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He Z, Xiao F, Yang D, Deng F, Ding W, He Z, Wang S, Chen Q, Wang H, Chen M, Gao K, Xiong J, Tang Z, Zhang M, Yan T. Protein expression patterns and metal metabolites in a protogynous hermaphrodite fish, the ricefield eel (Monopterus albus). BMC Genomics 2024; 25:500. [PMID: 38773374 PMCID: PMC11106920 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10397-w] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ricefield eel Monopterus albus undergoes a natural sex change from female to male during its life cycle, and previous studies have shown the potential mechanisms of this transition at the transcriptional and protein levels. However, the changes in protein levels have not been fully explored, especially in the intersexual stage. RESULTS In the present study, the protein expression patterns in the gonadal tissues from five different periods, the ovary (OV), early intersexual stage gonad (IE), middle intersexual stage gonad (IM), late intersexual stage gonad (IL), and testis (TE), were determined by untargeted proteomics sequencing. A total of 5125 proteins and 394 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were detected in the gonadal tissues. Of the 394 DEPs, there were 136 between the OV and IE groups, 20 between the IM and IE groups, 179 between the IL and IM groups, and 59 between the TE and IL groups. Three candidate proteins, insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 isoform X1 (Igf2bp3), triosephosphate isomerase (Tpi), and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase isoform X1 [(Cu-Zn) Sod1], were validated by western blotting to verify the reliability of the data. Furthermore, metal metabolite-related proteins were enriched in the IL vs. IM groups and TE vs. IL groups, which had close relationships with sex change, including Cu2+-, Ca2+-, Zn2+- and Fe2+/Fe3+-related proteins. Analysis of the combined transcriptome data revealed consistent protein/mRNA expression trends for two metal metabolite-related proteins/genes [LOC109953912 and calcium Binding Protein 39 Like (cab39l)]. Notably, we detected significantly higher levels of Cu2+ during the sex change process, suggesting that Cu2+ is a male-related metal metabolite that may have an important function in male reproductive development. CONCLUSIONS In summary, we analyzed the protein profiles of ricefield eel gonadal tissues in five sexual stages (OV, IE, IM, IL, and TE) and verified the plausibility of the data. After preforming the functional enrichment of metal metabolite-related DEPs, we detected the contents of the metal metabolites Zn2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, and Fe2+/Fe3+ at these five stages and screened for (Cu-Zn) Sod1 and Mmp-9 as possible key proteins in the sex reversal process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi He
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
- Fish Resources and Environment in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Feng Xiao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Deying Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
- Fish Resources and Environment in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Faqiang Deng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Wenxiang Ding
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Zhide He
- Fish Resources and Environment in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Siqi Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Qiqi Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Haochen Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Mingqiang Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Kuo Gao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Jinxing Xiong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Ziting Tang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
- Fish Resources and Environment in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Mingwang Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
- Fish Resources and Environment in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Taiming Yan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
- Fish Resources and Environment in Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
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Roggenbuck EC, Hall EA, Hanson IB, Roby AA, Zhang KK, Alkatib KA, Carter JA, Clewner JE, Gelfius AL, Gong S, Gordon FR, Iseler JN, Kotapati S, Li M, Maysun A, McCormick EO, Rastogi G, Sengupta S, Uzoma CU, Wolkov MA, Clowney EJ. Let's talk about sex: Mechanisms of neural sexual differentiation in Bilateria. WIREs Mech Dis 2024; 16:e1636. [PMID: 38185860 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1636] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
In multicellular organisms, sexed gonads have evolved that facilitate release of sperm versus eggs, and bilaterian animals purposefully combine their gametes via mating behaviors. Distinct neural circuits have evolved that control these physically different mating events for animals producing eggs from ovaries versus sperm from testis. In this review, we will describe the developmental mechanisms that sexually differentiate neural circuits across three major clades of bilaterian animals-Ecdysozoa, Deuterosomia, and Lophotrochozoa. While many of the mechanisms inducing somatic and neuronal sex differentiation across these diverse organisms are clade-specific rather than evolutionarily conserved, we develop a common framework for considering the developmental logic of these events and the types of neuronal differences that produce sex-differentiated behaviors. This article is categorized under: Congenital Diseases > Stem Cells and Development Neurological Diseases > Stem Cells and Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Roggenbuck
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elijah A Hall
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Isabel B Hanson
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Alyssa A Roby
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Katherine K Zhang
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Kyle A Alkatib
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Joseph A Carter
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jarred E Clewner
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Anna L Gelfius
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Shiyuan Gong
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Finley R Gordon
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jolene N Iseler
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Samhita Kotapati
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Marilyn Li
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Areeba Maysun
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elise O McCormick
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Geetanjali Rastogi
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Srijani Sengupta
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chantal U Uzoma
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Madison A Wolkov
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - E Josephine Clowney
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute Affiliate, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Liang Y, Xian L, Pan J, Zhu K, Guo H, Liu B, Zhang N, Ou-Yang Y, Zhang Q, Zhang D. De Novo Genome Assembly of the Whitespot Parrotfish ( Scarus forsteni): A Valuable Scaridae Genomic Resource. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:249. [PMID: 38397238 PMCID: PMC10888354 DOI: 10.3390/genes15020249] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Scarus forsteni, a whitespot parrotfish from the Scaridae family, is a herbivorous fish inhabiting coral reef ecosystems. The deterioration of coral reefs has highly affected the habitats of the parrotfish. The decline in genetic diversity of parrotfish emphasizes the critical importance of conserving their genetic variability to ensure the resilience and sustainability of marine ecosystems for future generations. In this study, a genome of S. forsteni was assembled de novo through using Illumina and Nanopore sequencing. The 1.71-Gb genome of S. forsteni, was assembled into 544 contigs (assembly level: contig). It exhibited an N50 length of 17.97 Mb and a GC content percentage of 39.32%. Our BUSCO analysis revealed that the complete protein of the S. forsteni genome had 98.10% integrity. Combined with structure annotation data, 34,140 (74.81%) genes were functionally annotated out of 45,638 predicted protein-coding genes. Upon comparing the genome size and TE content of teleost fishes, a roughly linear relationship was observed between these two parameters. However, TE content is not a decisive factor in determining the genome size of S. forsteni. Population history analysis results indicate that S. forsteni experienced two major population expansions, both of which occurred before the last interglacial period. In addition, through a comparative genomic analysis of the evolutionary relationship of other species, it was found that S. forsteni had the closest relationship with Cheilinus undulatus, another member of the Labridae family. Our expansion and contraction analysis of the gene family showed that the expansion genes were mainly associated with immune diseases, organismal systems, and cellular processes. At the same time, cell transcription and translation, sex hormone regulation, and other related pathways were also more prominent in the positive selection genes. The genomic sequence of S. forsteni offers valuable resources for future investigations on the conservation, evolution, and behavior of fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liang
- Guangxi Marine Microbial Resources Industrialization Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Polysaccharide Materials and Modifications, School of Marine Sciences and Biotechnology, Guangxi Minzu University, 158 University Road, Nanning 530008, China
- Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Lin Xian
- Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya 572018, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineer Technology Research Center of Marine Biological Seed Industry, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Jinmin Pan
- Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Kecheng Zhu
- Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya 572018, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineer Technology Research Center of Marine Biological Seed Industry, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Huayang Guo
- Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya 572018, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineer Technology Research Center of Marine Biological Seed Industry, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Baosuo Liu
- Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya 572018, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineer Technology Research Center of Marine Biological Seed Industry, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya 572018, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineer Technology Research Center of Marine Biological Seed Industry, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Yan Ou-Yang
- Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Guangxi Marine Microbial Resources Industrialization Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Polysaccharide Materials and Modifications, School of Marine Sciences and Biotechnology, Guangxi Minzu University, 158 University Road, Nanning 530008, China
| | - Dianchang Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510300, China
- Sanya Tropical Fisheries Research Institute, Sanya 572018, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineer Technology Research Center of Marine Biological Seed Industry, Guangzhou 510300, China
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4
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Sun D, Yu H, Kong L, Liu S, Xu C, Li Q. The role of DNA methylation reprogramming during sex determination and sex reversal in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 259:128964. [PMID: 38219938 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
DNA methylation is instrumental in vertebrate sex reversal. However, the mechanism of DNA methylation regulation regarding sex reversal in invertebrates is unclear. In this study, we used whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to map single-base resolution methylation profiles of the Pacific oyster, including female-to-male (FMa-to-FMb) and male-to-female (MFa-to-MFb) sex reversal, as well as sex non-reversed males and females (MMa-to-MMb and FFa-to-FFb). The results showed that global DNA methylation levels increase during female-to-male sex reversals, with a particular increase in the proportion of high methylation levels (mCGs >0.75) and a decrease in the proportion of intermediate methylation levels (0.25 < mCGs <0.75). This increase in DNA methylation was mainly associated with the elevated expression of DNA methylase genes. Genome-wide methylation patterns of females were accurately remodeled to those of males after sex reversal, while the opposite was true for the male-to-female reversal. Those findings directly indicate that alterations in DNA methylation play a significant role in sex reversal in Pacific oysters. Comparative analysis of the DNA methylomes of pre- and post- sex reversal gonadal tissues (FMb-vs-FMa or MFb-vs-MFa) revealed that differentially methylated genes were mainly involved in the biological processes of sex determination or gonadal development. However critical genes such as Dmrt1, Foxl2 and Sox-like, which are involved in the putative sex determination pathway in Pacific oysters, showed almost an absence of methylation modifications, varying greatly from vertebrates. Additionally, comparative analysis of the DNA methylomes of sexual reversal and sex non-reversal (FMa-vs-FFa or MFa-vs-MMa) revealed that heat shock protein genes, such as Hsp68-like and Hsp70B, were important for the occurrence of sex reversal. These findings shed light on the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the maintenance of gonadal plasticity and the reversal of organ architecture in oysters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongfang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Lingfeng Kong
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Shikai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Chengxun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China.
