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Donizetti A, Calicchio M, Romano MZ, Rosati L, Turco M, Carrese AM, del Gaudio R, Ferrandino I, Aniello F. Expression of Insl3 Protein in Adult Danio rerio. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5419. [PMID: 38791457 PMCID: PMC11122137 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105419] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is a biomarker for Leydig cells in the testes of vertebrates, and it is principally involved in spermatogenesis through specific binding with the RXFP2 receptor. This study reports the insl3 gene transcript and the Insl3 prepropeptide expression in both non-reproductive and reproductive tissues of Danio rerio. An immunohistochemistry analysis shows that the hormone is present at a low level in the Leydig cells and germ cells at all stages of Danio rerio testis differentiation. Considering that the insl3 gene is transcribed in Leydig cells, our results highlight an autocrine and paracrine function of this hormone in the Danio rerio testis, adding new information on the Insl3 mode of action in reproduction. We also show that Insl3 and Rxfp2 belonging to Danio rerio and other vertebrate species share most of the amino acid residues involved in the ligand-receptor interaction and activation, suggesting a conserved mechanism of action during vertebrate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Donizetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Mauro Calicchio
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Maria Zelinda Romano
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Luigi Rosati
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Manuela Turco
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Anna Maria Carrese
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Rosanna del Gaudio
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Ida Ferrandino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
| | - Francesco Aniello
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.D.); (M.C.); (L.R.); (M.T.); (A.M.C.); (R.d.G.); (I.F.)
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Blasiak A, Gugula A, Gundlach AL, Olucha-Bordonau FE, Aniello F, Donizetti A. Relaxin ligand/receptor systems in the developing teleost fish brain: Conserved features with mammals and a platform to address neuropeptide system functions. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:984524. [PMID: 36277494 PMCID: PMC9580368 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.984524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The relaxins (RLNs) are a group of peptide hormone/neuromodulators that can regulate a wide range of physiological processes ranging from reproduction to brain function. All the family members have originated from a RLN3-like ancestor via different rounds of whole genome and gene specific duplications during vertebrate evolution. In mammals, including human, the divergence of the different family members and the emergence of new members led to the acquisition of specific functions for the various relaxin family peptide and associated receptor genes. In particular, in mammals, it was shown, that the role of RLN3 is correlated to the modulation of arousal, stress responses, emotion, social recognition, and other brain functions, positioning this gene/peptide as a potential therapeutic target for neuropsychiatric disorders. This review highlights the evolutionary conservation of relaxin family peptide and receptor gene expression and their associated brain neural circuits. In the zebrafish, the expression pattern of the different relaxin family members has specific features that are conserved in higher species, including a likely similar functional role for the ancestral RLN3-like gene. The use of different model organisms, particularly the zebrafish, to explore the diversification and conservation of relaxin family ligands and receptor systems, provides a relatively high-throughput platform to identify their specific conserved or differential neuromodulatory roles in higher species including human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Blasiak
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Gugula
- Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrew L. Gundlach
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Francesco Aniello
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Aldo Donizetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Aldo Donizetti,
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Di Giaimo R, Penna E, Pizzella A, Cirillo R, Perrone-Capano C, Crispino M. Cross Talk at the Cytoskeleton-Plasma Membrane Interface: Impact on Neuronal Morphology and Functions. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239133. [PMID: 33266269 PMCID: PMC7730950 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cytoskeleton and its associated proteins present at the plasma membrane not only determine the cell shape but also modulate important aspects of cell physiology such as intracellular transport including secretory and endocytic pathways. Continuous remodeling of the cell structure and intense communication with extracellular environment heavily depend on interactions between cytoskeletal elements and plasma membrane. This review focuses on the plasma membrane-cytoskeleton interface in neurons, with a special emphasis on the axon and nerve endings. We discuss the interaction between the cytoskeleton and membrane mainly in two emerging topics of neurobiology: (i) production and release of extracellular vesicles and (ii) local synthesis of new proteins at the synapses upon signaling cues. Both of these events contribute to synaptic plasticity. Our review provides new insights into the physiological and pathological significance of the cytoskeleton-membrane interface in the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Di Giaimo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (A.P.); (R.C.)
- Correspondence: (R.D.G.); (M.C.)
| | - Eduardo Penna
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (A.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Amelia Pizzella
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (A.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Raffaella Cirillo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (A.P.); (R.C.)
| | - Carla Perrone-Capano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati Traverso”, National Research Council (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Marianna Crispino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (E.P.); (A.P.); (R.C.)
- Correspondence: (R.D.G.); (M.C.)
