1
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Lagman D, Leon A, Cieminska N, Deng W, Chatzigeorgiou M, Henriet S, Chourrout D. Pax3/7 gene function in Oikopleura dioica supports a neuroepithelial-like origin for its house-making Fol territory. Dev Biol 2024; 516:207-220. [PMID: 39181419 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.08.012] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Larvacean tunicates feature a spectacular innovation not seen in other animals - the trunk oikoplastic epithelium (OE). This epithelium produces a house, a large and complex extracellular structure used for filtering and concentrating food particles. Previously we identified several homeobox transcription factor genes expressed during early OE patterning. Among these are two Pax3/7 copies that we named pax37A and pax37B. The vertebrate homologs, PAX3 and PAX7 are involved in developmental processes related to neural crest and muscles. In the ascidian tunicate Ciona intestinalis, Pax3/7 plays a role in the development of cells deriving from the neural plate border, including trunk epidermal sensory neurons and tail nerve cord neurons, as well as in the neural tube closure. Here we have investigated the roles of Oikopleura dioica pax37A and pax37B in the development of the OE, by using CRISPR-Cas9 mutant lines and analyzing scRNA-seq data from wild-type animals. We found that pax37B but not pax37A is essential for the differentiation of cell fields that produce the food concentrating filter of the house: the anterior Fol, giant Fol and Nasse cells. Trajectory analysis supported a neuroepithelial-like or a preplacodal ectoderm transcriptional signature in these cells. We propose that the highly specialized secretory epithelial cells of the Fol region either maintained or evolved neuroepithelial features. This is supported by a fragmented gene regulatory network involved in their development that also operates in ascidian epidermal neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Lagman
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, Bergen, NO-5020, Norway; Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75123, Sweden.
| | - Anthony Leon
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, Bergen, NO-5020, Norway
| | - Nadia Cieminska
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, Bergen, NO-5020, Norway
| | - Wei Deng
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, Bergen, NO-5020, Norway
| | | | - Simon Henriet
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, Bergen, NO-5020, Norway
| | - Daniel Chourrout
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, Bergen, NO-5020, Norway.
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2
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Johnson CJ, Zhang Z, Zhang H, Shang R, Piekarz KM, Bi P, Stolfi A. A change in cis-regulatory logic underlying obligate versus facultative muscle multinucleation in chordates. Development 2024; 151:dev202968. [PMID: 39114943 PMCID: PMC11441980 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202968] [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: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Vertebrates and tunicates are sister groups that share a common fusogenic factor, Myomaker (Mymk), that drives myoblast fusion and muscle multinucleation. Yet they are divergent in when and where they express Mymk. In vertebrates, all developing skeletal muscles express Mymk and are obligately multinucleated. In tunicates, Mymk is expressed only in post-metamorphic multinucleated muscles, but is absent from mononucleated larval muscles. In this study, we demonstrate that cis-regulatory sequence differences in the promoter region of Mymk underlie the different spatiotemporal patterns of its transcriptional activation in tunicates and vertebrates. Although in vertebrates myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) such as MyoD1 alone are required and sufficient for Mymk transcription in all skeletal muscles, we show that transcription of Mymk in post-metamorphic muscles of the tunicate Ciona requires the combinatorial activity of MRF, MyoD and Early B-cell Factor (Ebf). This macroevolutionary difference appears to be encoded in cis, likely due to the presence of a putative Ebf-binding site adjacent to predicted MRF binding sites in the Ciona Mymk promoter. We further discuss how Mymk and myoblast fusion might have been regulated in the last common ancestor of tunicates and vertebrates, for which we propose two models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Renjie Shang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Katarzyna M. Piekarz
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Pengpeng Bi
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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3
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Schartl M, Woltering JM, Irisarri I, Du K, Kneitz S, Pippel M, Brown T, Franchini P, Li J, Li M, Adolfi M, Winkler S, de Freitas Sousa J, Chen Z, Jacinto S, Kvon EZ, Correa de Oliveira LR, Monteiro E, Baia Amaral D, Burmester T, Chalopin D, Suh A, Myers E, Simakov O, Schneider I, Meyer A. The genomes of all lungfish inform on genome expansion and tetrapod evolution. Nature 2024; 634:96-103. [PMID: 39143221 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07830-1] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
The genomes of living lungfishes can inform on the molecular-developmental basis of the Devonian sarcopterygian fish-tetrapod transition. We de novo sequenced the genomes of the African (Protopterus annectens) and South American lungfishes (Lepidosiren paradoxa). The Lepidosiren genome (about 91 Gb, roughly 30 times the human genome) is the largest animal genome sequenced so far and more than twice the size of the Australian (Neoceratodus forsteri)1 and African2 lungfishes owing to enlarged intergenic regions and introns with high repeat content (about 90%). All lungfish genomes continue to expand as some transposable elements (TEs) are still active today. In particular, Lepidosiren's genome grew extremely fast during the past 100 million years (Myr), adding the equivalent of one human genome every 10 Myr. This massive genome expansion seems to be related to a reduction of PIWI-interacting RNAs and C2H2 zinc-finger and Krüppel-associated box (KRAB)-domain protein genes that suppress TE expansions. Although TE abundance facilitates chromosomal rearrangements, lungfish chromosomes still conservatively reflect the ur-tetrapod karyotype. Neoceratodus' limb-like fins still resemble those of their extinct relatives and remained phenotypically static for about 100 Myr. We show that the secondary loss of limb-like appendages in the Lepidosiren-Protopterus ancestor was probably due to loss of sonic hedgehog limb-specific enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Schartl
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA.
- Research Department for Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria.
| | | | - Iker Irisarri
- Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum of Nature, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kang Du
- The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA
| | - Susanne Kneitz
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Pippel
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- DRESDEN-concept Genome Center (DcGC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thomas Brown
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- DRESDEN-concept Genome Center (DcGC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paolo Franchini
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Mateus Adolfi
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sylke Winkler
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Zhuoxin Chen
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sandra Jacinto
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Evgeny Z Kvon
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | - Erika Monteiro
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | | | - Domitille Chalopin
- Institute of Cellular Biochemistry and Genetics, CNRS, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Alexander Suh
- Department of Organismal Biology - Systematic Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
- Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eugene Myers
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Center of Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Oleg Simakov
- Department for Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Igor Schneider
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Axel Meyer
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
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4
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Su L, Li G, Chow BKC, Cardoso JCR. Neuropeptides and receptors in the cephalochordate: A crucial model for understanding the origin and evolution of vertebrate neuropeptide systems. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 592:112324. [PMID: 38944371 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112324] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Genomes and transcriptomes from diverse organisms are providing a wealth of data to explore the evolution and origin of neuropeptides and their receptors in metazoans. While most neuropeptide-receptor systems have been extensively studied in vertebrates, there is still a considerable lack of understanding regarding their functions in invertebrates, an extraordinarily diverse group that account for the majority of animal species on Earth. Cephalochordates, commonly known as amphioxus or lancelets, serve as the evolutionary proxy of the chordate ancestor. Their key evolutionary position, bridging the invertebrate to vertebrate transition, has been explored to uncover the origin, evolution, and function of vertebrate neuropeptide systems. Amphioxus genomes exhibit a high degree of sequence and structural conservation with vertebrates, and sequence and functional homologues of several vertebrate neuropeptide families are present in cephalochordates. This review aims to provide a comprehensively overview of the recent findings on neuropeptides and their receptors in cephalochordates, highlighting their significance as a model for understanding the complex evolution of neuropeptide signaling in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuru Su
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Guang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Billy K C Chow
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - João C R Cardoso
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
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5
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Boehm T. Understanding vertebrate immunity through comparative immunology. Nat Rev Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41577-024-01083-9. [PMID: 39317775 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-01083-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
Evolutionary immunology has entered a new era. Classical studies, using just a handful of model animal species, combined with clinical observations, provided an outline of how innate and adaptive immunity work together to ensure tissue homeostasis and to coordinate the fight against infections. However, revolutionary advances in cellular and molecular biology, genomics and methods of genetic modification now offer unprecedented opportunities. They provide immunologists with the possibility to consider, at unprecedented scale, the impact of the astounding phenotypic diversity of vertebrates on immune system function. This Perspective is intended to highlight some of the many interesting, but largely unexplored, biological phenomena that are related to immune function among the roughly 60,000 existing vertebrate species. Importantly, hypotheses arising from such wide-ranging comparative studies can be tested in representative and genetically tractable species. The emerging general principles and the discovery of their evolutionarily selected variations may inspire the future development of novel therapeutic strategies for human immune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Boehm
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany.
