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Jin M, Li W, Ji Z, Di G, Yuan M, Zhang Y, Kang Y, Zhao C. Coordinated cellular behavior regulated by epinephrine neurotransmitters in the nerveless placozoa. Nat Commun 2024; 15:8626. [PMID: 39366961 PMCID: PMC11452686 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52941-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/25/2024] [Indexed: 10/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding how cells communicated before the evolution of nervous systems in early metazoans is key to unraveling the origins of multicellular life. We focused on Trichoplax adhaerens, one of the earliest multicellular animals, to explore this question. Through screening a small compound library targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), we found that Trichoplax exhibits distinctive rotational movements when exposed to epinephrine. Further studies suggested that, akin to those in humans, this basal organism also utilizes adrenergic signals to regulate its negative taxis behavior, with the downstream signaling pathway being more straightforward and efficient. Mechanistically, the binding of ligands activates downstream calcium signaling, subsequently modulating ciliary redox signals. This process ultimately regulates the beating direction of cilia, governing the coordinated movement of the organism. Our findings not only highlight the enduring presence of adrenergic signaling in stress responses during evolution but also underscore the importance of early metazoan expansion of GPCR families. This amplification empowers us with the ability to sense external cues and modulate cellular communication effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjun Jin
- Fang Zongxi Center, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
- MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Wanqing Li
- Fang Zongxi Center, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
- MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhongyu Ji
- Fang Zongxi Center, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Guotao Di
- Fang Zongxi Center, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Meng Yuan
- Fang Zongxi Center, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yifan Zhang
- Fang Zongxi Center, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yunsi Kang
- Fang Zongxi Center, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Chengtian Zhao
- Fang Zongxi Center, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, and Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China.
- MoE Key Laboratory of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
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2
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Harracksingh AN, Singh A, Mayorova TD, Bejoy B, Hornbeck J, Elkhatib W, McEdwards G, Gauberg J, Taha A, Islam IM, Erclik T, Currie MA, Noyes M, Senatore A. Mint/X11 PDZ domains from non-bilaterian animals recognize and bind Ca V2 calcium channel C-termini in vitro. Sci Rep 2024; 14:21615. [PMID: 39284887 PMCID: PMC11405698 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70652-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
PDZ domain mediated interactions with voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channel C-termini play important roles in localizing membrane Ca2+ signaling. The first such interaction was described between the scaffolding protein Mint-1 and CaV2.2 in mammals. In this study, we show through various in silico analyses that Mint is an animal-specific gene with a highly divergent N-terminus but a strongly conserved C-terminus comprised of a phosphotyrosine binding domain, two tandem PDZ domains (PDZ-1 and PDZ-2), and a C-terminal auto-inhibitory element that binds and inhibits PDZ-1. In addition to CaV2 chanels, most genes that interact with Mint are also deeply conserved including amyloid precursor proteins, presenilins, neurexin, and CASK and Veli which form a tripartite complex with Mint in bilaterians. Through yeast and bacterial 2-hybrid experiments, we show that Mint and CaV2 channels from cnidarians and placozoans interact in vitro, and in situ hybridization revealed co-expression in dissociated neurons from the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis. Unexpectedly, the Mint orthologue from the ctenophore Hormiphora californiensis strongly bound the divergent C-terminal ligands of cnidarian and placozoan CaV2 channels, despite neither the ctenophore Mint, nor the placozoan and cnidarian orthologues, binding the ctenophore CaV2 channel C-terminus. Altogether, our analyses suggest that the capacity of Mint to bind CaV2 channels predates bilaterian animals, and that evolutionary changes in CaV2 channel C-terminal sequences resulted in altered binding modalities with Mint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia N Harracksingh
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Anhadvir Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Tatiana D Mayorova
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
- NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Brian Bejoy
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Jillian Hornbeck
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Ave, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Wassim Elkhatib
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Gregor McEdwards
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Julia Gauberg
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Abdul Taha
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Ishrat Maliha Islam
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Ted Erclik
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Mark A Currie
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Marcus Noyes
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 550 1st Ave, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Adriano Senatore
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada.
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3
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Seljeset S, Sintsova O, Wang Y, Harb HY, Lynagh T. Constitutive activity of ionotropic glutamate receptors via hydrophobic substitutions in the ligand-binding domain. Structure 2024; 32:966-978.e6. [PMID: 38677289 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.04.001] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Neurotransmitter ligands electrically excite neurons by activating ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) ion channels. Knowledge of the iGluR amino acid residues that dominate ligand-induced activation would enable the prediction of function from sequence. We therefore explored the molecular determinants of activity in rat N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type iGluRs (NMDA receptors), complex heteromeric iGluRs comprising two glycine-binding GluN1 and two glutamate-binding GluN2 subunits, using amino acid sequence analysis, mutagenesis, and electrophysiology. We find that a broadly conserved aspartate residue controls both ligand potency and channel activity, to the extent that certain substitutions at this position bypass the need for ligand binding in GluN1 subunits, generating NMDA receptors activated solely by glutamate. Furthermore, we identify a homomeric iGluR from the placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens that has utilized native mutations of this crucial residue to evolve into a leak channel that is inhibited by neurotransmitter binding, pointing to a dominant role of this residue throughout the iGluR superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Seljeset
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Oksana Sintsova
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Yuhong Wang
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Hassan Y Harb
- Concept Life Sciences Limited, Frith Knoll Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith, SK23 0PG High Peak, UK
| | - Timothy Lynagh
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, 5008 Bergen, Norway.
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4
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Degli Esposti M. Did mitophagy follow the origin of mitochondria? Autophagy 2024; 20:985-993. [PMID: 38361280 PMCID: PMC11135861 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2024.2307215] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitophagy is the process of selective autophagy that removes superfluous and dysfunctional mitochondria. Mitophagy was first characterized in mammalian cells and is now recognized to follow several pathways including basal forms in specific organs. Mitophagy pathways are regulated by multiple, often interconnected factors. The present review aims to streamline this complexity and evaluate common elements that may define the evolutionary origin of mitophagy. Key issues surrounding mitophagy signaling at the mitochondrial surface may fundamentally derive from mitochondrial membrane dynamics. Elements of such membrane dynamics likely originated during the endosymbiosis of the alphaproteobacterial ancestor of our mitochondria but underwent an evolutionary leap forward in basal metazoa that determined the currently known variations in mitophagy signaling.Abbreviations: AGPAT, 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase; ATG, autophagy related; BCL2L13, BCL2 like 13; BNIP3, BCL2 interacting protein 3; BNIP3L, BCL2 interacting protein 3 like; CALCOCO, calcium binding and coiled-coil domain; CL, cardiolipin; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; ERMES, ER-mitochondria encounter structure; FBXL4, F-box and leucine rich repeat protein 4; FUNDC1, FUN14 domain containing 1; GABARAPL1, GABA type A receptor associated protein like 1; HIF, hypoxia inducible factor; IMM, inner mitochondrial membrane; LBPA/BMP, lysobisphosphatidic acid; LIR, LC3-interacting region; LPA, lysophosphatidic acid; MAM, mitochondria-associated membranes; MAP1LC3/LC3, microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MCL, monolysocardiolipin; ML, maximum likelihood; NBR1, NBR1 autophagy cargo receptor; OMM, outer mitochondrial membrane; PA, phosphatidic acid; PACS2, phosphofurin acidic cluster sorting protein 2; PC/PLC, phosphatidylcholine; PE, phosphatidylethanolamine; PHB2, prohibitin 2; PINK1, PTEN induced kinase 1; PtdIns, phosphatidylinositol; SAR, Stramenopiles, Apicomplexa and Rhizaria; TAX1BP1, Tax1 binding protein 1; ULK1, unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1; VDAC/porin, voltage dependent anion channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Degli Esposti
- Center for Genomic Sciences, UNAM Campus de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
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5
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Romanova DY, Moroz LL. Brief History of Placozoa. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2757:103-122. [PMID: 38668963 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3642-8_3] [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: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Placozoans are morphologically the simplest free-living animals. They represent a unique window of opportunities to understand both the origin of the animal organization and the rules of life for the system and synthetic biology of the future. However, despite more than 100 years of their investigations, we know little about their organization, natural habitats, and life strategies. Here, we introduce this unique animal phylum and highlight some directions vital to broadening the frontiers of the biomedical sciences. In particular, understanding the genomic bases of placozoan biodiversity, cell identity, connectivity, reproduction, and cellular bases of behavior are critical hot spots for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Y Romanova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS, Moscow, Russian Federation.
