1
|
Lucek K, Giménez MD, Joron M, Rafajlović M, Searle JB, Walden N, Westram AM, Faria R. The Impact of Chromosomal Rearrangements in Speciation: From Micro- to Macroevolution. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2023; 15:a041447. [PMID: 37604585 PMCID: PMC10626258 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Chromosomal rearrangements (CRs) have been known since almost the beginning of genetics. While an important role for CRs in speciation has been suggested, evidence primarily stems from theoretical and empirical studies focusing on the microevolutionary level (i.e., on taxon pairs where speciation is often incomplete). Although the role of CRs in eukaryotic speciation at a macroevolutionary level has been supported by associations between species diversity and rates of evolution of CRs across phylogenies, these findings are limited to a restricted range of CRs and taxa. Now that more broadly applicable and precise CR detection approaches have become available, we address the challenges in filling some of the conceptual and empirical gaps between micro- and macroevolutionary studies on the role of CRs in speciation. We synthesize what is known about the macroevolutionary impact of CRs and suggest new research avenues to overcome the pitfalls of previous studies to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary significance of CRs in speciation across the tree of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kay Lucek
- Biodiversity Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Mabel D Giménez
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Genética Humana de Misiones (IGeHM), Parque de la Salud de la Provincia de Misiones "Dr. Ramón Madariaga," N3300KAZ Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, N3300LQH Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Mathieu Joron
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier, France
| | - Marina Rafajlović
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Marine Evolutionary Biology, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jeremy B Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Nora Walden
- Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anja Marie Westram
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8026 Bodø, Norway
| | - Rui Faria
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado;
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Stevenson ZC, Moerdyk-Schauwecker MJ, Banse SA, Patel DS, Lu H, Phillips PC. High-throughput library transgenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans via Transgenic Arrays Resulting in Diversity of Integrated Sequences (TARDIS). eLife 2023; 12:RP84831. [PMID: 37401921 PMCID: PMC10328503 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
High-throughput transgenesis using synthetic DNA libraries is a powerful method for systematically exploring genetic function. Diverse synthesized libraries have been used for protein engineering, identification of protein-protein interactions, characterization of promoter libraries, developmental and evolutionary lineage tracking, and various other exploratory assays. However, the need for library transgenesis has effectively restricted these approaches to single-cell models. Here, we present Transgenic Arrays Resulting in Diversity of Integrated Sequences (TARDIS), a simple yet powerful approach to large-scale transgenesis that overcomes typical limitations encountered in multicellular systems. TARDIS splits the transgenesis process into a two-step process: creation of individuals carrying experimentally introduced sequence libraries, followed by inducible extraction and integration of individual sequences/library components from the larger library cassette into engineered genomic sites. Thus, transformation of a single individual, followed by lineage expansion and functional transgenesis, gives rise to thousands of genetically unique transgenic individuals. We demonstrate the power of this system using engineered, split selectable TARDIS sites in Caenorhabditis elegans to generate (1) a large set of individually barcoded lineages and (2) transcriptional reporter lines from predefined promoter libraries. We find that this approach increases transformation yields up to approximately 1000-fold over current single-step methods. While we demonstrate the utility of TARDIS using C. elegans, in principle the process is adaptable to any system where experimentally generated genomic loci landing pads and diverse, heritable DNA elements can be generated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephen A Banse
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| | - Dhaval S Patel
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaUnited States
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaUnited States
| | - Hang Lu
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaUnited States
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaUnited States
| | - Patrick C Phillips
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of OregonEugeneUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Caro L, Raman P, Steiner FA, Ailion M, Malik HS. Recurrent but Short-Lived Duplications of Centromeric Proteins in Holocentric Caenorhabditis Species. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6731087. [PMID: 36173809 PMCID: PMC9577544 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Centromeric histones (CenH3s) are essential for chromosome inheritance during cell division in most eukaryotes. CenH3 genes have rapidly evolved and undergone repeated gene duplications and diversification in many plant and animal species. In Caenorhabditis species, two independent duplications of CenH3 (named hcp-3 for HoloCentric chromosome-binding Protein 3) were previously identified in C. elegans and C. remanei. Using phylogenomic analyses in 32 Caenorhabditis species, we find strict retention of the ancestral hcp-3 gene and 10 independent duplications. Most hcp-3L (hcp-3-like) paralogs are only found in 1-2 species, are expressed in both males and females/hermaphrodites, and encode histone fold domains with 69-100% identity to ancestral hcp-3. We identified novel N-terminal protein motifs, including putative kinetochore protein-interacting motifs and a potential separase cleavage site, which are well conserved across Caenorhabditis HCP-3 proteins. Other N-terminal motifs vary in their retention across paralogs or species, revealing potential subfunctionalization or functional loss following duplication. An N-terminal extension in the hcp-3L gene of C. afra revealed an unprecedented protein fusion, where hcp-3L fused to duplicated segments from hcp-4 (nematode CENP-C). By extending our analyses beyond CenH3, we found gene duplications of six inner and outer kinetochore genes in Caenorhabditis, which appear to have been retained independent of hcp-3 duplications. Our findings suggest that centromeric protein duplications occur frequently in Caenorhabditis nematodes, are selectively retained for short evolutionary periods, then degenerate or are lost entirely. We hypothesize that unique challenges associated with holocentricity in Caenorhabditis may lead to this rapid "revolving door" of kinetochore protein paralogs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lews Caro
