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Calvete JJ, Lomonte B, Saviola AJ, Calderón Celis F, Ruiz Encinar J. Quantification of snake venom proteomes by mass spectrometry-considerations and perspectives. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2024; 43:977-997. [PMID: 37155340 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21850] [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: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The advent of soft ionization mass spectrometry-based proteomics in the 1990s led to the development of a new dimension in biology that conceptually allows for the integral analysis of whole proteomes. This transition from a reductionist to a global-integrative approach is conditioned to the capability of proteomic platforms to generate and analyze complete qualitative and quantitative proteomics data. Paradoxically, the underlying analytical technique, molecular mass spectrometry, is inherently nonquantitative. The turn of the century witnessed the development of analytical strategies to endow proteomics with the ability to quantify proteomes of model organisms in the sense of "an organism for which comprehensive molecular (genomic and/or transcriptomic) resources are available." This essay presents an overview of the strategies and the lights and shadows of the most popular quantification methods highlighting the common misuse of label-free approaches developed for model species' when applied to quantify the individual components of proteomes of nonmodel species (In this essay we use the term "non-model" organisms for species lacking comprehensive molecular (genomic and/or transcriptomic) resources, a circumstance that, as we detail in this review-essay, conditions the quantification of their proteomes.). We also point out the opportunity of combining elemental and molecular mass spectrometry systems into a hybrid instrumental configuration for the parallel identification and absolute quantification of venom proteomes. The successful application of this novel mass spectrometry configuration in snake venomics represents a proof-of-concept for a broader and more routine application of hybrid elemental/molecular mass spectrometry setups in other areas of the proteomics field, such as phosphoproteomics, metallomics, and in general in any biological process where a heteroatom (i.e., any atom other than C, H, O, N) forms integral part of its mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Calvete
- Evolutionary and Translational Venomics Laboratory, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Unidad de Proteómica, Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Anthony J Saviola
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Jorge Ruiz Encinar
- Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
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2
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Chan DTC, Bernstein HC. Pangenomic landscapes shape performances of a synthetic genetic circuit across Stutzerimonas species. mSystems 2024:e0084924. [PMID: 39166875 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00849-24] [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: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Engineering identical genetic circuits into different species typically results in large differences in performance due to the unique cellular environmental context of each host, a phenomenon known as the "chassis-effect" or "context-dependency". A better understanding of how genomic and physiological contexts underpin the chassis-effect will improve biodesign strategies across diverse microorganisms. Here, we combined a pangenomic-based gene expression analysis with quantitative measurements of performance from an engineered genetic inverter device to uncover how genome structure and function relate to the observed chassis-effect across six closely related Stutzerimonas hosts. Our results reveal that genome architecture underpins divergent responses between our chosen non-model bacterial hosts to the engineered device. Specifically, differential expression of the core genome, gene clusters shared between all hosts, was found to be the main source of significant concordance to the observed differential genetic device performance, whereas specialty genes from respective accessory genomes were not significant. A data-driven investigation revealed that genes involved in denitrification and components of trans-membrane transporter proteins were among the most differentially expressed gene clusters between hosts in response to the genetic device. Our results show that the chassis-effect can be traced along differences among the most conserved genome-encoded functions and that these differences create a unique biodesign space among closely related species.IMPORTANCEContemporary synthetic biology endeavors often default to a handful of model organisms to host their engineered systems. Model organisms such as Escherichia coli serve as attractive hosts due to their tractability but do not necessarily provide the ideal environment to optimize performance. As more novel microbes are domesticated for use as biotechnology platforms, synthetic biologists are urged to explore the chassis-design space to optimize their systems and deliver on the promises of synthetic biology. The consequences of the chassis-effect will therefore only become more relevant as the field of biodesign grows. In our work, we demonstrate that the performance of a genetic device is highly dependent on the host environment it operates within, promoting the notion that the chassis can be considered a design variable to tune circuit function. Importantly, our results unveil that the chassis-effect can be traced along similarities in genome architecture, specifically the shared core genome. Our study advocates for the exploration of the chassis-design space and is a step forward to empowering synthetic biologists with knowledge for more efficient exploration of the chassis-design space to enable the next generation of broad-host-range synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Tin Chat Chan
- Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Hans C Bernstein
- Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- The Arctic Centre for Sustainable Energy, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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3
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Liu F, Deroy C, Herr AE. Microfluidics for macrofluidics: addressing marine-ecosystem challenges in an era of climate change. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:4007-4027. [PMID: 39093009 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00468j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Climate change presents a mounting challenge with profound impacts on ocean and marine ecosystems, leading to significant environmental, health, and economic consequences. Microfluidic technologies, with their unique capabilities, play a crucial role in understanding and addressing the marine aspects of the climate crisis. These technologies leverage quantitative, precise, and miniaturized formats that enhance the capabilities of sensing, imaging, and molecular tools. Such advancements are critical for monitoring marine systems under the stress of climate change and elucidating their response mechanisms. This review explores microfluidic technologies employed both in laboratory settings for testing and in the field for monitoring purposes. We delve into the application of miniaturized tools in evaluating ocean-based solutions to climate change, thus offering fresh perspectives from the solution-oriented end of the spectrum. We further aim to synthesize recent developments in technology around critical questions concerning the ocean environment and marine ecosystems, while discussing the potential for future innovations in microfluidic technology. The purpose of this review is to enhance understanding of current capabilities and assist researchers interested in mitigating the effects of climate change to identify new avenues for tackling the pressing issues posed by climate change in marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangchen Liu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94158, USA.
| | - Cyril Deroy
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94158, USA.
| | - Amy E Herr
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94158, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
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4
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Acs-Szabo L, Papp LA, Miklos I. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of human diseases: the benefits of fission yeasts. MICROBIAL CELL (GRAZ, AUSTRIA) 2024; 11:288-311. [PMID: 39104724 PMCID: PMC11299203 DOI: 10.15698/mic2024.08.833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
The role of model organisms such as yeasts in life science research is crucial. Although the baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is the most popular model among yeasts, the contribution of the fission yeasts (Schizosaccharomyces) to life science is also indisputable. Since both types of yeasts share several thousands of common orthologous genes with humans, they provide a simple research platform to investigate many fundamental molecular mechanisms and functions, thereby contributing to the understanding of the background of human diseases. In this review, we would like to highlight the many advantages of fission yeasts over budding yeasts. The usefulness of fission yeasts in virus research is shown as an example, presenting the most important research results related to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Vpr protein. Besides, the potential role of fission yeasts in the study of prion biology is also discussed. Furthermore, we are keen to promote the uprising model yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus, which is a dimorphic species in the fission yeast genus. We propose the hyphal growth of S. japonicus as an unusual opportunity as a model to study the invadopodia of human cancer cells since the two seemingly different cell types can be compared along fundamental features. Here we also collect the latest laboratory protocols and bioinformatics tools for the fission yeasts to highlight the many possibilities available to the research community. In addition, we present several limiting factors that everyone should be aware of when working with yeast models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lajos Acs-Szabo
- Department of Genetics and Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of DebrecenDebrecen, 4032Hungary
| | - Laszlo Attila Papp
- Department of Genetics and Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of DebrecenDebrecen, 4032Hungary
| | - Ida Miklos
- Department of Genetics and Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of DebrecenDebrecen, 4032Hungary
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5
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Moreland RT, Zhang S, Barreira SN, Ryan JF, Baxevanis AD. An AI-generated proteome-scale dataset of predicted protein structures for the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. Proteomics 2024; 24:e2300397. [PMID: 38329168 PMCID: PMC11296891 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202300397] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
This Dataset Brief describes the computational prediction of protein structures for the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. Here, we report the proteome-scale generation of 15,333 protein structure predictions using AlphaFold, as well as an updated implementation of publicly available search, manipulation, and visualization tools for these protein structure predictions through the Mnemiopsis Genome Project Portal (https://research.nhgri.nih.gov/mnemiopsis). The utility of these predictions is demonstrated by highlighting comparisons to experimentally determined structures for the light-sensitive protein mnemiopsin 1 and the ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR). The application of these novel protein structure prediction methods will serve to further position non-bilaterian species such as Mnemiopsis as powerful model systems for the study of early animal evolution and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Travis Moreland
- Center for Genomics and Data Science Research, Division of Intramural Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Suiyuan Zhang
- Center for Genomics and Data Science Research, Division of Intramural Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Sofia N. Barreira
- Center for Genomics and Data Science Research, Division of Intramural Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Joseph F. Ryan
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, Florida, U.S.A
| | - Andreas D. Baxevanis
- Center for Genomics and Data Science Research, Division of Intramural Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A
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6
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Hagen KD, Hart CJS, McInally SG, Dawson SC. Harnessing the power of new genetic tools to illuminate Giardia biology and pathogenesis. Genetics 2024; 227:iyae038. [PMID: 38626297 PMCID: PMC11151923 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae038] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Giardia is a prevalent single-celled microaerophilic intestinal parasite causing diarrheal disease and significantly impacting global health. Double diploid (essentially tetraploid) Giardia trophozoites have presented a formidable challenge to the development of molecular genetic tools to interrogate gene function. High sequence divergence and the high percentage of hypothetical proteins lacking homology to proteins in other eukaryotes have limited our understanding of Giardia protein function, slowing drug target validation and development. For more than 25 years, Giardia A and B assemblages have been readily amenable to transfection with plasmids or linear DNA templates. Here, we highlight the utility and power of genetic approaches developed to assess protein function in Giardia, with particular emphasis on the more recent clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats/Cas9-based methods for knockdowns and knockouts. Robust and reliable molecular genetic approaches are fundamental toward the interrogation of Giardia protein function and evaluation of druggable targets. New genetic approaches tailored for the double diploid Giardia are imperative for understanding Giardia's unique biology and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari D Hagen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Christopher J S Hart
