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Fröhlich D, Bodner M, Raspotnig G, Hahn C. Simple protocol for combined extraction of exocrine secretions and RNA in small arthropods. Biol Methods Protoc 2024; 9:bpae054. [PMID: 39131584 PMCID: PMC11316613 DOI: 10.1093/biomethods/bpae054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The integration of data from multiple sources and analytical techniques to obtain novel insights and answer challenging questions is a hallmark of modern science. In arthropods, exocrine secretions may act as pheromones, defensive substances, antibiotics, as well as surface protectants, and as such they play a crucial role in ecology and evolution. Exocrine chemical compounds are frequently characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Technological advances of recent years now allow us to routinely characterize the total gene complement transcribed in a particular biological tissue, often in the context of experimental treatment, via RNAseq. We here introduce a novel methodological approach to successfully characterize exocrine secretions and full transcriptomes of one and the same individual of oribatid mites. We found that chemical extraction prior to RNA extraction had only minor effects on the total RNA integrity. De novo transcriptomes obtained from such combined extractions were of comparable quality to those assembled for samples that were subject to RNA extraction only, indicating that combined chemical/RNA extraction is perfectly suitable for phylotranscriptomic studies. However, in-depth analysis of RNA expression analysis indicates that chemical extraction prior to RNAseq may affect transcript degradation rates, similar to the effects reported in previous studies comparing RNA extraction protocols. With this pilot study, we demonstrate that profiling chemical secretions and RNA expression levels from the same individual is methodologically feasible, paving the way for future research to understand the genes and pathways underlying the syntheses of biogenic chemical compounds. Our approach should be applicable broadly to most arachnids, insects, and other arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Fröhlich
- Department of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Michaela Bodner
- Department of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | | | - Christoph Hahn
- Department of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, 8010, Austria
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Gajda Ł, Daszkowska-Golec A, Świątek P. Trophic Position of the White Worm ( Enchytraeus albidus) in the Context of Digestive Enzyme Genes Revealed by Transcriptomics Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4685. [PMID: 38731903 PMCID: PMC11083476 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
To assess the impact of Enchytraeidae (potworms) on the functioning of the decomposer system, knowledge of the feeding preferences of enchytraeid species is required. Different food preferences can be explained by variations in enzymatic activities among different enchytraeid species, as there are no significant differences in the morphology or anatomy of their alimentary tracts. However, it is crucial to distinguish between the contribution of microbial enzymes and the animal's digestive capacity. Here, we computationally analyzed the endogenous digestive enzyme genes in Enchytraeus albidus. The analysis was based on RNA-Seq of COI-monohaplotype culture (PL-A strain) specimens, utilizing transcriptome profiling to determine the trophic position of the species. We also corroborated the results obtained using transcriptomics data from genetically heterogeneous freeze-tolerant strains. Our results revealed that E. albidus expresses a wide range of glycosidases, including GH9 cellulases and a specific digestive SH3b-domain-containing i-type lysozyme, previously described in the earthworm Eisenia andrei. Therefore, E. albidus combines traits of both primary decomposers (primary saprophytophages) and secondary decomposers (sapro-microphytophages/microbivores) and can be defined as an intermediate decomposer. Based on assemblies of publicly available RNA-Seq reads, we found close homologs for these cellulases and i-type lysozymes in various clitellate taxa, including Crassiclitellata and Enchytraeidae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Piotr Świątek
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, 9 Bankowa St., 40-007 Katowice, Poland; (Ł.G.); (A.D.-G.)
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3
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Sklias A, Cruciani S, Marchand V, Spagnuolo M, Lavergne G, Bourguignon V, Brambilla A, Dreos R, Marygold S, Novoa E, Motorin Y, Roignant JY. Comprehensive map of ribosomal 2'-O-methylation and C/D box snoRNAs in Drosophila melanogaster. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:2848-2864. [PMID: 38416577 PMCID: PMC11014333 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
During their maturation, ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) are decorated by hundreds of chemical modifications that participate in proper folding of rRNA secondary structures and therefore in ribosomal function. Along with pseudouridine, methylation of the 2'-hydroxyl ribose moiety (Nm) is the most abundant modification of rRNAs. The majority of Nm modifications in eukaryotes are placed by Fibrillarin, a conserved methyltransferase belonging to a ribonucleoprotein complex guided by C/D box small nucleolar RNAs (C/D box snoRNAs). These modifications impact interactions between rRNAs, tRNAs and mRNAs, and some are known to fine tune translation rates and efficiency. In this study, we built the first comprehensive map of Nm sites in Drosophila melanogaster rRNAs using two complementary approaches (RiboMethSeq and Nanopore direct RNA sequencing) and identified their corresponding C/D box snoRNAs by whole-transcriptome sequencing. We de novo identified 61 Nm sites, from which 55 are supported by both sequencing methods, we validated the expression of 106 C/D box snoRNAs and we predicted new or alternative rRNA Nm targets for 31 of them. Comparison of methylation level upon different stresses show only slight but specific variations, indicating that this modification is relatively stable in D. melanogaster. This study paves the way to investigate the impact of snoRNA-mediated 2'-O-methylation on translation and proteostasis in a whole organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athena Sklias
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sonia Cruciani
- Center For Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Virginie Marchand
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, INSERM, Epitranscriptomics and RNA sequencing (EpiRNA-Seq) Core Facility (UAR2008/US40 IBSLor) and UMR7365 IMoPA, Nancy, France
| | - Mariangela Spagnuolo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Guillaume Lavergne
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Valérie Bourguignon
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, INSERM, Epitranscriptomics and RNA sequencing (EpiRNA-Seq) Core Facility (UAR2008/US40 IBSLor) and UMR7365 IMoPA, Nancy, France
| | - Alessandro Brambilla
- Proteomics and Modomics Experimental Core (PROMEC), Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the Central Norway Regional Health Authority, Trondheim, Norway
| | - René Dreos