- Institute for Immunodeficiency, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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6
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Cima F, Burighel P, Brunelli N, Ben Hamo O, Ballarin L. Phagocyte dynamics in the blastogenetic cycle of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri: Cell senescence, segregation and clearance after efferocytosis. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 162:105271. [PMID: 39306217 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2024.105271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 09/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
In the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri, phagocytes are involved in the clearance of apoptotic cells and corpses during the periodical generation changes or takeovers (TOs) that assure the renewal of the colonial zooids. The persistent respiratory burst associated with efferocytosis, leads to the induction of senescence. Indeed, giant, senescent phagocytes are abundant in the colonial circulation at TO, whereas, in the other phases of the colonial blastogenetic cycle, they colonise the ventral islands (VIs), a series of mesenchymal niches located in the lateral lacunae of the mantle, on both sides of the subendostylar sinus. VI phagocytes produce reactive oxygen species probably as a consequence of the massive phagocytosis of effete cells. VIs are progressively dismantled with the progress of the blastogenetic phases and phagocytes are released in the peribranchial chamber via transepithelial expulsion to be definitely expelled with the outflowing water through the cloacal siphon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Cima
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Burighel
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Oshrat Ben Hamo
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute, Haifa, Israel
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7
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Ji RL, Jiang SS, Kleinau G, Scheerer P, Tao YX. Are Melanocortin Receptors Present in Extant Protochordates? Biomolecules 2024; 14:1120. [PMID: 39334886 PMCID: PMC11430673 DOI: 10.3390/biom14091120] [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: 08/03/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional melanocortin receptor (MCR) genes have been identified in the genomes of early chordates, e.g., the cyclostomata. Whether they appear in the most ancient chordates such as cephalochordate and urochordata, however, remains unclear due to missing genetic data. Herein, we studied five putative (from NCBI database), sequence-based predicted MCR-like receptors from urochordata and cephalochordate, including Styela clava, Ciona intestinalis, Branchiostoma floridae, and Branchiostoma belcheri. The BLAST and phylogenetic analyses suggested a relationship between these specific receptors and vertebrate MCRs. However, several essential residues for MCR functions in vertebrates were missing in these putative chordata MCRs. To test receptor functionality, several experimental studies were conducted. Binding assays and functional analyses showed no specific binding and no ligand-induced cAMP or ERK1/2 signaling (with either endogenous α-MSH or synthetic ligands for MC4R), despite successfully expressing four receptors in HEK 293T cells. These four receptors showed high basal cAMP signaling, likely mediated by ligand-independent Gs coupling. In summary, our results suggest that the five predicted MCR-like receptors are, indeed, class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which in four cases show high constitutive activity in the Gs-cAMP signaling pathway but are not MCR-like receptors in terms of ligand recognition of known MCR ligands. These receptors might be ancient G protein-coupled receptors with so far unidentified ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren-Lei Ji
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Shan-Shan Jiang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Gunnar Kleinau
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Group Structural Biology of Cellular Signaling, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Scheerer
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Group Structural Biology of Cellular Signaling, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ya-Xiong Tao
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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8
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Klirs Y, Novosolov M, Gissi C, Garić R, Pupko T, Stach T, Huchon D. Evolutionary Insights from the Mitochondrial Genome of Oikopleura dioica: Sequencing Challenges, RNA Editing, Gene Transfers to the Nucleus, and tRNA Loss. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae181. [PMID: 39162337 PMCID: PMC11384887 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae181] [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: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Sequencing the mitochondrial genome of the tunicate Oikopleura dioica is a challenging task due to the presence of long poly-A/T homopolymer stretches, which impair sequencing and assembly. Here, we report on the sequencing and annotation of the majority of the mitochondrial genome of O. dioica by means of combining several DNA and amplicon reads obtained by Illumina and MinIon Oxford Nanopore Technologies with public RNA sequences. We document extensive RNA editing, since all homopolymer stretches present in the mitochondrial DNA correspond to 6U-regions in the mitochondrial RNA. Out of the 13 canonical protein-coding genes, we were able to detect eight, plus an unassigned open reading frame that lacked sequence similarity to canonical mitochondrial protein-coding genes. We show that the nad3 gene has been transferred to the nucleus and acquired a mitochondria-targeting signal. In addition to two very short rRNAs, we could only identify a single tRNA (tRNA-Met), suggesting multiple losses of tRNA genes, supported by a corresponding loss of mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in the nuclear genome. Based on the eight canonical protein-coding genes identified, we reconstructed maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic trees and inferred an extreme evolutionary rate of this mitochondrial genome. The phylogenetic position of appendicularians among tunicates, however, could not be accurately determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Klirs
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Maria Novosolov
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, GeoGenetics Centre, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carmela Gissi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari 70126, Italy
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bari 70126, Italy
- CoNISMa, Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Roma 00196, Italy
| | - Rade Garić
- Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, University of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik 20000, Croatia
| | - Tal Pupko
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Thomas Stach
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dorothée Huchon
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History and National Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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9
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Castillo H, Hanna P, Sachs LM, Buisine N, Godoy F, Gilbert C, Aguilera F, Muñoz D, Boisvert C, Debiais-Thibaud M, Wan J, Spicuglia S, Marcellini S. Xenopus tropicalis osteoblast-specific open chromatin regions reveal promoters and enhancers involved in human skeletal phenotypes and shed light on early vertebrate evolution. Cells Dev 2024; 179:203924. [PMID: 38692409 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2024.203924] [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: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
While understanding the genetic underpinnings of osteogenesis has far-reaching implications for skeletal diseases and evolution, a comprehensive characterization of the osteoblastic regulatory landscape in non-mammalian vertebrates is still lacking. Here, we compared the ATAC-Seq profile of Xenopus tropicalis (Xt) osteoblasts to a variety of non mineralizing control tissues, and identified osteoblast-specific nucleosome free regions (NFRs) at 527 promoters and 6747 distal regions. Sequence analyses, Gene Ontology, RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq against four key histone marks confirmed that the distal regions correspond to bona fide osteogenic transcriptional enhancers exhibiting a shared regulatory logic with mammals. We report 425 regulatory regions conserved with human and globally associated to skeletogenic genes. Of these, 35 regions have been shown to impact human skeletal phenotypes by GWAS, including one trps1 enhancer and the runx2 promoter, two genes which are respectively involved in trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type I and cleidocranial dysplasia. Intriguingly, 60 osteoblastic NFRs also align to the genome of the elephant shark, a species lacking osteoblasts and bone tissue. To tackle this paradox, we chose to focus on dlx5 because its conserved promoter, known to integrate regulatory inputs during mammalian osteogenesis, harbours an osteoblast-specific NFR in both frog and human. Hence, we show that dlx5 is expressed in Xt and elephant shark odontoblasts, supporting a common cellular and genetic origin of bone and dentine. Taken together, our work (i) unravels the Xt osteogenic regulatory landscape, (ii) illustrates how cross-species comparisons harvest data relevant to human biology and (iii) reveals that a set of genes including bnc2, dlx5, ebf3, mir199a, nfia, runx2 and zfhx4 drove the development of a primitive form of mineralized skeletal tissue deep in the vertebrate lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Castillo
- Group for the Study of Developmental Processes (GDeP), School of Biological Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile.
| | - Patricia Hanna
- Group for the Study of Developmental Processes (GDeP), School of Biological Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile
| | - Laurent M Sachs
- UMR7221, Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS, MNHN, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Nicolas Buisine
- UMR7221, Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, CNRS, MNHN, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Francisco Godoy
- Group for the Study of Developmental Processes (GDeP), School of Biological Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile
| | - Clément Gilbert
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 12 route 128, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Felipe Aguilera
- Group for the Study of Developmental Processes (GDeP), School of Biological Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile
| | - David Muñoz
- Group for the Study of Developmental Processes (GDeP), School of Biological Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile
| | - Catherine Boisvert
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Mélanie Debiais-Thibaud
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Jing Wan
- Aix-Marseille University, INSERM, TAGC, UMR 1090, Marseille, France; Equipe Labelisée LIGUE contre le Cancer, Marseille, France
| | - Salvatore Spicuglia
- Aix-Marseille University, INSERM, TAGC, UMR 1090, Marseille, France; Equipe Labelisée LIGUE contre le Cancer, Marseille, France
| | - Sylvain Marcellini
- Group for the Study of Developmental Processes (GDeP), School of Biological Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile.
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10
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Kültz D, Gardell AM, DeTomaso A, Stoney G, Rinkevich B, Rinkevich Y, Qarri A, Dong W, Luu B, Lin M. Deep quantitative proteomics of North American Pacific coast star tunicate (Botryllus schlosseri). Proteomics 2024; 24:e2300628. [PMID: 38400697 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202300628] [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: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Botryllus schlosseri, is a model marine invertebrate for studying immunity, regeneration, and stress-induced evolution. Conditions for validating its predicted proteome were optimized using nanoElute® 2 deep-coverage LCMS, revealing up to 4930 protein groups and 20,984 unique peptides per sample. Spectral libraries were generated and filtered to remove interferences, low-quality transitions, and only retain proteins with >3 unique peptides. The resulting DIA assay library enabled label-free quantitation of 3426 protein groups represented by 22,593 unique peptides. Quantitative comparisons of single systems from a laboratory-raised with two field-collected populations revealed (1) a more unique proteome in the laboratory-raised population, and (2) proteins with high/low individual variabilities in each population. DNA repair/replication, ion transport, and intracellular signaling processes were distinct in laboratory-cultured colonies. Spliceosome and Wnt signaling proteins were the least variable (highly functionally constrained) in all populations. In conclusion, we present the first colonial tunicate's deep quantitative proteome analysis, identifying functional protein clusters associated with laboratory conditions, different habitats, and strong versus relaxed abundance constraints. These results empower research on B. schlosseri with proteomics resources and enable quantitative molecular phenotyping of changes associated with transfer from in situ to ex situ and from in vivo to in vitro culture conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dietmar Kültz
- Department of Animal Sciences & Genome Center, University of California Davis, Meyer Hall, Davis, California, USA
| | - Alison M Gardell
- School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington Tacoma, Tacoma, Washington, USA
| | - Anthony DeTomaso
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Goleta, California, USA
| | - Greg Stoney
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Goleta, California, USA
| | - Baruch Rinkevich
- Israel Oceanography & Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yuval Rinkevich
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Regenerative Biology and Medicine Institute, Munich, Germany
| | - Andy Qarri
- Israel Oceanography & Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, Israel
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Regenerative Biology and Medicine Institute, Munich, Germany
| | - Weizhen Dong
- Department of Animal Sciences & Genome Center, University of California Davis, Meyer Hall, Davis, California, USA
| | - Brenda Luu
- Department of Animal Sciences & Genome Center, University of California Davis, Meyer Hall, Davis, California, USA
| | - Mandy Lin
- Department of Animal Sciences & Genome Center, University of California Davis, Meyer Hall, Davis, California, USA
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11
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Bisanti L, La Corte C, Dara M, Bertini F, Vizioli J, Parisi MG, Cammarata M, Parrinello D. The Interplay of TLR-NFκB Signalling Pathway and Functional Immune-Related Enzymes in the Inflammatory Response of Ciona robusta. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2169. [PMID: 39123695 PMCID: PMC11310991 DOI: 10.3390/ani14152169] [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: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The close phylogenetic relationship between ascidians (Tunicata) and vertebrates makes them a powerful model for studying the innate immune system. To better understand the nature and dynamics of immune responses and the mechanisms through which bacterial infections are detected and translated into inflammation in Ciona robusta, we applied an approach combining in vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, immune-labelling techniques and functional enzymatic analyses. The immunohistochemistry showed that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) were expressed during the inflammatory pharynx response 4 h post-LPS, with the formation of nodules in pharynx vessel lumen. Also, the endothelium vessels were involved in the inflammatory response. Observations of histological sections from naive and buffer-inoculated ascidians confirmed an immuno-positive response. Enzyme immune parameters-which included the activity of phenoloxidase, glutathione peroxidase, lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase and esterase-showed up-modulation 4 h after LPS injection, confirming their participation during ascidian inflammatory response. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the LPS-induced C. robusta response and suggest that a broad innate immune mechanism, as in vertebrates, is involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses. Further findings in this direction are needed to cover knowledge gaps regarding the organized set of molecular and cellular networks involved in universal immune interactions with pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Bisanti
- Marine Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (L.B.); (C.L.C.); (F.B.)
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Claudia La Corte
- Marine Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (L.B.); (C.L.C.); (F.B.)
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mariano Dara
- Marine Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (L.B.); (C.L.C.); (F.B.)
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Federica Bertini
- Marine Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (L.B.); (C.L.C.); (F.B.)
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Jacopo Vizioli
- Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (Inserm U1192), Département de Biologie, Université de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Maria Giovanna Parisi
- Marine Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (L.B.); (C.L.C.); (F.B.)
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Matteo Cammarata
- Marine Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (L.B.); (C.L.C.); (F.B.)
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Daniela Parrinello
- Marine Immunobiology Laboratory, Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (L.B.); (C.L.C.); (F.B.)
