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Olagunju TA, Rosen BD, Neibergs HL, Becker GM, Davenport KM, Elsik CG, Hadfield TS, Koren S, Kuhn KL, Rhie A, Shira KA, Skibiel AL, Stegemiller MR, Thorne JW, Villamediana P, Cockett NE, Murdoch BM, Smith TPL. Telomere-to-telomere assemblies of cattle and sheep Y-chromosomes uncover divergent structure and gene content. Nat Commun 2024; 15:8277. [PMID: 39333471 PMCID: PMC11436988 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52384-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Reference genomes of cattle and sheep have lacked contiguous assemblies of the sex-determining Y chromosome. Here, we assemble complete and gapless telomere to telomere (T2T) Y chromosomes for these species. We find that the pseudo-autosomal regions are similar in length, but the total chromosome size is substantially different, with the cattle Y more than twice the length of the sheep Y. The length disparity is accounted for by expanded ampliconic region in cattle. The genic amplification in cattle contrasts with pseudogenization in sheep suggesting opposite evolutionary mechanisms since their divergence 19MYA. The centromeres also differ dramatically despite the close relationship between these species at the overall genome sequence level. These Y chromosomes have been added to the current reference assemblies in GenBank opening new opportunities for the study of evolution and variation while supporting efforts to improve sustainability in these important livestock species that generally use sire-driven genetic improvement strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitayo A Olagunju
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Benjamin D Rosen
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory (AGIL), ARS, USDA, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Holly L Neibergs
- Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Gabrielle M Becker
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | | | - Christine G Elsik
- Divisions of Animal Sciences and Plant Science & Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Tracy S Hadfield
- Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS), Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Sergey Koren
- Genome Informatics Section, Center for Genomics and Data Science Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kristen L Kuhn
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), ARS, USDA, Clay Center, NE, USA
| | - Arang Rhie
- Genome Informatics Section, Center for Genomics and Data Science Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Katie A Shira
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Amy L Skibiel
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Morgan R Stegemiller
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | | | - Patricia Villamediana
- Department of Dairy and Food Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Noelle E Cockett
- Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS), Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Brenda M Murdoch
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (AVFS), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.
| | - Timothy P L Smith
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), ARS, USDA, Clay Center, NE, USA.
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Park J, Ke W, Kaage A, Feigin CY, Pritykin Y, Donia MS, Mallarino R. Marsupial immune protection is shaped by enhancer sharing and gene cluster duplication of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.29.605640. [PMID: 39211247 PMCID: PMC11361154 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.29.605640] [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
Marsupial neonates are born with immature immune systems, making them vulnerable to pathogens. While neonates receive maternal protection, they can also independently combat pathogens, though the mechanisms remain unknown. Using the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) as a model, we investigated immunological defense strategies of marsupial neonates. Cathelicidins, a family of antimicrobial peptides expanded in the genomes of marsupials, are highly expressed in developing neutrophils. Sugar glider cathelicidins reside in two genomic clusters and their coordinated expression is achieved by enhancer sharing within clusters and long-range physical interactions between clusters. These cathelicidins modulate immune responses and have potent antimicrobial effects, sufficient to provide protection in a mouse model of sepsis. Lastly, cathelicidins have a complex evolutionary history, where marsupials and monotremes are the only tetrapods that retained two cathelicidin clusters. Thus, cathelicidins are critical mediators of marsupial immunity, and their evolution reflects the life history-specific immunological needs of these animals.
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Gerling N, Mendez JA, Gomez E, Ruiz-Garcia J. The separation between mRNA-ends is more variable than expected. FEBS Open Bio 2024. [PMID: 39226224 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13877] [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] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Effective circularization of mRNA molecules is a key step for the efficient initiation of translation. Research has shown that the intrinsic separation of the ends of mRNA molecules is rather small, suggesting that intramolecular arrangements could provide this effective circularization. Considering that the innate proximity of RNA ends might have important unknown biological implications, we aimed to determine whether the close proximity of the ends of mRNA molecules is a conserved feature across organisms and gain further insights into the functional effects of the proximity of RNA ends. To do so, we studied the secondary structure of 274 full native mRNA molecules from 17 different organisms to calculate the contour length (CL) of the external loop as an index of their end-to-end separation. Our computational predictions show bigger variations (from 0.59 to 31.8 nm) than previously reported and also than those observed in random sequences. Our results suggest that separations larger than 18.5 nm are not favored, whereas short separations could be related to phenotypical stability. Overall, our work implies the existence of a biological mechanism responsible for the increase in the observed variability, suggesting that the CL features of the exterior loop could be relevant for the initiation of translation and that a short CL could contribute to the stability of phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Gerling
- Institute of Physics, Biological Physics Laboratory, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
| | - J Alfredo Mendez
- Institute of Physics, Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Gomez
- Cold Atoms Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Jaime Ruiz-Garcia
- Institute of Physics, Biological Physics Laboratory, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
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4
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Cecalev D, Viçoso B, Galupa R. Compensation of gene dosage on the mammalian X. Development 2024; 151:dev202891. [PMID: 39140247 PMCID: PMC11361640 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202891] [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] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Changes in gene dosage can have tremendous evolutionary potential (e.g. whole-genome duplications), but without compensatory mechanisms, they can also lead to gene dysregulation and pathologies. Sex chromosomes are a paradigmatic example of naturally occurring gene dosage differences and their compensation. In species with chromosome-based sex determination, individuals within the same population necessarily show 'natural' differences in gene dosage for the sex chromosomes. In this Review, we focus on the mammalian X chromosome and discuss recent new insights into the dosage-compensation mechanisms that evolved along with the emergence of sex chromosomes, namely X-inactivation and X-upregulation. We also discuss the evolution of the genetic loci and molecular players involved, as well as the regulatory diversity and potentially different requirements for dosage compensation across mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Cecalev
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD) Unit, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), University of Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Beatriz Viçoso
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | - Rafael Galupa
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD) Unit, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), University of Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31062, Toulouse, France
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5
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Dutton-Regester KJ, Roser A, Meer H, Hill A, Pyne M, Al-Najjar A, Whaites T, Fenelon JC, Buchanan KL, Keeley T, Renfree MB, Johnston SD. Body fat and circulating leptin levels in the captive short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus). J Comp Physiol B 2024; 194:457-471. [PMID: 38748188 PMCID: PMC11316712 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-024-01559-z] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
It is possible that the reproductive strategy of the short-beaked echidna is related to seasonal changes in fat deposition and energy availability, regulated by seasonal changes in endocrine function. We predicted that circulating leptin levels would be directly proportional to adiposity during most of the year, but that a change in this relationship would occur during the pre-breeding season to allow increased fat deposition. To test this hypothesis, we made use of a captive colony of echidnas to describe and quantify changes in fat distribution and the adipostatic hormone leptin. First we assessed seasonal changes in circulating leptin levels, body mass and adiposity for three male and three female adult echidnas maintained on a standard diet. Second, we explored the relationship between circulating leptin levels and increased caloric intake for an additional five adult female echidnas that were provided with supplemented nutrition. Third we visualised fat distribution in male and female adult echidnas using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after the breeding season, to determine where fat is deposited in this species. For echidnas maintained on the standard diet, there were no seasonal changes in body mass, body fat or plasma leptin levels. However, female echidnas provided with supplemented nutrition had significantly elevated plasma leptin levels during the breeding season, compared to the pre-and post- breeding periods. MRI showed substantial subcutaneous fat depots extending dorso-laterally from the base of the skull to the base of the tail, in both sexes. Pre-breeding season, both sexes had considerable fat deposition in the pelvic/rump region, whilst the female echidna accumulated most fat in the abdominal region. This study shows that male and female echidnas accumulate body fat in the pelvic/rump and the abdominal regions, respectively and that circulating leptin may promote fattening in female echidnas during the breeding season by means of leptin resistance. However, further research is required to evaluate the precise relationship between seasonal changes in leptin and adiposity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate J Dutton-Regester
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Gatton, 4343, Australia.
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, 4343, Australia.