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Shane G McInally
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
| | - Scott C Dawson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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7
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Tjeerdema E, Lee Y, Metry R, Hamdoun A. Semi-automated, high-content imaging of drug transporter knockout sea urchin (Lytechinus pictus) embryos. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2024; 342:313-329. [PMID: 38087422 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
A defining feature of sea urchins is their extreme fecundity. Urchins produce millions of transparent, synchronously developing embryos, ideal for spatial and temporal analysis of development. This biological feature has been effectively utilized for ensemble measurement of biochemical changes. However, it has been underutilized in imaging studies, where single embryo measurements are used. Here we present an example of how stable genetics and high content imaging, along with machine learning-based image analysis, can be used to exploit the fecundity and synchrony of sea urchins in imaging-based drug screens. Building upon our recently created sea urchin ABCB1 knockout line, we developed a high-throughput assay to probe the role of this drug transporter in embryos. We used high content imaging to compare accumulation and toxicity of canonical substrates and inhibitors of the transporter, including fluorescent molecules and antimitotic cancer drugs, in homozygous knockout and wildtype embryos. To measure responses from the resulting image data, we used a nested convolutional neural network, which rapidly classified embryos according to fluorescence or cell division. This approach identified sea urchin embryos with 99.8% accuracy and determined two-cell and aberrant embryos with 96.3% and 89.1% accuracy, respectively. The results revealed that ABCB1 knockout embryos accumulated the transporter substrate calcein 3.09 times faster than wildtypes. Similarly, knockouts were 4.71 and 3.07 times more sensitive to the mitotic poisons vinblastine and taxol. This study paves the way for large scale pharmacological screens in the sea urchin embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Tjeerdema
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Yoon Lee
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Rachel Metry
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Amro Hamdoun
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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8
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Petrucco CA, Crocker AW, D’Alessandro A, Medina EM, Gorman O, McNeill J, Gladfelter AS, Lew DJ. Tools for live-cell imaging of cytoskeletal and nuclear behavior in the unconventional yeast, Aureobasidium pullulans. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:br10. [PMID: 38446617 PMCID: PMC11064661 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-10-0388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Aureobasidium pullulans is a ubiquitous fungus with a wide variety of morphologies and growth modes including "typical" single-budding yeast, and interestingly, larger multinucleate yeast than can make multiple buds in a single cell cycle. The study of A. pullulans promises to uncover novel cell biology, but currently tools are lacking to achieve this goal. Here, we describe initial components of a cell biology toolkit for A. pullulans, which is used to express and image fluorescent probes for nuclei as well as components of the cytoskeleton. These tools allowed live-cell imaging of the multinucleate and multibudding cycles, revealing highly synchronous mitoses in multinucleate yeast that occur in a semiopen manner with an intact but permeable nuclear envelope. These findings open the door to using this ubiquitous polyextremotolerant fungus as a model for evolutionary cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia A. Petrucco
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Alex W. Crocker
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Alec D’Alessandro
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Edgar M. Medina
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Olivia Gorman
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Jessica McNeill
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710
| | | | - Daniel J. Lew
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710
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9
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Zdyrski C, Gabriel V, Gessler TB, Ralston A, Sifuentes-Romero I, Kundu D, Honold S, Wickham H, Topping NE, Sahoo DK, Bista B, Tamplin J, Ospina O, Piñeyro P, Arriaga M, Galan JA, Meyerholz DK, Allenspach K, Mochel JP, Valenzuela N. Establishment and characterization of turtle liver organoids provides a potential model to decode their unique adaptations. Commun Biol 2024; 7:218. [PMID: 38388772 PMCID: PMC10883927 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05818-1] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Painted turtles are remarkable for their freeze tolerance and supercooling ability along with their associated resilience to hypoxia/anoxia and oxidative stress, rendering them an ideal biomedical model for hypoxia-induced injuries (including strokes), tissue cooling during surgeries, and organ cryopreservation. Yet, such research is hindered by their seasonal reproduction and slow maturation. Here we developed and characterized adult stem cell-derived turtle liver organoids (3D self-assembled in vitro structures) from painted, snapping, and spiny softshell turtles spanning ~175My of evolution, with a subset cryopreserved. This development is, to the best of our knowledge, a first for this vertebrate Order, and complements the only other non-avian reptile organoids from snake venom glands. Preliminary characterization, including morphological, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses, revealed organoids enriched in cholangiocytes. Deriving organoids from distant turtles and life stages demonstrates that our techniques are broadly applicable to chelonians, permitting the development of functional genomic tools currently lacking in herpetological research. Such platform could potentially support studies including genome-to-phenome mapping, gene function, genome architecture, and adaptive responses to climate change, with implications for ecological, evolutionary, and biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Zdyrski
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
- 3D Health Solutions Inc., Ames, IA, USA.
- SMART Pharmacology, Precision One Health Initiative, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Vojtech Gabriel
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Thea B Gessler
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Itzel Sifuentes-Romero
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Debosmita Kundu
- Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Sydney Honold
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Hannah Wickham
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Nicholas E Topping
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Dipak Kumar Sahoo
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Basanta Bista
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Tamplin
- Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, USA
| | - Oscar Ospina
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Pablo Piñeyro
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Marco Arriaga
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | - Jacob A Galan
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | | | - Karin Allenspach
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- 3D Health Solutions Inc., Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- SMART Pharmacology, Precision One Health Initiative, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jonathan P Mochel
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- 3D Health Solutions Inc., Ames, IA, USA
- SMART Pharmacology, Precision One Health Initiative, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Nicole Valenzuela
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
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Sit B, Lamason RL. Pathogenic Rickettsia spp. as emerging models for bacterial biology. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0040423. [PMID: 38315013 PMCID: PMC10883807 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00404-23] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of free-living bacterial models like Escherichia coli far outpaces that of obligate intracellular bacteria, which cannot be cultured axenically. All obligate intracellular bacteria are host-associated, and many cause serious human diseases. Their constant exposure to the distinct biochemical niche of the host has driven the evolution of numerous specialized bacteriological and genetic adaptations, as well as innovative molecular mechanisms of infection. Here, we review the history and use of pathogenic Rickettsia species, which cause an array of vector-borne vascular illnesses, as model systems to probe microbial biology. Although many challenges remain in our studies of these organisms, the rich pathogenic and biological diversity of Rickettsia spp. constitutes a unique backdrop to investigate how microbes survive and thrive in host and vector cells. We take a bacterial-focused perspective and highlight emerging insights that relate to new host-pathogen interactions, bacterial physiology, and evolution. The transformation of Rickettsia spp. from pathogens to models demonstrates how recalcitrant microbes may be leveraged in the lab to tap unmined bacterial diversity for new discoveries. Rickettsia spp. hold great promise as model systems not only to understand other obligate intracellular pathogens but also to discover new biology across and beyond bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Sit
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Lamason
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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11
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Ma S, Zhang T, Wang R, Wang P, Liu Y, Chang J, Wang A, Lan X, Sun L, Sun H, Shi R, Lu W, Liu D, Zhang N, Hu W, Wang X, Xing W, Jia L, Xia Q. High-throughput and genome-scale targeted mutagenesis using CRISPR in a nonmodel multicellular organism, Bombyx mori. Genome Res 2024; 34:134-144. [PMID: 38191205 PMCID: PMC10903940 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278297.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Large-scale genetic mutant libraries are powerful approaches to interrogating genotype-phenotype correlations and identifying genes responsible for certain environmental stimuli, both of which are the central goal of life science study. We produced the first large-scale CRISPR-Cas9-induced library in a nonmodel multicellular organism, Bombyx mori We developed a piggyBac-delivered binary genome editing strategy, which can simultaneously meet the requirements of mixed microinjection, efficient multipurpose genetic operation, and preservation of growth-defect lines. We constructed a single-guide RNA (sgRNA) plasmid library containing 92,917 sgRNAs targeting promoters and exons of 14,645 protein-coding genes, established 1726 transgenic sgRNA lines following microinjection of 66,650 embryos, and generated 300 mutant lines with diverse phenotypic changes. Phenomic characterization of mutant lines identified a large set of genes responsible for visual phenotypic or economically valuable trait changes. Next, we performed pooled context-specific positive screens for tolerance to environmental pollutant cadmium exposure, and identified KWMTBOMO12902 as a strong candidate gene for breeding applications in sericulture industry. Collectively, our results provide a novel and versatile approach for functional B. mori genomics, as well as a powerful resource for identifying the potential of key candidate genes for improving various economic traits. This study also shows the effectiveness, practicality, and convenience of large-scale mutant libraries in other nonmodel organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanyuan Ma
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China;
| | - Tong Zhang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Ruolin Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Pan Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Medical Center of Hematology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Jiasong Chang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Aoming Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xinhui Lan
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Le Sun
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Run Shi
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Wei Lu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Wenbo Hu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xiaogang Wang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
- China Chongqing Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine & Health Science, Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica, Chongqing 400065, China
| | - Weiqing Xing
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Ling Jia
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China;
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12