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Chu T, Liu F, Qin G, Zhan W, Wang M, Lou B. Transcriptome analysis of the Larimichthys polyactis under heat and cold stress. Cryobiology 2020; 96:175-183. [PMID: 32781044 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2020.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) is an economically important marine fish that is widely distributed in the East Sea, Yellow Sea and Bohai of China. However, the wild populations of L. polyactis are severely depleted, and there is currently a developing large-scale artificial propagation of this fish for aquaculture. However, the current variety of L. polyactis that is cultivated is not capable to coping with large fluctuations in temperature. Therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms that are activated in response to temperature stress in the L. polyactis. Here, we conducted transcriptomic analysis of the liver of L. polyactis under heat and cold stress. A total of 270,844,888, 265,727,006 and 259,666,218 clean reads were generated from high temperature group, low temperature group and control group, respectively, and comparing expression of genes in these transcriptomes, 10,878 unigenes that were differential expressed were identified. Seventeen of the differentially expressed unigenes were validated by qRT-PCR. Pathway enrichment analysis identified that the ER pathway, immune signaling pathway and metabolic response pathway were affected by temperature stress. The results of this study provide a comprehensive overview of temperature stress-induced transcriptional patterns in liver tissues of the L. polyactis. In addition, these results can guide future molecular studies of heat and cold stress response in this species for improving the stock used for aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Chu
- School of Fishery of Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China.
| | - Gaochan Qin
- School of Fishery of Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, China
| | - Wei Zhan
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Mengjie Wang
- School of Fishery of Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, China
| | - Bao Lou
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
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Ye C, Xu S, Hu Q, Hu M, Zhou L, Qin X, Jia J, Hu G. Structure and function analysis of various brain subregions and pituitary in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2020; 33:100653. [PMID: 31923798 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2019.100653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
It has been generally acknowledged that environment could alter the morphology and functional differentiation of vertebrate brain. However, as the largest group of all vertebrates, studies about the structures and functions of various brain subregions in teleost are still scarce. In this study, using grass carp as a model, histology method and RNA-sequencing were recruited to examine the microstructure and transcript levels among different brain subregions and pituitary. Histological results showed that the grass carp brain was composed of six parts, including olfactory bulb, telencephalon, hypothalamus, optic tectum, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata. In addition, compared to elasmobranchs and non-teleost bony ray-finned fishes, grass carp lost the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system, instead the hypophysiotropic neurons were directly terminated in the pituitary cells. At the transcriptomic level, our results suggested that the olfactory bulb might be related to reproduction and immune function. The telencephalon was deemed to be involved in the regulation of appetite and reproduction. The optic tectum might play important roles in the vision system and feeding. The hypothalamus could regulate feeding, and reproduction process. The medulla oblongata was related with the auditory system. The pituitary seemed to play pivotal roles in energy metabolism, organ development and reproduction. Finally, the correlation analysis suggested that the hypothalamus and the telencephalon were highly related, and close anatomical connection and overlapping functions suggested that the telencephalon and hypothalamus might be the regulation center of feeding and reproduction among teleost brain. This study provided a global view of the microstructures and specific functions of various brain subregions and pituitary in teleost. These results will be very helpful for further study in the neuroendocrinology regulation of growth and reproduction in teleost brain-pituitary axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Ye
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shaohua Xu
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qiongyao Hu
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Minqiang Hu
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Lingling Zhou
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiangfeng Qin
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jingyi Jia
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Guangfu Hu
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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D’Agostino S, Testa M, Aliperti V, Venditti M, Minucci S, Aniello F, Donizetti A. Expression pattern dysregulation of stress- and neuronal activity-related genes in response to prenatal stress paradigm in zebrafish larvae. Cell Stress Chaperones 2019; 24:1005-1012. [PMID: 31209726 PMCID: PMC6717227 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-019-01017-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal stress during pregnancy adversely affects developmental fetal programming. Glucocorticoid excess is one of those conditions that underlie the prenatal stress and can lead to many pathological disorders later in life. Beyond the obvious use of mammalian model organisms to uncover the different mechanisms at the basis of prenatal stress effects, zebrafish represents a complementary fruitful model for this research field. Here we demonstrated that the application of an experimental paradigm, which simulates prenatal stress by exposing embryos to cortisol excess, produced an alteration of gene expression pattern. In particular, the transcript level of hsd11b2, a gene involved in the cortisol catabolism, was affected in prenatally stressed larvae, even after many hours from the removal of cortisol excess. Interestingly, the expression pattern of c-fos, a marker gene of neural activity, was affected in prenatally stressed larvae even in response to a swirling and osmotic stress challenge. Our data corroborate the idea of zebrafish as a useful model organism to study prenatal stress effects on vertebrate development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena D’Agostino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Martino Testa