| | - Alice Roser
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin, QLD, 4223, Australia
| | - Haley Meer
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin, QLD, 4223, Australia
| | - Andrew Hill
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin, QLD, 4223, Australia
| | - Michael Pyne
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin, QLD, 4223, Australia
| | - Aiman Al-Najjar
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4067, Australia
| | - Tim Whaites
- Queensland X-ray, South Port, QLD, 4215, Australia
| | - Jane C Fenelon
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Katherine L Buchanan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Tamara Keeley
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Gatton, 4343, Australia
| | - Marilyn B Renfree
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Stephen D Johnston
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Gatton, 4343, Australia
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, 4343, Australia
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6
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Cissé OH, Ma L, Kovacs JA. Retracing the evolution of Pneumocystis species, with a focus on the human pathogen Pneumocystis jirovecii. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0020222. [PMID: 38587383 PMCID: PMC11332345 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00202-22] [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] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYEvery human being is presumed to be infected by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii at least once in his or her lifetime. This fungus belongs to a large group of species that appear to exclusively infect mammals, with P. jirovecii being the only one known to cause disease in humans. The mystery of P. jirovecii origin and speciation is just beginning to unravel. Here, we provide a review of the major steps of P. jirovecii evolution. The Pneumocystis genus likely originated from soil or plant-associated organisms during the period of Cretaceous ~165 million years ago and successfully shifted to mammals. The transition coincided with a substantial loss of genes, many of which are related to the synthesis of nutrients that can be scavenged from hosts or cell wall components that could be targeted by the mammalian immune system. Following the transition, the Pneumocystis genus cospeciated with mammals. Each species specialized at infecting its own host. Host specialization is presumably built at least partially upon surface glycoproteins, whose protogene was acquired prior to the genus formation. P. jirovecii appeared at ~65 million years ago, overlapping with the emergence of the first primates. P. jirovecii and its sister species P. macacae, which infects macaques nowadays, may have had overlapping host ranges in the distant past. Clues from molecular clocks suggest that P. jirovecii did not cospeciate with humans. Molecular evidence suggests that Pneumocystis speciation involved chromosomal rearrangements and the mounting of genetic barriers that inhibit gene flow among species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ousmane H. Cissé
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Liang Ma
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph A. Kovacs
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Arnold P, Janiszewska K, Li Q, O'Connor JK, Fostowicz-Frelik Ł. The Late Cretaceous eutherian Zalambdalestes reveals unique axis and complex evolution of the mammalian neck. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2024; 69:1767-1775. [PMID: 38702276 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.04.027] [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: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
The typical mammalian neck consisting of seven cervical vertebrae (C1-C7) was established by the Late Permian in the cynodont forerunners of modern mammals. This structure is precisely adapted to facilitate movements of the head during feeding, locomotion, predator evasion, and social interactions. Eutheria, the clade including crown placentals, has a fossil record extending back more than 125 million years revealing significant morphological diversification in the Mesozoic. Yet very little is known concerning the early evolution of eutherian cervical morphology and its functional adaptations. A specimen of Zalambdalestes lechei from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia boasts exceptional preservation of an almost complete series of cervical vertebrae (C2-C7) revealing a highly modified axis (C2). The significance of this cervical morphology is explored utilizing an integrated approach combining comparative anatomical examination across mammals, muscle reconstruction, geometric morphometrics and virtual range of motion analysis. We compared the shape of the axis in Zalambdalestes to a dataset of 88 mammalian species (monotremes, marsupials, and placentals) using three-dimensional landmark analysis. The results indicate that the unique axis morphology of Zalambdalestes has no close analog among living mammals. Virtual range of motion analysis of the neck strongly implies Zalambdalestes was capable of exerting very forceful head movements and had a high degree of ventral flexion for an animal its size. These findings reveal unexpected complexity in the early evolution of the eutherian cervical morphology and suggest a feeding behavior similar to insectivores specialized in vermivory and defensive behaviors in Zalambdalestes akin to modern spiniferous mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Arnold
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam D-14476, Germany
| | - Katarzyna Janiszewska
- Environmental Paleobiology Department, Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 00-818, Poland
| | - Qian Li
- Key Laboratory of Evolutionary Systematics of Vertebrates, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China
| | | | - Łucja Fostowicz-Frelik
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637, USA; Evolutionary Paleobiology Department, Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 00-818, Poland.
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Grossnickle DM, Sadier A, Patterson E, Cortés-Viruet NN, Jiménez-Rivera SM, Sears KE, Santana SE. The hierarchical radiation of phyllostomid bats as revealed by adaptive molar morphology. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1284-1294.e3. [PMID: 38447572 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.027] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Adaptive radiations are bursts in biodiversity that generate new evolutionary lineages and phenotypes. However, because they typically occur over millions of years, it is unclear how their macroevolutionary dynamics vary through time and among groups of organisms. Phyllostomid bats radiated extensively for diverse diets-from insects to vertebrates, fruit, nectar, and blood-and we use their molars as a model system to examine the dynamics of adaptive radiations. Three-dimensional shape analyses of lower molars of Noctilionoidea (Phyllostomidae and close relatives) indicate that different diet groups exhibit distinct morphotypes. Comparative analyses further reveal that phyllostomids are a striking example of a hierarchical radiation; phyllostomids' initial, higher-level diversification involved an "early burst" in molar morphological disparity as lineages invaded new diet-affiliated adaptive zones, followed by subsequent lower-level diversifications within adaptive zones involving less dramatic morphological changes. We posit that strong selective pressures related to initial shifts to derived diets may have freed molars from morpho-functional constraints associated with the ancestral molar morphotype. Then, lineages with derived diets (frugivores and nectarivores) diversified within broad adaptive zones, likely reflecting finer-scale niche partitioning. Importantly, the observed early burst pattern is only evident when examining molar traits that are strongly linked to diet, highlighting the value of ecomorphological traits in comparative studies. Our results support the hypothesis that adaptive radiations are commonly hierarchical and involve different tempos and modes at different phylogenetic levels, with early bursts being more common at higher levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Grossnickle
- Natural Sciences Department, Oregon Institute of Technology, Campus Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601, USA.
| | - Alexa Sadier
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, Universite de Montpellier, Place Eugene Bataillon, Montpellier 34095, France
| | - Edward Patterson
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Nashaly N Cortés-Viruet
- Department of Animal Science, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Calle Post, Mayagüez, PR 00681, USA
| | - Stephanie M Jiménez-Rivera
- Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, 500 Dr. John Will Harris Street, Bayamón, PR 00957, USA
| | - Karen E Sears
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Sharlene E Santana
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Memorial Way NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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Bresee C, Litman-Cleper J, Clayton CJ, Krubitzer L. Translating the Timing of Developmental Benchmarks in Short-Tailed Opossums (Monodelphisdomestica) to Facilitate Comparisons with Commonly Used Rodent Models. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2024; 99:69-85. [PMID: 38527443 PMCID: PMC11227379 DOI: 10.1159/000538524] [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: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The gray short-tailed opossum, Monodelhis domestica (M. domestica), is a widely used marsupial model species that presents unique advantages for neurodevelopmental studies. Notably their extremely altricial birth allows manipulation of postnatal pups at timepoints equivalent to embryonic stages of placental mammals. A robust literature exists on the development of short-tailed opossums, but many researchers working in the more conventional model species of mice and rats may find it daunting to identify the appropriate age at which to conduct experiments. METHODS Here, we present detailed staging diagrams taken from photographic observations of 40 individual pups, in 6 litters, over 25 timepoints across postnatal development. We also present a comparative neurodevelopmental timeline of short-tailed opossums (M. domestica), the house mouse (Mus musculus), and the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus) during embryonic as well as postnatal development, using timepoints taken from this study and a review of existing literature, and use this dataset to present statistical models comparing the opossum to the rat and mouse. RESULTS One aim of this research was to aid in testing the generalizability of results found in rodents to other mammalian brains, such as the more distantly related metatherians. However, this broad dataset also allows the identification of potential heterochronies in opossum development compared to rats and mice. In contrast to previous work, we found broad similarity between the pace of opossum neural development with that of rats and mice. We also found that development of some systems was accelerated in the opossum, such as the forelimb motor plant, oral motor control, and some aspects of the olfactory system, while the development of the cortex, some aspects of the retina, and other aspects of the olfactory system are delayed compared to the rat and mouse. DISCUSSION The pace of opossum development is broadly similar to that of mice and rats, which underscores the usefulness of this species as a compliment to the more commonly used rodents. Many features that differ the most between opossums and rats and mice were either clustered around the day of birth and were features that have functional importance for the pup immediately after or during birth, or were features that have reduced functional importance for the pup until later in postnatal development, given that it is initially attached to the mother.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Bresee
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California at Davis, Davis, (CA,) USA
| | - Jules Litman-Cleper
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California at Davis, Davis, (CA,) USA
| | - Cindy J. Clayton
- Department of Psychology, University of California at Davis, Davis, (CA,) USA
| | - Leah Krubitzer
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California at Davis, Davis, (CA,) USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California at Davis, Davis, (CA,) USA
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10
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Bartkowska K, Koguc-Sobolewska P, Djavadian R, Turlejski K. Astrocytes of the Anterior Commissure Regulate the Axon Guidance Pathways of Newly Generated Neocortical Neurons in the Opossum Monodelphis domestica. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1476. [PMID: 38338755 PMCID: PMC10855434 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031476] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In marsupials, upper-layer cortical neurons derived from the progenitors of the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle (SVZ) mature morphologically and send their axons to form interhemispheric connections through the anterior commissure. In contrast, eutherians have evolved a new extra callosal pathway, the corpus callosum, that interconnects both hemispheres. In this study, we aimed to examine neurogenesis during the formation of cortical upper layers, including their morphological maturation in a marsupial species, namely the opossum (Monodelphis domestica). Furthermore, we studied how the axons of upper layers neurons pass through the anterior commissure of the opossum, which connects neocortical areas. We showed that upper-layer II/III neurons were generated within at least seven days in the opossum neocortex. Surprisingly, these neurons expressed special AT-rich sequence binding protein 2 (Satb2) and neuropilin 1 interacting protein (Nrp1), which are proteins known to be essential for the formation of the corpus callosum in eutherians. This indicates that extrinsic, but not intrinsic, cues could be key players in guiding the axons of newly generated cortical neurons in the opossum. Although oligodendrocyte precursor cells were present in the neocortex and anterior commissure, newly generated upper-layer neurons sent unmyelinated axons to the anterior commissure. We also found numerous GFAP-expressing progenitor cells in both brain structures, the neocortex and the anterior commissure. However, at P12-P17 in the opossums, a small population of astrocytes was observed only in the midline area of the anterior commissure. We postulate that in the opossum, midline astrocytes allow neocortical axons to be guided to cross the midline, as this structure resembles the glial wedge required by fibers to cross the midline area of the corpus callosum in the rodent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Bartkowska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (K.B.); (P.K.-S.); (R.D.)
| | - Paulina Koguc-Sobolewska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (K.B.); (P.K.-S.); (R.D.)
| | - Ruzanna Djavadian
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (K.B.); (P.K.-S.); (R.D.)