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Kanamori A, Kobayashi Y. Gamete-exporting organs of vertebrates: dazed and confused. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1328024. [PMID: 38188014 PMCID: PMC10766852 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1328024] [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: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Mature gametes are transported externally for fertilization. In vertebrates, the gonads are located within the coelom. Consequently, each species has specific organs for export, which often vary according to sex. In most vertebrates, sperm ducts and oviducts develop from the Wolffian and Müllerian ducts, respectively. However, exceptions exist. Both sexes of cyclostomes, as well as females of basal teleosts, lack genital ducts but possess genital pores. In teleosts of both sexes, genital ducts are formed through the posterior extensions of gonads. These structures appear to be independent of both Wolffian and Müllerian ducts. Furthermore, the development of Wolffian and Müllerian ducts differs significantly among various vertebrates. Are these gamete-exporting organs homologous or not? A question extensively debated around the turn of the 20th century but now largely overlooked. Recent research has revealed the indispensable role of Wnt4a in genital duct development in both sexes of teleosts: zebrafish and medaka. wnt4a is an ortholog of mammalian Wnt4, which has functions in Müllerian duct formation. These results suggest a potential homology between the mammalian Müllerian ducts and genital ducts in teleosts. To investigate the homology of gamete-exporting organs in vertebrates, more detailed descriptions of their development across vertebrates, using modern cellular and genetic tools, are needed. Therefore, this review summarizes existing knowledge and unresolved questions on the structure and development of gamete-exporting organs in diverse vertebrate groups. This also underscores the need for comprehensive studies, particularly on cyclostomes, cartilaginous fishes, basal ray-finned fishes, and teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Kanamori
- Group of Development and Growth Regulation, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Kobayashi
- Laboratory for Aquatic Biology, Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara, Japan
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13
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Augendre L, Costa D, Escotte-Binet S, Aubert D, Villena I, Dumètre A, La Carbona S. Surrogates of foodborne and waterborne protozoan parasites: A review. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2023; 33:e00212. [PMID: 38028241 PMCID: PMC10661733 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00212] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora cayetanensis, and Toxoplasma gondii are major causes of waterborne and foodborne diseases worldwide. The assessment of their removal or inactivation during water treatment and food processing remains challenging, partly because research on these parasites is hindered by various economical, ethical, methodological, and biological constraints. To address public health concerns and gain new knowledge, researchers are increasingly seeking alternatives to the use of such pathogenic parasites. Over the past few decades, several non-pathogenic microorganisms and manufactured microparticles have been evaluated as potential surrogates of waterborne and foodborne protozoan parasites. Here, we review the surrogates that have been reported for C. parvum, C. cayetanensis, and T. gondii oocysts, and discuss their use and relevance to assess the transport, removal, and inactivation of these parasites in food and water matrices. Biological surrogates including non-human pathogenic Eimeria parasites, microorganisms found in water sources (anaerobic and aerobic spore-forming bacteria, algae), and non-biological surrogates (i.e. manufactured microparticles) have been identified. We emphasize that such surrogates have to be carefully selected and implemented depending on the parasite and the targeted application. Eimeria oocysts appear as promising surrogates to investigate in the future the pathogenic coccidian parasites C. cayetanensis and T. gondii that are the most challenging to work with.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Augendre
- EA 7510 ESCAPE Epidemiosurveillance and Circulation of Parasites in the Environment, University of Reims Champagne Ardennes, Faculty of Medicine, SFR Cap Santé Fed 4231, 51 Rue Cognacq Jay, 51096 Reims Cedex, France
- ACTALIA Food Safety, 310 Rue Popielujko, 50000, Saint-Lô, France
| | - Damien Costa
- EA 7510 ESCAPE Epidemiosurveillance and Circulation of Parasites in the Environment, University of Rouen Normandie, University Hospital of Rouen, 22 Boulevard Gambetta, 76183 Rouen Cedex, France
| | - Sandie Escotte-Binet
- EA 7510 ESCAPE Epidemiosurveillance and Circulation of Parasites in the Environment, University of Reims Champagne Ardennes, Faculty of Medicine, SFR Cap Santé Fed 4231, 51 Rue Cognacq Jay, 51096 Reims Cedex, France
| | - Dominique Aubert
- EA 7510 ESCAPE Epidemiosurveillance and Circulation of Parasites in the Environment, University of Reims Champagne Ardennes, Faculty of Medicine, SFR Cap Santé Fed 4231, 51 Rue Cognacq Jay, 51096 Reims Cedex, France
| | - Isabelle Villena
- EA 7510 ESCAPE Epidemiosurveillance and Circulation of Parasites in the Environment, University of Reims Champagne Ardennes, Faculty of Medicine, SFR Cap Santé Fed 4231, 51 Rue Cognacq Jay, 51096 Reims Cedex, France
| | - Aurélien Dumètre
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, IHU Méditerranée Infection, UMR Vectors - Tropical and Mediterranean Infections, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
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14
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Chevalier RL. Why is chronic kidney disease progressive? Evolutionary adaptations and maladaptations. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2023; 325:F595-F617. [PMID: 37675460 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00134.2023] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite significant advances in renal physiology, the global prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to increase. The emergence of multicellular organisms gave rise to increasing complexity of life resulting in trade-offs reflecting ancestral adaptations to changing environments. Three evolutionary traits shape CKD over the lifespan: 1) variation in nephron number at birth, 2) progressive nephron loss with aging, and 3) adaptive kidney growth in response to decreased nephron number. Although providing plasticity in adaptation to changing environments, the cell cycle must function within constraints dictated by available energy. Prioritized allocation of energy available through the placenta can restrict fetal nephrogenesis, a risk factor for CKD. Moreover, nephron loss with aging is a consequence of cell senescence, a pathway accelerated by adaptive nephron hypertrophy that maintains metabolic homeostasis at the expense of increased vulnerability to stressors. Driven by reproductive fitness, natural selection operates in early life but diminishes thereafter, leading to an exponential increase in CKD with aging, a product of antagonistic pleiotropy. A deeper understanding of the evolutionary constraints on the cell cycle may lead to manipulation of the balance between progenitor cell renewal and differentiation, regulation of cell senescence, and modulation of the balance between cell proliferation and hypertrophy. Application of an evolutionary perspective may enhance understanding of adaptation and maladaptation by nephrons in the progression of CKD, leading to new therapeutic advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L Chevalier
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
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15
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Guo L, Kruglyak L. Genetics and biology of coloration in reptiles: the curious case of the Lemon Frost geckos. Physiol Genomics 2023; 55:479-486. [PMID: 37642275 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00015.2023] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Although there are more than 10,000 reptile species, and reptiles have historically contributed to our understanding of biology, genetics research into class Reptilia has lagged compared with other animals. Here, we summarize recent progress in genetics of coloration in reptiles, with a focus on the leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius. We highlight genetic approaches that have been used to examine variation in color and pattern formation in this species as well as to provide insights into mechanisms underlying skin cancer. We propose that their long breeding history in captivity makes leopard geckos one of the most promising emerging reptilian models for genetic studies. More broadly, technological advances in genetics, genomics, and gene editing may herald a golden era for studies of reptile biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longhua Guo
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Geriatrics Center and Institute of Gerontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Leonid Kruglyak
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States
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16
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Lera-Ramírez M, Bähler J, Mata J, Rutherford K, Hoffman CS, Lambert S, Oliferenko S, Martin SG, Gould KL, Du LL, Sabatinos SA, Forsburg SL, Nielsen O, Nurse P, Wood V. Revised fission yeast gene and allele nomenclature guidelines for machine readability. Genetics 2023; 225:iyad143. [PMID: 37758508 PMCID: PMC10627252 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad143] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Standardized nomenclature for genes, gene products, and isoforms is crucial to prevent ambiguity and enable clear communication of scientific data, facilitating efficient biocuration and data sharing. Standardized genotype nomenclature, which describes alleles present in a specific strain that differ from those in the wild-type reference strain, is equally essential to maximize research impact and ensure that results linking genotypes to phenotypes are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR). In this publication, we extend the fission yeast clade gene nomenclature guidelines to support the curation efforts at PomBase (www.pombase.org), the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Model Organism Database. This update introduces nomenclature guidelines for noncoding RNA genes, following those set forth by the Human Genome Organisation Gene Nomenclature Committee. Additionally, we provide a significant update to the allele and genotype nomenclature guidelines originally published in 1987, to standardize the diverse range of genetic modifications enabled by the fission yeast genetic toolbox. These updated guidelines reflect a community consensus between numerous fission yeast researchers. Adoption of these rules will improve consistency in gene and genotype nomenclature, and facilitate machine-readability and automated entity recognition of fission yeast genes and alleles in publications or datasets. In conclusion, our updated guidelines provide a valuable resource for the fission yeast research community, promoting consistency, clarity, and FAIRness in genetic data sharing and interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Lera-Ramírez
- University College London, Department of Genetics Evolution and Environment, Darwin Building, 99-105 Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jürg Bähler
- University College London, Department of Genetics Evolution and Environment, Darwin Building, 99-105 Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Juan Mata
- University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Kim Rutherford
- University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | | | - Sarah Lambert
- Institut Curie, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3348, Orsay 91400, France
| | - Snezhana Oliferenko
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Sophie G Martin
- University of Geneva, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
| | - Kathleen L Gould
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Li-Lin Du
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Sarah A Sabatinos
- Toronto Metropolitan University, Department of Chemistry & Biology, Toronto M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Susan L Forsburg
- Molecular and Computational Biology Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Olaf Nielsen
- Department of Biology, Cell cycle and genome stability Group, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N DK2100, Denmark
| | - Paul Nurse
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Valerie Wood
- University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
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17
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Bertile F, Matallana-Surget S, Tholey A, Cristobal S, Armengaud J. Diversifying the concept of model organisms in the age of -omics. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1062. [PMID: 37857885 PMCID: PMC10587087 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05458-x] [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: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In today's post-genomic era, it is crucial to rethink the concept of model organisms. While a few historically well-established organisms, e.g. laboratory rodents, have enabled significant scientific breakthroughs, there is now a pressing need for broader inclusion. Indeed, new organisms and models, from complex microbial communities to holobionts, are essential to fully grasp the complexity of biological principles across the breadth of biodiversity. By fostering collaboration between biology, advanced molecular science and omics communities, we can collectively adopt new models, unraveling their molecular functioning, and uncovering fundamental mechanisms. This concerted effort will undoubtedly enhance human health, environmental quality, and biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Bertile
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 23 rue du Loess, 67037, Strasbourg Cedex 2, France.
