1
|
Smith M, Lesperance M, Herrmann A, Vernooy S, Cherian A, Kivlehan E, Whipple L, Portman DS, Mason DA. Two C. elegans DM domain proteins, DMD-3 and MAB-3, function in late stages of male somatic gonad development. Dev Biol 2024; 514:50-65. [PMID: 38880276 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.06.008] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
To bring about sexual dimorphism in form, information from the sex determination pathway must trigger sex-specific modifications in developmental programs. DM-domain encoding genes have been found to be involved in sex determination in a multitude of animals, often at the level of male somatic gonad formation. Here we report our findings that the DM-domain transcription factors MAB-3 and DMD-3 function together in multiple steps during the late stages of C. elegans male somatic gonad development. Both mab-3 and dmd-3 are expressed in the linker cell and hindgut of L4 males and dmd-3 is also expressed in presumptive vas deferens cells. Furthermore, dmd-3, but not mab-3, expression in the linker cell is downstream of nhr-67, a nuclear hormone receptor that was previously shown to control late stages of linker cell migration. In mab-3; dmd-3 double mutant males, the last stage of linker cell migration is partially defective, resulting in aberrant linker cell shapes and often a failure of the linker cell to complete its migration to the hindgut. When mab-3; dmd-3 double mutant linker cells do complete their migration, they fail to be engulfed by the hindgut, indicating that dmd-3 and mab-3 activity are essential for this process. Furthermore, linker cell death and clearance are delayed in mab-3; dmd-3 double mutants, resulting in the linker cell persisting into adulthood. Finally, DMD-3 and MAB-3 function to activate expression of the bZIP transcription factor encoding gene zip-5 and downregulate the expression of the zinc metalloprotease ZMP-1 in the linker cell. Taken together, these results demonstrate a requirement for DM-domain transcription factors in controlling C. elegans male gonad formation, supporting the notion that the earliest DM-domain genes were involved in male somatic gonad development in the last common ancestor of the bilaterians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Smith
- Biology Department, Siena College, Loudonville, NY, 12211, USA
| | | | - Alyssa Herrmann
- Biology Department, Siena College, Loudonville, NY, 12211, USA
| | | | - Asher Cherian
- Biology Department, Siena College, Loudonville, NY, 12211, USA
| | - Emily Kivlehan
- Biology Department, Siena College, Loudonville, NY, 12211, USA
| | - Lauren Whipple
- Biology Department, Siena College, Loudonville, NY, 12211, USA
| | - Douglas S Portman
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA; Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - D Adam Mason
- Biology Department, Siena College, Loudonville, NY, 12211, USA; Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhao C, Bian C, Mu X, Zhang X, Shi Q. Gonadal transcriptome sequencing reveals sexual dimorphism in expression profiling of sex-related genes in Asian arowana ( Scleropages formosus). Front Genet 2024; 15:1381832. [PMID: 38666292 PMCID: PMC11043485 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1381832] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Asia arowana (Scleropages formosus) is an ornamental fish with high economic value, while its sex determination mechanism is still poorly understood. By far, no morphological evidence or molecular marker has been developed for effective distinguishment of genders, which poses a critical challenge to our captive breeding efforts. In this study, we sequenced gonadal transcriptomes of adult Asian arowanas and revealed differential expression profiling of sex-related genes. Based on the comparative transcriptomics analysis of testes (n = 3) and ovaries (n = 3), we identified a total of 8,872 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 18,490 differentially expressed transposable elements (TEs) between male and female individuals. Interestingly, the expression of TEs usually has been more significantly testis-biased than related coding genes. As expected, several genes related to females (such as foxl2 and cyp19a1a) are significantly transcribed in the ovary, and some genes related to male gonad development (such as dmrt1, gsdf and amh) are highly expressed in the testis. This sexual dimorphism is valuable for ascertaining the differential expression patterns of sex-related genes and enriching the genetic resources of this economically important species. These valuable genetic materials thereby provide instructive references for gender identification and one-to-one breeding practices so as to expand fish numbers for a rapid elevation of economic value.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chao Bian
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, Shenzhen, China
- Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xidong Mu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Aquatic Invasive Alien Species, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Modern Recreational Fisheries Engineering Technology Center, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinhui Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiong Shi
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, Shenzhen, China
