Hsp70A and GlsA interact as partner chaperones to regulate asymmetric division in Volvox

Intrinsically disordered proteins and conformational noise: The hypothesis a decade later

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of individual genotypes to produce different phenotypes in response to environmental perturbations. We previously postulated how conformational noise emanating from conformational dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) which is distinct from transcriptional noise, can contribute to phenotypic switching by rewiring the cellular protein interaction network. Since most transcription factors are IDPs, we posited that conformational noise is an integral component of transcriptional noise implying that IDPs may amplify total noise in the system either stochastically or in response to environmental changes. Here, we review progress in elucidating the details of the hypothesis. We highlight empirical evidence supporting the hypothesis, discuss conceptual advances that underscore its fundamental importance and implications, and identify areas for future investigations.

Cell Type-Specific Promoters of Volvox carteri for Molecular Cell Biology Studies

The multicellular green alga Volvox carteri has emerged as a valuable model organism for investigating various aspects of multicellularity and cellular differentiation, photoreception and phototaxis, cell division, biogenesis of the extracellular matrix and morphogenetic movements. While a range of molecular tools and bioinformatics resources have been made available for exploring these topics, the establishment of cell type-specific promoters in V. carteri has not been achieved so far. Therefore, here, we conducted a thorough screening of transcriptome data from RNA sequencing analyses of V. carteri in order to identify potential cell type-specific promoters. Eventually, we chose two putative strong and cell type-specific promoters, with one exhibiting specific expression in reproductive cells (gonidia), the PCY1 promoter, and the other in somatic cells, the PFP promoter. After cloning both promoter regions, they were introduced upstream of a luciferase reporter gene. By using particle bombardment, the DNA constructs were stably integrated into the genome of V. carteri. The results of the expression analyses, which were conducted at both the transcript and protein levels, demonstrated that the two promoters drive cell type-specific expression in their respective target cell types. Transformants with considerably diverse expression levels of the chimeric genes were identifiable. In conclusion, the screening and analysis of transcriptome data from RNA sequencing allowed for the identification of potential cell type-specific promoters in V. carteri. Reporter gene constructs demonstrated the actual usability of two promoters. The investigated PCY1 and PFP promoters were proven to be potent molecular tools for genetic engineering in V. carteri.

Intrinsically Disordered Proteins: Critical Components of the Wetware

Despite the wealth of knowledge gained about intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) since their discovery, there are several aspects that remain unexplored and, hence, poorly understood. A living cell is a complex adaptive system that can be described as a wetware─a metaphor used to describe the cell as a computer comprising both hardware and software and attuned to logic gates─capable of "making" decisions. In this focused Review, we discuss how IDPs, as critical components of the wetware, influence cell-fate decisions by wiring protein interaction networks to keep them minimally frustrated. Because IDPs lie between order and chaos, we explore the possibility that they can be modeled as attractors. Further, we discuss how the conformational dynamics of IDPs manifests itself as conformational noise, which can potentially amplify transcriptional noise to stochastically switch cellular phenotypes. Finally, we explore the potential role of IDPs in prebiotic evolution, in forming proteinaceous membrane-less organelles, in the origin of multicellularity, and in protein conformation-based transgenerational inheritance of acquired characteristics. Together, these ideas provide a new conceptual framework to discern how IDPs may perform critical biological functions despite their lack of structure.

Co-opting disorder into order: Intrinsically disordered proteins and the early evolution of complex multicellularity

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are proteins that lack rigid structures yet play important roles in myriad biological phenomena. A distinguishing feature of IDPs is that they often mediate specific biological outcomes via multivalent weak cooperative interactions with multiple partners. Here, we show that several proteins specifically associated with processes that were key in the evolution of complex multicellularity in the lineage leading to the multicellular green alga Volvox carteri are IDPs. We suggest that, by rewiring cellular protein interaction networks, IDPs facilitated the co-option of ancestral pathways for specialized multicellular functions, underscoring the importance of IDPs in the early evolution of complex multicellularity.

