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Duan Y, Ma L, Zhao T, Liu J, Zheng C, Song F, Tian L, Cai W, Li H. Conserved A-to-I RNA editing with non-conserved recoding expands the candidates of functional editing sites. Fly (Austin) 2024; 18:2367359. [PMID: 38889318 PMCID: PMC11188811 DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2024.2367359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing recodes the genome and confers flexibility for the organisms to adapt to the environment. It is believed that RNA recoding sites are well suited for facilitating adaptive evolution by increasing the proteomic diversity in a temporal-spatial manner. The function and essentiality of a few conserved recoding sites are recognized. However, the experimentally discovered functional sites only make up a small corner of the total sites, and there is still the need to expand the repertoire of such functional sites with bioinformatic approaches. In this study, we define a new category of RNA editing sites termed 'conserved editing with non-conserved recoding' and systematically identify such sites in Drosophila editomes, figuring out their selection pressure and signals of adaptation at inter-species and intra-species levels. Surprisingly, conserved editing sites with non-conserved recoding are not suppressed and are even slightly overrepresented in Drosophila. DNA mutations leading to such cases are also favoured during evolution, suggesting that the function of those recoding events in different species might be diverged, specialized, and maintained. Finally, structural prediction suggests that such recoding in potassium channel Shab might increase ion permeability and compensate the effect of low temperature. In conclusion, conserved editing with non-conserved recoding might be functional as well. Our study provides novel aspects in considering the adaptive evolution of RNA editing sites and meanwhile expands the candidates of functional recoding sites for future validation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jiyao Liu
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Caiqing Zheng
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Song
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Tian
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wanzhi Cai
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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2
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Guan C, Shaikh M, Warnecke A, Vona B, Albert JT. A burden shared: The evolutionary case for studying human deafness in Drosophila. Hear Res 2024; 450:109047. [PMID: 38896942 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2024.109047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Hearing impairment is the most prevalent sensory disease in humans and can have dramatic effects on the development, and preservation, of our cognitive abilities and social interactions. Currently 20 % of the world's population suffer from a form of hearing impairment; this is predicted to rise to 25 % by 2050. Despite this staggering disease load, and the vast damage it inflicts on the social, medical and economic fabric of humankind, our ability to predict, or prevent, the loss of hearing is very poor indeed. We here make the case for a paradigm shift in our approach to studying deafness. By exploiting more forcefully the molecular-genetic conservation between human hearing and hearing in morphologically distinct models, such as the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, we believe, a deeper understanding of hearing and deafness can be achieved. An understanding that moves beyond the surface of the 'deafness genes' to probe the underlying bedrock of hearing, which is shared across taxa, and partly shared across modalities. When it comes to understanding the workings (and failings) of human sensory function, a simple fruit fly has a lot to offer and a fly eye might sometimes be a powerful model for a human ear. Particularly the use of fly avatars, in which specific molecular (genetic or proteomic) states of humans (e.g. specific patients) are experimentally reproduced, in order to study the corresponding molecular mechanisms (e.g. specific diseases) in a controlled yet naturalistic environment, is a tool that promises multiple unprecedented insights. The use of the fly - and fly avatars - would benefit humans and will help enhance the power of other scientific models, such as the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chonglin Guan
- Sensory Physiology & Behaviour Group, Department for Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Str. 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Str. 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Muhammad Shaikh
- Ear Institute, University College London, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1 × 8EE, UK
| | - Athanasia Warnecke
- Hannover Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Hannover, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, MHH Hannover, Germany
| | - Barbara Vona
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany; Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Joerg T Albert
- Sensory Physiology & Behaviour Group, Department for Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Str. 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Str. 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany; Ear Institute, University College London, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1 × 8EE, UK.
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3
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Mackay TFC, Anholt RRH. Pleiotropy, epistasis and the genetic architecture of quantitative traits. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:639-657. [PMID: 38565962 PMCID: PMC11330371 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00711-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Pleiotropy (whereby one genetic polymorphism affects multiple traits) and epistasis (whereby non-linear interactions between genetic polymorphisms affect the same trait) are fundamental aspects of the genetic architecture of quantitative traits. Recent advances in the ability to characterize the effects of polymorphic variants on molecular and organismal phenotypes in human and model organism populations have revealed the prevalence of pleiotropy and unexpected shared molecular genetic bases among quantitative traits, including diseases. By contrast, epistasis is common between polymorphic loci associated with quantitative traits in model organisms, such that alleles at one locus have different effects in different genetic backgrounds, but is rarely observed for human quantitative traits and common diseases. Here, we review the concepts and recent inferences about pleiotropy and epistasis, and discuss factors that contribute to similarities and differences between the genetic architecture of quantitative traits in model organisms and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trudy F C Mackay
- Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
| | - Robert R H Anholt
- Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
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4
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Nicol A, Ahmed M, Fischer C, Garces JG, Magnus S, Maung N, Molisani N, Petrov S, Palu RAS. Larval density can be used to predict genetic modifiers of glucagon signaling in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302565. [PMID: 39196987 PMCID: PMC11356449 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a growing concern. 42.3% of people in the U.S were considered obese between 2017-2018. Much is still unknown about the genetic components that contribute to weight gain. In humans, the hormone glucagon is a major contributor to the body's energy regulation as it signals for the breakdown of lipids. Treatments targeting the glucagon pathway have helped patients with both weight loss and appetite suppression. Understanding the genetic modifiers of glucagon signaling and its downstream pathways could enable the development of a wider variety of effective therapeutics. In this study, we blocked the glucagon pathway in Drosophila melanogaster by reducing the expression of the fly ortholog of the glucagon receptor (AKHR). We then crossed our model to the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) and looked for natural variation in fat content. We used variation in larval density to identify candidate modifier genes through a genome-wide association study. We then tested these modifier genes by increasing or decreasing their expression in the AKHR model. We screened these candidates initially with the same density assay used in the original study to narrow down to four candidate genes that substantially impacted the density of the larvae: THADA, AmyD, GluRIIC, and CG9826. We further characterized these candidates using biochemical assays to analyze stored metabolites such as triglycerides, glucose, glycogen, and protein under control, high sugar, and high fat conditions to see if the larvae are resistant to environmental changes. Our results indicate consistency between the results of the density assay and direct measurement of metabolite levels. In particular, THADA and AmyD are highlighted as interesting genes for additional study. We hope to improve our understanding of the glucagon signaling pathway, obesity, and lipid metabolism. We also aim to provide candidate genes that can be regarded as future therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Nicol
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America
| | - Malaika Ahmed
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America
| | - Chelsea Fischer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America
| | - John G. Garces
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America
| | - Shana Magnus
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America
| | - Nay Maung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Molisani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America
| | - Sophia Petrov
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America
| | - Rebecca A. S. Palu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America
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5
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Tabuloc CA, Carlson CR, Ganjisaffar F, Truong CC, Chen CH, Lewald KM, Hidalgo S, Nicola NL, Jones CE, Sial AA, Zalom FG, Chiu JC. Transcriptome analysis of Drosophila suzukii reveals molecular mechanisms conferring pyrethroid and spinosad resistance. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19867. [PMID: 39191909 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70037-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Drosophila suzukii lay eggs in soft-skinned, ripening fruits, making this insect a serious threat to berry production. Since its 2008 introduction into North America, growers have used insecticides, such as pyrethroids and spinosads, as the primary approach for D. suzukii management, resulting in development of insecticide resistance in this pest. This study sought to identify the molecular mechanisms conferring insecticide resistance in these populations. We sequenced the transcriptomes of two pyrethroid- and two spinosad-resistant isofemale lines. In both pyrethroid-resistant lines and one spinosad-resistant line, we identified overexpression of metabolic genes that are implicated in resistance in other insect pests. In the other spinosad-resistant line, we observed an overexpression of cuticular genes that have been linked to resistance. Our findings enabled the development of molecular diagnostics that we used to confirm persistence of insecticide resistance in California, U.S.A. To validate these findings, we leveraged D. melanogaster mutants with reduced expression of metabolic or cuticular genes that were found to be upregulated in resistant D. suzukii to demonstrate that these genes are involved in promoting resistance. This study is the first to characterize the molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance in D. suzukii and provides insights into how current management practices can be optimized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A Tabuloc
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Curtis R Carlson
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Fatemeh Ganjisaffar
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Cindy C Truong
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Ching-Hsuan Chen
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Kyle M Lewald
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Sergio Hidalgo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Nicole L Nicola
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Cera E Jones
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ashfaq A Sial
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Frank G Zalom
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, California, USA
| | - Joanna C Chiu
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, California, USA.
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Chechenova M, McLendon L, Dallas B, Stratton H, Kiani K, Gerberich E, Alekseyenko A, Tamba N, An S, Castillo L, Czajkowski E, Talley C, Brown A, Bryantsev AL. Muscle degeneration in aging Drosophila flies: the role of mechanical stress. Skelet Muscle 2024; 14:20. [PMID: 39164781 PMCID: PMC11334408 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-024-00352-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Muscle wasting is a universal hallmark of aging which is displayed by a wide range of organisms, although the causes and mechanisms of this phenomenon are not fully understood. We used Drosophila to characterize the phenomenon of spontaneous muscle fiber degeneration (SMFD) during aging. We found that SMFD occurs across diverse types of somatic muscles, progresses with chronological age, and positively correlates with functional muscle decline. Data from vital dyes and morphological markers imply that degenerative fibers most likely die by necrosis. Mechanistically, SMFD is driven by the damage resulting from muscle contractions, and the nervous system may play a significant role in this process. Our quantitative model of SMFD assessment can be useful in identifying and validating novel genetic factors that influence aging-related muscle wasting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Chechenova
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, 105 Marietta Dr., NW, Room 4004, MD 1201, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
- Present Affiliation: MNG Laboratories, A LabCorp Company, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lilla McLendon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, 105 Marietta Dr., NW, Room 4004, MD 1201, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
| | - Bracey Dallas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, 105 Marietta Dr., NW, Room 4004, MD 1201, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
| | - Hannah Stratton
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, 105 Marietta Dr., NW, Room 4004, MD 1201, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
| | - Kaveh Kiani
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, 105 Marietta Dr., NW, Room 4004, MD 1201, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
| | - Erik Gerberich
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, 105 Marietta Dr., NW, Room 4004, MD 1201, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
| | - Alesia Alekseyenko
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, 105 Marietta Dr., NW, Room 4004, MD 1201, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
| | - Natasya Tamba
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, 105 Marietta Dr., NW, Room 4004, MD 1201, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
| | - SooBin An
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, 105 Marietta Dr., NW, Room 4004, MD 1201, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
| | - Lizzet Castillo
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Emily Czajkowski
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Present Affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Christina Talley
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, 105 Marietta Dr., NW, Room 4004, MD 1201, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA
| | - Austin Brown
- Department of Mathematics, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
| | - Anton L Bryantsev
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, 105 Marietta Dr., NW, Room 4004, MD 1201, Kennesaw, GA, 30144, USA.
