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Atajanova T, Kang EM, Postnikova A, Price AL, Doerr S, Du M, Ugenti A, Ragkousi K. Lateral cell polarization drives organization of epithelia in sea anemone embryos and embryonic cell aggregates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.07.588493. [PMID: 38645007 PMCID: PMC11030385 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.07.588493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
One of the first organizing processes during animal development is the assembly of embryonic cells into epithelia. In certain animals, including Hydra and sea anemones, epithelia also emerge when cells from dissociated tissues are aggregated back together. Although cell adhesion is required to keep cells together, it is not clear whether cell polarization plays a role as epithelia emerge from disordered aggregates. Here, we demonstrate that lateral cell polarization is essential for epithelial organization in both embryos and aggregates of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Specifically, knock down of the lateral polarity protein Lgl disrupts epithelia in developing embryos and impairs the capacity of dissociated cells to epithelialize from aggregates. Cells in lgl mutant epithelia lose their columnar shape and have mispositioned mitotic spindles and ciliary basal bodies. Together, our data suggest that in Nematostella, Lgl is required to establish lateral cell polarity and position cytoskeletal organelles in cells of embryos and aggregates during de novo epithelial organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tavus Atajanova
- Department of Biology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, USA
- Present address: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | - Anna Postnikova
- Department of Biology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, USA
| | | | - Sophia Doerr
- Department of Biology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, USA
- Present address: Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Michael Du
- Department of Biology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, USA
| | - Alicia Ugenti
- Department of Biology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, USA
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2
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Levy S, Mass T. The Skeleton and Biomineralization Mechanism as Part of the Innate Immune System of Stony Corals. Front Immunol 2022; 13:850338. [PMID: 35281045 PMCID: PMC8913943 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.850338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Stony corals are among the most important calcifiers in the marine ecosystem as they form the coral reefs. Coral reefs have huge ecological importance as they constitute the most diverse marine ecosystem, providing a home to roughly a quarter of all marine species. In recent years, many studies have shed light on the mechanisms underlying the biomineralization processes in corals, as characterizing the calicoblast cell layer and genes involved in the formation of the calcium carbonate skeleton. In addition, considerable advancements have been made in the research field of coral immunity as characterizing genes involved in the immune response to pathogens and stressors, and the revealing of specialized immune cells, including their gene expression profile and phagocytosis capabilities. Yet, these two fields of corals research have never been integrated. Here, we discuss how the coral skeleton plays a role as the first line of defense. We integrate the knowledge from both fields and highlight genes and proteins that are related to biomineralization and might be involved in the innate immune response and help the coral deal with pathogens that penetrate its skeleton. In many organisms, the immune system has been tied to calcification. In humans, immune factors enhance ectopic calcification which causes severe diseases. Further investigation of coral immune genes which are involved in skeleton defense as well as in biomineralization might shed light on our understanding of the correlation and the interaction of both processes as well as reveal novel comprehension of how immune factors enhance calcification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shani Levy
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel
- *Correspondence: Shani Levy, ; Tali Mass,
| | - Tali Mass
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel
- *Correspondence: Shani Levy, ; Tali Mass,
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3
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Klein S, Frazier V, Readdean T, Lucas E, Diaz-Jimenez EP, Sogin M, Ruff ES, Echeverri K. Common Environmental Pollutants Negatively Affect Development and Regeneration in the Sea Anemone Nematostella vectensis Holobiont. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.786037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The anthozoan sea anemone Nematostella vectensis belongs to the phylum of cnidarians which also includes jellyfish and corals. Nematostella are native to United States East Coast marsh lands, where they constantly adapt to changes in salinity, temperature, oxygen concentration and pH. Its natural ability to continually acclimate to changing environments coupled with its genetic tractability render Nematostella a powerful model organism in which to study the effects of common pollutants on the natural development of these animals. Potassium nitrate, commonly used in fertilizers, and Phthalates, a component of plastics are frequent environmental stressors found in coastal and marsh waters. Here we present data showing how early exposure to these pollutants lead to dramatic defects in development of the embryos and eventual mortality possibly due to defects in feeding ability. Additionally, we examined the microbiome of the animals and identified shifts in the microbial community that correlated with the type of water that was used to grow the animals, and with their exposure to pollutants.
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Nematostella vectensis, an Emerging Model for Deciphering the Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Whole-Body Regeneration. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102692. [PMID: 34685672 PMCID: PMC8534814 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity to regenerate lost or injured body parts is a widespread feature within metazoans and has intrigued scientists for centuries. One of the most extreme types of regeneration is the so-called whole body regenerative capacity, which enables regeneration of fully functional organisms from isolated body parts. While not exclusive to this habitat, whole body regeneration is widespread in aquatic/marine invertebrates. Over the past decade, new whole-body research models have emerged that complement the historical models Hydra and planarians. Among these, the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis has attracted increasing interest in regard to deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the whole-body regeneration process. This manuscript will present an overview of the biological features of this anthozoan cnidarian as well as the available tools and resources that have been developed by the scientific community studying Nematostella. I will further review our current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying whole-body regeneration in this marine organism, with emphasis on how comparing embryonic development and regeneration in the same organism provides insight into regeneration specific elements.