| | - Krzysztof Turlejski
- Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, 01-938 Warsaw, Poland
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11
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Barbosa AD, Egan S, Feng Y, Xiao L, Balogun S, Ryan U. Zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia in marsupials-an update. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:107. [PMID: 38253768 PMCID: PMC10803519 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08129-w] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Marsupials, inhabiting diverse ecosystems, including urban and peri-urban regions in Australasia and the Americas, intersect with human activities, leading to zoonotic spill-over and anthroponotic spill-back of pathogens, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia. This review assesses the current knowledge on the diversity of Cryptosporidium and Giardia species in marsupials, focusing on the potential zoonotic risks. Cryptosporidium fayeri and C. macropodum are the dominant species in marsupials, while in possums, the host-specific possum genotype dominates. Of these three species/genotypes, only C. fayeri has been identified in two humans and the zoonotic risk is considered low. Generally, oocyst shedding in marsupials is low, further supporting a low transmission risk. However, there is some evidence of spill-back of C. hominis into kangaroo populations, which requires continued monitoring. Although C. hominis does not appear to be established in small marsupials like possums, comprehensive screening and analysis are essential for a better understanding of the prevalence and potential establishment of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species in small marsupials. Both host-specific and zoonotic Giardia species have been identified in marsupials. The dominance of zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblages A and B in marsupials may result from spill-back from livestock and humans and it is not yet understood if these are transient or established infections. Future studies using multilocus typing tools and whole-genome sequencing are required for a better understanding of the zoonotic risk from Giardia infections in marsupials. Moreover, much more extensive screening of a wider range of marsupial species, particularly in peri-urban areas, is required to provide a clearer understanding of the zoonotic risk of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in marsupials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda D Barbosa
- Harry Butler Institute, Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.
- CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia, DF, 70040-020, Brazil.
| | - Siobhon Egan
- Harry Butler Institute, Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Samson Balogun
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Una Ryan
- Harry Butler Institute, Vector- and Water-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
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12
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Notley SR, Mitchell D, Taylor NAS. A century of exercise physiology: concepts that ignited the study of human thermoregulation. Part 4: evolution, thermal adaptation and unsupported theories of thermoregulation. Eur J Appl Physiol 2024; 124:147-218. [PMID: 37796290 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-023-05262-9] [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: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
This review is the final contribution to a four-part, historical series on human exercise physiology in thermally stressful conditions. The series opened with reminders of the principles governing heat exchange and an overview of our contemporary understanding of thermoregulation (Part 1). We then reviewed the development of physiological measurements (Part 2) used to reveal the autonomic processes at work during heat and cold stresses. Next, we re-examined thermal-stress tolerance and intolerance, and critiqued the indices of thermal stress and strain (Part 3). Herein, we describe the evolutionary steps that endowed humans with a unique potential to tolerate endurance activity in the heat, and we examine how those attributes can be enhanced during thermal adaptation. The first of our ancestors to qualify as an athlete was Homo erectus, who were hairless, sweating specialists with eccrine sweat glands covering almost their entire body surface. Homo sapiens were skilful behavioural thermoregulators, which preserved their resource-wasteful, autonomic thermoeffectors (shivering and sweating) for more stressful encounters. Following emigration, they regularly experienced heat and cold stress, to which they acclimatised and developed less powerful (habituated) effector responses when those stresses were re-encountered. We critique hypotheses that linked thermoregulatory differences to ancestry. By exploring short-term heat and cold acclimation, we reveal sweat hypersecretion and powerful shivering to be protective, transitional stages en route to more complete thermal adaptation (habituation). To conclude this historical series, we examine some of the concepts and hypotheses of thermoregulation during exercise that did not withstand the tests of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean R Notley
- Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Duncan Mitchell
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Nigel A S Taylor
- Research Institute of Human Ecology, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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13
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Osozawa S. Geologically calibrated mammalian tree and its correlation with global events, including the emergence of humans. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10827. [PMID: 38116126 PMCID: PMC10728886 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10827] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A robust timetree for Mammalia was constructed using the time calibration function of BEAST v1.10.4 and MEGA 11. The analysis involved the application of times of the most recent common ancestors, including a total of 19 mammalian fossil calibration ages following Benton et al. (Palaeontologia Electronica, 2015, 1-106) for their minimum ages. Additionally, fossil calibration ages for Gorilla, Pan, and a geologic event calibration age for otters were incorporated. Using these calibration ages, I constructed a geologically calibrated tree that estimates the age of the Homo and Pan splitting to be 5.69 Ma. The tree carries several significant implications. First, after the initial rifting at 120 Ma, the Atlantic Ocean expanded by over 500 km around Chron 34 (84 Ma), and vicariant speciation between Afrotheria (Africa) and Xenarthra (South America) appears to have commenced around 70 Ma. Additionally, ordinal level differentiations began immediately following the K-Pg boundary (66.0 Ma), supporting previous hypothesis that mammalian radiation rapidly filled ecological niches left vacant by non-avian dinosaurs. I constructed a diagram depicting the relationship between base substitution rate and age using an additional function in BEAST v1.10.4. The diagram reveals an exponential increase in the base substitution rate approaching recent times. This increased base substitution rate during the Neogene period may have contributed to the expansion of biodiversity, including the extensive adaptive radiation that led to the evolution of Homo sapiens. One significant driving factor behind this radiation could be attributed to the emergence and proliferation of C4 grasses since 20 Ma. These grasses have played a role in increasing carbon fixation, reducing atmospheric CO2 concentration, inducing global cooling, and initiating Quaternary glacial-interglacial cycles, thereby causing significant climatic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soichi Osozawa
- Faculty of Science, Institute of Geology and PaleontologyTohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
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14
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Sakurai T, Kusama K, Imakawa K. Progressive Exaptation of Endogenous Retroviruses in Placental Evolution in Cattle. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1680. [PMID: 38136553 PMCID: PMC10741562 DOI: 10.3390/biom13121680] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Viviparity is made possible by the placenta, a structure acquired relatively recently in the evolutionary history of eutherian mammals. Compared to oviparity, it increases the survival rate of the fetus, owing to the eutherian placenta. Questions such as "How was the placenta acquired?" and "Why is there diversity in placental morphology among mammalian species?" remain largely unsolved. Our present understanding of the molecules regulating placental development remains unclear, owing in no small part to the persistent obscurity surrounding the molecular mechanisms underlying placental acquisition. Numerous genes associated with the development of eutherian placental morphology likely evolved to function at the fetal-maternal interface in conjunction with those participating in embryogenesis. Therefore, identifying these genes, how they were acquired, and how they came to be expressed specifically at the fetal-maternal interface will shed light on some crucial molecular mechanisms underlying placental evolution. Exhaustive studies support the hypothesis that endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) could be evolutional driving forces for trophoblast cell fusion and placental structure in mammalian placentas including those of the bovine species. This review focuses on bovine ERVs (BERVs) and their expression and function in the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Sakurai
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Ohu University, 31-1 Misumido, Koriyama 963-8611, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kazuya Kusama
- Department of Endocrine Pharmacology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji 192-0392, Tokyo, Japan;
| | - Kazuhiko Imakawa
- Research Institute of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-Ku, Kumamoto 862-8652, Japan;
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15
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Hellert SM, Grossnickle DM, Lloyd GT, Kammerer CF, Angielczyk KD. Derived faunivores are the forerunners of major synapsid radiations. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:1903-1913. [PMID: 37798433 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02200-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionary radiations generate most of Earth's biodiversity, but are there common ecomorphological traits among the progenitors of radiations? In Synapsida (the mammalian total group), 'small-bodied faunivore' has been hypothesized as the ancestral state of most major radiating clades, but this has not been quantitatively assessed across multiple radiations. To examine macroevolutionary patterns in a phylogenetic context, we generated a time-calibrated metaphylogeny ('metatree') comprising 1,888 synapsid species from the Carboniferous through the Eocene (305-34 Ma) based on 269 published character matrices. We used comparative methods to investigate body size and dietary evolution during successive synapsid radiations. Faunivory is the ancestral dietary regime of each major synapsid radiation, but relatively small body size is only established as the common ancestral state of radiations near the origin of Mammaliaformes in the Late Triassic. The faunivorous ancestors of synapsid radiations typically have numerous novel characters compared with their contemporaries, and these derived traits may have helped them to survive faunal turnover events and subsequently radiate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer M Hellert
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Science and Mathematics, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - David M Grossnickle
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Natural Sciences Department, Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, OR, USA
| | | | | | - Kenneth D Angielczyk
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
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16
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Wang H, Wang Y. Middle ear innovation in Early Cretaceous eutherian mammals. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6831. [PMID: 37884521 PMCID: PMC10603157 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42606-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The middle ear ossicles in modern mammals are repurposed from postdentary bones in non-mammalian cynodonts. Recent discoveries by palaeontological and embryonic studies have developed different models for the middle ear evolution in mammaliaforms. However, little is known about the evolutionary scenario of the middle ear in early therians. Here we report a detached middle ear preserved in a new eutherian mammal from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota. The well-preserved articulation of the malleus and incus suggest that the saddle-shaped incudomallear joint is a major apomorphy of Early Cretaceous eutherians. By contrast to the distinct saddle-like incudomallear articulation in therians, differences between the overlapping versus the half-overlapping incudomallear joints in monotremes and stem mammals would be relatively minor. The middle ear belongs to the microtype by definition, indicating its adaptation to high-frequency hearing. Current evidence indicates that significant evolutionary innovations of the middle ear in modern therians evolved in Early Cretaceous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100044, Beijing, China.
| | - Yuanqing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100044, Beijing, China.