| | - Sabine Matallana-Surget
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Andreas Tholey
- Systematic Proteome Research & Bioanalytics, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Susana Cristobal
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Linköping University, Linköping, 581 85, Sweden
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena, s/n, Leioa, 48940, Spain
| | - Jean Armengaud
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, 30200, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
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18
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Brauns F, Iñigo de la Cruz L, Daalman WKG, de Bruin I, Halatek J, Laan L, Frey E. Redundancy and the role of protein copy numbers in the cell polarization machinery of budding yeast. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6504. [PMID: 37845215 PMCID: PMC10579396 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42100-0] [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: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
How can a self-organized cellular function evolve, adapt to perturbations, and acquire new sub-functions? To make progress in answering these basic questions of evolutionary cell biology, we analyze, as a concrete example, the cell polarity machinery of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This cellular module exhibits an intriguing resilience: it remains operational under genetic perturbations and recovers quickly and reproducibly from the deletion of one of its key components. Using a combination of modeling, conceptual theory, and experiments, we propose that multiple, redundant self-organization mechanisms coexist within the protein network underlying cell polarization and are responsible for the module's resilience and adaptability. Based on our mechanistic understanding of polarity establishment, we hypothesize that scaffold proteins, by introducing new connections in the existing network, can increase the redundancy of mechanisms and thus increase the evolvability of other network components. Moreover, our work gives a perspective on how a complex, redundant cellular module might have evolved from a more rudimental ancestral form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fridtjof Brauns
- Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Department of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Leila Iñigo de la Cruz
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Werner K-G Daalman
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Ilse de Bruin
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Jacob Halatek
- Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Department of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Liedewij Laan
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
| | - Erwin Frey
- Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Department of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
- Max Planck School Matter to Life, Hofgartenstraße 8, D-80539, Munich, Germany.
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19
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Selleri L, Rijli FM. Shaping faces: genetic and epigenetic control of craniofacial morphogenesis. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:610-626. [PMID: 37095271 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00594-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Major differences in facial morphology distinguish vertebrate species. Variation of facial traits underlies the uniqueness of human individuals, and abnormal craniofacial morphogenesis during development leads to birth defects that significantly affect quality of life. Studies during the past 40 years have advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that establish facial form during development, highlighting the crucial roles in this process of a multipotent cell type known as the cranial neural crest cell. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in multi-omics and single-cell technologies that enable genes, transcriptional regulatory networks and epigenetic landscapes to be closely linked to the establishment of facial patterning and its variation, with an emphasis on normal and abnormal craniofacial morphogenesis. Advancing our knowledge of these processes will support important developments in tissue engineering, as well as the repair and reconstruction of the abnormal craniofacial complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Licia Selleri
- Program in Craniofacial Biology, Department of Orofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Filippo M Rijli
- Laboratory of Developmental Neuroepigenetics, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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20
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Poulin R. Model worms: knowledge gains and risks associated with the use of model species in parasitological research. Parasitology 2023; 150:967-978. [PMID: 37853764 PMCID: PMC10941210 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000963] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Model parasite species, whose entire life cycle can be completed in the laboratory and maintained for multiple generations, have played a fundamental role in our understanding of host–parasite interactions. Yet, keeping parasites in laboratory conditions may expose them to unnatural evolutionary pressures, and using laboratory cultures for research is therefore not without limitations. Using 2 widely-used model helminth species, the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta and the nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus, I illustrate the caution needed when interpreting experimental results on model species. I first review more than 1200 experimental studies published on these species in the past 4 decades, to determine which research areas they have contributed to. This is followed by an examination of the institutional laboratory cultures that have provided the parasites used in these studies. Some of these have persisted for decades and accounted for a substantial proportion of published studies, whereas others have been short-lived. Using information provided by the curators of active cultures, I summarize data on their origins and maintenance conditions. Finally, I discuss how laboratory cultures may have been subject to the influence of evolutionary genetic processes, such as founder effects, genetic drift and inbreeding. I also address the possibility that serial passage through laboratory hosts across multiple generations has exerted artificial selection on several parasite traits, resulting in genetic and phenotypic divergence among laboratory cultures, and between these cultures and natural parasite populations. I conclude with recommendations for the continued usage of laboratory helminth cultures aimed at maximizing their important contribution to parasitological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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21
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Metzemaekers M, Malengier-Devlies B, Gouwy M, De Somer L, Cunha FDQ, Opdenakker G, Proost P. Fast and furious: The neutrophil and its armamentarium in health and disease. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:1537-1606. [PMID: 37036061 DOI: 10.1002/med.21958] [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: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Neutrophils are powerful effector cells leading the first wave of acute host-protective responses. These innate leukocytes are endowed with oxidative and nonoxidative defence mechanisms, and play well-established roles in fighting invading pathogens. With microbicidal weaponry largely devoid of specificity and an all-too-well recognized toxicity potential, collateral damage may occur in neutrophil-rich diseases. However, emerging evidence suggests that neutrophils are more versatile, heterogeneous, and sophisticated cells than initially thought. At the crossroads of innate and adaptive immunity, neutrophils demonstrate their multifaceted functions in infectious and noninfectious pathologies including cancer, autoinflammation, and autoimmune diseases. Here, we discuss the kinetics of neutrophils and their products of activation from bench to bedside during health and disease, and provide an overview of the versatile functions of neutrophils as key modulators of immune responses and physiological processes. We focus specifically on those activities and concepts that have been validated with primary human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieke Metzemaekers
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bert Malengier-Devlies
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mieke Gouwy
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lien De Somer
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- European Reference Network for Rare Immunodeficiency, Autoinflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases (RITA) at the University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Ghislain Opdenakker
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul Proost
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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22
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Fatma Z, Tan SI, Boob AG, Zhao H. A landing pad system for multicopy gene integration in Issatchenkia orientalis. Metab Eng 2023; 78:200-208. [PMID: 37343658 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.06.010] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
The robust nature of the non-conventional yeast Issatchenkia orientalis allows it to grow under highly acidic conditions and therefore, has gained increasing interest in producing organic acids using a variety of carbon sources. Recently, the development of a genetic toolbox for I. orientalis, including an episomal plasmid, characterization of multiple promoters and terminators, and CRISPR-Cas9 tools, has eased the metabolic engineering efforts in I. orientalis. However, multiplex engineering is still hampered by the lack of efficient multicopy integration tools. To facilitate the construction of large, complex metabolic pathways by multiplex CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing, we developed a bioinformatics pipeline to identify and prioritize genome-wide intergenic loci and characterized 47 gRNAs located in 21 intergenic regions. These loci are screened for guide RNA cutting efficiency, integration efficiency of a gene cassette, the resulting cellular fitness, and GFP expression level. We further developed a landing pad system using components from these well-characterized loci, which can aid in the integration of multiple genes using single guide RNA and multiple repair templates of the user's choice. We have demonstrated the use of the landing pad for simultaneous integrations of 2, 3, 4, or 5 genes to the target loci with efficiencies greater than 80%. As a proof of concept, we showed how the production of 5-aminolevulinic acid can be improved by integrating five copies of genes at multiple sites in one step. We have further demonstrated the efficiency of this tool by constructing a metabolic pathway for succinic acid production by integrating five gene expression cassettes using a single guide RNA along with five different repair templates, leading to the production of 9 g/L of succinic acid in batch fermentations. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a single gRNA-mediated CRISPR platform to build complex metabolic pathways in a non-conventional yeast. This landing pad system will be a valuable tool for the metabolic engineering of I. orientalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zia Fatma
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States
| | - Shih-I Tan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States
| | - Aashutosh Girish Boob
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States
| | - Huimin Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States; Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States.