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5
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Levy S, Elek A, Grau-Bové X, Menéndez-Bravo S, Iglesias M, Tanay A, Mass T, Sebé-Pedrós A. A stony coral cell atlas illuminates the molecular and cellular basis of coral symbiosis, calcification, and immunity. Cell 2021; 184:2973-2987.e18. [PMID: 33945788 PMCID: PMC8162421 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Stony corals are colonial cnidarians that sustain the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on Earth: coral reefs. Despite their ecological importance, little is known about the cell types and molecular pathways that underpin the biology of reef-building corals. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we define over 40 cell types across the life cycle of Stylophora pistillata. We discover specialized immune cells, and we uncover the developmental gene expression dynamics of calcium-carbonate skeleton formation. By simultaneously measuring the transcriptomes of coral cells and the algae within them, we characterize the metabolic programs involved in symbiosis in both partners. We also trace the evolution of these coral cell specializations by phylogenetic integration of multiple cnidarian cell type atlases. Overall, this study reveals the molecular and cellular basis of stony coral biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shani Levy
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel; Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel
| | - Anamaria Elek
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Grau-Bové
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Simón Menéndez-Bravo
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Iglesias
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amos Tanay
- Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tali Mass
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel; Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel.
| | - Arnau Sebé-Pedrós
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
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6
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Abstract
The cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily is a diverse and important enzyme family, playing a central role in chemical defense and in synthesis and metabolism of major biological signaling molecules. The CYPomes of four cnidarian genomes (Hydra vulgaris, Acropora digitifera, Aurelia aurita, Nematostella vectensis) were annotated; phylogenetic analyses determined the evolutionary relationships amongst the sequences and with existing metazoan CYPs. 155 functional CYPs were identified and 90 fragments. Genes were from 24 new CYP families and several new subfamilies; genes were in 9 of the 12 established metazoan CYP clans. All species had large expansions of clan 2 diversity, with H. vulgaris having reduced diversity for both clan 3 and mitochondrial clan. We identified potential candidates for xenobiotic metabolism and steroidogenesis. That each genome contained multiple, novel CYP families may reflect the large evolutionary distance within the cnidarians, unique physiology in the cnidarian classes, and/or different ecology of the individual species.
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Reverse Genetic Approaches to Investigate the Neurobiology of the Cnidarian Sea Anemone Nematostella vectensis. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2047:25-43. [PMID: 31552647 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9732-9_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The cnidarian sea anemone Nematostella vectensis has grown in popularity as a model system to complement the ongoing work in traditional bilaterian model species (e.g. Drosophila, C. elegans, vertebrate). The driving force behind developing cnidarian model systems is the potential of this group of animals to impact EvoDevo studies aimed at better determining the origin and evolution of bilaterian traits, such as centralized nervous systems. However, it is becoming apparent that cnidarians have the potential to impact our understanding of regenerative neurogenesis and systems neuroscience. Next-generation sequencing and the development of reverse genetic approaches led to functional genetics becoming routine in the Nematostella system. As a result, researchers are beginning to understand how cnidarian nerve nets are related to the bilaterian nervous systems. This chapter describes the methods for morpholino and mRNA injections to knockdown or overexpress genes of interest, respectively. Carrying out these techniques in Nematostella requires obtaining and preparing embryos for microinjection, designing and generating effective morpholino and mRNA molecules with controls for injection, and optimizing injection conditions.
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8
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Technau U. Gastrulation and germ layer formation in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis and other cnidarians. Mech Dev 2020; 163:103628. [PMID: 32603823 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2020.103628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Among the basally branching metazoans, cnidarians display well-defined gastrulation processes leading to a diploblastic body plan, consisting of an endodermal and an ectodermal cell layer. As the outgroup to all Bilateria, cnidarians are an interesting group to investigate ancestral developmental mechanisms. Interestingly, all known gastrulation mechanisms known in Bilateria are already found in different species of Cnidaria. Here I review the morphogenetic processes found in different Cnidaria and focus on the investigation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, which has been a major model organism among cnidarians for evolutionary developmental biology. Many of the genes involved in germ layer specification and morphogenetic processes in Bilateria are also found active during gastrulation of Nematostella and other cnidarians, suggesting an ancestral role of this process. The molecular analyses indicate a tight link between gastrulation and axis patterning processes by Wnt and FGF signaling. Interestingly, the endodermal layer displays many features of the mesodermal layer in Bilateria, while the pharyngeal ectoderm has an endodermal expression profile. Comparative analyses as well as experimental studies using embryonic aggregates suggest that minor differences in the gene regulatory networks allow the embryo to transition relatively easily from one mode of gastrulation to another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Technau
- University of Vienna, Dept. of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Wien, Austria.