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Steven J Marygold
- FlyBase, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Maria Novoa
- Center For Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- University Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yuri Motorin
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, INSERM, Epitranscriptomics and RNA sequencing (EpiRNA-Seq) Core Facility (UAR2008/US40 IBSLor) and UMR7365 IMoPA, Nancy, France
| | - Jean-Yves Roignant
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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4
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Azad MTA, Sugi T, Qulsum U, Kato K. Detection of Developmental Asexual Stage-Specific RNA Editing Events in Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 Malaria Parasite. Microorganisms 2024; 12:137. [PMID: 38257964 PMCID: PMC10819399 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional variation has been studied but post-transcriptional modification due to RNA editing has not been investigated in Plasmodium. We investigated developmental stage-specific RNA editing in selected genes in Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. We detected extensive amination- and deamination-type RNA editing at 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, and 46 h in tightly synchronized Plasmodium. Most of the editing events were observed in 8 and 16 h ring-stage parasites. Extensive A-to-G deamination-type editing was detected more during the 16 h ring stage (25%) than the 8 h ring stage (20%). Extensive U-to-C amination-type editing was detected more during the 16 h ring stage (31%) than the 8 h ring stage (22%). In 28S, rRNA editing converted the loop structure to the stem structure. The hemoglobin binding activity of PF3D7_0216900 was also altered due to RNA editing. Among the expressed 28S rRNA genes, PF3D7_0532000 and PF3D7_0726000 expression was higher. Increased amounts of the transcripts of these two genes were found, particularly PF3D7_0726000 in the ring stage and PF3D7_0532000 in the trophozoite and schizont stages. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) expression did not correlate with the editing level. This first experimental report of RNA editing will help to identify the editing machinery that might be useful for antimalarial drug discovery and malaria control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Thoufic Anam Azad
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
| | - Tatsuki Sugi
- Division of Collaboration and Education, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Nishi10-Kita 20, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
| | - Umme Qulsum
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
| | - Kentaro Kato
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan
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5
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Baden T, Briseño J, Coffing G, Cohen-Bodénès S, Courtney A, Dickerson D, Dölen G, Fiorito G, Gestal C, Gustafson T, Heath-Heckman E, Hua Q, Imperadore P, Kimbara R, Król M, Lajbner Z, Lichilín N, Macchi F, McCoy MJ, Nishiguchi MK, Nyholm SV, Otjacques E, Pérez-Ferrer PA, Ponte G, Pungor JR, Rogers TF, Rosenthal JJC, Rouressol L, Rubas N, Sanchez G, Santos CP, Schultz DT, Seuntjens E, Songco-Casey JO, Stewart IE, Styfhals R, Tuanapaya S, Vijayan N, Weissenbacher A, Zifcakova L, Schulz G, Weertman W, Simakov O, Albertin CB. Cephalopod-omics: Emerging Fields and Technologies in Cephalopod Biology. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:1226-1239. [PMID: 37370232 PMCID: PMC10755191 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Few animal groups can claim the level of wonder that cephalopods instill in the minds of researchers and the general public. Much of cephalopod biology, however, remains unexplored: the largest invertebrate brain, difficult husbandry conditions, and complex (meta-)genomes, among many other things, have hindered progress in addressing key questions. However, recent technological advancements in sequencing, imaging, and genetic manipulation have opened new avenues for exploring the biology of these extraordinary animals. The cephalopod molecular biology community is thus experiencing a large influx of researchers, emerging from different fields, accelerating the pace of research in this clade. In the first post-pandemic event at the Cephalopod International Advisory Council (CIAC) conference in April 2022, over 40 participants from all over the world met and discussed key challenges and perspectives for current cephalopod molecular biology and evolution. Our particular focus was on the fields of comparative and regulatory genomics, gene manipulation, single-cell transcriptomics, metagenomics, and microbial interactions. This article is a result of this joint effort, summarizing the latest insights from these emerging fields, their bottlenecks, and potential solutions. The article highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the cephalopod-omics community and provides an emphasis on continuous consolidation of efforts and collaboration in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Baden
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
| | - John Briseño
- Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Gabrielle Coffing
- Biology Department: Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5289, USA
| | - Sophie Cohen-Bodénès
- Laboratoire des Systèmes Perceptifs, Département d'Etudes Cognitives, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Amy Courtney
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Dominick Dickerson
- Friday Harbor Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98250, USA
| | - Gül Dölen
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Graziano Fiorito
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Napoli, Italy
| | - Camino Gestal
- Laboratory of Marine Molecular Pathobiology, Institute of Marine Research (IIM), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Vigo 36208, Spain
| | | | - Elizabeth Heath-Heckman
- Departments of Integrative Biology and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Qiaz Hua
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Pamela Imperadore
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Napoli, Italy
| | - Ryosuke Kimbara
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa 238-0225, Japan
| | - Mirela Król
- Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań 61-712, Poland
| | - Zdeněk Lajbner
- Physics and Biology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Nicolás Lichilín
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
| | - Filippo Macchi
- Program in Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 129188 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Matthew J McCoy
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michele K Nishiguchi
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Blvd., Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Spencer V Nyholm
- Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Eve Otjacques
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET—Aquatic Research Network, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal
- Division of Biosphere Sciences and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, 1200 E. California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Pedro Antonio Pérez-Ferrer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 N. Lake Blvd., Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Giovanna Ponte