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7
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Nachman MW, Dumont BL. Diverse wild-derived inbred strains provide a new community resource. Mamm Genome 2024:10.1007/s00335-024-10061-4. [PMID: 39158583 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-024-10061-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael W Nachman
- Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Beth L Dumont
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, The University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
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8
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Aldrich JC, Vanderlinden LA, Jacobsen TL, Wood C, Saba LM, Britt SG. Genome-Wide Association Study and transcriptome analysis reveals a complex gene network that regulates opsin gene expression and cell fate determination in Drosophila R7 photoreceptor cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.05.606616. [PMID: 39149333 PMCID: PMC11326169 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.05.606616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Background An animal's ability to discriminate between differing wavelengths of light (i.e., color vision) is mediated, in part, by a subset of photoreceptor cells that express opsins with distinct absorption spectra. In Drosophila R7 photoreceptors, expression of the rhodopsin molecules, Rh3 or Rh4, is determined by a stochastic process mediated by the transcription factor spineless. The goal of this study was to identify additional factors that regulate R7 cell fate and opsin choice using a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) paired with transcriptome analysis via RNA-Seq. Results We examined Rh3 and Rh4 expression in a subset of fully-sequenced inbred strains from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel and performed a GWAS to identify 42 naturally-occurring polymorphisms-in proximity to 28 candidate genes-that significantly influence R7 opsin expression. Network analysis revealed multiple potential interactions between the associated candidate genes, spineless and its partners. GWAS candidates were further validated in a secondary RNAi screen which identified 12 lines that significantly reduce the proportion of Rh3 expressing R7 photoreceptors. Finally, using RNA-Seq, we demonstrated that all but four of the GWAS candidates are expressed in the pupal retina at a critical developmental time point and that five are among the 917 differentially expressed genes in sevenless mutants, which lack R7 cells. Conclusions Collectively, these results suggest that the relatively simple, binary cell fate decision underlying R7 opsin expression is modulated by a larger, more complex network of regulatory factors. Of particular interest are a subset of candidate genes with previously characterized neuronal functions including neurogenesis, neurodegeneration, photoreceptor development, axon growth and guidance, synaptogenesis, and synaptic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C. Aldrich
- Department of Neurology, Department of Ophthalmology, Dell Medical School; University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Lauren A. Vanderlinden
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Thomas L. Jacobsen
- Department of Neurology, Department of Ophthalmology, Dell Medical School; University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Cheyret Wood
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Laura M. Saba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Steven G. Britt
- Department of Neurology, Department of Ophthalmology, Dell Medical School; University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
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9
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Li XC, Srinivasan V, Laiker I, Misunou N, Frankel N, Pallares LF, Crocker J. TF-High-Evolutionary: In Vivo Mutagenesis of Gene Regulatory Networks for the Study of the Genetics and Evolution of the Drosophila Regulatory Genome. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae167. [PMID: 39117360 PMCID: PMC11342961 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the evolutionary potential of mutations in gene regulatory networks is essential to furthering the study of evolution and development. However, in multicellular systems, genetic manipulation of regulatory networks in a targeted and high-throughput way remains challenging. In this study, we designed TF-High-Evolutionary (HighEvo), a transcription factor (TF) fused with a base editor (activation-induced deaminase), to continuously induce germline mutations at TF-binding sites across regulatory networks in Drosophila. Populations of flies expressing TF-HighEvo in their germlines accumulated mutations at rates an order of magnitude higher than natural populations. Importantly, these mutations accumulated around the targeted TF-binding sites across the genome, leading to distinct morphological phenotypes consistent with the developmental roles of the tagged TFs. As such, this TF-HighEvo method allows the interrogation of the mutational space of gene regulatory networks at scale and can serve as a powerful reagent for experimental evolution and genetic screens focused on the regulatory genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying C Li
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Ian Laiker
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) y Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | | | - Nicolás Frankel
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) y Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Luisa F Pallares
- Friedrich Miescher Laboratory, Max Planck Society, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Justin Crocker
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
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10
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Yamamoto A, Huang W, Carbone MA, Anholt RRH, Mackay TFC. The genetic basis of incipient sexual isolation in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240672. [PMID: 39045689 PMCID: PMC11267472 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0672] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Speciation is a fundamental evolutionary process but the genetic changes accompanying speciation are difficult to determine since true species do not produce viable and fertile offspring. Partially reproductively isolated incipient species are useful for assessing genetic changes that occur prior to speciation. Drosophila melanogaster from Zimbabwe, Africa are partially sexually isolated from other D. melanogaster populations whose males have poor mating success with Zimbabwe females. We used the North American D. melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) to show that there is significant genetic variation in mating success of DGRP males with Zimbabwe females, to map genetic variants and genes associated with variation in mating success and to determine whether mating success to Zimbabwe females is associated with other quantitative traits previously measured in the DGRP. Incipient sexual isolation is highly polygenic and associated with the common African inversion In(3R)K and the amount of the sex pheromone 5,9-heptacosadiene in DGRP females. We functionally validated the effect of eight candidate genes using RNA interference to provide testable hypotheses for future studies investigating the molecular genetic basis of incipient sexual isolation in D. melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Yamamoto
- Program in Genetics, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC, Raleigh, NC27695-7614, USA
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Wen Huang
- Program in Genetics, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC, Raleigh, NC27695-7614, USA
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Mary Anna Carbone
- Program in Genetics, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC, Raleigh, NC27695-7614, USA
- Center for Fungal Research and Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Robert R. H. Anholt
- Program in Genetics, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC, Raleigh, NC27695-7614, USA
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - Trudy F. C. Mackay
- Program in Genetics, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC, Raleigh, NC27695-7614, USA
- Center for Human Genetics and Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC, USA
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11
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Ma L, Zheng C, Liu J, Song F, Tian L, Cai W, Li H, Duan Y. Learning from the Codon Table: Convergent Recoding Provides Novel Understanding on the Evolution of A-to-I RNA Editing. J Mol Evol 2024:10.1007/s00239-024-10190-z. [PMID: 39012510 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-024-10190-z] [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: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing recodes the genetic information. Apart from diversifying the proteome, another tempting advantage of RNA recoding is to correct deleterious DNA mutation and restore ancestral allele. Solid evidences for beneficial restorative editing are very rare in animals. By searching for "convergent recoding" under a phylogenetic context, we proposed this term for judging the potential restorative functions of particular editing site. For the well-known mammalian Gln>Arg (Q>R) recoding site, its ancestral state in vertebrate genomes was the pre-editing Gln, and all 470 available mammalian genomes strictly avoid other three equivalent ways to achieve Arg in protein. The absence of convergent recoding from His>Arg, or synonymous mutations on Gln codons, could be attributed to the strong maintenance on editing motif and structure, but the absence of direct A-to-G mutation is extremely unexpected. With similar ideas, we found cases of convergent recoding in Drosophila genus, reducing the possibility of their restorative function. In summary, we defined an interesting scenario of convergent recoding, the occurrence of which could be used as preliminary judgements for whether a recoding site has a sole restorative role. Our work provides novel insights to the natural selection and evolution of RNA editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Ma
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Caiqing Zheng
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jiyao Liu
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Fan Song
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Li Tian
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Wanzhi Cai
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yuange Duan
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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12
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Zheng X. An Introductory Guide to Using Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center and FlyBase for Aging Research. Cells 2024; 13:1192. [PMID: 39056774 PMCID: PMC11275189 DOI: 10.3390/cells13141192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies on numerous species have demonstrated strikingly conserved mechanisms that determine the aging process, from yeasts to worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, and humans. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent model organism for studying the biological basis of normal aging and etiology of age-related diseases. Since its inception in 1967, the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center (BDSC) has grown into the largest collection of documented D. melanogaster strains (currently > 91,000). This paper aims to briefly review conserved mechanisms of aging and provides a guide to help users understand the organization of stock listings on the BDSC website and familiarize themselves with the search functions on BDSC and FlyBase, with an emphasis on using genes in conserved pathways as examples to find stocks for aging studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangzhong Zheng
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA
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13
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Motsinger-Reif AA, Reif DM, Akhtari FS, House JS, Campbell CR, Messier KP, Fargo DC, Bowen TA, Nadadur SS, Schmitt CP, Pettibone KG, Balshaw DM, Lawler CP, Newton SA, Collman GW, Miller AK, Merrick BA, Cui Y, Anchang B, Harmon QE, McAllister KA, Woychik R. Gene-environment interactions within a precision environmental health framework. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100591. [PMID: 38925123 PMCID: PMC11293590 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors in disease etiology and the role of gene-environment interactions (GEIs) across human development stages is important. We review the state of GEI research, including challenges in measuring environmental factors and advantages of GEI analysis in understanding disease mechanisms. We discuss the evolution of GEI studies from candidate gene-environment studies to genome-wide interaction studies (GWISs) and the role of multi-omics in mediating GEI effects. We review advancements in GEI analysis methods and the importance of large-scale datasets. We also address the translation of GEI findings into precision environmental health (PEH), showcasing real-world applications in healthcare and disease prevention. Additionally, we highlight societal considerations in GEI research, including environmental justice, the return of results to participants, and data privacy. Overall, we underscore the significance of GEI for disease prediction and prevention and advocate for integrating the exposome into PEH omics studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison A Motsinger-Reif
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - David M Reif
- Predictive Toxicology Branch, Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Farida S Akhtari
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John S House
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - C Ryan Campbell
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kyle P Messier
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA; Predictive Toxicology Branch, Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - David C Fargo
- Office of the Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tiffany A Bowen
- Office of the Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Srikanth S Nadadur
- Exposure, Response, and Technology Branch, Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Charles P Schmitt
- Office of the Scientific Director, Office of Data Science, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kristianna G Pettibone
- Program Analysis Branch, Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - David M Balshaw
- Office of the Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA; Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Cindy P Lawler
- Genes, Environment, and Health Branch, Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shelia A Newton
- Office of Scientific Coordination, Planning and Evaluation, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gwen W Collman
- Office of the Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA; Office of Scientific Coordination, Planning and Evaluation, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Aubrey K Miller
- Office of Scientific Coordination, Planning and Evaluation, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - B Alex Merrick
- Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yuxia Cui
- Exposure, Response, and Technology Branch, Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Benedict Anchang
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Quaker E Harmon
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kimberly A McAllister
- Genes, Environment, and Health Branch, Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Rick Woychik
- Office of the Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
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14