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9
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Henry JQ, Lesoway MP, Perry KJ. An automated aquatic rack system for rearing marine invertebrates. BMC Biol 2020; 18:46. [PMID: 32366250 PMCID: PMC7199361 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00772-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One hundred years ago, marine organisms were the dominant systems for the study of developmental biology. The challenges in rearing these organisms outside of a marine setting ultimately contributed to a shift towards work on a smaller number of so-called model systems. Those animals are typically non-marine organisms with advantages afforded by short life cycles, high fecundity, and relative ease in laboratory culture. However, a full understanding of biodiversity, evolution, and anthropogenic effects on biological systems requires a broader survey of development in the animal kingdom. To this day, marine organisms remain relatively understudied, particularly the members of the Lophotrochozoa (Spiralia), which include well over one third of the metazoan phyla (such as the annelids, mollusks, flatworms) and exhibit a tremendous diversity of body plans and developmental modes. To facilitate studies of this group, we have previously described the development and culture of one lophotrochozoan representative, the slipper snail Crepidula atrasolea, which is easy to rear in recirculating marine aquaria. Lab-based culture and rearing of larger populations of animals remain a general challenge for many marine organisms, particularly for inland laboratories. RESULTS Here, we describe the development of an automated marine aquatic rack system for the high-density culture of marine species, which is particularly well suited for rearing filter-feeding animals. Based on existing freshwater recirculating aquatic rack systems, our system is specific to the needs of marine organisms and incorporates robust filtration measures to eliminate wastes, reducing the need for regular water changes. In addition, this system incorporates sensors and associated equipment for automated assessment and adjustment of water quality. An automated feeding system permits precise delivery of liquid food (e.g., phytoplankton) throughout the day, mimicking real-life feeding conditions that contribute to increased growth rates and fecundity. CONCLUSION This automated system makes laboratory culture of marine animals feasible for both large and small research groups, significantly reducing the time, labor, and overall costs needed to rear these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Q Henry
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, 601 South Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| | - Maryna P Lesoway
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, 601 South Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Kimberly J Perry
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, 601 South Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
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10
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Pukhlyakova EA, Kirillova AO, Kraus YA, Zimmermann B, Technau U. A cadherin switch marks germ layer formation in the diploblastic sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Development 2019; 146:dev.174623. [PMID: 31540916 DOI: 10.1242/dev.174623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Morphogenesis is a shape-building process during development of multicellular organisms. During this process, the establishment and modulation of cell-cell contacts play an important role. Cadherins, the major cell adhesion molecules, form adherens junctions connecting epithelial cells. Numerous studies of Bilateria have shown that cadherins are associated with the regulation of cell differentiation, cell shape changes, cell migration and tissue morphogenesis. To date, the role of cadherins in non-bilaterians is unknown. Here, we study the expression and function of two paralogous classical cadherins, Cadherin 1 and Cadherin 3, in a diploblastic animal, the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis We show that a cadherin switch accompanies the formation of germ layers. Using specific antibodies, we show that both cadherins are localized to adherens junctions at apical and basal positions in ectoderm and endoderm. During gastrulation, partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of endodermal cells is marked by stepwise downregulation of Cadherin 3 and upregulation of Cadherin 1. Knockdown experiments show that both cadherins are required for maintenance of tissue integrity and tissue morphogenesis. Thus, both sea anemones and bilaterians use independently duplicated cadherins combinatorially for tissue morphogenesis and germ layer differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina A Pukhlyakova
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Centre of Organismal Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anastasia O Kirillova
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Centre of Organismal Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.,Department of Evolutionary Biology, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/12, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Yulia A Kraus
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/12, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Bob Zimmermann
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Centre of Organismal Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrich Technau
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Centre of Organismal Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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11
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Love AC, Yoshida Y. Reflections on Model Organisms in Evolutionary Developmental Biology. Results Probl Cell Differ 2019; 68:3-20. [PMID: 31598850 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-23459-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This chapter reflects on and makes explicit the distinctiveness of reasoning practices associated with model organisms in the context of evolutionary developmental research. Model organisms in evo-devo instantiate a unique synthesis of model systems strategies from developmental biology and comparative strategies from evolutionary biology that negotiate a tension between developmental conservation and evolutionary change to address scientific questions about the evolution of development and the developmental basis of evolutionary change. We review different categories of model systems that have been advanced to understand practices found in the life sciences in order to comprehend how evo-devo model organisms instantiate this synthesis in the context of three examples: the starlet sea anemone and the evolution of bilateral symmetry, leeches and the origins of segmentation in bilaterians, and the corn snake to understand major evolutionary change in axial and appendicular morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan C Love
- Department of Philosophy and Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Yoshinari Yoshida
- Department of Philosophy and Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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12
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Dnyansagar R, Zimmermann B, Moran Y, Praher D, Sundberg P, Møller LF, Technau U. Dispersal and speciation: The cross Atlantic relationship of two parasitic cnidarians. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 126:346-355. [PMID: 29702219 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Dnyansagar
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Bob Zimmermann
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Yehu Moran
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, University of Vienna, Austria; Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Daniela Praher
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Per Sundberg
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lene Friis Møller
- Danish Shellfish Centre, DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Ulrich Technau
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, University of Vienna, Austria.