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Napoli, Italy
| | - Judit R Pungor
- Biology Department: Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5289, USA
| | - Thea F Rogers
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
| | - Joshua J C Rosenthal
- Marine Biological Laboratory, The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1015, USA
| | - Lisa Rouressol
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
| | - Noelle Rubas
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Gustavo Sanchez
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Catarina Pereira Santos
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET—Aquatic Research Network, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal
| | - Darrin T Schultz
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
| | - Eve Seuntjens
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jeremea O Songco-Casey
- Biology Department: Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5289, USA
| | - Ian Erik Stewart
- Neural Circuits and Behaviour Lab, Max‐Delbrück‐Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Ruth Styfhals
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Surangkana Tuanapaya
- Laboratory of genetics and applied breeding of molluscs, Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Nidhi Vijayan
- Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | | | - Lucia Zifcakova
- Physics and Biology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | | | - Willem Weertman
- Friday Harbor Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98250, USA
| | - Oleg Simakov
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
| | - Caroline B Albertin
- Marine Biological Laboratory, The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1015, USA
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García-Villalvazo PE, Jiménez-Vargas JM, Lino-López GJ, Meneses EP, Bermúdez-Guzmán MDJ, Barajas-Saucedo CE, Delgado Enciso I, Possani LD, Valdez-Velazquez LL. Unveiling the Protein Components of the Secretory-Venom Gland and Venom of the Scorpion Centruroides possanii (Buthidae) through Omic Technologies. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:498. [PMID: 37624255 PMCID: PMC10467079 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15080498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Centruroides possanii is a recently discovered species of "striped scorpion" found in Mexico. Certain species of Centruroides are known to be toxic to mammals, leading to numerous cases of human intoxications in the country. Venom components are thought to possess therapeutic potential and/or biotechnological applications. Hence, obtaining and analyzing the secretory gland transcriptome and venom proteome of C. possanii is relevant, and that is what is described in this communication. Since this is a newly described species, first, its LD50 to mice was determined and estimated to be 659 ng/g mouse weight. Using RNA extracted from this species and preparing their corresponding cDNA fragments, a transcriptome analysis was obtained on a Genome Analyzer (Illumina) using the 76-base pair-end sequencing protocol. Via high-throughput sequencing, 19,158,736 reads were obtained and ensembled in 835,204 sequences. Of them, 28,399 transcripts were annotated with Pfam. A total of 244 complete transcripts were identified in the transcriptome of C. possanii. Of these, 109 sequences showed identity to toxins that act on ion channels, 47 enzymes, 17 protease inhibitors (PINs), 11 defense peptides (HDPs), and 60 in other components. In addition, a sample of the soluble venom obtained from this scorpion was analyzed using an Orbitrap Velos apparatus, which allowed for identification by liquid chromatography followed by mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of 70 peptides and proteins: 23 toxins, 27 enzymes, 6 PINs, 3 HDPs, and 11 other components. Until now, this work has the highest number of scorpion venom components identified through omics technologies. The main novel findings described here were analyzed in comparison with the known data from the literature, and this process permitted some new insights in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juana María Jiménez-Vargas
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Colima, Colima 28400, Mexico; (P.E.G.-V.); (J.M.J.-V.); (C.E.B.-S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencia y Tecnología (CONAHCYT), Mexico City 03940, Mexico
| | - Gisela Jareth Lino-López
- Centro Nacional de Referencia de Control Biológico, Dirección General de Sanidad Vegetal SENASICASADER, Colima 28110, Mexico;
| | - Erika Patricia Meneses
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico;
| | | | | | | | - Lourival Domingos Possani
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico;
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Power C, Lamarre SG, Dion-Côté AM. Transcriptional and metabolomic investigation of the stress response in snow crab during simulated transport condition (Chionoecetes opilio). COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2023; 46:101079. [PMID: 37146452 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms underlying the stress response are poorly described in crustaceans. This includes the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio), a commercially important stenotherm species distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. A better understanding of the stress response in C. opilio is desperately needed for commercial and conservation purposes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the transcriptional and metabolomic response of C. opilio exposed to stressors. Crabs were randomly assigned to 24 or 72 h treatment groups where they were exposed to conditions simulating live transport (handling and air exposure). A control group was kept in cold (2 °C) and well‑oxygenated saltwater. The hepatopancreas of the crabs was sampled to perform RNA-sequencing and high-performance chemical isotope labeling metabolomics. Differential gene expression analyses showed that classic crustaceans' stress markers, such as crustacean hyperglycemic hormones and heat shock proteins, were overexpressed in response to stressors. Tyrosine decarboxylase was also up-regulated in stressed crabs, suggesting an implication of the catecholamines tyramine and octopamine in the stress response. Deregulated metabolites revealed that low oxygen was an important trigger in the stress response as intermediate metabolites of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) accumulated. Lactate, which accumulated unevenly between crabs could potentially be used to predict mortality. This study provides new information on how stressors affect crustaceans and provides a basis for the development of stress markers in C. opilio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Power
- Département de biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New-Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada. https://twitter.com/@ClaudePower14
| | - Simon G Lamarre
- Département de biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New-Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada.
| | - Anne-Marie Dion-Côté
- Département de biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New-Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada.