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5
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Parker CG, Gruenhagen GW, Hegarty BE, Histed AR, Streelman JT, Rhodes JS, Johnson ZV. Adult sex change leads to extensive forebrain reorganization in clownfish. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.29.577753. [PMID: 38352560 PMCID: PMC10862741 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.29.577753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Sexual differentiation of the brain occurs in all major vertebrate lineages but is not well understood at a molecular and cellular level. Unlike most vertebrates, sex-changing fishes have the remarkable ability to change reproductive sex during adulthood in response to social stimuli, offering a unique opportunity to understand mechanisms by which the nervous system can initiate and coordinate sexual differentiation. This study explores sexual differentiation of the forebrain using single nucleus RNA-sequencing in the anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris, producing the first cellular atlas of a sex-changing brain. We uncover extensive sex differences in cell type-specific gene expression, relative proportions of cells, baseline neuronal excitation, and predicted inter-neuronal communication. Additionally, we identify the cholecystokinin, galanin, and estrogen systems as central molecular axes of sexual differentiation. Supported by these findings, we propose a model of neurosexual differentiation in the conserved vertebrate social decision-making network spanning multiple subtypes of neurons and glia, including neuronal subpopulations within the preoptic area that are positioned to regulate gonadal differentiation. This work deepens our understanding of sexual differentiation in the vertebrate brain and defines a rich suite of molecular and cellular pathways that differentiate during adult sex change in anemonefish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coltan G. Parker
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - George W. Gruenhagen
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Brianna E. Hegarty
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Abigail R. Histed
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Jeffrey T. Streelman
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Justin S. Rhodes
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Zachary V. Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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6
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Muñoz-Arroyo S, Guerrero-Tortolero DA, Hernández-Olalde L, Balart EF. Bidirectional sex-change behavior and physiological aspects in the Gorgeous goby Lythrypnus pulchellus (Gobiidae). JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2024; 104:184-205. [PMID: 37779354 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The Gorgeous goby Lythrypnus pulchellus shows extreme sexual plasticity with the bidirectional sex-change ability socially controlled in adults. Therefore, this study describes how the hierarchical status affects hormone synthesis through newborn hormone waste products in water and tests the influence of body size and social dominance establishment in sex reversal duration and direction. The associated changes in behavior and hormone levels are described under laboratory conditions in male-male and female-female pairs of similar and different body sizes, recording the changes until spawning. The status establishment occurred in a relatively shorter time period in male and female pairs of different sizes (1-3 days) compared to those of similar size (3-5 days), but the earlier one did not significantly affect the overall time of sex change (verified by pair spawning). The changes in gonads, hormones, and papilla occurred in sex-changer individuals, but the first one was observed in behavior. Courtship started at 3-5 days in male pairs and from 2 h to 1 day in female pairs of both groups of different and similar sizes. Hormones did not gradually move in the new sexual phenotype direction during the sex-change time course. Nonetheless, estradiol regulated sex change and 11-ketotestosterone enabled bidirectional sex change and was modulated by agonistic interactions. Cortisol is associated with status and gonadal sex change. In general, similar mechanisms underlie sex change in both directions with a temporal change sequence in phases. These results shed new light on sex-change mechanisms. Further studies should be performed to determine whether these localized changes exist in the steroid hormone synthesis along the brain-pituitary gonad axis during social and bidirectional sex changes in L. pulchellus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eduardo F Balart
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. (CIBNOR), La Paz, Mexico
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7
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Smiley KO, Munley KM, Aghi K, Lipshutz SE, Patton TM, Pradhan DS, Solomon-Lane TK, Sun SED. Sex diversity in the 21st century: Concepts, frameworks, and approaches for the future of neuroendocrinology. Horm Behav 2024; 157:105445. [PMID: 37979209 PMCID: PMC10842816 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Sex is ubiquitous and variable throughout the animal kingdom. Historically, scientists have used reductionist methodologies that rely on a priori sex categorizations, in which two discrete sexes are inextricably linked with gamete type. However, this binarized operationalization does not adequately reflect the diversity of sex observed in nature. This is due, in part, to the fact that sex exists across many levels of biological analysis, including genetic, molecular, cellular, morphological, behavioral, and population levels. Furthermore, the biological mechanisms governing sex are embedded in complex networks that dynamically interact with other systems. To produce the most accurate and scientifically rigorous work examining sex in neuroendocrinology and to capture the full range of sex variability and diversity present in animal systems, we must critically assess the frameworks, experimental designs, and analytical methods used in our research. In this perspective piece, we first propose a new conceptual framework to guide the integrative study of sex. Then, we provide practical guidance on research approaches for studying sex-associated variables, including factors to consider in study design, selection of model organisms, experimental methodologies, and statistical analyses. We invite fellow scientists to conscientiously apply these modernized approaches to advance our biological understanding of sex and to encourage academically and socially responsible outcomes of our work. By expanding our conceptual frameworks and methodological approaches to the study of sex, we will gain insight into the unique ways that sex exists across levels of biological organization to produce the vast array of variability and diversity observed in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina O Smiley
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 639 North Pleasant Street, Morrill IVN Neuroscience, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Kathleen M Munley
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 3695 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
| | - Krisha Aghi
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 405 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Sara E Lipshutz
- Department of Biology, Duke University, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Tessa M Patton
- Bioinformatics Program, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 West Sheridan Road, LSB 317, Chicago, IL 60660, USA.
| | - Devaleena S Pradhan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 South 8th Avenue, Mail Stop 8007, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA.
| | - Tessa K Solomon-Lane
- Scripps, Pitzer, Claremont McKenna Colleges, 925 North Mills Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711, USA.
| | - Simón E D Sun
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
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8
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Hou M, Wang Q, Zhao R, Cao Y, Zhang J, Sun X, Yu S, Wang K, Chen Y, Zhang Y, Li J. Analysis of Chromatin Accessibility and DNA Methylation to Reveal the Functions of Epigenetic Modifications in Cyprinus carpio Gonads. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:321. [PMID: 38203492 PMCID: PMC10778764 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010321] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications are critical in precisely regulating gene expression. The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is an economically important fish species, and females exhibit faster growth rates than males. However, the studies related to epigenetic modifications in the common carp gonads are limited. In this study, we conducted the Assay for Transposase Accessible Chromatin sequencing (ATAC-seq) and Bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) to explore the roles of epigenetic modifications in the common carp gonads. We identified 84,207 more accessible regions and 77,922 less accessible regions in ovaries compared to testes, and some sex-biased genes showed differential chromatin accessibility in their promoter regions, such as sox9a and zp3. Motif enrichment analysis showed that transcription factors (TFs) associated with embryonic development and cell proliferation were heavily enriched in ovaries, and the TFs Foxl2 and SF1 were only identified in ovaries. We also analyzed the possible regulations between chromatin accessibility and gene expression. By BS-seq, we identified 2087 promoter differentially methylated genes (promoter-DMGs) and 5264 gene body differentially methylated genes (genebody-DMGs) in CG contexts. These genebody-DMGs were significantly enriched in the Wnt signaling pathway, TGF-beta signaling pathway, and GnRH signaling pathway, indicating that methylation in gene body regions could play an essential role in sex maintenance, just like methylation in promoter regions. Combined with transcriptomes, we revealed that the expression of dmrtb1-like, spag6, and fels was negatively correlated with their methylation levels in promoter regions. Our study on the epigenetic modifications of gonads contributes to elucidating the molecular mechanism of sex differentiation and sex maintenance in the common carp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxi Hou
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing 100141, China; (M.H.); (Q.W.); (R.Z.); (Y.C.); (J.Z.); (X.S.); (S.Y.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Qi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing 100141, China; (M.H.); (Q.W.); (R.Z.); (Y.C.); (J.Z.); (X.S.); (S.Y.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Ran Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing 100141, China; (M.H.); (Q.W.); (R.Z.); (Y.C.); (J.Z.); (X.S.); (S.Y.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yiming Cao
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing 100141, China; (M.H.); (Q.W.); (R.Z.); (Y.C.); (J.Z.); (X.S.); (S.Y.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Jin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing 100141, China; (M.H.); (Q.W.); (R.Z.); (Y.C.); (J.Z.); (X.S.); (S.Y.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Xiaoqing Sun
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing 100141, China; (M.H.); (Q.W.); (R.Z.); (Y.C.); (J.Z.); (X.S.); (S.Y.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Shuangting Yu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing 100141, China; (M.H.); (Q.W.); (R.Z.); (Y.C.); (J.Z.); (X.S.); (S.Y.); (Y.Z.)
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Kaikuo Wang
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; (K.W.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yingjie Chen
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; (K.W.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing 100141, China; (M.H.); (Q.W.); (R.Z.); (Y.C.); (J.Z.); (X.S.); (S.Y.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Jiongtang Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Fishery Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Beijing 100141, China; (M.H.); (Q.W.); (R.Z.); (Y.C.); (J.Z.); (X.S.); (S.Y.); (Y.Z.)
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9
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Tamagawa K, Sunobe T, Makino T, Kawata M. Transcriptomic signatures associated with underlying rapid changes in the early phase brain of bi-directional sex change in Trimma okinawae. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:231450. [PMID: 38077214 PMCID: PMC10698487 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Teleost fish exhibit remarkable sexual plasticity and divergent developmental systems, including sequential hermaphroditism. One of the more fascinating models of sexual plasticity is socially controlled sex change, which is often observed in coral reef fish. The Okinawa rubble goby, Trimma okinawae, is a bi-directional sex-changing fish. It can rapidly change sex in either direction based on social circumstances. Although behavioural and neuroendocrine sex change occurs immediately and is believed to trigger gonadal changes, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a de novo transcriptome analysis of the T. okinawae brain and identified genes that are differentially expressed between the sexes and genes that were immediately controlled by social stimulation implicating sex change. Several genes showed concordant expression shifts regardless of the sex change direction and were associated with histone modification in nerve cells. These genes are known to function in the neuroendocrine control of reproduction in nerve cells. Overall, we identified genes associated with the initiation of sex change, which provides insight into the regulation of sex change and sexual plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsunori Tamagawa
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Tomoki Sunobe
- Laboratory of Fish Behavioral Ecology, Tateyama Station, Field Science Center, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 670 Banda, Tateyama, Chiba 294-0308, Japan
| | - Takashi Makino
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Masakado Kawata
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
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10
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Luong K, Bernardo MF, Lindstrom M, Alluri RK, Rose GJ. Brain regions controlling courtship behavior in the bluehead wrasse. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4937-4949.e3. [PMID: 37898122 PMCID: PMC10764105 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.003] [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: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Bluehead wrasses (Thalassoma bifasciatum) follow a socially controlled mechanism of sex determination. A socially dominant initial-phase (IP) female is able to transform into a new terminal-phase (TP) male if the resident TP male is no longer present. TP males display an elaborate array of courtship behaviors, including both color changes and motor behaviors. Little is known concerning the neural circuits that control male-typical courtship behaviors. This study used glutamate iontophoresis to identify regions that may be involved in courtship. Stimulation of the following brain regions elicited diverse types of color change responses, many of which appear similar to courtship color changes: the ventral telencephalon (supracommissural nucleus of the ventral telencephalon [Vs], lateral nucleus of the ventral telencephalon [Vl], ventral nucleus of the ventral telencephalon [Vv], and dorsal nucleus of the ventral telencephalon [Vd]), parts of the preoptic area (NPOmg and NPOpc), entopeduncular nucleus, habenular nucleus, and pretectal nuclei (PSi and PSm). Stimulation of two regions in the posterior thalamus (central posterior thalamic [CP] and dorsal posterior thalamic [DP]) caused movements of the pectoral fins that are similar to courtship fluttering and vibrations. Furthermore, these responses were elicited in female IP fish, indicating that circuits for sexual behaviors typical of TP males exist in females. Immunohistochemistry results revealed regions that are more active in fish that are not courting: interpeduncular nucleus, red nucleus, and ventrolateral thalamus (VL). Taken together, we propose that the telencephalic-habenular-interpeduncular pathway plays an important role in controlling and regulating courtship behaviors in TP males; in this model, in response to telencephalic input, the habenular nucleus inhibits the interpeduncular nucleus, thereby dis-inhibiting forebrain regions and promoting the expression of courtship behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyphuong Luong
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - Madeline F Bernardo
- School of Medicine, University of Utah, 30 N 1900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Michael Lindstrom
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, 101 Northern Blvd, Glen Head, NY 11545, USA
| | - Rishi K Alluri
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Gary J Rose
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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11