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McQuarrie DWJ, Alizada A, Nicholson BC, Soller M. Rapid evolution of promoters from germline-specifically expressed genes including transposon silencing factors. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:678. [PMID: 38977960 PMCID: PMC11229233 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10584-9] [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: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The piRNA pathway in animal gonads functions as an 'RNA-based immune system', serving to silence transposable elements and prevent inheritance of novel invaders. In Drosophila, this pathway relies on three gonad-specific Argonaute proteins (Argonaute-3, Aubergine and Piwi) that associate with 23-28 nucleotide piRNAs, directing the silencing of transposon-derived transcripts. Transposons constitute a primary driver of genome evolution, yet the evolution of piRNA pathway factors has not received in-depth exploration. Specifically, channel nuclear pore proteins, which impact piRNA processing, exhibit regions of rapid evolution in their promoters. Consequently, the question arises whether such a mode of evolution is a general feature of transposon silencing pathways. RESULTS By employing genomic analysis of coding and promoter regions within genes that function in transposon silencing in Drosophila, we demonstrate that the promoters of germ cell-specific piRNA factors are undergoing rapid evolution. Our findings indicate that rapid promoter evolution is a common trait among piRNA factors engaged in germline silencing across insect species, potentially contributing to gene expression divergence in closely related taxa. Furthermore, we observe that the promoters of genes exclusively expressed in germ cells generally exhibit rapid evolution, with some divergence in gene expression. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that increased germline promoter evolution, in partnership with other factors, could contribute to transposon silencing and evolution of species through differential expression of genes driven by invading transposons.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W J McQuarrie
- School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Azad Alizada
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Benjamin Czech Nicholson
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Matthias Soller
- School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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15
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Williams SB, Franklin B, Lemieux FA, Rand DM. Natural variation in starvation sensitivity maps to a point mutation in phospholipase IPLA2-VIA in Drosophila melanogaster. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.05.602254. [PMID: 39005416 PMCID: PMC11245103 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.05.602254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Resistance to starvation is a classic complex trait, where genetic and environmental variables can greatly modify an animal's ability to survive without nutrients. In this study, we investigate the genetic basis of starvation resistance using complementary quantitative and classical genetic mapping in Drosophila melanogaster. Using the Drosophila Genetics Reference Panel (DGRP) as a starting point, we queried the genetic basis of starvation sensitivity in one of the most sensitive DGRP lines. We localize a major effect locus modifying starvation resistance to the phospholipase iPLA2-VIA. This finding is consistent with the work of others which demonstrate the importance of lipid regulation in starvation stress. Furthermore, we demonstrate that iPLA2-VIA plays a role in the maintenance of sugar reserves post-starvation, which highlights a key dynamic between lipid remodeling, sugar metabolism and resistance to starvation stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn B. Williams
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, USA
| | - Brian Franklin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, USA
| | - Faye A. Lemieux
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, USA
| | - David M Rand
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, USA
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16
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Jia H, Tan S, Cai Y, Guo Y, Shen J, Zhang Y, Ma H, Zhang Q, Chen J, Qiao G, Ruan J, Zhang YE. Low-input PacBio sequencing generates high-quality individual fly genomes and characterizes mutational processes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5644. [PMID: 38969648 PMCID: PMC11226609 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49992-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-read sequencing, exemplified by PacBio, revolutionizes genomics, overcoming challenges like repetitive sequences. However, the high DNA requirement ( > 1 µg) is prohibitive for small organisms. We develop a low-input (100 ng), low-cost, and amplification-free library-generation method for PacBio sequencing (LILAP) using Tn5-based tagmentation and DNA circularization within one tube. We test LILAP with two Drosophila melanogaster individuals, and generate near-complete genomes, surpassing preexisting single-fly genomes. By analyzing variations in these two genomes, we characterize mutational processes: complex transpositions (transposon insertions together with extra duplications and/or deletions) prefer regions characterized by non-B DNA structures, and gene conversion of transposons occurs on both DNA and RNA levels. Concurrently, we generate two complete assemblies for the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia in these flies and similarly detect transposon conversion. Thus, LILAP promises a broad PacBio sequencing adoption for not only mutational studies of flies and their symbionts but also explorations of other small organisms or precious samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hangxing Jia
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Shengjun Tan
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Yingao Cai
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanyan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jieyu Shen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqiong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huijing Ma
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qingzhu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinfeng Chen
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gexia Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jue Ruan
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Yong E Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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17
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Hull KL, Greenwood MP, Lloyd M, Brink-Hull M, Bester-van der Merwe AE, Rhode C. Drivers of genomic diversity and phenotypic development in early phases of domestication in Hermetia illucens. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38963286 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, has the ability to efficiently bioremediate organic waste into usable bio-compounds. Understanding the impact of domestication and mass rearing on fitness and production traits is therefore important for sustainable production. This study aimed to assess patterns of genomic diversity and its association to phenotypic development across early generations of mass rearing under two selection strategies: selection for greater larval mass (SEL lines) and no direct artificial selection (NS lines). Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data were generated using 2bRAD sequencing, while phenotypic traits relating to production and population fitness were measured. Declining patterns of genomic diversity were observed across three generations of captive breeding, with the lowest diversity recorded for the F3 generation of both selection lines, most likely due to founder effects. The SEL cohort displayed statistically significantly greater larval weight com the NS lines with pronounced genetic and phenotypic directional changes across generations. Furthermore, lower genetic and phenotypic diversity, particularly for fitness traits, were evident for SEL lines, illustrating the trade-off between selecting for mass and the resulting decline in population fitness. SNP-based heritability was significant for growth, but was low or non-significant for fitness traits. Genotype-phenotype correlations were observed for traits, but individual locus effect sizes where small and very few of these loci demonstrated a signature for selection. Pronounced genetic drift, due to small effective population sizes, is likely overshadowing the impacts of selection on genomic diversity and consequently phenotypic development. The results hold particular relevance for genetic management and selective breeding for BSF in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin L Hull
- Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | | | - Melissa Lloyd
- Research and Development Department, Insect Technology Group Holdings UK Ltd., Guildford, UK
| | - Marissa Brink-Hull
- Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | | | - Clint Rhode
- Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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18
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Easwaran S, Montell DJ. A genome-wide association study implicates the olfactory system in Drosophila melanogaster diapause-associated lifespan extension and fecundity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.10.584341. [PMID: 39005458 PMCID: PMC11244867 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.10.584341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The effects of environmental stress on animal life are gaining importance with climate change. Diapause is a dormancy program that occurs in response to an adverse environment, followed by resumption of development and reproduction upon the return of favorable conditions. Diapause is a complex trait, so we leveraged the Drosophila genetic reference panel (DGRP) lines and conducted a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) to characterize the genetic basis of diapause. We assessed post-diapause and non-diapause fecundity across 193 DGRP lines. GWAS revealed 546 genetic variants, encompassing single nucleotide polymorphisms, insertions and deletions associated with post-diapause fecundity. We identified 291 candidate diapause-associated genes, 40 of which had previously been associated with diapause. 89 of the candidates were associated with more than one SNP. Gene network analysis indicated that the diapause-associated genes were primarily linked to neuronal and reproductive system development. Similarly, comparison with results from other fly GWAS revealed the greatest overlap with olfactory-behavior-associated and fecundity-and-lifespan-associated genes. An RNAi screen of the top candidates identified two neuronal genes, Dip-γ and Scribbler, to be required during recovery for post-diapause fecundity. We complemented the genetic analysis with a test of which neurons are required for successful diapause. We found that although amputation of the antenna had little to no effect on non-diapause lifespan, it reduced diapause lifespan and postdiapause fecundity. We further show that olfactory receptor neurons and temperature-sensing neurons are required for successful recovery from diapause. Our results provide insights into the molecular, cellular, and genetic basis of adult reproductive diapause in Drosophila .
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19
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Marsh JI, Johri P. Biases in ARG-Based Inference of Historical Population Size in Populations Experiencing Selection. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae118. [PMID: 38874402 PMCID: PMC11245712 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Inferring the demographic history of populations provides fundamental insights into species dynamics and is essential for developing a null model to accurately study selective processes. However, background selection and selective sweeps can produce genomic signatures at linked sites that mimic or mask signals associated with historical population size change. While the theoretical biases introduced by the linked effects of selection have been well established, it is unclear whether ancestral recombination graph (ARG)-based approaches to demographic inference in typical empirical analyses are susceptible to misinference due to these effects. To address this, we developed highly realistic forward simulations of human and Drosophila melanogaster populations, including empirically estimated variability of gene density, mutation rates, recombination rates, purifying, and positive selection, across different historical demographic scenarios, to broadly assess the impact of selection on demographic inference using a genealogy-based approach. Our results indicate that the linked effects of selection minimally impact demographic inference for human populations, although it could cause misinference in populations with similar genome architecture and population parameters experiencing more frequent recurrent sweeps. We found that accurate demographic inference of D. melanogaster populations by ARG-based methods is compromised by the presence of pervasive background selection alone, leading to spurious inferences of recent population expansion, which may be further worsened by recurrent sweeps, depending on the proportion and strength of beneficial mutations. Caution and additional testing with species-specific simulations are needed when inferring population history with non-human populations using ARG-based approaches to avoid misinference due to the linked effects of selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob I Marsh
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Parul Johri
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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20
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Hubert DL, Arnold KR, Greenspan ZG, Pupo A, Robinson RD, Chavarin VV, Barter TB, Djukovic D, Raftery D, Vue Z, Hinton A, McReynolds MR, Harrison BR, Phillips MA. Selection for early reproduction leads to accelerated aging and extensive metabolic remodeling in Drosophila melanogaster populations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.28.601037. [PMID: 39005259 PMCID: PMC11244849 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.28.601037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Experimental evolution studies that feature selection on life-history characters are a proven approach for studying the evolution of aging and variation in rates of senescence. Recently, the incorporation of genomic and transcriptomic approaches into this framework has led to the identification of hundreds of genes associated with different aging patterns. However, our understanding of the specific molecular mechanisms underlying these aging patterns remains limited. Here, we incorporated extensive metabolomic profiling into this framework to generate mechanistic insights into aging patterns in Drosophila melanogaster . Specifically, we characterized metabolomic change over time associated with accelerated aging in populations of D. melanogaster under selection for early reproduction compared to their controls. Using this data we: i) evaluated the evolutionary repeatability across the metabolome; ii) evaluated the value of the metabolome as a predictor of "biological age" in this system; and iii) identified specific metabolic pathways associated with accelerated aging. Generally, our findings suggest that the metabolome is a reliable predictor of age and senescence in populations that share a recent evolutionary history. Metabolomic analysis revealed that generations of selection for early reproduction resulted in highly repeatable alterations to the metabolome. Specifically, changes in carbohydrate, amino acid, and TCA cycle-related metabolite abundances over time point to metabolic remodeling that favors rapid early reproduction with long-term consequences for carbohydrate and protein utilization.