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8
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Linscott TM, González-González A, Hirano T, Parent CE. De novo genome assembly and genome skims reveal LTRs dominate the genome of a limestone endemic Mountainsnail (Oreohelix idahoensis). BMC Genomics 2022; 23:796. [PMID: 36460988 PMCID: PMC9719178 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-09000-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Calcareous outcrops, rocky areas composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), often host a diverse, specialized, and threatened biomineralizing fauna. Despite the repeated evolution of physiological and morphological adaptations to colonize these mineral rich substrates, there is a lack of genomic resources for calcareous rock endemic species. This has hampered our ability to understand the genomic mechanisms underlying calcareous rock specialization and manage these threatened species. RESULTS Here, we present a new draft genome assembly of the threatened limestone endemic land snail Oreohelix idahoensis and genome skim data for two other Oreohelix species. The O. idahoensis genome assembly (scaffold N50: 404.19 kb; 86.6% BUSCO genes) is the largest (~ 5.4 Gb) and most repetitive mollusc genome assembled to date (85.74% assembly size). The repetitive landscape was unusually dominated by an expansion of long terminal repeat (LTR) transposable elements (57.73% assembly size) which have shaped the evolution genome size, gene composition through retrotransposition of host genes, and ectopic recombination. Genome skims revealed repeat content is more than 2-3 fold higher in limestone endemic O. idahoensis compared to non-calcareous Oreohelix species. Gene family size analysis revealed stress and biomineralization genes have expanded significantly in the O. idahoensis genome. CONCLUSIONS Hundreds of threatened land snail species are endemic to calcareous rock regions but there are very few genomic resources available to guide their conservation or determine the genomic architecture underlying CaCO3 resource specialization. Our study provides one of the first high quality draft genomes of a calcareous rock endemic land snail which will serve as a foundation for the conservation genomics of this threatened species and for other groups. The high proportion and activity of LTRs in the O. idahoensis genome is unprecedented in molluscan genomics and sheds new light how transposable element content can vary across molluscs. The genomic resources reported here will enable further studies of the genomic mechanisms underlying calcareous rock specialization and the evolution of transposable element content across molluscs.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Mason Linscott
- grid.266456.50000 0001 2284 9900Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID USA ,grid.266456.50000 0001 2284 9900Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID USA
| | - Andrea González-González
- grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida USA
| | - Takahiro Hirano
- grid.69566.3a0000 0001 2248 6943Center for Northeast Asian Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi Japan
| | - Christine E. Parent
- grid.266456.50000 0001 2284 9900Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID USA ,grid.266456.50000 0001 2284 9900Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID USA
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9
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Zolotarov G, Fromm B, Legnini I, Ayoub S, Polese G, Maselli V, Chabot PJ, Vinther J, Styfhals R, Seuntjens E, Di Cosmo A, Peterson KJ, Rajewsky N. MicroRNAs are deeply linked to the emergence of the complex octopus brain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd9938. [PMID: 36427315 PMCID: PMC9699675 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add9938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Soft-bodied cephalopods such as octopuses are exceptionally intelligent invertebrates with a highly complex nervous system that evolved independently from vertebrates. Because of elevated RNA editing in their nervous tissues, we hypothesized that RNA regulation may play a major role in the cognitive success of this group. We thus profiled messenger RNAs and small RNAs in three cephalopod species including 18 tissues of the Octopus vulgaris. We show that the major RNA innovation of soft-bodied cephalopods is an expansion of the microRNA (miRNA) gene repertoire. These evolutionarily novel miRNAs were primarily expressed in adult neuronal tissues and during the development and had conserved and thus likely functional target sites. The only comparable miRNA expansions happened, notably, in vertebrates. Thus, we propose that miRNAs are intimately linked to the evolution of complex animal brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grygoriy Zolotarov
- Laboratory of Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Hannoversche Str 28, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bastian Fromm
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- SciLifeLab, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ivano Legnini
- Laboratory of Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Hannoversche Str 28, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Salah Ayoub
- Laboratory of Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Hannoversche Str 28, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gianluca Polese
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Maselli
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Jakob Vinther
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ruth Styfhals
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Eve Seuntjens
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anna Di Cosmo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Nikolaus Rajewsky
- Laboratory of Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Hannoversche Str 28, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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10
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Exploring LSU and ITS rDNA Sequences for Acanthamoeba Identification and Phylogeny. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091776. [PMID: 36144378 PMCID: PMC9502406 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification and classification of strains of Acanthamoeba, a potentially pathogenic ubiquitous free-living amoeba, are largely based on the analysis of 18S rDNA sequences, currently delineating 23 genotypes, T1 to T23. In this study, the sequences of the ITS region, i.e., the 5.8S rDNA and the two internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2), and those of the large subunit (LSU) rDNA of Acanthamoeba were recovered from amoeba genomes; the sequences are available in GenBank. The complete ITS–LSU sequences could be obtained for 15 strains belonging to 7 distinct lineages (T4A, T4D, T4F, T4G, T2, T5, and T18), and the site of the hidden break producing the 26Sα and 26Sβ was identified. For the other lines, either the LSU is partial (T2/T6, T7) or the ITS is fragmentary (T7, T10, T22). It is noteworthy that a number of sequences assigned to fungi turned out to actually be Acanthamoeba, only some of which could be affiliated with known genotypes. Analysis of the obtained sequences indicates that both ITS and LSU are promising for diagnostic and phylogenetic purposes.