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Yu Y, Chen M, Shen ZG. Molecular biological, physiological, cytological, and epigenetic mechanisms of environmental sex differentiation in teleosts: A systematic review. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 267:115654. [PMID: 37918334 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115654] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Human activities have been exerting widespread stress and environmental risks in aquatic ecosystems. Environmental stress, including temperature rise, acidification, hypoxia, light pollution, and crowding, had a considerable negative impact on the life histology of aquatic animals, especially on sex differentiation (SDi) and the resulting sex ratios. Understanding how the sex of fish responds to stressful environments is of great importance for understanding the origin and maintenance of sex, the dynamics of the natural population in the changing world, and the precise application of sex control in aquaculture. This review conducted an exhaustive search of the available literature on the influence of environmental stress (ES) on SDi. Evidence has shown that all types of ES can affect SDi and universally result in an increase in males or masculinization, which has been reported in 100 fish species and 121 cases. Then, this comprehensive review aimed to summarize the molecular biology, physiology, cytology, and epigenetic mechanisms through which ES contributes to male development or masculinization. The relationship between ES and fish SDi from multiple aspects was analyzed, and it was found that environmental sex differentiation (ESDi) is the result of the combined effects of genetic and epigenetic factors, self-physiological regulation, and response to environmental signals, which involves a sophisticated network of various hormones and numerous genes at multiple levels and multiple gradations in bipotential gonads. In both normal male differentiation and ES-induced masculinization, the stress pathway and epigenetic regulation play important roles; however, how they co-regulate SDi is unclear. Evidence suggests that the universal emergence or increase in males in aquatic animals is an adaptation to moderate ES. ES-induced sex reversal should be fully investigated in more fish species and extensively in the wild. The potential aquaculture applications and difficulties associated with ESDi have also been addressed. Finally, the knowledge gaps in the ESDi are presented, which will guide the priorities of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yu
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Min Chen
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Zhi-Gang Shen
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
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12
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Adolfi MC, Depincé A, Wen M, Pan Q, Herpin A. Development of Ovaries and Sex Change in Fish: Bringing Potential into Action. Sex Dev 2023; 17:84-98. [PMID: 36878204 DOI: 10.1159/000526008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Encompassing about half of the 60,000 species of vertebrates, fish display the greatest diversity of sex determination mechanisms among metazoans. As such that phylum offers a unique playground to study the impressive variety of gonadal morphogenetic strategies, ranging from gonochorism, with either genetic or environmental sex determination, to unisexuality, with either simultaneous or consecutive hermaphroditism. SUMMARY From the two main types of gonads, the ovaries embrace the important role to produce the larger and non-motile gametes, which is the basis for the development of a future organism. The production of the egg cells is complex and involves the formation of follicular cells, which are necessary for the maturation of the oocytes and the production of feminine hormones. In this vein, our review focuses on the development of ovaries in fish with special emphasis on the germ cells, including those that transition from one sex to the other as part of their life cycle and those that are capable of transitioning to the opposite sex depending on environmental cues. KEY MESSAGES Clearly, establishing an individual as either a female or a male is not accomplished by the sole development of two types of gonads. In most cases, that dichotomy, be it final or transient, is accompanied by coordinated transformations across the entire organism, leading to changes in the physiological sex as a whole. These coordinated transformations require both molecular and neuroendocrine networks, but also anatomical and behavioural adjustments. Remarkably, fish managed to tame the ins and outs of sex reversal mechanisms to take the most advantages of changing sex as adaptive strategies in some situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus Contar Adolfi
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Ming Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiaowei Pan
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Amaury Herpin
- Fish Physiology and Genomics, INRAE, UR 1037, Rennes, France
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13
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Parker CG, Craig SE, Histed AR, Lee JS, Ibanez E, Pronitcheva V, Rhodes JS. New cells added to the preoptic area during sex change in the common clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 333:114185. [PMID: 36509136 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in cell number in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus (POA) are documented across all major vertebrate lineages and contribute to differential regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis and reproductive behavior between the sexes. Sex-changing fishes provide a unique opportunity to study mechanisms underlying sexual differentiation of the POA. In anemonefish (clownfish), which change sex from male to female, females have approximately twice the number of medium-sized cells in the anterior POA compared to males. This sex difference transitions from male-like to female-like during sex change. However, it is not known how this sex difference in POA cell number is established. This study tests the hypothesis that new cell addition plays a role. We initiated adult male-to-female sex change in 30 anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) and administered BrdU to label new cells added to the POA at regular intervals throughout sex change. Sex-changing fish added more new cells to the anterior POA than non-changing fish, supporting the hypothesis. The observed effects could be accounted for by differences in POA volume, but they are also consistent with a steady trickle of new cells being gradually accumulated in the anterior POA before vitellogenic oocytes develop in the gonads. These results provide insight into the unique characteristics of protandrous sex change in anemonefish relative to other modes of sex change, and support the potential for future research in sex-changing fishes to provide a richer understanding of the mechanisms for sexual differentiation of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coltan G Parker
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Sarah E Craig
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Abigail R Histed
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joanne S Lee
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Emma Ibanez
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Veronica Pronitcheva
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Justin S Rhodes
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 603 E Daniel St, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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14
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Li S, Li W, Jiang S, Jing Y, Xiao L, Yu Y, Liu Y, Li Y, Wang D, Li J, Peng C, Chen J, Lu D, Wu B, Guang X, Ma J, You X, Yang Y, Liu S, Fang X, Gao Q, Shi Q, Lin H, Schartl M, Yue Z, Zhang Y. Mechanisms of sex differentiation and sex reversal in hermaphrodite fish as revealed by the Epinephelus coioides genome. Mol Ecol Resour 2023; 23:920-932. [PMID: 36631404 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Most grouper species are functional protogynous hermaphrodites, but the genetic basis and the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of this unique reproductive strategy remain enigmatic. In this study, we report a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of the representative orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). No duplication or deletion of sex differentiation-related genes was found in the genome, suggesting that sex development in this grouper may be related to changes in regulatory sequences or environmental factors. Transcriptomic analyses showed that aromatase and retinoic acid are probably critical to promoting ovarian fate determination, and follicle-stimulating hormone triggers the female-to-male sex change. Socially controlled sex-change studies revealed that, in sex-changing fish, the brain's response to the social environment may be mediated by activation of the phototransduction cascade and the melatonin synthesis pathway. In summary, our genomic and experimental results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of sex differentiation and sex change in the protogynous groupers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuisheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | | | - Shoujia Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yi Jing
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,BGI-Sanya, BGI-Shenzhen, Sanya, China
| | - Ling Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Yun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanhong Li
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dengdong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiang Li
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaxing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Danqi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Wu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Junping Ma
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinxin You
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuqing Yang
- Marine Fisheries Development Center of Guangdong Province, Huizhou, China
| | - Su Liu
- Marine Fisheries Development Center of Guangdong Province, Huizhou, China
| | | | - Qiang Gao
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiong Shi
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haoran Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Developmental Biochemistry, University of Würzburg, Biozentrum, Am Hubland, Würzburg, and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Clinic Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Hagler Institute for Advanced Study and Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Zhen Yue
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China.,BGI-Sanya, BGI-Shenzhen, Sanya, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
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15
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Fan M, Yang W, Zhang W, Zhang L. The ontogenic gonadal transcriptomes provide insights into sex change in the ricefield eel Monopterus albus. BMC ZOOL 2022; 7:56. [PMID: 37170354 PMCID: PMC10127409 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-022-00155-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ricefield eel is a freshwater protogynous hermaphrodite fish and has become an important aquaculture species in China. The sex change of ricefield eel is impeding its aquaculture practice, particularly the large-scale artificial breeding. Many studies including transcriptomes of mixed gonadal samples from different individuals have been aimed to elucidate mechanisms underlying the sex change. However, the key physiological factors involved in the initiation of sex change remain to be identified. RESULTS: The present study performed transcriptomic analysis on gonadal samples of different sexual stages obtained through biopsy from the same fish undergoing sex change. A total of 539,764,816 high-quality reads were generated from twelve cDNA libraries of gonadal tissues at female (F), early intersexual (EI), mid-intersexual (MI), and late intersexual (LI) stages of three individual sex-changing fish. Pairwise comparisons between EI and F, MI and EI, and LI and MI identified 886, 319, and 10,767 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. Realtime quantitative PCR analysis of 12 representative DEGs showed similar expression profiles to those inferred from transcriptome data, suggesting the reliability of RNA-seq data for gene expression analysis. The expression of apoeb, csl2, and enpp2 was dramatically increased and peaked at EI while that of cyp19a1a, wnt4a, fgf16, and foxl2a significantly downregulated from F to EI and remained at very low levels during subsequent development until LI, which suggests that apoeb, csl2, enpp2, cyp19a1a, wnt4a, fgf16, and foxl2a may be closely associated with the initiation of sex change of ricefield eels. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, results of the present study confirmed that the down-regulation of female-related genes, such as cyp19a1a, wnt4a, fgf16, and foxl2a, is important for the sex change of ricefield eels. More importantly, some novel genes, including apoeb, csl2, and enpp2, were shown to be expressed with peak values at EI, which are potentially involved in the initiation of sex change. The present transcriptomic data may provide an important research resource for further unraveling the mechanisms underlying the sex change and testicular development in ricefield eels as well as other teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Fan
- Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Yang
- Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Present address: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Weimin Zhang
- Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
- Biology Department, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lihong Zhang
- Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
- Biology Department, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Schacht R, Beissinger SR, Wedekind C, Jennions MD, Geffroy B, Liker A, Kappeler PM, Weissing FJ, Kramer KL, Hesketh T, Boissier J, Uggla C, Hollingshaus M, Székely T. Adult sex ratios: causes of variation and implications for animal and human societies. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1273. [PMID: 36402823 PMCID: PMC9675760 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04223-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Converging lines of inquiry from across the social and biological sciences target the adult sex ratio (ASR; the proportion of males in the adult population) as a fundamental population-level determinant of behavior. The ASR, which indicates the relative number of potential mates to competitors in a population, frames the selective arena for competition, mate choice, and social interactions. Here we review a growing literature, focusing on methodological developments that sharpen knowledge of the demographic variables underlying ASR variation, experiments that enhance understanding of the consequences of ASR imbalance across societies, and phylogenetic analyses that provide novel insights into social evolution. We additionally highlight areas where research advances are expected to make accelerating contributions across the social sciences, evolutionary biology, and biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Schacht
- grid.255364.30000 0001 2191 0423Department of Anthropology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC USA
| | - Steven R. Beissinger
- grid.47840.3f0000 0001 2181 7878Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Claus Wedekind
- grid.9851.50000 0001 2165 4204Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael D. Jennions
- grid.1001.00000 0001 2180 7477Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, Canberra 2601 Australia
| | - Benjamin Geffroy
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - András Liker
- grid.7336.10000 0001 0203 5854ELKH-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, 8210 Veszprém, Hungary ,grid.7336.10000 0001 0203 5854Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia, 8210 Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Peter M. Kappeler
- grid.418215.b0000 0000 8502 7018Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute of Primate Biology, 37077 Göttingen, Germany ,grid.7450.60000 0001 2364 4210Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Franz J. Weissing
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Karen L. Kramer
- grid.223827.e0000 0001 2193 0096Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| | - Therese Hesketh
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Global Health, University College London, London, UK ,grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XCentre for Global Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jérôme Boissier
- grid.4444.00000 0001 2112 9282IHPE Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ Montpellier, Perpignan, France
| | - Caroline Uggla
- grid.10548.380000 0004 1936 9377Stockholm University Demography Unit, Sociology Department, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mike Hollingshaus
- grid.223827.e0000 0001 2193 0096Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| | - Tamás Székely
