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Niu H, Pang Y, Xie L, Yu Q, Shen Y, Li J, Xu X. Clustering pattern and evolution characteristic of microRNAs in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). BMC Genomics 2023; 24:73. [PMID: 36782132 PMCID: PMC9926789 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09159-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A considerable fraction of microRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved, and certain miRNAs correspond to genomic clusters. The clustering of miRNAs can be advantageous, possibly by allowing coordinated expression. However, little is known about the evolutionary forces responsible for the loss and acquisition of miRNA and miRNA clusters. RESULTS The results demonstrated that several novel miRNAs arose throughout grass carp evolution. Duplication and de novo production were critical strategies for miRNA cluster formation. Duplicates accounted for a smaller fraction of the expansion in the grass carp miRNA than de novo creation. Clustered miRNAs are more conserved and change slower, whereas unique miRNAs usually have high evolution rates and low expression levels. The expression level of miRNA expression in clusters is strongly correlated. CONCLUSIONS This study examines the genomic distribution, evolutionary background, and expression regulation of grass carp miRNAs. Our findings provide novel insights into the genesis and development of miRNA clusters in teleost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiqin Niu
- grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifan Pang
- grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingli Xie
- grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiaozhen Yu
- grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yubang Shen
- grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412514.70000 0000 9833 2433Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiale Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China. .,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China. .,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaoyan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China. .,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China. .,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.
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Abstract
Small RNAs (sRNAs) are important gene regulators in bacteria, but it is unclear how new sRNAs originate and become part of regulatory networks that coordinate bacterial response to environmental stimuli. Using a covariance modeling-based approach, we analyzed the presence of hundreds of sRNAs in more than a thousand genomes across Enterobacterales, a bacterial order with a confluence of factors that allows robust genome-scale sRNA analyses: several well-studied organisms with fairly conserved genome structures, an established phylogeny, and substantial nucleotide diversity within a narrow evolutionary space. We discovered that a majority of sRNAs arose recently, and uncovered protein-coding genes as a potential source from which new sRNAs arise. A detailed investigation of the emergence of OxyS, a peroxide-responding sRNA, revealed that it evolved from a fragment of a peroxidase messenger RNA. Importantly, although it replaced the ancestral peroxidase, OxyS continues to be part of the ancestral peroxide-response regulon, indicating that an sRNA that arises from a protein-coding gene would inherently be part of the parental protein's regulatory network. This new insight provides a fresh framework for understanding sRNA origin and regulatory integration in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline C Krieger
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - H Auguste Dutcher
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
- Laboratory of Genetics and Center for Genomic Science Innovation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Andrew J Ashford
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Rahul Raghavan
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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3
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Warnock ND, Cox D, McCoy C, Morris R, Dalzell JJ. Transcriptional variation and divergence of host-finding behaviour in Steinernema carpocapsae infective juveniles. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:884. [PMID: 31752671 PMCID: PMC6868747 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6179-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Steinernema carpocapsae is an entomopathogenic nematode that employs nictation and jumping behaviours to find potential insect hosts. Here we aimed to investigate the transcriptional basis of variant host-finding behaviours in the infective juvenile (IJ) stage of three S. carpocapsae strains (ALL, Breton and UK1), with a focus on neuronal genes known to influence behaviour in other nematode species. Identifying gene expression changes that correlate with variant host-finding behaviours will further our understanding of nematode biology. Results RNA-seq analysis revealed that whilst up to 28% of the S. carpocapsae transcriptome was differentially expressed (P < 0.0001) between strains, remarkably few of the most highly differentially expressed genes (> 2 log2 fold change, P < 0.0001) were from neuronal gene families. S. carpocapsae Breton displays increased chemotaxis toward the laboratory host Galleria mellonella, relative to the other strains. This correlates with the up-regulation of