| | - Leonid L Moroz
- Department of Neuroscience and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Biosciences University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA.
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6
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Powers RM, Hevner RF, Halpain S. The Neuron Navigators: Structure, function, and evolutionary history. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1099554. [PMID: 36710926 PMCID: PMC9877351 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1099554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuron navigators (Navigators) are cytoskeletal-associated proteins important for neuron migration, neurite growth, and axon guidance, but they also function more widely in other tissues. Recent studies have revealed novel cellular functions of Navigators such as macropinocytosis, and have implicated Navigators in human disorders of axon growth. Navigators are present in most or all bilaterian animals: vertebrates have three Navigators (NAV1-3), Drosophila has one (Sickie), and Caenorhabditis elegans has one (Unc-53). Structurally, Navigators have conserved N- and C-terminal regions each containing specific domains. The N-terminal region contains a calponin homology (CH) domain and one or more SxIP motifs, thought to interact with the actin cytoskeleton and mediate localization to microtubule plus-end binding proteins, respectively. The C-terminal region contains two coiled-coil domains, followed by a AAA+ family nucleoside triphosphatase domain of unknown activity. The Navigators appear to have evolved by fusion of N- and C-terminal region homologs present in simpler organisms. Overall, Navigators participate in the cytoskeletal response to extracellular cues via microtubules and actin filaments, in conjunction with membrane trafficking. We propose that uptake of fluid-phase cues and nutrients and/or downregulation of cell surface receptors could represent general mechanisms that explain Navigator functions. Future studies developing new models, such as conditional knockout mice or human cerebral organoids may reveal new insights into Navigator function. Importantly, further biochemical studies are needed to define the activities of the Navigator AAA+ domain, and to study potential interactions among different Navigators and their binding partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina M. Powers
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Robert F. Hevner
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, United States,Department of Pathology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Shelley Halpain
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Shelley Halpain, ✉
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7
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Tessler M, Neumann JS, Kamm K, Osigus HJ, Eshel G, Narechania A, Burns JA, DeSalle R, Schierwater B. Phylogenomics and the first higher taxonomy of Placozoa, an ancient and enigmatic animal phylum. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1016357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Placozoa is an ancient phylum of extraordinarily unusual animals: miniscule, ameboid creatures that lack most fundamental animal features. Despite high genetic diversity, only recently have the second and third species been named. While prior genomic studies suffer from incomplete placozoan taxon sampling, we more than double the count with protein sequences from seven key genomes and produce the first nuclear phylogenomic reconstruction of all major placozoan lineages. This leads us to the first complete Linnaean taxonomic classification of Placozoa, over a century after its discovery: This may be the only time in the 21st century when an entire higher taxonomy for a whole animal phylum is formalized. Our classification establishes 2 new classes, 4 new orders, 3 new families, 1 new genus, and 1 new species, namely classes Polyplacotomia and Uniplacotomia; orders Polyplacotomea, Trichoplacea, Cladhexea, and Hoilungea; families Polyplacotomidae, Cladtertiidae, and Hoilungidae; and genus Cladtertia with species Cladtertia collaboinventa, nov. Our likelihood and gene content tree topologies refine the relationships determined in previous studies. Adding morphological data into our phylogenomic matrices suggests sponges (Porifera) as the sister to other animals, indicating that modest data addition shifts this node away from comb jellies (Ctenophora). Furthermore, by adding the first genomic protein data of the exceptionally distinct and branching Polyplacotoma mediterranea, we solidify its position as sister to all other placozoans; a divergence we estimate to be over 400 million years old. Yet even this deep split sits on a long branch to other animals, suggesting a bottleneck event followed by diversification. Ancestral state reconstructions indicate large shifts in gene content within Placozoa, with Hoilungia hongkongensis and its closest relatives having the most unique genetics.