- grid.7340.00000 0001 2162 1699Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY UK ,grid.7122.60000 0001 1088 8582ELKH-DE Reproductive Strategies Research Group, Department of Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
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17
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DiBona E, Haley C, Geist S, Seemann F. Developmental Polyethylene Microplastic Fiber Exposure Entails Subtle Reproductive Impacts in Juvenile Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:2848-2858. [PMID: 35942914 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution has been recognized as a potential threat to environmental and human health. Recent studies have shown that microplastics reside in all ecosystems and contaminate human food/water sources. Microplastic exposure has been shown to result in adverse effects related to endocrine disruption; however, data are limited regarding how exposure to current environmental levels of microplastics during development may impact reproductive health. To determine the impact of environmentally relevant, chronic, low-dose microplastic fibers on fish reproductive health, juvenile Japanese medaka were exposed to five concentrations of polyethylene fibers for 21 days, and reproductive maturity was examined to assess the later life consequences. Fecundity, fertility, and hatching rate were evaluated to determine the organismal level impacts. Gonadal tissue integrity and stage were assessed to provide insights into potential tissue level changes. Expression of key reproductive genes in male and female gonads provided a molecular level assessment. A significant delay in hatching was observed, indicating cross-generational and organismal level impacts. A significant decrease in 11-beta-dehydrogenase isozyme 2 (HSD11 β 2) gene expression in male medaka indicated adverse effects at the molecular level. A decrease in male expression of HSD11 β 2 could have an impact on sperm quality because this enzyme is crucial for conversion of testosterone into the androgen 11-ketotestosterone. Our study is one of the first to demonstrate subtle impacts of virgin microplastic exposure during development on later life reproductive health. The results suggest a possible risk of polyethylene fiber exposure for wild fish during reproductive development, and populations should be monitored closely, specifically in spawning and nursery regions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2848-2858. © 2022 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth DiBona
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
| | - Carol Haley
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
| | - Simon Geist
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
| | - Frauke Seemann
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
- Department of Life Sciences, Center for Coastal and Marine Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
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18
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Corona-Herrera GA, Navarrete-Ramírez P, Sanchez-Flores FA, Jimenez-Jacinto V, Martínez-Palacios CA, Palomera-Sánchez Z, Volkoff H, Martínez-Chávez CC. Shining light on the transcriptome: Molecular regulatory networks leading to a fast-growth phenotype by continuous light in an environmentally sensitive teleost (Atherinopsidae). JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2022; 235:112550. [PMID: 36049383 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2022.112550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Photoperiod can profoundly affect the physiology of teleost fish, including accelerated growth here defined as "fast growth phenotypes". However, molecular regulatory networks (MRNs) and biological processes being affected by continuous illumination and which allow some teleost species evident plasticity to thrive under this condition are not yet clear. Therefore, to provide a broad perspective of such mechanisms, Chirostoma estor fish were raised and sampled for growth under a simulated control (LD) 12 h Light: 12 h Dark or a continuous illumination (LL) 24 h Light: 0 h Dark since fertilization. The experiment lasted 12 weeks after hatching (wah), the time at which fish were sampled for growth, length, and whole-body cortisol levels. Additionally, 3 heads of fish from each treatment were used to perform a de novo transcriptome analysis using Next-Generation Sequencing. Fish in LL developed the fast growth phenotype with significant differences visible at 4 wah and gained 66% more mass by 12 wah than LD fish. Cortisol levels under LL were below basal levels at all times compared to fish in LD, suggesting circadian dysregulation effects. A strong effect of LL was observed in samples with a generalized down-regulation of genes except for Reactive Oxygen Species responses, genome stability, and growth biological processes. To our knowledge, this work is the first study using a transcriptomic approach to understand environmentally sensitive MRNs that mediate phenotypic plasticity in fish submitted to continuous illumination. This study gives new insights into the plasticity mechanisms of teleost fish under constant illumination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo A Corona-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Acuícola, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales (IIAF), Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán 58330, Mexico
| | - Pamela Navarrete-Ramírez
- CONACYT-Laboratorio de Biotecnología Acuícola, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales (IIAF), Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
| | - F Alejandro Sanchez-Flores
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática del Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Verónica Jimenez-Jacinto
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática del Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Carlos A Martínez-Palacios
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Acuícola, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales (IIAF), Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán 58330, Mexico
| | - Zoraya Palomera-Sánchez
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán 58330, Mexico
| | - Helene Volkoff
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's A1B3X9, Canada
| | - C Cristian Martínez-Chávez
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Acuícola, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales (IIAF), Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán 58330, Mexico.
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19
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Patalano S, Alsina A, Gregorio-Rodríguez C, Bachman M, Dreier S, Hernando-Herraez I, Nana P, Balasubramanian S, Sumner S, Reik W, Rulands S. Self-organization of plasticity and specialization in a primitively social insect. Cell Syst 2022; 13:768-779.e4. [PMID: 36044898 PMCID: PMC9512265 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Biological systems have the capacity to not only build and robustly maintain complex structures but also to rapidly break up and rebuild such structures. Here, using primitive societies of Polistes wasps, we show that both robust specialization and rapid plasticity are emergent properties of multi-scale dynamics. We combine theory with experiments that, after perturbing the social structure by removing the queen, correlate time-resolved multi-omics with video recordings. We show that the queen-worker dimorphism relies on the balance between the development of a molecular queen phenotype in all insects and colony-scale inhibition of this phenotype via asymmetric interactions. This allows Polistes to be stable against intrinsic perturbations of molecular states while reacting plastically to extrinsic cues affecting the whole society. Long-term stability of the social structure is reinforced by dynamic DNA methylation. Our study provides a general principle of how both specialization and plasticity can be achieved in biological systems. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solenn Patalano
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK.
| | - Adolfo Alsina
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Noethnitzer Str. 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany
| | - Carlos Gregorio-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Sistemas Informáticos y Computación, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza de Ciencias, 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Martin Bachman
- Discovery Science and Technology, Medicines Discovery Catapult, Alderley Park, Cheshire SK10 4GT, UK; Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge CB2 ORE, UK; Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Stephanie Dreier
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | | | - Paulin Nana
- Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, School of Wood, Water and Natural Resources, University of Dschang, Ebolowa Campus, P.O. Box 786, Ebolowa, Cameroon
| | - Shankar Balasubramanian
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge CB2 ORE, UK; Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB2 0SP, Cambridge, UK
| | - Seirian Sumner
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics Evolution and Environment, Division of Biosciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Wolf Reik
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK; Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK.
| | - Steffen Rulands
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Noethnitzer Str. 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany; Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Pfotenhauer Str. 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
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20
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Holt WV, Comizzoli P. Conservation Biology and Reproduction in a Time of Developmental Plasticity. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1297. [PMID: 36139136 PMCID: PMC9496186 DOI: 10.3390/biom12091297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this review is to ask whether, and how, principles in conservation biology may need to be revisited in light of new knowledge about the power of epigenetics to alter developmental pathways. Importantly, conservation breeding programmes, used widely by zoological parks and aquariums, may appear in some cases to reduce fitness by decreasing animals' abilities to cope when confronted with the 'wild side' of their natural habitats. Would less comfortable captive conditions lead to the selection of individuals that, despite being adapted to life in a captive environment, be better able to thrive if relocated to a more natural environment? While threatened populations may benefit from advanced reproductive technologies, these may actually induce undesirable epigenetic changes. Thus, there may be inherent risks to the health and welfare of offspring (as is suspected in humans). Advanced breeding technologies, especially those that aim to regenerate the rarest species using stem cell reprogramming and artificial gametes, may also lead to unwanted epigenetic modifications. Current knowledge is still incomplete, and therefore ethical decisions about novel breeding methods remain controversial and difficult to resolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- William V. Holt
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, The Medical School Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Pierre Comizzoli
- Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC 20008, USA
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21
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Goikoetxea A, Todd EV, Muncaster S, Lokman PM, Thomas JT, Robertson HA, De Farias e Moraes CE, Gemmell NJ. Effects of cortisol on female-to-male sex change in a wrasse. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273779. [PMID: 36048785 PMCID: PMC9436091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273779] [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: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex change occurs as a usual part of the life cycle for many teleost fish and the modifications involved (behavioural, gonadal, morphological) are well studied. However, the mechanism that transduces environmental cues into the molecular cascade that underlies this transformation remains unknown. Cortisol, the main stress hormone in fish, is hypothesised to be a key factor linking environmental stimuli with sex change by initiating gene expression changes that shift steroidogenesis from oestrogens to androgens but this notion remains to be rigorously tested. Therefore, this study aimed to experimentally test the role of cortisol as an initiator of sex change in a protogynous (female-to-male) hermaphrodite, the New Zealand spotty wrasse (Notolabrus celidotus). We also sought to identify potential key regulatory factors within the head kidney that may contribute to the initiation and progression of gonadal sex change. Cortisol pellets were implanted into female spotty wrasses under inhibitory conditions (presence of a male), and outside of the optimal season for natural sex change. Histological analysis of the gonads and sex hormone analyses found no evidence of sex change after 71 days of cortisol treatment. However, expression analyses of sex and stress-associated genes in gonad and head kidney suggested that cortisol administration did have a physiological effect. In the gonad, this included upregulation of amh, a potent masculinising factor, and nr3c1, a glucocorticoid receptor. In the head kidney, hsd11b2, which converts cortisol to inactive cortisone to maintain cortisol balance, was upregulated. Overall, our results suggest cortisol administration outside of the optimal sex change window is unable to initiate gonadal restructuring. However, our expression data imply key sex and stress genes are sensitive to cortisol. This includes genes expressed in both gonad and head kidney that have been previously implicated in early sex change in several sex-changing species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Goikoetxea
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- * E-mail:
| | - Erica V. Todd
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Simon Muncaster
- Environmental Management Group, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tauranga, New Zealand
- School of Science, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | - P. Mark Lokman
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jodi T. Thomas
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Holly A. Robertson
- Environmental Management Group, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | | | - Neil J. Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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22
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Parker CG, Lee JS, Histed AR, Craig SE, Rhodes JS. Stable and persistent male-like behavior during male-to-female sex change in the common clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris. Horm Behav 2022; 145:105239. [PMID: 35926412 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Many fish species exhibit natural sex change as part of their life, providing unique opportunities to study sexually-differentiated social behaviors and their plasticity. Past research has shown that behavioral sex change in the female-to-male (protogynous) direction occurs rapidly and well before gonadal sex change. However, little is known about the timecourse of behavioral sex change in male-to-female (protandrous) sex-changing species, limiting our ability to compare patterns of behavioral sex change across species and identify conserved or divergent underlying mechanisms. Using the protandrous sex changing anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris, we assessed behavior (aggression and parental care) and hormones (estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone) in fish over six months of sex change, and compared those fish against their non-changing partners as well as control males and females. Contrary to expectations, we found that sex-changing fish displayed behavior that was persistently male-like, and that their behavior did not become progressively female-like as sex change progressed. Hormones shifted to an intermediate profile between males and females and remained stable until gonads changed. These results support a new perspective that the timecourse for protandrous sex change in anemonefish is completely distinct from other well-established models, such that behavioral sex change does not occur until after gonadal sex change is complete, and that sex-changing fish have a stable and unique behavioral and hormonal phenotype that is distinct from a male-typical or female-typical phenotype. The results also identify aspects of sex change that may fundamentally differ between protandrous and protogynous modes, motivating further research into these remarkable examples of phenotypic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coltan G Parker
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Joanne S Lee
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Abigail R Histed
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Sarah E Craig
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Justin S Rhodes
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA.