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21
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Kim BY, Gellert HR, Church SH, Suvorov A, Anderson SS, Barmina O, Beskid SG, Comeault AA, Crown KN, Diamond SE, Dorus S, Fujichika T, Hemker JA, Hrcek J, Kankare M, Katoh T, Magnacca KN, Martin RA, Matsunaga T, Medeiros MJ, Miller DE, Pitnick S, Schiffer M, Simoni S, Steenwinkel TE, Syed ZA, Takahashi A, Wei KHC, Yokoyama T, Eisen MB, Kopp A, Matute D, Obbard DJ, O’Grady PM, Price DK, Toda MJ, Werner T, Petrov DA. Single-fly genome assemblies fill major phylogenomic gaps across the Drosophilidae Tree of Life. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002697. [PMID: 39024225 PMCID: PMC11257246 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-read sequencing is driving rapid progress in genome assembly across all major groups of life, including species of the family Drosophilidae, a longtime model system for genetics, genomics, and evolution. We previously developed a cost-effective hybrid Oxford Nanopore (ONT) long-read and Illumina short-read sequencing approach and used it to assemble 101 drosophilid genomes from laboratory cultures, greatly increasing the number of genome assemblies for this taxonomic group. The next major challenge is to address the laboratory culture bias in taxon sampling by sequencing genomes of species that cannot easily be reared in the lab. Here, we build upon our previous methods to perform amplification-free ONT sequencing of single wild flies obtained either directly from the field or from ethanol-preserved specimens in museum collections, greatly improving the representation of lesser studied drosophilid taxa in whole-genome data. Using Illumina Novaseq X Plus and ONT P2 sequencers with R10.4.1 chemistry, we set a new benchmark for inexpensive hybrid genome assembly at US $150 per genome while assembling genomes from as little as 35 ng of genomic DNA from a single fly. We present 183 new genome assemblies for 179 species as a resource for drosophilid systematics, phylogenetics, and comparative genomics. Of these genomes, 62 are from pooled lab strains and 121 from single adult flies. Despite the sample limitations of working with small insects, most single-fly diploid assemblies are comparable in contiguity (>1 Mb contig N50), completeness (>98% complete dipteran BUSCOs), and accuracy (>QV40 genome-wide with ONT R10.4.1) to assemblies from inbred lines. We present a well-resolved multi-locus phylogeny for 360 drosophilid and 4 outgroup species encompassing all publicly available (as of August 2023) genomes for this group. Finally, we present a Progressive Cactus whole-genome, reference-free alignment built from a subset of 298 suitably high-quality drosophilid genomes. The new assemblies and alignment, along with updated laboratory protocols and computational pipelines, are released as an open resource and as a tool for studying evolution at the scale of an entire insect family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Y. Kim
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Hannah R. Gellert
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Samuel H. Church
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut United States of America
| | - Anton Suvorov
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Sean S. Anderson
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Olga Barmina
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Sofia G. Beskid
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Aaron A. Comeault
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - K. Nicole Crown
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Sarah E. Diamond
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Steve Dorus
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Takako Fujichika
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - James A. Hemker
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Jan Hrcek
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Maaria Kankare
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Toru Katoh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Karl N. Magnacca
- Hawaii Invertebrate Program, Division of Forestry & Wildlife, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Ryan A. Martin
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Teruyuki Matsunaga
- Department of Complexity Science and Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Matthew J. Medeiros
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Danny E. Miller
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Scott Pitnick
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Michele Schiffer
- Daintree Rainforest Observatory, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Sara Simoni
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | | | - Zeeshan A. Syed
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Aya Takahashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kevin H-C. Wei
- Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Tsuya Yokoyama
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Michael B. Eisen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Artyom Kopp
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel Matute
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Darren J. Obbard
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick M. O’Grady
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Donald K. Price
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America
| | | | - Thomas Werner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Dmitri A. Petrov
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- CZ Biohub, Investigator, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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22
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Choy YMM, Walter GM, Mirth CK, Sgrò CM. Within-population plastic responses to combined thermal-nutritional stress differ from those in response to single stressors, and are genetically independent across traits in both males and females. J Evol Biol 2024; 37:717-731. [PMID: 38757509 DOI: 10.1093/jeb/voae061] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity helps animals to buffer the effects of increasing thermal and nutritional stress created by climate change. Plastic responses to single and combined stressors can vary among genetically diverged populations. However, less is known about how plasticity in response to combined stress varies among individuals within a population or whether such variation changes across life-history traits. This is important because individual variation within populations shapes population-level responses to environmental change. Here, we used isogenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster to assess the plasticity of egg-to-adult viability and sex-specific body size for combinations of 2 temperatures (25 °C or 28 °C) and 3 diets (standard diet, low caloric diet, or low protein:carbohydrate ratio diet). Our results reveal substantial within-population genetic variation in plasticity for egg-to-adult viability and wing size in response to combined thermal-nutritional stress. This genetic variation in plasticity was a result of cross-environment genetic correlations that were often < 1 for both traits, as well as changes in the expression of genetic variation across environments for egg-to-adult viability. Cross-sex genetic correlations for body size were weaker when the sexes were reared in different conditions, suggesting that the genetic basis of traits may change with the environment. Furthermore, our results suggest that plasticity in egg-to-adult viability is genetically independent from plasticity in body size. Importantly, plasticity in response to diet and temperature individually differed from plastic shifts in response to diet and temperature in combination. By quantifying plasticity and the expression of genetic variance in response to combined stress across traits, our study reveals the complexity of animal responses to environmental change, and the need for a more nuanced understanding of the potential for populations to adapt to ongoing climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeuk Man Movis Choy
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Greg M Walter
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christen K Mirth
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Carla M Sgrò
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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23
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Beam TC, Bright M, Pearson AC, Dua I, Smith M, Dutta AK, Bhadra SC, Salman S, Strickler CN, Anderson CE, Peshkin L, Yampolsky LY. Short lifespan is one's fate, long lifespan is one's achievement: lessons from Daphnia. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01244-7. [PMID: 38900345 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01244-7] [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: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies of longevity rely on baseline life expectancy of reference genotypes measured in standardized conditions. Variation among labs, protocols, and genotypes makes longevity intervention studies difficult to compare. Furthermore, extending lifespan under suboptimal conditions or that of a short-lived genotype may be of a lesser theoretical and translational value than extending the maximal possible lifespan. Daphnia is becoming a model organism of choice for longevity research complementing data obtained on traditional models. In this study, we report longevity of several genotypes of a long-lived species D. magna under a variety of protocols, aiming to document the highest lifespan, factors reducing it, and parameters that change with age and correlate with longevity. Combining longevity data from 25 experiments across two labs, we report a strong intraspecific variation, moderate effects of group size and medium composition, and strong genotype-by-environment interactions with respect to food level. Specifically, short-lived genotypes show no caloric restriction (CR) effect, while long-lived ones expand their lifespan even further under CR. We find that the CR non-responsive clones show little correlation between longevity and two measures of lipid peroxidation. In contrast, the long-lived, CR-responsive clones show a positive correlation between longevity and lipid hydroperoxide abundance, and a negative correlation with MDA concentration. This indicates differences among genotypes in age-related accumulation and detoxification of LPO products and their effects on longevity. Our observations support the hypothesis that a long lifespan can be affected by CR and levels of oxidative damage, while genetically determined short lifespan remains short regardless.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Beam
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37601, USA
| | - Mchale Bright
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37601, USA
| | - Amelia C Pearson
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37601, USA
| | - Ishaan Dua
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37601, USA
| | - Meridith Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37601, USA
| | - Ashit K Dutta
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37601, USA
| | - Shymal C Bhadra
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37601, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, 46805, USA
| | - Saad Salman
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37601, USA
| | - Caleb N Strickler
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37601, USA
| | - Cora E Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37601, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Leonid Peshkin
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Lev Y Yampolsky
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 37601, USA.