- Laboratory of Aquatic Genomics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhao H, Xiao Y, Xiao Z, Wu Y, Ma Y, Li J. Genome-wide investigation of the DMRT gene family sheds new insight into the regulation of sex differentiation in spotted knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus) with fusion chromosomes (Y). Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 257:128638. [PMID: 38070801 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128638] [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: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The role of the DMRT family in male sex determination and differentiation is significant, but its regulatory role in spotted knifejaw with Y fusion chromosomes remains unclear. Through genome-wide scanning, transcriptome analysis, qPCR, FISH, and RNA interference (RNAi), we investigated the DMRT family and the dmrt1-based sex regulation network. Seven DMRTs were identified (DMRT1/2 (2a,2b)/6, DMRT4/5, DMRT3), and dmrt gene dispersion among chromosomes is possibly driven by three whole-genome duplications. Transcriptome analysis enriched genes were associated with sex regulation and constructed a network associated with dmrt1. qPCR and FISH results showed the expression dimorphism of sex-related genes in dmrt-related regulatory networks. RNAi experiments indicated a distinct sex regulation mode in spotted knifejaw. Dmrt1 knockdown upregulated male-related genes (sox9a, sox9b, dmrt1, amh, amhr2) and hsd11b2 expression, which is critical for androgen synthesis. Amhr2 is located on the heterozygous chromosome (Y) and is specifically localized in primary spermatocytes, and is extremely upregulated after dmrt1 knockdown which suggested besides the important role of dmrt1 in male differentiation, the amhr2 along with amhr2/amh system, also play important regulatory roles in maintaining high expression of the hsd11b2 and male differentiation. This study aims to further investigate sex regulatory mechanisms in species with fusion chromosomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Zhao
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yongshuang Xiao
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.
| | - Zhizhong Xiao
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Yanduo Wu
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuting Ma
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Jun Li
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nicolini F, Ghiselli F, Luchetti A, Milani L. Bivalves as Emerging Model Systems to Study the Mechanisms and Evolution of Sex Determination: A Genomic Point of View. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad181. [PMID: 37850870 PMCID: PMC10588774 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bivalves are a diverse group of molluscs that have recently attained a central role in plenty of biological research fields, thanks to their peculiar life history traits. Here, we propose that bivalves should be considered as emerging model systems also in sex-determination (SD) studies, since they would allow to investigate: 1) the transition between environmental and genetic SD, with respect to different reproductive backgrounds and sexual systems (from species with strict gonochorism to species with various forms of hermaphroditism); 2) the genomic evolution of sex chromosomes (SCs), considering that no heteromorphic SCs are currently known and that homomorphic SCs have been identified only in a few species of scallops; 3) the putative role of mitochondria at some level of the SD signaling pathway, in a mechanism that may resemble the cytoplasmatic male sterility of plants; 4) the evolutionary history of SD-related gene (SRG) families with respect to other animal groups. In particular, we think that this last topic may lay the foundations for expanding our understanding of bivalve SD, as our current knowledge is quite fragmented and limited to a few species. As a matter of fact, tracing the phylogenetic history and diversity of SRG families (such as the Dmrt, Sox, and Fox genes) would allow not only to perform more targeted functional experiments and genomic analyses, but also to foster the possibility of establishing a solid comparative framework.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Nicolini
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Fano Marine Center, Fano, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Ghiselli
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Luchetti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Liliana Milani
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang Q, Cao T, Wang Y, Li X, Wang Y. Genome-wide identification and comparative analysis of Dmrt genes in echinoderms. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7664. [PMID: 37169947 PMCID: PMC10175285 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34819-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The Dmrt (Doublesex-mab3-related transcription factor) gene family is a class of crucial transcription factors characterized by one or several conserved DM (Doublesex/Mab-3) domains. Dmrt family genes can participate in various physiological developmental processes, especially in sex determination/differentiation. Echinoderms are extremely important research objects in various fields, such as sex determination/differentiation and neuroscience. However, to date, the genome-wide characterization and analysis of Dmrt genes in echinoderms have not been investigated. In this study, the identification and analysis of Dmrt genes in 11 representative echinoderms were performed using bioinformatics methods. A total of 43 Dmrt genes have been found in the studied echinoderms, and the number of Dmrt genes in different species ranges from 2 to 5. The phylogenetic tree showed that all Dmrt genes from echinoderms can be subdivided into 5 classes, the Dmrt2-like class, Dmrt3-like class, Dmrt4/5-like class, Dsx-like class, and a novel Dmrt (starfish-specific) class. Furthermore, selective pressure assessment suggested that the Dmrt genes underwent purifying selection pressure. In general, this study provides a molecular basis for echinoderm Dmrt genes and may serve as a reference for in-depth phylogenomics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Quanchao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Warning, Protection and Restoration for Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, 266061, China
| | - Tiangui Cao
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Yanxia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Xiaojing Li