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8
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Wright BA, Kvansakul M, Schierwater B, Humbert PO. Cell polarity signalling at the birth of multicellularity: What can we learn from the first animals. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1024489. [PMID: 36506100 PMCID: PMC9729800 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1024489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The innovation of multicellularity has driven the unparalleled evolution of animals (Metazoa). But how is a multicellular organism formed and how is its architecture maintained faithfully? The defining properties and rules required for the establishment of the architecture of multicellular organisms include the development of adhesive cell interactions, orientation of division axis, and the ability to reposition daughter cells over long distances. Central to all these properties is the ability to generate asymmetry (polarity), coordinated by a highly conserved set of proteins known as cell polarity regulators. The cell polarity complexes, Scribble, Par and Crumbs, are considered to be a metazoan innovation with apicobasal polarity and adherens junctions both believed to be present in all animals. A better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms regulating cell polarity and tissue architecture should provide key insights into the development and regeneration of all animals including humans. Here we review what is currently known about cell polarity and its control in the most basal metazoans, and how these first examples of multicellular life can inform us about the core mechanisms of tissue organisation and repair, and ultimately diseases of tissue organisation, such as cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bree A. Wright
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Marc Kvansakul
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Research Centre for Molecular Cancer Prevention, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Bernd Schierwater
- Institute of Animal Ecology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg, Hannover, Germany
| | - Patrick O. Humbert
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Research Centre for Molecular Cancer Prevention, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,*Correspondence: Patrick O. Humbert,
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9
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Hauser F, Koch TL, Grimmelikhuijzen CJP. Review: The evolution of peptidergic signaling in Cnidaria and Placozoa, including a comparison with Bilateria. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:973862. [PMID: 36213267 PMCID: PMC9545775 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.973862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bilateria have bilateral symmetry and are subdivided into Deuterostomia (animals like vertebrates) and Protostomia (animals like insects and mollusks). Neuropeptides occur in both Proto- and Deuterostomia and they are frequently structurally related across these two lineages. For example, peptides belonging to the oxytocin/vasopressin family exist in both clades. The same is true for the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) of these peptides. These observations suggest that these neuropeptides and their GPCRs were already present in the common ancestor of Proto- and Deuterostomia, which lived about 700 million years ago (MYA). Furthermore, neuropeptides and their GPCRs occur in two early-branching phyla that diverged before the emergence of Bilateria: Cnidaria (animals like corals and sea anemones), and Placozoa (small disk-like animals, feeding on algae). The sequences of these neuropeptides and their GPCRs, however, are not closely related to those from Bilateria. In addition, cnidarian neuropeptides and their receptors are not closely related to those from Placozoa. We propose that the divergence times between Cnidaria, Placozoa, and Bilateria might be too long for recognizing sequence identities. Leucine-rich repeats-containing GPCRs (LGRs) are a special class of GPCRs that are characterized by a long N-terminus containing 10-20 leucine-rich domains, which are used for ligand binding. Among the ligands for LGRs are dimeric glycoprotein hormones, and insulin-like peptides, such as relaxin. LGRs have been found not only in Proto- and Deuterostomia, but also in early emerging phyla, such as Cnidaria and Placozoa. Humans have eight LGRs. In our current review, we have revisited the annotations of LGRs from the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis and the placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens. We identified 13 sea anemone LGRs and no less than 46 LGRs from T. adhaerens. All eight human LGRs appear to have orthologues in sea anemones and placozoans. LGRs and their ligands, therefore, have a long evolutionary history, going back to the common ancestor of Cnidaria and Placozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Hauser
- Section for Cell and Neurobiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas L. Koch
- Section for Cell and Neurobiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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10
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Noncanonical function of Capicua as a growth termination signal in Drosophila oogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2123467119. [PMID: 35881788 PMCID: PMC9351367 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2123467119] [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] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Capicua (Cic) proteins are conserved HMG-box transcriptional repressors that control receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling responses and are implicated in human neurological syndromes and cancer. While Cic is known to exist as short (Cic-S) and long (Cic-L) isoforms with identical HMG-box and associated core regions but distinct N termini, most previous studies have focused on Cic-S, leaving the function of Cic-L unexplored. Here we show that Cic-L acts in two capacities during Drosophila oogenesis: 1) as a canonical sensor of RTK signaling in somatic follicle cells, and 2) as a regulator of postmitotic growth in germline nurse cells. In these latter cells, Cic-L behaves as a temporal signal that terminates endoreplicative growth before they dump their contents into the oocyte. We show that Cic-L is necessary and sufficient for nurse cell endoreplication arrest and induces both stabilization of CycE and down-regulation of Myc. Surprisingly, this function depends mainly on the Cic-L-specific N-terminal module, which is capable of acting independently of the Cic HMG-box-containing core. Mirroring these observations, basal metazoans possess truncated Cic-like proteins composed only of Cic-L N-terminal sequences, suggesting that this module plays unique, ancient roles unrelated to the canonical function of Cic.
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11
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Andresen S, Fantone K, Chapla D, Rada B, Moremen KW, Pierce M, Szymanski CM. Human Intelectin-1 Promotes Cellular Attachment and Neutrophil Killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae in a Serotype-Dependent Manner. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0068221. [PMID: 35499339 PMCID: PMC9119095 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00682-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human intelectin-1 (hIntL-1) is a secreted glycoprotein capable of binding exocyclic 1,2-diols within surface glycans of human pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Vibrio cholerae, and Helicobacter pylori. For the latter, lectin binding was shown to cause bacterial agglutination and increased phagocytosis, suggesting a role for hIntL-1 in pathogen surveillance. In this study, we investigated the interactions between hIntL-1 and S. pneumoniae, the leading cause of bacterial pneumonia. We show that hIntL-1 also agglutinates S. pneumoniae serotype 43, which displays an exocyclic 1,2-diol moiety in its capsular polysaccharide but is unable to kill in a complement-dependent manner or to promote bacterial killing by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In contrast, hIntL-1 not only significantly increases serotype-specific S. pneumoniae killing by neutrophils but also enhances the attachment of these bacteria to A549 lung epithelial cells. Taken together, our results suggest that hIntL-1 participates in host surveillance through microbe sequestration and enhanced targeting to neutrophils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Andresen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Kayla Fantone
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Digantkumar Chapla
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Balázs Rada
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Kelley W. Moremen
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael Pierce
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Christine M. Szymanski
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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12
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Gauberg J, Elkhatib W, Smith CL, Singh A, Senatore A. Divergent Ca 2+/calmodulin feedback regulation of Ca V1 and Ca V2 voltage-gated calcium channels evolved in the common ancestor of Placozoa and Bilateria. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101741. [PMID: 35182524 PMCID: PMC8980814 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101741] [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: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
CaV1 and CaV2 voltage-gated calcium channels evolved from an ancestral CaV1/2 channel via gene duplication somewhere near the stem animal lineage. The divergence of these channel types led to distinguishing functional properties that are conserved among vertebrates and bilaterian invertebrates and contribute to their unique cellular roles. One key difference pertains to their regulation by calmodulin (CaM), wherein bilaterian CaV1 channels are uniquely subject to pronounced, buffer-resistant Ca2+/CaM-dependent inactivation, permitting negative feedback regulation of calcium influx in response to local cytoplasmic Ca2+ rises. Early diverging, nonbilaterian invertebrates also possess CaV1 and CaV2 channels, but it is unclear whether they share these conserved functional features. The most divergent animals to possess both CaV1 and CaV2 channels are placozoans such as Trichoplax adhaerens, which separated from other animals over 600 million years ago shortly after their emergence. Hence, placozoans can provide important insights into the early evolution of CaV1 and CaV2 channels. Here, we build upon previous characterization of Trichoplax CaV channels by determining the cellular expression and ion-conducting properties of the CaV1 channel orthologue, TCaV1. We show that TCaV1 is expressed in neuroendocrine-like gland cells and contractile dorsal epithelial cells. In vitro, this channel conducts dihydropyridine-insensitive, high-voltage–activated Ca2+ currents with kinetics resembling those of rat CaV1.2 but with left-shifted voltage sensitivity for activation and inactivation. Interestingly, TCaV1, but not TCaV2, exhibits buffer-resistant Ca2+/CaM-dependent inactivation, indicating that this functional divergence evolved prior to the emergence of bilaterian animals and may have contributed to their unique adaptation for cytoplasmic Ca2+ signaling within various cellular contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Gauberg
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Wassim Elkhatib
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Carolyn L Smith
- NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda Maryland, 20892 USA
| | - Anhadvir Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Adriano Senatore
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada.