Volvox as a Model for Studying Cell Death and Senescence

Abstract

The spherical green alga Volvox consists of several hundred or thousand of somatic cells that undergo terminal differentiation, senescence and death, and a small number of gonidia (asexual reproductive cells) that give rise to the next generation. In the first part of this paper, the ontogenetic diversity of the genus Volvox is briefly considered, as well as the mechanisms of differentiation into the two types of cells mentioned above, which have been thoroughly studied during recent years in Volvox carteri. Then, a detailed critical analysis of the literature and some of my own data on senescence and cell death (mainly in V. carteri and, to a lesser extent, in V. aureus) was carried out, and it was noted that this aspect of Volvox developmental biology has not been sufficiently studied. Some perspectives of further research of the processes of cell death and senescence in representatives of the genus Volvox in a comparative aspect are indicated.

A Novel Epigenetic Regulator ZRF1: Insight into Its Functions in Plants

Recently, Zuotin-related factor 1 (ZRF1), an epigenetic regulator, was found to be involved in transcriptional regulation. In animals and humans, ZRF1 specifically binds to monoubiquitinated histone H2A through a ubiquitin-binding domain and derepresses Polycomb target genes at the beginning of cellular differentiation. In addition, ZRF1 can work as a tumor suppressor. According to bioinformatics analysis, ZRF1 homologs are widely found in plants. However, the current studies on ZRF1 in higher plants are limited and few in-depth studies of its functions have been reported. In this review, we aim to summarize the key role of AtZRF1a/b in Arabidopsis thaliana growth and development, as well as the research progress in this field in recent years.

Volvox and volvocine green algae

The transition of life from single cells to more complex multicellular forms has occurred at least two dozen times among eukaryotes and is one of the major evolutionary transitions, but the early steps that enabled multicellular life to evolve and thrive remain poorly understood. Volvocine green algae are a taxonomic group that is uniquely suited to investigating the step-wise acquisition of multicellular organization. The multicellular volvocine species Volvox carteri exhibits many hallmarks of complex multicellularity including complete germ–soma division of labor, asymmetric cell divisions, coordinated tissue-level morphogenesis, and dimorphic sexes—none of which have obvious analogs in its closest unicellular relative, the model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Here, I summarize some of the key questions and areas of study that are being addressed with Volvox carteri and how increasing genomic information and methodologies for volvocine algae are opening up the entire group as an integrated experimental system for exploring the evolution of multicellularity and more.

Novel Role for miR-1290 in Host Species Specificity of Influenza A Virus

The role of microRNA (miRNA) in influenza A virus (IAV) host species specificity is not well understood as yet. Here, we show that a host miRNA, miR-1290, is induced through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway upon IAV infection and is associated with increased viral titers in human cells and ferret animal models. miR-1290 was observed to target and reduce expression of the host vimentin gene. Vimentin binds with the PB2 subunit of influenza A virus ribonucleoprotein (vRNP), and knockdown of vimentin expression significantly increased vRNP nuclear retention and viral polymerase activity. Interestingly, miR-1290 was not detected in either chicken cells or mouse animal models, and the 3′ UTR of the chicken vimentin gene contains no binding site for miR-1290. These findings point to a host species-specific mechanism by which IAV upregulates miR-1290 to disrupt vimentin expression and retain vRNP in the nucleus, thereby enhancing viral polymerase activity and viral replication.

The 4-Celled Tetrabaena socialis Nuclear Genome Reveals the Essential Components for Genetic Control of Cell Number at the Origin of Multicellularity in the Volvocine Lineage

Multicellularity is the premier example of a major evolutionary transition in individuality and was a foundational event in the evolution of macroscopic biodiversity. The volvocine chlorophyte lineage is well suited for studying this process. Extant members span unicellular, simple colonial, and obligate multicellular taxa with germ-soma differentiation. Here, we report the nuclear genome sequence of one of the most morphologically simple organisms in this lineage-the 4-celled colonial Tetrabaena socialis and compare this to the three other complete volvocine nuclear genomes. Using conservative estimates of gene family expansions a minimal set of expanded gene families was identified that associate with the origin of multicellularity. These families are rich in genes related to developmental processes. A subset of these families is lineage specific, which suggests that at a genomic level the evolution of multicellularity also includes lineage-specific molecular developments. Multiple points of evidence associate modifications to the ubiquitin proteasomal pathway (UPP) with the beginning of coloniality. Genes undergoing positive or accelerating selection in the multicellular volvocines were found to be enriched in components of the UPP and gene families gained at the origin of multicellularity include components of the UPP. A defining feature of colonial/multicellular life cycles is the genetic control of cell number. The genomic data presented here, which includes diversification of cell cycle genes and modifications to the UPP, align the genetic components with the evolution of this trait.

CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis in Volvox carteri

Volvox carteri and other volvocine green algae comprise an excellent model for investigating developmental complexity and its origins. Here we describe a method for targeted mutagenesis in V. carteri using CRISPR/Cas9 components expressed from transgenes. We used V. carteri nitrate reductase gene (nitA) regulatory sequences to conditionally express Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9, and V. carteri U6 RNA gene regulatory sequences to constitutively express single-guide RNA (sgRNA) transcripts. Volvox carteri was bombarded with both Cas9 vector and one of several sgRNA vectors programmed to target different test genes (glsA, regA and invA), and transformants were selected for expression of a hygromycin-resistance marker present on the sgRNA vector. Hygromycin-resistant transformants grown with nitrate as sole nitrogen source (inducing for nitA) were tested for Cas9 and sgRNA expression, and for the ability to generate progeny with expected mutant phenotypes. Some transformants of a somatic regenerator (Reg) mutant strain receiving sgRNA plasmid with glsA protospacer sequence yielded progeny (at a rate of ~0.01%) with a gonidialess (Gls) phenotype similar to that observed for previously described glsA mutants, and sequencing of the glsA gene in independent mutants revealed short deletions within the targeted region of glsA, indicative of Cas9-directed non-homologous end joining. Similarly, bombardment of a morphologically wild-type strain with the Cas9 plasmid and sgRNA plasmids targeting regA or invA yielded regA and invA mutant transformants/progeny, respectively (at rates of 0.1-100%). The capacity to make precisely directed frameshift mutations should greatly accelerate the molecular genetic analysis of development in V. carteri, and of developmental novelty in the volvocine algae.

Whole transcriptome RNA-Seq analysis reveals extensive cell type-specific compartmentalization in Volvox carteri

Background

One of evolution’s most important achievements is the development and radiation of multicellular organisms with different types of cells. Complex multicellularity has evolved several times in eukaryotes; yet, in most lineages, an investigation of its molecular background is considerably challenging since the transition occurred too far in the past and, in addition, these lineages evolved a large number of cell types. However, for volvocine green algae, such as Volvox carteri, multicellularity is a relatively recent innovation. Furthermore, V. carteri shows a complete division of labor between only two cell types – small, flagellated somatic cells and large, immotile reproductive cells. Thus, V. carteri provides a unique opportunity to study multicellularity and cellular differentiation at the molecular level.

Results

This study provides a whole transcriptome RNA-Seq analysis of separated cell types of the multicellular green alga V. carteri f. nagariensis to reveal cell type-specific components and functions. To this end, 246 million quality filtered reads were mapped to the genome and valid expression data were obtained for 93% of the 14,247 gene loci. In the subsequent search for protein domains with assigned molecular function, we identified 9435 previously classified domains in 44% of all gene loci. Furthermore, in 43% of all gene loci we identified 15,254 domains that are involved in biological processes. All identified domains were investigated regarding cell type-specific expression. Moreover, we provide further insight into the expression pattern of previously described gene families (e.g., pherophorin, extracellular matrix metalloprotease, and VARL families). Our results demonstrate an extensive compartmentalization of the transcriptome between cell types: More than half of all genes show a clear difference in expression between somatic and reproductive cells.

Conclusions

This study constitutes the first transcriptome-wide RNA-Seq analysis of separated cell types of V. carteri focusing on gene expression. The high degree of differential expression indicates a strong differentiation of cell types despite the fact that V. carteri diverged relatively recently from its unicellular relatives. Our expression dataset and the bioinformatic analyses provide the opportunity to further investigate and understand the mechanisms of cell type-specific expression and its transcriptional regulation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12915-017-0450-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Volvox: A simple algal model for embryogenesis, morphogenesis and cellular differentiation