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
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17
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Harvey E, Mifsud JCO, Holmes EC, Mahar JE. Divergent hepaciviruses, delta-like viruses, and a chu-like virus in Australian marsupial carnivores (dasyurids). Virus Evol 2023; 9:vead061. [PMID: 37941997 PMCID: PMC10630069 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead061] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Although Australian marsupials are characterised by unique biology and geographic isolation, little is known about the viruses present in these iconic wildlife species. The Dasyuromorphia are an order of marsupial carnivores found only in Australia that include both the extinct Tasmanian tiger (thylacine) and the highly threatened Tasmanian devil. Several other members of the order are similarly under threat of extinction due to habitat loss, hunting, disease, and competition and predation by introduced species such as feral cats. We utilised publicly available RNA-seq data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Sequence Read Archive (SRA) database to document the viral diversity within four Dasyuromorph species. Accordingly, we identified fifteen novel virus sequences from five DNA virus families (Adenoviridae, Anelloviridae, Gammaherpesvirinae, Papillomaviridae, and Polyomaviridae) and three RNA virus taxa: the order Jingchuvirales, the genus Hepacivirus, and the delta-like virus group. Of particular note was the identification of a marsupial-specific clade of delta-like viruses that may indicate an association of deltaviruses with marsupial species. In addition, we identified a highly divergent hepacivirus in a numbat liver transcriptome that falls outside of the larger mammalian clade. We also detect what may be the first Jingchuvirales virus in a mammalian host-a chu-like virus in Tasmanian devils-thereby expanding the host range beyond invertebrates and ectothermic vertebrates. As many of these Dasyuromorphia species are currently being used in translocation efforts to reseed populations across Australia, understanding their virome is of key importance to prevent the spread of viruses to naive populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Harvey
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jonathon C O Mifsud
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jackie E Mahar
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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18
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Shimode S. Acquisition and Exaptation of Endogenous Retroviruses in Mammalian Placenta. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1482. [PMID: 37892164 PMCID: PMC10604696 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101482] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are retrovirus-like sequences that were previously integrated into the host genome. Although most ERVs are inactivated by mutations, deletions, or epigenetic regulation, some remain transcriptionally active and impact host physiology. Several ERV-encoded proteins, such as Syncytins and Suppressyn, contribute to placenta acquisition, a crucial adaptation in mammals that protects the fetus from external threats and other risks while enabling the maternal supply of oxygen, nutrients, and antibodies. In primates, Syncytin-1 and Syncytin-2 facilitate cell-cell fusion for placental formation. Suppressyn is the first ERV-derived protein that inhibits cell fusion by binding to ASCT2, the receptor for Syncytin-1. Furthermore, Syncytin-2 likely inserted into the genome of the common ancestor of Anthropoidea, whereas Syncytin-1 and Suppressyn likely inserted into the ancestor of catarrhines; however, they were inactivated in some lineages, suggesting that multiple exaptation events had occurred. This review discusses the role of ERV-encoded proteins, particularly Syncytins and Suppressyn, in placental development and function, focusing on the integration of ERVs into the host genome and their contribution to the genetic mechanisms underlying placentogenesis. This review provides valuable insights into the molecular and genetic aspects of placentation, potentially shedding light on broader evolutionary and physiological processes in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayumi Shimode
- Genome Editing Innovation Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-0046, Japan;
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
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19
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Wagner B, Šlipogor V, Oh J, Varga M, Hoeschele M. A comparison between common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) and human infants sheds light on traits proposed to be at the root of human octave equivalence. Dev Sci 2023; 26:e13395. [PMID: 37101383 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13395] [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: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Two notes separated by a doubling in frequency sound similar to humans. This "octave equivalence" is critical to perception and production of music and speech and occurs early in human development. Because it also occurs cross-culturally, a biological basis of octave equivalence has been hypothesized. Members of our team previousy suggested four human traits are at the root of this phenomenon: (1) vocal learning, (2) clear octave information in vocal harmonics, (3) differing vocal ranges, and (4) vocalizing together. Using cross-species studies, we can test how relevant these respective traits are, while controlling for enculturation effects and addressing questions of phylogeny. Common marmosets possess forms of three of the four traits, lacking differing vocal ranges. We tested 11 common marmosets by adapting an established head-turning paradigm, creating a parallel test to an important infant study. Unlike human infants, marmosets responded similarly to tones shifted by an octave or other intervals. Because previous studies with the same head-turning paradigm produced differential results to discernable acoustic stimuli in common marmosets, our results suggest that marmosets do not perceive octave equivalence. Our work suggests differing vocal ranges between adults and children and men and women and the way they are used in singing together may be critical to the development of octave equivalence. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: A direct comparison of octave equivalence tests with common marmosets and human infants Marmosets show no octave equivalence Results emphasize the importance of differing vocal ranges between adults and infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Wagner
- Acoustics Research Institute, Austrian Academy of the Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vedrana Šlipogor
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jinook Oh
- Cremer Group, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Marion Varga
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marisa Hoeschele
- Acoustics Research Institute, Austrian Academy of the Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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20
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Matz H, Dooley H. 450 million years in the making: mapping the evolutionary foundations of germinal centers. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1245704. [PMID: 37638014 PMCID: PMC10450919 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1245704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Germinal centers (GCs) are distinct microanatomical structures that form in the secondary lymphoid organs of endothermic vertebrates (i.e., mammals and some birds). Within GCs, B cells undergo a Darwinian selection process to identify clones which can respond to pathogen insult as well as affinity mature the B cell repertoire. The GC response ultimately generates memory B cells and bone marrow plasma cells which facilitate humoral immunological memory, the basis for successful vaccination programs. GCs have not been observed in the secondary lymphoid organs of ectothermic jawed vertebrates (i.e., fishes, reptiles, and amphibians). However, abundant research over the past decades has indicated these organisms can produce antigen specific B cell responses and some degree of affinity maturation. This review examines data demonstrating that the fundamentals of B cell selection may be more conserved across vertebrate phylogeny than previously anticipated. Further, research in both conventional mammalian model systems and comparative models raises the question of what evolutionary benefit GCs provide endotherms if they are seemingly unnecessary for generating the basic functional components of jawed vertebrate humoral adaptive immune responses.
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21
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Campbell LK, Peery RM, Magor KE. Evolution and expression of the duck TRIM gene repertoire. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1220081. [PMID: 37622121 PMCID: PMC10445537 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1220081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins are involved in development, innate immunity, and viral restriction. TRIM gene repertoires vary between species, likely due to diversification caused by selective pressures from pathogens; however, this has not been explored in birds. We mined a de novo assembled transcriptome for the TRIM gene repertoire of the domestic mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), a reservoir host of influenza A viruses. We found 57 TRIM genes in the duck, which represent all 12 subfamilies based on their C-terminal domains. Members of the C-IV subfamily with C-terminal PRY-SPRY domains are known to augment immune responses in mammals. We compared C-IV TRIM proteins between reptiles, birds, and mammals and show that many C-IV subfamily members have arisen independently in these lineages. A comparison of the MHC-linked C-IV TRIM genes reveals expansions in birds and reptiles. The TRIM25 locus with related innate receptor modifiers is adjacent to the MHC in reptile and marsupial genomes, suggesting the ancestral organization. Within the avian lineage, both the MHC and TRIM25 loci have undergone significant TRIM gene reorganizations and divergence, both hallmarks of pathogen-driven selection. To assess the expression of TRIM genes, we aligned RNA-seq reads from duck tissues. C-IV TRIMs had high relative expression in immune relevant sites such as the lung, spleen, kidney, and intestine, and low expression in immune privileged sites such as in the brain or gonads. Gene loss and gain in the evolution of the TRIM repertoire in birds suggests candidate immune genes and potential targets of viral subversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee K. Campbell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Rhiannon M. Peery
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Katharine E. Magor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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22
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White HE, Tucker AS, Fernandez V, Portela Miguez R, Hautier L, Herrel A, Urban DJ, Sears KE, Goswami A. Pedomorphosis in the ancestry of marsupial mammals. Curr Biol 2023:S0960-9822(23)00457-8. [PMID: 37119816 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Within mammals, different reproductive strategies (e.g., egg laying, live birth of extremely underdeveloped young, and live birth of well-developed young) have been linked to divergent evolutionary histories. How and when developmental variation across mammals arose is unclear. While egg laying is unquestionably considered the ancestral state for all mammals, many long-standing biases treat the extreme underdeveloped state of marsupial young as the ancestral state for therian mammals (clade including both marsupials and placentals), with the well-developed young of placentals often considered the derived mode of development. Here, we quantify mammalian cranial morphological development and estimate ancestral patterns of cranial shape development using geometric morphometric analysis of the largest comparative ontogenetic dataset of mammals to date (165 specimens, 22 species). We identify a conserved region of cranial morphospace for fetal specimens, after which cranial morphology diversified through ontogeny in a cone-shaped pattern. This cone-shaped pattern of development distinctively reflected the upper half of the developmental hourglass model. Moreover, cranial morphological variation was found to be significantly associated with the level of development (position on the altricial-precocial spectrum) exhibited at birth. Estimation of ancestral state allometry (size-related shape change) reconstructs marsupials as pedomorphic relative to the ancestral therian mammal. In contrast, the estimated allometries for the ancestral placental and ancestral therian were indistinguishable. Thus, from our results, we hypothesize that placental mammal cranial development most closely reflects that of the ancestral therian mammal, while marsupial cranial development represents a more derived mode of mammalian development, in stark contrast to many interpretations of mammalian evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather E White
- Science Department, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK; Division of Biosciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6DE, UK.
