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Aneli S, Ceccatelli Berti C, Gilea AI, Birolo G, Mutti G, Pavesi A, Baruffini E, Goffrini P, Capelli C. Functional characterization of archaic-specific variants in mitonuclear genes: insights from comparative analysis in S. cerevisiae. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:1152-1163. [PMID: 38558123 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddae057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Neanderthal and Denisovan hybridisation with modern humans has generated a non-random genomic distribution of introgressed regions, the result of drift and selection dynamics. Cross-species genomic incompatibility and more efficient removal of slightly deleterious archaic variants have been proposed as selection-based processes involved in the post-hybridisation purge of archaic introgressed regions. Both scenarios require the presence of functionally different alleles across Homo species onto which selection operated differently according to which populations hosted them, but only a few of these variants have been pinpointed so far. In order to identify functionally divergent archaic variants removed in humans, we focused on mitonuclear genes, which are underrepresented in the genomic landscape of archaic humans. We searched for non-synonymous, fixed, archaic-derived variants present in mitonuclear genes, rare or absent in human populations. We then compared the functional impact of archaic and human variants in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Notably, a variant within the mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase 2 (YARS2) gene exhibited a significant decrease in respiratory activity and a substantial reduction of Cox2 levels, a proxy for mitochondrial protein biosynthesis, coupled with the accumulation of the YARS2 protein precursor and a lower amount of mature enzyme. Our work suggests that this variant is associated with mitochondrial functionality impairment, thus contributing to the purging of archaic introgression in YARS2. While different molecular mechanisms may have impacted other mitonuclear genes, our approach can be extended to the functional screening of mitonuclear genetic variants present across species and populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Aneli
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, C.so Galileo Galilei 22, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Camilla Ceccatelli Berti
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, Parma 43124, Italy
| | - Alexandru Ionut Gilea
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, Parma 43124, Italy
| | - Giovanni Birolo
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Via Santena 5, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Giacomo Mutti
- Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC-CNS), Department of Life Sciences, Plaça Eusebi Güell, 1-3, Barcelona 08034, Spain
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Department of Mechanisms of Disease, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac, 10, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Angelo Pavesi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, Parma 43124, Italy
| | - Enrico Baruffini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, Parma 43124, Italy
| | - Paola Goffrini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, Parma 43124, Italy
| | - Cristian Capelli
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, Parma 43124, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Rd, Oxford OX1 3SZ, United Kingdom
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Ly J, Blengini CS, Cady SL, Schindler K, Cheeseman IM. A conserved germline-specific Dsn1 alternative splice isoform supports oocyte and embryo development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.17.589883. [PMID: 38659852 PMCID: PMC11042369 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.17.589883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Alternative mRNA splicing can generate distinct protein isoforms to allow for the differential control of cell processes across cell types. However, alternative splice isoforms that differentially modulate distinct cell division programs have remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that mammalian germ cells express an alternate mRNA splice isoform for the kinetochore component, DSN1, a subunit of the MIS12 complex that links the centromeres to spindle microtubules during chromosome segregation. This germline DSN1 isoform bypasses the requirement for Aurora kinase phosphorylation for its centromere localization due to the absence of a key regulatory region allowing DSN1 to display persistent centromere localization. Expression of the germline DSN1 isoform in somatic cells results in constitutive kinetochore localization, chromosome segregation errors, and growth defects, providing an explanation for its tight cell type-specific expression. Reciprocally, precisely eliminating expression of the germline DSN1 splice isoform in mouse models disrupts oocyte maturation and early embryonic divisions coupled with a reduction in fertility. Together, this work identifies a germline-specific splice isoform for a chromosome segregation component and implicates its role in mammalian fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy Ly
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Cecilia S. Blengini
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States
| | - Sarah L. Cady
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Karen Schindler
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States
| | - Iain M. Cheeseman
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
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Peyrégne S, Slon V, Kelso J. More than a decade of genetic research on the Denisovans. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:83-103. [PMID: 37723347 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00643-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Denisovans, a group of now extinct humans who lived in Eastern Eurasia in the Middle and Late Pleistocene, were first identified from DNA sequences just over a decade ago. Only ten fragmentary remains from two sites have been attributed to Denisovans based entirely on molecular information. Nevertheless, there has been great interest in using genetic data to understand Denisovans and their place in human history. From the reconstruction of a single high-quality genome, it has been possible to infer their population history, including events of admixture with other human groups. Additionally, the identification of Denisovan DNA in the genomes of present-day individuals has provided insights into the timing and routes of dispersal of ancient modern humans into Asia and Oceania, as well as the contributions of archaic DNA to the physiology of present-day people. In this Review, we synthesize more than a decade of research on Denisovans, reconcile controversies and summarize insights into their population history and phenotype. We also highlight how our growing knowledge about Denisovans has provided insights into our own evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Peyrégne
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Viviane Slon
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Dan David Center for Human Evolution and Biohistory Research, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Janet Kelso
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany.