Patterning of a multicellular body plan involves a coordinated set of developmental processes that includes cell division, morphogenesis, and cellular differentiation. These processes have been most intensively studied in animals and land plants; however, deep insight can also be gained by studying development in simpler multicellular organisms. The multicellular green alga Volvox carteri (Volvox) is an excellent model for the investigation of developmental mechanisms and their evolutionary origins. Volvox has a streamlined body plan that contains only a few thousand cells and two distinct cell types: reproductive germ cells and terminally differentiated somatic cells. Patterning of the Volvox body plan is achieved through a stereotyped developmental program that includes embryonic cleavage with asymmetric cell division, morphogenesis, and cell-type differentiation. In this review we provide an overview of how these three developmental processes give rise to the adult form in Volvox and how developmental mutants have provided insights into the mechanisms behind these events. We highlight the accessibility and tractability of Volvox and its relatives that provide a unique opportunity for studying development.

Co-option during the evolution of multicellular and developmental complexity in the volvocine green algae

Despite its major impact on the evolution of Life on Earth, the transition to multicellularity remains poorly understood, especially in terms of its genetic basis. The volvocine algae are a group of closely related species that range in morphology from unicellular individuals (Chlamydomonas) to undifferentiated multicellular forms (Gonium) and complex organisms with distinct developmental programs and one (Pleodorina) or two (Volvox) specialized cell types. Modern genetic approaches, complemented by the recent sequencing of genomes from several key species, revealed that co-option of existing genes and pathways is the primary driving force for the evolution of multicellularity in this lineage. The initial transition to undifferentiated multicellularity, as typified by the extant Gonium, was driven primarily by the co-option of cell cycle regulation. Further morphological and developmental innovations in the lineage leading to Volvox resulted from additional co-option events involving genes important for embryonic inversion, asymmetric cell division, somatic and germ cell differentiation and the structure and function of the extracellular matrix. Because of their relatively low but variable levels of morphological and developmental complexity, simple underlying genetics and recent evolutionary history, the volvocine algae are providing significant insight into our understanding of the genetics and evolution of major developmental and morphological traits.

ZRF1: a novel epigenetic regulator of stem cell identity and cancer

The Zuotin-related factor 1, ZRF1, has recently been identified as an epigenetic regulator of gene transcription in stem cells and cancer. During differentiation of human teratocarcinoma cells, ZRF1 promotes transcriptional induction of developmental genes that are repressed by Polycomb complexes. Importantly, ZRF1 has recently been shown to be required for both neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and for maintenance of neural progenitor cell (NPC) identity. Moreover, a dual role has now emerged for ZRF1 in cancer: on the one hand, ZRF1 plays a crucial role in oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) by activating the INK4/ARF locus, thus working as a tumor suppressor; on the other hand, ZRF1 promotes leukemogenesis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a Polycomb-independent fashion. Therefore, increasing evidence points to ZRF1 as a novel target for therapy of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

The inducible nitA promoter provides a powerful molecular switch for transgene expression in Volvox carteri

BACKGROUND

The multicellular green alga Volvox carteri represents an attractive model system to study various aspects of multicellularity like cellular differentiation, morphogenesis, epithelial folding and ECM biogenesis. However, functional and molecular analyses of such processes require a wide array of molecular tools for genetic engineering. So far there are only a limited number of molecular tools available in Volvox.

RESULTS

Here, we show that the promoter of the V. carteri nitrate reductase gene (nitA) is a powerful molecular switch for induction of transgene expression. Strong expression is triggered by simply changing the nitrogen source from ammonium to nitrate. We also show that the luciferase (g-luc) gene from the marine copepod Gaussia princeps, which previously was engineered to match the codon usage of the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is a suitable reporter gene in V. carteri. Emitted light of the chemiluminescent reaction can be easily detected and quantified with a luminometer. Long-term stability of inducible expression of the chimeric nitA/g-luc transgenes after stable nuclear transformation was demonstrated by transcription analysis and bioluminescence assays.

CONCLUSION

Two novel molecular tools for genetic engineering of Volvox are now available: the nitrate-inducible nitA promoter of V. carteri and the codon-adapted luciferase reporter gene of G. princeps. These novel tools will be useful for future molecular research in V. carteri.