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Brugler MR, González-Muñoz RE, Tessler M, Rodríguez E. An EPIC journey to locate single-copy nuclear markers in sea anemones. ZOOL SCR 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mercer R. Brugler
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology; American Museum of Natural History; New York New York
- Biological Sciences Department; NYC College of Technology (CUNY); Brooklyn New York
| | - Ricardo E. González-Muñoz
- Laboratorio de Biología de Cnidarios; Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC); CONICET; Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Mar del Plata Argentina
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (ICMyL); Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (PCMyL); UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria; Ciudad de México México
| | - Michael Tessler
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology; American Museum of Natural History; New York New York
| | - Estefanía Rodríguez
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology; American Museum of Natural History; New York New York
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14
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Kirillova A, Genikhovich G, Pukhlyakova E, Demilly A, Kraus Y, Technau U. Germ-layer commitment and axis formation in sea anemone embryonic cell aggregates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:1813-1818. [PMID: 29440382 PMCID: PMC5828576 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1711516115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Robust morphogenetic events are pivotal for animal embryogenesis. However, comparison of the modes of development of different members of a phylum suggests that the spectrum of developmental trajectories accessible for a species might be far broader than can be concluded from the observation of normal development. Here, by using a combination of microsurgery and transgenic reporter gene expression, we show that, facing a new developmental context, the aggregates of dissociated embryonic cells of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis take an alternative developmental trajectory. The self-organizing aggregates rely on Wnt signals produced by the cells of the original blastopore lip organizer to form body axes but employ morphogenetic events typical for normal development of distantly related cnidarians to re-establish the germ layers. The reaggregated cells show enormous plasticity including the capacity of the ectodermal cells to convert into endoderm. Our results suggest that new developmental trajectories may evolve relatively easily when highly plastic embryonic cells face new constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Kirillova
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Center of Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Grigory Genikhovich
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Center of Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Ekaterina Pukhlyakova
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Center of Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Adrien Demilly
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Center of Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Yulia Kraus
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia;
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ulrich Technau
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Center of Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria;
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Intraspecific variation in oxidative stress tolerance in a model cnidarian: Differences in peroxide sensitivity between and within populations of Nematostella vectensis. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0188265. [PMID: 29373572 PMCID: PMC5786289 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 11/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Nematostella vectensis is a member of the phylum Cnidaria, a lineage that includes anemones, corals, hydras, and jellyfishes. This estuarine anemone is an excellent model system for investigating the evolution of stress tolerance because it is easy to collect in its natural habitat and to culture in the laboratory, and it has a sequenced genome. Additionally, there is evidence of local adaptation to environmental stress in different N. vectensis populations, and abundant protein-coding polymorphisms have been identified, including polymorphisms in proteins that are implicated in stress responses. N. vectensis can tolerate a wide range of environmental parameters, and has recently been shown to have substantial intraspecific variation in temperature preference. We investigated whether different clonal lines of anemones also exhibit differential tolerance to oxidative stress. N. vectensis populations are continually exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during cellular metabolism and by other environmental factors. Fifteen clonal lines of N. vectensis collected from four different estuaries were exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Pronounced differences in survival and regeneration were apparent between clonal lines collected from Meadowlands, NJ, Baruch, SC, and Kingsport, NS, as well as among 12 clonal lines collected from a single Cape Cod marsh. To our knowledge, this is the first example of intraspecific variability in oxidative stress resistance in cnidarians or in any marine animal. As oxidative stress often accompanies heat stress in marine organisms, resistance to oxidative stress could strongly influence survival in warming oceans. For example, while elevated temperatures trigger bleaching in corals, oxidative stress is thought to be the proximal trigger of bleaching at the cellular level.
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16
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Kühn F, Kühn C, Lückhoff A. Different Principles of ADP-Ribose-Mediated Activation and Opposite Roles of the NUDT9 Homology Domain in the TRPM2 Orthologs of Man and Sea Anemone. Front Physiol 2017; 8:879. [PMID: 29163217 PMCID: PMC5671594 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
A decisive element in the human cation channel TRPM2 is a region in its cytosolic C-terminus named NUDT9H because of its homology to the NUDT9 enzyme, a pyrophosphatase degrading ADP-ribose (ADPR). In hTRPM2, however, the NUDT9H domain has lost its enzymatic activity but serves as a binding domain for ADPR. As consequence of binding, gating of the channel is initiated. Since ADPR is produced after oxidative DNA damage, hTRPM2 mediates Ca2+ influx in response to oxidative stress which may lead to cell death. In the genome of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis (nv), a preferred model organism for the evolution of key bilaterian features, a TRPM2 ortholog has been identified that contains a NUDT9H domain as well. Heterologous expression of nvTRPM2 in HEK-293 cells reveals a cation channel with many close similarities to the human counterpart. Most notably, nvTRPM2 is activated by ADPR, and Ca2+ is a co-agonist. However, the intramolecular mechanisms of ADPR gating as well as the role of NUDT9H are strikingly different in the two species. Whereas already subtle changes of NUDT9H abolish ADPR gating in hTRPM2, the region can be completely removed from nvTRPM2 without loss of responses to ADPR. An alternative ADPR binding site seems to be present but has not yet been characterized. The ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase (ADPRase) function of nvNUDT9H has been preserved but can be abolished by numerous genetic manipulations. All these manipulations create channels that are sensitive to hydrogen peroxide which fails to induce channel activity in wild-type nvTRPM2. Therefore, the function of NUDT9H in nvTRPM2 is the degradation of ADPR, thereby reducing agonist concentration in the presence of oxidative stress. Thus, the two TRPM2 orthologs have evolved divergently but nevertheless gained analogous functional properties, i.e., gating by ADPR with Ca2+ as co-factor. Opposite roles are played by the respective NUDT9H domains, either binding of ADPR and mediating channel activity, or controlling the availability of ADPR at the binding site located in a different domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Kühn
