and the body, 132 head-specific DEGs were identified, of which we chose 11 to investigate their developmental function during embryogenesis. Analysis of the spatial expression of these genes using in situ hybridization showed that they were characteristically expressed in the anterior region of the developing embryo, including the proboscis. Our results provide information on the genes related to head formation and insights into the function of proboscis-related genes during organogenesis with the potential roles of genes not yet characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee-Jin Kwak
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28644, Republic of Korea,Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Sung-Gwon Lee
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Cheol Park
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Hyeuk Kim
- Wildlife Disease Response Team, National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - David A. Weisblat
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, 385 Weill Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA
| | - Chungoo Park
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Jin Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28644, Republic of Korea
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40
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Hendrickx F, De Corte Z, Sonet G, Van Belleghem SM, Köstlbacher S, Vangestel C. A masculinizing supergene underlies an exaggerated male reproductive morph in a spider. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:195-206. [PMID: 34949821 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01626-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In many species, individuals can develop into strikingly different morphs, which are determined by a simple Mendelian locus. How selection shapes loci that control complex phenotypic differences remains poorly understood. In the spider Oedothorax gibbosus, males develop either into a 'hunched' morph with conspicuous head structures or as a fast-developing 'flat' morph with a female-like appearance. We show that the hunched-determining allele contains a unique genomic fragment of approximately 3 megabases that is absent in the flat-determining allele. This fragment comprises dozens of genes that duplicated from genes found at the same as well as different chromosomes. All functional duplicates, including a duplicate of the key sexual differentiation regulatory gene doublesex, show male-specific expression, which illustrates their integrated role as a masculinizing supergene. Our findings demonstrate how extensive indel polymorphisms and duplications of regulatory genes may contribute to the evolution of co-adapted gene clusters, sex-limited reproductive morphs and the enigmatic evolution of exaggerated sexual traits in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Hendrickx
- OD Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium. .,Terrestrial Ecology Unity, Biology Department, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
| | - Zoë De Corte
- OD Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gontran Sonet
- OD Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steven M Van Belleghem
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Stephan Köstlbacher
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Carl Vangestel
- OD Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium.,Terrestrial Ecology Unity, Biology Department, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
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41
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Peng Q, Chen J, Wang R, Zhu H, Han C, Ji X, Pan Y. The sex determination gene doublesex regulates expression and secretion of the basement membrane protein Collagen IV. J Genet Genomics 2022; 49:636-644. [PMID: 35017121 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The highly conserved doublesex (dsx) and doublesex/mab-3 related (Dmrt) genes control sexually dimorphic traits across animals. The dsx gene encodes sex-specific transcription factors, DsxM in males and DsxF in females, which function differentially and often oppositely to establish sexual dimorphism. Here, we report that mutations in dsx, or overexpression of dsx, result in abnormal distribution of the basement membrane (BM) protein Collagen IV in the fat body. We find that Dsx isoforms regulate the expression of Collagen IV in the fat body and its secretion into the BM of other tissues. We identify the procollagen lysyl hydroxylase (dPlod) gene, which is involved in the biosynthesis of Collagen IV, as a direct target of Dsx. We further show that Dsx regulates Collagen IV through dPlod-dependent and independent pathways. These findings reveal how Dsx isoforms function in the secretory fat body to regulate Collagen IV and remotely establish sexual dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qionglin Peng
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Jiangtao Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Rong Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Huan Zhu
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Caihong Han
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Ji
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Yufeng Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China.
