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Nowell RW, Rodriguez F, Hecox-Lea BJ, Mark Welch DB, Arkhipova IR, Barraclough TG, Wilson CG. Bdelloid rotifers deploy horizontally acquired biosynthetic genes against a fungal pathogen. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5787. [PMID: 39025839 PMCID: PMC11258130 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49919-1] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Coevolutionary antagonism generates relentless selection that can favour genetic exchange, including transfer of antibiotic synthesis and resistance genes among bacteria, and sexual recombination of disease resistance alleles in eukaryotes. We report an unusual link between biological conflict and DNA transfer in bdelloid rotifers, microscopic animals whose genomes show elevated levels of horizontal gene transfer from non-metazoan taxa. When rotifers were challenged with a fungal pathogen, horizontally acquired genes were over twice as likely to be upregulated as other genes - a stronger enrichment than observed for abiotic stressors. Among hundreds of upregulated genes, the most markedly overrepresented were clusters resembling bacterial polyketide and nonribosomal peptide synthetases that produce antibiotics. Upregulation of these clusters in a pathogen-resistant rotifer species was nearly ten times stronger than in a susceptible species. By acquiring, domesticating, and expressing non-metazoan biosynthetic pathways, bdelloids may have evolved to resist natural enemies using antimicrobial mechanisms absent from other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuben W Nowell
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London; Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh; Ashworth Laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Fernando Rodriguez
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Bette J Hecox-Lea
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - David B Mark Welch
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Irina R Arkhipova
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Timothy G Barraclough
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London; Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Christopher G Wilson
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK.
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London; Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK.
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2
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Blanc C, Delattre M. A new type of non-Mendelian segregation. Nat Ecol Evol 2024:10.1038/s41559-024-02482-w. [PMID: 39014143 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02482-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Blanc
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marie Delattre
- Laboratory of Biology and Modeling of the Cell, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Inserm, UCBL, Lyon, France.
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3
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Cardini A, Melone G, O'Higgins P, Fontaneto D. Exploring motion using geometric morphometrics in microscopic aquatic invertebrates: 'modes' and movement patterns during feeding in a bdelloid rotifer model species. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:50. [PMID: 39003478 PMCID: PMC11245788 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00491-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Movement is a defining aspect of animals, but it is rarely studied using quantitative methods in microscopic invertebrates. Bdelloid rotifers are a cosmopolitan class of aquatic invertebrates of great scientific interest because of their ability to survive in very harsh environment and also because they represent a rare example of an ancient lineage that only includes asexually reproducing species. In this class, Adineta ricciae has become a model species as it is unusually easy to culture. Yet, relatively little is known of its ethology and almost nothing on how it behaves during feeding. METHODS To explore feeding behaviour in A. ricciae, as well as to provide an example of application of computational ethology in a microscopic invertebrate, we apply Procrustes motion analysis in combination with ordination and clustering methods to a laboratory bred sample of individuals recorded during feeding. RESULTS We demonstrate that movement during feeding can be accurately described in a simple two-dimensional shape space with three main 'modes' of motion. Foot telescoping, with the body kept straight, is the most frequent 'mode', but it is accompanied by periodic rotations of the foot together with bending while the foot is mostly retracted. CONCLUSIONS Procrustes motion analysis is a relatively simple but effective tool for describing motion during feeding in A. ricciae. The application of this method generates quantitative data that could be analysed in relation to genetic and ecological differences in a variety of experimental settings. The study provides an example that is easy to replicate in other invertebrates, including other microscopic animals whose behavioural ecology is often poorly known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cardini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125, Modena, Italy
- School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Giulio Melone
- Università degli Studi di Milano, 20100, Milan, Italy
| | - Paul O'Higgins
- School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Department of Archaeology and Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Diego Fontaneto
- Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque (IRSA), Corso Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania Pallanza, Italy.
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy.
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4
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Yu H, Li Y, Han W, Bao L, Liu F, Ma Y, Pu Z, Zeng Q, Zhang L, Bao Z, Wang S. Pan-evolutionary and regulatory genome architecture delineated by an integrated macro- and microsynteny approach. Nat Protoc 2024; 19:1623-1678. [PMID: 38514839 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-00966-4] [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: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The forthcoming massive genome data generated by the Earth BioGenome Project will open up a new era of comparative genomics, for which genome synteny analysis provides an important framework. Profiling genome synteny represents an essential step in elucidating genome architecture, regulatory blocks/elements and their evolutionary history. Here we describe PanSyn, ( https://github.com/yhw320/PanSyn ), the most comprehensive and up-to-date genome synteny pipeline, providing step-by-step instructions and application examples to demonstrate its usage. PanSyn inherits both basic and advanced functions from existing popular tools, offering a user-friendly, highly customized approach for genome macrosynteny analysis and integrated pan-evolutionary and regulatory analysis of genome architecture, which are not yet available in public synteny software or tools. The advantages of PanSyn include: (i) advanced microsynteny analysis by functional profiling of microsynteny genes and associated regulatory elements; (ii) comprehensive macrosynteny analysis, including the inference of karyotype evolution from ancestors to extant species; and (iii) functional integration of microsynteny and macrosynteny for pan-evolutionary profiling of genome architecture and regulatory blocks, as well as integration with external functional genomics datasets from three- or four-dimensional genome and ENCODE projects. PanSyn requires basic knowledge of the Linux environment and Perl programming language and the ability to access a computer cluster, especially for large-scale genomic comparisons. Our protocol can be easily implemented by a competent graduate student or postdoc and takes several days to weeks to execute for dozens to hundreds of genomes. PanSyn provides yet the most comprehensive and powerful tool for integrated evolutionary and functional genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Yu
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine Evo-Devo & MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuli Li
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine Evo-Devo & MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China.
