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Vigneau J, Martinho C, Godfroy O, Zheng M, Haas FB, Borg M, Coelho SM. Interactions between U and V sex chromosomes during the life cycle of Ectocarpus. Development 2024; 151:dev202677. [PMID: 38512707 PMCID: PMC11057875 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
In many animals and flowering plants, sex determination occurs in the diploid phase of the life cycle with XX/XY or ZW/ZZ sex chromosomes. However, in early diverging plants and most macroalgae, sex is determined by female (U) or male (V) sex chromosomes in a haploid phase called the gametophyte. Once the U and V chromosomes unite at fertilization to produce a diploid sporophyte, sex determination no longer occurs, raising key questions about the fate of the U and V sex chromosomes in the sporophyte phase. Here, we investigate genetic and molecular interactions of the UV sex chromosomes in both the haploid and diploid phases of the brown alga Ectocarpus. We reveal extensive developmental regulation of sex chromosome genes across its life cycle and implicate the TALE-HD transcription factor OUROBOROS in suppressing sex determination in the diploid phase. Small RNAs may also play a role in the repression of a female sex-linked gene, and transition to the diploid sporophyte coincides with major reconfiguration of histone H3K79me2, suggesting a more intricate role for this histone mark in Ectocarpus development than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Olivier Godfroy
- Roscoff Biological Station, CNRS-Sorbonne University, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff 29680, France
| | - Min Zheng
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Fabian B. Haas
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Borg
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Patwary ZP, Zhao M, Paul NA, Cummins SF. Identification of reproductive sex-biased gene expression in Asparagopsis taxiformis (lineage 6) gametophytes. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2024; 60:327-342. [PMID: 38156746 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The sub-tropical red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis is of significant interest due to its ability to store halogenated compounds, including bromoform, which can mitigate methane production in ruminants. Significant scale-up of aquaculture production of this seaweed is required; however, relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control fundamental physiological processes, including the regulatory factors that determine sexual dimorphism in gametophytes. In this study, we used comparative RNA-sequencing analysis between different morphological parts of mature male and female A. taxiformis (lineage 6) gametophytes that resulted in greater number of sex-biased gene expression in tips (containing the reproductive structures for both sexes), compared with the somatic main axis and rhizomes. Further comparative RNA-seq against immature tips was used to identify 62 reproductive sex-biased genes (59 male-biased, 3 female-biased). Of the reproductive male-biased genes, 46% had an unknown function, while others were predicted to be regulatory factors and enzymes involved in signaling. We found that bromoform content obtained from female samples (8.5 ± 1.0 mg·g-1 dry weight) was ~10% higher on average than that of male samples (6.5 ± 1.0 mg·g-1 dry weight), although no significant difference was observed (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in the marine bromoform biosynthesis locus gene expression. In summary, our comparative RNA-sequencing analysis provides a first insight into the potential molecular factors relevant to gametogenesis and sexual differentiation in A. taxiformis, with potential benefits for identification of sex-specific markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubaida Parveen Patwary
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh
| | - Min Zhao
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Paul
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
| | - Scott F Cummins
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
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Luthringer R, Raphalen M, Guerra C, Colin S, Martinho C, Zheng M, Hoshino M, Badis Y, Lipinska AP, Haas FB, Barrera-Redondo J, Alva V, Coelho SM. Repeated co-option of HMG-box genes for sex determination in brown algae and animals. Science 2024; 383:eadk5466. [PMID: 38513029 DOI: 10.1126/science.adk5466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
In many eukaryotes, genetic sex determination is not governed by XX/XY or ZW/ZZ systems but by a specialized region on the poorly studied U (female) or V (male) sex chromosomes. Previous studies have hinted at the existence of a dominant male-sex factor on the V chromosome in brown algae, a group of multicellular eukaryotes distantly related to animals and plants. The nature of this factor has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that an HMG-box gene acts as the male-determining factor in brown algae, mirroring the role HMG-box genes play in sex determination in animals. Over a billion-year evolutionary timeline, these lineages have independently co-opted the HMG box for male determination, representing a paradigm for evolution's ability to recurrently use the same genetic "toolkit" to accomplish similar tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémy Luthringer
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Morgane Raphalen
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carla Guerra
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sébastien Colin
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Martinho
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Min Zheng
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Masakazu Hoshino
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Research Center for Inland Seas, Kobe University, Kobe 658-0022, Japan
| | - Yacine Badis
- Roscoff Biological Station, CNRS-Sorbonne University, Place Georges Teissier, 29680 Roscoff, France
| | - Agnieszka P Lipinska
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Fabian B Haas
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Josué Barrera-Redondo
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Vikram Alva
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susana M Coelho