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Mahé D, Bourgeau S, da Silva J, Schlederer J, Satie AP, Kuassivi N, Mathieu R, Guillou YM, Le Tortorec A, Guivel-Benhassine F, Schwartz O, Plotton I, Dejucq-Rainsford N. SARS-CoV-2 replicates in the human testis with slow kinetics and has no major deleterious effects ex vivo. J Virol 2023; 97:e0110423. [PMID: 37830818 PMCID: PMC10653996 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01104-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic. Although SARS-CoV-2 primarily affects the lungs, other organs are infected. Alterations of testosteronemia and spermatozoa motility in infected men have raised questions about testicular infection, along with high level in the testis of ACE2, the main receptor used by SARS-CoV-2 to enter host cells. Using an organotypic culture of human testis, we found that SARS-CoV-2 replicated with slow kinetics in the testis. The virus first targeted testosterone-producing Leydig cells and then germ-cell nursing Sertoli cells. After a peak followed by the upregulation of antiviral effectors, viral replication in the testis decreased and did not induce any major damage to the tissue. Altogether, our data show that SARS-CoV-2 replicates in the human testis to a limited extent and suggest that testicular damages in infected patients are more likely to result from systemic infection and inflammation than from viral replication in the testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Mahé
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail, Université de Rennes, UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Salomé Bourgeau
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail, Université de Rennes, UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
- University of CAS, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai CAS, Shanghai, China
| | - Janaina da Silva
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail, Université de Rennes, UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Julie Schlederer
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail, Université de Rennes, UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Anne-Pascale Satie
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail, Université de Rennes, UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Nadège Kuassivi
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail, Université de Rennes, UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Romain Mathieu
- Service d‘Urologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Yves-Marie Guillou
- Service de Coordination des prélèvements, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Anna Le Tortorec
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail, Université de Rennes, UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | | | - Olivier Schwartz
- Virus and Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Paris, France
| | - Ingrid Plotton
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Institut Cellules Souche et Cerveau (SBRI), UMR_S1208, Bron, France
| | - Nathalie Dejucq-Rainsford
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail, Université de Rennes, UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
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Fogel AS, Oduor PO, Nyongesa AW, Kimwele CN, Alberts SC, Archie EA, Tung J. Ecology and age, but not genetic ancestry, predict fetal loss in a wild baboon hybrid zone. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2023; 180:618-632. [PMID: 38445762 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pregnancy failure represents a major fitness cost for any mammal, particularly those with slow life histories such as primates. Here, we quantified the risk of fetal loss in wild hybrid baboons, including genetic, ecological, and demographic sources of variance. We were particularly interested in testing the hypothesis that hybridization increases fetal loss rates. Such an effect would help explain how baboons may maintain genetic and phenotypic integrity despite interspecific gene flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed outcomes for 1020 pregnancies observed over 46 years in a natural yellow baboon-anubis baboon hybrid zone. Fetal losses and live births were scored based on records of female reproductive state and the appearance of live neonates. We modeled the probability of fetal loss as a function of a female's genetic ancestry (the proportion of her genome estimated to be descended from anubis [vs. yellow] ancestors), age, number of previous fetal losses, dominance rank, group size, climate, and habitat quality using binomial mixed effects models. RESULTS Female genetic ancestry did not predict fetal loss. Instead, the risk of fetal loss is elevated for very young and very old females. Fetal loss is most robustly predicted by ecological factors, including poor habitat quality prior to a home range shift and extreme heat during pregnancy. DISCUSSION Our results suggest that gene flow between yellow and anubis baboons is not impeded by an increased risk of fetal loss for hybrid females. Instead, ecological conditions and female age are key determinants of this component of female reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle S Fogel
- University Program in Genetics and Genomics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Peter O Oduor
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Albert W Nyongesa
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Charles N Kimwele
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Susan C Alberts
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Population Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Archie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Jenny Tung
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Population Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
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6
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Reilly PF, Tjahjadi A, Miller SL, Akey JM, Tucci S. The contribution of Neanderthal introgression to modern human traits. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R970-R983. [PMID: 36167050 PMCID: PMC9741939 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neanderthals, our closest extinct relatives, lived in western Eurasia from 400,000 years ago until they went extinct around 40,000 years ago. DNA retrieved from ancient specimens revealed that Neanderthals mated with modern human contemporaries. As a consequence, introgressed Neanderthal DNA survives scattered across the human genome such that 1-4% of the genome of present-day people outside Africa are inherited from Neanderthal ancestors. Patterns of Neanderthal introgressed genomic sequences suggest that Neanderthal alleles had distinct fates in the modern human genetic background. Some Neanderthal alleles facilitated human adaptation to new environments such as novel climate conditions, UV exposure levels and pathogens, while others had deleterious consequences. Here, we review the body of work on Neanderthal introgression over the past decade. We describe how evolutionary forces shaped the genomic landscape of Neanderthal introgression and highlight the impact of introgressed alleles on human biology and phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Audrey Tjahjadi
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Joshua M Akey
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
| | - Serena Tucci
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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7