| | - Wentao Han
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine Evo-Devo & MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Lisui Bao
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Fuyun Liu
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine Evo-Devo & MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuanting Ma
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine Evo-Devo & MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhongqi Pu
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine Evo-Devo & MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Qifan Zeng
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine Evo-Devo & MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Lingling Zhang
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine Evo-Devo & MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhenmin Bao
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine Evo-Devo & MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
| | - Shi Wang
- Fang Zongxi Center for Marine Evo-Devo & MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China.
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5
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Wilson CG, Pieszko T, Nowell RW, Barraclough TG. Recombination in bdelloid rotifer genomes: asexuality, transfer and stress. Trends Genet 2024; 40:422-436. [PMID: 38458877 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.02.001] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Bdelloid rotifers constitute a class of microscopic animals living in freshwater habitats worldwide. Several strange features of bdelloids have drawn attention: their ability to tolerate desiccation and other stresses, a lack of reported males across the clade despite centuries of study, and unusually high numbers of horizontally acquired, non-metazoan genes. Genome sequencing is transforming our understanding of their lifestyle and its consequences, while in turn providing wider insights about recombination and genome organisation in animals. Many questions remain, not least how to reconcile apparent genomic signatures of sex with the continued absence of reported males, why bdelloids have so many horizontally acquired genes, and how their remarkable ability to survive stress interacts with recombination and other genomic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher G Wilson
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK.
| | - Tymoteusz Pieszko
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Reuben W Nowell
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Ashworth Laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK; Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
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6
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Li M, Gao F, Zhu L, Li J, Xiang J, Xi Y, Xiang X. Geographic origin shapes the adaptive divergences of Rotaria rotatoria (Rotifera, Bdelloidea) to thermal stress: Insights from ecology and transcriptomics. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11307. [PMID: 38665893 PMCID: PMC11043679 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Global warming has raised concerns regarding the potential impact on aquatic biosafety and health. To illuminate the adaptive mechanisms of bdelloid rotifers in response to global warming, the ecological and transcriptomic characteristics of two strains (HX and ZJ) of Rotaria rotatoria were investigated at 25°C and 35°C. Our results showed an obvious genetic divergence between the two geographic populations. Thermal stress significantly reduced the average lifespan of R. rotatoria in both strains, but increased the offspring production in the ZJ strain. Furthermore, the expression levels of genes Hsp70 were significantly upregulated in the HX strain, while GSTo1 and Cu/Zn-SOD were on the contrary. In the ZJ strain, the expression levels of genes Hsp70, CAT2, and GSTo1 were upregulated under thermal stress. Conversely, a significant decrease in the expression level of the Mn-SOD gene was observed in the ZJ strain under thermal stress. Transcriptomic profiling analysis revealed a total of 105 and 5288 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the HX and ZJ strains under thermal stress, respectively. The PCA results showed clear differences in gene expression pattern between HX and ZJ strains under thermal stress. Interestingly, compared to the HX strain, numerous downregulated DEGs in the ZJ strain were enriched into pathways related to metabolism under thermal stress, suggesting that rotifers from the ZJ strain prioritize resource allocation to reproduction by suppressing costly metabolic processes. This finding is consistent with the life table results. This study provides new insights into the adaptive evolution of aquatic animals in the context of global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Li
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Fan Gao
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Lingyun Zhu
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Jianan Li
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Jinjin Xiang
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Yilong Xi
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co‐founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of EducationAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
| | - Xianling Xiang
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co‐founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of EducationAnhui Normal UniversityWuhuAnhuiChina
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7
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Moris VC, Bruneau L, Berthe J, Heuskin AC, Penninckx S, Ritter S, Weber U, Durante M, Danchin EGJ, Hespeels B, Doninck KV. Ionizing radiation responses appear incidental to desiccation responses in the bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga. BMC Biol 2024; 22:11. [PMID: 38273318 PMCID: PMC10809525 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01807-8] [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: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The remarkable resistance to ionizing radiation found in anhydrobiotic organisms, such as some bacteria, tardigrades, and bdelloid rotifers has been hypothesized to be incidental to their desiccation resistance. Both stresses produce reactive oxygen species and cause damage to DNA and other macromolecules. However, this hypothesis has only been investigated in a few species. RESULTS In this study, we analyzed the transcriptomic response of the bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga to desiccation and to low- (X-rays) and high- (Fe) LET radiation to highlight the molecular and genetic mechanisms triggered by both stresses. We identified numerous genes encoding antioxidants, but also chaperones, that are constitutively highly expressed, which may contribute to the protection of proteins against oxidative stress during desiccation and ionizing radiation. We also detected a transcriptomic response common to desiccation and ionizing radiation with the over-expression of genes mainly involved in DNA repair and protein modifications but also genes with unknown functions that were bdelloid-specific. A distinct transcriptomic response specific to rehydration was also found, with the over-expression of genes mainly encoding Late Embryogenesis Abundant proteins, specific heat shock proteins, and glucose repressive proteins. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the extreme resistance of bdelloid rotifers to radiation might indeed be a consequence of their capacity to resist complete desiccation. This study paves the way to functional genetic experiments on A. vaga targeting promising candidate proteins playing central roles in radiation and desiccation resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria C Moris
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), Department of Biology - URBE, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles, 61, B-5000, Namur, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology & Evolution (MBE), Department of Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Lucie Bruneau
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), Department of Biology - URBE, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles, 61, B-5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - Jérémy Berthe
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), Department of Biology - URBE, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles, 61, B-5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - Anne-Catherine Heuskin
- Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), Laboratory of Analysis By Nuclear Reactions (LARN), University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles, 61, B-5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - Sébastien Penninckx
- Medical Physics Department, Institut Jules Bordet - Université Libre de Bruxelles, 90 Rue Meylemeersch, 1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sylvia Ritter
- Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum Für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Uli Weber
- Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum Für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Marco Durante
- Biophysics Department, GSI Helmholtzzentrum Für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany
- Institute of Condensed Matter Physics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Etienne G J Danchin
- Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, INRAE, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, 06903, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Boris Hespeels
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), Department of Biology - URBE, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles, 61, B-5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - Karine Van Doninck
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), Department of Biology - URBE, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles, 61, B-5000, Namur, Belgium
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology & Evolution (MBE), Department of Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
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8
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Nicolas E, Simion P, Guérineau M, Terwagne M, Colinet M, Virgo J, Lingurski M, Boutsen A, Dieu M, Hallet B, Van Doninck K. Horizontal acquisition of a DNA ligase improves DNA damage tolerance in eukaryotes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7638. [PMID: 37993452 PMCID: PMC10665377 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43075-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Bdelloid rotifers are part of the restricted circle of multicellular animals that can withstand a wide range of genotoxic stresses at any stage of their life cycle. In this study, bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga is used as a model to decipher the molecular basis of their extreme tolerance. Proteomic analysis shows that a specific DNA ligase, different from those usually involved in DNA repair in eukaryotes, is strongly over-represented upon ionizing radiation. A phylogenetic analysis reveals its orthology to prokaryotic DNA ligase E, and its horizontal acquisition by bdelloid rotifers and plausibly other eukaryotes. The fungus Mortierella verticillata, having a single copy of this DNA Ligase E homolog, also exhibits an increased radiation tolerance with an over-expression of this DNA ligase E following X-ray exposure. We also provide evidence that A. vaga ligase E is a major contributor of DNA breaks ligation activity, which is a common step of all important DNA repair pathways. Consistently, its heterologous expression in human cell lines significantly improves their radio-tolerance. Overall, this study highlights the potential of horizontal gene transfers in eukaryotes, and their contribution to the adaptation to extreme conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilien Nicolas
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Brussels, 1050, Belgium.
| | - Paul Simion
- Université de Namur, Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology, Namur, 5000, Belgium
- Université de Rennes, Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution (ECOBIO UMR 6553), CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Marc Guérineau
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Brussels, 1050, Belgium
| | - Matthieu Terwagne
- Université de Namur, Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology, Namur, 5000, Belgium
| | - Mathilde Colinet
- Université de Namur, Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology, Namur, 5000, Belgium
| | - Julie Virgo
- Université de Namur, Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology, Namur, 5000, Belgium
| | - Maxime Lingurski
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Brussels, 1050, Belgium
| | - Anaïs Boutsen
- Université de Namur, Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology, Namur, 5000, Belgium
| | - Marc Dieu
- Université de Namur, MaSUN-mass spectrometry facility, Namur, 5000, Belgium
| | - Bernard Hallet
- Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Louvain-la-Neuve, 1348, Belgium.
| | - Karine Van Doninck
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Brussels, 1050, Belgium.
- Université de Namur, Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology, Namur, 5000, Belgium.