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13
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Romanova DY, Nikitin MA, Shchenkov SV, Moroz LL. Expanding of Life Strategies in Placozoa: Insights From Long-Term Culturing of Trichoplax and Hoilungia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:823283. [PMID: 35223848 PMCID: PMC8864292 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.823283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Placozoans are essential reference species for understanding the origins and evolution of animal organization. However, little is known about their life strategies in natural habitats. Here, by maintaining long-term culturing for four species of Trichoplax and Hoilungia, we extend our knowledge about feeding and reproductive adaptations relevant to the diversity of life forms and immune mechanisms. Three modes of population dynamics depended upon feeding sources, including induction of social behaviors, morphogenesis, and reproductive strategies. In addition to fission, representatives of all species produced “swarmers” (a separate vegetative reproduction stage), which could also be formed from the lower epithelium with greater cell-type diversity. We monitored the formation of specialized spheroid structures from the upper cell layer in aging culture. These “spheres” could be transformed into juvenile animals under favorable conditions. We hypothesize that spheroid structures represent a component of the innate immune defense response with the involvement of fiber cells. Finally, we showed that regeneration could be a part of the adaptive reproductive strategies in placozoans and a unique experimental model for regenerative biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Y. Romanova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS, Moscow, Russia
- *Correspondence: Daria Y. Romanova, ; Leonid L. Moroz,
| | - Mikhail A. Nikitin
- Belozersky Institute for Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey V. Shchenkov
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Leonid L. Moroz
- Departments of Neuroscience and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Biosciences, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Daria Y. Romanova, ; Leonid L. Moroz,
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14
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Simakov O, Bredeson J, Berkoff K, Marletaz F, Mitros T, Schultz DT, O’Connell BL, Dear P, Martinez DE, Steele RE, Green RE, David CN, Rokhsar DS. Deeply conserved synteny and the evolution of metazoan chromosomes. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabi5884. [PMID: 35108053 PMCID: PMC8809688 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi5884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Animal genomes show networks of deeply conserved gene linkages whose phylogenetic scope and chromosomal context remain unclear. Here, we report chromosome-scale conservation of synteny among bilaterians, cnidarians, and sponges and use comparative analysis to reconstruct ancestral chromosomes across major animal groups. Comparisons among diverse metazoans reveal the processes of chromosome evolution that produced contemporary karyotypes from their Precambrian progenitors. On the basis of these findings, we introduce a simple algebraic representation of chromosomal change and use it to establish a unified systematic framework for metazoan chromosome evolution. We find that fusion-with-mixing, a previously unappreciated mode of chromosome change, has played a central role. We find that relicts of several metazoan chromosomal units are preserved in unicellular eukaryotes. These conserved pre-metazoan linkages include the chromosomal unit that encodes the most diverse set of metazoan homeobox genes, suggesting a candidate genomic context for the early diversification of this key gene family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Simakov
- Department for Neurosciences and Developmental
Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
| | - Jessen Bredeson
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University
of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kodiak Berkoff
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University
of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ferdinand Marletaz
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science
and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1, Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495,
Japan
- Division of Biosciences, University College London,
Gower St., London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Therese Mitros
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University
of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Darrin T. Schultz
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of
California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss
Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - Brendan L. O’Connell
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of
California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Paul Dear
- Mote Research Ltd, Babraham Hall, Babraham, Cambridge
CB2 4AT, UK
| | | | - Robert E. Steele
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of
California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-1700, USA
| | - Richard E. Green
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of
California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Charles N. David
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of
Munich, Munich 80539, Germany
| | - Daniel S. Rokhsar
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University
of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science
and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1, Tancha, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495,
Japan
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, 499 Illinois St., San
Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720,
USA
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15
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Schierwater B, Osigus HJ, Bergmann T, Blackstone NW, Hadrys H, Hauslage J, Humbert PO, Kamm K, Kvansakul M, Wysocki K, DeSalle R. The enigmatic Placozoa part 2: Exploring evolutionary controversies and promising questions on earth and in space. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100083. [PMID: 34490659 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens has been bridging gaps between research disciplines like no other animal. As outlined in part 1, placozoans have been subject of hot evolutionary debates and placozoans have challenged some fundamental evolutionary concepts. Here in part 2 we discuss the exceptional genetics of the phylum Placozoa and point out some challenging model system applications for the best known species, Trichoplax adhaerens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Schierwater
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hans-Jürgen Osigus
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tjard Bergmann
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Neil W Blackstone
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA
| | - Heike Hadrys
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jens Hauslage
- Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Patrick O Humbert
- Department of Biochemistry & Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Research Centre for Molecular Cancer Prevention, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kai Kamm
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marc Kvansakul
- Department of Biochemistry & Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Research Centre for Molecular Cancer Prevention, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kathrin Wysocki
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rob DeSalle
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
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16
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Schierwater B, Osigus HJ, Bergmann T, Blackstone NW, Hadrys H, Hauslage J, Humbert PO, Kamm K, Kvansakul M, Wysocki K, DeSalle R. The enigmatic Placozoa part 1: Exploring evolutionary controversies and poor ecological knowledge. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100080. [PMID: 34472126 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens is a tiny hairy plate and more simply organized than any other living metazoan. After its original description by F.E. Schulze in 1883, it attracted attention as a potential model for the ancestral state of metazoan organization, the "Urmetazoon". Trichoplax lacks any kind of symmetry, organs, nerve cells, muscle cells, basal lamina, and extracellular matrix. Furthermore, the placozoan genome is the smallest (not secondarily reduced) genome of all metazoan genomes. It harbors a remarkably rich diversity of genes and has been considered the best living surrogate for a metazoan ancestor genome. The phylum Placozoa presently harbors three formally described species, while several dozen "cryptic" species are yet awaiting their description. The phylogenetic position of placozoans has recently become a contested arena for modern phylogenetic analyses and view-driven claims. Trichoplax offers unique prospects for understanding the minimal requirements of metazoan animal organization and their corresponding malfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Schierwater
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hans-Jürgen Osigus
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tjard Bergmann
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Neil W Blackstone
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA
| | - Heike Hadrys
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jens Hauslage
- Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Patrick O Humbert
- Department of Biochemistry & Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Research Centre for Molecular Cancer Prevention, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Kai Kamm
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marc Kvansakul
- Department of Biochemistry & Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Research Centre for Molecular Cancer Prevention, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Kathrin Wysocki
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rob DeSalle
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
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17
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Romanova DY, Varoqueaux F, Daraspe J, Nikitin MA, Eitel M, Fasshauer D, Moroz LL. Hidden cell diversity in Placozoa: ultrastructural insights from Hoilungia hongkongensis. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 385:623-637. [PMID: 33876313 PMCID: PMC8523601 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03459-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
From a morphological point of view, placozoans are among the most simple free-living animals. This enigmatic phylum is critical for our understanding of the evolution of animals and their cell types. Their millimeter-sized, disc-like bodies consist of only three cell layers that are shaped by roughly seven major cell types. Placozoans lack muscle cells and neurons but are able to move using their ciliated lower surface and take up food in a highly coordinated manner. Intriguingly, the genome of Trichoplax adhaerens, the founding member of the enigmatic phylum, has disclosed a surprising level of genetic complexity. Moreover, recent molecular and functional investigations have uncovered a much larger, so-far hidden cell-type diversity. Here, we have extended the microanatomical characterization of a recently described placozoan species-Hoilungia hongkongensis. In H. hongkongensis, we recognized the established canonical three-layered placozoan body plan but also came across several morphologically distinct and potentially novel cell types, among them novel gland cells and "shiny spheres"-bearing cells at the upper epithelium. Thus, the diversity of cell types in placozoans is indeed higher than anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Y Romanova
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, 1005, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Cellular Neurobiology of Learning Lab, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Moscow, 117485, Russia.
| | - Frédérique Varoqueaux
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, 1005, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean Daraspe
- Electron Microscopy Facility, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mikhail A Nikitin
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 127994, Russia
| | - Michael Eitel
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology and Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk Fasshauer
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, 1005, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Leonid L Moroz
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.