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), 90133 Palermo, Italy
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12
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Kültz D, Gardell AM, DeTomaso A, Stoney G, Rinkevich B, Qarri A, Hamar J. Proteome-wide 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal signature of oxidative stress in the marine invasive tunicate Botryllus schlosseri. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.19.604351. [PMID: 39211222 PMCID: PMC11360967 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.19.604351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The colonial ascidian Boytryllus schlosseri is an invasive marine chordate that thrives under conditions of anthropogenic climate change. We show that the B. schlosseri expressed proteome contains unusually high levels of proteins that are adducted with 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE). HNE represents a prominent posttranslational modification resulting from oxidative stress. Although numerous studies have assessed oxidative stress in marine organisms HNE protein modification has not previously been determined in any marine species. LC/MS proteomics was used to identify 1052 HNE adducted proteins in B. schlosseri field and laboratory populations. Adducted amino acid residues were ascertained for 1849 modified sites, of which 1195 had a maximum amino acid localization score. Most HNE modifications were at less reactive lysines (rather than more reactive cysteines). HNE prevelance on most sites was high. These observations suggest that B. schlosseri experiences and tolerates high intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, resulting in substantial lipid peroxidation. HNE adducted B. schlosseri proteins show enrichment in mitochondrial, proteostasis, and cytoskeletal functions. Based on these results we propose that redox signaling contributes to regulating energy metabolism, the blastogenic cycle, oxidative burst defenses, and cytoskeleton dynamics during B. schlosseri development and physiology. A DIA assay library was constructed to quantify HNE adduction at 72 sites across 60 proteins that represent a holistic network of functionally discernable oxidative stress bioindicators. We conclude that the vast amount of HNE protein adduction in this circumpolar tunicate is indicative of high oxidative stress tolerance contributing to its range expansion into diverse environments. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Oxidative stress results from environmental challenges that increase in frequency and severity during the Anthropocene. Oxygen radical attack causes lipid peroxidation leading to HNE production. Proteome-wide HNE adduction is highly prevalent in Botryllus schlosseri , a widely distributed, highly invasive, and economically important biofouling ascidian and the first marine species to be analyzed for proteome HNE modification. HNE adduction of specific proteins physiologically sequesters reactive oxygen species, which enhances fitness and resilience during environmental change.
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13
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Gerdol M, Greco S, Marino R, Locascio A, Plateroti M, Sirakov M. Conserved Signaling Pathways in the Ciona robusta Gut. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7846. [PMID: 39063090 PMCID: PMC11277035 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147846] [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: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The urochordate Ciona robusta exhibits numerous functional and morphogenetic traits that are shared with vertebrate models. While prior investigations have identified several analogies between the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., gut) of Ciona and mice, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these similarities remain poorly understood. This study seeks to address this knowledge gap by investigating the transcriptional landscape of the adult stage gut. Through comparative genomics analyses, we identified several evolutionarily conserved components of signaling pathways of pivotal importance for gut development (such as WNT, Notch, and TGFβ-BMP) and further evaluated their expression in three distinct sections of the gastrointestinal tract by RNA-seq. Despite the presence of lineage-specific gene gains, losses, and often unclear orthology relationships, the investigated pathways were characterized by well-conserved molecular machinery, with most components being expressed at significant levels throughout the entire intestinal tract of C. robusta. We also showed significant differences in the transcriptional landscape of the stomach and intestinal tract, which were much less pronounced between the proximal and distal portions of the intestine. This study confirms that C. robusta is a reliable model system for comparative studies, supporting the use of ascidians as a model to study gut physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (M.G.); (S.G.)
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy; (R.M.); (A.L.)
| | - Samuele Greco
- Department of Life Sciences, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (M.G.); (S.G.)
| | - Rita Marino
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy; (R.M.); (A.L.)
| | - Annamaria Locascio
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy; (R.M.); (A.L.)
| | - Michelina Plateroti
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS UMR7104–INSERM U1258–Université de Strasbourg, 1 Rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Maria Sirakov
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy; (R.M.); (A.L.)
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14
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Gigante ED, Piekarz KM, Gurgis A, Cohen L, Razy-Krajka F, Popsuj S, Johnson CJ, Ali HS, Mohana Sundaram S, Stolfi A. Specification and survival of post-metamorphic branchiomeric neurons in a non-vertebrate chordate. Development 2024; 151:dev202719. [PMID: 38895900 PMCID: PMC11273300 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202719] [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: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Tunicates are the sister group to the vertebrates, yet most species have a life cycle split between swimming larva and sedentary adult phases. During metamorphosis, larval neurons are replaced by adult-specific ones. The regulatory mechanisms underlying this replacement remain largely unknown. Using tissue-specific CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis in the tunicate Ciona, we show that orthologs of conserved hindbrain and branchiomeric neuron regulatory factors Pax2/5/8 and Phox2 are required to specify the 'neck', a cellular compartment set aside in the larva to give rise to cranial motor neuron-like neurons post-metamorphosis. Using bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing analyses, we characterize the transcriptome of the neck downstream of Pax2/5/8. We present evidence that neck-derived adult ciliomotor neurons begin to differentiate in the larva and persist through metamorphosis, contrary to the assumption that the adult nervous system is formed after settlement and the death of larval neurons during metamorphosis. Finally, we show that FGF signaling during the larval phase alters the patterning of the neck and its derivatives. Suppression of FGF converts neck cells into larval neurons that fail to survive metamorphosis, whereas prolonged FGF signaling promotes an adult neural stem cell-like fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo D. Gigante
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Katarzyna M. Piekarz
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Alexandra Gurgis
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Leslie Cohen
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Florian Razy-Krajka
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Sydney Popsuj
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Christopher J. Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Hussan S. Ali
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Shruthi Mohana Sundaram
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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15
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Popsuj S, Cohen L, Ward S, Lewis A, Yoshida S, Herrera RA, Cota CD, Stolfi A. CRISPR/Cas9 protocols for disrupting gene function in the non-vertebrate chordate Ciona. Integr Comp Biol 2024:icae108. [PMID: 38982335 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icae108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary origins of chordates and their diversification into the three major subphyla of tunicates, vertebrates, and cephalochordates pose myriad questions about the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying this radiation. Studies in non-vertebrate chordates have refined our model of what the ancestral chordate may have looked like, and have revealed the pre-vertebrate origins of key cellular and developmental traits. Work in the major tunicate laboratory model Ciona has benefitted greatly from the emergence of CRISPR/Cas9 techniques for targeted gene disruption. Here we review some of the important findings made possible by CRISPR in Ciona, and present our latest protocols and recommended practices for plasmid-based, tissue-specific CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Popsuj
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Lindsey Cohen
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Sydney Ward
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA, 30030, USA
| | - Arabella Lewis
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA, 30030, USA
| | | | | | | | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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16
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Knyazeva A, Dyachuk V. Neural crest and sons: role of neural crest cells and Schwann cell precursors in development and gland embryogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1406199. [PMID: 38989061 PMCID: PMC11233730 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1406199] [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: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In this review, we consider the multipotency of neural crest cells (NCCs), Schwann cell precursors (SCPs), and their role in embryogenesis base on genetic tracing and knock out model animals and single cell transcriptomic analysis. In particular, we summarize and analyze data on the contribution of NCCs and SCPs to the gland development and functions.
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17
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Guarneri I, Bozzo M, Perez Criado N, Serafini E, Manfè G, Tagliapietra D, Fiorin R, Scapin L, Povero P, Bellitto D, Ferrando S, Amaroli A, Castellano L, Pestarino M, Schubert M, Candiani S. Amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) in the North Adriatic Sea: ecological observations and spawning behavior. Integr Zool 2024. [PMID: 38886157 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12846] [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] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The European amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) is a member of the chordate subphylum Cephalochordata, and, as such, a key model organism for providing insights into the origin and evolution of vertebrates. Despite its significance and global distribution, detailed characterizations of natural populations of cephalochordates are still very limited. This study investigates the abundance, habitat, and spawning behavior of amphioxus in the North Adriatic Sea. Across 32 sampled sites, adult amphioxus were consistently present, reaching densities exceeding 300 individuals m- 2. DNA barcoding confirmed the species as B. lanceolatum, and environmental analyses revealed an amphioxus preference for slightly gravelly sand with low silt content and a correlation between amphioxus density and the presence of specific macroinvertebrate taxa. Remarkably, the amphioxus population was breeding in early spring and possibly late fall, in contrast to the typical late spring/early summer spawning season described for other populations of European amphioxus. Amphioxus adults kept in captivity maintained the spawning seasonality of their place of origin, suggesting the possibility of extending the overall spawning season of European amphioxus in laboratory settings by exploiting populations from diverse geographic origins. This study thus expands our understanding of B. lanceolatum ecology and reproduction in the Mediterranean Sea, emphasizing the role of the North Adriatic Sea as a substantial reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Guarneri
- CNR-ISMAR, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto di Scienze Marine, Venice, Italy
| | - Matteo Bozzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Emanuele Serafini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giorgia Manfè
- CNR-ISMAR, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto di Scienze Marine, Venice, Italy
| | - Davide Tagliapietra
- CNR-ISMAR, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto di Scienze Marine, Venice, Italy
| | | | | | - Paolo Povero
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Deianira Bellitto
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sara Ferrando
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Amaroli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Mario Pestarino
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Michael Schubert
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-Mer, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
| | - Simona Candiani
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy
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18
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Brownstein CD, Near TJ. Colonization of the ocean floor by jawless vertebrates across three mass extinctions. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:79. [PMID: 38867201 PMCID: PMC11170801 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02253-y] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The deep (> 200 m) ocean floor is often considered to be a refugium of biodiversity; many benthic marine animals appear to share ancient common ancestry with nearshore and terrestrial relatives. Whether this pattern holds for vertebrates is obscured by a poor understanding of the evolutionary history of the oldest marine vertebrate clades. Hagfishes are jawless vertebrates that are either the living sister to all vertebrates or form a clade with lampreys, the only other surviving jawless fishes. RESULTS We use the hagfish fossil record and molecular data for all recognized genera to construct a novel hypothesis for hagfish relationships and diversification. We find that crown hagfishes persisted through three mass extinctions after appearing in the Permian ~ 275 Ma, making them one of the oldest living vertebrate lineages. In contrast to most other deep marine vertebrates, we consistently infer a deep origin of continental slope occupation by hagfishes that dates to the Paleozoic. Yet, we show that hagfishes have experienced marked body size diversification over the last hundred million years, contrasting with a view of this clade as morphologically stagnant. CONCLUSION Our results establish hagfishes as ancient members of demersal continental slope faunas and suggest a prolonged accumulation of deep sea jawless vertebrate biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase Doran Brownstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
| | - Thomas J Near
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Yale Peabody Museum, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
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19
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Pennati A, Jakobi M, Zeng F, Ciampa L, Rothbächer U. Optimizing CRISPR/Cas9 approaches in the polymorphic tunicate Ciona intestinalis. Dev Biol 2024; 510:31-39. [PMID: 38490564 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.03.003] [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: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 became a powerful tool for genetic engineering and in vivo knockout also in the invertebrate chordate Ciona intestinalis. Ciona (ascidians, tunicates) is an important model organism because it shares developmental features with the vertebrates, considered the sister group of tunicates, and offers outstanding experimental advantages: a compact genome and an invariant developmental cell lineage that, combined with electroporation mediated transgenesis allows for precise and cell type specific targeting in vivo. A high polymorphism and the mosaic expression of electroporated constructs, however, often hamper the efficient CRISPR knockout, and an optimization in Ciona is desirable. Furthermore, seasonality and artificial maintenance settings can profit from in vitro approaches that would save on animals. Here we present improvements for the CRISPR/Cas9 protocol in silico, in vitro and in vivo. Firstly, in designing sgRNAs, prior sequencing of target genomic regions from experimental animals and alignment with reference genomes of C. robusta and C. intestinalis render a correction possible of subspecies polymorphisms. Ideally, the screening for efficient and non-polymorphic sgRNAs will generate a database compatible for worldwide Ciona populations. Secondly, we challenged in vitro assays for sgRNA validation towards reduced in vivo experimentation and report their suitability but also overefficiency concerning mismatch tolerance. Thirdly, when comparing Cas9 with Cas9:Geminin, thought to synchronize editing and homology-direct repair, we could indeed increase the in vivo efficiency and notably the access to an early expressed gene. Finally, for in vivo CRISPR, genotyping by next generation sequencing (NGS) ex vivo streamlined the definition of efficient single guides. Double CRISPR then generates large deletions and reliable phenotypic excision effects. Overall, while these improvements render CRISPR more efficient in Ciona, they are useful when newly establishing the technique and very transferable to CRISPR in other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Pennati
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Miloš Jakobi
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Fan Zeng
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Luca Ciampa
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ute Rothbächer
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
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20
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Grau-Bové X, Subirana L, Meister L, Soubigou A, Neto A, Elek A, Naranjo S, Fornas O, Gomez-Skarmeta JL, Tena JJ, Irimia M, Bertrand S, Sebé-Pedrós A, Escriva H. An amphioxus neurula stage cell atlas supports a complex scenario for the emergence of vertebrate head mesoderm. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4550. [PMID: 38811547 PMCID: PMC11136973 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48774-4] [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: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of new structures can often be linked to the evolution of novel cell types that follows the rewiring of developmental gene regulatory subnetworks. Vertebrates are characterized by a complex body plan compared to the other chordate clades and the question remains of whether and how the emergence of vertebrate morphological innovations can be related to the appearance of new embryonic cell populations. We previously proposed, by studying mesoderm development in the cephalochordate amphioxus, a scenario for the evolution of the vertebrate head mesoderm. To further test this scenario at the cell population level, we used scRNA-seq to construct a cell atlas of the amphioxus neurula, stage at which the main mesodermal compartments are specified. Our data allowed us to validate the presence of a prechordal-plate like territory in amphioxus. Additionally, the transcriptomic profile of somite cell populations supports the homology between specific territories of amphioxus somites and vertebrate cranial/pharyngeal and lateral plate mesoderm. Finally, our work provides evidence that the appearance of the specific mesodermal structures of the vertebrate head was associated to both segregation of pre-existing cell populations, and co-option of new genes for the control of myogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Grau-Bové
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucie Subirana
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, BIOM, F-66650, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Lydvina Meister
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, BIOM, F-66650, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Anaël Soubigou
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, BIOM, F-66650, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Ana Neto
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Anamaria Elek
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Naranjo
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Oscar Fornas
- Flow Cytometry Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Gomez-Skarmeta
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Juan J Tena
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stéphanie Bertrand
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, BIOM, F-66650, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France.