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Keppner A, Correia M, Santambrogio S, Koay TW, Maric D, Osterhof C, Winter DV, Clerc A, Stumpe M, Chalmel F, Dewilde S, Odermatt A, Kressler D, Hankeln T, Wenger RH, Hoogewijs D. Androglobin, a chimeric mammalian globin, is required for male fertility. eLife 2022; 11:72374. [PMID: 35700329 PMCID: PMC9249397 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a highly specialized differentiation process driven by a dynamic gene expression program and ending with the production of mature spermatozoa. Whereas hundreds of genes are known to be essential for male germline proliferation and differentiation, the contribution of several genes remains uncharacterized. The predominant expression of the latest globin family member, androglobin (Adgb), in mammalian testis tissue prompted us to assess its physiological function in spermatogenesis. Adgb knockout mice display male infertility, reduced testis weight, impaired maturation of elongating spermatids, abnormal sperm shape, and ultrastructural defects in microtubule and mitochondrial organization. Epididymal sperm from Adgb knockout animals display multiple flagellar malformations including coiled, bifid or shortened flagella, and erratic acrosomal development. Following immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we could identify septin 10 (Sept10) as interactor of Adgb. The Sept10-Adgb interaction was confirmed both in vivo using testis lysates and in vitro by reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Furthermore, the absence of Adgb leads to mislocalization of Sept10 in sperm, indicating defective manchette and sperm annulus formation. Finally, in vitro data suggest that Adgb contributes to Sept10 proteolysis in a calmodulin-dependent manner. Collectively, our results provide evidence that Adgb is essential for murine spermatogenesis and further suggest that Adgb is required for sperm head shaping via the manchette and proper flagellum formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Keppner
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Miguel Correia
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Teng Wei Koay
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Darko Maric
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Carina Osterhof
- Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Denise V Winter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Angèle Clerc
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Michael Stumpe
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Sylvia Dewilde
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Alex Odermatt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dieter Kressler
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Hankeln
- Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Roland H Wenger
- Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Hoogewijs
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Cardiovascular system, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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Formation of spermatogonia and fertile oocytes in golden hamsters requires piRNAs. Nat Cell Biol 2021; 23:992-1001. [PMID: 34489573 PMCID: PMC8437802 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-021-00746-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) support the germline by suppressing retrotransposons. Studies of the pathway in mice have strongly shaped the view that mammalian piRNAs are essential for male but not for female fertility. Here, we report that the role of the piRNA pathway substantially differs in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), the piRNA pathway setup of which more closely resembles that of other mammals, including humans. The loss of the Mov10l1 RNA helicase—an essential piRNA biogenesis factor—leads to striking phenotypes in both sexes. In contrast to mice, female Mov10l1–/– hamsters are sterile because their oocytes do not sustain zygotic development. Furthermore, Mov10l1–/– male hamsters have impaired establishment of spermatogonia accompanied by transcriptome dysregulation and an expression surge of a young retrotransposon subfamily. Our results show that the mammalian piRNA pathway has essential roles in both sexes and its adaptive nature allows it to manage emerging genomic threats and acquire new critical roles in the germline. A set of three papers reports that the piRNA pathway is essential for mammalian female fertility based on genetic perturbation experiments performed in golden hamsters.
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McArthur E, Rinker DC, Capra JA. Quantifying the contribution of Neanderthal introgression to the heritability of complex traits. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4481. [PMID: 34294692 PMCID: PMC8298587 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24582-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Eurasians have ~2% Neanderthal ancestry, but we lack a comprehensive understanding of the genome-wide influence of Neanderthal introgression on modern human diseases and traits. Here, we quantify the contribution of introgressed alleles to the heritability of more than 400 diverse traits. We show that genomic regions in which detectable Neanderthal ancestry remains are depleted of heritability for all traits considered, except those related to skin and hair. Introgressed variants themselves are also depleted for contributions to the heritability of most traits. However, introgressed variants shared across multiple Neanderthal populations are enriched for heritability and have consistent directions of effect on several traits with potential relevance to human adaptation to non-African environments, including hair and skin traits, autoimmunity, chronotype, bone density, lung capacity, and menopause age. Integrating our results, we propose a model in which selection against introgressed functional variation was the dominant trend (especially for cognitive traits); however, for a few traits, introgressed variants provided beneficial variation via uni-directional (e.g., lightening skin color) or bi-directional (e.g., modulating immune response) effects. We lack a comprehensive understanding of how Neanderthal ancestry influences human traits. This study finds that regions with Neanderthal ancestry are broadly depleted of trait-associated variation; yet, introgressed variants likely contributed to human adaptation in a few traits, like skin color and immune response modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evonne McArthur
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - David C Rinker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - John A Capra
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. .,Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute and Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94107, USA.
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Lecluze E, Rolland AD, Filis P, Evrard B, Leverrier-Penna S, Maamar MB, Coiffec I, Lavoué V, Fowler PA, Mazaud-Guittot S, Jégou B, Chalmel F. Dynamics of the transcriptional landscape during human fetal testis and ovary development. Hum Reprod 2021; 35:1099-1119. [PMID: 32412604 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Which transcriptional program triggers sex differentiation in bipotential gonads and downstream cellular events governing fetal testis and ovary development in humans? SUMMARY ANSWER The characterization of a dynamically regulated protein-coding and non-coding transcriptional landscape in developing human gonads of both sexes highlights a large number of potential key regulators that show an early sexually dimorphic expression pattern. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Gonadal sex differentiation is orchestrated by a sexually dimorphic gene expression program in XX and XY developing fetal gonads. A comprehensive characterization of its non-coding counterpart offers promising perspectives for deciphering the molecular events underpinning gonad development and for a complete understanding of the etiology of disorders of sex development in humans. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION To further investigate the protein-coding and non-coding transcriptional landscape during gonad differentiation, we used RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and characterized the RNA content of human fetal testis (N = 24) and ovaries (N = 24) from 6 to 17 postconceptional week (PCW), a key period in sex determination and gonad development. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS First trimester fetuses (6-12 PCW) and second trimester fetuses (13-14 and 17 PCW) were obtained from legally induced normally progressing terminations of pregnancy. Total RNA was extracted from whole human fetal gonads and sequenced as paired-end 2 × 50 base reads. Resulting sequences were mapped to the human genome, allowing for the assembly and quantification of corresponding transcripts. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE This RNA-seq analysis of human fetal testes and ovaries at seven key developmental stages led to the reconstruction of 22 080 transcripts differentially expressed during testicular and/or ovarian development. In addition to 8935 transcripts displaying sex-independent differential expression during gonad development, the comparison of testes and ovaries enabled the discrimination of 13 145 transcripts that show a sexually dimorphic expression profile. The latter include 1479 transcripts differentially expressed as early as 6 PCW, including 39 transcription factors, 40 long non-coding RNAs and 20 novel genes. Despite the use of stringent filtration criteria (expression cut-off of at least 1 fragment per kilobase of exon model per million reads mapped, fold change of at least 2 and false discovery rate adjusted P values of less than <1%), the possibility of assembly artifacts and of false-positive differentially expressed transcripts cannot be fully ruled out. LARGE-SCALE DATA Raw data files (fastq) and a searchable table (.xlss) containing information on genomic features and expression data for all refined transcripts have been submitted to the NCBI GEO under accession number GSE116278. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The intrinsic nature of this bulk analysis, i.e. the sequencing of transcripts from whole gonads, does not allow direct identification of the cellular origin(s) of the transcripts characterized. Potential cellular dilution effects (e.g. as a result of distinct proliferation rates in XX and XY gonads) may account for a few of the expression profiles identified as being sexually dimorphic. Finally, transcriptome alterations that would result from exposure to pre-abortive drugs cannot be completely excluded. Although we demonstrated the high quality of the sorted cell populations used for experimental validations using quantitative RT-PCR, it cannot be totally excluded that some germline expression may correspond to cell contamination by, for example, macrophages. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS For the first time, this study has led to the identification of 1000 protein-coding and non-coding candidate genes showing an early, sexually dimorphic, expression pattern that have not previously been associated with sex differentiation. Collectively, these results increase our understanding of gonad development in humans, and contribute significantly to the identification of new candidate genes involved in fetal gonad differentiation. The results also provide a unique resource that may improve our understanding of the fetal origin of testicular and ovarian dysgenesis syndromes, including cryptorchidism and testicular cancers. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), the University of Rennes 1, the French School of Public Health (EHESP), the Swiss National Science Foundation [SNF n° CRS115_171007 to B.J.], the French National Research Agency [ANR n° 16-CE14-0017-02 and n° 18-CE14-0038-02 to F.C.], the Medical Research Council [MR/L010011/1 to P.A.F.] and the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) [under grant agreement no 212885 to P.A.F.] and from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme [under grant agreement no 825100 to P.A.F. and S.M.G.]. There are no competing interests related to this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Lecluze
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Antoine D Rolland
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Panagiotis Filis
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Bertrand Evrard
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Sabrina Leverrier-Penna
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.,Univ Poitiers, STIM, CNRS ERL7003, Poitiers Cedex 9, CNRS ERL7003, France
| | - Millissia Ben Maamar
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Isabelle Coiffec
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Vincent Lavoué
- Service Gynécologie et Obstétrique, CHU Rennes, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Paul A Fowler
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Séverine Mazaud-Guittot
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Bernard Jégou
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Frédéric Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
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11
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Jamin SP, Hikmet F, Mathieu R, Jégou B, Lindskog C, Chalmel F, Primig M. Combined RNA/tissue profiling identifies novel Cancer/testis genes. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:3003-3023. [PMID: 33426787 PMCID: PMC8564638 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer/Testis (CT) genes are induced in germ cells, repressed in somatic cells, and derepressed in somatic tumors, where these genes can contribute to cancer progression. CT gene identification requires data obtained using standardized protocols and technologies. This is a challenge because data for germ cells, gonads, normal somatic tissues, and a wide range of cancer samples stem from multiple sources and were generated over substantial periods of time. We carried out a GeneChip‐based RNA profiling analysis using our own data for testis and enriched germ cells, data for somatic cancers from the Expression Project for Oncology, and data for normal somatic tissues from the Gene Omnibus Repository. We identified 478 candidate loci that include known CT genes, numerous genes associated with oncogenic processes, and novel candidates that are not referenced in the Cancer/Testis Database (www.cta.lncc.br). We complemented RNA expression data at the protein level for SPESP1, GALNTL5, PDCL2, and C11orf42 using cancer tissue microarrays covering malignant tumors of breast, uterus, thyroid, and kidney, as well as published RNA profiling and immunohistochemical data provided by the Human Protein Atlas (www.proteinatlas.org). We report that combined RNA/tissue profiling identifies novel CT genes that may be of clinical interest as therapeutical targets or biomarkers. Our findings also highlight the challenges of detecting truly germ cell‐specific mRNAs and the proteins they encode in highly heterogenous testicular, somatic, and tumor tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soazik P Jamin
- Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S, Univ Rennes, France
| | - Feria Hikmet
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Romain Mathieu
- Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S, Univ Rennes, France.,Department of Urology, University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Bernard Jégou
- Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S, Univ Rennes, France
| | - Cecilia Lindskog
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Frédéric Chalmel
- Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S, Univ Rennes, France
| | - Michael Primig
- Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S, Univ Rennes, France
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12
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Rolland AD, Evrard B, Darde TA, Le Béguec C, Le Bras Y, Bensalah K, Lavoué S, Jost B, Primig M, Dejucq-Rainsford N, Chalmel F, Jégou B. RNA profiling of human testicular cells identifies syntenic lncRNAs associated with spermatogenesis. Hum Reprod 2020; 34:1278-1290. [PMID: 31247106 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dez063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is the noncoding transcriptional landscape during spermatogenesis conserved between human and rodents? SUMMARY ANSWER We identified a core group of 113 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and 20 novel genes dynamically and syntenically transcribed during spermatogenesis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Spermatogenesis is a complex differentiation process driven by a tightly regulated and highly specific gene expression program. Recently, several studies in various species have established that a large proportion of known lncRNAs are preferentially expressed during meiosis and spermiogenesis in a testis-specific manner. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION To further investigate lncRNA expression in human spermatogenesis, we carried out a cross-species RNA profiling study using isolated testicular cells. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Human testes were obtained from post-mortem donors (N = 8, 51 years old on average) or from prostate cancer patients with no hormonal treatment (N = 9, 80 years old on average) and only patients with full spermatogenesis were used to prepare enriched populations of spermatocytes, spermatids, Leydig cells, peritubular cells and Sertoli cells. To minimize potential biases linked to inter-patient variations, RNAs from two or three donors were pooled prior to RNA-sequencing (paired-end, strand-specific). Resulting reads were mapped to the human genome, allowing for assembly and quantification of corresponding transcripts. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Our RNA-sequencing analysis of pools of isolated human testicular cells enabled us to reconstruct over 25 000 transcripts. Among them we identified thousands of lncRNAs, as well as many previously unidentified genes (novel unannotated transcripts) that share many properties of lncRNAs. Of note is that although noncoding genes showed much lower synteny than protein-coding ones, a significant fraction of syntenic lncRNAs displayed conserved expression during spermatogenesis. LARGE SCALE DATA Raw data files (fastq) and a searchable table (.xlss) containing information on genomic features and expression data for all refined transcripts have been submitted to the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus under accession number GSE74896. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Isolation procedures may alter the physiological state of testicular cells, especially for somatic cells, leading to substantial changes at the transcriptome level. We therefore cross-validated our findings with three previously published transcriptomic analyses of human spermatogenesis. Despite the use of stringent filtration criteria, i.e. expression cut-off of at least three fragments per kilobase of exon model per million reads mapped, fold-change of at least three and false discovery rate adjusted P-values of less than <1%, the possibility of assembly artifacts and false-positive transcripts cannot be fully ruled out. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS For the first time, this study has led to the identification of a large number of conserved germline-associated lncRNAs that are potentially important for spermatogenesis and sexual reproduction. In addition to further substantiating the basis of the human testicular physiology, our study provides new candidate genes for male infertility of genetic origin. This is likely to be relevant for identifying interesting diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and also potential novel therapeutic targets for male contraception. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by l'Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm); l'Université de Rennes 1; l'Ecole des hautes études en santé publique (EHESP); INERIS-STORM to B.J. [N 10028NN]; Rennes Métropole 'Défis scientifiques émergents' to F.C (2011) and A.D.R (2013). The authors have no competing financial interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D Rolland
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - B Evrard
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - T A Darde
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France.,Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
| | - C Le Béguec
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Y Le Bras
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, Rennes, France
| | - K Bensalah
- Urology Department, University of Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - S Lavoué
- Unité de Coordination Hospitalière des Prélèvements d'organes et de Tissus, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - B Jost
- Plateforme GenomEast-Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), INSERM U964, CNRS UMR 7104, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - M Primig
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - N Dejucq-Rainsford
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - F Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - B Jégou
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
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13
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Amos W. Signals interpreted as archaic introgression appear to be driven primarily by faster evolution in Africa. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191900. [PMID: 32874601 PMCID: PMC7428223 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Non-African humans appear to carry a few per cent archaic DNA due to ancient inter-breeding. This modest legacy and its likely recent timing imply that most introgressed fragments will be rare and hence will occur mainly in the heterozygous state. I tested this prediction by calculating D statistics, a measure of legacy size, for pairs of humans where one of the pair was conditioned always to be either homozygous or heterozygous. Using coalescent simulations, I confirmed that conditioning the non-African to be heterozygous increased D, while conditioning the non-African to be homozygous reduced D to zero. Repeating with real data reveals the exact opposite pattern. In African-non-African comparisons, D is near-zero if the African individual is held homozygous. Conditioning one of two Africans to be either homozygous or heterozygous invariably generates large values of D, even when both individuals are drawn from the same population. Invariably, the African with more heterozygous sites (conditioned heterozygous > unconditioned > conditioned homozygous) appears less related to the archaic. By contrast, the same analysis applied to pairs of non-Africans always yields near-zero D, showing that conditioning does not create large D without an underlying signal to expose. Large D values in humans are therefore driven almost entirely by heterozygous sites in Africans acting to increase divergence from related taxa such as Neanderthals. In comparison with heterozygous Africans, individuals that lack African heterozygous sites, whether non-African or conditioned homozygous African, always appear more similar to archaic outgroups, a signal previously interpreted as evidence for introgression. I hope these analyses will encourage others to consider increased divergence as well as increased similarity to archaics as mechanisms capable of driving asymmetrical base-sharing.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Amos
- Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
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14
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Darde TA, Lecluze E, Lardenois A, Stévant I, Alary N, Tüttelmann F, Collin O, Nef S, Jégou B, Rolland AD, Chalmel F. The ReproGenomics Viewer: a multi-omics and cross-species resource compatible with single-cell studies for the reproductive science community. Bioinformatics 2020; 35:3133-3139. [PMID: 30668675 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btz047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Recent advances in transcriptomics have enabled unprecedented insight into gene expression analysis at a single-cell resolution. While it is anticipated that the number of publications based on such technologies will increase in the next decade, there is currently no public resource to centralize and enable scientists to explore single-cell datasets published in the field of reproductive biology. RESULTS Here, we present a major update of the ReproGenomics Viewer, a cross-species and cross-technology web-based resource of manually-curated sequencing datasets related to reproduction. The redesign of the ReproGenomics Viewer's architecture is accompanied by significant growth of the database content including several landmark single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets. The implementation of additional tools enables users to visualize and browse the complex, high-dimensional data now being generated in the reproductive field. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The ReproGenomics Viewer resource is freely accessible at http://rgv.genouest.org. The website is implemented in Python, JavaScript and MongoDB, and is compatible with all major browsers. Source codes can be downloaded from https://github.com/fchalmel/RGV. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Darde
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes F-35000, France
| | - Estelle Lecluze
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes F-35000, France
| | - Aurélie Lardenois
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes F-35000, France
| | - Isabelle Stévant
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - Nathan Alary
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes F-35000, France
| | - Frank Tüttelmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Olivier Collin
- Institut de Recherche en Informatique et Systèmes Aléatoires (IRISA/INRIA) - GenOuest platform, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes F-35042, France
| | - Serge Nef
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - Bernard Jégou
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes F-35000, France
| | - Antoine D Rolland
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes F-35000, France