four srsx chemosensory GPCR genes, and a sodium transporter gene, asic-2, relative to both ALL and UK1 strains. The UK1 strain exhibits a decreased nictation phenotype relative to ALL and Breton strains, which correlates with co-ordinate up-regulation of neuropeptide like protein 36 (nlp-36), and down-regulation of an srt family GPCR gene, and a distinct asic-2-like sodium channel paralogue. To further investigate the link between transcriptional regulation and behavioural variation, we sequenced microRNAs across IJs of each strain. We have identified 283 high confidence microRNA genes, yielding 321 predicted mature microRNAs in S. carpocapsae, and find that up to 36% of microRNAs are differentially expressed (P < 0.0001) between strains. Many of the most highly differentially expressed microRNAs (> 2 log2 fold, P < 0.0001) are predicted to regulate a variety of neuronal genes that may contribute to variant host-finding behaviours. We have also found evidence for differential gene isoform usage between strains, which alters predicted microRNA interactions, and could contribute to the diversification of behaviour. Conclusions These data provide insight to the transcriptional basis of behavioural variation in S. carpocapsae, supporting efforts to understand the molecular basis of complex behaviours in nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil D Warnock
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Deborah Cox
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Ciaran McCoy
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Robert Morris
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Johnathan J Dalzell
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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4
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Graham AM, Barreto FS. Novel microRNAs are associated with population divergence in transcriptional response to thermal stress in an intertidal copepod. Mol Ecol 2018; 28:584-599. [PMID: 30548575 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The role of gene expression in adaptation to differing thermal environments has been assayed extensively. Yet, in most natural systems, analyses of gene expression reveal only one level of the complexity of regulatory machineries. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs which are key components of many gene regulatory networks, and they play important roles in a variety of cellular pathways by modulating post-transcriptional quantities of mRNA available for protein synthesis. The characterization of miRNA loci and their regulatory dynamics in nonmodel systems are still largely understudied. In this study, we examine the role of miRNAs in response to high thermal stress in the intertidal copepod Tigriopus californicus. Allopatric populations of this species show varying levels of local adaptation with respect to thermal regimes, and previous studies showed divergence in gene expression between populations from very different thermal environments. We examined the transcriptional response to temperature stress in two populations separated by only 8 km by utilizing RNA-seq to quantify both mRNA and miRNA levels. Using the currently available genome sequence, we first describe the repertoire of miRNAs in T. californicus and assess the degree to which transcriptional response to temperature stress is governed by miRNA activity. The two populations showed large differences in the number of genes involved, the magnitude of change in commonly used genes and in the number of miRNAs involved in transcriptional modulation during stress. Our results suggest that an increased level of regulatory network complexity may underlie improved survivorship under thermal stress in one of the populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allie M Graham
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - Felipe S Barreto
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
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Abstract
Despite the central role of bacterial noncoding small RNAs (sRNAs) in posttranscriptional regulation, little is understood about their evolution. Here we compile what has been studied to date and trace a life cycle of sRNAs-from their mechanisms of emergence, through processes of change and frequent neofunctionalization, to their loss from bacterial lineages. Because they possess relatively unrestrictive structural requirements, we find that sRNA origins are varied, and include de novo emergence as well as formation from preexisting genetic elements via duplication events and horizontal gene transfer. The need for only partial complementarity to their mRNA targets facilitates apparent rapid change, which also contributes to significant challenges in tracing sRNAs across broad evolutionary distances. We document that recently emerged sRNAs in particular evolve quickly, mirroring dynamics observed in microRNAs, their functional analogs in eukaryotes. Mutations in mRNA-binding regions, transcriptional regulator or sigma factor binding sites, and protein-binding regions are all likely sources of shifting regulatory roles of sRNAs. Finally, using examples from the few evolutionary studies available, we examine cases of sRNA loss and describe how these may be the result of adaptive in addition to neutral processes. We highlight the need for more-comprehensive analyses of sRNA evolutionary patterns as a means to improve novel sRNA detection, enhance genome annotation, and deepen our understanding of regulatory networks in bacteria.