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42
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Kikkawa T, Osumi N. Multiple Functions of the Dmrt Genes in the Development of the Central Nervous System. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:789583. [PMID: 34955736 PMCID: PMC8695973 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.789583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Dmrt genes encode the transcription factor containing the DM (doublesex and mab-3) domain, an intertwined zinc finger-like DNA binding module. While Dmrt genes are mainly involved in the sexual development of various species, recent studies have revealed that Dmrt genes, which belong to the DmrtA subfamily, are differentially expressed in the embryonic brain and spinal cord and are essential for the development of the central nervous system. Herein, we summarize recent studies that reveal the multiple functions of the Dmrt genes in various aspects of vertebrate neural development, including brain patterning, neurogenesis, and the specification of neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takako Kikkawa
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Noriko Osumi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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Cohen LB, Jewell R, Moody D, Arsala D, Werren JH, Lynch JA. Genetic, morphometric, and molecular analyses of interspecies differences in head shape and hybrid developmental defects in the wasp genus Nasonia. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2021; 11:6362889. [PMID: 34580730 PMCID: PMC8664464 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Males in the parasitoid wasp genus Nasonia have distinct, species-specific, head shapes. The availability of fertile hybrids among the species, along with obligate haploidy of males, facilitates analysis of complex gene interactions in development and evolution. Previous analyses showed that both the divergence in head shape between Nasonia vitripennis and Nasonia giraulti, and the head-specific developmental defects of F2 haploid hybrid males, are governed by multiple changes in networks of interacting genes. Here, we extend our understanding of the gene interactions that affect morphogenesis in male heads. Use of artificial diploid male hybrids shows that alleles mediating developmental defects are recessive, while there are diverse dominance relationships among other head shape traits. At the molecular level, the sex determination locus doublesex plays a major role in male head shape differences, but it is not the only important factor. Introgression of a giraulti region on chromsome 2 reveals a recessive locus that causes completely penetrant head clefting in both males and females in a vitripennis background. Finally, a third species (N. longicornis) was used to investigate the timing of genetic changes related to head morphology, revealing that most changes causing defects arose after the divergence of N. vitripennis from the other species, but prior to the divergence of N. giraulti and N. longicornis from each other. Our results demonstrate that developmental gene networks can be dissected using interspecies crosses in Nasonia, and set the stage for future fine-scale genetic dissection of both head shape and hybrid developmental defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna B Cohen
- Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Optical Imaging Core, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Rachel Jewell
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Dyese Moody
- Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Deanna Arsala
- Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - John H Werren
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Jeremy A Lynch
- Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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44
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Jin B, Zhao Y, Dong Y, Liu P, Sun Y, Li X, Zhang X, Chen XG, Gu J. Alternative splicing patterns of doublesex reveal a missing link between Nix and doublesex in the sex determination cascade of Aedes albopictus. INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:1601-1620. [PMID: 33179439 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Sexual development in insects is regulated by a complicated hierarchical cascade of sex determination. The primary signals are diverse, whereas the central nexus doublesex (dsx) gene is relatively conserved within the pathway. Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus is an important vector with an extensive worldwide distribution. We previously reported that Ae. albopictus dsx (Aalbdsx) yields one male- (AalbdsxM ) and three female-specific isoforms (AalbdsxF1-3 ); however, the spatiotemporal expression profiles and mechanisms regulating sex-specific alternative splicing require further investigation. In this study, we demonstrated that the AalbdsxM messenger RNA (mRNA) represents the default pattern when analyzed in human foreskin fibroblasts and HeLa cells. We combined reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with RNA immunoprecipitation using specific antibodies against tagged Ae. albopictus male-determining factor AalNix and confirmed that AalNix indirectly regulates dsx pre-mRNA and regulates its alternative splicing. During the early embryo stage (0-2 and 4-8 h), maternal dsxF and default splicing dsxM were detected in both sexes; the expression of dsxM then decreased until sufficient AalNix transcripts accumulated in male embryos at 20-24 h. These findings suggest that one or more potential dsx splicing enhancers can shift dsxM to dsxF in both sexes; however, the presence of Nix influences the function of this unknown splicing enhancer and ultimately leads to the formation of dsxM in males. Finally, our results provide important insight into the regulatory mechanism of dsx alternative splicing in the mosquito.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Jin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yijie Zhao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yunqiao Dong
- Reproductive Medical Centre of Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511442, China
| | - Peiwen Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xiaocong Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xiao-Guang Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jinbao Gu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
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45
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Goodwin SF, Hobert O. Molecular Mechanisms of Sexually Dimorphic Nervous System Patterning in Flies and Worms. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2021; 37:519-547. [PMID: 34613817 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-120319-115237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Male and female brains display anatomical and functional differences. Such differences are observed in species across the animal kingdom, including humans, but have been particularly well-studied in two classic animal model systems, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we summarize recent advances in understanding how the worm and fly brain acquire sexually dimorphic features during development. We highlight the advantages of each system, illustrating how the precise anatomical delineation of sexual dimorphisms in worms has enabled recent analysis into how these dimorphisms become specified during development, and how focusing on sexually dimorphic neurons in the fly has enabled an increasingly detailed understanding of sex-specific behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F Goodwin