Green algae and the origins of multicellularity in the plant kingdom

The green lineage of chlorophyte algae and streptophytes form a large and diverse clade with multiple independent transitions to produce multicellular and/or macroscopically complex organization. In this review, I focus on two of the best-studied multicellular groups of green algae: charophytes and volvocines. Charophyte algae are the closest relatives of land plants and encompass the transition from unicellularity to simple multicellularity. Many of the innovations present in land plants have their roots in the cell and developmental biology of charophyte algae. Volvocine algae evolved an independent route to multicellularity that is captured by a graded series of increasing cell-type specialization and developmental complexity. The study of volvocine algae has provided unprecedented insights into the innovations required to achieve multicellularity.

Functional conservation and divergence of J-domain-containing ZUO1/ZRF orthologs throughout evolution

Heat shock protein 40s (Hsp40s), also known as J-proteins, are conserved in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The Zuotin/Zuotin-related factor (ZUO1/ZRF) family belongs to a novel Hsp40 clade exclusively found in eukaryotes. Zuotin/Zuotin-related factor proteins are characterized by a large N terminal ZUO1 domain originally identified in the yeast ZUO1 protein. The ZUO1 domain is characterized by a highly conserved J-domain, together with an atypical UBD domain first identified in the human ZRF1 protein. Furthermore, ZUO1/ZRF protein families in animals and plants harbor a pair of C terminal SANT domains, suggesting the divergence of their functions with those in fungi. Zuotin/Zuotin-related factor proteins retain the ancestral function as an Hsp70co-chaperone implicated in protein folding and renaturation after stress; these proteins also perform diverse neofunctions in the cytoplasm and transcriptional and/or epigenetic regulatory functions in the nucleus. Therefore, these proteins are involved in translational fidelity control, ribosomal biogenesis, asymmetric cell division, cell cycle, apoptosis, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. The results of sequence and domain organization analysis of proteins from diverse organisms provided valuable insights into the evolutionary conservation and diversity of ZUO1/ZRF protein family. Further, phylogenetic analysis provides a platform for future functional investigation on the ZUO1/ZRF protein family, particularly in higher plants.

Genomics of Volvocine Algae

Volvocine algae are a group of chlorophytes that together comprise a unique model for evolutionary and developmental biology. The species Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Volvox carteri represent extremes in morphological diversity within the Volvocine clade. Chlamydomonas is unicellular and reflects the ancestral state of the group, while Volvox is multicellular and has evolved numerous innovations including germ-soma differentiation, sexual dimorphism, and complex morphogenetic patterning. The Chlamydomonas genome sequence has shed light on several areas of eukaryotic cell biology, metabolism and evolution, while the Volvox genome sequence has enabled a comparison with Chlamydomonas that reveals some of the underlying changes that enabled its transition to multicellularity, but also underscores the subtlety of this transition. Many of the tools and resources are in place to further develop Volvocine algae as a model for evolutionary genomics.

Evolution of reproductive development in the volvocine algae

The evolution of multicellularity, the separation of germline cells from sterile somatic cells, and the generation of a male-female dichotomy are certainly among the greatest innovations of eukaryotes. Remarkably, phylogenetic analysis suggests that the shift from simple to complex, differentiated multicellularity was not a unique progression in the evolution of life, but in fact a quite frequent event. The spheroidal green alga Volvox and its close relatives, the volvocine algae, span the full range of organizational complexity, from unicellular and colonial genera to multicellular genera with a full germ-soma division of labor and male-female dichotomy; thus, these algae are ideal model organisms for addressing fundamental issues related to the transition to multicellularity and for discovering universal rules that characterize this transition. Of all living species, Volvox carteri represents the simplest version of an immortal germline producing specialized somatic cells. This cellular specialization involved the emergence of mortality and the production of the first dead ancestors in the evolution of this lineage. Volvocine algae therefore exemplify the evolution of cellular cooperation from cellular autonomy. They also serve as a prime example of the evolution of complex traits by a few successive, small steps. Thus, we learn from volvocine algae that the evolutionary transition to complex, multicellular life is probably much easier to achieve than is commonly believed.

Volvox: simple steps to developmental complexity?

