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Xing L, Wang L, Liu S, Sun L, Wessel GM, Yang H. Single-Cell Transcriptome and Pigment Biochemistry Analysis Reveals the Potential for the High Nutritional and Medicinal Value of Purple Sea Cucumbers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12213. [PMID: 37569587 PMCID: PMC10419132 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus has important nutritional and medicinal value. Unfortunately, we know little of the source of active chemicals in this animal, but the plentiful pigments of these animals are thought to function in intriguing ways for translation into clinical and food chemistry usage. Here, we found key cell groups with the gene activity predicted for the color morphology of sea cucumber body using single-cell RNA-seq. We refer to these cell populations as melanocytes and quinocytes, which are responsible for the synthesis of melanin and quinone pigments, respectively. We integrated analysis of pigment biochemistry with the transcript profiles to illuminate the molecular mechanisms regulating distinct pigment formation in echinoderms. In concert with the correlated pigment analysis from each color morph, this study expands our understanding of medically important pigment production, as well as the genetic mechanisms for color morphs, and provides deep datasets for exploring advancements in the fields of bioactives and nutraceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Xing
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (L.X.); (S.L.); (H.Y.)
- CAS Engineering Laboratory for Marine Ranching, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lingyu Wang
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA;
| | - Shilin Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (L.X.); (S.L.); (H.Y.)
- CAS Engineering Laboratory for Marine Ranching, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lina Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (L.X.); (S.L.); (H.Y.)
- CAS Engineering Laboratory for Marine Ranching, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gary M. Wessel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Hongsheng Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (L.X.); (S.L.); (H.Y.)
- CAS Engineering Laboratory for Marine Ranching, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Xing L, Sun L, Liu S, Li X, Zhang L, Yang H. De Novo assembly and comparative transcriptome analyses of purple and green morphs of Apostichopus japonicus during body wall pigmentation process. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2018; 28:151-161. [PMID: 30241009 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Pigmentation processes provide a traceable and relevant trait for understanding key issues in evolutionary biology such as adaptation, speciation and the maintenance of balanced polymorphisms. The sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus, which has nutritive and medical properties, is considered the most valuable commercial species in many parts of Asia. Compared with the green morph, the purple morph is rare and has great appeal to consumers. However, little is currently known about the molecular mechanism of body color formation in A. japonicus, even in echinoderm. Here, we employ illumina sequencing to examine expression patterns of the gene network underlying body wall development in purple and green morphs of A. japonicus. Overall, the number of down-regulated genes in the green morph was significantly more than in the purple morph during the pigmentation stage. We observed dynamic expression patterns of a large number of pigment, regulation and growth genes from the "Melanogenesis", "Melanoma", "Wnt signaling pathway", "Notch signaling pathway", "epithelium development", "epidermal growth factor receptor binding","growth factor activity" and "growth", including contrasting expression patterns of these genes in green and purple morph. This study provides comprehensive lists of differentially expressed genes during body wall development in the green and purple morphs, revealing potential candidate genes that may be involved in regulating body color formation and polymorphism. These data will provide valuable information for future genetic studies on sea cucumbers elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying pigmentation, and may support the culture of desirable color morphs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Xing
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lina Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Shilin Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Xiaoni Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Libin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Hongsheng Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China.
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Xing L, Sun L, Liu S, Li X, Zhang L, Yang H. IBT-based quantitative proteomics identifies potential regulatory proteins involved in pigmentation of purple sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2017; 23:17-26. [PMID: 28601631 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2017.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Sea cucumbers are an important economic species and exhibit high yield value among aquaculture animals. Purple sea cucumbers are very rare and beautiful and have stable hereditary patterns. In this study, isobaric tags (IBT) were first used to reveal the molecular mechanism of pigmentation in the body wall of the purple sea cucumber. We analyzed the proteomes of purple sea cucumber in early pigmentation stage (Pa), mid pigmentation stage (Pb) and late pigmentation stage (Pc), resulting in the identification of 5580 proteins, including 1099 differentially expressed proteins in Pb: Pa and 339 differentially expressed proteins in Pc: Pb. GO and KEGG analyses revealed possible differentially expressed proteins, including"melanogenesis", "melanosome", "melanoma", "pigment-biosynthetic process", "Epidermis development", "Ras-signaling pathway", "Wnt-signaling pathway", "response to UV light", and "tyrosine metabolism", involved in pigment synthesis and regulation in purple sea cucumbers. The large number of differentially expressed proteins identified here should be highly useful in further elucidating the mechanisms underlying pigmentation in sea cucumbers. Furthermore, these results may also provide the base for further identification of proteins involved in resistance mechanisms against melanoma, albinism, UV damage, and other diseases in sea cucumbers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Xing
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Lina Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Shilin Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Xiaoni Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Libin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Hongsheng Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China.