- Yantai Vocational College, Yantai, 264670, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Yantai Vocational College, Yantai, 264670, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Huang Z, Xu L, Cai C, Zhou Y, Liu J, Xu Z, Zhu Z, Kang W, Cen W, Pei S, Chen D, Shi C, Wu X, Huang Y, Xu C, Yan Y, Yang Y, Xue T, He W, Hu X, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Bi C, He C, Xue L, Xiao S, Yue Z, Jiang Y, Yu JK, Jarvis E, Li G, Lin G, Zhang Q, Zhou Q. Three amphioxus reference genomes reveal gene and chromosome evolution of chordates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2201504120. [PMID: 36867684 PMCID: PMC10013865 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201504120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The slow-evolving invertebrate amphioxus has an irreplaceable role in advancing our understanding of the vertebrate origin and innovations. Here we resolve the nearly complete chromosomal genomes of three amphioxus species, one of which best recapitulates the 17 chordate ancestor linkage groups. We reconstruct the fusions, retention, or rearrangements between descendants of whole-genome duplications, which gave rise to the extant microchromosomes likely existed in the vertebrate ancestor. Similar to vertebrates, the amphioxus genome gradually establishes its three-dimensional chromatin architecture at the onset of zygotic activation and forms two topologically associated domains at the Hox gene cluster. We find that all three amphioxus species have ZW sex chromosomes with little sequence differentiation, and their putative sex-determining regions are nonhomologous to each other. Our results illuminate the unappreciated interspecific diversity and developmental dynamics of amphioxus genomes and provide high-quality references for understanding the mechanisms of chordate functional genome evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Huang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
- Fujian-Macao Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Oriented Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment, Innovation and Transformation Center, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian350108, China
| | - Luohao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing400715, China
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Chongqing400715, China
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna1090, Austria
| | - Cheng Cai
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Yitao Zhou
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
- The Public Service Platform for Industrialization Development Technology of Marine Biological Medicine and Product of State Oceanic Administration, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna1090, Austria
| | - Zaoxu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing400715, China
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Chongqing400715, China
| | - Zexian Zhu
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Wen Kang
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| | - Wan Cen
- The Public Service Platform for Industrialization Development Technology of Marine Biological Medicine and Product of State Oceanic Administration, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Surui Pei
- Annoroad Gene Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing100180, China
| | - Duo Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
- The Public Service Platform for Industrialization Development Technology of Marine Biological Medicine and Product of State Oceanic Administration, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
- Center of Engineering Technology Research for Microalgae Germplasm Improvement of Fujian, Southern Institute of Oceanography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Chenggang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Xiaotong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Yongji Huang
- Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, Fujian350108, China
| | - Chaohua Xu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Yanan Yan
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Ting Xue
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
- The Public Service Platform for Industrialization Development Technology of Marine Biological Medicine and Product of State Oceanic Administration, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
- Center of Engineering Technology Research for Microalgae Germplasm Improvement of Fujian, Southern Institute of Oceanography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Wenjin He
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Xuefeng Hu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Yanding Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Youqiang Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
- The Public Service Platform for Industrialization Development Technology of Marine Biological Medicine and Product of State Oceanic Administration, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
- Center of Engineering Technology Research for Microalgae Germplasm Improvement of Fujian, Southern Institute of Oceanography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Changwei Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu210096, China
| | - Chunpeng He
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu210096, China
| | - Lingzhan Xue
- Aquaculture and Genetic breeding laboratory, Freshwater Fisheries Research Institute of Fujian, Fuzhou, Fujian350002, China
| | - Shijun Xiao
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin130118, China
| | - Zhicao Yue
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, Carson International Cancer Center, and Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability and Disease Prevention, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong518060, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Annoroad Gene Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing100180, China