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenza Aliperti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo Venditti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Sergio Minucci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Aniello
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Aldo Donizetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
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Venditti M, Donizetti A, Fiengo M, Fasano C, Santillo A, Aniello F, Minucci S. Temporal and spatial expression of insulin-like peptide (insl5a and insl5b) paralog genes during the embryogenesis of Danio rerio. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2018; 330:33-40. [PMID: 29319231 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin (RLN) and insulin (INSL)-like peptides are member of the INSL/RLN superfamily, which are encoded by seven genes in humans and can activate the G-protein coupled receptor RXFP 1-4. These peptides evolved from a common ancestor, RLN3-like gene. Two rounds of whole genome duplication (WGD) in early vertebrate evolution, together with an additional WGD in the teleost lineage, caused an expansion of RLN genes set in the genome of Danio rerio. In particular, six RLN genes are present: a single copy of rln and insl3 genes, and two paralogs for the rln3 gene (rln3a and rln3b), and the insl5 gene (insl5a and insl5b). We have already reported the presence of rln3a and rln3b genes in the developing zebrafish brain, as well as the expression of rln gene in the developing zebrafish brain and extraneural territories, such as thyroid gland and pancreas. Here, we report for the first time the expression of the two parologs genes for insl5, insl5a, and insl5b in D. rerio embryonic development. The corresponding transcripts of both the paralogs are present in all embryonic stages analyzed by RT-qPCR. In situ hybridization analyses showed a restricted signal in intestinal cells and the pancreatic region at 72 hpf for insl5a, while at 96 hpf both genes are expressed in specific intestinal cells. Furthermore, in adult zebrafish intestine tissue, in situ hybridation experiments showed that insl5a transcript is specifically localized in the goblet cells, while insl5b transcript is in enteroendocrine cells. These data revealed a high degree of gene expression pattern conservation for such genes in vertebrate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Venditti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. Fisiologia Umana e Funzioni Biologiche Integrate, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Aldo Donizetti
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli "Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Marcella Fiengo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli "Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Chiara Fasano
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli "Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessandra Santillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Francesco Aniello
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli "Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Sergio Minucci
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. Fisiologia Umana e Funzioni Biologiche Integrate, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy
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Donizetti A, Fiengo M, Del Gaudio R, Iazzetti G, Pariante P, Minucci S, Aniello F. Expression pattern of zebrafish rxfp2 homologue genes during embryonic development. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2015; 324:605-13. [PMID: 26173401 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
RXFP2 is one of the 4 receptors for relaxin insulin-like peptides, in particular it binds with high affinity the INSL3 peptide. INSL3/RXFP2 pair is essential for testicular descent during placental mammalian development. The evolutionary history of this ligand/receptor pair has received much attention, since its function in vertebrate species lacking testicular descent, such as the fishes, remains elusive. Herein, we analyzed the expression pattern of three rxfp2 homologue genes in zebrafish embryonic development. For all the three rxfp2 genes (rxfp2a, rxfp2b, and rxfp2-like) we showed the presence of maternally derived transcripts. Later in the development, rxfp2a is only expressed at larval stage, whereas rxfp2b is expressed in all the analyzed stage with highest level in the larvae. The rxfp2-like gene is expressed in all the analyzed stage with a transcript level that increased starting at early pharyngula stage. The spatial localization analysis of rxfp2-like gene showed that it is expressed in many cell clusters in the developing brain. In addition, other rxfp2-like-expressing cells were identified in the retina and oral epithelium. This analysis provides new insights to elucidate the evolution of rxfp2 genes in vertebrate lineage and lays the foundations to study their role in vertebrate embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Donizetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Marcella Fiengo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Iazzetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Pariante
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Sergio Minucci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Aniello
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Yegorov S, Bogerd J, Good SV. The relaxin family peptide receptors and their ligands: new developments and paradigms in the evolution from jawless fish to mammals. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2014; 209:93-105. [PMID: 25079565 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2014] [Revised: 07/01/2014] [Accepted: 07/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin family peptide receptors (Rxfps) and their ligands, relaxin (Rln) and insulin-like (Insl) peptides, are broadly implicated in the regulation of reproductive and neuroendocrine processes in mammals. Most placental mammals harbour genes for four receptors, namely rxfp1, rxfp2, rxfp3 and rxfp4. The number and identity of rxfps in other vertebrates are immensely variable, which is probably attributable to intraspecific variation in reproductive and neuroendocrine regulation. Here, we highlight several interesting, but greatly overlooked, aspects of the rln/insl-rxfp evolutionary history: the ancient origin, recruitment of novel receptors, diverse roles of selection, differential retention and lineage-specific loss of genes over evolutionary time. The tremendous diversity of rln/insl and rxfp genes appears to