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24
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Smolin N, Dombrovski M, Hina BW, Moreno-Sanchez A, Gossart R, Carmona CR, Rehan A, Hussein RH, Mirshahidi P, Ausborn J, Kurmangaliyev YZ, von Reyn CR. Neuronal identity control at the resolution of a single transcription factor isoform. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.14.598883. [PMID: 38915533 PMCID: PMC11195191 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.14.598883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
The brain exhibits remarkable neuronal diversity which is critical for its functional integrity. From the sheer number of cell types emerging from extensive transcriptional, morphological, and connectome datasets, the question arises of how the brain is capable of generating so many unique identities. 'Terminal selectors' are transcription factors hypothesized to determine the final identity characteristics in post-mitotic cells. Which transcription factors function as terminal selectors and the level of control they exert over different terminal characteristics are not well defined. Here, we establish a novel role for the transcription factor broad as a terminal selector in Drosophila melanogaster. We capitalize on existing large sequencing and connectomics datasets and employ a comprehensive characterization of terminal characteristics including Perturb-seq and whole-cell electrophysiology. We find a single isoform broad-z4 serves as the switch between the identity of two visual projection neurons LPLC1 and LPLC2. Broad-z4 is natively expressed in LPLC1, and is capable of transforming the transcriptome, morphology, and functional connectivity of LPLC2 cells into LPLC1 cells when perturbed. Our comprehensive work establishes a single isoform as the smallest unit underlying an identity switch, which may serve as a conserved strategy replicated across developmental programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Smolin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Mark Dombrovski
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Bryce W. Hina
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Anthony Moreno-Sanchez
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ryan Gossart
- Brandeis University, Department of Biology, Waltham, MA
| | | | - Aadil Rehan
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Roni H. Hussein
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Parmis Mirshahidi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jessica Ausborn
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Catherine R. von Reyn
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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25
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Majane AC, Cridland JM, Blair LK, Begun DJ. Evolution and genetics of accessory gland transcriptome divergence between Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans. Genetics 2024; 227:iyae039. [PMID: 38518250 PMCID: PMC11151936 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies of allele-specific expression in interspecific hybrids have provided important insights into gene-regulatory divergence and hybrid incompatibilities. Many such investigations in Drosophila have used transcriptome data from complex mixtures of many tissues or from gonads, however, regulatory divergence may vary widely among species, sexes, and tissues. Thus, we lack sufficiently broad sampling to be confident about the general biological principles of regulatory divergence. Here, we seek to fill some of these gaps in the literature by characterizing regulatory evolution and hybrid misexpression in a somatic male sex organ, the accessory gland, in F1 hybrids between Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans. The accessory gland produces seminal fluid proteins, which play an important role in male and female fertility and may be subject to adaptive divergence due to male-male or male-female interactions. We find that trans differences are relatively more abundant than cis, in contrast to most of the interspecific hybrid literature, though large effect-size trans differences are rare. Seminal fluid protein genes have significantly elevated levels of expression divergence and tend to be regulated through both cis and trans divergence. We find limited misexpression (over- or underexpression relative to both parents) in this organ compared to most other Drosophila studies. As in previous studies, male-biased genes are overrepresented among misexpressed genes and are much more likely to be underexpressed. ATAC-Seq data show that chromatin accessibility is correlated with expression differences among species and hybrid allele-specific expression. This work identifies unique regulatory evolution and hybrid misexpression properties of the accessory gland and suggests the importance of tissue-specific allele-specific expression studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex C Majane
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Julie M Cridland
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Logan K Blair
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - David J Begun
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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26
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Arango NK, Morgante F. Comparing statistical learning methods for complex trait prediction from gene expression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.01.596951. [PMID: 38895364 PMCID: PMC11185554 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.01.596951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Accurate prediction of complex traits is an important task in quantitative genetics that has become increasingly relevant for personalized medicine. Genotypes have traditionally been used for trait prediction using a variety of methods such as mixed models, Bayesian methods, penalized regressions, dimension reductions, and machine learning methods. Recent studies have shown that gene expression levels can produce higher prediction accuracy than genotypes. However, only a few prediction methods were used in these studies. Thus, a comprehensive assessment of methods is needed to fully evaluate the potential of gene expression as a predictor of complex trait phenotypes. Here, we used data from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) to compare the ability of several existing statistical learning methods to predict starvation resistance from gene expression in the two sexes separately. The methods considered differ in assumptions about the distribution of gene effect sizes - ranging from models that assume that every gene affects the trait to more sparse models - and their ability to capture gene-gene interactions. We also used functional annotation (i.e., Gene Ontology (GO)) as an external source of biological information to inform prediction models. The results show that differences in prediction accuracy between methods exist, although they are generally not large. Methods performing variable selection gave higher accuracy in females while methods assuming a more polygenic architecture performed better in males. Incorporating GO annotations further improved prediction accuracy for a few GO terms of biological significance. Biological significance extended to the genes underlying highly predictive GO terms with different genes emerging between sexes. Notably, the Insulin-like Receptor (InR) was prevalent across methods and sexes. Our results confirmed the potential of transcriptomic prediction and highlighted the importance of selecting appropriate methods and strategies in order to achieve accurate predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Klimkowski Arango
- Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Fabio Morgante
- Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
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27
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Hernandes N, Qi XM, Bhide S, Brown C, Camm BJ, Baxter SW, Robin C. Acetylcholine esterase of Drosophila melanogaster: a laboratory model to explore insecticide susceptibility gene drives. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:2950-2964. [PMID: 38344908 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8003] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the proposed applications of gene drives has been to revert pesticide resistant mutations back to the ancestral susceptible state. Insecticides that have become ineffective because of the rise of resistance could have reinvigorated utility and be used to suppress pest populations again, perhaps at lower application doses. RESULTS We have created a laboratory model for susceptibility gene drives that replaces field-selected resistant variants of the acetylcholine esterase (Ace) locus of Drosophila melanogaster with ancestral susceptible variants. We constructed a CRISPR/Cas9 homing drive and found that homing occurred in many genetic backgrounds with varying efficiencies. While the drive itself could not be homozygous, it converted resistant alleles into susceptible ones and produced recessive lethal alleles that could suppress populations. Our studies provided evidence for two distinct classes of gene drive resistance (GDR): rather than being mediated by the conventional non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway, one seemed to involve short homologous repair and the other was defined by genetic background. Additionally, we used simulations to explore a distinct application of susceptibility drives; the use of chemicals to prevent the spread of synthetic gene drives into protected areas. CONCLUSIONS Insecticide susceptibility gene drives could be useful tools to control pest insects however problems with particularities of target loci and GDR will need to be overcome for them to be effective. Furthermore, realistic patterns of pest dispersal and high insecticide exposure rates would be required if susceptibility were to be useful as a 'safety-switch' to prevent the unwanted spread of gene drives. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Hernandes
- The School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xiaomeng Mollyann Qi
- The School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Soumitra Bhide
- The School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Courtney Brown
- The School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Benjamin J Camm
- The School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon W Baxter
- The School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Charles Robin
- The School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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28
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Yamamoto A, Huang W, Anholt RR, Mackay TF. The genetic basis of variation in Drosophila melanogaster mating behavior. iScience 2024; 27:109837. [PMID: 38766354 PMCID: PMC11099327 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Mating behavior is an essential fitness trait. We used the inbred, sequenced lines of the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) to gain insights into the evolution of mating success and to evaluate the overlap in genetic architecture of mating behavior between the sexes. We found significant genetic variation for mating success when DGRP males and females from the same line were mated together, and when DGRP males and females were mated to an unrelated strain of the opposite sex. The mating success of DGRP males and females was not correlated when they were paired with the unrelated strain, suggesting independent genetic architecture of mating success in males and females that was confirmed by genome-wide association analyses. However, the mating success between pairs of the same or different DGRP lines was predicted accurately by the respective female and male mating success with the unrelated line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Yamamoto
- Program in Genetics, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7614, USA
| | - Wen Huang
- Program in Genetics, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7614, USA
| | - Robert R.H. Anholt
- Program in Genetics, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7614, USA
| | - Trudy F.C. Mackay
- Program in Genetics, W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology and Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7614, USA
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29
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Fiumera AC. Experience matters: genetic variation affects male reproductive success across sequential mating events in Drosophila melanogaster. J Evol Biol 2024; 37:501-509. [PMID: 38513113 DOI: 10.1093/jeb/voae038] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The cost of reproduction is well studied in females but only recently have the costs of mating been investigated in males. Research suggests that males allocate resources between subsequent mating events, resulting in differential success across mating bouts. Selection should favor allocation strategies that match the likelihood of successive matings. The complexity of the system, however, suggests that one fixed strategy is unlikely to be universally favored and thus I predict that genetic variation for different allocation strategies will be segregating in natural populations. To test this, I measured several components of reproductive performance in eight inbred genotypes of Drosophila melanogaster across three sequential mating events. As predicted, there was genetic variation for how previous experience affected a male's reproductive performance for both the proportion of matings that produced offspring and the proportion of offspring sired (P1). Some genotypes had the highest success in their first matings and declined in successive matings while other genotypes did best in later matings. Mating experience had consistent effects across genotypes on fertility and induced refractoriness to remating. On average, virgin matings produced the highest fertility and third matings most effectively induced refractoriness. Genotype also had a significant effect on fertility. These results have important implications for understanding how selection may be acting on males when there is variation in the likelihood of multiple mating events and could affect the evolution of male allocation strategies in the face of perceived competitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Fiumera
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
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30
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Hutchins M, Douglas T, Pollack L, Saltz JB. Genetic Variation in Male Aggression Is Influenced by Genotype of Prior Social Partners in Drosophila melanogaster. Am Nat 2024; 203:551-561. [PMID: 38635366 DOI: 10.1086/729463] [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: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
AbstractSocial behaviors can be influenced by the genotypes of interacting individuals through indirect genetic effects (IGEs) and can also display developmental plasticity. We investigated how developmental IGEs, which describe the effects of a prior social partner's genotype on later behavior, can influence aggression in male Drosophila melanogaster. We predicted that developmental IGEs cannot be estimated by simply extending the effects of contextual IGEs over time and instead have their own unique effects on behavior. On day 1 of the experiment, we measured aggressive behavior in 15 genotypic pairings (n = 600 males). On day 2, each of the males was paired with a new opponent, and aggressive behavior was again measured. We found contextual IGEs on day 1 of the experiment and developmental IGEs on day 2 of the experiment: the influence of the day 1 partner's genotype on the focal individual's day 2 behavior depended on the genotypic identity of both the day 1 partner and the focal male. Importantly, the developmental IGEs in our system produced fundamentally different dynamics than the contextual IGEs, as the presence of IGEs was altered over time. These findings represent some of the first empirical evidence demonstrating developmental IGEs, a first step toward incorporating developmental IGEs into our understanding of behavioral evolution.