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Wang Z, Kim W, Wang YW, Yakubovich E, Dong C, Trail F, Townsend JP, Yarden O. The Sordariomycetes: an expanding resource with Big Data for mining in evolutionary genomics and transcriptomics. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2023; 4:1214537. [PMID: 37746130 PMCID: PMC10512317 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2023.1214537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Advances in genomics and transcriptomics accompanying the rapid accumulation of omics data have provided new tools that have transformed and expanded the traditional concepts of model fungi. Evolutionary genomics and transcriptomics have flourished with the use of classical and newer fungal models that facilitate the study of diverse topics encompassing fungal biology and development. Technological advances have also created the opportunity to obtain and mine large datasets. One such continuously growing dataset is that of the Sordariomycetes, which exhibit a richness of species, ecological diversity, economic importance, and a profound research history on amenable models. Currently, 3,574 species of this class have been sequenced, comprising nearly one-third of the available ascomycete genomes. Among these genomes, multiple representatives of the model genera Fusarium, Neurospora, and Trichoderma are present. In this review, we examine recently published studies and data on the Sordariomycetes that have contributed novel insights to the field of fungal evolution via integrative analyses of the genetic, pathogenic, and other biological characteristics of the fungi. Some of these studies applied ancestral state analysis of gene expression among divergent lineages to infer regulatory network models, identify key genetic elements in fungal sexual development, and investigate the regulation of conidial germination and secondary metabolism. Such multispecies investigations address challenges in the study of fungal evolutionary genomics derived from studies that are often based on limited model genomes and that primarily focus on the aspects of biology driven by knowledge drawn from a few model species. Rapidly accumulating information and expanding capabilities for systems biological analysis of Big Data are setting the stage for the expansion of the concept of model systems from unitary taxonomic species/genera to inclusive clusters of well-studied models that can facilitate both the in-depth study of specific lineages and also investigation of trait diversity across lineages. The Sordariomycetes class, in particular, offers abundant omics data and a large and active global research community. As such, the Sordariomycetes can form a core omics clade, providing a blueprint for the expansion of our knowledge of evolution at the genomic scale in the exciting era of Big Data and artificial intelligence, and serving as a reference for the future analysis of different taxonomic levels within the fungal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Wonyong Kim
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yen-Wen Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Elizabeta Yakubovich
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Caihong Dong
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Frances Trail
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Jeffrey P. Townsend
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Program in Microbiology, and Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Oded Yarden
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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Alam S, Gu Y, Reichert P, Bähler J, Oliferenko S. Optimization of energy production and central carbon metabolism in a non-respiring eukaryote. Curr Biol 2023; 33:2175-2186.e5. [PMID: 37164017 PMCID: PMC7615655 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.046] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Most eukaryotes respire oxygen, using it to generate biomass and energy. However, a few organisms have lost the capacity to respire. Understanding how they manage biomass and energy production may illuminate the critical points at which respiration feeds into central carbon metabolism and explain possible routes to its optimization. Here, we use two related fission yeasts, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Schizosaccharomyces japonicus, as a comparative model system. We show that although S. japonicus does not respire oxygen, unlike S. pombe, it is capable of efficient NADH oxidation, amino acid synthesis, and ATP generation. We probe possible optimization strategies through the use of stable isotope tracing metabolomics, mass isotopologue distribution analysis, genetics, and physiological experiments. S. japonicus appears to have optimized cytosolic NADH oxidation via glycerol-3-phosphate synthesis. It runs a fully bifurcated TCA pathway, sustaining amino acid production. Finally, we propose that it has optimized glycolysis to maintain high ATP/ADP ratio, in part by using the pentose phosphate pathway as a glycolytic shunt, reducing allosteric inhibition of glycolysis and supporting biomass generation. By comparing two related organisms with vastly different metabolic strategies, our work highlights the versatility and plasticity of central carbon metabolism in eukaryotes, illuminating critical adaptations supporting the preferential use of glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Alam
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK; Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Ying Gu
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK; Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Polina Reichert
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK; Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK; School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Jürg Bähler
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Snezhana Oliferenko
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK; Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK.
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Thoré ESJ, Merckx W. Substrate colour guides turquoise killifish's (Nothobranchius furzeri) choice of preferred spawning habitat. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2023; 102:1434-1441. [PMID: 37009851 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) is a promising new model species used in biomedical and ecological laboratory experiments, and should be kept under optimal conditions to ensure fish welfare and the quality of science. While the popularity of this model species is rapidly increasing, we need to improve our understanding of how the species interacts with its environment to optimize its husbandry. Specifically, turquoise killifish are substrate spawners that bury their eggs in the sediment, which can be accommodated under captive conditions, but it is not yet known whether or not turquoise killifish have a preference for a specific sediment colour. Here, we performed a laboratory experiment in which fish could choose between white, orange and black sand for spawning, colours which are relevant in both laboratory and field conditions. We assessed their preference in the context of single breeding pairs, as well as in a social group setting. Additionally, we also assessed the preference of individuals for a white versus black background in a nonmating context. Single breeding pairs deposited over 3.5 times more eggs in black compared to orange or white sand. Similarly, fish in social groups deposited over 3.5 times more eggs in black compared to orange sand, which in turn was over two times higher than that in white sand. Fish showed a slight preference for the black compared to the white zone in a nonmating context, but this did not correlate with substrate choice during the spawning tests. The results suggest that turquoise killifish select their preferred spawning location based on the colour of the substrate. These findings contribute to our understanding of the species' biology and can help to guide good welfare and scientific practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli S J Thoré
- TRANSfarm - Science, Engineering & Technology Group, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Wouter Merckx
- TRANSfarm - Science, Engineering & Technology Group, Leuven, Belgium
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Nirody JA. Flexible locomotion in complex environments: the influence of species, speed and sensory feedback on panarthropod inter-leg coordination. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:297127. [PMID: 36912384 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245111] [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: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Panarthropods (a clade containing arthropods, tardigrades and onychophorans) can adeptly move across a wide range of challenging terrains and their ability to do so given their relatively simple nervous systems makes them compelling study organisms. Studies of forward walking on flat terrain excitingly point to key features in inter-leg coordination patterns that seem to be 'universally' shared across panarthropods. However, when movement through more complex, naturalistic terrain is considered, variability in coordination patterns - from the intra-individual to inter-species level - becomes more apparent. This variability is likely to be due to the interplay between sensory feedback and local pattern-generating activity, and depends crucially on species, walking speed and behavioral goal. Here, I gather data from the literature of panarthropod walking coordination on both flat ground and across more complex terrain. This Review aims to emphasize the value of: (1) designing experiments with an eye towards studying organisms in natural environments; (2) thoughtfully integrating results from various experimental techniques, such as neurophysiological and biomechanical studies; and (3) ensuring that data is collected and made available from a wider range of species for future comparative analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine A Nirody
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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27
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Mock T. Algal model species for advancing biological sciences. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:1-3. [PMID: 36779558 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Mock
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ, Norwich, UK
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From model organism to application: Bacteria-induced growth and development of the green seaweed Ulva and the potential of microbe leveraging in algal aquaculture. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 134:69-78. [PMID: 35459546 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The marine green macroalga Ulva (Chlorophyta, Ulvales), also known as sea lettuce, coexists with a diverse microbiome. Many Ulva species proliferate in nature and form green algal blooms ("green tides"), which can occur when nutrient-rich wastewater from agricultural or densely populated areas is flushed into the sea. Bacteria are necessary for the adhesion of Ulva to its substrate, its growth, and the development of its blade morphology. In the absence of certain bacteria, Ulva mutabilis develops into a callus-like morphotype. However, with the addition of the necessary marine bacteria, the entire morphogenesis can be restored. Surprisingly, just two bacteria isolated from U. mutabilis are sufficient for inducing morphogenesis and establishing the reductionist system of a tripartite community. While one bacterial strain causes algal blade cell division, another causes the differentiation of basal cells into a rhizoid and supports cell wall formation because of a low concentration of the morphogen thallusin (below 10-10 mol/L). This review focuses on the research conducted on this topic since 2015, discusses how U. mutabilis has developed into a model organism in chemical ecology, and explores the questions that have already been addressed and the perspectives that a reductionist model system allows. In particular, the field of systems biology will achieve a comprehensive, quantitative understanding of the dynamic interactions between Ulva and its associated bacteria to better predict the behavior of the system as a whole. The reductionist approach has enabled the study of the bacteria-induced morphogenesis of Ulva. Specific questions regarding the optimization of cultivation conditions as well as the yield of raw materials for the food and animal feed industries can be answered in the laboratory and through applied science. Genome sequencing, the improvement of genetic engineering tools, and the first promising attempts to leverage macroalgae-microbe interactions in aquaculture make this model organism, which has a comparatively short parthenogenetic life cycle, attractive for both fundamental and applied research. The reviewed research paves the way for the synthetic biology of macroalgae-associated microbiomes in sustainable aquacultures.