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SR, United Kingdom;
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biological Sciences and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA;
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46
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McCulloch GA, Guhlin J, Dutoit L, Harrop TWR, Dearden PK, Waters JM. Genomic signatures of parallel alpine adaptation in recently evolved flightless insects. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6677-6686. [PMID: 34592029 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Natural selection along elevational gradients has potential to drive predictable adaptations across distinct lineages, but the extent of such repeated evolution remains poorly studied for many widespread alpine taxa. We present parallel genomic analyses of two recently evolved flightless alpine insect lineages to test for molecular signatures of repeated alpine adaptation. Specifically, we compare low-elevation vs. alpine stonefly ecotypes from parallel stream populations in which flightless upland ecotypes have been independently derived. We map 67,922 polymorphic genetic markers, generated across 176 Zelandoperla fenestrata specimens from two independent alpine stream populations in New Zealand's Rock and Pillar Range, to a newly developed plecopteran reference genome. Genome-wide scans revealed 31 regions with outlier single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) differentiating lowland vs. alpine ecotypes in Lug Creek, and 37 regions with outliers differentiating ecotypes in Six Mile Creek. Of these regions, 13% (8/60) yielded outlier SNPs across both within-stream ecotype comparisons, implying comparable genomic shifts contribute to this repeated alpine adaptation. Candidate genes closely linked to repeated outlier regions include several with documented roles in insect wing-development (e.g., dishevelled), suggesting that they may contribute to repeated alpine wing reduction. Additional candidate genes have been shown to influence insect fecundity (e.g., ovo) and lifespan (e.g., Mrp4), implying that they might contribute to life history differentiation between upland and lowland ecotypes. Additional outlier genes have potential roles in the evolution of reproductive isolation among ecotypes (hedgehog and Desaturase 1). These results demonstrate how replicated outlier tests across independent lineages can potentially contribute to the discovery of genes underpinning repeated adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph Guhlin
- Genomics Aotearoa and Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ludovic Dutoit
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Thomas W R Harrop
- Genomics Aotearoa and Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Peter K Dearden
- Genomics Aotearoa and Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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47
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Huang M, Lou D, Charli A, Kong D, Jin H, Zenitsky G, Anantharam V, Kanthasamy A, Wang Z, Kanthasamy AG. Mitochondrial dysfunction-induced H3K27 hyperacetylation perturbs enhancers in Parkinson's disease. JCI Insight 2021; 6:e138088. [PMID: 34494552 PMCID: PMC8492320 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.138088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major pathophysiological contributor to the progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD); however, whether it contributes to epigenetic dysregulation remains unknown. Here, we show that both chemically and genetically driven mitochondrial dysfunctions share a common mechanism of epigenetic dysregulation. Under both scenarios, lysine 27 acetylation of likely variant H3.3 (H3.3K27ac) increased in dopaminergic neuronal models of PD, thereby opening that region to active enhancer activity via H3K27ac. These vulnerable epigenomic loci represent potential transcription factor motifs for PD pathogenesis. We further confirmed that mitochondrial dysfunction induces H3K27ac in ex vivo and in vivo (MitoPark) neurodegenerative models of PD. Notably, the significantly increased H3K27ac in postmortem PD brains highlights the clinical relevance to the human PD population. Our results reveal an exciting mitochondrial dysfunction-metabolism-H3K27ac-transcriptome axis for PD pathogenesis. Collectively, the mechanistic insights link mitochondrial dysfunction to epigenetic dysregulation in dopaminergic degeneration and offer potential new epigenetic intervention strategies for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhong Huang
- Parkinson Disorders Research Laboratory, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Dan Lou
- Laboratory of Environmental Epigenomes, Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Adhithiya Charli
- Parkinson Disorders Research Laboratory, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Dehui Kong
- Laboratory of Environmental Epigenomes, Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Huajun Jin
- Parkinson Disorders Research Laboratory, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Gary Zenitsky
- Parkinson Disorders Research Laboratory, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Vellareddy Anantharam
- Parkinson Disorders Research Laboratory, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Arthi Kanthasamy
- Parkinson Disorders Research Laboratory, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Zhibin Wang
- Laboratory of Environmental Epigenomes, Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Anumantha G Kanthasamy
- Parkinson Disorders Research Laboratory, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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48
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Stöck M, Kratochvíl L, Kuhl H, Rovatsos M, Evans BJ, Suh A, Valenzuela N, Veyrunes F, Zhou Q, Gamble T, Capel B, Schartl M, Guiguen Y. A brief review of vertebrate sex evolution with a pledge for integrative research: towards ' sexomics'. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200426. [PMID: 34247497 PMCID: PMC8293304 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Triggers and biological processes controlling male or female gonadal differentiation vary in vertebrates, with sex determination (SD) governed by environmental factors or simple to complex genetic mechanisms that evolved repeatedly and independently in various groups. Here, we review sex evolution across major clades of vertebrates with information on SD, sexual development and reproductive modes. We offer an up-to-date review of divergence times, species diversity, genomic resources, genome size, occurrence and nature of polyploids, SD systems, sex chromosomes, SD genes, dosage compensation and sex-biased gene expression. Advances in sequencing technologies now enable us to study the evolution of SD at broader evolutionary scales, and we now hope to pursue a sexomics integrative research initiative across vertebrates. The vertebrate sexome comprises interdisciplinary and integrated information on sexual differentiation, development and reproduction at all biological levels, from genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes, to the organs involved in sexual and sex-specific processes, including gonads, secondary sex organs and those with transcriptional sex-bias. The sexome also includes ontogenetic and behavioural aspects of sexual differentiation, including malfunction and impairment of SD, sexual differentiation and fertility. Starting from data generated by high-throughput approaches, we encourage others to contribute expertise to building understanding of the sexomes of many key vertebrate species. This article is part of the theme issue 'Challenging the paradigm in sex chromosome evolution: empirical and theoretical insights with a focus on vertebrates (Part I)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Stöck