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Huang GS, Wang MT, Su CW, Chen YS, Hong MY. Picogram detection of metal ions by melanin-sensitized piezoelectric sensor. Biosens Bioelectron 2007; 23:319-25. [PMID: 17543514 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2007.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2006] [Revised: 03/29/2007] [Accepted: 04/16/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A heavy metal ion sensor was constructed by cross-linking melanin onto the gold electrode of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). A mercury ion sensitivity of 518+/-37 Hz/ppm was observed, a substantial increase in sensitivity compared to previous reports of 10-50 Hz/ppm with the limit of detection at 5 ppb. Detection of other metal ions including Sn(2+), Ge(4+), Li(+), Zn(2+), Cu(2+), Bi(3+), Co(2+), Al(3+), Ni(2+), Ag(+), and Fe(3+) were also performed. Unexpectedly, binding of Mn(7+), Pb(2+), Cd(2+), and Cr(3+) increased resonant frequencies. The surface profile of melanin thin film upon binding to metal ions was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Structural change of melanin upon binding to metal ions was characterized by circular dichroism and by infrared spectroscopy. The current study provides the first example of melanin-coated piezoelectric sensor showing high sensitivity and selectivity to metal ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Steven Huang
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan, ROC.
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Deng WD, Yang SL, Huo YQ, Gou X, Shi XW, Mao HM. Physiological and genetic characteristics of black-boned sheep (Ovis aries). Anim Genet 2007; 37:586-8. [PMID: 17121605 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2006.01530.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Here we report for the first time the discovery of sheep that have black bones and black muscles. The spectral pattern of pigment extracted from tissues of these black-boned sheep is similar to that of black-boned Chinese silky fowl. Additionally, black-boned sheep have significantly higher plasma colour, tyrosinase activity and kidney function than normal sheep. Synonymous nucleotide substitutions in the tyrosinase (TYR) and melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) genes were detected in black-boned sheep when compared with the corresponding sequences in normal sheep. In addition, a missense mutation (215T>C) in exon 2 of tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) was detected in black-boned sheep, and this resulted in a putative valine-to-alanine substitution at codon 68 (Val68Ala).
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Affiliation(s)
- W D Deng
- Yunnan Provincial Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Kunming 650201, China.
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Hung YC, Huang GS, Lin LW, Hong MY, Se PS. Thea sinensis melanin prevents cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. Food Chem Toxicol 2007; 45:1123-30. [PMID: 17303299 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2006.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2005] [Revised: 08/29/2006] [Accepted: 12/27/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The preventive effect of Thea sinensis melanin (TSM) against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity was studied on ICR mice. Animals were given 20mg/kg i.p. of cisplatin, and TSM was injected i.p. in doses 10-40 mg/kg 2h before intoxication. The protective effects were evidenced by a complete inhibition of the cisplatin-induced elevation of serum Blood Urea nitrogen (BUN), prevention of oxidative stress, and complete blockade of cisplatin-induced elevation of serum creatinine. TSM by itself, however, did not affect the renal functional parameters, including serum BUN and creatinine. Real-time RT-PCR was applied to quantify mRNA levels of cisplatin-treated mouse kidney compared to normal mouse kidney for selected marker genes. Cisplatin treatment increases mRNA levels 40-fold for glutathione-S-transferases (Gstp2), 15-fold for soluble epoxide hydrolase (Ephx1), 15-fold for lipocalin 2 (Lcn2), 9-fold for lysozyme (Lyz), 5-fold for UDP glycosyltransferase 2 (Utg2b), 30-fold for survival motor neuron (Smn1), 30-fold for guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (Gamt), 80-fold for urine retinol binding protein (Rbp4), 60-fold for aminopeptidase N (Apn), 60-fold for cytochrome P450 (Cyp2d18), and 100-fold for ornithine aminotransferase (Oat). Pre-administration of TSM restored normal expression of marker genes for cisplatin-treated mouse kidneys. TSM by itself, however, did not affect the transcription for marker genes. Results obtained demonstrate that TSM pre-administration can prevent the renal toxic effects of cisplatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Ching Hung
- Section of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh Shih Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan