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Kühn
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Andreas Lückhoff
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Renfer E, Technau U. Meganuclease-assisted generation of stable transgenics in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Nat Protoc 2017; 12:1844-1854. [DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2017.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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18
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Moiseeva E, Rabinowitz C, Paz G, Rinkevich B. Histological study on maturation, fertilization and the state of gonadal region following spawning in the model sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182677. [PMID: 28796817 PMCID: PMC5552035 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The starlet sea-anemone Nematostella vectensis has emerged as a model organism in developmental biology. Still, our understanding of various biological features, including reproductive biology of this model species are in its infancy. Consequently, through histological sections, we study here key stages of the oogenesis (oocyte maturation/fertilization), as the state of the gonad region immediately after natural spawning. Germ cells develop in a secluded mesenterial gastrodermal zone, where the developing oocytes are surrounded by mucoid glandular cells and trophocytes (accessory cells). During vitellogenesis, the germinal vesicle in oocytes migrates towards the animal pole and the large polarized oocytes begin to mature, characterized by karyosphere formation. Then, the karyosphere breaks down, the chromosomes form the metaphase plate I and the eggs are extruded from the animal enclosed in a sticky, jelly-like mucoid mass, along with numerous nematosomes. Fertilization occurs externally at metaphase II via swimming sperm extruded by males during natural spawning. The polar bodies are ejected from the eggs and are situated within a narrow space between the egg's vitelline membrane and the adjacent edge of the jelly coat. The cortical reaction occurs only at the polar bodies' ejection site. Several spermatozoa can penetrate the same egg. Fertilization is accompanied by a strong ooplasmatic segregation. Immediately after spawning, the gonad region holds many previtellogenic and vitellogenic oocytes, though no oocytes with karyosphere. Above are the first histological descriptions for egg maturation, meiotic chromosome's status at fertilization, fertilization and the gonadal region's state following spawning, also documenting for the first time the ejection of the polar body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Moiseeva
- Israel Oceanography and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel-Shikmona, Haifa, Israel
| | - Claudette Rabinowitz
- Israel Oceanography and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel-Shikmona, Haifa, Israel
| | - Guy Paz
- Israel Oceanography and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel-Shikmona, Haifa, Israel
| | - Baruch Rinkevich
- Israel Oceanography and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel-Shikmona, Haifa, Israel
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Cell-Cycle-Coupled Oscillations in Apical Polarity and Intercellular Contact Maintain Order in Embryonic Epithelia. Curr Biol 2017; 27:1381-1386. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.03.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 02/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Leclère L, Röttinger E. Diversity of Cnidarian Muscles: Function, Anatomy, Development and Regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2017; 4:157. [PMID: 28168188 PMCID: PMC5253434 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2016.00157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to perform muscle contractions is one of the most important and distinctive features of eumetazoans. As the sister group to bilaterians, cnidarians (sea anemones, corals, jellyfish, and hydroids) hold an informative phylogenetic position for understanding muscle evolution. Here, we review current knowledge on muscle function, diversity, development, regeneration and evolution in cnidarians. Cnidarian muscles are involved in various activities, such as feeding, escape, locomotion and defense, in close association with the nervous system. This variety is reflected in the large diversity of muscle organizations found in Cnidaria. Smooth epithelial muscle is thought to be the most common type, and is inferred to be the ancestral muscle type for Cnidaria, while striated muscle fibers and non-epithelial myocytes would have been convergently acquired within Cnidaria. Current knowledge of cnidarian muscle development and its regeneration is limited. While orthologs of myogenic regulatory factors such as MyoD have yet to be found in cnidarian genomes, striated muscle formation potentially involves well-conserved myogenic genes, such as twist and mef2. Although satellite cells have yet to be identified in cnidarians, muscle plasticity (e.g., de- and re-differentiation, fiber repolarization) in a regenerative context and its potential role during regeneration has started to be addressed in a few cnidarian systems. The development of novel tools to study those organisms has created new opportunities to investigate in depth the development and regeneration of cnidarian muscle cells and how they contribute to the regenerative process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Leclère
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV) Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Eric Röttinger
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging (IRCAN) Nice, France
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Kelava I, Rentzsch F, Technau U. Evolution of eumetazoan nervous systems: insights from cnidarians. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2016; 370:rstb.2015.0065. [PMID: 26554048 PMCID: PMC4650132 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cnidarians, the sister group to bilaterians, have a simple diffuse nervous system. This morphological simplicity and their phylogenetic position make them a crucial group in the study of the evolution of the nervous system. The development of their nervous systems is of particular interest, as by uncovering the genetic programme that underlies it, and comparing it with the bilaterian developmental programme, it is possible to make assumptions about the genes and processes involved in the development of ancestral nervous systems. Recent advances in sequencing methods, genetic interference techniques and transgenic technology have enabled us to get a first glimpse into the molecular network underlying the development of a cnidarian nervous system—in particular the nervous system of the anthozoan Nematostella vectensis. It appears that much of the genetic network of the nervous system development is partly conserved between cnidarians and bilaterians, with Wnt and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling, and Sox genes playing a crucial part in the differentiation of neurons. However, cnidarians possess some specific characteristics, and further studies are necessary to elucidate the full regulatory network. The work on cnidarian neurogenesis further accentuates the need to study non-model organisms in order to gain insights into processes that shaped present-day lineages during the course of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Kelava