Volvox, Chlamydomonas, and their close relatives - collectively the volvocine green algae - comprise an excellent system for investigating the origins of developmental complexity. Over a relatively short period of time Volvox evolved an impressive suite of developmental traits, including asymmetric cell division, multicellularity with germ-soma division of labor, embryonic morphogenesis, and oogamy. Recent molecular genetic analyses of important developmental genes and comparative analyses of the fully sequenced Volvox and Chlamydomonas genomes have provided important insights into how these and other traits came to be. Surprisingly, the acquisition of much of the developmental innovation in this family seems to have involved relatively minor tinkering with the ancestral unicellular blueprint.

Genome-scale analysis and comparison of gene expression profiles in developing and germinated pollen in Oryza sativa

Background

Pollen development from the microspore involves a series of coordinated cellular events, and the resulting mature pollen has a specialized function to quickly germinate, produce a polar-growth pollen tube derived from the vegetative cell, and deliver two sperm cells into the embryo sac for double fertilization. The gene expression profiles of developing and germinated pollen have been characterised by use of the eudicot model plant Arabidopsis. Rice, one of the most important cereal crops, has been used as an excellent monocot model. A comprehensive analysis of transcriptome profiles of developing and germinated pollen in rice is important to understand the conserved and diverse mechanism underlying pollen development and germination in eudicots and monocots.

Results

We used Affymetrix GeneChip^® Rice Genome Array to comprehensively analyzed the dynamic changes in the transcriptomes of rice pollen at five sequential developmental stages from microspores to germinated pollen. Among the 51,279 transcripts on the array, we found 25,062 pollen-preferential transcripts, among which 2,203 were development stage-enriched. The diversity of transcripts decreased greatly from microspores to mature and germinated pollen, whereas the number of stage-enriched transcripts displayed a "U-type" change, with the lowest at the bicellular pollen stage; and a transition of overrepresented stage-enriched transcript groups associated with different functional categories, which indicates a shift in gene expression program at the bicellular pollen stage. About 54% of the now-annotated rice F-box protein genes were expressed preferentially in pollen. The transcriptome profile of germinated pollen was significantly and positively correlated with that of mature pollen. Analysis of expression profiles and coexpressed features of the pollen-preferential transcripts related to cell cycle, transcription, the ubiquitin/26S proteasome system, phytohormone signalling, the kinase system and defense/stress response revealed five expression patterns, which are compatible with changes in major cellular events during pollen development and germination. A comparison of pollen transcriptomes between rice and Arabidopsis revealed that 56.6% of the rice pollen preferential genes had homologs in Arabidopsis genome, but 63.4% of these homologs were expressed, with a small proportion being expressed preferentially, in Arabidopsis pollen. Rice and Arabidopsis pollen had non-conservative transcription factors each.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that rice pollen expressed a set of reduced but specific transcripts in comparison with vegetative tissues, and the number of stage-enriched transcripts displayed a "U-type" change during pollen development, with the lowest at the bicellular pollen stage. These features are conserved in rice and Arabidopsis. The shift in gene expression program at the bicellular pollen stage may be important to the transition from earlier cell division to later pollen maturity. Pollen at maturity pre-synthesized transcripts needed for germination and early pollen tube growth. The transcription regulation associated with pollen development would have divergence between the two species. Our results also provide novel insights into the molecular program and key components of the regulatory network regulating pollen development and germination.

Functional analysis of the Volvox carteri asymmetric division protein GlsA

The Zuotin-family J protein chaperone GlsA is essential for the asymmetric divisions that establish germ and somatic cell initials during embryogenesis in the green alga Volvox carteri, but it is not known on what cellular process GlsA acts to carry out this function. Most GlsA protein is nuclear, and GlsA possesses two SANT domains, suggesting that GlsA may function as a transcriptional regulator. On the other hand, close homologs from yeast and mice are ribosome-associated factors that regulate translation fidelity, implying GlsA might also regulate translation. Here we set out to gain additional evidence regarding the function of GlsA, specifically with respect to its possible involvement in transcription and translation. We found that like zuotin mutants, glsA mutants are ultrasensitive to both cold and to the ribosome-binding aminoglycoside antibiotic paromomycin, so some fraction of GlsA is likely to be ribosome associated. We also found that GlsA co-immunoprecipitates with histones and that this interaction is dependent on the presence of intact SANT domains. Through rescue experiments using transgenes that encode GlsA variants, we determined that the growth and asymmetric division defects of the glsA mutant are separable-a GlsA variant that rescued the growth defects did not completely rescue the asymmetric division phenotype. Considered in total, our results suggest that GlsA acts both at the level of translation and transcription, but the function that is essential for tolerance to paromomycin and cold is not sufficient for asymmetric cell division.