- Institut universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France.
| | - Arnau Sebé-Pedrós
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Hector Escriva
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, BIOM, F-66650, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France.
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21
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Stein WD. Orthologs at the Base of the Olfactores Clade. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:657. [PMID: 38927593 PMCID: PMC11203038 DOI: 10.3390/genes15060657] [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: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tunicate orthologs in the human genome comprise just 84 genes of the 19,872 protein-coding genes and 23 of the 16,528 non-coding genes, yet they stand at the base of the Olfactores clade, which radiated to generate thousands of tunicate and vertebrate species. What were the powerful drivers among these genes that enabled this process? Many of these orthologs are present in gene families. We discuss the biological role of each family and the orthologs' quantitative contribution to the family. Most important was the evolution of a second type of cadherin. This, a Type II cadherin, had the property of detaching the cell containing that cadherin from cells that expressed the Type I class. The set of such Type II cadherins could now detach and move away from their Type I neighbours, a process which would eventually evolve into the formation of the neural crest, "the fourth germ layer", providing a wide range of possibilities for further evolutionary invention. A second important contribution were key additions to the broad development of the muscle and nerve protein and visual perception toolkits. These developments in mobility and vision provided the basis for the development of the efficient predatory capabilities of the Vertebrata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfred D Stein
- Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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22
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Piekarz KM, Stolfi A. Development and circuitry of the tunicate larval Motor Ganglion, a putative hindbrain/spinal cord homolog. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2024; 342:200-211. [PMID: 37675754 PMCID: PMC10918034 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The Motor Ganglion (MG) is a small collection of neurons that control the swimming movements of the tunicate tadpole larva. Situated at the base of the tail, molecular and functional comparisons suggest that may be a homolog of the spinal cord and/or hindbrain ("rhombospinal" region) of vertebrates. Here we review the most current knowledge of the development, connectivity, functions, and unique identities of the neurons that comprise the MG, drawn mostly from studies in Ciona spp. The simple cell lineages, minimal cellular composition, and comprehensively mapped "connectome" of the Ciona MG all make this an excellent model for studying the development and physiology of motor control in aquatic larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology
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23
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Bayramov AV, Yastrebov SA, Mednikov DN, Araslanova KR, Ermakova GV, Zaraisky AG. Paired fins in vertebrate evolution and ontogeny. Evol Dev 2024; 26:e12478. [PMID: 38650470 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12478] [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] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The origin of paired appendages became one of the most important adaptations of vertebrates, allowing them to lead active lifestyles and explore a wide range of ecological niches. The basic form of paired appendages in evolution is the fins of fishes. The problem of paired appendages has attracted the attention of researchers for more than 150 years. During this time, a number of theories have been proposed, mainly based on morphological data, two of which, the Balfour-Thacher-Mivart lateral fold theory and Gegenbaur's gill arch theory, have not lost their relevance. So far, however, none of the proposed ideas has been supported by decisive evidence. The study of the evolutionary history of the appearance and development of paired appendages lies at the intersection of several disciplines and involves the synthesis of paleontological, morphological, embryological, and genetic data. In this review, we attempt to summarize and discuss the results accumulated in these fields and to analyze the theories put forward regarding the prerequisites and mechanisms that gave rise to paired fins and limbs in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey V Bayramov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey A Yastrebov
- Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry N Mednikov
- Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Karina R Araslanova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Galina V Ermakova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey G Zaraisky
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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24
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Frese AN, Mariossi A, Levine MS, Wühr M. Quantitative proteome dynamics across embryogenesis in a model chordate. iScience 2024; 27:109355. [PMID: 38510129 PMCID: PMC10951915 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109355] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The evolution of gene expression programs underlying the development of vertebrates remains poorly characterized. Here, we present a comprehensive proteome atlas of the model chordate Ciona, covering eight developmental stages and ∼7,000 translated genes, accompanied by a multi-omics analysis of co-evolution with the vertebrate Xenopus. Quantitative proteome comparisons argue against the widely held hourglass model, based solely on transcriptomic profiles, whereby peak conservation is observed during mid-developmental stages. Our analysis reveals maximal divergence at these stages, particularly gastrulation and neurulation. Together, our work provides a valuable resource for evaluating conservation and divergence of multi-omics profiles underlying the diversification of vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander N. Frese
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Andrea Mariossi
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Michael S. Levine
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Martin Wühr
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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25
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Wang Y, Lin J, Li W, Ji G, Liu Z. Identification, Expression and Evolutional Analysis of Two cyp19-like Genes in Amphioxus. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1140. [PMID: 38672288 PMCID: PMC11047327 DOI: 10.3390/ani14081140] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of sex determination and differentiation in animals remains a central focus of reproductive and developmental biology research, and the regulation of sex differentiation in amphioxus remains poorly understood. Cytochrome P450 Family 19 Subfamily A member 1 (CYP19A1) is a crucial sex differentiation gene that catalyzes the conversion of androgens into estrogens. In this study, we identified two aromatase-like genes in amphioxus: cyp19-like1 and cyp19-like2. The cyp19-like1 is more primitive and may represent the ancestral form of cyp19 in zebrafish and other vertebrates, while the cyp19-like2 is likely the result of gene duplication within amphioxus. To gain further insights into the expression level of these two aromatase-like, we examined their expression in different tissues and during different stages of gonad development. While the expression level of the two genes differs in tissues, both are highly expressed in the gonad primordium and are primarily localized to microsomal membrane systems. However, as development proceeds, their expression level decreases significantly. This study enhances our understanding of sex differentiation mechanisms in amphioxus and provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution of sex determination mechanisms in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Zhenhui Liu
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (Y.W.); (J.L.); (W.L.); (G.J.)
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26
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Negrón-Piñeiro LJ, Wu Y, Popsuj S, José-Edwards DS, Stolfi A, Di Gregorio A. Cis-regulatory interfaces reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the notochord gene regulatory network of Ciona. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3025. [PMID: 38589372 PMCID: PMC11001920 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46850-3] [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: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Tissue-specific gene expression is fundamental in development and evolution, and is mediated by transcription factors and by the cis-regulatory regions (enhancers) that they control. Transcription factors and their respective tissue-specific enhancers are essential components of gene regulatory networks responsible for the development of tissues and organs. Although numerous transcription factors have been characterized from different organisms, the knowledge of the enhancers responsible for their tissue-specific expression remains fragmentary. Here we use Ciona to study the enhancers associated with ten transcription factors expressed in the notochord, an evolutionary hallmark of the chordate phylum. Our results illustrate how two evolutionarily conserved transcription factors, Brachyury and Foxa2, coordinate the deployment of other notochord transcription factors. The results of these detailed cis-regulatory analyses delineate a high-resolution view of the essential notochord gene regulatory network of Ciona, and provide a reference for studies of transcription factors, enhancers, and their roles in development, disease, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenny J Negrón-Piñeiro
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, 10010, USA
| | - Yushi Wu
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, 10010, USA
| | - Sydney Popsuj
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Diana S José-Edwards
- Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Anna Di Gregorio
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, 10010, USA.