| | - Jr-Kai Yu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei11529, Taiwan
- Marine Research Station, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Yilan26242, Taiwan
| | - Erich D. Jarvis
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY10065
- HHMI, Chevy Chase, MD20815
| | - Guang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Gang Lin
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
- Annoroad Gene Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing100180, China
- Center of Engineering Technology Research for Microalgae Germplasm Improvement of Fujian, Southern Institute of Oceanography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Qiujin Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Special Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization & Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neurobiology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
- Annoroad Gene Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing100180, China
- Center of Engineering Technology Research for Microalgae Germplasm Improvement of Fujian, Southern Institute of Oceanography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian350117, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310052, China
- Evolutionary and Organismal Biology Research Center, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310058, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
R. N. Ferreira JG, A. Americo J, L. A. S. do Amaral D, Sendim F, R. da Cunha Y, Blaxter M, Uliano-Silva M, de F. Rebelo M. A chromosome-level assembly supports genome-wide investigation of the DMRT gene family in the golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei). Gigascience 2022; 12:giad072. [PMID: 37776366 PMCID: PMC10541798 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giad072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) is a highly invasive species that causes environmental and socioeconomic losses in invaded areas. Reference genomes have proven to be a valuable resource for studying the biology of invasive species. While the current golden mussel genome has been useful for identifying new genes, its high fragmentation hinders some applications. FINDINGS In this study, we provide the first chromosome-level reference genome for the golden mussel. The genome was built using PacBio HiFi, 10X, and Hi-C sequencing data. The final assembly contains 99.4% of its total length assembled to the 15 chromosomes of the species and a scaffold N50 of 97.05 Mb. A total of 34,862 protein-coding genes were predicted, of which 84.7% were functionally annotated. A significant (6.48%) proportion of the genome was found to be in a hemizygous state. Using the new genome, we have performed a genome-wide characterization of the Doublesex and Mab-3 related transcription factor gene family, which has been proposed as a target for population control strategies in other species. CONCLUSIONS From the applied research perspective, a higher-quality genome will support genome editing with the aim of developing biotechnology-based solutions to control invasion. From the basic research perspective, the new genome is a high-quality reference for molecular evolutionary studies of Mytilida and other Lophotrochozoa, and it may be used as a reference for future resequencing studies to assess genomic variation among different golden mussel populations, unveiling potential routes of dispersion and helping to establish better control policies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- João Gabriel R. N. Ferreira
- Bio Bureau Biotecnologia, Rio de Janeiro 21941-850, Brazil
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fábio Sendim
- Bio Bureau Biotecnologia, Rio de Janeiro 21941-850, Brazil
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
| | - Yasmin R. da Cunha
- Bio Bureau Biotecnologia, Rio de Janeiro 21941-850, Brazil
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
| | | | - Mark Blaxter
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1RQ, UK
| | | | - Mauro de F. Rebelo
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
The Sex-Specific Splicing of Doublesex in Brine Shrimp Artemia franciscana. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13111997. [PMID: 36360234 PMCID: PMC9690683 DOI: 10.3390/genes13111997] [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: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The understanding of sex determination and differentiation in animals has recently made remarkable strides through the use of advanced research tools. At the gene level, the Mab-3-related transcription factor (Dmrt) gene family, which encodes for the typical DNA-binding doublesex/Mab-3 (DM) domain in their protein, is known for its contribution to sex determination and differentiation in insects. In this study, DNA-binding DM domain screening has identified eight transcripts from Artemia franciscana transcriptomic that encode proteins containing one conserved DNA-binding DM domain. The genome mapping confirmed that these eight transcripts are transcribed from six different loci on the A. franciscana genome assembly. One of those loci, the Af.dsx-4 locus, is closely related to Doublesex, a gene belonging to the Dmrt gene family. This locus could be transcribed into three alternative transcripts, namely Af.dsx4, Af.dsxF and Af.dsxM. While Af.dsx4 and Af.dsxF could putatively be translated to form an identical Af.dsxF protein of 186 aa long, Af.dsxM translates for an Af.dsxM protein of 289 aa long but shares a DNA-binding DM domain. Interestingly, Af.dsxF and Af.dsxM are confirmed as sex-specific transcripts, Af.dsxF is only present in females, and Af.dsxM is only present in male individuals. The results suggest that the sex-specific splicing mechanism of the doublesex described in insects is also present in A. franciscana. Af.dxs-4 locus can be used in further studies to clarify the sex determination pathways in A. fracnciscana.