- Departments of Neuroscience and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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18
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Piekut T, Wong YY, Walker SE, Smith CL, Gauberg J, Harracksingh AN, Lowden C, Novogradac BB, Cheng HYM, Spencer GE, Senatore A. Early Metazoan Origin and Multiple Losses of a Novel Clade of RIM Presynaptic Calcium Channel Scaffolding Protein Homologs. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 12:1217-1239. [PMID: 32413100 PMCID: PMC7456537 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The precise localization of CaV2 voltage-gated calcium channels at the synapse active zone requires various interacting proteins, of which, Rab3-interacting molecule or RIM is considered particularly important. In vertebrates, RIM interacts with CaV2 channels in vitro via a PDZ domain that binds to the extreme C-termini of the channels at acidic ligand motifs of D/E-D/E/H-WC-COOH, and knockout of RIM in vertebrates and invertebrates disrupts CaV2 channel synaptic localization and synapse function. Here, we describe a previously uncharacterized clade of RIM proteins bearing domain architectures homologous to those of known RIM homologs, but with some notable differences including key amino acids associated with PDZ domain ligand specificity. This novel RIM emerged near the stem lineage of metazoans and underwent extensive losses, but is retained in select animals including the early-diverging placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens, and molluscs. RNA expression and localization studies in Trichoplax and the mollusc snail Lymnaea stagnalis indicate differential regional/tissue type expression, but overlapping expression in single isolated neurons from Lymnaea. Ctenophores, the most early-diverging animals with synapses, are unique among animals with nervous systems in that they lack the canonical RIM, bearing only the newly identified homolog. Through phylogenetic analysis, we find that CaV2 channel D/E-D/E/H-WC-COOH like PDZ ligand motifs were present in the common ancestor of cnidarians and bilaterians, and delineate some deeply conserved C-terminal structures that distinguish CaV1 from CaV2 channels, and CaV1/CaV2 from CaV3 channels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah E Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carolyn L Smith
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Gaynor E Spencer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
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19
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Kuznetsov AV, Vainer VI, Volkova YM, Kartashov LE. Motility disorders and disintegration into separate cells of Trichoplax sp. H2 in the presence of Zn 2+ ions and L-cysteine molecules: A systems approach. Biosystems 2021; 206:104444. [PMID: 34023485 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Placozoa remain an ancient multicellular system with a dynamic body structure where calcium ions carry out a primary role in maintaining the integrity of the entire animal. Zinc ions can compete with calcium ions adsorption. We studied the effect of zinc ions and l-cysteine molecules on the interaction of Trichoplax sp. H2 cells. The regularity of formless motion was diminished in the presence of 20-25 μM of Zn2+ ions leading to the formation of branching animal forms. Locomotor ciliated cells moved chaotically and independently of each other leaving the Trichoplax body and opening a network of fiber cells. Application of 100 μM cysteine resulted in dissociation of the plate into separate cells. The combined chemical treatment shifted the effect in a random sample of animals toward disintegration, i.e. initially leading to disorder of collective cell movement and then to total body fragmentation. Two dissociation patterns of Trichoplax plate as "expanding ring" and "bicycle wheel" were revealed. Analysis of the interaction of Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions with cadherin showed that more than half (54%) of the amino acid residues with which Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions bind are common. The contact interaction of cells covered by the cadherin molecules is important for the coordinated movements of Trichoplax organism, while zinc ions are capable to break junctions between the cells. The involvement of other players, for example, l-cysteine in the regulation of Ca2+-dependent adhesion may be critical leading to the typical dissociation of Trichoplax body like in a calcium-free environment. A hypothesis about the essential role of calcium ions in the emergence of Metazoa ancestor is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Kuznetsov
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas RAS, Leninsky Avenue 38, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
| | - V I Vainer
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas RAS, Leninsky Avenue 38, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Yu M Volkova
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas RAS, Leninsky Avenue 38, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - L E Kartashov
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas RAS, Leninsky Avenue 38, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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20
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Bartošová-Sojková P, Kyslík J, Alama-Bermejo G, Hartigan A, Atkinson SD, Bartholomew JL, Picard-Sánchez A, Palenzuela O, Faber MN, Holland JW, Holzer AS. Evolutionary Analysis of Cystatins of Early-Emerging Metazoans Reveals a Novel Subtype in Parasitic Cnidarians. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:110. [PMID: 33546310 PMCID: PMC7913475 DOI: 10.3390/biology10020110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionary aspects of cystatins are greatly underexplored in early-emerging metazoans. Thus, we surveyed the gene organization, protein architecture, and phylogeny of cystatin homologues mined from 110 genomes and the transcriptomes of 58 basal metazoan species, encompassing free-living and parasite taxa of Porifera, Placozoa, Cnidaria (including Myxozoa), and Ctenophora. We found that the cystatin gene repertoire significantly differs among phyla, with stefins present in most of the investigated lineages but with type 2 cystatins missing in several basal metazoan groups. Similar to liver and intestinal flukes, myxozoan parasites possess atypical stefins with chimeric structure that combine motifs of classical stefins and type 2 cystatins. Other early metazoan taxa regardless of lifestyle have only the classical representation of cystatins and lack multi-domain ones. Our comprehensive phylogenetic analyses revealed that stefins and type 2 cystatins clustered into taxonomically defined clades with multiple independent paralogous groups, which probably arose due to gene duplications. The stefin clade split between the subclades of classical stefins and the atypical stefins of myxozoans and flukes. Atypical stefins represent key evolutionary innovations of the two parasite groups for which their origin might have been linked with ancestral gene chimerization, obligate parasitism, life cycle complexity, genome reduction, and host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavla Bartošová-Sojková
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (G.A.-B.); (A.P.-S.); (A.S.H.)
| | - Jiří Kyslík
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (G.A.-B.); (A.P.-S.); (A.S.H.)
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Gema Alama-Bermejo
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (G.A.-B.); (A.P.-S.); (A.S.H.)
| | - Ashlie Hartigan
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK;
| | - Stephen D. Atkinson
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA; (S.D.A.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Jerri L. Bartholomew
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA; (S.D.A.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Amparo Picard-Sánchez
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (G.A.-B.); (A.P.-S.); (A.S.H.)