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23
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Goikoetxea A, Servili A, Houdelet C, Mouchel O, Hermet S, Clota F, Aerts J, Fernandino JI, Allal F, Vandeputte M, Blondeau-Bidet E, Geffroy B. Natural cortisol production is not linked to the sexual fate of European sea bass. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2022; 48:1117-1135. [PMID: 35917042 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-022-01104-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between cortisol and the determination of sexual fate in the commercially important European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). To test our hypothesis, we designed two temperature-based experiments (19 ℃, 21 ℃ and 23 ℃, experiment 1; 16 ℃ and 21 ℃, experiment 2) to assess the effects of these thermal treatments on European sea bass sex determination and differentiation. In the fish from the first experiment, we evaluated whether blood cortisol levels and expression of stress key regulatory genes were different between differentiating (149 to 183 dph) males and females. In the second experiment, we assessed whether cortisol accumulated in scales over time during the labile period for sex determination as well as the neuroanatomical localisation of brain cells expressing brain aromatase (cyp19a1b) and corticotropin-releasing factor (crf) differed between males and females undergoing molecular sex differentiation (117 to 124 dph). None of the gathered results allowed to detect differences between males and females regarding cortisol production and regulatory mechanisms. Altogether, our data provide strong physiological, molecular and histochemical evidence, indicating that in vivo cortisol regulation has no major effects on the sex of European sea bass.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arianna Servili
- Ifremer, IFREMER, Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, 29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Camille Houdelet
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - Olivier Mouchel
- Ifremer, IFREMER, Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, 29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Sophie Hermet
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Fréderic Clota
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Johan Aerts
- Stress Physiology Research Group, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ostend, Belgium
| | | | - François Allal
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - Marc Vandeputte
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Benjamin Geffroy
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
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24
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Dunleavy JEM, Dinh DT, Filby CE, Green E, Hofstee P, Pini T, Rivers N, Skerrett-Byrne DA, Wijayarathna R, Winstanley YE, Zhou W, Richani D. Reproductive biology research down under: highlights from the Australian and New Zealand Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, 2021. Reprod Fertil Dev 2022; 34:855-866. [PMID: 35836362 DOI: 10.1071/rd22115] [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: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Against the backdrop of a global pandemic, the Society for Reproductive Biology (SRB) 2021 meeting reunited the Australian and New Zealand reproductive research community for the first time since 2019 and was the first virtual SRB meeting. Despite the recent global research disruptions, the conference revealed significant advancements in reproductive research, the importance of which span human health, agriculture, and conservation. A core theme was novel technologies, including the use of medical microrobots for therapeutic and sperm delivery, diagnostic hyperspectral imaging, and hydrogel condoms with potential beyond contraception. The importance of challenging the contraceptive status quo was further highlighted with innovations in gene therapies, non-hormonal female contraceptives, epigenetic semen analysis, and in applying evolutionary theory to suppress pest population reproduction. How best to support pregnancies, particularly in the context of global trends of increasing maternal age, was also discussed, with several promising therapies for improved outcomes in assisted reproductive technology, pre-eclampsia, and pre-term birth prevention. The unique insights gained via non-model species was another key focus and presented research emphasised the importance of studying diverse systems to understand fundamental aspects of reproductive biology and evolution. Finally, the meeting highlighted how to effectively translate reproductive research into policy and industry practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E M Dunleavy
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia
| | - Doan Thao Dinh
- Robinson Research Institute, School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
| | - Caitlin E Filby
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia
| | - Ella Green
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
| | - Pierre Hofstee
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Taylor Pini
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia
| | - Nicola Rivers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia
| | - David A Skerrett-Byrne
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; and Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Rukmali Wijayarathna
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia; and Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3800, Australia
| | - Yasmyn E Winstanley
- Robinson Research Institute, School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia; and Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia
| | - Dulama Richani
- Fertility & Research Centre, School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
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Wang W, Tan S, Yang Y, Zhou T, Xing D, Su B, Wang J, Li S, Shang M, Gao D, Dunham R, Liu Z. Feminization of channel catfish with 17β-oestradiol involves methylation and expression of a specific set of genes independent of the sex determination region. Epigenetics 2022; 17:1820-1837. [PMID: 35703353 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2086725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Exogenous oestrogen 17β-oestradiol (E2) has been shown to effectively induce feminization in teleosts. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the process remain unclear. Here, we determined global DNA methylation and gene expression profiles of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) during early sex differentiation after E2 treatment. Overall, the levels of global DNA methylation after E2 treatment were not significantly different from those of controls. However, a specific set of genes were differentially methylated, which included many sex differentiation-related pathways, such as MARK signalling, adrenergic signalling, Wnt signalling, GnRH signalling, ErbB signalling, and ECM-receptor interactions. Many genes involved in these pathways were also differentially expressed after E2 treatment. Specifically, E2 treatments resulted in upregulation of female-related genes and downregulation of male-related genes in genetic males during sex reversal. However, E2-induced sex reversal did not cause sex-specific changes in methylation profiles or gene expression within the sex determination region (SDR) on chromosome 4, suggesting that E2-induced sex reversal was a downstream process independent of the sex determination process that was regulated by sex-specific methylation within the SDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Wang
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Suxu Tan
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Yujia Yang
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Tao Zhou
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - De Xing
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Baofeng Su
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Jinhai Wang
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Shangjia Li
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Mei Shang
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Dongya Gao
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Rex Dunham
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Zhanjiang Liu
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
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Li XY, Mei J, Ge CT, Liu XL, Gui JF. Sex determination mechanisms and sex control approaches in aquaculture animals. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 65:1091-1122. [PMID: 35583710 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-021-2075-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Aquaculture is one of the most efficient modes of animal protein production and plays an important role in global food security. Aquaculture animals exhibit extraordinarily diverse sexual phenotypes and underlying mechanisms, providing an ideal system to perform sex determination research, one of the important areas in life science. Moreover, sex is also one of the most valuable traits because sexual dimorphism in growth, size, and other economic characteristics commonly exist in aquaculture animals. Here, we synthesize current knowledge of sex determination mechanisms, sex chromosome evolution, reproduction strategies, and sexual dimorphism, and also review several approaches for sex control in aquaculture animals, including artificial gynogenesis, application of sex-specific or sex chromosome-linked markers, artificial sex reversal, as well as gene editing. We anticipate that better understanding of sex determination mechanisms and innovation of sex control approaches will facilitate sustainable development of aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Yin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jie Mei
- College of Fisheries, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Chu-Tian Ge
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Xiao-Li Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, China
| | - Jian-Fang Gui
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
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Developmental dynamics of sex reprogramming by high incubation temperatures in a dragon lizard. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:322. [PMID: 35459109 PMCID: PMC9034607 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08544-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In some vertebrate species, gene-environment interactions can determine sex, driving bipotential gonads to differentiate into either ovaries or testes. In the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), the genetic influence of sex chromosomes (ZZ/ZW) can be overridden by high incubation temperatures, causing ZZ male to female sex reversal. Previous research showed ovotestes, a rare gonadal phenotype with traits of both sexes, develop during sex reversal, leading to the hypothesis that sex reversal relies on high temperature feminisation to outcompete the male genetic cue. To test this, we conducted temperature switching experiments at key developmental stages, and analysed the effect on gonadal phenotypes using histology and transcriptomics. RESULTS We found sexual fate is more strongly influenced by the ZZ genotype than temperature. Any exposure to low temperatures (28 °C) caused testes differentiation, whereas sex reversal required longer exposure to high temperatures. We revealed ovotestes exist along a spectrum of femaleness to male-ness at the transcriptional level. We found inter-individual variation in gene expression changes following temperature switches, suggesting both genetic sensitivity to, and the timing and duration of the temperature cue influences sex reversal. CONCLUSIONS These findings bring new insights to the mechanisms underlying sex reversal, improving our understanding of thermosensitive sex systems in vertebrates.
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Tseng PW, Wu GC, Kuo WL, Tseng YC, Chang CF. The Ovarian Transcriptome at the Early Stage of Testis Removal-Induced Male-To-Female Sex Change in the Protandrous Black Porgy Acanthopagrus schlegelii. Front Genet 2022; 13:816955. [PMID: 35401660 PMCID: PMC8986339 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.816955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Unlike gonochoristic fishes, sex is fixed after gonadal differentiation (primary sex determination), and sex can be altered in adults (secondary sex determination) of hermaphroditic fish species. The secondary sex determination of hermaphroditic fish has focused on the differences between testicular tissue and ovarian tissue during the sex change process. However, comprehensive studies analyzing ovarian tissue or testicular tissue independently have not been performed. Hermaphroditic black porgy shows a digonic gonad (ovarian tissue with testicular tissue separated by connective tissue). Protandrous black porgy has stable maleness during the first two reproductive cycles (<2 years old), and approximately 50% enter femaleness (natural sex change) during the third reproductive cycle. Precocious femaleness is rarely observed in the estradiol-17β (E2)-induced female phase (oocytes maintained at the primary oocyte stage), and a reversible female-to-male sex change is found after E2 is withdrawn in <2-year-old fish. However, precocious femaleness (oocytes entering the vitellogenic oocyte stage) is observed in testis-removed fish in <2-year-old fish. We used this characteristic to study secondary sex determination (femaleness) in ovarian tissue via transcriptomic analysis. Cell proliferation analysis showed that BrdU (5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine)-incorporated germline cells were significantly increased in the testis-removed fish (female) compared to the control (sham) fish (male) during the nonspawning season (2 months after surgery). qPCR analysis showed that there were no differences in pituitary-releasing hormones (lhb and gtha) in pituitary and ovarian steroidogenesis-related factors (star, cyp11a1, hsd3b1, and cyp19a1a) or female-related genes (wnt4a, bmp15, gdf9, figla, and foxl2) in ovarian tissues between intact and testis-removed fish (2 months after surgery). Low expression of pituitary fshb and ovarian cyp17a1 was found after 2 months of surgery. However, we did find small numbers of genes (289 genes) showing sexual fate dimorphic expression in both groups by transcriptomic analysis (1 month after surgery). The expression profiles of these differentially expressed genes were further examined by qPCR. Our present work identified several candidate genes in ovarian tissue that may be involved in the early period of secondary sex determination (femaleness) in black porgy. The data confirmed our previous suggestion that testicular tissue plays an important role in secondary sex determination in protandrous black porgy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Wei Tseng
- Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
- Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Chung Wu
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
- Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Guan-Chung Wu, ; Yung-Che Tseng, ; Ching-Fong Chang,
| | - Wei-Lun Kuo
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Che Tseng
- Marine Research Station, Institute of Cellular and Organism Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Guan-Chung Wu, ; Yung-Che Tseng, ; Ching-Fong Chang,
| | - Ching-Fong Chang
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
- Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Guan-Chung Wu, ; Yung-Che Tseng, ; Ching-Fong Chang,
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Budd AM, Robins JB, Whybird O, Jerry DR. Epigenetics underpins phenotypic plasticity of protandrous sex change in fish. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8730. [PMID: 35342607 PMCID: PMC8931711 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity is an important driver of species resilience. Often mediated by epigenetic changes, phenotypic plasticity enables individual genotypes to express variable phenotypes in response to environmental change. Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) are a protandrous (male‐first) sequential hermaphrodite that exhibits plasticity in length‐at‐sex change between geographic regions. This plasticity is likely to be mediated by changes in DNA methylation (DNAm), a well‐studied epigenetic modification. To investigate the relationships between length, sex, and DNAm in a sequential hermaphrodite, here, we compare DNAm in four conserved vertebrate sex‐determining genes in male and female barramundi of differing lengths from three geographic regions of northern Australia. Barramundi first mature as male and later sex change to female upon the attainment of a larger body size; however, a general pattern of increasing female‐specific DNAm markers with increasing length was not observed. Significant differences in DNAm between males and females of similar lengths suggest that female‐specific DNAm arises rapidly during sex change, rather than gradually with fish growth. The findings also reveal that region‐specific differences in length‐at‐sex change are accompanied by differences in DNAm and are consistent with variability in remotely sensed sea temperature and salinity. Together, these findings provide the first in situ evidence for epigenetically and environmentally mediated sex change in a protandrous hermaphrodite and offer significant insight into the molecular and ecological processes governing the marked and unique plasticity of sex in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa M. Budd
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - Julie B. Robins
- Ecosciences Precinct Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - Olivia Whybird
- Northern Fisheries Centre Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Cairns Qld Australia
| | - Dean R. Jerry
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
- Tropical Futures Institute James Cook University Singapore City Singapore
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30
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Characterization and Distribution of Kisspeptins, Kisspeptin Receptors, GnIH, and GnRH1 in the Brain of the Protogynous Bluehead Wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum). J Chem Neuroanat 2022; 121:102087. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Sun D, Yu H, Li Q. Genome-Wide Differential DNA Methylomes Provide Insights into the Infertility of Triploid Oysters. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 24:18-31. [PMID: 35041105 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-021-10083-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Chromosomal incompatibility and gene expression changes would affect the development of polyploid gonad and gamete formation. The role of epigenetics like DNA methylation in reproductive development is fully demonstrated in diploid animals. The lack of polyploid species and the infertility of polyploid animals, especially the odd ploidy, limit the study of epigenetic regulation mechanism of polyploid reproduction. Fertile and infertile individuals exist in triploid Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, which provide an interesting model for studies on the effect of epigenetic regulation on gonadal development. The whole genome single base resolution DNA methylomes in gonads of triploid females α (F-3nα), triploid females β (F-3nβ), triploid males α (M-3nα), triploid hermaphrodite predominantly males (HPM-3n), diploid females (F-2n), and diploid males (M-2n) were generated by using bisulfite-sequencing. The overall DNA methylation profiles in gene regions and transposable regions of fertile and infertile triploid oysters were consistent with those of diploid oysters. The DNA methylation level of CG context decreased in infertile triploid oysters, with more hypomethylated than hypermethylated regions, and the opposite is true in fertile triploid oysters. Genes harbored with differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in infertile triploids were mainly related to the metabolism pathways and the signal pathways. Correlation analysis indicated that the expression of gene transcriptions was generally positively associated with DNA methylation in gene body regions, and DMRs in infertile triploid oysters played significant roles in gonadal development as a possible critical epigenetic regulator of gonadal development gene transcriptional activity. These findings indicate a potential relationship between DNA methylation variability and gene expression plasticity in newly formed polyploidy. As far as we know, this is the first study revealing the epigenetic regulation of gonadal development in invertebrates based on fertile and infertile models, meanwhile providing a new mentality to explore the regulatory mechanisms of infertility in triploids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongfang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China), Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China), Qingdao, 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China), Qingdao, 266003, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China.