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31
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Chen J, Liu C, Li W, Zhang W, Wang Y, Clark AG, Lu J. From sub-Saharan Africa to China: Evolutionary history and adaptation of Drosophila melanogaster revealed by population genomics. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadh3425. [PMID: 38630810 PMCID: PMC11023512 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh3425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster is a widely used model organism for studying environmental adaptation. However, the genetic diversity of populations in Asia is poorly understood, leaving a notable gap in our knowledge of the global evolution and adaptation of this species. We sequenced genomes of 292 D. melanogaster strains from various ecological settings in China and analyzed them along with previously published genome sequences. We have identified six global genetic ancestry groups, despite the presence of widespread genetic admixture. The strains from China represent a unique ancestry group, although detectable differentiation exists among populations within China. We deciphered the global migration and demography of D. melanogaster, and identified widespread signals of adaptation, including genetic changes in response to insecticides. We validated the effects of insecticide resistance variants using population cage trials and deep sequencing. This work highlights the importance of population genomics in understanding the genetic underpinnings of adaptation, an effort that is particularly relevant given the deterioration of ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Chenlu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Weixuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Wenxia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yirong Wang
- College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Andrew G. Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Jian Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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32
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Bylino OV, Ogienko AA, Batin MA, Georgiev PG, Omelina ES. Genetic, Environmental, and Stochastic Components of Lifespan Variability: The Drosophila Paradigm. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4482. [PMID: 38674068 PMCID: PMC11050664 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Lifespan is a complex quantitative trait involving genetic and non-genetic factors as well as the peculiarities of ontogenesis. As with all quantitative traits, lifespan shows considerable variation within populations and between individuals. Drosophila, a favourite object of geneticists, has greatly advanced our understanding of how different forms of variability affect lifespan. This review considers the role of heritable genetic variability, phenotypic plasticity and stochastic variability in controlling lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster. We discuss the major historical milestones in the development of the genetic approach to study lifespan, the breeding of long-lived lines, advances in lifespan QTL mapping, the environmental factors that have the greatest influence on lifespan in laboratory maintained flies, and the mechanisms, by which individual development affects longevity. The interplay between approaches to study ageing and lifespan limitation will also be discussed. Particular attention will be paid to the interaction of different types of variability in the control of lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg V. Bylino
- Department of Regulation of Genetic Processes, Laboratory of Molecular Organization of the Genome, Institute of Gene Biology RAS, 119334 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A. Ogienko
- Department of Regulation of Genetic Processes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Mikhail A. Batin
- Open Longevity, 15260 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, CA 91403, USA
| | - Pavel G. Georgiev
- Department of Regulation of Genetic Processes, Laboratory of Molecular Organization of the Genome, Institute of Gene Biology RAS, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeniya S. Omelina
- Department of Regulation of Genetic Processes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
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33
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Li T, Zhang RS, True JR. Genetic variation for sexual dimorphism in developmental traits in Drosophila melanogaster. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae010. [PMID: 38427952 PMCID: PMC10989870 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae010] [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: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in traits of insects during the developmental stages could potentially be the direct or indirect result of sex-specific selection provided that genetic variation for sexual dimorphism is present. We investigated genetic variation in sexual dimorphism in a set of Drosophila melanogaster inbred lines for 2 traits: egg to adult development time and pupation site preference. We observed considerable genetic variation in sexual dimorphism among lines in both traits. The sexual dimorphic patterns remained relatively consistent across multiple trials, despite both traits being sensitive to environmental conditions. Additionally, we measured 2 sexually dimorphic adult morphological traits in 6 sampled lines and investigated correlations in the sexual dimorphism patterns with the 2 developmental traits. The abundance of genetic variation in sexual dimorphism for D. melanogaster developmental traits demonstrated in this study provides evidence for a high degree of evolvability of sex differences in preadult traits in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Li
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Rebecca S Zhang
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - John R True
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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Gabrawy MM, Westbrook R, King A, Khosravian N, Ochaney N, DeCarvalho T, Wang Q, Yu Y, Huang Q, Said A, Abadir M, Zhang C, Khare P, Fairman JE, Le A, Milne GL, Vonhoff FJ, Walston JD, Abadir PM. Dual treatment with kynurenine pathway inhibitors and NAD + precursors synergistically extends life span in Drosophila. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e14102. [PMID: 38481042 PMCID: PMC11019140 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan catabolism is highly conserved and generates important bioactive metabolites, including kynurenines, and in some animals, NAD+. Aging and inflammation are associated with increased levels of kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolites and depleted NAD+, factors which are implicated as contributors to frailty and morbidity. Contrastingly, KP suppression and NAD+ supplementation are associated with increased life span in some animals. Here, we used DGRP_229 Drosophila to elucidate the effects of KP elevation, KP suppression, and NAD+ supplementation on physical performance and survivorship. Flies were chronically fed kynurenines, KP inhibitors, NAD+ precursors, or a combination of KP inhibitors with NAD+ precursors. Flies with elevated kynurenines had reduced climbing speed, endurance, and life span. Treatment with a combination of KP inhibitors and NAD+ precursors preserved physical function and synergistically increased maximum life span. We conclude that KP flux can regulate health span and life span in Drosophila and that targeting KP and NAD+ metabolism can synergistically increase life span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariann M. Gabrawy
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Reyhan Westbrook
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Austin King
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Nick Khosravian
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Neeraj Ochaney
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Tagide DeCarvalho
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Qinchuan Wang
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Yuqiong Yu
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Qiao Huang
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Adam Said
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Michael Abadir
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- University of Maryland, College ParkCollege ParkMarylandUSA
| | | | | | - Jennifer E. Fairman
- Department of Arts as Applied to MedicineJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Anne Le
- Gigantest Inc.BaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Ginger L. Milne
- Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt Brain Institute, Neurochemistry CoreNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Fernando J. Vonhoff
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Jeremy D. Walston
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Peter M. Abadir
- School of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Biology of Healthy Aging ProgramJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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35
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Fay CR, Toth AL. Is the genetic architecture of behavior exceptionally complex? CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 62:101167. [PMID: 38280455 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2024.101167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Are traits with high levels of plasticity more complex in their genetic architecture, as they can be modulated by numerous different environmental inputs? Many authors have assumed that behavioral traits, in part because they are highly plastic, have an exceptionally complex genetic basis. We quantitatively summarized data from 31 genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and 87 traits in Drosophila melanogaster and found no evidence that behavioral traits have fundamental differences in the number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms or the significance or effect size of those associations, compared with nonbehavioral (morphological or physiological) traits. We suggest the assertion that behavioral traits are inherently more complex on a genetic basis compared with other types of traits should not be assumed true, and merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron R Fay
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014, USA
| | - Amy L Toth
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014, USA.
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36
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Gomez A, Gonzalez S, Oke A, Luo J, Duong JB, Esquerra RM, Zimmerman T, Capponi S, Fung JC, Nystul TG. A high-throughput method for quantifying Drosophila fecundity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.27.587093. [PMID: 38585877 PMCID: PMC10996622 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.27.587093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Measurements of Drosophila fecundity are used in a wide variety of studies, such as investigations of stem cell biology, nutrition, behavior, and toxicology. In addition, because fecundity assays are performed on live flies, they are suitable for longitudinal studies such as investigations of aging or prolonged chemical exposure. However, standard Drosophila fecundity assays have been difficult to perform in a high-throughput manner because experimental factors such as the physiological state of the flies and environmental cues must be carefully controlled to achieve consistent results. In addition, exposing flies to a large number of different experimental conditions (such as chemical additives in the diet) and manually counting the number of eggs laid to determine the impact on fecundity is time-consuming. We have overcome these challenges by combining a new multiwell fly culture strategy with a novel 3D-printed fly transfer device to rapidly and accurately transfer flies from one plate to another; the RoboCam, a low-cost, custom built robotic camera to capture images of the wells automatically; and an image segmentation pipeline to automatically identify and quantify eggs. We show that this method is compatible with robust and consistent egg laying throughout the assay period; and demonstrate that the automated pipeline for quantifying fecundity is very accurate (r2 = 0.98 for the correlation between the automated egg counts and the ground truth) In addition, we show that this method can be used to efficiently detect the effects on fecundity induced by dietary exposure to chemicals. Taken together, this strategy substantially increases the efficiency and reproducibility of high throughput egg laying assays that require exposing flies to multiple different media conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreana Gomez
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Anatomy
| | - Sergio Gonzalez
- San Francisco State University, Department of Biology
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
| | - Ashwini Oke
- San Francisco State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of California, San Francisco, OB/GYN Department
- IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA; University of California, San Francisco, Center for Reproductive Sciences
| | - Jiayu Luo
- San Francisco State University, Department of Biology
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
| | - Johnny B Duong
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
- San Francisco State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of California, San Francisco, OB/GYN Department
| | - Raymond M Esquerra
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
- San Francisco State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of California, San Francisco, OB/GYN Department
| | - Thomas Zimmerman
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
- IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA; University of California, San Francisco, Center for Reproductive Sciences
| | - Sara Capponi
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
- IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA; University of California, San Francisco, Center for Reproductive Sciences
| | - Jennifer C Fung
- San Francisco State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of California, San Francisco, OB/GYN Department
- IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA; University of California, San Francisco, Center for Reproductive Sciences
- University of California, San Francisco EaRTH Center
| | - Todd G Nystul
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Anatomy
- San Francisco State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of California, San Francisco, OB/GYN Department
- IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA; University of California, San Francisco, Center for Reproductive Sciences
- University of California, San Francisco EaRTH Center
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37
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Bénitière F, Necsulea A, Duret L. Random genetic drift sets an upper limit on mRNA splicing accuracy in metazoans. eLife 2024; 13:RP93629. [PMID: 38470242 DOI: 10.7554/elife.93629] [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: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Most eukaryotic genes undergo alternative splicing (AS), but the overall functional significance of this process remains a controversial issue. It has been noticed that the complexity of organisms (assayed by the number of distinct cell types) correlates positively with their genome-wide AS rate. This has been interpreted as evidence that AS plays an important role in adaptive evolution by increasing the functional repertoires of genomes. However, this observation also fits with a totally opposite interpretation: given that 'complex' organisms tend to have small effective population sizes (Ne), they are expected to be more affected by genetic drift, and hence more prone to accumulate deleterious mutations that decrease splicing accuracy. Thus, according to this 'drift barrier' theory, the elevated AS rate in complex organisms might simply result from a higher splicing error rate. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed 3496 transcriptome sequencing samples to quantify AS in 53 metazoan species spanning a wide range of Ne values. Our results show a negative correlation between Ne proxies and the genome-wide AS rates among species, consistent with the drift barrier hypothesis. This pattern is dominated by low abundance isoforms, which represent the vast majority of the splice variant repertoire. We show that these low abundance isoforms are depleted in functional AS events, and most likely correspond to errors. Conversely, the AS rate of abundant isoforms, which are relatively enriched in functional AS events, tends to be lower in more complex species. All these observations are consistent with the hypothesis that variation in AS rates across metazoans reflects the limits set by drift on the capacity of selection to prevent gene expression errors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Bénitière