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9
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Dai D, Xie C, Zhou Y, Bo D, Zhang S, Mao S, Liao Y, Cui S, Zhu Z, Wang X, Li F, Peng D, Zheng J, Sun M. Unzipped chromosome-level genomes reveal allopolyploid nematode origin pattern as unreduced gamete hybridization. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7156. [PMID: 37935661 PMCID: PMC10630426 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42700-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation and consequences of polyploidization in animals with clonal reproduction remain largely unknown. Clade I root-knot nematodes (RKNs), characterized by parthenogenesis and allopolyploidy, show a widespread geographical distribution and extensive agricultural destruction. Here, we generated 4 unzipped polyploid RKN genomes and identified a putative novel alternative telomeric element. Then we reconstructed 4 chromosome-level assemblies and resolved their genome structures as AAB for triploid and AABB for tetraploid. The phylogeny of subgenomes revealed polyploid RKN origin patterns as hybridization between haploid and unreduced gametes. We also observed extensive chromosomal fusions and homologous gene expression decrease after polyploidization, which might offset the disadvantages of clonal reproduction and increase fitness in polyploid RKNs. Our results reveal a rare pathway of polyploidization in parthenogenic polyploid animals and provide a large number of high-precision genetic resources that could be used for RKN prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dadong Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Chuanshuai Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yayi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Dexin Bo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shurong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shengqiang Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yucheng Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Simeng Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zhaolu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xueyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Fanling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Donghai Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | - Jinshui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | - Ming Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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10
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Schelkunov MI. Mabs, a suite of tools for gene-informed genome assembly. BMC Bioinformatics 2023; 24:377. [PMID: 37794322 PMCID: PMC10548655 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-023-05499-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite constantly improving genome sequencing methods, error-free eukaryotic genome assembly has not yet been achieved. Among other kinds of problems of eukaryotic genome assembly are so-called "haplotypic duplications", which may manifest themselves as cases of alleles being mistakenly assembled as paralogues. Haplotypic duplications are dangerous because they create illusions of gene family expansions and, thus, may lead scientists to incorrect conclusions about genome evolution and functioning. RESULTS Here, I present Mabs, a suite of tools that serve as parameter optimizers of the popular genome assemblers Hifiasm and Flye. By optimizing the parameters of Hifiasm and Flye, Mabs tries to create genome assemblies with the genes assembled as accurately as possible. Tests on 6 eukaryotic genomes showed that in 6 out of 6 cases, Mabs created assemblies with more accurately assembled genes than those generated by Hifiasm and Flye when they were run with default parameters. When assemblies of Mabs, Hifiasm and Flye were postprocessed by a popular tool for haplotypic duplication removal, Purge_dups, genes were better assembled by Mabs in 5 out of 6 cases. CONCLUSIONS Mabs is useful for making high-quality genome assemblies. It is available at https://github.com/shelkmike/Mabs.
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11
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Janko K, Mikulíček P, Hobza R, Schlupp I. Sperm-dependent asexual species and their role in ecology and evolution. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10522. [PMID: 37780083 PMCID: PMC10534198 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction is the primary mode of reproduction in eukaryotes, but some organisms have evolved deviations from classical sex and switched to asexuality. These asexual lineages have sometimes been viewed as evolutionary dead ends, but recent research has revealed their importance in many areas of general biology. Our review explores the understudied, yet important mechanisms by which sperm-dependent asexuals that produce non-recombined gametes but rely on their fertilization, can have a significant impact on the evolution of coexisting sexual species and ecosystems. These impacts are concentrated around three major fields. Firstly, sperm-dependent asexuals can potentially impact the gene pool of coexisting sexual species by either restricting their population sizes or by providing bridges for interspecific gene flow whose type and consequences substantially differ from gene flow mechanisms expected under sexual reproduction. Secondly, they may impact on sexuals' diversification rates either directly, by serving as stepping-stones in speciation, or indirectly, by promoting the formation of pre- and postzygotic reproduction barriers among nascent species. Thirdly, they can potentially impact on spatial distribution of species, via direct or indirect (apparent) types of competition and Allee effects. For each such mechanism, we provide empirical examples of how natural sperm-dependent asexuals impact the evolution of their sexual counterparts. In particular, we highlight that these broad effects may last beyond the tenure of the individual asexual lineages causing them, which challenges the traditional perception that asexual lineages are short-lived evolutionary dead ends and minor sideshows. Our review also proposes new research directions to incorporate the aforementioned impacts of sperm-dependent asexuals. These research directions will ultimately enhance our understanding of the evolution of genomes and biological interactions in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel Janko
- Laboratory of Non‐Mendelian Evolution, Institute of Animal Physiology and GeneticsAcademy of Sciences of the Czech RepublicLiběchovCzech Republic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of OstravaOstravaCzech Republic
| | - Peter Mikulíček
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural SciencesComenius University in BratislavaBratislavaSlovakia
| | - Roman Hobza
- Department of Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of BiophysicsAcademy of Sciences of the Czech RepublicBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Ingo Schlupp
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OklahomaOklahomaNormanUSA
- Department of BiologyInternational Stock Center for Livebearing FishesOklahomaNormanUSA
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12