| | - Abigail S Tucker
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Vincent Fernandez
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 rue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Lionel Hautier
- Science Department, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier 34095, France
| | - Anthony Herrel
- UMR 7179, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Département Adaptations du Vivant, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Daniel J Urban
- Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Karen E Sears
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Anjali Goswami
- Science Department, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; Division of Biosciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6DE, UK
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23
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Fenelon JC, Bennetts A, Anthwal N, Pyne M, Johnston SD, Evans AR, Tucker AS, Renfree MB. Getting out of a mammalian egg: the egg tooth and caruncle of the echidna. Dev Biol 2023; 495:8-18. [PMID: 36565838 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.12.005] [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: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In the echidna, after development in utero, the egg is laid in the pouch and incubated for 10 days. During this time, the fetuses develop an egg tooth and caruncle to help them hatch. Using rare and unprecedented access to limited echidna pre- and post-hatching tissues, development of the egg tooth and caruncle were assessed by micro-CT, histology and immunofluorescence. Unlike therian tooth germs that develop by placode invagination, the echidna egg tooth developed by evagination, similar to the first teeth in some reptiles and fish. The egg tooth ankylosed to the premaxilla, rather than forming a tooth root with ligamentous attachment found in other mammals, with loss of the egg tooth associated with high levels of activity odontoclasts and apoptosis. The caruncle formed as a separate mineralisation from the adjacent nasal capsule, and as observed in birds and turtles, the nasal region epithelium on top of the nose expressed markers of cornification. Together, this highlights that the monotreme egg tooth shares many similarities with typical reptilian teeth, suggesting that this tooth has been conserved from a common ancestor of mammals and reptiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane C Fenelon
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
| | - Abbie Bennetts
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Neal Anthwal
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Michael Pyne
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Currumbin, Queensland, 4223, Australia
| | - Stephen D Johnston
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, 4343, Australia
| | - Alistair R Evans
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia; Geosciences, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia
| | - Abigail S Tucker
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Marilyn B Renfree
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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Anatomy and phylogeny of a new small macraucheniid (Mammalia: Litopterna) from the Bahía Inglesa Formation (late Miocene), Atacama Region, Northern Chile. J MAMM EVOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-022-09646-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
AbstractWe describe a new macraucheniine macraucheniid, Micrauchenia saladensis gen. et sp. nov., from the late Miocene (Huayquerian SALMA). This is the first litoptern from Bahía Inglesa Formation, Chile. The specimen includes a partial mandible, cervical and thoracic vertebrae fragments, and portions of the forelimbs (a scapula fragment, an ulna-radius fragment, seven carpals, three metapodials, two proximal phalanges and four intermediate phalanges). The postcranial anatomy of Micrauchenia saladensis is consistent with terrestrial and cursorial locomotion, which suggests an allochthonous position of this specimen within the marine Bahía Inglesa Formation. The fusion of the ulna and radius and the presence of a radial aliform expansion align Micrauchenia with other macraucheniines, with which it shares these features. We interpret the fusion of the ulna and radius as a cursorial specialization and the aliform expansion as an adaptation for strong flexion movements and to resist higher transverse stresses during locomotion. In addition, Micrauchenia saladensis is the smallest member of the subfamily Macraucheniinae. To test the systematics and phylogenetics of this specimen, we expanded previous morphological matrices of macraucheniids by adding one dental and eight postcranial characters and scoring Micrauchenia saladensis. We performed maximum parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses, the latter applied for the first time to macraucheniid phylogeny. Our analyses confirm Micrauchenia saladensis as a member of the subfamily Macraucheniinae, although with uncertain affinities within this subfamily.
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Cao W, Horzmann K, Schemera B, Petrofski M, Kendall T, Spooner J, Rynders PE, VandeBerg JL, Wang X. Blood transcriptome responses to PFOA and GenX treatment in the marsupial biomedical model Monodelphis domestica. Front Genet 2023; 14:1073461. [PMID: 36873954 PMCID: PMC9974665 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1073461] [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: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely used in industrial and consumer products. Due to their environmental persistence and bioaccumulation, PFASs can be found in the blood of humans and wild animals all over the world. Various fluorinated alternatives such as GenX have been developed to replace the long-chain PFASs, but there is limited information about their potential toxicity. Methods:The current study developed blood culture protocols to assess the response to toxic compounds in the marsupial, Monodelphis domestica. After whole-blood culture conditions were tested and optimized, changes in gene expression in response to PFOA and GenX treatment were assessed. Results: More than 10,000 genes were expressed in the blood transcriptomes with and without treatment. Both PFOA and GenX treatment led to significant changes in the whole blood culture transcriptomes. A total of 578 and 148 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in the PFOA and GenX treatment groups, 32 of which overlapped. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs involved in developmental processes were upregulated after PFOA exposure, while those enriched for metabolic and immune system processes were downregulated. GenX exposure upregulated genes associated with fatty acid transport pathways and inflammatory processes, which is consistent with previous studies using rodent models. Discussion: To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the effect of PFASs in a marsupial model. The findings provide supportive evidence for significant transcriptomic alterations, suggesting that this mammalian model may provide a mechanism for exploring the potential toxicity of PFOA and GenX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqi Cao
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States.,Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University Center for Advanced Science, Innovation, and Commerce, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Katharine Horzmann
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Bettina Schemera
- Division of Laboratory Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Myra Petrofski
- Division of Laboratory Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Trisha Kendall
- Division of Laboratory Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Jennifer Spooner
- Division of Laboratory Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Patricia E Rynders
- Division of Laboratory Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - John L VandeBerg
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States.,Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University Center for Advanced Science, Innovation, and Commerce, Auburn, AL, United States.,HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, United States
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26
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Spurrier S, Allen T, Grant RA. Investigating Foot Morphology in Rock Climbing Mammals: Inspiration for Biomimetic Climbing Shoes. Biomimetics (Basel) 2022; 8:biomimetics8010008. [PMID: 36648794 PMCID: PMC9844278 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The sporting goods sector can serve as a proving ground for new technologies. We propose that climbing shoes are an excellent case study for showcasing a systematic approach to bio-inspired design. Foot adaptations to climbing have been described before in some animals and have even been incorporated into bio-inspired products. However, there has not yet been a systematic description of climbing adaptations in mammals, and especially in rock climbing species. We present a description of foot morphology in mammals and compare rock climbing species to those with other locomotion types. Our results show that rock climbing species in our sample had fewer digits and larger anterior pads than arboreal species. Rock climbing species often had hooves or, if they had foot pads, these were relatively smooth. These examples look a bit like current climbing shoe designs, perhaps suggesting convergent evolution. However, there was also variation, with rock climbing species having pads varying in shape, placement and texture. Much of this variation is likely to be dependent on the relatedness of species, with those that are more related having more similar feet. We suggest that incorporation of novel textures and compliant pads might be an interesting focus for future climbing shoe designs.
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Regionalization, constraints, and the ancestral ossification patterns in the vertebral column of amniotes. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22257. [PMID: 36564413 PMCID: PMC9789111 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24983-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of the vertebral column has been studied extensively in modern amniotes, yet many aspects of its evolutionary history remain enigmatic. Here we expand the existing data on four major vertebral developmental patterns in amniotes based on exceptionally well-preserved specimens of the early Permian mesosaurid reptile Mesosaurus tenuidens: (i) centrum ossification, (ii) neural arch ossification, (iii) neural arch fusion, and (iv) neurocentral fusion. We retrace the evolutionary history of each pattern and reconstruct the ancestral condition in amniotes. Despite 300 million years of evolutionary history, vertebral development patterns show a surprisingly stability in amniotes since their common ancestor. We propose that this stability may be linked to conservatism in the constraints posed by underlying developmental processes across amniotes. We also point out that birds, mammals, and squamates each show specific trends deviating from the ancestral condition in amniotes, and that they remain rather unchanged within these lineages. The stability of their unique patterns demonstrates a certain homogeneity of vertebral developmental constraints within these lineages, which we suggest might be linked to their specific modes of regionalization. Our research provides a framework for the evolution of axial development in amniotes and a foundation for future studies.
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Evolutionary Analysis of Placental Orthologues Reveals Two Ancient DNA Virus Integrations. J Virol 2022; 96:e0093322. [DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00933-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The genomes of vertebrates preserve a large diversity of endogenous viral elements (remnants of ancient viruses that accumulate in host genomes over evolutionary time). Although retroviruses account for the vast majority of these elements, diverse DNA viruses have also been found and novel lineages are being described.