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Hatchett WJ, Jueterbock AO, Kopp M, Coyer JA, Coelho SM, Hoarau G, Lipinska AP. Evolutionary dynamics of sex-biased gene expression in a young XY system: insights from the brown alga genus Fucus. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:422-437. [PMID: 36597732 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Sex-biased gene expression is considered to be an underlying cause of sexually dimorphic traits. Although the nature and degree of sex-biased expression have been well documented in several animal and plant systems, far less is known about the evolution of sex-biased genes in more distant eukaryotic groups. Here, we investigate sex-biased gene expression in two brown algal dioecious species, Fucus serratus and Fucus vesiculosus, where male heterogamety (XX/XY) has recently emerged. We find that in contrast to evolutionary distant plant and animal lineages, male-biased genes do not experience high turnover rates, but instead reveal remarkable conservation of bias and expression levels between the two species, suggesting their importance in sexual differentiation. Genes with consistent male bias were enriched in functions related to gamete production, along with sperm competition and include three flagellar proteins under positive selection. We present one of the first reports, outside of the animal kingdom, showing that male-biased genes display accelerated rates of coding sequence evolution compared with female-biased or unbiased genes. Our results imply that evolutionary forces affect male and female sex-biased genes differently on structural and regulatory levels, resulting in unique properties of differentially expressed transcripts during reproductive development in Fucus algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Hatchett
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8026, Bodø, Norway
| | | | - Martina Kopp
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8026, Bodø, Norway
| | - James A Coyer
- Shoals Marine Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Susana M Coelho
- CNRS, Algal Genetics Group, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Sorbonne Université, Station Biologique de Roscoff, 29680, Roscoff, France
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Galice Hoarau
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8026, Bodø, Norway
| | - Agnieszka P Lipinska
- CNRS, Algal Genetics Group, UMR 8227, Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Sorbonne Université, Station Biologique de Roscoff, 29680, Roscoff, France
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
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Shan T, Li Y, Pang S. Identification of a genomic region linked with sex determination of Undaria pinnatifida (Alariaceae) through genomic resequencing and genetic linkage analyses of a segregating gametophyte family. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:193-203. [PMID: 36330991 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Different from the traditional knowledge about kelp, three sexual phenotypes (female, male, and monoecious) exist in the haploid gametophytes of Undaria pinnatifida. However, the sex-determining mechanisms remain unknown. Genetic linkage mapping is an efficient tool to identify sex-linked regions. In the present study, we resequenced a segregating gametophyte family based on the male genome of U. pinnatifida. A high-density genetic linkage map was constructed using 9887 SNPs, with an average distance of 0.41 cM between adjacent SNPs. On the basis of this genetic map and using the composite interval mapping method, we identified 62 SNPs significantly linked with the sexual phenotype. They were located at a position of 67.67 cM on the linkage group 23, corresponding to a physical range of 14.67 Mbp on the HiC_Scaffold_23 of the genome. Reanalysis of the previous specific length amplified fragment sequencing data according to the reference genome led to the identification of a sex-linked genomic region that encompassed the above-mentioned 14.67 Mbp region. Hence, this overlapped genomic range was likely the sex-determining region. Within this region, 129 genes were retrieved and 39 of them were annotated with explicit function, including the potential male sex-determining gene-encoding high mobility group (HMG) domain protein. Relative expression analysis of the HMG gene showed that its expression was higher in male gametophytes during the vegetative phase and monoecious gametophytes during both the vegetative and gametogenesis phases, but significantly lower in male gametophytes during the gametogenesis phase. These results provide a foundation for deciphering the sex-determining mechanism of U. pinnatifida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tifeng Shan
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Yuqian Li
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shaojun Pang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China
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Constable GWA, Kokko H. Parthenogenesis and the Evolution of Anisogamy. Cells 2021; 10:2467. [PMID: 34572116 PMCID: PMC8467976 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, it was pointed out that classic models for the evolution of anisogamy do not take into account the possibility of parthenogenetic reproduction, even though sex is facultative in many relevant taxa (e.g., algae) that harbour both anisogamous and isogamous species. Here, we complement this recent analysis with an approach where we assume that the relationship between progeny size and its survival may differ between parthenogenetically and sexually produced progeny, favouring either the former or the latter. We show that previous findings that parthenogenesis can stabilise isogamy relative to the obligate sex case, extend to our scenarios. We additionally investigate two different ways for one mating type to take over the entire population. First, parthenogenesis can lead to biased sex ratios that are sufficiently extreme that one type can displace the other, leading to de facto asexuality for the remaining type that now lacks partners to fuse with. This process involves positive feedback: microgametes, being numerous, lack opportunities for syngamy, and should they proliferate parthenogenetically, the next generation makes this asexual route even more prominent for microgametes. Second, we consider mutations to strict asexuality in producers of micro- or macrogametes, and show that the prospects of asexual invasion depend strongly on the mating type in which the mutation arises. Perhaps most interestingly, we also find scenarios in which parthenogens have an intrinsic survival advantage yet facultatively sexual isogamous populations are robust to the invasion of asexuals, despite us assuming no genetic benefits of recombination. Here, equal contribution from both mating types to zygotes that are sufficiently well provisioned can outweigh the additional costs associated with syngamy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hanna Kokko
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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