| | - Frédéric Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes F-35000, France
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15
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Ambrose RL, Brice AM, Caputo AT, Alexander MR, Tribolet L, Liu YC, Adams TE, Bean AG, Stewart CR. Molecular characterisation of ILRUN, a novel inhibitor of proinflammatory and antimicrobial cytokines. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04115. [PMID: 32518853 PMCID: PMC7270589 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation of type-I interferon (IFN) production is essential to the balance between antimicrobial defence and autoimmune disorders. The human protein-coding gene ILRUN (inflammation and lipid regulator with UBA-like and NBR1-like domains, previously C6orf106) was recently characterised as an inhibitor of antiviral and proinflammatory cytokine (interferon-alpha/beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha) transcription. Currently there is a paucity of information about the molecular characteristics of ILRUN, despite it being associated with several diseases including virus infection, coronary artery disease, obesity and cancer. Here, we characterise ILRUN as a highly phylogenetically conserved protein containing UBA-like and a NBR1-like domains that are both essential for inhibition of type-I interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha) transcription in human cells. We also solved the crystal structure of the NBR1-like domain, providing insights into its potential role in ILRUN function. This study provides critical information for future investigations into the role of ILRUN in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L. Ambrose
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - Aaron M. Brice
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | | | - Marina R. Alexander
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - Leon Tribolet
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - Yu Chih Liu
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | | | - Andrew G.D. Bean
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - Cameron R. Stewart
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
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16
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Evaluating genetic causes of azoospermia: What can we learn from a complex cellular structure and single-cell transcriptomics of the human testis? Hum Genet 2020; 140:183-201. [PMID: 31950241 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-020-02116-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Azoospermia is a condition defined as the absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate, but the testicular phenotype of men with azoospermia may be very variable, ranging from full spermatogenesis, through arrested maturation of germ cells at different stages, to completely degenerated tissue with ghost tubules. Hence, information regarding the cell-type-specific expression patterns is needed to prioritise potential pathogenic variants that contribute to the pathogenesis of azoospermia. Thanks to technological advances within next-generation sequencing, it is now possible to obtain detailed cell-type-specific expression patterns in the testis by single-cell RNA sequencing. However, to interpret single-cell RNA sequencing data properly, substantial knowledge of the highly sophisticated data processing and visualisation methods is needed. Here we review the complex cellular structure of the human testis in different types of azoospermia and outline how known genetic alterations affect the pathology of the testis. We combined the currently available single-cell RNA sequencing datasets originating from the human testis into one dataset covering 62,751 testicular cells, each with a median of 2637 transcripts quantified. We show what effects the most common data-processing steps have, and how different visualisation methods can be used. Furthermore, we calculated expression patterns in pseudotime, and show how splicing rates can be used to determine the velocity of differentiation during spermatogenesis. With the combined dataset we show expression patterns and network analysis of genes known to be involved in the pathogenesis of azoospermia. Finally, we provide the combined dataset as an interactive online resource where expression of genes and different visualisation methods can be explored ( https://testis.cells.ucsc.edu/ ).
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17
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Gokcumen O. Archaic hominin introgression into modern human genomes. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 171 Suppl 70:60-73. [PMID: 31702050 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Ancient genomes from multiple Neanderthal and the Denisovan individuals, along with DNA sequence data from diverse contemporary human populations strongly support the prevalence of gene flow among different hominins. Recent studies now provide evidence for multiple gene flow events that leave genetic signatures in extant and ancient human populations. These events include older gene flow from an unknown hominin in Africa predating out-of-Africa migrations, and in the last 50,000-100,000 years, multiple gene flow events from Neanderthals into ancestral Eurasian human populations, and at least three distinct introgression events from a lineage close to Denisovans into ancestors of extant Southeast Asian and Oceanic populations. Some of these introgression events may have happened as late as 20,000 years before present and reshaped the way in which we think about human evolution. In this review, I aim to answer anthropologically relevant questions with regard to recent research on ancient hominin introgression in the human lineage. How have genomic data from archaic hominins changed our view of human evolution? Is there any doubt about whether introgression from ancient hominins to the ancestors of present-day humans occurred? What is the current view of human evolutionary history from the genomics perspective? What is the impact of introgression on human phenotypes?
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer Gokcumen
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Campus, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
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18
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Directing differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells toward androgen-producing Leydig cells rather than adrenal cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:23274-23283. [PMID: 31591190 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1908207116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Reduced serum testosterone (T), or hypogonadism, affects millions of men and is associated with many pathologies, including infertility, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and decreased libido and sexual function. Administering T-replacement therapy (TRT) reverses many of the symptoms associated with low T levels. However, TRT is linked to side effects such as infertility and increased risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, there is a need to obtain T-producing cells that could be used to treat hypogonadism via transplantation and reestablishment of T-producing cell lineages in the body. T is synthesized by Leydig cells (LCs), proposed to derive from mesenchymal cells of mesonephric origin. Although mesenchymal cells have been successfully induced into LCs, the limited source and possible trauma to donors hinders their application to clinical therapies. Alternatively, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), which are expandable in culture and have the potential to differentiate into all somatic cell types, have become the emerging source of autologous cell therapies. We have successfully induced the differentiation of hiPSCs into either human Leydig-like (hLLCs) or adrenal-like cells (hALCs) using chemically defined culture conditions. Factors critical for the development of LCs were added to both culture systems. hLLCs expressed all steroidogenic genes and proteins important for T biosynthesis, synthesized T rather than cortisol, secreted steroid hormones in response to dibutyryl-cAMP and 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol, and displayed ultrastructural features resembling LCs. By contrast, hALCs synthesized cortisol rather than T. The success in generating hiPSC-derived hLLCs with broad human LC (hLC) features supports the potential for hiPSC-based hLC regeneration.