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32
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Prim JH, Phillips MC, Lamm MS, Brady J, Cabral I, Durden S, Dustin E, Hazellief A, Klapheke B, Lamb AD, Lukowsky A, May D, Sanchez SG, Thompson KC, Tyler WA, Godwin J. Estrogenic signaling and sociosexual behavior in wild sex-changing bluehead wrasses, Thalassoma bifasciatum. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 337:24-34. [PMID: 34752686 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Estrogenic signaling is an important focus in studies of gonadal and brain sexual differentiation in fishes and vertebrates generally. This study examined variation in estrogenic signaling (1) across three sexual phenotypes (female, female-mimic initial phase [IP] male, and terminal phase [TP] male), (2) during socially-controlled female-to-male sex change, and (3) during tidally-driven spawning cycles in the protogynous bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum). We analyzed relative abundances of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for the brain form of aromatase (cyp19a1b) and the three nuclear estrogen receptors (ER) (ERα, ERβa, and ERβb) by qPCR. Consistent with previous reports, forebrain/midbrain cyp19a1b was highest in females, significantly lower in TP males, and lowest in IP males. By contrast, ERα and ERβb mRNA abundances were highest in TP males and increased during sex change. ERβa mRNA did not vary significantly. Across the tidally-driven spawning cycle, cyp19a1b abundances were higher in females than TP males. Interestingly, cyp19a1b levels were higher in TP males close (~1 h) to the daily spawning period when sexual and aggressive behaviors rise than males far from spawning (~10-12 h). Together with earlier findings, our results suggest alterations in neural estrogen signaling are key regulators of socially-controlled sex change and sexual phenotype differences. Additionally, these patterns suggest TP male-typical sociosexual behaviors may depend on intermediate rather than low estrogenic signaling. We discuss these results and the possibility that an inverted-U shaped relationship between neural estrogen and male-typical behaviors is more common than presently appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julianna H Prim
- Department of Biological Sciences and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marshall C Phillips
- Department of Biological Sciences and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Melissa S Lamm
- Department of Biological Sciences and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jeannie Brady
- Department of Biology, Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
| | - Itze Cabral
- Department of Biology, Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
| | - Shelby Durden
- Department of Biology, Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
| | - Elizabeth Dustin
- Department of Biological Sciences and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Allison Hazellief
- Department of Biology, Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
| | - Brandon Klapheke
- Department of Biological Sciences and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - April D Lamb
- Department of Biological Sciences and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alison Lukowsky
- Department of Biology, Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
| | - Dianna May
- Department of Biology, Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
| | - Sidney G Sanchez
- Department of Biological Sciences and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kelly C Thompson
- Department of Biological Sciences and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - William A Tyler
- Department of Biology, Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
| | - John Godwin
- Department of Biological Sciences and W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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Wellband K, Roth D, Linnansaari T, Curry RA, Bernatchez L. Environment-driven reprogramming of gamete DNA methylation occurs during maturation and is transmitted intergenerationally in Atlantic Salmon. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:jkab353. [PMID: 34849830 PMCID: PMC8664423 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
An epigenetic basis for transgenerational plasticity in animals is widely theorized, but convincing empirical support is limited by taxa-specific differences in the presence and role of epigenetic mechanisms. In teleost fishes, DNA methylation generally does not undergo extensive reprogramming and has been linked with environmentally induced intergenerational effects, but solely in the context of early life environmental differences. Using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, we demonstrate that differential methylation of sperm occurs in response to captivity during the maturation of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), a species of major economic and conservation significance. We show that adult captive exposure further induces differential methylation in an F1 generation that is associated with fitness-related phenotypic differences. Some genes targeted with differential methylation were consistent with genes differential methylated in other salmonid fishes experiencing early-life hatchery rearing, as well as genes under selection in domesticated species. Our results support a mechanism of transgenerational plasticity mediated by intergenerational inheritance of DNA methylation acquired late in life for salmon. To our knowledge, this is the first-time environmental variation experienced later in life has been directly demonstrated to influence gamete DNA methylation in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Wellband
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
- Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - David Roth
- Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Tommi Linnansaari
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
- Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - R Allen Curry
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
- Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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34
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Shen X, Yan H, Jiang J, Li W, Xiong Y, Liu Q, Liu Y. Profile of gene expression changes during estrodiol-17β-induced feminization in the Takifugu rubripes brain. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:851. [PMID: 34819041 PMCID: PMC8614003 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08158-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As the critical tissue of the central nervous system, the brain has been found to be involved in gonad development. Previous studies have suggested that gonadal fate may be affected by the brain. Identifying brain-specific molecular changes that occur during estrodiol-17β (E2) -induced feminization is crucial to our understanding of the molecular control of sex differentiation by the brains of fish. Results In this study, the differential transcriptomic responses of the Takifugu rubripes larvae brain were compared after E2 treatment for 55 days. Our results showed that 514 genes were differentially expressed between E2-treated-XX (E-XX) and Control-XX (C-XX) T. rubripes, while 362 genes were differentially expressed between E2-treated-XY (E-XY) and Control-XY (C-XY). For example, the expression of cyp19a1b, gnrh1 and pgr was significantly up-regulated, while st, sl, tshβ, prl and pit-1, which belong to the growth hormone/prolactin family, were significantly down-regulated after E2 treatment, in both sexes. The arntl1, bhlbe, nr1d2, per1b, per3, cry1, cipc and ciart genes, which are involved in the circadian rhythm, were also found to be altered. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were identified between E-XX and C-XX, were significantly enriched in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, arachidonic acid metabolism, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and the calcium signaling pathway. The DEGs that were identified between E-XY and C-XY were significantly enriched in tyrosine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism. Conclusion A number of genes and pathways were identified in the brain of E2-treated T. rubripes larvae by RNA-seq. It provided the opportunity for further study on the possible involvement of networks in the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis in sex differentiation in T. rubripes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-08158-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufang Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, 116029, Liaoning, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Hongwei Yan
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China.
| | - Jieming Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, Dalian, 116023, China.,College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China
| | - Weiyuan Li
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuyu Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, Dalian, 116023, China.,College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China
| | - Qi Liu
- College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China.
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, Dalian, 116023, China.,College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, Liaoning, China
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35
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Goikoetxea A, Muncaster S, Todd EV, Lokman PM, Robertson HA, De Farias E Moraes CE, Damsteegt EL, Gemmell NJ. A new experimental model for the investigation of sequential hermaphroditism. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22881. [PMID: 34819550 PMCID: PMC8613207 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02063-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The stunning sexual transformation commonly triggered by age, size or social context in some fishes is one of the best examples of phenotypic plasticity thus far described. To date our understanding of this process is dominated by studies on a handful of subtropical and tropical teleosts, often in wild settings. Here we have established the protogynous New Zealand spotty wrasse, Notolabrus celidotus, as a temperate model for the experimental investigation of sex change. Captive fish were induced to change sex using aromatase inhibition or manipulation of social groups. Complete female-to-male transition occurred over 60 days in both cases and time-series sampling was used to quantify changes in hormone production, gene expression and gonadal cellular anatomy. Early-stage decreases in plasma 17β-estradiol (E2) concentrations or gonadal aromatase (cyp19a1a) expression were not detected in spotty wrasse, despite these being commonly associated with the onset of sex change in subtropical and tropical protogynous (female-to-male) hermaphrodites. In contrast, expression of the masculinising factor amh (anti-Müllerian hormone) increased during early sex change, implying a potential role as a proximate trigger for masculinisation. Collectively, these data provide a foundation for the spotty wrasse as a temperate teleost model to study sex change and cell fate in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Goikoetxea
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - S Muncaster
- Environmental Management Group, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tauranga, New Zealand.
- School of Science, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand.
| | - E V Todd
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - P M Lokman
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - H A Robertson
- Environmental Management Group, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | - C E De Farias E Moraes
- Environmental Management Group, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | - E L Damsteegt
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - N J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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36
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Bessa E, Sadoul B, Mckenzie DJ, Geffroy B. Group size, temperature and body size modulate the effects of social hierarchy on basal cortisol levels in fishes. Horm Behav 2021; 136:105077. [PMID: 34656822 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Social rank in a structured society has been linked to basal levels of glucocorticoids in various species, with dominant individuals generally presenting lower levels than subordinates. The biotic and abiotic factors influencing glucocorticoids levels across social ranks are still, however, unclear in fishes. We investigated the influences of group size, fish size, sex, age, and reproduction type, plus water salinity and temperature, on the basal levels of cortisol, the major stress hormone in fishes. A phylogenetically controlled meta-analysis was performed on data from 72 studies over 22 species of fishes. As expected, dominants generally exhibited lower levels of cortisol than subordinates. More importantly, the strength of the correlation between cortisol and rank was modulated by three main factors, group size, environmental temperature, and fish size. Differences in basal cortisol between dominants and subordinates were significantly greater in small groups (dyadic contexts) when compared to larger groups. Differences between dominants and subordinates were also greater in temperate regions when compared to the tropics, and in species with larger body size. These results provide valuable insights into the links among hierarchy, stress and metabolism in fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Bessa
- Graduate Program in Ecology, Universidade de Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Bastien Sadoul
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health, Institut Agro, INRAE, Rennes, France
| | - David J Mckenzie
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, Ifremer, CNRS, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - Benjamin Geffroy
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, Ifremer, CNRS, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France.