- Fish Pathology Group, Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal (IATS-CSIC), 12595 Castellón, Spain;
| | - Oswaldo Palenzuela
- Fish Pathology Group, Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal (IATS-CSIC), 12595 Castellón, Spain;
| | - Marc Nicolas Faber
- Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK; (M.N.F.); (J.W.H.)
| | - Jason W. Holland
- Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK; (M.N.F.); (J.W.H.)
| | - Astrid S. Holzer
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (G.A.-B.); (A.P.-S.); (A.S.H.)
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21
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Gauberg J, Abdallah S, Elkhatib W, Harracksingh AN, Piekut T, Stanley EF, Senatore A. Conserved biophysical features of the Ca V2 presynaptic Ca 2+ channel homologue from the early-diverging animal Trichoplax adhaerens. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:18553-18578. [PMID: 33097592 PMCID: PMC7939481 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.015725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The dominant role of CaV2 voltage-gated calcium channels for driving neurotransmitter release is broadly conserved. Given the overlapping functional properties of CaV2 and CaV1 channels, and less so CaV3 channels, it is unclear why there have not been major shifts toward dependence on other CaV channels for synaptic transmission. Here, we provide a structural and functional profile of the CaV2 channel cloned from the early-diverging animal Trichoplax adhaerens, which lacks a nervous system but possesses single gene homologues for CaV1-CaV3 channels. Remarkably, the highly divergent channel possesses similar features as human CaV2.1 and other CaV2 channels, including high voltage-activated currents that are larger in external Ba2+ than in Ca2+; voltage-dependent kinetics of activation, inactivation, and deactivation; and bimodal recovery from inactivation. Altogether, the functional profile of Trichoplax CaV2 suggests that the core features of presynaptic CaV2 channels were established early during animal evolution, after CaV1 and CaV2 channels emerged via proposed gene duplication from an ancestral CaV1/2 type channel. The Trichoplax channel was relatively insensitive to mammalian CaV2 channel blockers ω-agatoxin-IVA and ω-conotoxin-GVIA and to metal cation blockers Cd2+ and Ni2+ Also absent was the capacity for voltage-dependent G-protein inhibition by co-expressed Trichoplax Gβγ subunits, which nevertheless inhibited the human CaV2.1 channel, suggesting that this modulatory capacity evolved via changes in channel sequence/structure, and not G proteins. Last, the Trichoplax channel was immunolocalized in cells that express an endomorphin-like peptide implicated in cell signaling and locomotive behavior and other likely secretory cells, suggesting contributions to regulated exocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Gauberg
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Salsabil Abdallah
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wassim Elkhatib
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alicia N Harracksingh
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Thomas Piekut
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elise F Stanley
- Laboratory of Synaptic Transmission, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adriano Senatore
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
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22
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Driscoll TP, Verhoeve VI, Brockway C, Shrewsberry DL, Plumer M, Sevdalis SE, Beckmann JF, Krueger LM, Macaluso KR, Azad AF, Gillespie JJ. Evolution of Wolbachia mutualism and reproductive parasitism: insight from two novel strains that co-infect cat fleas. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10646. [PMID: 33362982 PMCID: PMC7750005 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachiae are obligate intracellular bacteria that infect arthropods and certain nematodes. Usually maternally inherited, they may provision nutrients to (mutualism) or alter sexual biology of (reproductive parasitism) their invertebrate hosts. We report the assembly of closed genomes for two novel wolbachiae, wCfeT and wCfeJ, found co-infecting cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) of the Elward Laboratory colony (Soquel, CA, USA). wCfeT is basal to nearly all described Wolbachia supergroups, while wCfeJ is related to supergroups C, D and F. Both genomes contain laterally transferred genes that inform on the evolution of Wolbachia host associations. wCfeT carries the Biotin synthesis Operon of Obligate intracellular Microbes (BOOM); our analyses reveal five independent acquisitions of BOOM across the Wolbachia tree, indicating parallel evolution towards mutualism. Alternately, wCfeJ harbors a toxin-antidote operon analogous to the wPip cinAB operon recently characterized as an inducer of cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) in flies. wCfeJ cinB and three adjacent genes are collectively similar to large modular toxins encoded in CI-like operons of certain Wolbachia strains and Rickettsia species, signifying that CI toxins streamline by fission of large modular toxins. Remarkably, the C. felis genome itself contains two CI-like antidote genes, divergent from wCfeJ cinA, revealing episodic reproductive parasitism in cat fleas and evidencing mobility of CI loci independent of WO-phage. Additional screening revealed predominant co-infection (wCfeT/wCfeJ) amongst C. felis colonies, though fleas in wild populations mostly harbor wCfeT alone. Collectively, genomes of wCfeT, wCfeJ, and their cat flea host supply instances of lateral gene transfers that could drive transitions between parasitism and mutualism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Victoria I Verhoeve
- Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Mariah Plumer
- Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Spiridon E Sevdalis
- Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John F Beckmann
- Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Laura M Krueger
- Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, Garden Grove, CA, USA
| | - Kevin R Macaluso
- Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Abdu F Azad
- Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joseph J Gillespie
- Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
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23
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Kuznetsov AV, Kuleshova ON, Pronozin AY, Krivenko OV, Zavyalova OS. Effects of low frequency rectangular electric pulses on Trichoplax (Placozoa). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.21072/mbj.2020.05.2.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The effect of extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on plants and animals including humans is quite a contentious issue. Little is known about ELF-EMF effect on hydrobionts, too. We studied the effect of square voltage waves of various amplitude, duration, and duty cycle, passed through seawater, on Trichoplax organisms as a possible test laboratory model. Three Placozoa strains, such as Trichoplax adhaerens (H1), Trichoplax sp. (H2), and Hoilungia hongkongensis (H13), were used in experiments. They were picked at the stationary growth phase. Arduino Uno electronics platform was used to generate a sequence of rectangular pulses of given duration and duty cycle with a frequency up to 2 kHz. Average voltage up to 500 mV was regulated by voltage divider circuit. Amlodipine, an inhibitor of calcium channel activity, was used to check the specificity of electrical pulse effect on voltage-gated calcium channels in Trichoplax. Experimental animals were investigated under a stereo microscope and stimulated by current-carrying electrodes placed close to a Trichoplax body. Variations in behavior and morphological characteristics of Trichoplax plate were studied. Stimulating and suppressing effects were identified. Experimental observations were recorded using photo and video techniques. Motion trajectories of individual animals were tracked. Increasing voltage pulses with fixed frequency of 20 Hz caused H2 haplotype individuals to leave “electrode zone” within several minutes at a voltage of 25 mV. They lost mobility in proportion to voltage rise and were paralyzed at a voltage of 500 mV. Therefore, a voltage of 50 mV was used in further experiments. An animal had more chance to move in various directions in experiments with two electrodes located on one side instead of both sides of Trichoplax. Direction of motion was used as a characteristic feature. Trichoplax were observed to migrate to areas with low density of electric field lines, which are far from electrodes or behind them. Animals from old culture were less sensitive to electrical stimulus. H2 strain was more reactive than H1 strain and especially than H13 strain; it demonstrated stronger physiological responses at frequencies of 2 Hz and 2 kHz with a voltage of 50 mV. Motion patterns and animal morphology depended on the duration of rectangular stimulation pulses, their number, amplitude, and frequency. Effects observed varied over a wide range: from direct or stochastic migration of animals to the anode or the cathode or away from it to their immobility, an increase of optical density around and in the middle of Trichoplax plate, and finally to Trichoplax folding and detach from the substrate. Additional experiments on Trichoplax sp. H2 with pulse duration of 35 ms and pulse delay of 1 ms to 10 s showed that the fraction of paralyzed animals increased up to 80 % with minimum delay. Nevertheless, in the presence of amlodipine with a concentration of 25 nM, almost all Trichoplax remained fast-moving for several minutes despite exposure to voltage waves. Experimental animals showed a total discoordination of motion and could not leave an “electrode trap”, when amlodipine with a concentration of 250 nM was used. Further, Trichoplax plate became rigid, which appeared in animal shape invariability during motion. Finally, amlodipine with a concentration of 50 μM caused a rapid folding of animal plate-like body into a pan in the ventral-dorsal direction and subsequent dissociation of Trichoplax plate into individual cells. In general, the electrical exposure applied demonstrated a cumulative but a reversible physiological effect, which, as expected, is associated with activity of voltage-gated calcium channels. Amlodipine at high concentration (50 μM) caused Trichoplax disintegration; at moderate concentration (250 nM), it disrupted the propagation of activation waves that led to discoordination of animal motion; at low concentration (25 nM), it prevented an electric shock.