- Laboratoire de Biometrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, Universite Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Anamaria Necsulea
- Laboratoire de Biometrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, Universite Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Laurent Duret
- Laboratoire de Biometrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, Universite Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
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38
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Ninoyu Y, Friedman RA. The genetic landscape of age-related hearing loss. Trends Genet 2024; 40:228-237. [PMID: 38161109 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.12.001] [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: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a prevalent concern in the elderly population. Recent genome-wide and phenome-wide association studies (GWASs and PheWASs) have delved into the identification of causative variants and the understanding of pleiotropy, highlighting the polygenic intricacies of this complex condition. While recent large-scale GWASs have pinpointed significant SNPs and risk variants associated with ARHL, the detailed mechanisms, encompassing both genetic and epigenetic modifications, remain to be fully elucidated. This review presents the latest advances in association studies, integrating findings from both human studies and model organisms. By juxtaposing historical perspectives with contemporary genomics, we aim to catalyze innovative research and foster the development of novel therapeutic strategies for ARHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzuru Ninoyu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Rick A Friedman
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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39
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Pianezza R, Scarpa A, Narayanan P, Signor S, Kofler R. Spoink, a LTR retrotransposon, invaded D. melanogaster populations in the 1990s. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011201. [PMID: 38530818 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
During the last few centuries D. melanogaster populations were invaded by several transposable elements, the most recent of which was thought to be the P-element between 1950 and 1980. Here we describe a novel TE, which we named Spoink, that has invaded D. melanogaster. It is a 5216nt LTR retrotransposon of the Ty3/gypsy superfamily. Relying on strains sampled at different times during the last century we show that Spoink invaded worldwide D. melanogaster populations after the P-element between 1983 and 1993. This invasion was likely triggered by a horizontal transfer from the D. willistoni group, much as the P-element. Spoink is probably silenced by the piRNA pathway in natural populations and about 1/3 of the examined strains have an insertion into a canonical piRNA cluster such as 42AB. Given the degree of genetic investigation of D. melanogaster it is perhaps surprising that Spoink was able to invade unnoticed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Pianezza
- Institut für Populationsgenetik, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Almorò Scarpa
- Institut für Populationsgenetik, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Prakash Narayanan
- Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, United States of America
| | - Sarah Signor
- Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, United States of America
| | - Robert Kofler
- Institut für Populationsgenetik, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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40
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Lafuente E, Duneau D, Beldade P. Genetic basis of variation in thermal developmental plasticity for Drosophila melanogaster body pigmentation. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17294. [PMID: 38366327 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Seasonal differences in insect pigmentation are attributed to the influence of ambient temperature on pigmentation development. This thermal plasticity is adaptive and heritable, and thereby capable of evolving. However, the specific genes contributing to the variation in plasticity that can drive its evolution remain largely unknown. To address this, we analysed pigmentation and pigmentation plasticity in Drosophila melanogaster. We measured two components of pigmentation in the thorax and abdomen: overall darkness and the proportion of length covered by darker pattern elements (a trident in the thorax and bands in the abdomen) in females from two developmental temperatures (17 or 28°C) and 191 genotypes. Using a GWAS approach to identify the genetic basis of variation in pigmentation and its response to temperature, we identified numerous dispersed QTLs, including some mapping to melanogenesis genes (yellow, ebony, and tan). Remarkably, we observed limited overlap between QTLs for variation within specific temperatures and those influencing thermal plasticity, as well as minimal overlap between plasticity QTLs across pigmentation components and across body parts. For most traits, consistent with selection favouring the retention of plasticity, we found that lower plasticity alleles were often at lower frequencies. The functional analysis of selected candidate QTLs and pigmentation genes largely confirmed their contributions to variation in pigmentation and/or pigmentation plasticity. Overall, our study reveals the existence and underlying basis of extensive and trait-specific genetic variation for pigmentation and pigmentation plasticity, offering a rich reservoir of raw material for natural selection to shape the evolution of these traits independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Lafuente
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - D Duneau
- UMR5174, Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
- Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - P Beldade
- cE3c (Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) & CHANGE (Global Change and Sustainability Institute), FCUL, Lisboa, Portugal
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41
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Oliveira MT, Anhezini L, Araujo HM, Oliveira MF, Couto-Lima CA. Boosting life sciences research in Brazil: building a case for a local Drosophila stock center. Genet Mol Biol 2024; 47:e20230202. [PMID: 38446983 PMCID: PMC10917079 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2023-0202] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster is undoubtedly one of the most useful model organisms in biology. Initially used in solidifying the principles of heredity, and establishing the basic concepts of population genetics and of the synthetic theory of evolution, it can currently offer scientists much more: the possibility of investigating a plethora of cellular and biological mechanisms, from development and function of the immune system to animal neurogenesis, tumorigenesis and beyond. Extensive resources are available for the community of Drosophila researchers worldwide, including an ever-growing number of mutant, transgenic and genomically-edited lines currently carried by stock centers in North America, Europe and Asia. Here, we provide evidence for the importance of stock centers in sustaining the substantial increase in the output of Drosophila research worldwide in recent decades. We also discuss the challenges that Brazilian Drosophila scientists face to keep their research projects internationally competitive, and argue that difficulties in importing fly lines from international stock centers have significantly stalled the progression of all Drosophila research areas in the country. Establishing a local stock center might be the first step towards building a strong local Drosophila community that will likely contribute to all areas of life sciences research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos T. Oliveira
- Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias de Jaboticabal, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucas Anhezini
- Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Histologia e Embriologia, Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Helena M. Araujo
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Programa de Graduação em Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcus F. Oliveira
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos A. Couto-Lima
- Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias de Jaboticabal, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
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42
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Coleman CR, Pallos J, Arreola-Bustos A, Wang L, Raftery D, Promislow DEL, Martin I. Natural Variation in Age-Related Dopamine Neuron Degeneration is Glutathione-Dependent and Linked to Life Span. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.12.580013. [PMID: 38405950 PMCID: PMC10888861 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.12.580013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Aging is the biggest risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), suggesting that age-related changes in the brain promote dopamine neuron vulnerability. It is unclear, however, whether aging alone is sufficient to cause significant dopamine neuron loss and if so, how this intersects with PD-related neurodegeneration. Here, through examining a large collection of naturally varying Drosophila strains, we find a strong relationship between life span and age-related dopamine neuron loss. Naturally short-lived strains exhibit a loss of dopamine neurons but not generalized neurodegeneration, while long-lived strains retain dopamine neurons across age. Metabolomic profiling reveals lower glutathione levels in short-lived strains which is associated with elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), sensitivity to oxidative stress and vulnerability to silencing the familial PD gene parkin . Strikingly, boosting neuronal glutathione levels via glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL) overexpression is sufficient to normalize ROS levels, extend life span and block dopamine neurons loss in short-lived backgrounds, demonstrating that glutathione deficiencies are central to neurodegenerative phenotypes associated with short longevity. These findings may be relevant to human PD pathogenesis, where glutathione depletion is frequently reported in idiopathic PD patient brain. Building on this evidence, we detect reduced levels of GCL catalytic and modulatory subunits in brain from PD patients harboring the LRRK2 G2019S mutation, implicating possible glutathione deficits in familial LRRK2-linked PD. Our study across Drosophila and human PD systems suggests that glutathione plays an important role in the influence of aging on PD neurodegeneration.
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43
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Owings KG, Chow CY. A Drosophila screen identifies a role for histone methylation in ER stress preconditioning. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkad265. [PMID: 38098286 PMCID: PMC11021027 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad265] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Stress preconditioning occurs when transient, sublethal stress events impact an organism's ability to counter future stresses. Although preconditioning effects are often noted in the literature, very little is known about the underlying mechanisms. To model preconditioning, we exposed a panel of genetically diverse Drosophila melanogaster to a sublethal heat shock and measured how well the flies survived subsequent exposure to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The impact of preconditioning varied with genetic background, ranging from dying half as fast to 4 and a half times faster with preconditioning compared to no preconditioning. Subsequent association and transcriptional analyses revealed that histone methylation, and transcriptional regulation are both candidate preconditioning modifier pathways. Strikingly, almost all subunits (7/8) in the Set1/COMPASS complex were identified as candidate modifiers of preconditioning. Functional analysis of Set1 knockdown flies demonstrated that loss of Set1 led to the transcriptional dysregulation of canonical ER stress genes during preconditioning. Based on these analyses, we propose a preconditioning model in which Set1 helps to establish an interim transcriptional "memory" of previous stress events, resulting in a preconditioned response to subsequent stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie G Owings
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, EIHG 5200, 15 North 2030 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Clement Y Chow
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, EIHG 5200, 15 North 2030 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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44
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Ball RL, Bogue MA, Liang H, Srivastava A, Ashbrook DG, Lamoureux A, Gerring MW, Hatoum AS, Kim MJ, He H, Emerson J, Berger AK, Walton DO, Sheppard K, El Kassaby B, Castellanos F, Kunde-Ramamoorthy G, Lu L, Bluis J, Desai S, Sundberg BA, Peltz G, Fang Z, Churchill GA, Williams RW, Agrawal A, Bult CJ, Philip VM, Chesler EJ. GenomeMUSter mouse genetic variation service enables multitrait, multipopulation data integration and analysis. Genome Res 2024; 34:145-159. [PMID: 38290977 PMCID: PMC10903950 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278157.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Hundreds of inbred mouse strains and intercross populations have been used to characterize the function of genetic variants that contribute to disease. Thousands of disease-relevant traits have been characterized in mice and made publicly available. New strains and populations including consomics, the collaborative cross, expanded BXD, and inbred wild-derived strains add to existing complex disease mouse models, mapping populations, and sensitized backgrounds for engineered mutations. The genome sequences of inbred strains, along with dense genotypes from others, enable integrated analysis of trait-variant associations across populations, but these analyses are hampered by the sparsity of genotypes available. Moreover, the data are not readily interoperable with other resources. To address these limitations, we created a uniformly dense variant resource by harmonizing multiple data sets. Missing genotypes were imputed using the Viterbi algorithm with a data-driven technique that incorporates local phylogenetic information, an approach that is extendable to other model organisms. The result is a web- and programmatically accessible data service called GenomeMUSter, comprising single-nucleotide variants covering 657 strains at 106.8 million segregating sites. Interoperation with phenotype databases, analytic tools, and other resources enable a wealth of applications, including multitrait, multipopulation meta-analysis. We show this in cross-species comparisons of type 2 diabetes and substance use disorder meta-analyses, leveraging mouse data to characterize the likely role of human variant effects in disease. Other applications include refinement of mapped loci and prioritization of strain backgrounds for disease modeling to further unlock extant mouse diversity for genetic and genomic studies in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn L Ball
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA;
| | - Molly A Bogue
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA
| | | | - Anuj Srivastava
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut 06032, USA
| | - David G Ashbrook
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA
| | | | | | - Alexander S Hatoum
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
- Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
| | - Matthew J Kim
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Hao He
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA
| | - Jake Emerson
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lu Lu
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA
| | - John Bluis