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37
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Holt WV, Comizzoli P. Opportunities and Limitations for Reproductive Science in Species Conservation. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2021; 10:491-511. [PMID: 34699258 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-013120-030858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Reproductive science in the context of conservation biology is often understood solely in terms of breeding threatened species. Although technologies developed primarily for agriculture or biomedicine have a potentially important role in species conservation, their effectiveness is limited if we regard the main objective of animal conservation as helping to support populations rather than to breed a small number of individuals. The global threats facing wild species include the consequences of climate change, population growth, urbanization, atmospheric and water pollution, and the release of chemicals into the environment, to cite but a few. Reproductive sciences provide important and often unexpected windows into many of these consequences, and our aim here is both to demonstrate the breadth of reproductive science and the importance of basic knowledge and to suggest where some of the insights might be useful in mitigating the problems. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, Volume 10 is February 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- William V Holt
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Department of Oncology & Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom;
| | - Pierre Comizzoli
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA;
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38
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Wang F, Qin Z, Li Z, Yang S, Gao T, Sun L, Wang D. Dnmt3aa but Not Dnmt3ab Is Required for Maintenance of Gametogenesis in Nile Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221810170. [PMID: 34576333 PMCID: PMC8469005 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dnmt3a, a de novo methyltransferase, is essential for mammalian germ line DNA methylation. Only one Dnmt3a is identified in mammals, and homozygous mutants of Dnmt3a are lethal, while two Dnmt3a paralogs, dnmt3aa and dnmt3ab, are identified in teleosts due to the third round of genome duplication, and homozygous mutants of dnmt3aa and dnmt3ab are viable in zebrafish. The expression patterns and roles of dnmt3aa and dnmt3ab in gonadal development remain poorly understood in teleosts. In this study, we elucidated the precise expression patterns of dnmt3aa and dnmt3ab in tilapia gonads. Dnmt3aa was highly expressed in oogonia, phase I and II oocytes and granulosa cells in ovaries and spermatogonia and spermatocytes in testes, while dnmt3ab was mainly expressed in ovarian granulosa cells and testicular spermatocytes. The mutation of dnmt3aa and dnmt3ab was achieved by CRISPR/Cas9 in tilapia. Lower gonadosomatic index (GSI), increased apoptosis of oocytes and spermatocytes and significantly reduced sperm quality were observed in dnmt3aa−/− mutants, while normal gonadal development was observed in dnmt3ab−/− mutants. Consistently, the expression of apoptotic genes was significantly increased in dnmt3aa−/− mutants. In addition, the 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) level in dnmt3aa−/− gonads was decreased significantly, compared with that of dnmt3ab−/− and wild type (WT) gonads. Taken together, our results suggest that dnmt3aa, not dnmt3ab, plays important roles in maintaining gametogenesis in teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Lina Sun
- Correspondence: (L.S.); (D.W.); Tel.: +86-23-6825-3702 (D.W.)
| | - Deshou Wang
- Correspondence: (L.S.); (D.W.); Tel.: +86-23-6825-3702 (D.W.)
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39
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Guo CY, Tseng PW, Hwang JS, Wu GC, Chang CF. Potential role of DNA methylation of cyp19a1a promoter during sex change in protogynous orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 311:113840. [PMID: 34216589 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen has a pivotal role in early female differentiation and further ovarian development. Aromatase (Cyp19a) is responsible for the conversion of androgens to estrogens in vertebrates. In teleosts, cyp19a1a and it paralog cyp19a1b are mainly expressed in the ovary and hypothalamus, respectively. Decreased plasma estrogen levels and lower cyp19a1a expression are associated with the initiation of female-to-male sex change in protogynous grouper. However, an 17α-methyltestosterone (MT)-induced the sex change from a female to a precocious male is a transient phase, and a reversible sex change (induced male-to-female) occurs after chemical withdrawal. Thus, we used this characteristic to study the epigenetic modification of cyp19a1a promoter in orange-spotted grouper. CpG-rich region with a CpG island is located on the putative regulatory region of distal cyp19a1a promoter. Our results showed that cyp19a1a promoter exhibited tissue-specific methylation status. Low methylation levels of distal cyp19a1a promoter and hypomethylated (0-40%) clones of cyp19a1a promoter region were widely observed in the ovary but not shown in testis and other tissues. In femaleness, higher numbers of hypomethylated clones of cyp19a1a promoter region were observed in the vitellogenic oocyte stage compared to the primary oocyte stage. Furthermore, decreased numbers of hypomethylated clones of cyp19a1a promoter region were associated with the maleness during the female-to-male sex change. DNA methylation inhibitor (5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine) delayed the spermatogenesis process (according to germ cell stage and numbers: by decrease of sperm and increase of spermatocytes) but did not influence the reversed sex change in MT-induced bi-directional sex change. These results suggest that epigenetic modification of cyp19a1a promoter may play an important role during the sex change in orange-spotted grouper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Yang Guo
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan; Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Peng-Wei Tseng
- Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan; Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jiang-Shiou Hwang
- Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Chung Wu
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
| | - Ching-Fong Chang
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan; Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
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40
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Kratochvíl L, Stöck M, Rovatsos M, Bullejos M, Herpin A, Jeffries DL, Peichel CL, Perrin N, Valenzuela N, Pokorná MJ. Expanding the classical paradigm: what we have learnt from vertebrates about sex chromosome evolution. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200097. [PMID: 34304593 PMCID: PMC8310716 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Until recently, the field of sex chromosome evolution has been dominated by the canonical unidirectional scenario, first developed by Muller in 1918. This model postulates that sex chromosomes emerge from autosomes by acquiring a sex-determining locus. Recombination reduction then expands outwards from this locus, to maintain its linkage with sexually antagonistic/advantageous alleles, resulting in Y or W degeneration and potentially culminating in their disappearance. Based mostly on empirical vertebrate research, we challenge and expand each conceptual step of this canonical model and present observations by numerous experts in two parts of a theme issue of Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. We suggest that greater theoretical and empirical insights into the events at the origins of sex-determining genes (rewiring of the gonadal differentiation networks), and a better understanding of the evolutionary forces responsible for recombination suppression are required. Among others, crucial questions are: Why do sex chromosome differentiation rates and the evolution of gene dose regulatory mechanisms between male versus female heterogametic systems not follow earlier theory? Why do several lineages not have sex chromosomes? And: What are the consequences of the presence of (differentiated) sex chromosomes for individual fitness, evolvability, hybridization and diversification? We conclude that the classical scenario appears too reductionistic. Instead of being unidirectional, we show that sex chromosome evolution is more complex than previously anticipated and principally forms networks, interconnected to potentially endless outcomes with restarts, deletions and additions of new genomic material. This article is part of the theme issue 'Challenging the paradigm in sex chromosome evolution: empirical and theoretical insights with a focus on vertebrates (Part II)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Matthias Stöck
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries - IGB (Forschungsverbund Berlin), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Michail Rovatsos
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Mónica Bullejos
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, Las Lagunillas Campus S/N, 23071 Jaén, Spain
| | - Amaury Herpin
- INRAE, LPGP, 35000 Rennes, France
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Daniel L. Jeffries
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Catherine L. Peichel
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Perrin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Valenzuela
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Martina Johnson Pokorná
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburská 89, Liběchov, Czech Republic
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41
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Stöck M, Kratochvíl L, Kuhl H, Rovatsos M, Evans BJ, Suh A, Valenzuela N, Veyrunes F, Zhou Q, Gamble T, Capel B, Schartl M, Guiguen Y. A brief review of vertebrate sex evolution with a pledge for integrative research: towards ' sexomics'. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200426. [PMID: 34247497 PMCID: PMC8293304 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Triggers and biological processes controlling male or female gonadal differentiation vary in vertebrates, with sex determination (SD) governed by environmental factors or simple to complex genetic mechanisms that evolved repeatedly and independently in various groups. Here, we review sex evolution across major clades of vertebrates with information on SD, sexual development and reproductive modes. We offer an up-to-date review of divergence times, species diversity, genomic resources, genome size, occurrence and nature of polyploids, SD systems, sex chromosomes, SD genes, dosage compensation and sex-biased gene expression. Advances in sequencing technologies now enable us to study the evolution of SD at broader evolutionary scales, and we now hope to pursue a sexomics integrative research initiative across vertebrates. The vertebrate sexome comprises interdisciplinary and integrated information on sexual differentiation, development and reproduction at all biological levels, from genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes, to the organs involved in sexual and sex-specific processes, including gonads, secondary sex organs and those with transcriptional sex-bias. The sexome also includes ontogenetic and behavioural aspects of sexual differentiation, including malfunction and impairment of SD, sexual differentiation and fertility. Starting from data generated by high-throughput approaches, we encourage others to contribute expertise to building understanding of the sexomes of many key vertebrate species. This article is part of the theme issue 'Challenging the paradigm in sex chromosome evolution: empirical and theoretical insights with a focus on vertebrates (Part I)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Stöck
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries—IGB (Forschungsverbund Berlin), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Lukáš Kratochvíl
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Heiner Kuhl
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries—IGB (Forschungsverbund Berlin), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michail Rovatsos
- Amphibian Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Ben J. Evans
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Life Sciences Building Room 328, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Alexander Suh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TU, UK
- Department of Organismal Biology—Systematic Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nicole Valenzuela
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Frédéric Veyrunes
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, ISEM UMR 5554 (CNRS/Université de Montpellier/IRD/EPHE), Montpellier, France
| | - Qi Zhou
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tony Gamble
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
| | - Blanche Capel
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
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42
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Renn SC, Hurd PL. Epigenetic Regulation and Environmental Sex Determination in Cichlid Fishes. Sex Dev 2021; 15:93-107. [PMID: 34433170 PMCID: PMC8440468 DOI: 10.1159/000517197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying environmental sex determination (ESD) in cichlids provides a phylogenetic and comparative approach to understand the evolution of the underlying mechanisms, their impact on the evolution of the overlying systems, and the neuroethology of life history strategies. Natural selection normally favors parents who invest equally in the development of male and female offspring, but evolution may favor deviations from this 50:50 ratio when environmental conditions produce an advantage for doing so. Many species of cichlids demonstrate ESD in response to water chemistry (temperature, pH, and oxygen concentration). The relative strengths of and the exact interactions between these factors vary between congeners, demonstrating genetic variation in sensitivity. The presence of sizable proportions of the less common sex towards the environmental extremes in most species strongly suggests the presence of some genetic sex-determining loci acting in parallel with the ESD factors. Sex determination and differentiation in these species does not seem to result in the organization of a final and irreversible sexual fate, so much as a life-long ongoing battle between competing male- and female-determining genetic and hormonal networks governed by epigenetic factors. We discuss what is and is not known about the epigenetic mechanism behind the differentiation of both gonads and sex differences in the brain. Beyond the well-studied tilapia species, the 2 best-studied dwarf cichlid systems showing ESD are the South American genus Apistogramma and the West African genus Pelvicachromis. Both species demonstrate male morphs with alternative reproductive tactics. We discuss the further neuroethology opportunities such systems provide to the study of epigenetics of alternative life history strategies and other behavioral variation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter L Hurd
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CA
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CA
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43
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Piferrer F. Epigenetic mechanisms in sex determination and in the evolutionary transitions between sexual systems. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200110. [PMID: 34247505 PMCID: PMC8273503 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothesis that epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression regulation have two main roles in vertebrate sex is presented. First, and within a given generation, by contributing to the acquisition and maintenance of (i) the male or female function once during the lifetime in individuals of gonochoristic species; and (ii) the male and female function in the same individual, either at the same time in simultaneous hermaphrodites, or first as one sex and then as the other in sequential hermaphrodites. Second, if environmental conditions change, epigenetic mechanisms may have also a role across generations, by providing the necessary phenotypic plasticity to facilitate the transition: (i) from one sexual system to another, or (ii) from one sex-determining mechanism to another. Furthermore, if the environmental change lasts enough time, epimutations could facilitate assimilation into genetic changes that stabilize the new sexual system or sex-determining mechanism. Examples supporting these assertions are presented, caveats or difficulties and knowledge gaps identified, and possible ways to test this hypothesis suggested. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Challenging the paradigm in sex chromosome evolution: empirical and theoretical insights with a focus on vertebrates (Part I)’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesc Piferrer
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Passeig Marítim, 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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44
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Geffroy B, Gesto M, Clota F, Aerts J, Darias MJ, Blanc MO, Ruelle F, Allal F, Vandeputte M. Parental selection for growth and early-life low stocking density increase the female-to-male ratio in European sea bass. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13620. [PMID: 34193934 PMCID: PMC8245542 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93116-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), as in many other fish species, temperature is known to influence the sex of individuals, with more males produced at relatively high temperatures. It is however unclear to what extent growth or stress are involved in such a process, since temperature is known to influence both growth rate and cortisol production. Here, we designed an experiment aiming at reducing stress and affecting early growth rate. We exposed larvae and juveniles originating from both captive and wild parents to three different treatments: low stocking density, food supplemented with tryptophan and a control. Low stocking density and tryptophan treatment respectively increased and decreased early growth rate. Each treatment influenced the stress response depending on the developmental stage, although no clear pattern regarding the whole-body cortisol concentration was found. During sex differentiation, fish in the low-density treatment exhibited lower expression of gr1, gr2, mr, and crf in the hypothalamus when compared to the control group. Fish fed tryptophan displayed lower crf in the hypothalamus and higher level of serotonin in the telencephalon compared to controls. Overall, fish kept at low density produced significantly more females than both control and fish fed tryptophan. Parents that have been selected for growth for three generations also produced significantly more females than parents of wild origin. Our findings did not allow to detect a clear effect of stress at the group level and rather point out a key role of early sexually dimorphic growth rate in sex determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Geffroy
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France.