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11
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Erfanparast L, Taghizadieh M, Shekarchi AA. Non-Coding RNAs and Oral Cancer: Small Molecules With Big Functions. Front Oncol 2022; 12:914593. [PMID: 35898889 PMCID: PMC9309727 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.914593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral cancer remains a major public concern with considerable socioeconomic impact in the world. Despite substantial advancements have been made in treating oral cancer, the five-year survival rate for oral cancer remained undesirable, and the molecular mechanisms underlying OSCC carcinogenesis have not been fully understood. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) include transfer RNAs (tRNAs), as well as small RNAs such as microRNAs, and the long ncRNAs such as HOTAIR are a large segment of the transcriptome that do not have apparent protein-coding roles, but they have been verified to play important roles in diverse biological processes, including cancer cell development. Cell death, such as apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy, plays a vital role in the progression of cancer. A better understanding of the regulatory relationships between ncRNAs and these various types of cancer cell death is therefore urgently required. The occurrence and development of oral cancer can be controlled by increasing or decreasing the expression of ncRNAs, a method which confers broad prospects for oral cancer treatment. Therefore, it is urgent for us to understand the influence of ncRNAs on the development of different modes of oral tumor death, and to evaluate whether ncRNAs have the potential to be used as biological targets for inducing cell death and recurrence of chemotherapy. The purpose of this review is to describe the impact of ncRNAs on cell apoptosis and autophagy in oral cancer in order to explore potential targets for oral cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Erfanparast
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghizadieh
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- *Correspondence: Mohammad Taghizadieh,
| | - Ali Akbar Shekarchi
- Department of Pathology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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12
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Elliott CI, Stotesbury TE, Shafer ABA. Using total RNA quality metrics for time since deposition estimates in degrading bloodstains. J Forensic Sci 2022; 67:1776-1785. [PMID: 35665927 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The physicochemical changes occurring in biomolecules in degrading bloodstains can be used to approximate the time since deposition (TSD) of bloodstains. This would provide forensic scientists with critical information regarding the timeline of the events involving bloodshed. Our study aims to quantify the timewise degradation trends and temperature dependence found in total RNA from bloodstains without the use of amplification, expanding the scope of the RNA TSD research which has traditionally targeted mRNA and miRNA. Bovine blood with ACD-A anticoagulant was deposited and stored in plastic microcentrifuge tubes at 21 or 4°C and tested over different timepoints spanning 1 week. Total RNA was extracted from each sample and analyzed using automated high sensitivity gel electrophoresis. Nine RNA metrics were visually assessed and quantified using linear and mixed models. The RNA Integrity Number equivalent (RINe) and DV200 were not influenced by the addition of anticoagulant and demonstrated strong negative trends over time. The RINe model fit was high (R2 = 0.60), and while including the biological replicate as a random effect increased the fit for all RNA metrics, no significant differences were found between biological replicates stored at the same temperature for the RINe and DV200. This suggests that these standardized metrics can be directly compared between scenarios and individuals, with DV200 having an inflection point at approximately 28 h. This study provides a novel approach for blood TSD research, revealing metrics that are not affected by inter-individual variation, and improving our understanding of the rapid RNA degradation occurring in bloodstains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin I Elliott
- Department of Forensic Science, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.,Applied Bioscience Graduate Program, Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Theresa E Stotesbury
- Faculty of Science, Forensic Science, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aaron B A Shafer
- Department of Forensic Science, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.,Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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13
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Hałakuc P, Karnkowska A, Milanowski R. Typical structure of rRNA coding genes in diplonemids points to two independent origins of the bizarre rDNA structures of euglenozoans. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:59. [PMID: 35534840 PMCID: PMC9082867 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-02014-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Members of Euglenozoa (Discoba) are known for unorthodox rDNA organization. In Euglenida rDNA is located on extrachromosomal circular DNA. In Kinetoplastea and Euglenida the core of the large ribosomal subunit, typically formed by the 28S rRNA, consists of several smaller rRNAs. They are the result of the presence of additional internal transcribed spacers (ITSs) in the rDNA. Diplonemea is the third of the main groups of Euglenozoa and its members are known to be among the most abundant and diverse protists in the oceans. Despite that, the rRNA of only one diplonemid species, Diplonema papillatum, has been examined so far and found to exhibit continuous 28S rRNA. Currently, the rDNA organization has not been researched for any diplonemid. Herein we investigate the structure of rRNA genes in classical (Diplonemidae) and deep-sea diplonemids (Eupelagonemidae), representing the majority of known diplonemid diversity. The results fill the gap in knowledge about diplonemid rDNA and allow better understanding of the evolution of the fragmented structure of the rDNA in Euglenozoa. Results We used available genomic (culture and single-cell) sequencing data to assemble complete or almost complete rRNA operons for three classical and six deep-sea diplonemids. The rDNA sequences acquired for several euglenids and kinetoplastids were used to provide the background for the analysis. In all nine diplonemids, 28S rRNA seems to be contiguous, with no additional ITSs detected. Similarly, no additional ITSs were detected in basal prokinetoplastids. However, we identified five additional ITSs in the 28S rRNA of all analysed metakinetoplastids, and up to twelve in euglenids. Only three of these share positions, and they cannot be traced back to their common ancestor. Conclusions Presented results indicate that independent origin of additional ITSs in euglenids and kinetoplastids seems to be the most likely. The reason for such unmatched fragmentation remains unknown, but for some reason euglenozoan ribosomes appear to be prone to 28S rRNA fragmentation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-022-02014-9.