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Qiu J, Olivier CA, Jaeggi AV, Schradin C. The evolution of marsupial social organization. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221589. [PMID: 36285501 PMCID: PMC9597405 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
It is generally believed that marsupials are more primitive than placentals mammals and mainly solitary living, representing the ancestral form of social organization of all mammals. However, field studies have observed pair and group-living in marsupial species, but no comparative study about their social evolution was ever done. Here, we describe the results of primary literature research on marsupial social organization which indicates that most species can live in pairs or groups and many show intra-specific variation in social organization. Using Bayesian phylogenetic mixed-effects models with a weak phylogenetic signal of 0.18, we found that solitary living was the most likely ancestral form (35% posterior probability), but had high uncertainty, and the combined probability of a partly sociable marsupial ancestor (65%) should not be overlooked. For Australian marsupials, group-living species were less likely to be found in tropical rainforest, and species with a variable social organization were associated with low and unpredictable precipitation representing deserts. Our results suggest that modern marsupials are more sociable than previously believed and that there is no strong support that their ancestral state was strictly solitary living, such that the assumption of a solitary ancestral state of all mammals may also need reconsideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Qiu
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa
- IPHC, UNISTRA, CNRS, 23 rue du Loess, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - C. A. Olivier
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa
- IPHC, UNISTRA, CNRS, 23 rue du Loess, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - A. V. Jaeggi
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Wintherthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - C. Schradin
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa
- IPHC, UNISTRA, CNRS, 23 rue du Loess, 67200 Strasbourg, France
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30
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Kumar S, De Leon EM, Granados J, Whitworth DJ, VandeBerg JL. Monodelphis domestica Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reveal Metatherian Pluripotency Architecture. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12623. [PMID: 36293487 PMCID: PMC9604385 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Marsupials have been a powerful comparative model to understand mammalian biology. However, because of the unique characteristics of their embryology, marsupial pluripotency architecture remains to be fully understood, and nobody has succeeded in developing embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from any marsupial species. We have developed an integration-free iPSC reprogramming method and established validated iPSCs from two inbred strains of a marsupial, Monodelphis domestica. The monoiPSCs showed a significant (6181 DE-genes) and highly uniform (r2 [95% CI] = 0.973 ± 0.007) resetting of the cellular transcriptome and were similar to eutherian ESCs and iPSCs in their overall transcriptomic profiles. However, monoiPSCs showed unique regulatory architecture of the core pluripotency transcription factors and were more like marsupial epiblasts. Our results suggest that POU5F1 and the splice-variant-specific expression of POU5F3 synergistically regulate the opossum pluripotency gene network. It is plausible that POU5F1, POU5F3 splice variant XM_016427856.1, and SOX2 form a self-regulatory network. NANOG expression, however, was specific to monoiPSCs and epiblasts. Furthermore, POU5F1 was highly expressed in trophectoderm cells, whereas all other pluripotency transcription factors were significantly downregulated, suggesting that the regulatory architecture of core pluripotency genes of marsupials may be distinct from that of eutherians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satish Kumar
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Erica M. De Leon
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Jose Granados
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Deanne J. Whitworth
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - John L. VandeBerg
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
- Department of Human Genetics and South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA
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Steenwyk JL, Goltz DC, Buida TJ, Li Y, Shen XX, Rokas A. OrthoSNAP: A tree splitting and pruning algorithm for retrieving single-copy orthologs from gene family trees. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001827. [PMID: 36228036 PMCID: PMC9595520 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular evolution studies, such as phylogenomic studies and genome-wide surveys of selection, often rely on gene families of single-copy orthologs (SC-OGs). Large gene families with multiple homologs in 1 or more species-a phenomenon observed among several important families of genes such as transporters and transcription factors-are often ignored because identifying and retrieving SC-OGs nested within them is challenging. To address this issue and increase the number of markers used in molecular evolution studies, we developed OrthoSNAP, a software that uses a phylogenetic framework to simultaneously split gene families into SC-OGs and prune species-specific inparalogs. We term SC-OGs identified by OrthoSNAP as SNAP-OGs because they are identified using a splitting and pruning procedure analogous to snapping branches on a tree. From 415,129 orthologous groups of genes inferred across 7 eukaryotic phylogenomic datasets, we identified 9,821 SC-OGs; using OrthoSNAP on the remaining 405,308 orthologous groups of genes, we identified an additional 10,704 SNAP-OGs. Comparison of SNAP-OGs and SC-OGs revealed that their phylogenetic information content was similar, even in complex datasets that contain a whole-genome duplication, complex patterns of duplication and loss, transcriptome data where each gene typically has multiple transcripts, and contentious branches in the tree of life. OrthoSNAP is useful for increasing the number of markers used in molecular evolution data matrices, a critical step for robustly inferring and exploring the tree of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob L. Steenwyk
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JLS); (AR)
| | - Dayna C. Goltz
- Independent Researcher, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Thomas J. Buida
- Independent Researcher, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Yuanning Li
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xing-Xing Shen
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Heidelberg, Germany
- * E-mail: (JLS); (AR)
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32
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Jung YJ, Almasi A, Sun SH, Yunzab M, Cloherty SL, Bauquier SH, Renfree M, Meffin H, Ibbotson MR. Orientation pinwheels in primary visual cortex of a highly visual marsupial. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn0954. [PMID: 36179020 PMCID: PMC9524828 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn0954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Primary visual cortices in many mammalian species exhibit modular and periodic orientation preference maps arranged in pinwheel-like layouts. The role of inherited traits as opposed to environmental influences in determining this organization remains unclear. Here, we characterize the cortical organization of an Australian marsupial, revealing pinwheel organization resembling that of eutherian carnivores and primates but distinctly different from the simpler salt-and-pepper arrangement of eutherian rodents and rabbits. The divergence of marsupials from eutherians 160 million years ago and the later emergence of rodents and rabbits suggest that the salt-and-pepper structure is not the primitive ancestral form. Rather, the genetic code that enables complex pinwheel formation is likely widespread, perhaps extending back to the common therian ancestors of modern mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Jun Jung
- National Vision Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ali Almasi
- Optalert Limited, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Shi H. Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Molis Yunzab
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | | | - Sebastien H. Bauquier
- Veterinary Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Marilyn Renfree
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Hamish Meffin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael R. Ibbotson
- National Vision Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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33
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Bartkowska K, Tepper B, Turlejski K, Djavadian R. Postnatal and Adult Neurogenesis in Mammals, Including Marsupials. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172735. [PMID: 36078144 PMCID: PMC9455070 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, neurogenesis occurs during both embryonic and postnatal development. In eutherians, most brain structures develop embryonically; conversely, in marsupials, a number of brain structures develop after birth. The exception is the generation of granule cells in the dentate gyrus, olfactory bulb, and cerebellum of eutherian species. The formation of these structures starts during embryogenesis and continues postnatally. In both eutherians and marsupials, neurogenesis continues in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle (SVZ) and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation throughout life. The majority of proliferated cells from the SVZ migrate to the olfactory bulb, whereas, in the dentate gyrus, cells reside within this structure after division and differentiation into neurons. A key aim of this review is to evaluate advances in understanding developmental neurogenesis that occurs postnatally in both marsupials and eutherians, with a particular emphasis on the generation of granule cells during the formation of the olfactory bulb, dentate gyrus, and cerebellum. We debate the significance of immature neurons in the piriform cortex of young mammals. We also synthesize the knowledge of adult neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb and the dentate gyrus of marsupials by considering whether adult-born neurons are essential for the functioning of a given area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Bartkowska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Tepper
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Turlejski
- Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, 01-938 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ruzanna Djavadian
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence:
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Weaver LN, Fulghum HZ, Grossnickle DM, Brightly WH, Kulik ZT, Wilson Mantilla GP, Whitney MR. Multituberculate Mammals Show Evidence of a Life History Strategy Similar to That of Placentals, Not Marsupials. Am Nat 2022; 200:383-400. [DOI: 10.1086/720410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas N. Weaver
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195; and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Henry Z. Fulghum
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195; and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - David M. Grossnickle
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195; and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - William H. Brightly
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195; and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Zoe T. Kulik
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195; and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Gregory P. Wilson Mantilla
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195; and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Megan R. Whitney
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195; and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington 98195
- Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
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35
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Wandering mastodons reveal the complexity of Ice Age extinctions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2208044119. [PMID: 35867769 PMCID: PMC9282418 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208044119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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36
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Beck RM, Voss RS, Jansa SA. Craniodental Morphology and Phylogeny of Marsupials. BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 2022. [DOI: 10.1206/0003-0090.457.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Robin M.D. Beck
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford, U.K. School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales, Australia Division of Vertebrate Zoology (Mammalogy) American Museum of Natural History
| | - Robert S. Voss
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology (Mammalogy) American Museum of Natural History
| | - Sharon A. Jansa
- Bell Museum and Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior University of Minnesota
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Peredo CM, Ingle DN, Marshall CD. Puncture performance tests reveal distinct feeding modes in pinniped teeth. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275668. [PMID: 35582832 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Marine mammals underwent a dramatic series of morphological transformations throughout their evolutionary history that facilitated their ecological transition to life in the water. Pinnipeds are a diverse clade of marine mammals that evolved from terrestrial carnivorans in the Oligocene (∼27 Ma). However, pinnipeds have secondarily lost the dental innovations emblematic of mammalian and carnivoran feeding, such as a talonid basin or shearing carnassials. Modern pinnipeds do not masticate their prey, but can reduce prey size through chopping behavior. Typically, small prey are swallowed whole. Nevertheless, pinnipeds display a wide breadth of morphology of the post-canine teeth. We investigated the relationship between dental morphologies and pinniped feeding by measuring the puncture performance of the cheek-teeth of seven extant pinniped genera. Puncture performance was measured as the maximum force and the maximum energy required to puncture a standardized prey item (Loligo sp). We report signficant differences in the puncture performance values across the seven genera, and identify three distinct categories based on cheek-teeth morphology and puncture performance: effective, ineffective, and moderate puncturers. In addition, we measured the overall complexity of the tooth row using two different metrics, Orientation Patch Count Rotated (OPCR) and Relif Index (RFI). Neither metric of complexity predicted puncture performance. Finally, we discuss these results in the broader context of known pinniped feeding strategies and lay the groundwork for subsequent efforts to explore the ecological variation of specific dental morphologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Mauricio Peredo
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, Galveston Campus, Galveston, TX, USA.,Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C., USA
| | - Danielle N Ingle
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, Galveston Campus, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Christopher D Marshall
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, Galveston Campus, Galveston, TX, USA.,Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C., USA.,Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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38