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27
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Rinne MK, Urvas L, Mandrika I, Fridmanis D, Riddy DM, Langmead CJ, Kukkonen JP, Xhaard H. Characterization of a putative orexin receptor in Ciona intestinalis sheds light on the evolution of the orexin/hypocretin system in chordates. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7690. [PMID: 38565870 PMCID: PMC10987541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56508-1] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Tunicates are evolutionary model organisms bridging the gap between vertebrates and invertebrates. A genomic sequence in Ciona intestinalis (CiOX) shows high similarity to vertebrate orexin receptors and protostome allatotropin receptors (ATR). Here, molecular phylogeny suggested that CiOX is divergent from ATRs and human orexin receptors (hOX1/2). However, CiOX appears closer to hOX1/2 than to ATR both in terms of sequence percent identity and in its modelled binding cavity, as suggested by molecular modelling. CiOX was heterologously expressed in a recombinant HEK293 cell system. Human orexins weakly but concentration-dependently activated its Gq signalling (Ca2+ elevation), and the responses were inhibited by the non-selective orexin receptor antagonists TCS 1102 and almorexant, but only weakly by the OX1-selective antagonist SB-334867. Furthermore, the 5-/6-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA)-labelled human orexin-A was able to bind to CiOX. Database mining was used to predict a potential endogenous C. intestinalis orexin peptide (Ci-orexin-A). Ci-orexin-A was able to displace TAMRA-orexin-A, but not to induce any calcium response at the CiOX. Consequently, we suggested that the orexin signalling system is conserved in Ciona intestinalis, although the relevant peptide-receptor interaction was not fully elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiju K Rinne
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, POB 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, POB 66, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Pharmacology, Medicum, University of Helsinki, POB 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lauri Urvas
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, POB 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Ilona Mandrika
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | | | - Darren M Riddy
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Christopher J Langmead
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Jyrki P Kukkonen
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, POB 66, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Pharmacology, Medicum, University of Helsinki, POB 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Henri Xhaard
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, POB 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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28
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Takahashi H, Hisata K, Iguchi R, Kikuchi S, Ogasawara M, Satoh N. scRNA-seq analysis of cells comprising the amphioxus notochord. Dev Biol 2024; 508:24-37. [PMID: 38224933 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.01.003] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Cephalochordates occupy a key phylogenetic position for deciphering the origin and evolution of chordates, since they diverged earlier than urochordates and vertebrates. The notochord is the most prominent feature of chordates. The amphioxus notochord features coin-shaped cells bearing myofibrils. Notochord-derived hedgehog signaling contributes to patterning of the dorsal nerve cord, as in vertebrates. However, properties of constituent notochord cells remain unknown at the single-cell level. We examined these properties using Iso-seq analysis, single-cell RNA-seq analysis, and in situ hybridization (ISH). Gene expression profiles broadly categorize notochordal cells into myofibrillar cells and non-myofibrillar cells. Myofibrillar cells occupy most of the central portion of the notochord, and some cells extend the notochordal horn to both sides of the ventral nerve cord. Some notochord myofibrillar genes are not expressed in myotomes, suggesting an occurrence of myofibrillar genes that are preferentially expressed in notochord. On the other hand, non-myofibrillar cells contain dorsal, lateral, and ventral Müller cells, and all three express both hedgehog and Brachyury. This was confirmed by ISH, although expression of hedgehog in ventral Müller cells was minimal. In addition, dorsal Müller cells express neural transmission-related genes, suggesting an interaction with nerve cord. Lateral Müller cells express hedgehog and other signaling-related genes, suggesting an interaction with myotomes positioned lateral to the notochord. Ventral Müller cells also expressed genes for FGF- and EGF-related signaling, which may be associated with development of endoderm, ventral to the notochord. Lateral Müller cells were intermediate between dorsal/ventral Müller cells. Since vertebrate notochord contributes to patterning and differentiation of ectoderm (nerve cord), mesoderm (somite), and endoderm, this investigation provides evidence that an ancestral or original form of vertebrate notochord is present in extant cephalochordates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Takahashi
- Interdisciplinary Research Unit, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.
| | - Kanako Hisata
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Rin Iguchi
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, 262-8522, Japan
| | - Sakura Kikuchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Michio Ogasawara
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, 262-8522, Japan.
| | - Noriyuki Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan.
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29
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Rosfelter A, de Labbey G, Chenevert J, Dumollard R, Schaub S, Machaty Z, Besnardeau L, Gonzalez Suarez D, Hebras C, Turlier H, Burgess DR, McDougall A. Reduction of cortical pulling at mitotic entry facilitates aster centration. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs262037. [PMID: 38469748 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.262037] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Equal cell division relies upon astral microtubule-based centering mechanisms, yet how the interplay between mitotic entry, cortical force generation and long astral microtubules leads to symmetric cell division is not resolved. We report that a cortically located sperm aster displaying long astral microtubules that penetrate the whole zygote does not undergo centration until mitotic entry. At mitotic entry, we find that microtubule-based cortical pulling is lost. Quantitative measurements of cortical pulling and cytoplasmic pulling together with physical simulations suggested that a wavelike loss of cortical pulling at mitotic entry leads to aster centration based on cytoplasmic pulling. Cortical actin is lost from the cortex at mitotic entry coincident with a fall in cortical tension from ∼300pN/µm to ∼100pN/µm. Following the loss of cortical force generators at mitotic entry, long microtubule-based cytoplasmic pulling is sufficient to displace the aster towards the cell center. These data reveal how mitotic aster centration is coordinated with mitotic entry in chordate zygotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Rosfelter
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Developpement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-mer, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Ghislain de Labbey
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, CNRS UMR7241 / INSERM U1050, Université PSL, 75002 Paris, France
| | - Janet Chenevert
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Developpement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-mer, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Rémi Dumollard
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Developpement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-mer, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Sebastien Schaub
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Developpement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-mer, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Zoltan Machaty
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Developpement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-mer, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Lydia Besnardeau
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Developpement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-mer, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Daniel Gonzalez Suarez
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Developpement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-mer, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Céline Hebras
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Developpement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-mer, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Hervé Turlier
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, CNRS UMR7241 / INSERM U1050, Université PSL, 75002 Paris, France
| | - David R Burgess
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Alex McDougall
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Developpement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-mer, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France
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30
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Hoyer J, Kolar K, Athira A, van den Burgh M, Dondorp D, Liang Z, Chatzigeorgiou M. Polymodal sensory perception drives settlement and metamorphosis of Ciona larvae. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1168-1182.e7. [PMID: 38335959 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.041] [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: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The Earth's oceans brim with an incredible diversity of microscopic lifeforms, including motile planktonic larvae, whose survival critically depends on effective dispersal in the water column and subsequent exploration of the seafloor to identify a suitable settlement site. How their nervous systems mediate sensing of diverse multimodal cues remains enigmatic. Here, we uncover that the tunicate Ciona intestinalis larvae employ ectodermal sensory cells to sense various mechanical and chemical cues. Combining whole-brain imaging and chemogenetics, we demonstrate that stimuli encoded at the periphery are sufficient to drive global brain-state changes to promote or impede both larval attachment and metamorphosis behaviors. The ability of C. intestinalis larvae to leverage polymodal sensory perception to support information coding and chemotactile behaviors may explain how marine larvae make complex decisions despite streamlined nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorgen Hoyer
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Kushal Kolar
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Athira Athira
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Meike van den Burgh
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Daniel Dondorp
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Zonglai Liang
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway
| | - Marios Chatzigeorgiou
- Michael Sars Centre, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen 5006, Norway.
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31
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Taniguchi S, Nakayama S, Iguchi R, Sasakura Y, Satake H, Wada S, Suzuki N, Ogasawara M, Sekiguchi T. Distribution of cionin, a cholecystokinin/gastrin family peptide, and its receptor in the central nervous system of Ciona intestinalis type A. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6277. [PMID: 38491056 PMCID: PMC10942981 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55908-7] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The cholecystokinin (CCK)/gastrin family peptides are involved in regulation of feeding and digestion in vertebrates. In the ascidian Ciona intestinalis type A (Ciona robusta), cionin, a CCK/gastrin family peptide, has been identified. Cionin is expressed exclusively in the central nervous system (CNS). In contrast, cionin receptor expression has been detected in the CNS, digestive tract, and ovary. Although cionin has been reported to be involved in ovulation, its physiological function in the CNS remains to be investigated. To elucidate its neural function, in the present study, we analyzed the expression of cionin and cionin receptors in the CNS. Cionin was expressed mainly in neurons residing in the anterior region of the cerebral ganglion. In contrast, the gene expressin of the cionin receptor gene CioR1, was detected in the middle part of the cerebral ganglion and showed a similar expression pattern to that of VACHT, a cholinergic neuron marker gene. Moreover, CioR1 was found to be expressed in cholinergic neurons. Consequently, these results suggest that cionin interacts with cholinergic neurons as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator via CioR1. This study provides insights into a biological role of a CCK/gastrin family peptide in the CNS of ascidians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiho Taniguchi
- Noto Marine Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Ogi, Noto-Cho, Ishikawa, 927-0553, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nakayama
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-Cho, Inage-Ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Rin Iguchi
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-Cho, Inage-Ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1 Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan
| | - Honoo Satake
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Seikacho, Kyoto, 619-0284, Japan
| | - Shuichi Wada
- Department of Animal Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Nagahama, Shiga, 526-0829, Japan
| | - Nobuo Suzuki
- Noto Marine Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Ogi, Noto-Cho, Ishikawa, 927-0553, Japan
| | - Michio Ogasawara
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-Cho, Inage-Ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Toshio Sekiguchi
- Noto Marine Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Ogi, Noto-Cho, Ishikawa, 927-0553, Japan.
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Johnson CJ, Zhang Z, Zhang H, Shang R, Piekarz KM, Bi P, Stolfi A. A change in cis-regulatory logic underlying obligate versus facultative muscle multinucleation in chordates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.06.583753. [PMID: 38559144 PMCID: PMC10979880 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.06.583753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Vertebrates and tunicates are sister groups that share a common fusogenic factor, Myomaker (Mymk), that drives myoblast fusion and muscle multinucleation. Yet they are divergent in when and where they express Mymk. In vertebrates, all developing skeletal muscles express Mymk and are obligately multinucleated. In tunicates, Mymk is only expressed in post-metamorphic multinucleated muscles, but is absent from mononucleated larval muscles. In this study, we demonstrate that cis-regulatory sequence differences in the promoter region of Mymk underlie the different spatiotemporal patterns of its transcriptional activation in tunicates and vertebrates. While in vertebrates Myogenic Regulatory Factors (MRFs) like MyoD1 alone are required and sufficient for Mymk transcription in all skeletal muscles, we show that transcription of Mymk in post-metamorphic muscles of the tunicate Ciona requires the combinatorial activity of MRF/MyoD and Early B-Cell Factor (Ebf). This macroevolutionary difference appears to be encoded in cis, likely due to the presence of a putative Ebf binding site adjacent to predicted MRF binding sites in the Ciona Mymk promoter. We further discuss how Mymk and myoblast fusion might have been regulated in the last common ancestor of tunicates and vertebrates, for which we propose two models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Renjie Shang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Katarzyna M Piekarz
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Pengpeng Bi
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
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de Abreu Mello A, Motta Portal T, Allodi S, Nunes da Fonseca R, Monteiro de Barros C. Adrenoreceptor phylogeny and novel functions of nitric oxide in ascidian immune cells. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 203:108057. [PMID: 38176675 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.108057] [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: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a simple molecule involved in many biological processes and functions in the cardiovascular, neural, and immune systems. In recent years, NO has also been recognized as a crucial messenger in communication between the nervous and immune systems. Together with NO, catecholamines are the main group of neurotransmitters involved in cross-talk between the nervous and immune systems. Catecholamines such as noradrenaline, can act on immune cells through adrenoreceptors (ARs) present on the cell surface, and NO can cross the cell membrane and interact with secondary messengers, modulating catecholamine production. Here, we analyzed the mutual modulation by noradrenaline and NO in Phallusia nigra immune cells for specific subtypes of ARs. We also investigated the involvement of protein kinases A and C as secondary messengers to these specific subtypes of ARs in the adrenergic signaling pathway that culminates in NO modulation, and the phylogenetic distribution of ARs in deuterostome genomes. This analysis provided evidence for single-copy orthologs of α1, α2 and β-AR in ascidian genomes, suggesting that NO and NA act on a less diverse set of ARs in urochordates. Pharmacological assays showed that high levels of NO can induce ascidian immune cells to produce catecholamines. We also observed that protein kinases A and C are the secondary messengers involved in downstream modulation of NO production through an ancestral β-AR. Taken together, these results provide new information on NO as a modulator of immune cells, and reveal the molecules involved in the signaling pathway of ARs. The results also indicate that ARs may participate in NO modulation. Finally, our results suggest that the common ancestor of urochordates possessed a less complex system of ARs required for immune action and diverse pharmacological responses, since the α-ARs are phylogenetically more related to D1-receptors than are the β-ARs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andressa de Abreu Mello
- Laboratório Integrado de Biociências Translacionais, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade, NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Macaé, RJ, Brazil; Laboratório de Neurobiologia Comparativa e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Taynan Motta Portal
- Laboratório Integrado de Biociências Translacionais, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade, NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Macaé, RJ, Brazil
| | - Silvana Allodi
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia Comparativa e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Nunes da Fonseca
- Laboratório Integrado de Ciências Morfofuncionais, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade- NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Campus UFRJ-Macaé, RJ, Brazil
| | - Cintia Monteiro de Barros
- Laboratório Integrado de Biociências Translacionais, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade, NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Macaé, RJ, Brazil.