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA
| | - Sejal Desai
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA
| | | | - Gary Peltz
- Department of Anesthesia, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Zhuoqing Fang
- Department of Anesthesia, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | | | - Robert W Williams
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
| | - Carol J Bult
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA
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45
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Nunez JCB, Lenhart BA, Bangerter A, Murray CS, Mazzeo GR, Yu Y, Nystrom TL, Tern C, Erickson PA, Bergland AO. A cosmopolitan inversion facilitates seasonal adaptation in overwintering Drosophila. Genetics 2024; 226:iyad207. [PMID: 38051996 PMCID: PMC10847723 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad207] [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: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluctuations in the strength and direction of natural selection through time are a ubiquitous feature of life on Earth. One evolutionary outcome of such fluctuations is adaptive tracking, wherein populations rapidly adapt from standing genetic variation. In certain circumstances, adaptive tracking can lead to the long-term maintenance of functional polymorphism despite allele frequency change due to selection. Although adaptive tracking is likely a common process, we still have a limited understanding of aspects of its genetic architecture and its strength relative to other evolutionary forces such as drift. Drosophila melanogaster living in temperate regions evolve to track seasonal fluctuations and are an excellent system to tackle these gaps in knowledge. By sequencing orchard populations collected across multiple years, we characterized the genomic signal of seasonal demography and identified that the cosmopolitan inversion In(2L)t facilitates seasonal adaptive tracking and shows molecular footprints of selection. A meta-analysis of phenotypic studies shows that seasonal loci within In(2L)t are associated with behavior, life history, physiology, and morphological traits. We identify candidate loci and experimentally link them to phenotype. Our work contributes to our general understanding of fluctuating selection and highlights the evolutionary outcome and dynamics of contemporary selection on inversions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquin C B Nunez
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 90 Geldard Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Benedict A Lenhart
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 90 Geldard Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, USA
| | - Alyssa Bangerter
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 90 Geldard Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, USA
| | - Connor S Murray
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 90 Geldard Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, USA
| | - Giovanni R Mazzeo
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 90 Geldard Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, USA
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 90 Geldard Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, USA
| | - Taylor L Nystrom
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 90 Geldard Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, USA
| | - Courtney Tern
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 90 Geldard Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, USA
| | - Priscilla A Erickson
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 90 Geldard Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, 138 UR Drive, Richmond, VA 23173, USA
| | - Alan O Bergland
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 90 Geldard Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, USA
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46
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Dopp J, Ortega A, Davie K, Poovathingal S, Baz ES, Liu S. Single-cell transcriptomics reveals that glial cells integrate homeostatic and circadian processes to drive sleep-wake cycles. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:359-372. [PMID: 38263460 PMCID: PMC10849968 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01549-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
The sleep-wake cycle is determined by circadian and sleep homeostatic processes. However, the molecular impact of these processes and their interaction in different brain cell populations are unknown. To fill this gap, we profiled the single-cell transcriptome of adult Drosophila brains across the sleep-wake cycle and four circadian times. We show cell type-specific transcriptomic changes, with glia displaying the largest variation. Glia are also among the few cell types whose gene expression correlates with both sleep homeostat and circadian clock. The sleep-wake cycle and sleep drive level affect the expression of clock gene regulators in glia, and disrupting clock genes specifically in glia impairs homeostatic sleep rebound after sleep deprivation. These findings provide a comprehensive view of the effects of sleep homeostatic and circadian processes on distinct cell types in an entire animal brain and reveal glia as an interaction site of these two processes to determine sleep-wake dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Dopp
- Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Antonio Ortega
- Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristofer Davie
- Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Suresh Poovathingal
- Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - El-Sayed Baz
- Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Sha Liu
- Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB-KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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47
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Fanara JJ, Sassi PL, Goenaga J, Hasson E. Genetic basis and repeatability for desiccation resistance in Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Genetica 2024; 152:1-9. [PMID: 38102503 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-023-00201-0] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Dehydration is a stress factor for organisms inhabiting natural habitats where water is scarce. Thus, it may be expected that species facing arid environments will develop mechanisms that maximize resistance to desiccation. Insects are excellent models for studying the effects of dehydration as well as the mechanisms and processes that prevent water loss since the effect of desiccation is greater due to the higher area/volume ratio than larger animals. Even though physiological and behavioral mechanisms to cope with desiccation are being understood, the genetic basis underlying the mechanisms related to variation in desiccation resistance and the context-dependent effect remain unsolved. Here we analyze the genetic bases of desiccation resistance in Drosophila melanogaster and identify candidate genes that underlie trait variation. Our quantitative genetic analysis of desiccation resistance revealed sexual dimorphism and extensive genetic variation. The phenotype-genotype association analyses (GWAS) identified 71 candidate genes responsible for total phenotypic variation in desiccation resistance. Half of these candidate genes were sex-specific suggesting that the genetic architecture underlying this adaptive trait differs between males and females. Moreover, the public availability of desiccation data analyzed on the same lines but in a different lab allows us to investigate the reliability and repeatability of results obtained in independent screens. Our survey indicates a pervasive micro-environment lab-dependent effect since we did not detect overlap in the sets of genes affecting desiccation resistance identified between labs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Jose Fanara
- Laboratorio de Evolución, Departamento de Ecología Genética y Evolución, Instituto de Ecología Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), CONICET-UBA, FCEN, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Paola Lorena Sassi
- Grupo de Ecología Integrativa de Fauna Silvestre, Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Áridas, CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Julieta Goenaga
- Quality Control & NIR Scientist, Biomar Group, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Esteban Hasson
- Laboratorio de Evolución, Departamento de Ecología Genética y Evolución, Instituto de Ecología Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), CONICET-UBA, FCEN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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48
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Mendoza-Grimau V, Pérez-Gálvez A, Busturia A, Fontecha J. Lipidomic profiling of Drosophila strains Canton-S and white 1118 reveals intraspecific lipid variations in basal metabolic rate. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2024; 201:102618. [PMID: 38795635 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2024.102618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster is a well-established model system for studies on lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis. In this study, we identified and quantified the main components of the lipid profile of two widely utilized Drosophila strains, namely Canton-S and white1118, under identical experimental conditions. Differences observed between the strains can be attributed to inherent metabolic divergences, thus limiting the influence of confounding factors. Using the comprehensive lipid data acquired, we applied cluster analysis and PLS-DA techniques to ascertain whether the lipidome could effectively differentiate between the strains. Certain lipid features, such as triacylglycerols, polar lipids, and specific sterol components, could be distinguished between flies of both strains regardless of sex. Our results suggest that although Canton-S and white1118 have similar lipid profiles and distributions, a selected subset of lipids demonstrates clear discriminatory potential between strains, thereby bearing significant implications for planning biological studies using these strains as control references.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Mendoza-Grimau
- Food Lipid Biomarkers and Health Group, Institute of Food Science Research (CIAL, CSIC-UAM), Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Antonio Pérez-Gálvez
- Group of Chemistry and Biochemistry of Pigments, Instituto de la Grasa, CSIC, Sevilla 41013, Spain
| | - Ana Busturia
- Tissue and organ homeostasis, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, (CBMSO, CSIC-UAM), Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Javier Fontecha
- Food Lipid Biomarkers and Health Group, Institute of Food Science Research (CIAL, CSIC-UAM), Madrid 28049, Spain.
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49
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Wilson KA, Bar S, Dammer EB, Carrera EM, Hodge BA, Hilsabeck TAU, Bons J, Brownridge GW, Beck JN, Rose J, Granath-Panelo M, Nelson CS, Qi G, Gerencser AA, Lan J, Afenjar A, Chawla G, Brem RB, Campeau PM, Bellen HJ, Schilling B, Seyfried NT, Ellerby LM, Kapahi P. OXR1 maintains the retromer to delay brain aging under dietary restriction. Nat Commun 2024; 15:467. [PMID: 38212606 PMCID: PMC10784588 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44343-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Dietary restriction (DR) delays aging, but the mechanism remains unclear. We identified polymorphisms in mtd, the fly homolog of OXR1, which influenced lifespan and mtd expression in response to DR. Knockdown in adulthood inhibited DR-mediated lifespan extension in female flies. We found that mtd/OXR1 expression declines with age and it interacts with the retromer, which regulates trafficking of proteins and lipids. Loss of mtd/OXR1 destabilized the retromer, causing improper protein trafficking and endolysosomal defects. Overexpression of retromer genes or pharmacological restabilization with R55 rescued lifespan and neurodegeneration in mtd-deficient flies and endolysosomal defects in fibroblasts from patients with lethal loss-of-function of OXR1 variants. Multi-omic analyses in flies and humans showed that decreased Mtd/OXR1 is associated with aging and neurological diseases. mtd/OXR1 overexpression rescued age-related visual decline and tauopathy in a fly model. Hence, OXR1 plays a conserved role in preserving retromer function and is critical for neuronal health and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A Wilson
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Sudipta Bar
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Eric B Dammer
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | | | - Brian A Hodge
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Tyler A U Hilsabeck
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Joanna Bons
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | | | - Jennifer N Beck
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Jacob Rose
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | | | | | - Grace Qi
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | | | - Jianfeng Lan
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
- Guanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, The Afilliated Hospital of Guilin Medican University, Guilin, 541001, Guanxi, China
| | - Alexandra Afenjar
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Unité de Génétique Clinique, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire, Paris, 75012, France
- Département de Génétique et Embryologie Médicale, CRMR des Malformations et Maladies Congénitales du Cervelet, GRC ConCer-LD, Sorbonne Universités, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, 75012, France
| | - Geetanjali Chawla
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence, NH91, Tehsil Dadri, G. B. Nagar, 201314, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rachel B Brem
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 111 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Philippe M Campeau
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-Justine Research Center, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics and Neuroscience, Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | - Nicholas T Seyfried
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Lisa M Ellerby
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA.
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
| | - Pankaj Kapahi
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, 94945, USA.
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
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50
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Eiman MN, Kumar S, Serrano Negron YL, Tansey TR, Harbison ST. Genome-wide association in Drosophila identifies a role for Piezo and Proc-R in sleep latency. Sci Rep 2024; 14:260. [PMID: 38168575 PMCID: PMC10761942 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50552-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: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Sleep latency, the amount of time that it takes an individual to fall asleep, is a key indicator of sleep need. Sleep latency varies considerably both among and within species and is heritable, but lacks a comprehensive description of its underlying genetic network. Here we conduct a genome-wide association study of sleep latency. Using previously collected sleep and activity data on a wild-derived population of flies, we calculate sleep latency, confirming significant, heritable genetic variation for this complex trait. We identify 520 polymorphisms in 248 genes contributing to variability in sleep latency. Tests of mutations in 23 candidate genes and additional putative pan-neuronal knockdown of 9 of them implicated CG44153, Piezo, Proc-R and Rbp6 in sleep latency. Two large-effect mutations in the genes Proc-R and Piezo were further confirmed via genetic rescue. This work greatly enhances our understanding of the genetic factors that influence variation in sleep latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew N Eiman
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shailesh Kumar
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Division of Neuroscience and Behavior, National Institute On Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yazmin L Serrano Negron
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Terry R Tansey
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Susan T Harbison
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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