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19
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Characterisation and localisation of the endocannabinoid system components in the adult human testis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12866. [PMID: 31537814 PMCID: PMC6753062 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49177-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Heavy use of cannabis (marijuana) has been associated with decreased semen quality, which may reflect disruption of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the male reproductive tract by exogenous cannabinoids. Components of ECS have been previously described in human spermatozoa and in the rodent testis but there is little information on the ECS expression within the human testis. In this study we characterised the main components of the ECS by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on archived testis tissue samples from 15 patients, and by in silico analysis of existing transcriptome datasets from testicular cell populations. The presence of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the human testis was confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging analysis. Endocannabinoid-synthesising enzymes; diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL) and N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), were detected in germ cells and somatic cells, respectively. The cannabinoid receptors, CNR1 and CNR2 were detected at a low level in post-meiotic germ cells and Leydig- and peritubular cells. Different transcripts encoding distinct receptor isoforms (CB1, CB1A, CB1B and CB2A) were also differentially distributed, mainly in germ cells. The cannabinoid-metabolising enzymes were abundantly present; the α/β-hydrolase domain-containing protein 2 (ABHD2) in all germ cell types, except early spermatocytes, the monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) in Sertoli cells, and the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in late spermatocytes and post-meiotic germ cells. Our findings are consistent with a direct involvement of the ECS in regulation of human testicular physiology, including spermatogenesis and Leydig cell function. The study provides new evidence supporting observations that recreational cannabis can have possible deleterious effects on human testicular function.
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Silvert M, Quintana-Murci L, Rotival M. Impact and Evolutionary Determinants of Neanderthal Introgression on Transcriptional and Post-Transcriptional Regulation. Am J Hum Genet 2019; 104:1241-1250. [PMID: 31155285 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Archaic admixture is increasingly recognized as an important source of diversity in modern humans, and Neanderthal haplotypes cover 1%-3% of the genome of present-day Eurasians. Recent work has shown that archaic introgression has contributed to human phenotypic diversity, mostly through the regulation of gene expression. Yet the mechanisms through which archaic variants alter gene expression and the forces driving the introgression landscape at regulatory regions remain elusive. Here, we explored the impact of archaic introgression on transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. We focused on promoters and enhancers across 127 different tissues as well as on microRNA (miRNA)-mediated regulation. Although miRNAs themselves harbor few archaic variants, we found that some of these variants may have a strong impact on miRNA-mediated gene regulation. Enhancers were by far the regulatory elements most affected by archaic introgression: up to one-third of the tissues we tested presented significant enrichments. Specifically, we found strong enrichments of archaic variants in adipose-related tissues and primary T cells, even after accounting for various genomic and evolutionary confounders such as recombination rate and background selection. Interestingly, we identified signatures of adaptive introgression at enhancers of some key regulators of adipogenesis, raising the interesting hypothesis of a possible adaptation of early Eurasians to colder climates. Collectively, this study sheds new light on the mechanisms through which archaic admixture has impacted gene regulation in Eurasians and, more generally, increases our understanding of the contribution of Neanderthals to the regulation of acquired immunity and adipose homeostasis in modern humans.
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Charlier P, Coppens Y, Héry-Arnaud G, Hassin J. [A biological anthropology of the disappearance of the Neandertal Man: recent data]. Med Sci (Paris) 2018; 34:745-748. [PMID: 30230470 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/20183408024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
What could have been the causes of the disappearance of Neanderthals? We will try here to make a synthesis between one of the fundamental questions of biological anthropology relating to human evolution (hypotheses on the causes of the extinction of Neanderthals) and evolutionary bio-medical concepts, some of which have recently been reformulated thanks to the progress of paleogenomics (ancestral inheritance of the current human immune system, paleo-microbiology, host-pathogen relationship…).