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24
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Kamm K, Osigus HJ, Stadler PF, DeSalle R, Schierwater B. Genome analyses of a placozoan rickettsial endosymbiont show a combination of mutualistic and parasitic traits. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17561. [PMID: 31772223 PMCID: PMC6879607 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54037-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic relationships between eukaryotic hosts and bacteria range from parasitism to mutualism and may deeply influence both partners' fitness. The presence of intracellular bacteria in the metazoan phylum Placozoa has been reported several times, but without any knowledge about the nature of this relationship and possible implications for the placozoan holobiont. This information may be of crucial significance since little is known about placozoan ecology and how different species adapt to different environmental conditions, despite being almost invariable at the morphological level. We here report on the novel genome of the rickettsial endosymbiont of Trichoplax sp. H2 (strain "Panama"). The combination of eliminated and retained metabolic pathways of the bacterium indicates a potential for a mutualistic as well as for a parasitic relationship, whose outcome could depend on the environmental context. In particular we show that the endosymbiont is dependent on the host for growth and reproduction and that the latter could benefit from a supply with essential amino acids and important cofactors. These findings call for further studies to clarify the actual benefit for the placozoan host and to investigate a possible role of the endosymbiont for ecological separation between placozoan species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Kamm
- University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Institute of Animal Ecology, Bünteweg 17d, D-30559, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Hans-Jürgen Osigus
- University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Institute of Animal Ecology, Bünteweg 17d, D-30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter F Stadler
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, D-04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rob DeSalle
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics and Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
| | - Bernd Schierwater
- University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Institute of Animal Ecology, Bünteweg 17d, D-30559, Hannover, Germany. .,Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics and Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA.
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25
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Phylogenetic, genomic, and biogeographic characterization of a novel and ubiquitous marine invertebrate-associated Rickettsiales parasite, Candidatus Aquarickettsia rohweri, gen. nov., sp. nov. ISME JOURNAL 2019; 13:2938-2953. [PMID: 31384012 PMCID: PMC6863919 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-019-0482-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial symbionts are integral to the health and homeostasis of invertebrate hosts. Notably, members of the Rickettsiales genus Wolbachia influence several aspects of the fitness and evolution of their terrestrial hosts, but few analogous partnerships have been found in marine systems. We report here the genome, phylogenetics, and biogeography of a ubiquitous and novel Rickettsiales species that primarily associates with marine organisms. We previously showed that this bacterium was found in scleractinian corals, responds to nutrient exposure, and is associated with reduced host growth and increased mortality. This bacterium, like other Rickettsiales, has a reduced genome indicative of a parasitic lifestyle. Phylogenetic analysis places this Rickettsiales within a new genus we define as “Candidatus Aquarickettsia.” Using data from the Earth Microbiome Project and SRA databases, we also demonstrate that members of “Ca. Aquarickettsia” are found globally in dozens of invertebrate lineages. The coral-associated “Candidatus A. rohweri” is the first finished genome in this new clade. “Ca. A. rohweri” lacks genes to synthesize most sugars and amino acids but possesses several genes linked to pathogenicity including Tlc, an antiporter that exchanges host ATP for ADP, and a complete Type IV secretion system. Despite its inability to metabolize nitrogen, “Ca. A. rohweri” possesses the NtrY-NtrX two-component system involved in sensing and responding to extracellular nitrogen. Given these data, along with visualization of the parasite in host tissues, we hypothesize that “Ca. A. rohweri” reduces coral health by consuming host nutrients and energy, thus weakening and eventually killing host cells. Last, we hypothesize that nutrient enrichment, which is increasingly common on coral reefs, encourages unrestricted growth of “Ca. A. rohweri” in its host by providing abundant N-rich metabolites to be scavenged.
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26
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Gruber-Vodicka HR, Leisch N, Kleiner M, Hinzke T, Liebeke M, McFall-Ngai M, Hadfield MG, Dubilier N. Two intracellular and cell type-specific bacterial symbionts in the placozoan Trichoplax H2. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:1465-1474. [PMID: 31182796 PMCID: PMC6784892 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0475-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Placozoa is an enigmatic phylum of simple, microscopic, marine metazoans1,2. Although intracellular bacteria have been found in all members of this phylum, almost nothing is known about their identity, location and interactions with their host3–6. We used metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing of single host individuals, plus metaproteomic and imaging analyses, to show that the placozoan Trichoplax sp. H2 lives in symbiosis with two intracellular bacteria. One symbiont forms an undescribed genus in the Midichloriaceae (Rickettsiales)7,8 and has a genomic repertoire similar to that of rickettsial parasites9,10, but does not seem to express key genes for energy parasitism. Correlative image analyses and three-dimensional electron tomography revealed that this symbiont resides in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of its host’s internal fibre cells. The second symbiont belongs to the Margulisbacteria, a phylum without cultured representatives and not known to form intracellular associations11–13. This symbiont lives in the ventral epithelial cells of Trichoplax, probably metabolizes algal lipids digested by its host and has the capacity to supplement the placozoan’s nutrition. Our study shows that one of the simplest animals has evolved highly specific and intimate associations with symbiotic, intracellular bacteria and highlights that symbioses can provide access to otherwise elusive microbial dark matter. Using a multi-omics approach, together with imaging analyses, the authors characterize the two intracellular bacterial symbionts of Trichoplax, one of the simplest animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolaus Leisch
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Manuel Kleiner
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Tjorven Hinzke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Greifswald, Germany.,Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Manuel Liebeke
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Margaret McFall-Ngai
- Kewalo Marine Laboratory, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Michael G Hadfield
- Kewalo Marine Laboratory, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
| | - Nicole Dubilier
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany.