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Fabian Rentzsch
- Sars Centre, Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, Thormøhlensgt. 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Ulrich Technau
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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22
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Layden MJ, Rentzsch F, Röttinger E. The rise of the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis as a model system to investigate development and regeneration. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2016; 5:408-28. [PMID: 26894563 PMCID: PMC5067631 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Revised: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/28/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Reverse genetics and next‐generation sequencing unlocked a new era in biology. It is now possible to identify an animal(s) with the unique biology most relevant to a particular question and rapidly generate tools to functionally dissect that biology. This review highlights the rise of one such novel model system, the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Nematostella is a cnidarian (corals, jellyfish, hydras, sea anemones, etc.) animal that was originally targeted by EvoDevo researchers looking to identify a cnidarian animal to which the development of bilaterians (insects, worms, echinoderms, vertebrates, mollusks, etc.) could be compared. Studies in Nematostella have accomplished this goal and informed our understanding of the evolution of key bilaterian features. However, Nematostella is now going beyond its intended utility with potential as a model to better understand other areas such as regenerative biology, EcoDevo, or stress response. This review intends to highlight key EvoDevo insights from Nematostella that guide our understanding about the evolution of axial patterning mechanisms, mesoderm, and nervous systems in bilaterians, as well as to discuss briefly the potential of Nematostella as a model to better understand the relationship between development and regeneration. Lastly, the sum of research to date in Nematostella has generated a variety of tools that aided the rise of Nematostella to a viable model system. We provide a catalogue of current resources and techniques available to facilitate investigators interested in incorporating Nematostella into their research. WIREs Dev Biol 2016, 5:408–428. doi: 10.1002/wdev.222 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Layden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Fabian Rentzsch
- Sars Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Eric Röttinger
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging (IRCAN), CNRS UMR 7284, INSERM U1081, Université de Nice-Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France
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Grawunder D, Hambleton EA, Bucher M, Wolfowicz I, Bechtoldt N, Guse A. Induction of Gametogenesis in the Cnidarian Endosymbiosis Model Aiptasia sp. Sci Rep 2015; 5:15677. [PMID: 26498008 PMCID: PMC4620495 DOI: 10.1038/srep15677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Endosymbiosis is widespread among cnidarians and is of high ecological relevance. The tropical sea anemone Aiptasia sp. is a laboratory model system for endosymbiosis between reef-building corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellate algae of the genus Symbiodinium. Here we identify the key environmental cues to induce reproducible spawning in Aiptasia under controlled laboratory conditions. We find that simulating a lunar cycle with blue-wavelength light is necessary to promote abundant gamete production and synchronous release in well-fed animals. Sexual reproduction rates are genetically determined and differ among clonal lines under similar conditions. We also find the inverse difference in rates of asexual reproduction. This study provides the requisite basis for further development of the Aiptasia model system, allowing analysis of basic cellular and molecular mechanisms in the laboratory as well as investigations of broad questions of ecological and evolutionary relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Désirée Grawunder
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Elizabeth A Hambleton
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Madeline Bucher
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Iliona Wolfowicz
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.,University of Porto, Porto 4200-465, Portugal
| | - Natascha Bechtoldt
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Annika Guse
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
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Har JY, Helbig T, Lim JH, Fernando SC, Reitzel AM, Penn K, Thompson JR. Microbial diversity and activity in the Nematostella vectensis holobiont: insights from 16S rRNA gene sequencing, isolate genomes, and a pilot-scale survey of gene expression. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:818. [PMID: 26388838 PMCID: PMC4557100 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We have characterized the molecular and genomic diversity of the microbiota of the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, a cnidarian model for comparative developmental and functional biology and a year-round inhabitant of temperate salt marshes. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries revealed four ribotypes associated with N. vectensis at multiple locations and times. These associates include two novel ribotypes within the ε-Proteobacterial order Campylobacterales and the Spirochetes, respectively, each sharing <85% identity with cultivated strains, and two γ-Proteobacterial ribotypes sharing >99% 16S rRNA identity with Endozoicomonas elysicola and Pseudomonas oleovorans, respectively. Species-specific PCR revealed that these populations persisted in N. vectensis asexually propagated under laboratory conditions. cDNA indicated expression of the Campylobacterales and Endozoicomonas 16S rRNA in anemones from Sippewissett Marsh, MA. A collection of bacteria from laboratory raised N. vectensis was dominated by isolates from P. oleovorans and Rhizobium radiobacter. Isolates from field-collected anemones revealed an association with Limnobacter and Stappia isolates. Genomic DNA sequencing was carried out on 10 cultured bacterial isolates representing field- and laboratory-associates, i.e., Limnobacter spp., Stappia spp., P. oleovorans and R. radiobacter. Genomes contained multiple genes identified as virulence (host-association) factors while S. stellulata and L. thiooxidans genomes revealed pathways for mixotrophic sulfur oxidation. A pilot metatranscriptome of laboratory-raised N. vectensis was compared to the isolate genomes and indicated expression of ORFs from L. thiooxidans with predicted functions of motility, nutrient scavenging (Fe and P), polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis for carbon storage, and selective permeability (porins). We hypothesize that such activities may mediate acclimation and persistence of bacteria in a N. vectensis holobiont defined by both internal and external gradients of chemicals and nutrients in a dynamic coastal habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Y Har