have arisen from two divergent receptors and one ligand that were duplicated by whole genome duplications (WGD) in early vertebrate evolution, although several genes, notably relaxin in mammals, were also duplicated via small scale duplications. Duplication and loss of genes have varied across lineages: teleosts retained more WGD-derived genes, dominated by those thought to be involved in neuroendocrine regulation (rln3, insl5 and rxfp 3/4 genes), while eutherian mammals witnessed the diversification and rapid evolution of genes involved in reproduction (rln/insl3). Several genes that arose early in evolutionary history were lost in most mammals, but retained in teleosts and, to a lesser extent, in early diverging tetrapods. To elaborate on their evolutionary history, we provide updated phylogenies of the Rxfp1/2 and Rxfp3/4 receptors and their ligands, including new sequences from early diverging vertebrate taxa such as coelacanth, skate, spotted gar, and lamprey. We also summarize the recent progress made towards understanding the functional biology of Rxfps in non-mammalian taxa, providing a new conceptual framework for research on Rxfp signaling across vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Yegorov
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 599 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Jan Bogerd
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sara V Good
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, 599 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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Donizetti A, Fiengo M, Iazzetti G, del Gaudio R, Di Giaimo R, Pariante P, Minucci S, Aniello F. Expression analysis of five zebrafish RXFP3 homologues reveals evolutionary conservation of gene expression pattern. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2014; 324:22-9. [PMID: 25384467 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 07/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin peptides exert different functions in reproduction and neuroendocrine processes via interaction with two evolutionarily unrelated groups of receptors: RXFP1 and RXFP2 on one hand, RXFP3 and RXFP4 on the other hand. Evolution of receptor genes after splitting of tetrapods and teleost lineage led to a different retention rate between mammals and fish, with the latter having more gene copies compared to the former. In order to improve our knowledge on the evolution of the relaxin ligands/receptors system and have insights on their function in early stages of life, in the present paper we analyzed the expression pattern of five zebrafish RXFP3 homologue genes during embryonic development. In our analysis, we show that only two of the five genes are expressed during embryogenesis and that their transcripts are present in all the developmental stages. Spatial localization analysis of these transcripts revealed that the gene expression is restricted in specific territories starting from early pharyngula stage. Both genes are expressed in the brain but in different cell clusters and in extra-neural territories, one gene in the interrenal gland and the other in the pancreas. These two genes share expression territories with the homologue mammalian counterpart, highlighting a general conservation of gene expression regulatory processes and their putative function during evolution that are established early in vertebrate embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Donizetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Smith CM, Chua BE, Zhang C, Walker AW, Haidar M, Hawkes D, Shabanpoor F, Hossain MA, Wade JD, Rosengren KJ, Gundlach AL. Central injection of relaxin-3 receptor (RXFP3) antagonist peptides reduces motivated food seeking and consumption in C57BL/6J mice. Behav Brain Res 2014; 268:117-26. [PMID: 24681162 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Revised: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Behavioural arousal in mammals is regulated by various interacting central monoamine- and peptide-neurotransmitter/receptor systems, which function to maintain awake, alert and active states required for performance of goal-directed activities essential for survival, including food seeking. Existing anatomical and functional evidence suggests the highly-conserved neuropeptide, relaxin-3, which signals via its cognate Gi/o-protein coupled receptor, RXFP3, contributes to behavioural arousal and feeding behaviour in rodents. In studies to investigate this possibility further, adult male C57BL/6J mice were treated with the selective RXFP3 antagonist peptides, R3(B1-22)R/I5(A) and R3(B1-22)R, and motivated food seeking and consumption was assessed as a reflective output of behavioural arousal. Compared to vehicle treatment, intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of RXFP3 antagonists reduced: (i) food anticipatory activity before meal time during food restriction; (ii) consumption of highly palatable food; (iii) consumption of regular chow during the initial dark phase, and; (iv) consumption of regular chow after mild (∼4-h) food deprivation. Effects were not due to sedation and appeared to be specifically mediated via antagonism of relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling, as RXFP3 antagonist treatment did not alter locomotor activity in wild-type mice or reduce palatable food intake in relaxin-3 deficient (knock-out) mice. Notably, in contrast to similar studies in the rat, icv injection of RXFP3 agonists and infusion into the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus did not increase food consumption in mice, suggesting species differences in relaxin-3/RXFP3-related signalling networks. Together, our data provide evidence that endogenous relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling promotes motivated food seeking and consumption, and in light of the established biological and translational importance of other arousal systems, relaxin-3/RXFP3 networks warrant further experimental investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig M Smith
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Berenice E Chua
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Cary Zhang
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew W Walker
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mouna Haidar
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David Hawkes
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Fazel Shabanpoor
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mohammad Akhter Hossain
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - John D Wade
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - K Johan Rosengren
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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