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6
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Wang K, Wang X, Li M, Shi T, Yang P. Low genetic diversity and functional constraint of miRNA genes participating pollen-pistil interaction in rice. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 95:89-98. [PMID: 28735504 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-017-0638-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the expression and evolution of rice miRNA genes participating pollen-pistil interaction that is crucial to rice yield. Pollen-pistil interaction is an essential reproductive process for all flowering plants. While microRNAs (miRNAs) are important noncoding small RNAs that regulate mRNA levels in eukaryotic cells, there is little knowledge about which miRNAs involved in the early stages of pollen-pistil interaction in rice and how they evolve under this conserved process. In this study, we sequenced the small RNAs in rice from unpollinated pistil (R0), pistil from 5 min and 15 min after pollination, respectively, to identify known and novel miRNAs that are involved in this process. By comparing the corresponding mRNA-seq dataset, we identified a group of miRNAs with strong negative expression pattern with their target genes. Further investigation of all miRNA loci (MIRNAs) across 1083 public rice accessions revealed significantly reduced genetic diversity in MIRNAs with strong negative expression of their targets when comparing to those with little or no impact on targets during pollen-pistil interaction. Annotation of targets suggested that those MIRNAs with strong impact on targets were pronounced in cell wall related processes such as xylan metabolism. Additionally, plant conserved miRNAs, such as those with functions in gibberellic acid, auxin and nitrate signaling, were also with strong negative expression of their targets. Overall, our analyses identified key miRNAs participating pollen-pistil interaction and their evolutionary patterns in rice, which can facilitate the understanding of molecular mechanisms associated with seed setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
| | - Pingfang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
- Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
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7
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Kacharia FR, Millar JA, Raghavan R. Emergence of New sRNAs in Enteric Bacteria is Associated with Low Expression and Rapid Evolution. J Mol Evol 2017; 84:204-213. [PMID: 28405712 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-017-9793-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Non-coding small RNAs (sRNAs) are critical to post-transcriptional gene regulation in bacteria. However, unlike for protein-coding genes, the evolutionary forces that shape sRNAs are not understood. We investigated sRNAs in enteric bacteria and discovered that recently emerged sRNAs evolve at significantly faster rates than older sRNAs. Concomitantly, younger sRNAs are expressed at significantly lower levels than older sRNAs. This process could potentially facilitate the integration of newly emerged sRNAs into bacterial regulatory networks. Furthermore, it has previously been difficult to trace the evolutionary histories of sRNAs because rapid evolution obscures their original sources. We overcame this challenge by identifying a recently evolved sRNA in Escherichia coli, which allowed us to determine that novel sRNAs could emerge from vestigial bacteriophage genes, the first known source for sRNA origination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenil R Kacharia
- Department of Biology and Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Jess A Millar
- Department of Biology and Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Rahul Raghavan
- Department of Biology and Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, Portland, OR, 97201, USA.