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tim Helbig
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ju H Lim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samodha C Fernando
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Adam M Reitzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Kevin Penn
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Janelle R Thompson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
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25
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Jahnel SM, Walzl M, Technau U. Development and epithelial organisation of muscle cells in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Front Zool 2014; 11:44. [PMID: 25009575 PMCID: PMC4088927 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-11-44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Nematostella vectensis, a member of the cnidarian class Anthozoa, has been established as a promising model system in developmental biology, but while information about the genetic regulation of embryonic development is rapidly increasing, little is known about the cellular organization of the various cell types in the adult. Here, we studied the anatomy and development of the muscular system of N. vectensis to obtain further insights into the evolution of muscle cells. RESULTS The muscular system of N. vectensis is comprised of five distinct muscle groups, which are differentiated into a tentacle and a body column system. Both systems house longitudinal as well as circular portions. With the exception of the ectodermal tentacle longitudinal muscle, all muscle groups are of endodermal origin. The shape and epithelial organization of muscle cells vary considerably between different muscle groups. Ring muscle cells are formed as epitheliomuscular cells in which the myofilaments are housed in the basal part of the cell, while the apical part is connected to neighboring cells by apical cell-cell junctions. In the longitudinal muscles of the column, the muscular part at the basal side is connected to the apical part by a long and narrow cytoplasmic bridge. The organization of these cells, however, remains epitheliomuscular. A third type of muscle cell is represented in the longitudinal muscle of the tentacle. Using transgenic animals we show that the apical cell-cell junctions are lost during differentiation, resulting in a detachment of the muscle cells to a basiepithelial position. These muscle cells are still located within the epithelium and outside of the basal matrix, therefore constituting basiepithelial myocytes. We demonstrate that all muscle cells, including the longitudinal basiepithelial muscle cells of the tentacle, initially differentiate from regular epithelial cells before they alter their epithelial organisation. CONCLUSIONS A wide range of different muscle cell morphologies can already be found in a single animal. This suggests how a transition from an epithelially organized muscle system to a mesenchymal could have occurred. Our study on N. vectensis provides new insights into the organisation of a muscle system in a non-bilaterian organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan M Jahnel
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, Centre for Organismal Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Wien, Austria
| | - Manfred Walzl
- Department of Integrative Zoology, Centre for Organismal Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Wien, Austria
| | - Ulrich Technau
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, Centre for Organismal Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Wien, Austria
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Fischer AHL, Tulin S, Fredman D, Smith J. Employing BAC-reporter constructs in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Integr Comp Biol 2013; 53:832-46. [PMID: 23956207 DOI: 10.1093/icb/ict091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in the expression and function of genes drive evolutionary change. Comparing how genes are regulated in different species is therefore becoming an important part of evo-devo studies. A key tool for investigating the regulation of genes is represented by bacterial artificial chromosomes (BAC)-reporter constructs. BACs are large insert libraries, often >100 kb, which thus capture the genomic sequences surrounding a gene of interest, including all, or nearly all, of the elements underpinning regulation. Recombinant BACs, containing a reporter gene in place of the endogenous coding sequence of genes, can be utilized to drive the expression of reporter genes under the regulatory control of the gene of interest while still embedded within its genomic context. Systematic deletions within the BAC-reporter construct can be used to identify the minimal reporter in an unbiased way, avoiding the risk of overlooking regulatory elements that may be many kilobases away from the transcription start-site. Nematostella vectensis (Edwardsiidae, Anthozoa, Cnidaria) has become an important model in regenerative biology, ecology, and especially in studies of evo-devo and gene-regulatory networks due to its interesting phylogenetic position and amenability to molecular techniques. The increasing interest in this rising model system also led to a demand for methods that can be used to study the regulation of genes in Nematostella. Here, we present our progress in employing BAC-reporter constructs to visualize gene-expression in Nematostella. Using a new Nematostella-specific recombination cassette, we made nine different BAC-reporter constructs. Although five BAC recombinants gave variable effects, three constructs, namely Nv-bra:eGFP::L10 BAC, Nv-dpp:eGFP::L10 BAC, and Nv-grm:eGFP::L10 BAC delivered promising results. We show that these three constructs express the reporter gene eGFP in 10.4-17.2% of all analyzed larvae, out of which 26.2-41.9% express GFP in a mosaic fashion within the expected domain. In addition to the expression within the known domains, we also observed cases of misexpression of eGFP and examples that could represent actual expression outside the described domain. Furthermore, we deep-sequenced and assembled five different BACs containing Nv-chordin, Nv-foxa, Nv-dpp, Nv-wnta, and Nv-wnt1, to improve assembly around these genes. The use of BAC-reporter constructs will foster cis-regulatory analyses in Nematostella and thus help to improve our understanding of the regulatory network in this cnidarian system. Ultimately, this will advance the comparison of gene-regulation across species and lead to a much better understanding of evolutionary changes and novelties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje H L Fischer
- *Marine Biological Laboratory, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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27
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Dickinson DJ, Weis WI, Nelson WJ. Protein evolution in cell and tissue development: going beyond sequence and transcriptional analysis. Dev Cell 2011; 21:32-4. [PMID: 21763606 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2011.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Studies of animal evolution often focus on sequence and transcriptional analysis, based on an assumption that the evolution of development is driven by changes in gene expression. We argue that biochemical and cell biological approaches are also required, because sequence-conserved proteins can have different biochemical, cellular, and developmental properties.