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29
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Tiozzo S, Schneider I. Editorial: Emerging research organisms in regenerative biology. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1127607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
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Clark CJ, Hutchinson JR, Garland T. The Inverse Krogh Principle: All Organisms Are Worthy of Study. Physiol Biochem Zool 2023; 96:1-16. [PMID: 36626844 DOI: 10.1086/721620] [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] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AbstractKrogh's principle states, "For such a large number of problems there will be some animal of choice, or a few such animals, on which it can be most conveniently studied." The downside of picking a question first and then finding an ideal organism on which to study it is that it will inevitably leave many organisms neglected. Here, we promote the inverse Krogh principle: all organisms are worthy of study. The inverse Krogh principle and the Krogh principle are not opposites. Rather, the inverse Krogh principle emphasizes a different starting point for research: start with a biological unit, such as an organism, clade, or specific organism trait, then seek or create tractable research questions. Even the hardest-to-study species have research questions that can be asked of them: Where does it fall within the tree of life? What resources does it need to survive and reproduce? How does it differ from close relatives? Does it have unique adaptations? The Krogh and inverse Krogh approaches are complementary, and many research programs naturally include both. Other considerations for picking a study species include extreme species, species informative for phylogenetic analyses, and the creation of models when a suitable species does not exist. The inverse Krogh principle also has pitfalls. A scientist that picks the organism first might choose a research question not really suited to the organism, and funding agencies rarely fund organism-centered grant proposals. The inverse Krogh principle does not call for all organisms to receive the same amount of research attention. As knowledge continues to accumulate, some organisms-models-will inevitably have more known about them than others. Rather, it urges a broader search across organismal diversity to find sources of inspiration for research questions and the motivation needed to pursue them.
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31
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Puntin G, Sweet M, Fraune S, Medina M, Sharp K, Weis VM, Ziegler M. Harnessing the Power of Model Organisms To Unravel Microbial Functions in the Coral Holobiont. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2022; 86:e0005322. [PMID: 36287022 PMCID: PMC9769930 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00053-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Stony corals build the framework of coral reefs, ecosystems of immense ecological and economic importance. The existence of these ecosystems is threatened by climate change and other anthropogenic stressors that manifest in microbial dysbiosis such as coral bleaching and disease, often leading to coral mortality. Despite a significant amount of research, the mechanisms ultimately underlying these destructive phenomena, and what could prevent or mitigate them, remain to be resolved. This is mostly due to practical challenges in experimentation on corals and the highly complex nature of the coral holobiont that also includes bacteria, archaea, protists, and viruses. While the overall importance of these partners is well recognized, their specific contributions to holobiont functioning and their interspecific dynamics remain largely unexplored. Here, we review the potential of adopting model organisms as more tractable systems to address these knowledge gaps. We draw on parallels from the broader biological and biomedical fields to guide the establishment, implementation, and integration of new and emerging model organisms with the aim of addressing the specific needs of coral research. We evaluate the cnidarian models Hydra, Aiptasia, Cassiopea, and Astrangia poculata; review the fast-evolving field of coral tissue and cell cultures; and propose a framework for the establishment of "true" tropical reef-building coral models. Based on this assessment, we also suggest future research to address key aspects limiting our ability to understand and hence improve the response of reef-building corals to future ocean conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Puntin
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Marine Holobiomics Lab, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Michael Sweet
- Aquatic Research Facility, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastian Fraune
- Institute for Zoology and Organismic Interactions, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mónica Medina
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Koty Sharp
- Department of Biology, Marine Biology, and Environmental Science, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Virginia M. Weis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Marine Holobiomics Lab, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Schraverus H, Larondelle Y, Page MM. Beyond the Lab: What We Can Learn about Cancer from Wild and Domestic Animals. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246177. [PMID: 36551658 PMCID: PMC9776354 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246177] [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: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer research has benefited immensely from the use of animal models. Several genetic tools accessible in rodent models have provided valuable insight into cellular and molecular mechanisms linked to cancer development or metastasis and various lines are available. However, at the same time, it is important to accompany these findings with those from alternative or non-model animals to offer new perspectives into the understanding of tumor development, prevention, and treatment. In this review, we first discuss animals characterized by little or no tumor development. Cancer incidence in small animals, such as the naked mole rat, blind mole rat and bats have been reported as almost negligible and tumor development may be inhibited by increased defense and repair mechanisms, altered cell cycle signaling and reduced rates of cell migration to avoid tumor microenvironments. On the other end of the size spectrum, large animals such as elephants and whales also appear to have low overall cancer rates, possibly due to gene replicates that are involved in apoptosis and therefore can inhibit uncontrolled cell cycle progression. While it is important to determine the mechanisms that lead to cancer protection in these animals, we can also take advantage of other animals that are highly susceptible to cancer, especially those which develop tumors similar to humans, such as carnivores or poultry. The use of such animals does not require the transplantation of malignant cancer cells or use of oncogenic substances as they spontaneously develop tumors of similar presentation and pathophysiology to those found in humans. For example, some tumor suppressor genes are highly conserved between humans and domestic species, and various tumors develop in similar ways or because of a common environment. These animals are therefore of great interest for broadening perspectives and techniques and for gathering information on the tumor mechanisms of certain types of cancer. Here we present a detailed review of alternative and/or non-model vertebrates, that can be used at different levels of cancer research to open new perspectives and fields of action.
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De-la-Cruz IM, Kariñho-Betancourt E, Núñez-Farfán J, Oyama K. Gene family evolution and natural selection signatures in Datura spp. (Solanaceae). Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.916762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidating the diversification process of congeneric species makes it necessary to identify the factors promoting species variation and diversification. Comparative gene family analysis allows us to elucidate the evolutionary history of species by identifying common genetic/genomic mechanisms underlying species responses to biotic and abiotic environments at the genomic level. In this study, we analyzed the high-quality transcriptomes of four Datura species, D. inoxia, D. pruinosa, D. stramonium, and D. wrightii. We performed a thorough comparative gene family analysis to infer the role of selection in molecular variation, changes in protein physicochemical properties, and gain/loss of genes during their diversification processes. The results revealed common and species-specific signals of positive selection, physicochemical divergence and/or expansion of metabolic genes (e.g., transferases and oxidoreductases) associated with terpene and tropane metabolism and some resistance genes (R genes). The gene family analysis presented here is a valuable tool for understanding the genome evolution of economically and ecologically significant taxa such as the Solanaceae family.
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Quiroga-Artigas G, de Jong D, Schnitzler CE. GNL3 is an evolutionarily conserved stem cell gene influencing cell proliferation, animal growth and regeneration in the hydrozoan Hydractinia. Open Biol 2022; 12:220120. [PMID: 36069077 PMCID: PMC9449814 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220120] [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] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleostemin (NS) is a vertebrate gene preferentially expressed in stem and cancer cells, which acts to regulate cell cycle progression, genome stability and ribosome biogenesis. NS and its paralogous gene, GNL3-like (GNL3L), arose in the vertebrate clade after a duplication event from their orthologous gene, G protein Nucleolar 3 (GNL3). Research on invertebrate GNL3, however, has been limited. To gain a greater understanding of the evolution and functions of the GNL3 gene, we have performed studies in the hydrozoan cnidarian Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus, a colonial hydroid that continuously generates pluripotent stem cells throughout its life cycle and presents impressive regenerative abilities. We show that Hydractinia GNL3 is expressed in stem and germline cells. The knockdown of GNL3 reduces the number of mitotic and S-phase cells in Hydractinia larvae of different ages. Genome editing of Hydractinia GNL3 via CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in colonies with reduced growth rates, polyps with impaired regeneration capabilities, gonadal morphological defects, and low sperm motility. Collectively, our study shows that GNL3 is an evolutionarily conserved stem cell and germline gene involved in cell proliferation, animal growth, regeneration and sexual reproduction in Hydractinia, and sheds new light into the evolution of GNL3 and of stem cell systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Quiroga-Artigas
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St Augustine, FL 32080, USA
| | - Danielle de Jong
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St Augustine, FL 32080, USA
| | - Christine E Schnitzler
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St Augustine, FL 32080, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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The presence of BBB hastens neuronal differentiation of cerebral organoids - The potential role of endothelial derived BDNF. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 626:30-37. [PMID: 35970042 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.07.112] [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: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Despite remaining the best in vitro model to resemble the human brain, a weakness of human cerebral organoids is the lack of the endothelial component that in vivo organizes in the blood brain barrier (BBB). Since the BBB is crucial to control the microenvironment of the nervous system, this study proposes a co-culture of BBB and cerebral organoids. We utilized a BBB model consisting of primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells and astrocytes in a transwell system. Starting from induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) we generated human cerebral organoids which were then cultured in the absence or presence of an in vitro model of BBB to evaluate potential effects on the maturation of cerebral organoids. By morphological analysis, it emerges that in the presence of the BBB the cerebral organoids are better organized than controls in the absence of the BBB. This effect might be due to Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a neurotrophic factor released by the endothelial component of the BBB, which is involved in neurodevelopment, neuroplasticity and neurosurvival.
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Doherty JF, Matthews BJ. Host Manipulation, Gene Editing, and Non-Traditional Model Organisms: A New Frontier for Behavioral Research? FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:938644. [PMID: 38468779 PMCID: PMC10926399 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.938644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Insects and parasites dominate the biosphere, in terms of known biodiversity and mode of life, respectively. Consequently, insects play a part in many host-parasite systems, either as parasite, host, or both. Moreover, a lot of these systems involve adaptive parasite-induced changes of host phenotype (typically behavior or morphology), which is commonly known as host manipulation. While many host manipulation systems have been described within the last few decades, the proximate mechanisms that underpin host phenotypic change are still largely unknown. Given the intimate co-evolutionary history of host-parasite systems, teasing apart the intricate network of biochemical reactions involved in host manipulation requires the integration of various complementary technologies. In this perspective, we stress the importance of multidisciplinary research on host manipulation, such as high-throughput sequencing methods (genomics and transcriptomics) to search for candidate mechanisms that are activated during a manipulation event. Then, we argue that gene editing technologies, specifically the CRISPR-Cas9 system, are a powerful way to test for the functional roles of candidate mechanisms, in both the parasite and the host. Finally, given the sheer diversity of unique host-parasite systems discovered to date, there is indeed a tremendous potential to create novel non-traditional model systems that could greatly expand our capacity to test the fundamental aspects of behavior and behavioral regulation.