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Pravrutha Raman
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Florian A Steiner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Cellular Biology, Section of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michael Ailion
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Harmit S Malik
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
El Mouridi S, Alkhaldi F, Frøkjær-Jensen C. Modular safe-harbor transgene insertion for targeted single-copy and extrachromosomal array integration in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:jkac184. [PMID: 35900171 PMCID: PMC9434227 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Efficient and reproducible transgenesis facilitates and accelerates research using genetic model organisms. Here, we describe a modular safe-harbor transgene insertion (MosTI) for use in Caenorhabditis elegans which improves targeted insertion of single-copy transgenes by homology directed repair and targeted integration of extrachromosomal arrays by nonhomologous end-joining. MosTI allows easy conversion between selection markers at insertion site and a collection of universal targeting vectors with commonly used promoters and fluorophores. Insertions are targeted at three permissive safe-harbor intergenic locations and transgenes are reproducibly expressed in somatic and germ cells. Chromosomal integration is mediated by CRISPR/Cas9, and positive selection is based on a set of split markers (unc-119, hygroR, and gfp) where only animals with chromosomal insertions are rescued, resistant to antibiotics, or fluorescent, respectively. Single-copy insertion is efficient using either constitutive or heat-shock inducible Cas9 expression (25-75%) and insertions can be generated from a multiplexed injection mix. Extrachromosomal array integration is also efficient (7-44%) at modular safe-harbor transgene insertion landing sites or at the endogenous unc-119 locus. We use short-read sequencing to estimate the plasmid copy numbers for 8 integrated arrays (6-37 copies) and long-read Nanopore sequencing to determine the structure and size (5.4 Mb) of 1 array. Using universal targeting vectors, standardized insertion strains, and optimized protocols, it is possible to construct complex transgenic strains which should facilitate the study of increasingly complex biological problems in C. elegans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia El Mouridi
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Alkhaldi
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Christian Frøkjær-Jensen
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang Y, Wu L, Yuen KWY. The roles of transcription, chromatin organisation and chromosomal processes in holocentromere establishment and maintenance. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 127:79-89. [PMID: 35042676 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The centromere is a unique functional region on each eukaryotic chromosome where the kinetochore assembles and orchestrates microtubule attachment and chromosome segregation. Unlike monocentromeres that occupy a specific region on the chromosome, holocentromeres are diffused along the length of the chromosome. Despite being less common, holocentromeres have been verified in almost 800 nematode, insect, and plant species. Understanding of the molecular and epigenetic regulation of holocentromeres is lagging that of monocentromeres. Here we review how permissive locations for holocentromeres are determined across the genome, potentially by chromatin organisation, transcription, and non-coding RNAs, specifically in the nematode C. elegans. In addition, we discuss how holocentric CENP-A or CENP-T-containing nucleosomes are recruited and deposited, through the help of histone chaperones, licensing factors, and condensin complexes, both during de novo holocentromere establishment, and in each mitotic cell cycle. The process of resolving sister centromeres after DNA replication in holocentric organisms is also mentioned. Conservation and diversity between holocentric and monocentric organisms are highlighted, and outstanding questions are proposed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
| | - Lillian Wu
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong; Epigenetics and Genome Stability Team, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Wing Yee Yuen
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lucek K, Augustijnen H, Escudero M. A holocentric twist to chromosomal speciation? Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:655-662. [PMID: 35484024 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Chromosomal rearrangements trigger speciation by acting as barriers to gene flow. However, the underlying theory was developed with monocentric chromosomes in mind. Holocentric chromosomes, lacking a centromeric region, have repeatedly evolved and account for a significant fraction of extant biodiversity. Because chromosomal rearrangements may be more likely retained in holocentric species, holocentricity could provide a twist to chromosomal speciation. Here, we discuss how the abundance of chromosome-scale genomes, combined with novel analytical tools, offer the opportunity to assess the impacts of chromosomal rearrangements on rates of speciation by outlining a phylogenetic framework that aligns with the two major lines of chromosomal speciation theory. We further highlight how holocentric species could help to test for causal roles of chromosomal rearrangements in speciation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kay Lucek
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Hannah Augustijnen
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcial Escudero
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Seville, Reina Mercedes, ES-41012 Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has shed light on many aspects of eukaryotic biology, including genetics, development, cell biology, and genomics. A major factor in the success of C. elegans as a model organism has been the availability, since the late 1990s, of an essentially gap-free and well-annotated nuclear genome sequence, divided among 6 chromosomes. In this review, we discuss the structure, function, and biology of C. elegans chromosomes and then provide a general perspective on chromosome biology in other diverse nematode species. We highlight malleable chromosome features including centromeres, telomeres, and repetitive elements, as well as the remarkable process of programmed DNA elimination (historically described as chromatin diminution) that induces loss of portions of the genome in somatic cells of a handful of nematode species. An exciting future prospect is that nematode species may enable experimental approaches to study chromosome features and to test models of chromosome evolution. In the long term, fundamental insights regarding how speciation is integrated with chromosome biology may be revealed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Carlton
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Richard E Davis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO 80045, USA.,RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Shawn Ahmed
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|