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Suring W, Hoogduin D, Le Ngoc G, Brouwer A, van Straalen NM, Roelofs D. Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetases in Animals. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1741. [PMID: 37761881 PMCID: PMC10531068 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091741] [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: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are a class of cytosolic enzymes that synthesize a range of bio-active secondary metabolites including antibiotics and siderophores. They are widespread among both prokaryotes and eukaryotes but are considered rare among animals. Recently, several novel NRPS genes have been described in nematodes, schistosomes, and arthropods, which led us to investigate how prevalent NRPS genes are in the animal kingdom. We screened 1059 sequenced animal genomes and showed that NRPSs were present in 7 out of the 19 phyla analyzed. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the identified NRPSs form clades distinct from other adenylate-forming enzymes that contain similar domains such as fatty acid synthases. NRPSs show a remarkably scattered distribution over the animal kingdom. They are especially abundant in rotifers and nematodes. In rotifers, we found a large variety of domain architectures and predicted substrates. In the nematode Plectus sambesii, we identified the beta-lactam biosynthesis genes L-δ-(α-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine synthetase, isopenicillin N synthase, and deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase that catalyze the formation of beta-lactam antibiotics in fungi and bacteria. These genes are also present in several species of Collembola, but not in other hexapods analyzed so far. In conclusion, our survey showed that NRPS genes are more abundant and widespread in animals than previously known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter Suring
- A-LIFE Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Academy Technology & Innovation, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Rengerslaan 8-10, 8917 DD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Dylan Hoogduin
- A-LIFE Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Giang Le Ngoc
- A-LIFE Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Lange Kleiweg 161, 2282 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Abraham Brouwer
- BioDetection Systems, Science Park 406, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nico M. van Straalen
- A-LIFE Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dick Roelofs
- A-LIFE Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Keygene N.V., Agro Business Park 90, 6708 PW Wageningen, The Netherlands
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13
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Blanc C, Saclier N, Le Faou E, Marie-Orleach L, Wenger E, Diblasi C, Glemin S, Galtier N, Delattre M. Cosegregation of recombinant chromatids maintains genome-wide heterozygosity in an asexual nematode. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi2804. [PMID: 37624896 PMCID: PMC10456839 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi2804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
In asexual animals, female meiosis is modified to produce diploid oocytes. If meiosis still involves recombination, this is expected to lead to a rapid loss of heterozygosity, with adverse effects on fitness. Many asexuals, however, have a heterozygous genome, the underlying mechanisms being most often unknown. Cytological and population genomic analyses in the nematode Mesorhabditis belari revealed another case of recombining asexual being highly heterozygous genome-wide. We demonstrated that heterozygosity is maintained despite recombination because the recombinant chromatids of each chromosome pair cosegregate during the unique meiotic division. A theoretical model confirmed that this segregation bias is necessary to account for the observed pattern and likely to evolve under a wide range of conditions. Our study uncovers an unexpected type of non-Mendelian genetic inheritance involving cosegregation of recombinant chromatids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Blanc
- Laboratory of Biology and Modeling of the Cell, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5239, Inserm U1293, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Nathanaelle Saclier
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université Montpellier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Ehouarn Le Faou
- University of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecologie, Biodiversité, Evolution)–UMR 6553, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Lucas Marie-Orleach
- University of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecologie, Biodiversité, Evolution)–UMR 6553, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Eva Wenger
- Laboratory of Biology and Modeling of the Cell, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5239, Inserm U1293, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Celian Diblasi
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université Montpellier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Sylvain Glemin
- University of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecologie, Biodiversité, Evolution)–UMR 6553, F-35000 Rennes, France
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nicolas Galtier
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université Montpellier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Marie Delattre
- Laboratory of Biology and Modeling of the Cell, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5239, Inserm U1293, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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14
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Zhou J, Horton JR, Kaur G, Chen Q, Li X, Mendoza F, Wu T, Blumenthal RM, Zhang X, Cheng X. Biochemical and structural characterization of the first-discovered metazoan DNA cytosine-N4 methyltransferase from the bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105017. [PMID: 37414145 PMCID: PMC10406627 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105017] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Much is known about the generation, removal, and roles of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) in eukaryote DNA, and there is a growing body of evidence regarding N6-methyladenine, but very little is known about N4-methylcytosine (4mC) in the DNA of eukaryotes. The gene for the first metazoan DNA methyltransferase generating 4mC (N4CMT) was reported and characterized recently by others, in tiny freshwater invertebrates called bdelloid rotifers. Bdelloid rotifers are ancient, apparently asexual animals, and lack canonical 5mC DNA methyltransferases. Here, we characterize the kinetic properties and structural features of the catalytic domain of the N4CMT protein from the bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga. We find that N4CMT generates high-level methylation at preferred sites, (a/c)CG(t/c/a), and low-level methylation at disfavored sites, exemplified by ACGG. Like the mammalian de novo 5mC DNA methyltransferase 3A/3B (DNMT3A/3B), N4CMT methylates CpG dinucleotides on both DNA strands, generating hemimethylated intermediates and eventually fully methylated CpG sites, particularly in the context of favored symmetric sites. In addition, like DNMT3A/3B, N4CMT methylates non-CpG sites, mainly CpA/TpG, though at a lower rate. Both N4CMT and DNMT3A/3B even prefer similar CpG-flanking sequences. Structurally, the catalytic domain of N4CMT closely resembles the Caulobacter crescentus cell cycle-regulated DNA methyltransferase. The symmetric methylation of CpG, and similarity to a cell cycle-regulated DNA methyltransferase, together suggest that N4CMT might also carry out DNA synthesis-dependent methylation following DNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jujun Zhou