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14
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Ekelund Ugge GMO, Jonsson A, Walstad A, Berglund O. Evaluation of transcriptional biomarkers using a high-resolution regression approach: Concentration-dependence of selected transcripts in copper-exposed freshwater mussels (Anodonta anatina). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 90:103795. [PMID: 34971800 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We tested concentration-dependence of selected gene transcripts (cat, gst, hsp70, hsp90, mt and sod) for evaluation as biomarkers of chemical stress. Contrary to the common approach of factorial designs and few exposure concentrations, we used regression across a high-resolution concentration series. Specifically, freshwater mussels (Anodonta anatina) were acutely (96 h) exposed to Cu (13 nominal concentrations, measuring 0.13-1 600 µg/L), and transcripts were measured by RT-qPCR. In digestive glands, cat, hsp90 and mt decreased with water Cu (p < 0.05), but response magnitudes saturated at < 2-fold decreases. In gills, gst, hsp70, hsp90 and mt increased with water Cu (p < 0.05). While hsp70, hsp90 and mt exceeded 2-fold increases within the exposure range, high Cu concentrations were required (38-160 µg/L). Although gill responses were generally more robust compared to digestive glands, overall small response magnitudes and moderate sensitivity may set limit for potential application as general biomarkers of chemical stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustaf M O Ekelund Ugge
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden; School of Bioscience, University of Skövde, Högskolevägen 3, SE-541 46 Skövde, Sweden.
| | - Annie Jonsson
- School of Bioscience, University of Skövde, Högskolevägen 3, SE-541 46 Skövde, Sweden
| | - Anders Walstad
- ALS Scandinavia Toxicon AB, Rosenhällsvägen 29, SE-261 92 Härslöv, Sweden
| | - Olof Berglund
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden
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15
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Rincón-Riveros A, Morales D, Rodríguez JA, Villegas VE, López-Kleine L. Bioinformatic Tools for the Analysis and Prediction of ncRNA Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11397. [PMID: 34768830 PMCID: PMC8583695 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play prominent roles in the regulation of gene expression via their interactions with other biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Although much of our knowledge about how these ncRNAs operate in different biological processes has been obtained from experimental findings, computational biology can also clearly substantially boost this knowledge by suggesting possible novel interactions of these ncRNAs with other molecules. Computational predictions are thus used as an alternative source of new insights through a process of mutual enrichment because the information obtained through experiments continuously feeds through into computational methods. The results of these predictions in turn shed light on possible interactions that are subsequently validated experimentally. This review describes the latest advances in databases, bioinformatic tools, and new in silico strategies that allow the establishment or prediction of biological interactions of ncRNAs, particularly miRNAs and lncRNAs. The ncRNA species described in this work have a special emphasis on those found in humans, but information on ncRNA of other species is also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Rincón-Riveros
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Group, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111221, Colombia;
| | - Duvan Morales
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia;
| | - Josefa Antonia Rodríguez
- Grupo de Investigación en Biología del Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá 111221, Colombia;
| | - Victoria E. Villegas
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia;
| | - Liliana López-Kleine
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111221, Colombia
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16
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Narayan V, McMahon M, O'Brien JJ, McAllister F, Buffenstein R. Insights into the Molecular Basis of Genome Stability and Pristine Proteostasis in Naked Mole-Rats. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1319:287-314. [PMID: 34424521 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-65943-1_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is the longest-lived rodent, with a maximal reported lifespan of 37 years. In addition to its long lifespan - which is much greater than predicted based on its small body size (longevity quotient of ~4.2) - naked mole-rats are also remarkably healthy well into old age. This is reflected in a striking resistance to tumorigenesis and minimal declines in cardiovascular, neurological and reproductive function in older animals. Over the past two decades, researchers have been investigating the molecular mechanisms regulating the extended life- and health- span of this animal, and since the sequencing and assembly of the naked mole-rat genome in 2011, progress has been rapid. Here, we summarize findings from published studies exploring the unique molecular biology of the naked mole-rat, with a focus on mechanisms and pathways contributing to genome stability and maintenance of proteostasis during aging. We also present new data from our laboratory relevant to the topic and discuss our findings in the context of the published literature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary McMahon
- Calico Life Sciences, LLC, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Rochelle Buffenstein
- Calico Life Sciences, LLC, South San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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17
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García-Castro H, Kenny NJ, Iglesias M, Álvarez-Campos P, Mason V, Elek A, Schönauer A, Sleight VA, Neiro J, Aboobaker A, Permanyer J, Irimia M, Sebé-Pedrós A, Solana J. ACME dissociation: a versatile cell fixation-dissociation method for single-cell transcriptomics. Genome Biol 2021; 22:89. [PMID: 33827654 PMCID: PMC8028764 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02302-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-cell sequencing technologies are revolutionizing biology, but they are limited by the need to dissociate live samples. Here, we present ACME (ACetic-MEthanol), a dissociation approach for single-cell transcriptomics that simultaneously fixes cells. ACME-dissociated cells have high RNA integrity, can be cryopreserved multiple times, and are sortable and permeable. As a proof of principle, we provide single-cell transcriptomic data of different species, using both droplet-based and combinatorial barcoding single-cell methods. ACME uses affordable reagents, can be done in most laboratories and even in the field, and thus will accelerate our knowledge of cell types across the tree of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena García-Castro
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Nathan J. Kenny
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Marta Iglesias
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Álvarez-Campos
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM) & Departamento de Biología (Zoología), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vincent Mason
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Anamaria Elek
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Schönauer