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He M, Li Y, Li Y, Dong B, Yu H. Dynamics of Chromatin Opening across Larval Development in the Urochordate Ascidian Ciona savignyi. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2793. [PMID: 38474039 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052793] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Ascidian larvae undergo tail elongation and notochord lumenogenesis, making them an ideal model for investigating tissue morphogenesis in embryogenesis. The cellular and mechanical mechanisms of these processes have been studied; however, the underlying molecular regulatory mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, assays for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were applied to investigate potential regulators of the development of ascidian Ciona savignyi larvae. Our results revealed 351 and 138 differentially accessible region genes through comparisons of ATAC-seq data between stages 21 and 24 and between stages 24 and 25, respectively. A joint analysis of RNA-seq and ATAC-seq data revealed a correlation between chromatin accessibility and gene transcription. We further verified the tissue expression patterns of 12 different genes. Among them, Cs-matrix metalloproteinase 24 (MMP24) and Cs-krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) were highly expressed in notochord cells. Functional assay results demonstrated that both genes are necessary for notochord lumen formation and expansion. Finally, we performed motif enrichment analysis of the differentially accessible regions in different tailbud stages and summarized the potential roles of these motif-bearing transcription factors in larval development. Overall, our study found a correlation between gene expression and chromatin accessibility and provided a vital resource for understanding the mechanisms of the development of ascidian embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muchun He
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine EvoDevo, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Immunology, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Yuting Li
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine EvoDevo, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Yajuan Li
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine EvoDevo, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
| | - Bo Dong
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine EvoDevo, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
- MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Haiyan Yu
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine EvoDevo, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
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Matsubara S, Iguchi R, Ogasawara M, Nakamura H, Kataoka TR, Shiraishi A, Osugi T, Kawada T, Satake H. A Novel Hemocyte-Derived Peptide and Its Possible Roles in Immune Response of Ciona intestinalis Type A. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1979. [PMID: 38396656 PMCID: PMC10888236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25041979] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
A wide variety of bioactive peptides have been identified in the central nervous system and several peripheral tissues in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis type A (Ciona robusta). However, hemocyte endocrine peptides have yet to be explored. Here, we report a novel 14-amino-acid peptide, CiEMa, that is predominant in the granular hemocytes and unilocular refractile granulocytes of Ciona. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR revealed the high CiEma expression in the adult pharynx and stomach. Immunohistochemistry further revealed the highly concentrated CiEMa in the hemolymph of the pharynx and epithelial cells of the stomach, suggesting biological roles in the immune response. Notably, bacterial lipopolysaccharide stimulation of isolated hemocytes for 1-4 h resulted in 1.9- to 2.4-fold increased CiEMa secretion. Furthermore, CiEMa-stimulated pharynx exhibited mRNA upregulation of the growth factor (Fgf3/7/10/22), vanadium binding proteins (CiVanabin1 and CiVanabin3), and forkhead and homeobox transcription factors (Foxl2, Hox3, and Dbx) but not antimicrobial peptides (CrPap-a and CrMam-a) or immune-related genes (Tgfbtun3, Tnfa, and Il17-2). Collectively, these results suggest that CiEMa plays roles in signal transduction involving tissue development or repair in the immune response, rather than in the direct regulation of immune response genes. The present study identified a novel Ciona hemocyte peptide, CiEMa, which paves the way for research on the biological roles of hemocyte peptides in chordates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Matsubara
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, 8-1-1 Seikadai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun 619-0284, Kyoto, Japan (H.S.)
| | - Rin Iguchi
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku 263-8522, Chiba, Japan
| | - Michio Ogasawara
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku 263-8522, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroya Nakamura
- Department of Pathology, Iwate Medical University, 2-1-1 Idaidori, Yahaba-cho, Shiwa-gun 028-3695, Iwate, Japan (T.R.K.)
| | - Tatsuki R. Kataoka
- Department of Pathology, Iwate Medical University, 2-1-1 Idaidori, Yahaba-cho, Shiwa-gun 028-3695, Iwate, Japan (T.R.K.)
| | - Akira Shiraishi
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, 8-1-1 Seikadai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun 619-0284, Kyoto, Japan (H.S.)
| | - Tomohiro Osugi
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, 8-1-1 Seikadai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun 619-0284, Kyoto, Japan (H.S.)
| | - Tsuyoshi Kawada
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, 8-1-1 Seikadai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun 619-0284, Kyoto, Japan (H.S.)
| | - Honoo Satake
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, 8-1-1 Seikadai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun 619-0284, Kyoto, Japan (H.S.)
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Rosner A, Ballarin L, Barnay-Verdier S, Borisenko I, Drago L, Drobne D, Concetta Eliso M, Harbuzov Z, Grimaldi A, Guy-Haim T, Karahan A, Lynch I, Giulia Lionetto M, Martinez P, Mehennaoui K, Oruc Ozcan E, Pinsino A, Paz G, Rinkevich B, Spagnuolo A, Sugni M, Cambier S. A broad-taxa approach as an important concept in ecotoxicological studies and pollution monitoring. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:131-176. [PMID: 37698089 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13015] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic invertebrates play a pivotal role in (eco)toxicological assessments because they offer ethical, cost-effective and repeatable testing options. Additionally, their significance in the food chain and their ability to represent diverse aquatic ecosystems make them valuable subjects for (eco)toxicological studies. To ensure consistency and comparability across studies, international (eco)toxicology guidelines have been used to establish standardised methods and protocols for data collection, analysis and interpretation. However, the current standardised protocols primarily focus on a limited number of aquatic invertebrate species, mainly from Arthropoda, Mollusca and Annelida. These protocols are suitable for basic toxicity screening, effectively assessing the immediate and severe effects of toxic substances on organisms. For more comprehensive and ecologically relevant assessments, particularly those addressing long-term effects and ecosystem-wide impacts, we recommended the use of a broader diversity of species, since the present choice of taxa exacerbates the limited scope of basic ecotoxicological studies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of (eco)toxicological studies, focusing on major aquatic invertebrate taxa and how they are used to assess the impact of chemicals in diverse aquatic environments. The present work supports the use of a broad-taxa approach in basic environmental assessments, as it better represents the natural populations inhabiting various ecosystems. Advances in omics and other biochemical and computational techniques make the broad-taxa approach more feasible, enabling mechanistic studies on non-model organisms. By combining these approaches with in vitro techniques together with the broad-taxa approach, researchers can gain insights into less-explored impacts of pollution, such as changes in population diversity, the development of tolerance and transgenerational inheritance of pollution responses, the impact on organism phenotypic plasticity, biological invasion outcomes, social behaviour changes, metabolome changes, regeneration phenomena, disease susceptibility and tissue pathologies. This review also emphasises the need for harmonised data-reporting standards and minimum annotation checklists to ensure that research results are findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR), maximising the use and reusability of data. The ultimate goal is to encourage integrated and holistic problem-focused collaboration between diverse scientific disciplines, international standardisation organisations and decision-making bodies, with a focus on transdisciplinary knowledge co-production for the One-Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Rosner
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, PO 2336 Sha'ar Palmer 1, Haifa, 3102201, Israel
| | - Loriano Ballarin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, via Ugo Bassi 58/B, Padova, I-35121, Italy
| | - Stéphanie Barnay-Verdier
- Sorbonne Université; CNRS, INSERM, Université Côte d'Azur, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging Nice, 28 avenue Valombrose, Nice, F-06107, France
| | - Ilya Borisenko
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Embryology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya embankment 7/9, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russia
| | - Laura Drago
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, via Ugo Bassi 58/B, Padova, I-35121, Italy
| | - Damjana Drobne
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, Ljubljana, 1111, Slovenia
| | - Maria Concetta Eliso
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, 80121, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Zoya Harbuzov
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, PO 2336 Sha'ar Palmer 1, Haifa, 3102201, Israel
- Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, Department of Marine Biology, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Koushy Ave., Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Annalisa Grimaldi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via J. H. Dunant, Varese, 3-21100, Italy
| | - Tamar Guy-Haim
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, PO 2336 Sha'ar Palmer 1, Haifa, 3102201, Israel
| | - Arzu Karahan
- Middle East Technical University, Institute of Marine Sciences, Erdemli-Mersin, PO 28, 33731, Turkey
| | - Iseult Lynch
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Maria Giulia Lionetto
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, via prov. le Lecce -Monteroni, Lecce, I-73100, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina, 61, Palermo, I-90133, Italy
| | - Pedro Martinez
- Department de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Institut Català de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig de Lluís Companys, Barcelona, 08010, Spain
| | - Kahina Mehennaoui
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), 41, rue du Brill, Belvaux, L-4422, Luxembourg
| | - Elif Oruc Ozcan
- Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Biology, Cukurova University, Balcali, Saricam, Adana, 01330, Turkey
| | - Annalisa Pinsino
- National Research Council, Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, 90146, Italy
| | - Guy Paz
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, PO 2336 Sha'ar Palmer 1, Haifa, 3102201, Israel
| | - Baruch Rinkevich
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, PO 2336 Sha'ar Palmer 1, Haifa, 3102201, Israel
| | - Antonietta Spagnuolo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, 80121, Italy
| | - Michela Sugni
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Sébastien Cambier
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), 41, rue du Brill, Belvaux, L-4422, Luxembourg
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Satake H, Kawada T, Osugi T, Sakai T, Shiraishi A, Yamamoto T, Matsubara S. Ovarian Follicle Development in Ascidians. Zoolog Sci 2024; 41:60-67. [PMID: 38587518 DOI: 10.2108/zs230054] [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: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian follicle development is an essential process for continuation of sexually reproductive animals, and is controlled by a wide variety of regulatory factors such as neuropeptides and peptide hormones in the endocrine, neuroendocrine, and nervous systems. Moreover, while some molecular mechanisms underlying follicle development are conserved, others vary among species. Consequently, follicle development processes are closely related to the evolution and diversity of species. Ciona intestinalis type A (Ciona rubusta) is a cosmopolitan species of ascidians, which are the closest relative of vertebrates. However, unlike vertebrates, ascidians are not endowed with the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis involving pituitary gonadotropins and sexual steroids. Combined with the phylogenetic position of ascidians as the closest relative of vertebrates, such morphological and endocrine features suggest that ascidians possess both common and species-specific regulatory mechanisms in follicle development. To date, several neuropeptides have been shown to participate in the growth of vitellogenic follicles, oocyte maturation of postvitellogenic follicles, and ovulation of fully mature follicles in a developmental stage-specific fashion. Furthermore, recent studies have shed light on the evolutionary processes of follicle development throughout chordates. In this review, we provide an overview of the neuropeptidergic molecular mechanism in the premature follicle growth, oocyte maturation, and ovulation in Ciona, and comparative views of the follicle development processes of mammals and teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honoo Satake
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan,
| | - Tsuyoshi Kawada
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Osugi
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tsubasa Sakai
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akira Shiraishi
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Yamamoto
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shin Matsubara
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
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Kastner P, Aukenova A, Chan S. Evolution of the Ikaros family transcription factors: From a deuterostome ancestor to humans. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 694:149399. [PMID: 38134477 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149399] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Ikaros family proteins (Ikaros, Helios, Aiolos, Eos) are zinc finger transcription factors essential for the development and function of the adaptive immune system. They also control developmental events in neurons and other cell types, suggesting that they possess crucial functions across disparate cell types. These functions are likely shared among the organisms in which these factors exist, and it is thus important to obtain a view of their distribution and conservation across organisms. How this family evolved remains poorly understood. Here we mined protein, mRNA and DNA databases to identify proteins with DNA-binding domains homologous to that of Ikaros. We show that Ikaros-related proteins exist in organisms from all four deuterostome phyla (chordates, echinoderms, hemichordates, xenacoelomorpha), but not in more distant groups. While most non-vertebrates have a single family member, this family grew to six members in the acoel worm Hofstenia miamia, three in jawless and four in jawed vertebrates. Most residues involved in DNA contact from zinc fingers 2 to 4 were identical across the Ikaros family, suggesting conserved mechanisms for target sequence recognition. Further, we identified a novel KRKxxxPxK/R motif that inhibits DNA binding in vitro which was conserved across the deuterostome phyla. We also identified a EψψxxxψM(D/E)QAIxxAIxYLGA(D/E)xL motif conserved among human Ikaros, Aiolos, Helios and subsets of chordate proteins, and motifs that are specific to subsets of vertebrate family members. Some of these motifs are targets of mutations in human patients. Finally we show that the atypical family member Pegasus emerged only in vertebrates, which is consistent with its function in bone. Our data provide a novel evolutionary perspective for Ikaros family proteins and suggest that they have conserved regulatory functions across deuterostomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Kastner
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), ILLKIRCH, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1258, ILLKIRCH, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7104, ILLKIRCH, France; Université de Strasbourg, ILLKIRCH, France; Faculté de Médecine, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Adina Aukenova
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), ILLKIRCH, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1258, ILLKIRCH, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7104, ILLKIRCH, France; Université de Strasbourg, ILLKIRCH, France
| | - Susan Chan
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), ILLKIRCH, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1258, ILLKIRCH, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7104, ILLKIRCH, France; Université de Strasbourg, ILLKIRCH, France.