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27
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Kamm K, Schierwater B, DeSalle R. Innate immunity in the simplest animals - placozoans. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:5. [PMID: 30611207 PMCID: PMC6321704 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5377-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innate immunity provides the core recognition system in animals for preventing infection, but also plays an important role in managing the relationship between an animal host and its symbiont. Most of our knowledge about innate immunity stems from a few animal model systems, but substantial variation between metazoan phyla has been revealed by comparative genomic studies. The exploration of more taxa is still needed to better understand the evolution of immunity related mechanisms. Placozoans are morphologically the simplest organized metazoans and the association between these enigmatic animals and their rickettsial endosymbionts has recently been elucidated. Our analyses of the novel placozoan nuclear genome of Trichoplax sp. H2 and its associated rickettsial endosymbiont genome clearly pointed to a mutualistic and co-evolutionary relationship. This discovery raises the question of how the placozoan holobiont manages symbiosis and, conversely, how it defends against harmful microorganisms. In this study, we examined the annotated genome of Trichoplax sp. H2 for the presence of genes involved in innate immune recognition and downstream signaling. RESULTS A rich repertoire of genes belonging to the Toll-like and NOD-like receptor pathways, to scavenger receptors and to secreted fibrinogen-related domain genes was identified in the genome of Trichoplax sp. H2. Nevertheless, the innate immunity related pathways in placozoans deviate in several instances from well investigated vertebrates and invertebrates. While true Toll- and NOD-like receptors are absent, the presence of many genes of the downstream signaling cascade suggests at least primordial Toll-like receptor signaling in Placozoa. An abundance of scavenger receptors, fibrinogen-related domain genes and Apaf-1 genes clearly constitutes an expansion of the immunity related gene repertoire specific to Placozoa. CONCLUSIONS The found wealth of immunity related genes present in Placozoa is surprising and quite striking in light of the extremely simple placozoan body plan and their sparse cell type makeup. Research is warranted to reveal how Placozoa utilize this immune repertoire to manage and maintain their associated microbiota as well as to fend-off pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Kamm
- ITZ Ecology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17d, D-30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Bernd Schierwater
- ITZ Ecology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17d, D-30559 Hannover, Germany
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics and Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY USA
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520 USA
| | - Rob DeSalle
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics and Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY USA
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28
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Laumer CE, Gruber-Vodicka H, Hadfield MG, Pearse VB, Riesgo A, Marioni JC, Giribet G. Support for a clade of Placozoa and Cnidaria in genes with minimal compositional bias. eLife 2018; 7:e36278. [PMID: 30373720 PMCID: PMC6277202 DOI: 10.7554/elife.36278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The phylogenetic placement of the morphologically simple placozoans is crucial to understanding the evolution of complex animal traits. Here, we examine the influence of adding new genomes from placozoans to a large dataset designed to study the deepest splits in the animal phylogeny. Using site-heterogeneous substitution models, we show that it is possible to obtain strong support, in both amino acid and reduced-alphabet matrices, for either a sister-group relationship between Cnidaria and Placozoa, or for Cnidaria and Bilateria as seen in most published work to date, depending on the orthologues selected to construct the matrix. We demonstrate that a majority of genes show evidence of compositional heterogeneity, and that support for the Cnidaria + Bilateria clade can be assigned to this source of systematic error. In interpreting these results, we caution against a peremptory reading of placozoans as secondarily reduced forms of little relevance to broader discussions of early animal evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E Laumer
- Wellcome Trust Sanger InstituteHinxtonUnited Kingdom
- European Molecular Biology Laboratories-European Bioinformatics InstituteHinxtonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Michael G Hadfield
- Kewalo Marine LaboratoryPacific Biosciences Research Center and the University of Hawaii-ManoaHonoluluUnited States
| | - Vicki B Pearse
- Institute of Marine SciencesUniversity of CaliforniaSanta CruzUnited States
| | - Ana Riesgo
- Invertebrate Division, Life Sciences DepartmentThe Natural History MuseumLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - John C Marioni
- Wellcome Trust Sanger InstituteHinxtonUnited Kingdom
- European Molecular Biology Laboratories-European Bioinformatics InstituteHinxtonUnited Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Gonzalo Giribet
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
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29
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Bråte J, Neumann RS, Fromm B, Haraldsen AAB, Tarver JE, Suga H, Donoghue PCJ, Peterson KJ, Ruiz-Trillo I, Grini PE, Shalchian-Tabrizi K. Unicellular Origin of the Animal MicroRNA Machinery. Curr Biol 2018; 28:3288-3295.e5. [PMID: 30318349 PMCID: PMC6206976 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 07/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of multicellular animals was associated with an increase in phenotypic complexity and with the acquisition of spatial cell differentiation and embryonic development. Paradoxically, this phenotypic transition was not paralleled by major changes in the underlying developmental toolkit and regulatory networks. In fact, most of these systems are ancient, established already in the unicellular ancestors of animals [1-5]. In contrast, the Microprocessor protein machinery, which is essential for microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis in animals, as well as the miRNA genes themselves produced by this Microprocessor, have not been identified outside of the animal kingdom [6]. Hence, the Microprocessor, with the key proteins Pasha and Drosha, is regarded as an animal innovation [7-9]. Here, we challenge this evolutionary scenario by investigating unicellular sister lineages of animals through genomic and transcriptomic analyses. We identify in Ichthyosporea both Drosha and Pasha (DGCR8 in vertebrates), indicating that the Microprocessor complex evolved long before the last common ancestor of animals, consistent with a pre-metazoan origin of most of the animal developmental gene elements. Through small RNA sequencing, we also discovered expressed bona fide miRNA genes in several species of the ichthyosporeans harboring the Microprocessor. A deep, pre-metazoan origin of the Microprocessor and miRNAs comply with a view that the origin of multicellular animals was not directly linked to the innovation of these key regulatory components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Bråte
- Centre for Epigenetics, Development and Evolution (CEDE) and Centre for Integrative Microbial Evolution (CIME), Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (EVOGENE), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ralf S Neumann
- Centre for Epigenetics, Development and Evolution (CEDE) and Centre for Integrative Microbial Evolution (CIME), Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (EVOGENE), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bastian Fromm
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arthur A B Haraldsen
- Centre for Epigenetics, Development and Evolution (CEDE) and Centre for Integrative Microbial Evolution (CIME), Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (EVOGENE), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - James E Tarver
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Hiroshi Suga
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Nanatsuka 562, Shobara, Hiroshima 727-0023, Japan
| | | | - Kevin J Peterson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paul E Grini
- Centre for Epigenetics, Development and Evolution (CEDE) and Centre for Integrative Microbial Evolution (CIME), Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (EVOGENE), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kamran Shalchian-Tabrizi
- Centre for Epigenetics, Development and Evolution (CEDE) and Centre for Integrative Microbial Evolution (CIME), Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (EVOGENE), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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