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García G, Gutiérrez V, Ríos N. Living in Temporary Ponds Loading Giant Genomes: The Neotropical Annual Killifish Genus Austrolebias as New Outstanding Evolutionary Model. Front Genet 2022; 13:903683. [PMID: 35795213 PMCID: PMC9251178 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.903683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The term Annual killifish describes a short-lived and amazing group of vertebrates inhabiting temporary ponds exposed to an extremely variable environment during its short lifespan in South America and Africa, leading to the death of the entire adult population during the dry season. Austrolebias is a specious genus of the family Rivulidae, with ∼58 currently recognized species, extensively distributed in the temperate Neotropical region. Herein, we reviewed different aspects of the evolutionary biology with emphasis on the genome dynamic linked to the burst speciation process in this genus. Austrolebias constitutes an excellent model to study the genomic evolutionary processes underlying speciation events, since all the species of this genus analyzed so far share an unusually large genome size, with an average DNA content of 5.95 ± 0.45 picograms per diploid cell (mean C-value of about 2.98 pg). The drastic nuclear DNA–increasing would be associated with a considerable proportion of transposable elements (TEs) found in the Austrolebias genomes. The genomic proportion of the moderately repetitive DNA in the A. charrua genome represents approximately twice (45%) the amount of the repetitive components of the highly related sympatric and syntopic rivulinae taxon Cynopoecilus melanotaenia (25%), as well as from other rivulids and actinopterygian fish. These events could explain the great genome instability, the high genetic diversity, chromosome variability, as well as the morphological diversity in species of Austrolebias. Thus, species of this genus represent new model systems linking different evolutionary processes: drastic genome increase, massive TEs genomic representation, high chromosome instability, occurrence of natural hybridization between sister species, and burst speciation events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Néstor Ríos
- Sección Genética Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, UdelaR, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Stenglein MD. The Case for Studying New Viruses of New Hosts. Annu Rev Virol 2022; 9:157-172. [PMID: 35671564 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-100220-112915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Virology has largely focused on viruses that are pathogenic to humans or to the other species that we care most about. There is no doubt that this has been a worthwhile investment. But many transformative advances have been made through the in-depth study of relatively obscure viruses that do not appear on lists of prioritized pathogens. In this review, I highlight the benefits that can accrue from the study of viruses and hosts off the beaten track. I take stock of viral sequence diversity across host taxa as an estimate of the bias that exists in our understanding of host-virus interactions. I describe the gains that have been made through the metagenomic discovery of thousands of new viruses in previously unsampled hosts as well as the limitations of metagenomic surveys. I conclude by suggesting that the study of viruses that naturally infect existing and emerging model organisms represents an opportunity to push virology forward in useful and hard to predict ways.Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Virology, Volume 9 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Stenglein
- Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA;
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Li GY, Zhang ZQ. Age-specific mortality and fecundity of a spider mite under diet restriction and delayed mating. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:889-899. [PMID: 34264548 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12948] [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: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Numerous experimental life-history studies on aging are mainly baised on two classical models-fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (Maupas)-with relatively little attention given to other organisms with different life-history characters. Two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) differs from many other arthropods in that the females continue their growth in the early adult stage and can reproduce sexually and asexually. In this study, the influences of dietary restriction and delayed mating on the aging patterns of the spider mite were examined with the prevailing survival and reproduction trade-off hypothesis of aging being tested. Significant sex-specific responses of the spider mites were found. The females showed longevity extension on diet restriction (fasting for 2 days in every 4 days) compared with their counterparts being fed ad libitum, and after delayed mating for 9 days, while the males displayed a decrease in lifespan when experiencing diet restriction but were not significantly influenced by delayed mating. Path analysis was used to investigate the relationship between mite survival and reproduction traits, including longevity, female lifetime reproduction, age at first reproduction, early reproductive efforts and late reproductive efforts, yielding no evidence for trade-offs between these life-history traits. The additive effects of dietary restriction and delayed mating in lifespan extension of female spider mites were confirmed, proving that diet restriction is a robust anti-aging intervention, and that later onset of reproduction can prolong adult lifespan in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Yun Li
- Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Zhang
- Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand
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Kotlík P, Marková S, Horníková M, Escalante MA, Searle JB. The Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) as a Model System for Adaptive Phylogeography in the European Theater. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.866605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The legacy of climatic changes during the Pleistocene glaciations allows inferences to be made about the patterns and processes associated with range expansion/colonization, including evolutionary adaptation. With the increasing availability of population genomic data, we have the opportunity to examine these questions in detail and in a variety of non-traditional model species. As an exemplar, here we review more than two decades of work by our group and others that illustrate the potential of a single “non-model model” mammal species - the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), which is particularly well suited to illustrate the complexities that may be associated with range expansion and the power of genomics (and other datasets) to uncover them. We first summarize early phylogeographic work using mitochondrial DNA and then describe new phylogeographic insights gained from population genomic analysis of genome-wide SNP data to highlight the bank vole as one of the most compelling examples of a forest mammal, that survived in cryptic extra-Mediterranean (“northern”) glacial refugia in Europe, and as one of the species in which substantial replacement and mixing of lineages originating from different refugia occurred during end-glacial colonization. Our studies of bank vole hemoglobin structure and function, as well as our recent ecological niche modeling study examining differences among bank vole lineages, led us to develop the idea of “adaptive phylogeography.” This is what we call the study of the role of adaptive differences among populations in shaping phylogeographic patterns. Adaptive phylogeography provides a link between past population history and adaptation that can ultimately help predict the potential of future species responses to climate change. Because the bank vole is part of a community of organisms whose range has repeatedly contracted and then expanded in the past, what we learn from the bank vole will be useful for our understanding of a broad range of species.
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Sex-specific regulation of development, growth and metabolism. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 138:117-127. [PMID: 35469676 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.04.017] [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] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Adult females and males of most species differ in many aspects of their morphology, physiology and behavior, in response to sex-specific selective pressures that maximize fitness. While we have an increasingly good understanding of the genetic mechanisms that initiate these differences, the sex-specific developmental trajectories that generate them are much less well understood. Here we review recent advances in the sex-specific regulation of development focusing on two models where this development is increasingly well understood: Sexual dimorphism of body size in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and sexual dimorphism of horns in the horned beetle Onthophagus taurus. Because growth and development are also supported by metabolism, the regulation of sex-specific metabolism during and after development is an important aspect of the generation of female and male phenotypes. Hitherto, the study of sex-specific development has largely been independent of the study of sex-specific metabolism. Nevertheless, as we discuss in this review, recent research has begun to reveal considerable overlap in the cellular and physiological mechanisms that regulate sex-specific development and metabolism.
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Haynes EM, Ulland TK, Eliceiri KW. A Model of Discovery: The Role of Imaging Established and Emerging Non-mammalian Models in Neuroscience. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:867010. [PMID: 35493325 PMCID: PMC9046975 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.867010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents have been the dominant animal models in neurobiology and neurological disease research over the past 60 years. The prevalent use of rats and mice in neuroscience research has been driven by several key attributes including their organ physiology being more similar to humans, the availability of a broad variety of behavioral tests and genetic tools, and widely accessible reagents. However, despite the many advances in understanding neurobiology that have been achieved using rodent models, there remain key limitations in the questions that can be addressed in these and other mammalian models. In particular, in vivo imaging in mammals at the cell-resolution level remains technically difficult and demands large investments in time and cost. The simpler nervous systems of many non-mammalian models allow for precise mapping of circuits and even the whole brain with impressive subcellular resolution. The types of non-mammalian neuroscience models available spans vertebrates and non-vertebrates, so that an appropriate model for most cell biological questions in neurodegenerative disease likely exists. A push to diversify the models used in neuroscience research could help address current gaps in knowledge, complement existing rodent-based bodies of work, and bring new insight into our understanding of human disease. Moreover, there are inherent aspects of many non-mammalian models such as lifespan and tissue transparency that can make them specifically advantageous for neuroscience studies. Crispr/Cas9 gene editing and decreased cost of genome sequencing combined with advances in optical microscopy enhances the utility of new animal models to address specific questions. This review seeks to synthesize current knowledge of established and emerging non-mammalian model organisms with advances in cellular-resolution in vivo imaging techniques to suggest new approaches to understand neurodegeneration and neurobiological processes. We will summarize current tools and in vivo imaging approaches at the single cell scale that could help lead to increased consideration of non-mammalian models in neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Haynes
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, United States
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Tyler K. Ulland
- Department of Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kevin W. Eliceiri
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, United States
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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Wood V, Sternberg PW, Lipshitz HD. Making biological knowledge useful for humans and machines. Genetics 2022; 220:6563297. [PMID: 35380659 PMCID: PMC8982017 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
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Nakamura T, Ylla G, Extavour CG. Genomics and genome editing techniques of crickets, an emerging model insect for biology and food science. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 50:100881. [PMID: 35123119 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2022.100881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Most tools available for manipulating gene function in insects have been developed for holometabolous species. In contrast, functional genetics tools for the Hemimetabola are highly underdeveloped. This is a barrier both to understanding ancestral insect biology, and to optimizing contemporary study and manipulation of particular large hemimetabolous orders of crucial economic and agricultural importance like the Orthoptera. For orthopteran insects, including crickets, the rapid spread of next-generation sequencing technology has made transcriptome data available for a wide variety of species over the past decade. Furthermore, whole genome sequences of orthopteran insects with relatively large genome sizes are now available. With these new genome assemblies and the development of genome editing technologies such as the CRISPR-Cas9 system, it has become possible to create gene knock-out and knock-in strains in orthopteran insects. As a result, orthopteran species should become increasingly feasible for laboratory study not only in research fields that have traditionally used insects, but also in agricultural fields that use them as food and feed. In this review, we summarize these recent advances and their relevance to such applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Nakamura
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan; Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Japan.