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Annona G, Liberti A, Pollastro C, Spagnuolo A, Sordino P, De Luca P. Reaping the benefits of liquid handlers for high-throughput gene expression profiling in a marine model invertebrate. BMC Biotechnol 2024; 24:4. [PMID: 38243234 PMCID: PMC10799371 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-024-00831-y] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modern high-throughput technologies enable the processing of a large number of samples simultaneously, while also providing rapid and accurate procedures. In recent years, automated liquid handling workstations have emerged as an established technology for reproducible sample preparation. They offer flexibility, making them suitable for an expanding range of applications. Commonly, such approaches are well-developed for experimental procedures primarily designed for cell-line processing and xenobiotics testing. Conversely, little attention is focused on the application of automated liquid handlers in the analysis of whole organisms, which often involves time-consuming laboratory procedures. RESULTS Here, we present a fully automated workflow for all steps, from RNA extraction to real-time PCR processing, for gene expression quantification in the ascidian marine model Ciona robusta. For procedure validation, we compared the results obtained with the liquid handler with those of the classical manual procedure. The outcome revealed comparable results, demonstrating a remarkable time saving particularly in the initial steps of sample processing. CONCLUSIONS This work expands the possible application fields of this technology to whole-body organisms, mitigating issues that can arise from manual procedures. By minimizing errors, avoiding cross-contamination, decreasing hands-on time and streamlining the procedure, it could be employed for large-scale screening investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Annona
- Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources (RIMAR), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
| | - Assunta Liberti
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
| | - Carla Pollastro
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- TIGEM - Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, 80078, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonietta Spagnuolo
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Sordino
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina, Italy
| | - Pasquale De Luca
- Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources (RIMAR), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
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Pickett CJ, Gruner HN, Davidson B. Lhx3/4 initiates a cardiopharyngeal-specific transcriptional program in response to widespread FGF signaling. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002169. [PMID: 38271304 PMCID: PMC10810493 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002169] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Individual signaling pathways, such as fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), can regulate a plethora of inductive events. According to current paradigms, signal-dependent transcription factors (TFs), such as FGF/MapK-activated Ets family factors, partner with lineage-determining factors to achieve regulatory specificity. However, many aspects of this model have not been rigorously investigated. One key question relates to whether lineage-determining factors dictate lineage-specific responses to inductive signals or facilitate these responses in collaboration with other inputs. We utilize the chordate model Ciona robusta to investigate mechanisms generating lineage-specific induction. Previous studies in C. robusta have shown that cardiopharyngeal progenitor cells are specified through the combined activity of FGF-activated Ets1/2.b and an inferred ATTA-binding transcriptional cofactor. Here, we show that the homeobox TF Lhx3/4 serves as the lineage-determining TF that dictates cardiopharyngeal-specific transcription in response to pleiotropic FGF signaling. Targeted knockdown of Lhx3/4 leads to loss of cardiopharyngeal gene expression. Strikingly, ectopic expression of Lhx3/4 in a neuroectodermal lineage subject to FGF-dependent specification leads to ectopic cardiopharyngeal gene expression in this lineage. Furthermore, ectopic Lhx3/4 expression disrupts neural plate morphogenesis, generating aberrant cell behaviors associated with execution of incompatible morphogenetic programs. Based on these findings, we propose that combinatorial regulation by signal-dependent and lineage-determinant factors represents a generalizable, previously uncategorized regulatory subcircuit we term "cofactor-dependent induction." Integration of this subcircuit into theoretical models will facilitate accurate predictions regarding the impact of gene regulatory network rewiring on evolutionary diversification and disease ontogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. J. Pickett
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Hannah N. Gruner
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Bradley Davidson
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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La Paglia L, Vazzana M, Mauro M, Urso A, Arizza V, Vizzini A. Bioactive Molecules from the Innate Immunity of Ascidians and Innovative Methods of Drug Discovery: A Computational Approach Based on Artificial Intelligence. Mar Drugs 2023; 22:6. [PMID: 38276644 PMCID: PMC10817596 DOI: 10.3390/md22010006] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of bioactive molecules of marine origin has created an important bridge between biological knowledge and its applications in biotechnology and biomedicine. Current studies in different research fields, such as biomedicine, aim to discover marine molecules characterized by biological activities that can be used to produce potential drugs for human use. In recent decades, increasing attention has been paid to a particular group of marine invertebrates, the Ascidians, as they are a source of bioactive products. We describe omics data and computational methods relevant to identifying the mechanisms and processes of innate immunity underlying the biosynthesis of bioactive molecules, focusing on innovative computational approaches based on Artificial Intelligence. Since there is increasing attention on finding new solutions for a sustainable supply of bioactive compounds, we propose that a possible improvement in the biodiscovery pipeline might also come from the study and utilization of marine invertebrates' innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura La Paglia
- Istituto di Calcolo e Reti ad Alte Prestazioni–Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (L.L.P.); (A.U.)
| | - Mirella Vazzana
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche–Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (M.V.); (M.M.); (V.A.)
| | - Manuela Mauro
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche–Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (M.V.); (M.M.); (V.A.)
| | - Alfonso Urso
- Istituto di Calcolo e Reti ad Alte Prestazioni–Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (L.L.P.); (A.U.)
| | - Vincenzo Arizza
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche–Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (M.V.); (M.M.); (V.A.)
| | - Aiti Vizzini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche–Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (M.V.); (M.M.); (V.A.)