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8
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Reid NM, Jackson CE, Gilbert D, Minx P, Montague MJ, Hampton TH, Helfrich LW, King BL, Nacci DE, Aluru N, Karchner SI, Colbourne JK, Hahn ME, Shaw JR, Oleksiak MF, Crawford DL, Warren WC, Whitehead A. The landscape of extreme genomic variation in the highly adaptable Atlantic killifish. Genome Biol Evol 2017; 9:659-676. [PMID: 28201664 PMCID: PMC5381573 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evx023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding and predicting the fate of populations in changing environments require knowledge about the mechanisms that support phenotypic plasticity and the adaptive value and evolutionary fate of genetic variation within populations. Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) exhibit extensive phenotypic plasticity that supports large population sizes in highly fluctuating estuarine environments. Populations have also evolved diverse local adaptations. To yield insights into the genomic variation that supports their adaptability, we sequenced a reference genome and 48 additional whole genomes from a wild population. Evolution of genes associated with cell cycle regulation and apoptosis is accelerated along the killifish lineage, which is likely tied to adaptations for life in highly variable estuarine environments. Genome-wide standing genetic variation, including nucleotide diversity and copy number variation, is extremely high. The highest diversity genes are those associated with immune function and olfaction, whereas genes under greatest evolutionary constraint are those associated with neurological, developmental, and cytoskeletal functions. Reduced genetic variation is detected for tight junction proteins, which in killifish regulate paracellular permeability that supports their extreme physiological flexibility. Low-diversity genes engage in more regulatory interactions than high-diversity genes, consistent with the influence of pleiotropic constraint on molecular evolution. High genetic variation is crucial for continued persistence of species given the pace of contemporary environmental change. Killifish populations harbor among the highest levels of nucleotide diversity yet reported for a vertebrate species, and thus may serve as a useful model system for studying evolutionary potential in variable and changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah M Reid
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Craig E Jackson
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
| | - Don Gilbert
- Biology Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
| | - Patrick Minx
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63108
| | - Michael J Montague
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63108
| | - Thomas H Hampton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Lily W Helfrich
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543
| | - Benjamin L King
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salisbury Cove, ME 04672
| | - Diane E Nacci
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI, 02882
| | - Neel Aluru
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543
| | - Sibel I Karchner
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543
| | - John K Colbourne
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, B15 2TT
| | - Mark E Hahn
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543
| | - Joseph R Shaw
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
| | - Marjorie F Oleksiak
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149
| | - Douglas L Crawford
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149
| | - Wesley C Warren
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63108
| | - Andrew Whitehead
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
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9
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Xie J, Yang X, Song Y, Du Q, Li Y, Chen J, Zhang D. Adaptive evolution and functional innovation of Populus-specific recently evolved microRNAs. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2017; 213:206-219. [PMID: 27277139 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Lineage-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) undergo rapid turnover during evolution; however, their origin and functional importance have remained controversial. Here, we examine the origin, evolution, and potential roles in local adaptation of Populus-specific miRNAs, which originated after the recent salicoid-specific, whole-genome duplication. RNA sequencing was used to generate extensive, comparable miRNA and gene expression data for six tissues. A natural population of Populus trichocarpa and closely related species were used to study the divergence rates, evolution, and adaptive variation of miRNAs. MiRNAs that originated in 5' untranslated regions had higher expression levels and their expression showed high correlation with their host genes. Compared with conserved miRNAs, a significantly higher proportion of Populus-specific miRNAs appear to target genes that were duplicated in salicoids. Examination of single nucleotide polymorphisms in Populus-specific miRNA precursors showed high amounts of population differentiation. We also characterized the newly emerged MIR6445 family, which could trigger the production of phased small interfering RNAs from NAC mRNAs, which encode a transcription factor with primary roles in a variety of plant developmental processes. Together, these observations provide evolutionary insights into the birth and potential roles of Populus-specific miRNAs in genome maintenance, local adaptation, and functional innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Xie
- National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiaohui Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yuepeng Song
- National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Qingzhang Du
- National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Ying Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jinhui Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Deqiang Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No. 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China