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Feng S, Bai M, Rivas-González I, Li C, Liu S, Tong Y, Yang H, Chen G, Xie D, Sears KE, Franco LM, Gaitan-Espitia JD, Nespolo RF, Johnson WE, Yang H, Brandies PA, Hogg CJ, Belov K, Renfree MB, Helgen KM, Boomsma JJ, Schierup MH, Zhang G. Incomplete lineage sorting and phenotypic evolution in marsupials. Cell 2022; 185:1646-1660.e18. [PMID: 35447073 PMCID: PMC9200472 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) makes ancestral genetic polymorphisms persist during rapid speciation events, inducing incongruences between gene trees and species trees. ILS has complicated phylogenetic inference in many lineages, including hominids. However, we lack empirical evidence that ILS leads to incongruent phenotypic variation. Here, we performed phylogenomic analyses to show that the South American monito del monte is the sister lineage of all Australian marsupials, although over 31% of its genome is closer to the Diprotodontia than to other Australian groups due to ILS during ancient radiation. Pervasive conflicting phylogenetic signals across the whole genome are consistent with some of the morphological variation among extant marsupials. We detected hundreds of genes that experienced stochastic fixation during ILS, encoding the same amino acids in non-sister species. Using functional experiments, we confirm how ILS may have directly contributed to hemiplasy in morphological traits that were established during rapid marsupial speciation ca. 60 mya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohong Feng
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Ming Bai
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China; College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China
| | | | - Cai Li
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | | | - Yijie Tong
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Building 1, No. 7 Yiju Road, Yazhou District, Sanya, Hainan 572024, China
| | - Haidong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Guangji Chen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Duo Xie
- Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Karen E Sears
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Lida M Franco
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad de Ibagué, Carrera 22 Calle 67, Ibagué, Colombia
| | - Juan Diego Gaitan-Espitia
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Roberto F Nespolo
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia 5090000, Chile; Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 6513677, Chile; Millenium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile; Millennium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi), Valdivia, Chile
| | - Warren E Johnson
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remont Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA; The Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Museum Support Center MRC-534, Smithsonian Institution, 4210 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD 20746-2863, USA; Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Huanming Yang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; James D. Watson Institute of Genome Sciences, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Parice A Brandies
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Marilyn B Renfree
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Kristofer M Helgen
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Jacobus J Boomsma
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Universitetsparken 15, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Guojie Zhang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Villum Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Universitetsparken 15, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
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39
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Wright MA, Sears KE, Pierce SE. Comparison of Hindlimb Muscle Architecture Properties in Small-Bodied, Generalist Mammals Suggests Similarity in Soft Tissue Anatomy. J MAMM EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-022-09608-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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40
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Wang HB, Hoffmann S, Wang DC, Wang YQ. A new mammal from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Biota and implications for eutherian evolution. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210042. [PMID: 35125007 PMCID: PMC8819371 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we report on a new Early Cretaceous eutherian represented by a partial skeleton from the Jiufotang Formation at Sihedang site, Lingyuan City, Liaoning Province that fills a crucial gap between the earliest eutherians from the Yixian Formation and later Cretaceous eutherians. The new specimen reveals, to our knowledge for the first time in eutherians, that the Meckelian cartilage was ossified but reduced in size, confirming a complete detachment of the middle ear from the lower jaw. Seven hyoid elements, including paired stylohyals, epihyals and thyrohyals and the single basihyal are preserved. For the inner ear the ossified primary lamina, base of the secondary lamina, ossified cochlear ganglion and secondary crus commune are present and the cochlear canal is coiled through 360°. In addition, plesiomorphic features of the dentition include weak conules, lack of pre- and post-cingula and less expanded protocones on the upper molars and height differential between the trigonid and talonid, a large protoconid and a small paraconid on the lower molars. The new taxon displays an alternating pattern of tooth replacement with P3 being the last upper premolar to erupt similar to the basal eutherian Juramaia. Parsimony analysis places the new taxon with Montanalestes, Sinodelphys and Ambolestes as a sister group to other eutherians. This article is part of the theme issue 'The impact of Chinese palaeontology on evolutionary research'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Bing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Centre for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Key State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Simone Hoffmann
- Department of Anatomy, College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY, USA
| | - Dian-Can Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School of Stomatology, 22 South Zhongguancun Avenue, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Qing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Centre for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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41
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Tian R, Han K, Geng Y, Yang C, Shi C, Thomas PB, Pearce C, Moffatt K, Ma S, Xu S, Yang G, Zhou X, Gladyshev VN, Liu X, Fisher DO, Chopin LK, Leiner NO, Baker AM, Fan G, Seim I. A chromosome-level genome of Antechinus flavipes provides a reference for an Australian marsupial genus with male death after mating. Mol Ecol Resour 2022; 22:740-754. [PMID: 34486812 PMCID: PMC9290055 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The 15 species of small carnivorous marsupials that comprise the genus Antechinus exhibit semelparity, a rare life-history strategy in mammals where synchronized death occurs after one breeding season. Antechinus males, but not females, age rapidly (demonstrate organismal senescence) during the breeding season and show promise as new animal models of ageing. Some antechinus species are also threatened or endangered. Here, we report a chromosome-level genome of a male yellow-footed antechinus Antechinus flavipes. The genome assembly has a total length of 3.2 Gb with a contig N50 of 51.8 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 636.7 Mb. We anchored and oriented 99.7% of the assembly on seven pseudochromosomes and found that repetitive DNA sequences occupy 51.8% of the genome. Draft genome assemblies of three related species in the subfamily Phascogalinae, two additional antechinus species (Antechinus argentus and A. arktos) and the iteroparous sister species Murexia melanurus, were also generated. Preliminary demographic analysis supports the hypothesis that climate change during the Pleistocene isolated species in Phascogalinae and shaped their population size. A transcriptomic profile across the A. flavipes breeding season allowed us to identify genes associated with aspects of the male die-off. The chromosome-level A. flavipes genome provides a steppingstone to understanding an enigmatic life-history strategy and a resource to assist the conservation of antechinuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Tian
- Integrative Biology LaboratoryCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and BiotechnologyCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Kai Han
- BGI‐QingdaoBGI‐ShenzhenQingdaoChina
| | - Yuepan Geng
- Integrative Biology LaboratoryCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Chen Yang
- Integrative Biology LaboratoryCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | | | - Patrick B. Thomas
- Ghrelin Research GroupTranslational Research Institute‐Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationSchool of Biomedical SciencesQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre‐QueenslandTranslational Research Institute – Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
- Queensland Bladder Cancer InitiativeTranslational Research Institute‐Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationSchool of Biomedical SciencesQueensland University of TechnologyWoolloongabbaQLDAustralia
| | - Coral Pearce
- School of Biology and Environmental ScienceQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Kate Moffatt
- School of Biology and Environmental ScienceQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Siming Ma
- Genome Institute of SingaporeAgency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)SingaporeSingapore
| | - Shixia Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and BiotechnologyCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Guang Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and BiotechnologyCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xuming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation BiologyInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Vadim N. Gladyshev
- Division of GeneticsDepartment of MedicineBrigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Xin Liu
- BGI‐QingdaoBGI‐ShenzhenQingdaoChina
| | - Diana O. Fisher
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Lisa K. Chopin
- Ghrelin Research GroupTranslational Research Institute‐Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationSchool of Biomedical SciencesQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre‐QueenslandTranslational Research Institute – Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Natália O. Leiner
- Laboratório de Ecologia de MamíferosInstituto de BiologiaUniversidade Federal de UberlândiaUberlândiaBrazil
| | - Andrew M. Baker
- School of Biology and Environmental ScienceQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
- Natural Environments ProgramQueensland MuseumSouth BrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Guangyi Fan
- BGI‐QingdaoBGI‐ShenzhenQingdaoChina
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese MedicineInstitute of Chinese Medical SciencesUniversity of MacauMacauChina
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural GenomicsBGI‐ShenzhenShenzhenChina
| | - Inge Seim
- Integrative Biology LaboratoryCollege of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
- Ghrelin Research GroupTranslational Research Institute‐Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationSchool of Biomedical SciencesQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre‐QueenslandTranslational Research Institute – Institute of Health and Biomedical InnovationQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
- School of Biology and Environmental ScienceQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
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42
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Fontúrbel FE, Franco LM, Bozinovic F, Quintero‐Galvis JF, Mejías C, Amico GC, Vazquez MS, Sabat P, Sánchez‐Hernández JC, Watson DM, Saenz‐Agudelo P, Nespolo RF. The ecology and evolution of the monito del monte, a relict species from the southern South America temperate forests. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8645. [PMID: 35261741 PMCID: PMC8888251 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The arboreal marsupial monito del monte (genus Dromiciops, with two recognized species) is a paradigmatic mammal. It is the sole living representative of the order Microbiotheria, the ancestor lineage of Australian marsupials. Also, this marsupial is the unique frugivorous mammal in the temperate rainforest, being the main seed disperser of several endemic plants of this ecosystem, thus acting as keystone species. Dromiciops is also one of the few hibernating mammals in South America, spending half of the year in a physiological dormancy where metabolism is reduced to 10% of normal levels. This capacity to reduce energy expenditure in winter contrasts with the enormous energy turnover rate they experience in spring and summer. The unique life history strategies of this living Microbiotheria, characterized by an alternation of life in the slow and fast lanes, putatively represent ancestral traits that permitted these cold-adapted mammals to survive in this environment. Here, we describe the ecological role of this emblematic marsupial, summarizing the ecophysiology of hibernation and sociality, updated phylogeographic relationships, reproductive cycle, trophic relationships, mutualisms, conservation, and threats. This marsupial shows high densities, despite presenting slow reproductive rates, a paradox explained by the unique characteristics of its three-dimensional habitat. We finally suggest immediate actions to protect these species that may be threatened in the near future due to habitat destruction and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco E. Fontúrbel
- Instituto de BiologíaPontificia Universidad Católica de ValparaísoValparaísoChile
- Millennium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi)SantiagoChile
| | - Lida M. Franco
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MatemáticasUniversidad de IbaguéIbaguéColombia
| | - Francisco Bozinovic
- Departamento de EcologíaFacultad de Ciencias BiológicasCenter of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES)Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileSantiagoChile
| | | | - Carlos Mejías
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y EvolutivasUniversidad Austral de ChileValdiviaChile
| | | | | | - Pablo Sabat
- Departamento de Ciencias EcológicasFacultad de CienciasUniversidad de ChileSantiagoChile
| | | | - David M. Watson
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary SciencesCharles Sturt UniversityAlburyNSWAustralia
| | - Pablo Saenz‐Agudelo
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y EvolutivasUniversidad Austral de ChileValdiviaChile
| | - Roberto F. Nespolo
- Millennium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi)SantiagoChile
- Departamento de EcologíaFacultad de Ciencias BiológicasCenter of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES)Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileSantiagoChile
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y EvolutivasUniversidad Austral de ChileValdiviaChile
- Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)SantiagoChile
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43
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Luzuriaga-Neira AR, Alvarez-Ponce D. Rates of Protein Evolution across the Marsupial Phylogeny: Heterogeneity and Link to Life-History Traits. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:evab277. [PMID: 34894228 PMCID: PMC8759560 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the importance of effective population size (Ne) in evolutionary and conservation biology, it remains unclear what factors have an impact on this quantity. The Nearly Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution predicts a faster accumulation of deleterious mutations (and thus a higher dN/dS ratio) in populations with small Ne; thus, measuring dN/dS ratios in different groups/species can provide insight into their Ne. Here, we used an exome data set of 1,550 loci from 45 species of marsupials representing 18 of the 22 extant families, to estimate dN/dS ratios across the different branches and families of the marsupial phylogeny. We found a considerable heterogeneity in dN/dS ratios among families and species, which suggests significant differences in their Ne. Furthermore, our multivariate analyses of several life-history traits showed that dN/dS ratios (and thus Ne) are affected by body weight, body length, and weaning age.