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Charlier
- UFR des sciences de la santé, université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), EA 4498, laboratoire droit des affaires et nouvelles technologies (DANTE), 2, avenue de la source de la Bièvre, 78180 Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France - Centre d'accueil et de soins hospitaliers (CASH) et institut de la précarité et de l'exclusion sociale (IPES), 403, avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France
| | - Yves Coppens
- Collège de France, 11, place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Geneviève Héry-Arnaud
- Laboratoire universitaire de biodiversité et d'écologie microbienne (LUBEM)/bactériologie-virologie, faculté de médecine et des sciences et de la santé, 22, avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest, France
| | - Jacques Hassin
- Centre d'accueil et de soins hospitaliers (CASH) et institut de la précarité et de l'exclusion sociale (IPES), 403, avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France
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Melaine N, Com E, Bellaud P, Guillot L, Lagarrigue M, Morrice NA, Guével B, Lavigne R, Velez de la Calle JF, Dojahn J, Pineau C. Deciphering the Dark Proteome: Use of the Testis and Characterization of Two Dark Proteins. J Proteome Res 2018; 17:4197-4210. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.8b00387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Melaine
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR S 1085, F-35042 Rennes cedex, France
- Protim, Univ Rennes, F-35042 Rennes, France
| | - Emmanuelle Com
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR S 1085, F-35042 Rennes cedex, France
- Protim, Univ Rennes, F-35042 Rennes, France
| | - Pascale Bellaud
- H2P2 Core Facility, UMS BioSit, Univ Rennes, Rennes F-35040, France
| | - Laetitia Guillot
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR S 1085, F-35042 Rennes cedex, France
- Protim, Univ Rennes, F-35042 Rennes, France
| | - Mélanie Lagarrigue
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR S 1085, F-35042 Rennes cedex, France
- Protim, Univ Rennes, F-35042 Rennes, France
| | - Nick A. Morrice
- Sciex, Phoenix House Lakeside Drive Centre Park, Warrington WA1 1RX, U.K
| | - Blandine Guével
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR S 1085, F-35042 Rennes cedex, France
- Protim, Univ Rennes, F-35042 Rennes, France
| | - Régis Lavigne
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR S 1085, F-35042 Rennes cedex, France
- Protim, Univ Rennes, F-35042 Rennes, France
| | | | - Jörg Dojahn
- Sciex, Landwehrstr. 54, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Charles Pineau
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR S 1085, F-35042 Rennes cedex, France
- Protim, Univ Rennes, F-35042 Rennes, France
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Dolgova O, Lao O. Evolutionary and Medical Consequences of Archaic Introgression into Modern Human Genomes. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E358. [PMID: 30022013 PMCID: PMC6070777 DOI: 10.3390/genes9070358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The demographic history of anatomically modern humans (AMH) involves multiple migration events, population extinctions and genetic adaptations. As genome-wide data from complete genome sequencing becomes increasingly abundant and available even from extinct hominins, new insights of the evolutionary history of our species are discovered. It is currently known that AMH interbred with archaic hominins once they left the African continent. Current non-African human genomes carry fragments of archaic origin. This review focuses on the fitness consequences of archaic interbreeding in current human populations. We discuss new insights and challenges that researchers face when interpreting the potential impact of introgression on fitness and testing hypotheses about the role of selection within the context of health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Dolgova
- Population Genomics Group, Centre Nacional d'Anàlisi Genòmica, Centre de Regulació Genòmica (CRG-CNAG), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 4, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Oscar Lao
- Population Genomics Group, Centre Nacional d'Anàlisi Genòmica, Centre de Regulació Genòmica (CRG-CNAG), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 4, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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Lecluze E, Jégou B, Rolland AD, Chalmel F. New transcriptomic tools to understand testis development and functions. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 468:47-59. [PMID: 29501799 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The testis plays a central role in the male reproductive system - secreting several hormones including male steroids and producing male gametes. A complex and coordinated molecular program is required for the proper differentiation of testicular cell types and maintenance of their functions in adulthood. The testicular transcriptome displays the highest levels of complexity and specificity across all tissues in a wide range of species. Many studies have used high-throughput sequencing technologies to define the molecular dynamics and regulatory networks in the testis as well as to identify novel genes or gene isoforms expressed in this organ. This review intends to highlight the complementarity of these transcriptomic studies and to show how the use of different sequencing protocols contribute to improve our global understanding of testicular biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Lecluze
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, Environnement et travail) - UMR_S1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Bernard Jégou
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, Environnement et travail) - UMR_S1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Antoine D Rolland
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, Environnement et travail) - UMR_S1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Frédéric Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, Environnement et travail) - UMR_S1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
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Dannemann M, Racimo F. Something old, something borrowed: admixture and adaptation in human evolution. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2018; 53:1-8. [PMID: 29894925 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The sequencing of ancient DNA from archaic humans-Neanderthals and Denisovans-has revealed that modern and archaic humans interbred at least twice during the Pleistocene. The field of human paleogenomics has now turned its attention towards understanding the nature of this genetic legacy in the gene pool of present-day humans. What exactly did modern humans obtain from interbreeding with Neanderthals and Denisovans? Was the introgressed genetic material beneficial, neutral or maladaptive? Can differences in phenotypes among present-day human populations be explained by archaic human introgression? These questions are of prime importance for our understanding of recent human evolution, but will require careful computational modeling and extensive functional assays before they can be answered in full. Here, we review the recent literature characterizing introgressed DNA and the likely biological consequences for their modern human carriers. We focus particularly on archaic human haplotypes that were beneficial to modern humans as they expanded across the globe, and on ways to understand how populations harboring these haplotypes evolved over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Dannemann
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Fernando Racimo
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dynamic Copy Number Evolution of X- and Y-Linked Ampliconic Genes in Human Populations. Genetics 2018; 209:907-920. [PMID: 29769284 PMCID: PMC6028258 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.300826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ampliconic genes are multicopy genes often located on sex chromosomes and enriched for testis-expressed genes. Here, Lucotte et al. developed new bioinformatic approaches to investigate the ampliconic gene copy number and their coding... Ampliconic genes are multicopy, with the majority found on sex chromosomes and enriched for testis-expressed genes. While ampliconic genes have been associated with the emergence of hybrid incompatibilities, we know little about their copy number distribution and their turnover in human populations. Here, we explore the evolution of human X- and Y-linked ampliconic genes by investigating copy number variation (CNV) and coding variation between populations using the Simons Genome Diversity Project. We develop a method to assess CNVs using the read depth on modified X and Y chromosome targets containing only one repetition of each ampliconic gene. Our results reveal extensive standing variation in copy number both within and between human populations for several ampliconic genes. For the Y chromosome, we can infer multiple independent amplifications and losses of these gene copies even within closely related Y haplogroups, that diversified < 50,000 years ago. Moreover, X- and Y-linked ampliconic genes seem to have a faster amplification dynamic than autosomal multicopy genes. Looking at expression data from another study, we also find that X- and Y-linked ampliconic genes with extensive CNV are significantly more expressed than genes with no CNV during meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (for both X and Y) and postmeiotic sex chromosome repression (for the Y chromosome only). While we cannot rule out that the XY-linked ampliconic genes are evolving neutrally, this study gives insights into the distribution of copy number within human populations and demonstrates an extremely fast turnover in copy number of these regions.
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