| | - Manuel Gesto
- Techn Section for Aquaculture, DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark, Willemoesvej 2, 9850, Hirtshals, Denmark
| | - Fréderic Clota
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Johan Aerts
- Stress Physiology Research Group, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ostend, Belgium
| | - Maria J Darias
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - Marie-Odile Blanc
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - François Ruelle
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - François Allal
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - Marc Vandeputte
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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45
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Edgecombe J, Urban L, Todd EV, Gemmell NJ. Might Gene Duplication and Neofunctionalization Contribute to the Sexual Lability Observed in Fish? Sex Dev 2021; 15:122-133. [PMID: 34167118 DOI: 10.1159/000515425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex determination and differentiation varies widely across vertebrates, but is most dramatically diverse in fishes. Among fishes sex reversal and sex change are observed in 41 teleost families spanning 7 orders. These sex-changing fish perhaps highlight better than any other system that sex determination is not the narrow and fixed construct we once thought, but a plastic trait that is better viewed as a reaction norm. However, while this stunning transformation is increasingly understood, a fundamental question arises, which is why some fish species have retained this inherent plasticity in sexual fate, while others have not? Here, we explore our current understanding of sex change in fish, some of the factors that permit and constrain sex reversal, and posit that gene duplication and neofunctionalization contribute to the sexual lability observed in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonika Edgecombe
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Lara Urban
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Erica V Todd
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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46
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Estimating Global Methylation and Erasure Using Low-Coverage Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS ). Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2272:29-44. [PMID: 34009607 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1294-1_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) is a popular method for characterizing cytosine methylation because it is fully quantitative and has base-pair resolution. While WGBS is prohibitively expensive for experiments involving many samples, low-coverage WGBS can accurately determine global methylation and erasure at similar cost to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Moreover, low-coverage WGBS has the capacity to distinguish between methylation in different cytosine contexts (e.g., CG, CHH, and CHG), can tolerate low-input material (<100 cells), and can detect the presence of overrepresented DNA originating from mitochondria or amplified ribosomal DNA. In addition to describing a WGBS library construction and quantitation approach, here we detail computational methods to predict the accuracy of low-coverage WGBS using empirical bootstrap samplers and theoretical estimators similar to those used in election polling. Using examples, we further demonstrate how non-independent sampling of cytosines can alter the precision of error calculation and provide methods to improve this.
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47
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Casas L, Saborido-Rey F. Environmental Cues and Mechanisms Underpinning Sex Change in Fish. Sex Dev 2021; 15:108-121. [PMID: 34111868 DOI: 10.1159/000515274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fishes are the only vertebrates that undergo sex change during their lifetime, but even within this group, a unique reproductive strategy is displayed by only 1.5% of the teleosts. This lability in alternating sexual fate is the result of the simultaneous suppression and activation of opposing male and female networks. Here, we provide a brief review summarizing recent advances in our understanding of the environmental cues that trigger sex change and their perception, integration, and translation into molecular cascades that convert the sex of an individual. We particularly focus on molecular events underpinning the complex behavioral and morphological transformation involved in sex change, dissecting the main molecular players and regulatory networks that shape the transformation of one sex into the opposite. We show that histological changes and molecular pathways governing gonadal reorganization are better described than the neuroendocrine basis of sex change and that, despite important advances, information is lacking for the majority of hermaphrodite species. We highlight significant gaps in our knowledge of how sex change takes place and suggest future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Casas
- Ecology and Marine Resources, Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC), Vigo, Spain
| | - Fran Saborido-Rey
- Ecology and Marine Resources, Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC), Vigo, Spain
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48
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Bhargava A, Arnold AP, Bangasser DA, Denton KM, Gupta A, Hilliard Krause LM, Mayer EA, McCarthy M, Miller WL, Raznahan A, Verma R. Considering Sex as a Biological Variable in Basic and Clinical Studies: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement. Endocr Rev 2021; 42:219-258. [PMID: 33704446 PMCID: PMC8348944 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In May 2014, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated its intent to "require applicants to consider sex as a biological variable (SABV) in the design and analysis of NIH-funded research involving animals and cells." Since then, proposed research plans that include animals routinely state that both sexes/genders will be used; however, in many instances, researchers and reviewers are at a loss about the issue of sex differences. Moreover, the terms sex and gender are used interchangeably by many researchers, further complicating the issue. In addition, the sex or gender of the researcher might influence study outcomes, especially those concerning behavioral studies, in both animals and humans. The act of observation may change the outcome (the "observer effect") and any experimental manipulation, no matter how well-controlled, is subject to it. This is nowhere more applicable than in physiology and behavior. The sex of established cultured cell lines is another issue, in addition to aneuploidy; chromosomal numbers can change as cells are passaged. Additionally, culture medium contains steroids, growth hormone, and insulin that might influence expression of various genes. These issues often are not taken into account, determined, or even considered. Issues pertaining to the "sex" of cultured cells are beyond the scope of this Statement. However, we will discuss the factors that influence sex and gender in both basic research (that using animal models) and clinical research (that involving human subjects), as well as in some areas of science where sex differences are routinely studied. Sex differences in baseline physiology and associated mechanisms form the foundation for understanding sex differences in diseases pathology, treatments, and outcomes. The purpose of this Statement is to highlight lessons learned, caveats, and what to consider when evaluating data pertaining to sex differences, using 3 areas of research as examples; it is not intended to serve as a guideline for research design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Bhargava
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kate M Denton
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Arpana Gupta
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lucinda M Hilliard Krause
- Cardiovascular Disease Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emeran A Mayer
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Margaret McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Walter L Miller
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institutes of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ragini Verma
- Diffusion and Connectomics In Precision Healthcare Research (DiCIPHR) lab, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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49
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Liu D, Wang X, Guo H, Zhang X, Zhang M, Tang W. Chromosome-level genome assembly of the endangered humphead wrasse Cheilinus undulatus: Insight into the expansion of opsin genes in fishes. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 21:2388-2406. [PMID: 34003602 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Wrasses are dominant components of major coral reef systems. Among wrasses, Cheilinus undulatus is an endangered species with high economic and ecological value that exhibits sex reversal of females to males, while sexual selection occurs in breeding aggregations. However, the molecular-associated mechanism underlying this remains unclear. Opsin gene diversification is regarded as a potent force in sexual selection. Here we present a genome assembly of C. undulatus, using Illumina, Nanopore and Hi-C sequencing. The 1.17 Gb genome was generated from 328 contigs with an N50 length of 16.5 Mb and anchored to 24 chromosomes. In total, 22,218 genes were functionally annotated, and 96.36% of BUSCO genes were fully represented. Transcriptomic analyses showed that 96.79% of the predicted genes were expressed. Transposons were most abundant, accounting for 39.88% of the genome, with low divergence, owing to their evolution with close species ~60.53 million years ago. In total, 567/1,826 gene families were expanded and contracted in the reconstructed phylogeny, respectively. Forty-six genes were under positive selection. Comparative genomic analyses with other fish revealed expansion of opsin SWS2B, LWS1 and Rh2. The elevated duplicates of SWS2B were generated by gene conversions via transposition of transposons followed by nonallelic homologous recombination. Amino acid substitutions of opsin paralogues occurred at key tuning sites, causing a spectral shift in maximal absorbance of visual pigment to capture functional changes. Among these opsin genes, SWS2B-3 and 4 and Rh1 are expressed in the retina. The genome sequence of C. undulatus provides valuable resources for future investigation of the conservation, evolution and behaviour of fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyang Wang
- Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongyi Guo
- Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuguang Zhang
- Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Wenqiao Tang
- Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
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50
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Larocca D, Lee J, West MD, Labat I, Sternberg H. No Time to Age: Uncoupling Aging from Chronological Time. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:611. [PMID: 33919082 PMCID: PMC8143125 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Multicellular life evolved from simple unicellular organisms that could replicate indefinitely, being essentially ageless. At this point, life split into two fundamentally different cell types: the immortal germline representing an unbroken lineage of cell division with no intrinsic endpoint and the mortal soma, which ages and dies. In this review, we describe the germline as clock-free and the soma as clock-bound and discuss aging with respect to three DNA-based cellular clocks (telomeric, DNA methylation, and transposable element). The ticking of these clocks corresponds to the stepwise progressive limitation of growth and regeneration of somatic cells that we term somatic restriction. Somatic restriction acts in opposition to strategies that ensure continued germline replication and regeneration. We thus consider the plasticity of aging as a process not fixed to the pace of chronological time but one that can speed up or slow down depending on the rate of intrinsic cellular clocks. We further describe how germline factor reprogramming might be used to slow the rate of aging and potentially reverse it by causing the clocks to tick backward. Therefore, reprogramming may eventually lead to therapeutic strategies to treat degenerative diseases by altering aging itself, the one condition common to us all.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jieun Lee
- AgeX Therapeutics Inc., Alameda, CA 94501, USA; (J.L.); (M.D.W.); (I.L.); (H.S.)
| | - Michael D. West
- AgeX Therapeutics Inc., Alameda, CA 94501, USA; (J.L.); (M.D.W.); (I.L.); (H.S.)
| | - Ivan Labat
- AgeX Therapeutics Inc., Alameda, CA 94501, USA; (J.L.); (M.D.W.); (I.L.); (H.S.)
| | - Hal Sternberg
- AgeX Therapeutics Inc., Alameda, CA 94501, USA; (J.L.); (M.D.W.); (I.L.); (H.S.)
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