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Jakke Neiro
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Jon Permanyer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arnau Sebé-Pedrós
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Solana
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
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18
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Adema CM. Sticky problems: extraction of nucleic acids from molluscs. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200162. [PMID: 33813891 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional molecular methods and omics-techniques across molluscan taxonomy increasingly inform biology of Mollusca. Recovery of DNA and RNA for such studies is challenged by common biological properties of the highly diverse molluscs. Molluscan biomineralization, adhesive structures and mucus involve polyphenolic proteins and mucopolysaccharides that hinder DNA extraction or copurify to inhibit enzyme-catalysed molecular procedures. DNA extraction methods that employ the detergent hexadecyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB) to remove these contaminants importantly facilitate molecular-level study of molluscs. Molluscan pigments may stain DNA samples and interfere with spectrophotometry, necessitating gel electrophoresis or fluorometry for accurate quantification. RNA can reliably be extracted but the 'hidden break' in 28S rRNA of molluscs (like most protostomes) causes 18S and 28S rRNA fragments to co-migrate electrophoretically. This challenges the standard quality control based on the ratio of 18S and 28S rRNA, developed for deuterostome animals. High-AT content in molluscan rRNA prevents the effective purification of polyadenylated mRNA. Awareness of these matters aids the continuous expansion of molecular malacology, enabling work also with museum specimens and next-generation sequencing, with the latter imposing unprecedented demands on DNA quality. Alternative methods to extract nucleic acids from molluscs are available from literature and, importantly, from communications with others who study the molecular biology of molluscs. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Molluscan genomics: broad insights and future directions for a neglected phylum'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coen M Adema
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87112, USA
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19
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Kapli P, Natsidis P, Leite DJ, Fursman M, Jeffrie N, Rahman IA, Philippe H, Copley RR, Telford MJ. Lack of support for Deuterostomia prompts reinterpretation of the first Bilateria. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabe2741. [PMID: 33741592 PMCID: PMC7978419 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe2741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The bilaterally symmetric animals (Bilateria) are considered to comprise two monophyletic groups, Protostomia (Ecdysozoa and the Lophotrochozoa) and Deuterostomia (Chordata and the Xenambulacraria). Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have not consistently supported deuterostome monophyly. Here, we compare support for Protostomia and Deuterostomia using multiple, independent phylogenomic datasets. As expected, Protostomia is always strongly supported, especially by longer and higher-quality genes. Support for Deuterostomia, however, is always equivocal and barely higher than support for paraphyletic alternatives. Conditions that cause tree reconstruction errors-inadequate models, short internal branches, faster evolving genes, and unequal branch lengths-coincide with support for monophyletic deuterostomes. Simulation experiments show that support for Deuterostomia could be explained by systematic error. The branch between bilaterian and deuterostome common ancestors is, at best, very short, supporting the idea that the bilaterian ancestor may have been deuterostome-like. Our findings have important implications for the understanding of early animal evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paschalia Kapli
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Paschalis Natsidis
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Daniel J Leite
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Maximilian Fursman
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Nadia Jeffrie
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Imran A Rahman
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW, UK
| | - Hervé Philippe
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale, UMR CNRS 5321, Université Paul Sabatier, 09200 Moulis, France
| | - Richard R Copley
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Maximilian J Telford
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
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20
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Dong N, Bandura J, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Labadie K, Noel B, Davison A, Koene JM, Sun HS, Coutellec MA, Feng ZP. Ion channel profiling of the Lymnaea stagnalis ganglia via transcriptome analysis. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:18. [PMID: 33407100 PMCID: PMC7789530 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07287-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis (L. stagnalis) has been widely used as a model organism in neurobiology, ecotoxicology, and parasitology due to the relative simplicity of its central nervous system (CNS). However, its usefulness is restricted by a limited availability of transcriptome data. While sequence information for the L. stagnalis CNS transcripts has been obtained from EST libraries and a de novo RNA-seq assembly, the quality of these assemblies is limited by a combination of low coverage of EST libraries, the fragmented nature of de novo assemblies, and lack of reference genome. RESULTS In this study, taking advantage of the recent availability of a preliminary L. stagnalis genome, we generated an RNA-seq library from the adult L. stagnalis CNS, using a combination of genome-guided and de novo assembly programs to identify 17,832 protein-coding L. stagnalis transcripts. We combined our library with existing resources to produce a transcript set with greater sequence length, completeness, and diversity than previously available ones. Using our assembly and functional domain analysis, we profiled L. stagnalis CNS transcripts encoding ion channels and ionotropic receptors, which are key proteins for CNS function, and compared their sequences to other vertebrate and invertebrate model organisms. Interestingly, L. stagnalis transcripts encoding numerous putative Ca2+ channels showed the most sequence similarity to those of Mus musculus, Danio rerio, Xenopus tropicalis, Drosophila melanogaster, and Caenorhabditis elegans, suggesting that many calcium channel-related signaling pathways may be evolutionarily conserved. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides the most thorough characterization to date of the L. stagnalis transcriptome and provides insights into differences between vertebrates and invertebrates in CNS transcript diversity, according to function and protein class. Furthermore, this study provides a complete characterization of the ion channels of Lymnaea stagnalis, opening new avenues for future research on fundamental neurobiological processes in this model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Dong
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 3308 MSB, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Julia Bandura