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10
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Jovelin R, Krizus A, Taghizada B, Gray JC, Phillips PC, Claycomb JM, Cutter AD. Comparative genomic analysis of upstream miRNA regulatory motifs in Caenorhabditis. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2016; 22:968-978. [PMID: 27140965 PMCID: PMC4911920 DOI: 10.1261/rna.055392.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) comprise a class of short noncoding RNA molecules that play diverse developmental and physiological roles by controlling mRNA abundance and protein output of the vast majority of transcripts. Despite the importance of miRNAs in regulating gene function, we still lack a complete understanding of how miRNAs themselves are transcriptionally regulated. To fill this gap, we predicted regulatory sequences by searching for abundant short motifs located upstream of miRNAs in eight species of Caenorhabditis nematodes. We identified three conserved motifs across the Caenorhabditis phylogeny that show clear signatures of purifying selection from comparative genomics, patterns of nucleotide changes in motifs of orthologous miRNAs, and correlation between motif incidence and miRNA expression. We then validated our predictions with transgenic green fluorescent protein reporters and site-directed mutagenesis for a subset of motifs located in an enhancer region upstream of let-7 We demonstrate that a CT-dinucleotide motif is sufficient for proper expression of GFP in the seam cells of adult C. elegans, and that two other motifs play incremental roles in combination with the CT-rich motif. Thus, functional tests of sequence motifs identified through analysis of molecular evolutionary signatures provide a powerful path for efficiently characterizing the transcriptional regulation of miRNA genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Jovelin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada Informatics and Bio-Computing Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Aldis Krizus
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Bakhtiyar Taghizada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jeremy C Gray
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Patrick C Phillips
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Oregon 97403, USA
| | - Julie M Claycomb
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Asher D Cutter
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
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11
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Franchini P, Xiong P, Fruciano C, Meyer A. The Role of microRNAs in the Repeated Parallel Diversification of Lineages of Midas Cichlid Fish from Nicaragua. Genome Biol Evol 2016; 8:1543-55. [PMID: 27189980 PMCID: PMC4898811 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cichlid fishes are an ideal model system for studying biological diversification because they provide textbook examples of rapid speciation. To date, there has been little focus on the role of gene regulation during cichlid speciation. However, in recent years, gene regulation has been recognized as a powerful force linking diversification in gene function to speciation. Here, we investigated the potential role of miRNA regulation in the diversification of six cichlid species of the Midas cichlid lineage (Amphilophus spp.) inhabiting the Nicaraguan crater lakes. Using several genomic resources, we inferred 236 Midas miRNA genes that were used to predict the miRNA target sites on 8,232 Midas 3′-UTRs. Using population genomic calculations of SNP diversity, we found the miRNA genes to be more conserved than protein coding genes. In contrast to what has been observed in other cichlid fish, but similar to what has been typically found in other groups, we observed genomic signatures of purifying selection on the miRNA targets by comparing these sites with the less conserved nontarget portion of the 3′-UTRs. However, in one species pair that has putatively speciated sympatrically in crater Lake Apoyo, we recovered a different pattern of relaxed purifying selection and high genetic divergence at miRNA targets. Our results suggest that sequence evolution at miRNA binding sites could be a critical genomic mechanism contributing to the rapid phenotypic evolution of Midas cichlids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Franchini
- Lehrstuhl für Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Peiwen Xiong
- Lehrstuhl für Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Carmelo Fruciano
- Lehrstuhl für Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany School of Earth Environmental & Biological Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Axel Meyer
- Lehrstuhl für Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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Jovelin R. No Evidence that MicroRNAs Coevolve with Genes Located in Copy Number Regions. Mol Biol Evol 2015; 32:1890-4. [PMID: 25804521 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a widespread class of regulatory noncoding RNAs with key roles in physiology and development, conferring robustness to noise in regulatory networks. Consistent with this buffering function, it was recently suggested that human miRNAs coevolve with genes in copy number regions (copy number variation [CNV] genes) to reduce dosage imbalance. Here, I compare miRNA regulation between CNV and non-CNV genes in four model organisms. miRNA regulation of CNV genes is elevated in human and fly but reduced in nematode and zebrafish. By analyzing 31 human CNV data sets, careful analysis of human and chimpanzee orthologs, resampling genes within species and comparing structural variant types, I show that the apparent coevolution between CNV genes and miRNAs is due to the strong dependency between 3'-untranslated region length and miRNA target prediction. Deciphering the interplay between CNVs and miRNAs will likely require a deeper understanding of how miRNAs are embedded in regulatory circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Jovelin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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