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - John R Horton
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Gundeep Kaur
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Qin Chen
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Xuwen Li
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Fabian Mendoza
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Tao Wu
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Robert M Blumenthal
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Program in Bioinformatics, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
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15
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Gilbert C, Maumus F. Sidestepping Darwin: horizontal gene transfer from plants to insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 57:101035. [PMID: 37061183 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Horizontal transfer of genetic material (HT) is the passage of DNA between organisms by means other than reproduction. Increasing numbers of HT are reported in insects, with bacteria, fungi, plants, and insects acting as the main sources of these transfers. Here, we provide a detailed account of plant-to-insect HT events. At least 14 insect species belonging to 6 orders are known to have received plant genetic material through HT. One of them, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Middle East Asia Minor 1), concentrates most of these transfers, with no less than 28 HT events yielding 55 plant-derived genes in this species. Several plant-to-insect HT events reported so far involve gene families known to play a role in plant-parasite interactions. We highlight methodological approaches that may further help characterize these transfers. We argue that plant-to-insect HT is likely more frequent than currently appreciated and that in-depth studies of these transfers will shed new light on plant-insect interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Gilbert
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Evolution, Génomes, Comportement et Ecologie, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Florian Maumus
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, URGI, Versailles, France
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16
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Sperling AL, Glover DM. Parthenogenesis in dipterans: a genetic perspective. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230261. [PMID: 36946111 PMCID: PMC10031431 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Parthenogenesis has been documented in almost every phylum of animals, and yet this phenomenon is largely understudied. It has particular importance in dipterans since some parthenogenetic species are also disease vectors and agricultural pests. Here, we present a catalogue of parthenogenetic dipterans, although it is likely that many more remain to be identified, and we discuss how their developmental biology and interactions with diverse environments may be linked to different types of parthenogenetic reproduction. We discuss how the advances in genetics and genomics have identified chromosomal loci associated with parthenogenesis. In particular, a polygenic cause of facultative parthenogenesis has been uncovered in Drosophila mercatorum, allowing the corresponding genetic variants to be tested for their ability to promote parthenogenesis in another species, Drosophila melanogaster. This study probably identifies just one of many routes that could be followed in the evolution of parthenogenesis. We attempt to account for why the phenomenon has evolved so many times in the dipteran order and why facultative parthenogenesis appears particularly prevalent. We also discuss the significance of coarse genomic changes, including non-disjunction, aneuploidy, and polyploidy and how, together with changes to specific genes, these might relate to both facultative and obligate parthenogenesis in dipterans and other parthenogenetic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. L. Sperling
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - D. M. Glover
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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17
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Population Genomic Analyses Suggest a Hybrid Origin, Cryptic Sexuality, and Decay of Genes Regulating Seed Development for the Putatively Strictly Asexual Kingdonia uniflora (Circaeasteraceae, Ranunculales). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021451. [PMID: 36674965 PMCID: PMC9866071 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Asexual lineages are perceived to be short-lived on evolutionary timescales. Hence, reports for exceptional cases of putative 'ancient asexuals' usually raise questions about the persistence of such species. So far, there have been few studies to solve the mystery in plants. The monotypic Kingdonia dating to the early Eocene, contains only K. uniflora that has no known definitive evidence for sexual reproduction nor records for having congeneric sexual species, raising the possibility that the species has persisted under strict asexuality for a long period of time. Here, we analyze whole genome polymorphism and divergence in K. uniflora. Our results show that K. uniflora is characterized by high allelic heterozygosity and elevated πN/πS ratio, in line with theoretical expectations under asexual evolution. Allele frequency spectrum analysis reveals the origin of asexuality in K. uniflora occurred prior to lineage differentiation of the species. Although divergence within K. uniflora individuals exceeds that between populations, the topologies of the two haplotype trees, however, fail to match each other, indicating long-term asexuality is unlikely to account for the high allele divergence and K. uniflora may have a recent hybrid origin. Phi-test shows a statistical probability of recombination for the conflicting phylogenetic signals revealed by the split network, suggesting K. uniflora engages in undetected sexual reproduction. Detection of elevated genetic differentiation and premature stop codons (in some populations) in genes regulating seed development indicates mutational degradation of sexuality-specific genes in K. uniflora. This study unfolds the origin and persistence mechanism of a plant lineage that has been known to reproduce asexually and presents the genomic consequences of lack of sexuality.