Stable nuclear transformation of Gonium pectorale

Background

Green algae of the family Volvocaceae are a model lineage for studying the molecular evolution of multicellularity and cellular differentiation. The volvocine alga Gonium is intermediate in organizational complexity between its unicellular relative, Chlamydomonas, and its multicellular relatives with differentiated cell types, such as Volvox. Gonium pectorale consists of ~16 biflagellate cells arranged in a flat plate. The detailed molecular analysis of any species necessitates its accessibility to genetic manipulation, but, in volvocine algae, transformation procedures have so far only been established for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Volvox carteri.

Results

Stable nuclear transformation of G. pectorale was achieved using a heterologous dominant antibiotic resistance gene, the aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase VIII gene (aphVIII) of Streptomyces rimosus, as a selectable marker. Heterologous 3'- and 5'-untranslated flanking sequences, including promoters, were from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii or from Volvox carteri. After particle gun bombardment of wild type Gonium cells with plasmid-coated gold particles, transformants were recovered. The transformants were able to grow in the presence of the antibiotic paromomycin and produced a detectable level of the AphVIII protein. The plasmids integrated into the genome, and stable integration was verified after propagation for over 1400 colony generations. Co-transformants were recovered with a frequency of ~30–50% when cells were co-bombarded with aphVIII-based selectable marker plasmids along with unselectable plasmids containing heterologous genes. The transcription of the co-transformed, unselectable genes was confirmed. After heterologous expression of the luciferase gene from the marine copepod Gaussia princeps, which was previously engineered to match the codon usage in C. reinhardtii, Gonium transformants show luciferase activity through light emission in bioluminescence assays.

Conclusion

Flanking sequences that include promoters from C. reinhardtii and from V. carteri work in G. pectorale and allow the functional expression of heterologous genes, such as the selectable marker gene aphVIII of S. rimosus or the co-transformed, codon-optimized G. princeps luciferase gene, which turned out to be a suitable reporter gene in Gonium. The availability of a method for transformation of Gonium makes genetic engineering of this species possible and allows for detailed studies in molecular evolution using the unicellular Chlamydomonas, the 16-celled Gonium, and the multicellular Volvox.

Asymmetric divisions, aggresomes and apoptosis

Asymmetric cell division (ACD) is a fundamental process used to generate cell diversity during metazoan development that occurs when a cell divides to generate daughter cells adopting distinct fates. Stem cell divisions, for example, are a type of ACD and provide a source of new cells during development and in adult animals. Some ACDs produce a daughter cell that dies. In many cases, the reason why a cell divides to generate a dying daughter remains elusive. It was shown recently that denatured proteins are segregated asymmetrically during cell division. Here, we review data that provide interesting insights into how apoptosis is regulated during ACD and speculate on potential connections between ACD-induced cell death and partitioning of denatured proteins.

A posttranslationally regulated protease, VheA, is involved in the liberation of juveniles from parental spheroids in Volvox carteri

The lineage of volvocine algae includes unicellular Chlamydomonas and multicellular Volvox in addition to their colonial relatives intermediate in size and cell number. In an asexual life cycle, daughter cells of Chlamydomonas hatch from parental cell walls soon after cell division, while Volvox juveniles are released from parental spheroids after the completion of various developmental events required for the survival of multicellular juveniles. Thus, heterochronic change in the timing of hatching is considered to have played an important role in the evolution of multicellularity in volvocine algae. To study the hatching process in Volvox carteri, we purified a 125-kD Volvox hatching enzyme (VheA) from a culture medium with enzymatic activity to degrade the parental spheroids. The coding region of vheA contains a prodomain with a transmembrane segment, a subtilisin-like Ser protease domain, and a functionally unknown domain, although purified 125-kD VheA does not contain a prodomain. While 143-kD VheA with a prodomain is synthesized long before the hatching stage, 125-kD VheA is released into the culture medium during hatching due to cleavage processing at the site between the prodomain and the subtilisin-like Ser protease domain, indicating that posttranslational regulation is involved in the determination of the timing of hatching.