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries—IGB (Forschungsverbund Berlin), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Heiner Kuhl
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries—IGB (Forschungsverbund Berlin), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michail Rovatsos
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Ben J. Evans
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Life Sciences Building Room 328, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Alexander Suh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TU, UK
- Department of Organismal Biology—Systematic Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nicole Valenzuela
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Frédéric Veyrunes
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, ISEM UMR 5554 (CNRS/Université de Montpellier/IRD/EPHE), Montpellier, France
| | - Qi Zhou
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tony Gamble
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
| | - Blanche Capel
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
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49
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Cui Z, Zhang J, Sun Z, Liu B, Han Y, Zhao C, Chang Y. Testis-specific expression pattern of dmrt1 and its putative regulatory region in the sea urchin (Mesocentrotus nudus). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 257:110668. [PMID: 34384887 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Sea urchin (Mseocentrotus nudus) is an economically important mariculture species in several Asian countries. The growth rate and immunocompetence differ by sex in this species. However, the mechanisms of sex determination in M. nudus have remain unclear. In the present study, we focus on the dmrt1 gene of M. nudus (Mndmrt1) to investigate its dynamic expression pattern during different developmental stages. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed that Mndmrt1 exhibits testis-specific expression and undetectable during the whole embryogenesis. With the development of ontogenetic, Mndmrt1 transcripts are first detected at 9 months post-fertilization (mpf). In addition, both the transcripts and protein of Mndmrt1 gene were specifically expressed in spermatogonia and spermatocytes, indicating that it might be a male germ cells marker in sea urchin. Significantly, the 1441 bp promoter sequence of Mndmrt1 gene was obtained by DNA walking, and one positive regulatory region at -1197/ -968 in the promoter, as well as one negative regulatory region at -1441/ -1198 have been identified by promoter activity analysis. Moreover, two regulatory regions contain multiple putative binding sites for transcription factors, including Sp1, Egr1, Sox5, CEBP, GATA and SRY. These findings suggest that Mndmrt1 may be related to testis differentiation and spermatogenesis in sea urchin and will provide an insight into understanding the regulatory mechanism of the dmrt1 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhouping Cui
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China; School of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, China
| | - Zhihui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Bingzheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Yalun Han
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Chong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Yaqing Chang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture& Stock Enhancement in North China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
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50
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Miyazaki S, Fujiwara K, Kai K, Masuoka Y, Gotoh H, Niimi T, Hayashi Y, Shigenobu S, Maekawa K. Evolutionary transition of doublesex regulation from sex-specific splicing to male-specific transcription in termites. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15992. [PMID: 34362973 PMCID: PMC8346542 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95423-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The sex determination gene doublesex (dsx) encodes a transcription factor with two domains, oligomerization domain 1 (OD1) and OD2, and is present throughout insects. Sex-specific Dsx splicing isoforms regulate the transcription of target genes and trigger sex differentiation in all Holometabola examined to date. However, in some hemimetabolous insects, dsx is not spliced sexually and its sequence is less conserved. Here, to elucidate evolutionary changes in dsx in domain organisation and regulation in termites, we searched genome and/or transcriptome databases for the dsx OD1 and OD2 in seven termite species and their sister group (Cryptocercus woodroaches). Molecular phylogenetic and synteny analyses identified OD1 sequences of termites and C. punctulatus that clustered with dsx of Holometabola and regarded them as dsx orthologues. The Cryptocercus dsx orthologue containing OD2 was spliced sexually, as previously shown in other insects. However, OD2 was not found in all termite dsx orthologues. These orthologues were encoded by a single exon in three termites for which genome information is available; they were not alternatively spliced but transcribed in a male-specific manner in two examined species. Evolution of dsx regulation from sex-specific splicing to male-specific transcription may have occurred at an early stage of social evolution in termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Miyazaki
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8610, Japan.
| | - Kokuto Fujiwara
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - Keima Kai
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - Yudai Masuoka
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan.,Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, NARO (National Agriculture and Food Research Organization), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Hiroki Gotoh
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Shizuoka University, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan
| | - Teruyuki Niimi
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Hayashi
- Department of Biology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8521, Japan
| | - Shuji Shigenobu
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.,NIBB Research Core Facilities, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Maekawa
- Faculty of Science, Academic Assembly, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan.
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