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18
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Terwagne M, Nicolas E, Hespeels B, Herter L, Virgo J, Demazy C, Heuskin AC, Hallet B, Van Doninck K. DNA repair during nonreductional meiosis in the asexual rotifer Adineta vaga. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadc8829. [PMID: 36449626 PMCID: PMC9710870 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adc8829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Rotifers of the class Bdelloidea are microscopic animals notorious for their long-term persistence in the apparent absence of sexual reproduction and meiotic recombination. This evolutionary paradox is often counterbalanced by invoking their ability to repair environmentally induced genome breakage. By studying the dynamics of DNA damage response in the bdelloid species Adineta vaga, we found that it occurs rapidly in the soma, producing a partially reassembled genome. By contrast, germline DNA repair is delayed to a specific time window of oogenesis during which homologous chromosomes adopt a meiotic-like juxtaposed configuration, resulting in accurate reconstitution of the genome in the offspring. Our finding that a noncanonical meiosis is the mechanism of germline DNA repair in bdelloid rotifers gives previously unidentified insights on their enigmatic long-term evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Terwagne
- Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), NAmur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur 5000, Belgium
- Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology (LIBST), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium
| | - Emilien Nicolas
- Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), NAmur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur 5000, Belgium
- Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology (LIBST), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium
- Research Unit of Molecular Biology and Evolution (MBE), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, 1050, Belgium
| | - Boris Hespeels
- Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), NAmur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur 5000, Belgium
- Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Institute of Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur 5000, Belgium
| | - Ludovic Herter
- Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), NAmur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur 5000, Belgium
| | - Julie Virgo
- Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), NAmur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur 5000, Belgium
| | - Catherine Demazy
- Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), NAmur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur 5000, Belgium
- Cellular Biology Research Unit (URBC), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur 5000, Belgium
| | - Anne-Catherine Heuskin
- Laboratory of Analysis by Nuclear Reaction (LARN), NAmur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur 5000, Belgium
| | - Bernard Hallet
- Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology (LIBST), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium
| | - Karine Van Doninck
- Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology (LEGE), NAmur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur 5000, Belgium
- Research Unit of Molecular Biology and Evolution (MBE), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, 1050, Belgium
- Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Institute of Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE), University of Namur (UNamur), Namur 5000, Belgium
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19
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Muller H, Heisserer C, Fortuna T, Mougel F, Huguet E, Kaiser L, Gilbert C. Investigating bracovirus chromosomal integration and inheritance in lepidopteran host and nontarget species. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5538-5551. [PMID: 36070218 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Bracoviruses (BVs) are domesticated viruses found in braconid parasitoid wasp genomes. They are composed of domesticated genes from a nudivrius, coding viral particles in which wasp DNA circles are packaged. BVs are viewed as possible vectors of horizontal transfer of genetic material (HT) from wasp to their hosts because they are injected, together with wasp eggs, by female wasps into their host larvae, and because they undergo massive chromosomal integration in multiple host tissues. Here, we show that chromosomal integrations of the Cotesia typhae BV (CtBV) persist up to the adult stage in individuals of its natural host, Sesamia nonagrioides, that survived parasitism. However, while reproducing host adults can bear an average of nearly two CtBV integrations per haploid genome, we were unable to retrieve any of these integrations in 500 of their offspring using Illumina sequencing. This suggests either that host gametes are less targeted by CtBVs than somatic cells or that gametes bearing BV integrations are nonfunctional. We further show that CtBV can massively integrate into the chromosomes of other lepidopteran species that are not normally targeted by the wasp in the wild, including one which is divergent by at least 100 million years from the natural host. Cell entry and chromosomal integration of BVs are thus unlikely to be major factors shaping wasp host range. Together, our results shed new light on the conditions under which BV-mediated wasp-to-host HT may occur and provide information that may be helpful to evaluate the potential risks of uncontrolled HT associated with the use of parasitoid wasps as biocontrol agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse Muller
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Camille Heisserer
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.,UMR 7261 CNRS, Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Taiadjana Fortuna
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Florence Mougel
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Elisabeth Huguet
- UMR 7261 CNRS, Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Laure Kaiser
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Clément Gilbert
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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20
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Jaron KS, Hodson CN, Ellers J, Baird SJE, Ross L. Genomic evidence of paternal genome elimination in the globular springtail Allacma fusca. Genetics 2022; 222:6659513. [PMID: 35946560 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Paternal genome elimination (PGE) - a type of reproduction in which males inherit but fail to pass on their father's genome - evolved independently in six to eight arthropod clades. Thousands of species, including several important for agriculture, reproduce via this mode of reproduction. While PGE is well established in some of the clades, the evidence in globular springtails (Symphypleona) remains elusive, even though they represent the oldest and most species rich clade putatively reproducing via PGE. We sequenced genomic DNA from whole bodies of Allacma fusca males with high fractions (>27.5%) of sperm to conclusively confirm that all the sperm carry one parental haplotype only. Although it is suggestive that the single haplotype present in sperm is maternally inherited, definitive genetic proof of the parent of origin is still needed. The genomic approach we developed allows for detection of genotypic differences between germline and soma in all species with sufficiently high fraction of germline in their bodies. This opens new opportunities for scans of reproductive modes in small organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil S Jaron