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 3308 MSB, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Zhaolei Zhang
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Karine Labadie
- Genoscope, Institut de biologie François Jacob, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay, BP5706, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Benjamin Noel
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, University of Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Angus Davison
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Joris M Koene
- Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hong-Shuo Sun
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 3308 MSB, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | | | - Zhong-Ping Feng
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 3308 MSB, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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21
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Stroehlein AJ, Korhonen PK, Rollinson D, Stothard JR, Hall RS, Gasser RB, Young ND. Bulinus truncatus transcriptome – a resource to enable molecular studies of snail and schistosome biology. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2021; 1:100015. [PMID: 35284899 PMCID: PMC8906107 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics, molecular investigations of snail intermediate hosts that transmit parasitic trematodes are scant. Here, we report the first transcriptome for Bulinus truncatus – a key intermediate host of Schistosoma haematobium – a blood fluke that causes urogenital schistosomiasis in humans. We assembled this transcriptome from short- and long-read RNA-sequence data. From this transcriptome, we predicted 12,998 proteins, 58% of which had orthologs in Biomphalaria glabrata – an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni – a blood fluke that causes hepato-intestinal schistosomiasis. We predicted that select protein groups are involved in signal transduction, cell growth and death, the immune system, environmental adaptation and/or the excretory/secretory system, suggesting roles in immune responses, pathogen defence and/or parasite-host interactions. The transcriptome of Bu. truncatus provides a useful resource to underpin future molecular investigations of this and related snail species, and its interactions with pathogens including S. haematobium. The present resource should enable comparative investigations of other molluscan hosts of socioeconomically important parasites in the future. First transcriptome to represent Bulinus truncatus – a snail intermediate host of Schistosoma haematobium. Select protein groups of Bu. truncatus are inferred to associate with innate immune responses against pathogens. Transcriptome provides a resource for future studies of parasite-host interactions and snail-host resistance to pathogens.
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Vander Pan A, Kuhn C, Schmolz E, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Krücken J. Detection of target-site and metabolic resistance to pyrethroids in the bed bug Cimex lectularius in Berlin, Germany. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2020; 14:274-283. [PMID: 33310450 PMCID: PMC7726451 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Knockdown-resistance (kdr) against pyrethroids in bed bugs (Cimex lectularis) is associated with the presence of several point mutations in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel α-subunit gene and/or an increased metabolic detoxification by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs). In the present study, pyrosequencing assays were developed to quantify the presence of the kdr substitutions (V419L or L925I substitution) in bed bugs in Berlin, Germany. In 14 of 17 bed bug field strains, pyrosequencing revealed the presence of the substitution L925I with allele frequencies between 30% and 100%. One field strain additionally carried the substitution V419L with allele frequencies of 40% in males and 96% in females. In seven of the 17 field strains, mRNA levels of four CYP genes were examined using RT-qPCR. Relative to a susceptible laboratory reference strain, five field strains showed significantly higher mRNA levels of cyp397a1 with 7.1 to 56-fold increases. One of these strains additionally showed a 4.9-fold higher mRNA level of cyp398a1 compared to the reference strain, while cyp4cm1 and cyp6dn1 showed no significant differences. Our findings indicate that multiple resistance mechanisms are present in German C. lectularius populations simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlette Vander Pan
- German Environment Agency, Boetticher Str. 2 Haus 23, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Carola Kuhn
- German Environment Agency, Boetticher Str. 2 Haus 23, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Erik Schmolz
- German Environment Agency, Boetticher Str. 2 Haus 23, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Krücken
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163 Berlin, Germany
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23
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Shedding light: a phylotranscriptomic perspective illuminates the origin of photosymbiosis in marine bivalves. BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:50. [PMID: 32357841 PMCID: PMC7195748 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01614-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Photosymbiotic associations between metazoan hosts and photosynthetic dinoflagellates are crucial to the trophic and structural integrity of many marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. Although extensive efforts have been devoted to study the short-term ecological interactions between coral hosts and their symbionts, long-term evolutionary dynamics of photosymbiosis in many marine animals are not well understood. Within Bivalvia, the second largest class of mollusks, obligate photosymbiosis is found in two marine lineages: the giant clams (subfamily Tridacninae) and the heart cockles (subfamily Fraginae), both in the family Cardiidae. Morphologically, giant clams show relatively conservative shell forms whereas photosymbiotic fragines exhibit a diverse suite of anatomical adaptations including flattened shells, leafy mantle extensions, and lens-like microstructural structures. To date, the phylogenetic relationships between these two subfamilies remain poorly resolved, and it is unclear whether photosymbiosis in cardiids originated once or twice. RESULTS In this study, we establish a backbone phylogeny for Cardiidae utilizing RNASeq-based transcriptomic data from Tridacninae, Fraginae and other cardiids. A variety of phylogenomic approaches were used to infer the relationship between the two groups. Our analyses found conflicting gene signals and potential rapid divergence among the lineages. Overall, results support a sister group relationship between Tridacninae and Fraginae, which diverged during the Cretaceous. Although a sister group relationship is recovered, ancestral state reconstruction using maximum likelihood-based methods reveals two independent origins of photosymbiosis, one at the base of Tridacninae and the other within a symbiotic Fraginae clade. CONCLUSIONS The newly revealed common ancestry between Tridacninae and Fraginae brings a possibility that certain genetic, metabolic, and/or anatomical exaptations existed in their last common ancestor, which promoted both lineages to independently establish photosymbiosis, possibly in response to the modern expansion of reef habitats.
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