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Hung YC, Huang GS, Sava VM, Blagodarsky VA, Hong MY. Protective Effects of Tea Melanin against 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-Induced Toxicity: Antioxidant Activity and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Suppressive Effect. Biol Pharm Bull 2006; 29:2284-91. [PMID: 17077530 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.29.2284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We examined the protective ability of tea melanin against 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced toxicity in C57BL6J mice. Reduced tea melanin (RTM) and non-reduced tea melanin (NRTM) were incorporated to distinguish anti-oxidant activity from alternative pathways. The mice were given a single oral dose of TCDD (100 microg/kg body weight) and then they were administered daily with NRTM or RTM (40 mg/kg, p.o.) for next 14 d. RTM protected the animals against TCDD-induced lipid peroxidation, inhibition of glutathione peroxidase, alteration in reduced and oxidized glutathione concentrations, loss of body weight, and increased relative liver weight. NRTM was less effective as compared to RTM because of its inferior antioxidant activity, but it still displayed a strong protective effect against TCDD toxicity owing to its similar suppression of the activity of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Both NRTM and RTM suppressed the expression of CYP1A1 gene and prevented the activation of cytochrome P450 isozyme in the livers of animals exposed to TCDD. These results suggest that tea melanin might be a potential agent offering dual protection against the development of TCDD-induced oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Ching Hung
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, Hung Kung University, and Kung Tien General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Hung YC, Sava V, Hong MY, Huang GS. Inhibitory effects on phospholipase A2 and antivenin activity of melanin extracted from Thea sinensis Linn. Life Sci 2004; 74:2037-47. [PMID: 14967198 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2003.09.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2003] [Accepted: 09/06/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Antivenin activity of melanin extracted from black tea (MEBT) was reported for the first time. The antagonistic effect of MEBT was evaluated for Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus (broadbanded copperhead), Agkistrodon halys blomhoffii (Japanese mamushi), and Crotalus atrox (western diamondback rattlesnake) snake venoms administered i.p. to ICR mice. MEBT was injected i.p. immediately after the venom administration in dose of 3 mg per mouse in the same place of venom injection. MEBT demonstrated neutralization effect against all venoms tested. The greatest antivenin effect of MEBT was found against Japanese mamushi snake venom. In this case, half the mice died within 2.5 +/- 0.7 h after injection of 0.9 mg/kg of venom. An immediate injection of MEBT substantially reduced the toxic effect of venom and extended time at the 50% level of survival up to 52.3 +/- 2.3 h. The antivenin activity of MEBT is due to chelating of Ca++ and non-specific binding of phospholipase A2. The inhibitory effect of MEBT on phospholipase A2 assessed for different venoms was similar to that obtained with pure enzyme. Low toxicity of MEBT in combination with its antagonistic activity against different venoms may allow effective life-saving treatment against snakebites. Such application of MEBT is important when identification of the snake is impossible or if specific treatment is unavailable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Ching Hung
- Department of Medicine, Section of Gynecologic Oncology, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh Shih Rd., Taichung 404, Taiwan, ROC
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Hung YC, Sava VM, Blagodarsky VA, Hong MY, Huang GS. Protection of tea melanin on hydrazine-induced liver injury. Life Sci 2003; 72:1061-71. [PMID: 12495784 DOI: 10.1016/s0024-3205(02)02348-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The protective activity of melanin derived from tea (MDFT) was studied using hydrazine as a DNA-reactive chemical agent. Intra-peritoneal administration of MDFT at the doses of 5 or 20 mg/kg dose-dependently prevented liver toxicity induced by hydrazine in rats. It normalized rises in serum alanine transferase activity and a decrease in the glutathione level in the liver. It also reduced the hepatic malondialdehyde concentration. Monitoring the intensity of chemiluminescence showed that MDFT could prevent the production of free radicals that are generated owing to metabolic transformation of hydrazine. It also prevented the formation 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) DNA adducts. The results obtained in vivo and in vitro suggest that MDFT confers marked protection of the liver against hydrazine-induced oxidative toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y C Hung
- Section of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China Medical College, 91 Hsueh Shih Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan, ROC
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Sava V, Hung Y, Blagodarsky V, Hong MY, Huang G. The liver-protecting activity of melanin-like pigment derived from black tea. Food Res Int 2003. [DOI: 10.1016/s0963-9969(02)00199-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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