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42
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Kwon Y, Singh S, Rodriguez D, Chau AL, Pitenis AA, De Tomaso AW, Valentine MT. Mechanical resilience of the sessile tunicate Botryllus schlosseri. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245124. [PMID: 37929758 PMCID: PMC10753489 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245124] [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: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate that the sessile tunicate Botryllus schlosseri is remarkably resilient to applied loads by attaching the animals to an extensile substrate subjected to quasistatic equiradial loads. Animals can withstand radial extension of the substrate to strain values as high as 20% before they spontaneously detach. In the small to moderate strain regime, we found no relationship between the dynamic size of the external vascular bed and the magnitude of applied stretch, despite known force sensitivities of the vascular tissue at the cellular level. We attribute this resilience to the presence and mechanical properties of the tunic, the cellulose-enriched gel-like substance that encases the animal bodies and surrounding vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Younghoon Kwon
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
| | - Shambhavi Singh
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
| | - Delany Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
| | - Allison L. Chau
- Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
| | - Angela A. Pitenis
- Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
| | - Anthony W. De Tomaso
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
| | - Megan T. Valentine
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
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43
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Popsuj S, Di Gregorio A, Swalla BJ, Stolfi A. Loss of collagen gene expression in the notochord of the tailless tunicate Molgula occulta. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:990-998. [PMID: 37403333 PMCID: PMC10714901 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad071] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In tunicates, several species in the Molgulidae family have convergently lost the tailed, swimming larval body plan, including the morphogenesis of the notochord, a major chordate-defining trait. Through the comparison of tailless M. occulta and a close relative, the tailed species M. oculata, we show that notochord-specific expression of the Collagen Type I/II Alpha (Col1/2a) gene appears to have been lost specifically in the tailless species. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis in the tailed laboratory model tunicate Ciona robusta, we demonstrate that Col1/2a plays a crucial role in the convergent extension of notochord cells during tail elongation. Our results suggest that the expression of Col1/2a in the notochord, although necessary for its morphogenesis in tailed species, is dispensable for tailless species. This loss is likely a result of the accumulation of cis-regulatory mutations in the absence of purifying selective pressure. More importantly, the gene itself is not lost, likely due to its roles in other developmental processes, including during the adult stage. Our study further confirms the Molgulidae as an interesting family in which to study the evolutionary loss of tissue-specific expression of indispensable genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Popsuj
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Anna Di Gregorio
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Billie J Swalla
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alberto Stolfi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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44
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Feng H, Thompson EM. Functional specialization of Aurora kinase homologs during oogenic meiosis in the tunicate Oikopleura dioica. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1323378. [PMID: 38130951 PMCID: PMC10733467 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1323378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
A single Aurora kinase found in non-vertebrate deuterostomes is assumed to represent the ancestor of vertebrate Auroras A/B/C. However, the tunicate Oikopleura dioica, a member of the sister group to vertebrates, possesses two Aurora kinases (Aurora1 and Aurora2) that are expressed in proliferative cells and reproductive organs. Previously, we have shown that Aurora kinases relocate from organizing centers to meiotic nuclei and were enriched on centromeric regions as meiosis proceeds to metaphase I. Here, we assessed their respective functions in oogenic meiosis using dsRNA interferences. We found that Aurora1 (Aur1) was involved in meiotic spindle organization and chromosome congression, probably through the regulation of microtubule dynamics, whereas Aurora2 (Aur2) was crucial for chromosome condensation and meiotic spindle assembly. In vitro kinase assays showed that Aur1 and Aur2 had comparable levels of kinase activities. Using yeast two-hybrid library screening, we identified a few novel interaction proteins for Aur1, including c-Jun-amino-terminal kinase-interacting protein 4, cohesin loader Scc2, and mitochondrial carrier homolog 2, suggesting that Aur1 may have an altered interaction network and participate in the regulation of microtubule motors and cohesin complexes in O. dioica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Feng
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Eric M. Thompson
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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45
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Jindal GA, Bantle AT, Solvason JJ, Grudzien JL, D'Antonio-Chronowska A, Lim F, Le SH, Song BP, Ragsac MF, Klie A, Larsen RO, Frazer KA, Farley EK. Single-nucleotide variants within heart enhancers increase binding affinity and disrupt heart development. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2206-2216.e5. [PMID: 37848026 PMCID: PMC10720985 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional enhancers direct precise gene expression patterns during development and harbor the majority of variants associated with phenotypic diversity, evolutionary adaptations, and disease. Pinpointing which enhancer variants contribute to changes in gene expression and phenotypes is a major challenge. Here, we find that suboptimal or low-affinity binding sites are necessary for precise gene expression during heart development. Single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) can optimize the affinity of ETS binding sites, causing gain-of-function (GOF) gene expression, cell migration defects, and phenotypes as severe as extra beating hearts in the marine chordate Ciona robusta. In human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes, a SNV within a human GATA4 enhancer increases ETS binding affinity and causes GOF enhancer activity. The prevalence of suboptimal-affinity sites within enhancers creates a vulnerability whereby affinity-optimizing SNVs can lead to GOF gene expression, changes in cellular identity, and organismal-level phenotypes that could contribute to the evolution of novel traits or diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Granton A Jindal
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alexis T Bantle
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Joe J Solvason
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jessica L Grudzien
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | | | - Fabian Lim
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sophia H Le
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Benjamin P Song
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michelle F Ragsac
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Adam Klie
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Reid O Larsen
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kelly A Frazer
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Institute for Genomic Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Emma K Farley
- Department of Medicine, Health Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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46
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Iguchi R, Nakayama S, Sasakura Y, Sekiguchi T, Ogasawara M. Repetitive and zonal expression profiles of absorption-related genes in the gastrointestinal tract of ascidian Ciona intestinalis type A. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 394:343-360. [PMID: 37670165 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-023-03828-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Intestinal absorption is essential for heterotrophic bilaterians with a tubular gut. Although the fundamental features of the digestive system were shared among chordates with evolution, the gut morphologies of vertebrates diverged and adapted to different food habitats. The ascidian Ciona intestinalis type A, a genome-wide research model of basal chordates, is used to examine the functional morphology of the intestines because of its transparent juvenile body. In the present study, the characteristic gene expression patterns (GEP) of Ciona absorptive proteins, e.g., brush border membrane enzymes for terminal digestion (lactase, maltase, APA, and APN) and transporters (SGLT1, GLUT5, PEPT1, and B0AT1), were investigated in juveniles and young adults, with a special reference to the absorption of other nutrients by pinocytosis- and phagocytosis-related proteins (megalin, cubilin, amnionless, Dab2, Rab7, LAMP, cathepsins, and MRC1). Whole-mount in situ hybridization revealed that these GEP showed multi-regional and repetitive features along the Ciona gastrointestinal tract, mainly in the stomach and several regions of the intestines. In young adults, many absorption-related genes, including pinocytosis-/phagocytosis-related genes, were also expressed between the stomach and mid-intestine. In the gastrointestinal epithelium, absorption-related genes showed zonal GEP along the epithelial structure. Comparisons of GEP, including other intestinal functions, such as nutrient digestion and intestinal protection, indicated the repetitive assignment of a well-coordinated set of intestinal GEP in the Ciona gastrointestinal tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rin Iguchi
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-Cho, Inage-Ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nakayama
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-Cho, Inage-Ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan
| | - Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1 Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan
| | - Toshio Sekiguchi
- The Noto Marine Laboratory, Division of Marine Environmental Studies, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Housu-Gun, Ishikawa, 927-0553, Japan
| | - Michio Ogasawara
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-Cho, Inage-Ku, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan.
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47
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Lin B, Shi W, Lu Q, Shito TT, Yu H, Dong B. Establishment of a developmental atlas and transgenetic tools in the ascidian Styela clava. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 5:435-454. [PMID: 38045543 PMCID: PMC10689645 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-023-00200-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The ascidian Styela clava is an ecologically important species that is distributed along coastal regions worldwide. It has a long history as a model animal for evolutionary and developmental biology research owing to its phylogenetic position between vertebrates and invertebrates, and its classical mosaic expression patterns. However, the standard developmental atlas and protocols and tools for molecular manipulation of this organism are inadequate. In this study, we established a standard developmental table and provided a web-based digital image resource for S. clava embryogenesis at each developmental stage from fertilized eggs to hatching larvae by utilizing confocal laser microscopy and 3D reconstruction images. It takes around 10 h for fertilized eggs to develop into swimming larvae and 20-30 min to complete the tail regression processes at the metamorphic stage. We observed that the notochord cells in S. clava embryos did not produce an extracellular lumen like Ciona robusta, but showed polarized elongation behaviors, providing us an ideal comparative model to study tissue morphogenesis. In addition, we established a chemical-washing procedure to remove the chorion easily from the fertilized eggs. Based on the dechorionation technique, we further realized transgenic manipulation by electroporation and successfully applied tissue-specific fluorescent labeling in S. clava embryos. Our work provides a standard imaging atlas and powerful genetic tools for investigating embryogenesis and evolution using S. clava as a model organism. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-023-00200-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyan Lin
- Fang Zongxi Center, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Wenjie Shi
- Fang Zongxi Center, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Qiongxuan Lu
- Fang Zongxi Center, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Takumi T. Shito
- Department of Bioscience and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, 223-8522 Japan
| | - Haiyan Yu
- Fang Zongxi Center, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Bo Dong
- Fang Zongxi Center, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
- Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237 China
- MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
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48
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Raghavan R, Coppola U, Wu Y, Ihewulezi C, Negrón-Piñeiro LJ, Maguire JE, Hong J, Cunningham M, Kim HJ, Albert TJ, Ali AM, Saint-Jeannet JP, Ristoratore F, Dahia CL, Di Gregorio A. Gene expression in notochord and nuclei pulposi: a study of gene families across the chordate phylum. BMC Ecol Evol 2023; 23:63. [PMID: 37891482 PMCID: PMC10605842 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02167-1] [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: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The transition from notochord to vertebral column is a crucial milestone in chordate evolution and in prenatal development of all vertebrates. As ossification of the vertebral bodies proceeds, involutions of residual notochord cells into the intervertebral discs form the nuclei pulposi, shock-absorbing structures that confer flexibility to the spine. Numerous studies have outlined the developmental and evolutionary relationship between notochord and nuclei pulposi. However, the knowledge of the similarities and differences in the genetic repertoires of these two structures remains limited, also because comparative studies of notochord and nuclei pulposi across chordates are complicated by the gene/genome duplication events that led to extant vertebrates. Here we show the results of a pilot study aimed at bridging the information on these two structures. We have followed in different vertebrates the evolutionary trajectory of notochord genes identified in the invertebrate chordate Ciona, and we have evaluated the extent of conservation of their expression in notochord cells. Our results have uncovered evolutionarily conserved markers of both notochord development and aging/degeneration of the nuclei pulposi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Raghavan
- Hospital for Special Surgery, Orthopedic Soft Tissue Research Program, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Ugo Coppola
- Stazione Zoologica 'A. Dohrn', Villa Comunale 1, 80121, Naples, Italy
- Present Address: Molecular Cardiovascular Biology Division and Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Yushi Wu
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, 10010, USA
| | - Chibuike Ihewulezi
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, 10010, USA
| | - Lenny J Negrón-Piñeiro
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, 10010, USA
| | - Julie E Maguire
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, 10010, USA
| | - Justin Hong
- Hospital for Special Surgery, Orthopedic Soft Tissue Research Program, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Matthew Cunningham
- Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Han Jo Kim
- Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Todd J Albert
- Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, 10021, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Abdullah M Ali
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Saint-Jeannet
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, 10010, USA
| | | | - Chitra L Dahia
- Hospital for Special Surgery, Orthopedic Soft Tissue Research Program, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Anna Di Gregorio
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, 10010, USA.
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49
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Gordon T, Hendin N, Wurtzel O. Methods for cell isolation and analysis of the highly regenerative tunicate Polycarpa mytiligera. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1274826. [PMID: 37886396 PMCID: PMC10598751 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1274826] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Polycarpa mytiligera is the only molecularly characterized solitary ascidian capable of regenerating all organs and tissue types. The cellular basis for regeneration in P. mytiligera is largely unknown, and methods for isolating live cells from this species for functional analyses are unavailable. Results: Here, we developed a method for isolating live cells from P. mytiligera, overcoming major experimental challenges, including the dissociation of its thick body wall and native cellular autofluorescence. We demonstrated the applicability of our approach for tissue dissociation and cell analysis using three flow cytometry platforms, and by using broadly used non-species-specific cell labeling reagents. In addition to live cell isolation, proof-of-concept experiments showed that this approach was compatible with gene expression analysis of RNA extracted from the isolated cells, and with ex vivo analysis of phagocytosis. Conclusion: We presented efficient methods for cell purification from a highly regenerative ascidian, which could be transferable to diversity of non-model marine organisms. The ability to purify live cells will promote future studies of cell function in P. mytiligera regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Gordon
- The School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Noam Hendin
- The School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Omri Wurtzel
- The School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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50
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Beyer J, Song Y, Lillicrap A, Rodríguez-Satizábal S, Chatzigeorgiou M. Ciona spp. and ascidians as bioindicator organisms for evaluating effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals: A discussion paper. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 191:106170. [PMID: 37708617 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
In context of testing, screening and monitoring of endocrine-disrupting (ED) type of environmental pollutants, tunicates could possibly represent a particularly interesting group of bioindicator organisms. These primitive chordates are already important model organisms within developmental and genomics research due to their central position in evolution and close relationship to vertebrates. The solitary ascidians, such as the genus Ciona spp. (vase tunicates), could possibly be extra feasible as ED bioindicators. They have a free-swimming, tadpole-like larval stage that develops extremely quickly (<20 h under favorable conditions), has a short life cycle (typically 2-3 months), are relatively easy to maintain in laboratory culture, have fully sequenced genomes, and transgenic embryos with 3D course data of the embryo ontogeny are available. In this article, we discuss possible roles of Ciona spp. (and other solitary ascidians) as ecotoxicological bioindicator organisms in general but perhaps especially for effect studies of contaminants with presumed endocrine disrupting modes of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonny Beyer
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, NO-0579, Oslo, Norway.
| | - You Song
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, NO-0579, Oslo, Norway
| | - Adam Lillicrap
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, NO-0579, Oslo, Norway
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