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28
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Abstract
There is growing interest in the use of cnidarians (corals, sea anemones, jellyfish and hydroids) to investigate the evolution of key aspects of animal development, such as the formation of the third germ layer (mesoderm), the nervous system and the generation of bilaterality. The recent sequencing of the Nematostella and Hydra genomes, and the establishment of methods for manipulating gene expression, have inspired new research efforts using cnidarians. Here, we present the main features of cnidarian models and their advantages for research, and summarize key recent findings using these models that have informed our understanding of the evolution of the developmental processes underlying metazoan body plan formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Technau
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Centre for Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna, Austria.
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29
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Abstract
The germline of multicellular animals is segregated from somatic tissues, which is an essential developmental process for the next generation. Although certain ecdysozoans and chordates segregate their germline during embryogenesis, animals from other taxa segregate their germline after embryogenesis from multipotent progenitor cells. An overlapping set of genes, including vasa, nanos and piwi, operate in both multipotent precursors and in the germline. As we propose here, this conservation implies the existence of an underlying germline multipotency program in these cell types that has a previously underappreciated and conserved function in maintaining multipotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celina E. Juliano
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - S. Zachary Swartz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Gary M. Wessel
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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30
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Steele RE, David CN, Technau U. A genomic view of 500 million years of cnidarian evolution. Trends Genet 2010; 27:7-13. [PMID: 21047698 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2010.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2010] [Revised: 09/23/2010] [Accepted: 10/08/2010] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Cnidarians (corals, anemones, jellyfish and hydras) are a diverse group of animals of interest to evolutionary biologists, ecologists and developmental biologists. With the publication of the genome sequences of Hydra and Nematostella, whose last common ancestor was the stem cnidarian, researchers are beginning to see the genomic underpinnings of cnidarian biology. Cnidarians are known for the remarkable plasticity of their morphology and life cycles. This plasticity is reflected in the Hydra and Nematostella genomes, which differ to an exceptional degree in size, base composition, transposable element content and gene conservation. It is now known what cnidarian genomes, given 500 million years, are capable of; as we discuss here, the next challenge is to understand how this genomic history has led to the striking diversity seen in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Steele
- Department of Biological Chemistry and the Developmental Biology Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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31
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Ikmi A, Gibson MC. Identification and in vivo characterization of NvFP-7R, a developmentally regulated red fluorescent protein of Nematostella vectensis. PLoS One 2010; 5:e11807. [PMID: 20668556 PMCID: PMC2910727 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2010] [Accepted: 06/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis has emerged as a critical model organism for comparative genomics and developmental biology. Although Nematostella is a member of the anthozoan cnidarians (known for producing an abundance of diverse fluorescent proteins (FPs)), endogenous patterns of Nematostella fluorescence have not been described and putative FPs encoded by the genome have not been characterized. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We described the spatiotemporal expression of endogenous red fluorescence during Nematostella development. Spatially, there are two patterns of red fluorescence, both restricted to the oral endoderm in developing polyps. One pattern is found in long fluorescent domains associated with the eight mesenteries and the other is found in short fluorescent domains situated between tentacles. Temporally, the long domains appear simultaneously at the 12-tentacle stage. In contrast, the short domains arise progressively between the 12- and 16-tentacle stage. To determine the source of the red fluorescence, we used bioinformatic approaches to identify all possible putative Nematostella FPs and a Drosophila S2 cell culture assay to validate NvFP-7R, a novel red fluorescent protein. We report that both the mRNA expression pattern and spectral signature of purified NvFP-7R closely match that of the endogenous red fluorescence. Strikingly, the red fluorescent pattern of NvFP-7R exhibits asymmetric expression along the directive axis, indicating that the nvfp-7r locus senses the positional information of the body plan. At the tissue level, NvFP-7R exhibits an unexpected subcellular localization and a complex complementary expression pattern in apposed epithelia sheets comprising each endodermal mesentery. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE These experiments not only identify NvFP-7R as a novel red fluorescent protein that could be employed as a research tool; they also uncover an unexpected spatio-temporal complexity of gene expression in an adult cnidarian. Perhaps most importantly, our results define Nematostella as a new model organism for understanding the biological function of fluorescent proteins in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aissam Ikmi
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Matthew C. Gibson
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Kansas University Medical School, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America
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Genikhovich G, Technau U. In situ hybridization of starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis) embryos, larvae, and polyps. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2010; 2009:pdb.prot5282. [PMID: 20147267 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot5282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Grigory Genikhovich
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Center for Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria
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Genikhovich G, Technau U. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling of S-phase nuclei in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2010; 2009:pdb.prot5284. [PMID: 20147269 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot5284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Grigory Genikhovich
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Center for Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria
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Genikhovich G, Technau U. Anti-acetylated tubulin antibody staining and phalloidin staining in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2010; 2009:pdb.prot5283. [PMID: 20147268 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot5283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Grigory Genikhovich
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Center for Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria
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Genikhovich G, Technau U. Induction of spawning in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, in vitro fertilization of gametes, and dejellying of zygotes. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2009; 2009:pdb.prot5281. [PMID: 20147266 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot5281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTIONThis protocol describes a reliable method for inducing spawning in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis under laboratory conditions. Spawning occurs at ~13±3 h after the onset of the inductive cues, which are a particular combination of light and temperature. This method has been used successfully on a daily basis with rotating cultures, yielding thousands of embryos every day. Each given female or male can be induced once per week. For long-term health, an induction once every 10-14 d is less exhausting to the animals. The protocol also describes the dejellying of the zygotes for further manipulation of the embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grigory Genikhovich
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Center for Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria
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