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Christina N Hodson
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Jacintha Ellers
- Department of Ecological Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, NL
| | - Stuart J E Baird
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Studenec 122 675 02 Koněšín, CZ
| | - Laura Ross
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK
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21
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McElroy KE, Bankers L, Soper D, Hehman G, Boore JL, Logsdon JM, Neiman M. Patterns of gene expression in ovaries of sexual vs. asexual lineages of a freshwater snail. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.845640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Why sexual reproduction is so common when asexual reproduction should be much more efficient and less costly remains an open question in evolutionary biology. Comparisons between otherwise similar sexual and asexual taxa allow us to characterize the genetic architecture underlying asexuality, which can, in turn, illuminate how this reproductive mode transition occurred and the mechanisms by which it is maintained or disrupted. Here, we used transcriptome sequencing to compare patterns of ovarian gene expression between actively reproducing obligately sexual and obligately asexual females from multiple lineages of Potamopyrgus antipodarum, a freshwater New Zealand snail characterized by frequent separate transitions to asexuality and coexistence of otherwise similar sexual and asexual lineages. We also used these sequence data to evaluate whether population history accounts for variation in patterns of gene expression. We found that source population was a major source of gene expression variation, and likely more influential than reproductive mode. This outcome for these common garden-raised snails is strikingly similar to earlier results from field-collected snails. While we did not identify a likely set of candidate genes from expression profiles that could plausibly explain how transitions to asexuality occurred, we identified around 1,000 genes with evidence of differential expression between sexual and asexual reproductive modes, and 21 genes that appear to exhibit consistent expression differences between sexuals and asexuals across genetic backgrounds. This second smaller set of genes provides a good starting point for further exploration regarding a potential role in the transition to asexual reproduction. These results mark the first effort to characterize the causes of asexuality in P. antipodarum, demonstrate the apparently high heritability of gene expression patterns in this species, and hint that for P. antipodarum, transitions to asexuality might not necessarily be strongly associated with broad changes in gene expression.
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22
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Park JJC, Kim DH, Kim MS, Sayed AEDH, Hagiwara A, Hwang UK, Park HG, Lee JS. Comparative genome analysis of the monogonont marine rotifer Brachionus manjavacas Australian strain: Potential application for ecotoxicology and environmental genomics. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 180:113752. [PMID: 35617743 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113752] [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: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This is the first study to analyze the whole-genome sequence of B. manjavacas Australian (Aus.) strain through combination of Oxford Nanopore long-read seq, resulting in a total length of 108.1 Mb and 75 contigs. Genome-wide detoxification related gene families in B. manjavacas Aus. strain were comparatively analyzed with those previously identified in other Brachionus spp., including B. manjavacas German (Ger.) strain. Most of the subfamilies in detoxification related families (CYPs, GSTs, and ABCs) were highly conserved and confirmed orthologous relationship with Brachionus spp., and with accumulation of genome data, clear differences between genomic repertoires were demonstrated the marine and the freshwater species. Furthermore, strain-specific genetic variations were present between the Aus. and Ger. strains of B. manjavacas. This whole-genome analysis provides in-depth review on the genomic structural differences for detoxification-related gene families and further provides useful information for comparative ecotoxicological studies and evolution of detoxification mechanisms in Brachionus spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Jun Chul Park
- Département des Sciences, Université Sainte-Anne, Church Point, NS B0W 1M0, Canada
| | - Duck-Hyun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Min-Sub Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Alaa El-Din H Sayed
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt
| | - Atsushi Hagiwara
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
| | - Un-Ki Hwang
- Marine Environment Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Busan 46083, South Korea
| | - Heum Gi Park
- Department of Marine Ecology and Environment, College of Life Sciences, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, South Korea.
| | - Jae-Seong Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
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23
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Bacterial N4-methylcytosine as an epigenetic mark in eukaryotic DNA. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1072. [PMID: 35228526 PMCID: PMC8885841 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28471-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA modifications are used to regulate gene expression and defend against invading genetic elements. In eukaryotes, modifications predominantly involve C5-methylcytosine (5mC) and occasionally N6-methyladenine (6mA), while bacteria frequently use N4-methylcytosine (4mC) in addition to 5mC and 6mA. Here we report that 4mC can serve as an epigenetic mark in eukaryotes. Bdelloid rotifers, tiny freshwater invertebrates with transposon-poor genomes rich in foreign genes, lack canonical eukaryotic C5-methyltransferases for 5mC addition, but encode an amino-methyltransferase, N4CMT, captured from bacteria >60 Mya. N4CMT deposits 4mC at active transposons and certain tandem repeats, and fusion to a chromodomain shapes its “histone-read-DNA-write” architecture recognizing silent chromatin marks. Furthermore, amplification of SETDB1 H3K9me3 histone methyltransferases yields variants preferentially binding 4mC-DNA, suggesting “DNA-read-histone-write” partnership to maintain chromatin-based silencing. Our results show how non-native DNA methyl groups can reshape epigenetic systems to silence transposons and demonstrate the potential of horizontal gene transfer to drive regulatory innovation in eukaryotes. Eukaryotic DNA can be methylated as 5-methylcytosine and N6-methyladenine, but whether other forms of DNA methylation occur has been controversial. Here the authors show that a bacterial DNA methyltransferase was acquired >60 Mya in bdelloid rotifers that catalyzes N4-methylcytosine addition and is involved in suppression of transposon proliferation.
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