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44
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New Specimens of Reigitherium bunodontum from the Late Cretaceous La Colonia Formation, Patagonia, Argentina and Meridiolestidan Diversity in South America. J MAMM EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-021-09585-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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45
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The Cranial Morphospace of Extant Marsupials. J MAMM EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-021-09589-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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46
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Mammalian Petrosals from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation (Utah, USA) Reveal Non-canonical Evolution of Middle and Inner Ear Characters. J MAMM EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-021-09586-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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47
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Hughes JJ, Berv JS, Chester SGB, Sargis EJ, Field DJ. Ecological selectivity and the evolution of mammalian substrate preference across the K-Pg boundary. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:14540-14554. [PMID: 34765124 PMCID: PMC8571592 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction 66 million years ago was characterized by a worldwide ecological catastrophe and rapid species turnover. Large-scale devastation of forested environments resulting from the Chicxulub asteroid impact likely influenced the evolutionary trajectories of multiple clades in terrestrial environments, and it has been hypothesized to have biased survivorship in favour of nonarboreal lineages across the K-Pg boundary. Here, we evaluate patterns of substrate preferences across the K-Pg boundary among crown group mammals, a group that underwent rapid diversification following the mass extinction. Using Bayesian, likelihood, and parsimony reconstructions, we identify patterns of mammalian ecological selectivity that are broadly similar to those previously hypothesized for birds. Models based on extant taxa indicate predominant K-Pg survivorship among semi- or nonarboreal taxa, followed by numerous independent transitions to arboreality in the early Cenozoic. However, contrary to the predominant signal, some or all members of total-clade Euarchonta (Primates + Dermoptera + Scandentia) appear to have maintained arboreal habits across the K-Pg boundary, suggesting ecological flexibility during an interval of global habitat instability. We further observe a pronounced shift in character state transitions away from plesiomorphic arboreality associated with the K-Pg transition. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that predominantly nonarboreal taxa preferentially survived the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, and emphasize the pivotal influence of the K-Pg transition in shaping the early evolutionary trajectories of extant terrestrial vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J. Hughes
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Jacob S. Berv
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
- University of Michigan Museum of PaleontologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Stephen G. B. Chester
- Department of AnthropologyBrooklyn CollegeCity University of New YorkBrooklynNew YorkUSA
- Department of AnthropologyThe Graduate CenterCity University of New YorkNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary PrimatologyNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Eric J. Sargis
- Department of AnthropologyYale UniversityNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Divisions of Vertebrate Paleontology and Vertebrate ZoologyYale Peabody Museum of Natural HistoryNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Yale Institute for Biospheric StudiesNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Daniel J. Field
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Museum of ZoologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
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48
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Wang P, Yue C, Liu K, Lu D, Liu S, Yao S, Li X, Su X, Ren K, Chai Y, Qi J, Zhao Y, Lou Y, Sun Z, Gao GF, Liu WJ. Peptide Presentations of Marsupial MHC Class I Visualize Immune Features of Lower Mammals Paralleled with Bats. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:2167-2178. [PMID: 34535575 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Marsupials are one of three major mammalian lineages that include the placental eutherians and the egg-laying monotremes. The marsupial brushtail possum is an important protected species in the Australian forest ecosystem. Molecules encoded by the MHC genes are essential mediators of adaptive immune responses in virus-host interactions. Yet, nothing is known about the peptide presentation features of any marsupial MHC class I (MHC I). This study identified a series of possum MHC I Trvu-UB*01:01 binding peptides derived from wobbly possum disease virus (WPDV), a lethal virus of both captive and feral possum populations, and unveiled the structure of marsupial peptide/MHC I complex. Notably, we found the two brushtail possum-specific insertions, the 3-aa Ile52Glu53Arg54 and 1-aa Arg154 insertions are located in the Trvu-UB*01:01 peptide binding groove (PBG). The 3-aa insertion plays a pivotal role in maintaining the stability of the N terminus of Trvu-UB*01:01 PBG. This aspect of marsupial PBG is unexpectedly similar to the bat MHC I Ptal-N*01:01 and is shared with lower vertebrates from elasmobranch to monotreme, indicating an evolution hotspot that may have emerged from the pathogen-host interactions. Residue Arg154 insertion, located in the α2 helix, is available for TCR recognition, and it has a particular influence on promoting the anchoring of peptide WPDV-12. These findings add significantly to our understanding of adaptive immunity in marsupials and its evolution in vertebrates. Our findings have the potential to impact the conservation of the protected species brushtail possum and other marsupial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyan Wang
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Can Yue
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
| | - Kefang Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Dan Lu
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
| | - Sai Liu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Sijia Yao
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoling Su
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Keyi Ren
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan Chai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Jianxun Qi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Yingze Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yongliang Lou
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Zeyu Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - George F Gao
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China; .,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - William J Liu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China; .,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
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Subrini J, Turner J. Y chromosome functions in mammalian spermatogenesis. eLife 2021; 10:67345. [PMID: 34606444 PMCID: PMC8489898 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian Y chromosome is critical for male sex determination and spermatogenesis. However, linking each Y gene to specific aspects of male reproduction has been challenging. As the Y chromosome is notoriously hard to sequence and target, functional studies have mostly relied on transgene-rescue approaches using mouse models with large multi-gene deletions. These experimental limitations have oriented the field toward the search for a minimum set of Y genes necessary for male reproduction. Here, considering Y-chromosome evolutionary history and decades of discoveries, we review the current state of research on its function in spermatogenesis and reassess the view that many Y genes are disposable for male reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremie Subrini
- Sex Chromosome Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Turner
- Sex Chromosome Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
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50
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Dudley JS, Murphy CR, Thompson MB, McAllan BM. Uterine cellular changes during mammalian pregnancy and the evolution of placentation. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:1381-1400. [PMID: 34514493 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
There are many different forms of nutrient provision in viviparous (live bearing) species. The formation of a placenta is one method where the placenta functions to transfer nutrients from mother to fetus (placentotrophy), transfer waste from the fetus to the mother and respiratory gas exchange. Despite having the same overarching function, there are different types of placentation within placentotrophic vertebrates, and many morphological changes occur in the uterus during pregnancy to facilitate formation of the placenta. These changes are regulated in complex ways but are controlled by similar hormonal mechanisms across species. This review describes current knowledge of the morphological and molecular changes to the uterine epithelium preceding implantation among mammals. Our aim is to identify the commonalities and constraints of these cellular changes to understand the evolution of placentation in mammals and propose directions for future research. We compare and discuss the complex modifications to the ultrastructure of uterine epithelial cells and show that there are similarities in the changes to the cytoskeleton and gross morphology of the uterine epithelial cells, especially of the apical and lateral plasma membrane of the cells during the formation of a placenta in all eutherians and marsupials studied to date. We conclude that further research is needed to understand the evolution of placentation among viviparous mammals, particularly concerning the level of placental invasiveness, hormonal control and genetic underpinnings of pregnancy in marsupial taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S Dudley
- School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Christopher R Murphy
- School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Michael B Thompson
- School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Bronwyn M McAllan
- School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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