| | - Guillem Ylla
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, USA; Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Cassandra G Extavour
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA
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Brysch-Herzberg M, Jia GS, Seidel M, Assali I, Du LL. Insights into the ecology of Schizosaccharomyces species in natural and artificial habitats. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2022; 115:661-695. [PMID: 35359202 PMCID: PMC9007792 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-022-01720-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The fission yeast genus Schizosaccharomyces contains important model organisms for biological research. In particular, S. pombe is a widely used model eukaryote. So far little is known about the natural and artificial habitats of species in this genus. Finding out where S. pombe and other fission yeast species occur and how they live in their habitats can promote better understanding of their biology. Here we investigate in which substrates S. pombe, S. octosporus, S. osmophilus and S. japonicus are present. To this end about 2100 samples consisting of soil, tree sap fluxes, fresh fruit, dried fruit, honey, cacao beans, molasses and other substrates were analyzed. Effective isolation methods that allow efficient isolation of the above mentioned species were developed. Based on the frequency of isolating different fission yeast species in various substrates and on extensive literature survey, conclusions are drawn on their ecology. The results suggest that the primary habitat of S. pombe and S. octosporus is honeybee honey. Both species were also frequently detected on certain dried fruit like raisins, mango or pineapple to which they could be brought by the honey bees during ripening or during drying. While S. pombe was regularly isolated from grape mash and from fermented raw cacao beans S. octosporus was never isolated from fresh fruit. The main habitat of S. osmophilus seems to be solitary bee beebread. It was rarely isolated from raisins. S. japonicus was mainly found in forest substrates although it occurs on fruit and in fruit fermentations, too.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Brysch-Herzberg
- Laboratory for Wine Microbiology, Department International Business, Heilbronn University, Max-Planck-Str. 39, 74081 Heilbronn, Germany
| | - Guo-Song Jia
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206 China
| | - Martin Seidel
- Laboratory for Wine Microbiology, Department International Business, Heilbronn University, Max-Planck-Str. 39, 74081 Heilbronn, Germany
| | - Imen Assali
- Department of Bioengineering, National Engineering School of Sfax, University of Sfax, Soukra, km 4, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Li-Lin Du
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, 102206 China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 102206 China
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Abouheif E. My road to the ants: A model clade for eco-evo-devo. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 147:231-290. [PMID: 35337451 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This chapter is the story of how I pioneered ants as a system for studying eco-evo-devo, a field that integrates developmental biology with ecology and evolutionary biology. One aim of eco-evo-devo is to understand how the interactions between genes and their environments during development facilitates the origin and evolution of novel phenotypes. In a series of six parts, I review some of the key discoveries from my lab on how novel worker caste systems in ants--soldiers and supersoldiers--originated and evolved. I also discuss some of the ideas that emerged from these discoveries, including the role that polyphenisms, hidden developmental potentials, and rudimentary organs play in facilitating developmental and evolutionary change. As superorganisms, I argue that ants are uniquely positioned to reveal types of variation that are often difficult to observe in nature. In doing so, they have the potential to transform our view of biology and provide new perspectives in medicine, agriculture, and biodiversity conservation. With my story I hope to inspire the next generation of biologists to continue exploring the unknown regions of phenotypic space to solve some of our most pressing societal challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehab Abouheif
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Van der Heyden H, Dutilleul P, Duceppe M, Bilodeau GJ, Charron J, Carisse O. Genotyping by sequencing suggests overwintering of Peronospora destructor in southwestern Québec, Canada. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2022; 23:339-354. [PMID: 34921486 PMCID: PMC8828460 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Several Peronospora species are carried by wind over short and long distances, from warmer climates where they survive on living plants to cooler climates. In eastern Canada, this annual flow of sporangia was thought to be the main source of Peronospora destructor responsible for onion downy mildew. However, the results of a recent study showed that the increasing frequency of onion downy mildew epidemics in eastern Canada is associated with warmer autumns, milder winters, and previous year disease severity, suggesting overwintering of the inoculum in an area where the pathogen is not known to be endogenous. In this study, genotyping by sequencing was used to investigate the population structure of P. destructor at the landscape scale. The study focused on a particular region of southwestern Québec-Les Jardins de Napierville-to determine if the populations were clonal and regionally differentiated. The data were characterized by a high level of linkage disequilibrium, characteristic of clonal organisms. Consequently, the null hypothesis of random mating was rejected when tested on predefined or nonpredefined populations, indicating that linkage disequilibrium was not a function of population structure and suggesting a mixed reproduction mode. Discriminant analysis of principal components performed with predefined population assignment allowed grouping P. destructor isolates by geographical regions, while analysis of molecular variance confirmed that this genetic differentiation was significant at the regional level. Without using a priori population assignment, isolates were clustered into four genetic clusters. These results represent a baseline estimate of the genetic diversity and population structure of P. destructor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hervé Van der Heyden
- Cie de Recherche PhytodataSherringtonQuébecCanada
- Department of Plant ScienceMcGill UniversityMontrealQuébecCanada
| | - Pierre Dutilleul
- Department of Plant ScienceMcGill UniversityMontrealQuébecCanada
| | | | | | | | - Odile Carisse
- Agriculture and Agri‐Food CanadaSt‐Jean‐sur‐RichelieuQuébecCanada
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48
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OUP accepted manuscript. Brief Funct Genomics 2022; 21:243-269. [DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elac007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Rutherford KM, Harris MA, Oliferenko S, Wood V. JaponicusDB: rapid deployment of a model organism database for an emerging model species. Genetics 2021; 220:6481558. [PMID: 35380656 PMCID: PMC9209809 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus has recently emerged as a powerful system for studying the evolution of essential cellular processes, drawing on similarities as well as key differences between S. japonicus and the related, well-established model Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We have deployed the open-source, modular code and tools originally developed for PomBase, the S. pombe model organism database (MOD), to create JaponicusDB (www.japonicusdb.org), a new MOD dedicated to S. japonicus. By providing a central resource with ready access to a growing body of experimental data, ontology-based curation, seamless browsing and querying, and the ability to integrate new data with existing knowledge, JaponicusDB supports fission yeast biologists to a far greater extent than any other source of S. japonicus data. JaponicusDB thus enables S. japonicus researchers to realize the full potential of studying a newly emerging model species and illustrates the widely applicable power and utility of harnessing reusable PomBase code to build a comprehensive, community-maintainable repository of species-relevant knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim M Rutherford
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Midori A Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Snezhana Oliferenko
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK,Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK,Corresponding author: (S.O.); (V.W.)
| | - Valerie Wood
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK,Corresponding author: (S.O.); (V.W.)
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Dimonaco NJ, Aubrey W, Kenobi K, Clare A, Creevey CJ. No one tool to rule them all: prokaryotic gene prediction tool annotations are highly dependent on the organism of study. Bioinformatics 2021; 38:1198-1207. [PMID: 34875010 PMCID: PMC8825762 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btab827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION The biases in CoDing Sequence (CDS) prediction tools, which have been based on historic genomic annotations from model organisms, impact our understanding of novel genomes and metagenomes. This hinders the discovery of new genomic information as it results in predictions being biased towards existing knowledge. To date, users have lacked a systematic and replicable approach to identify the strengths and weaknesses of any CDS prediction tool and allow them to choose the right tool for their analysis. RESULTS We present an evaluation framework (ORForise) based on a comprehensive set of 12 primary and 60 secondary metrics that facilitate the assessment of the performance of CDS prediction tools. This makes it possible to identify which performs better for specific use-cases. We use this to assess 15 ab initio- and model-based tools representing those most widely used (historically and currently) to generate the knowledge in genomic databases. We find that the performance of any tool is dependent on the genome being analysed, and no individual tool ranked as the most accurate across all genomes or metrics analysed. Even the top-ranked tools produced conflicting gene collections, which could not be resolved by aggregation. The ORForise evaluation framework provides users with a replicable, data-led approach to make informed tool choices for novel genome annotations and for refining historical annotations. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION Code and datasets for reproduction and customisation are available at https://github.com/NickJD/ORForise. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Dimonaco
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3PD, UK,To whom correspondence should be addressed.
| | - Wayne Aubrey
- Department of Computer Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, UK
| | - Kim Kenobi
- Department of Mathematics, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3BZ, UK
| | - Amanda Clare
- Department of Computer Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, UK
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