Collapse
|
9
|
Casado-Navarro R, Serrano-Saiz E. DMRT Transcription Factors in the Control of Nervous System Sexual Differentiation. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:937596. [PMID: 35958734 PMCID: PMC9361473 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.937596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual phenotypic differences in the nervous system are one of the most prevalent features across the animal kingdom. The molecular mechanisms responsible for sexual dimorphism throughout metazoan nervous systems are extremely diverse, ranging from intrinsic cell autonomous mechanisms to gonad-dependent endocrine control of sexual traits, or even extrinsic environmental cues. In recent years, the DMRT ancient family of transcription factors has emerged as being central in the development of sex-specific differentiation in all animals in which they have been studied. In this review, we provide an overview of the function of Dmrt genes in nervous system sexual regulation from an evolutionary perspective.
Collapse
|
10
|
Chikami Y, Okuno M, Toyoda A, Itoh T, Niimi T. Evolutionary History of Sexual Differentiation Mechanism in Insects. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac145. [PMID: 35820410 PMCID: PMC9290531 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing underpins functional diversity in proteins and the complexity and diversity of eukaryotes. An example is the doublesex gene, the key transcriptional factor in arthropod sexual differentiation. doublesex is controlled by sex-specific splicing and promotes both male and female differentiation in holometabolan insects, whereas in hemimetabolan species, doublesex has sex-specific isoforms but is not required for female differentiation. How doublesex evolved to be essential for female development remains largely unknown. Here, we investigate ancestral states of doublesex using Thermobia domestica belonging to Zygentoma, the sister group of Pterygota, that is, winged insects. We find that, in T. domestica, doublesex expresses sex-specific isoforms but is only necessary for male differentiation of sexual morphology. This result supports the hypothesis that doublesex initially promoted male differentiation during insect evolution. However, T. domestica doublesex has a short female-specific region and upregulates the expression of vitellogenin homologs in females, suggesting that doublesex may already play some role in female morphogenesis of the common ancestor of Pterygota. Reconstruction of the ancestral sequence and prediction of protein structures show that the female-specific isoform of doublesex has an extended C-terminal disordered region in holometabolan insects but not in nonholometabolan species. We propose that doublesex acquired its function in female morphogenesis through a change in the protein motif structure rather than the emergence of the female-specific exon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiko Chikami
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Miki Okuno
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, School of Medicine, Kurume University, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Takehiko Itoh
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Teruyuki Niimi
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hayashi S, Suda K, Fujimura F, Fujikawa M, Tamura K, Tsukamoto D, Evans BJ, Takamatsu N, Ito M. Neofunctionalization of a non-coding portion of a DNA transposon in the coding region of the chimerical sex-determining gene dm-W in Xenopus frogs. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6613159. [PMID: 35763822 PMCID: PMC9250109 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac138] [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: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Most vertebrate sex-determining genes (SDGs) emerge as neofunctionalized genes through duplication and/or mutation of ancestral genes that are involved with sexual differentiation. We previously demonstrated dm-W to be the SDG in the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis and found that a portion of this gene emerged from the masculinization gene dmrt1 after allotetraploidization by interspecific hybridization between two ancestral species around 17–18 Ma. dm-W has four exons consisting of a noncoding exon 1, dmrt1-derived exons 2 and 3, and an orphan exon 4 (Ex4) of unknown origin that includes coding sequence (CDS). In this study, we searched for the origin of Ex4 and investigated the function of the CDS of this exon. We found that the Ex4-CDS is derived from a noncoding portion of the hAT-10 family of DNA transposon. Evolutionary analysis of transposons and determination of the Ex4 sequences from three other species indicated that Ex4 was generated before the diversification of most or all extant allotetraploid species in subgenus Xenopus, during which time we hypothesize that transposase activity of this hAT superfamily was active. Using DNA–protein binding and transfection assays, we further demonstrate that the Ex4-encoded amino acid sequence increases the DNA-binding ability and transrepression activity of DM-W. These findings suggest that the conversion of the noncoding transposon sequence to the CDS of dm-W contributed to neofunctionalization of a new chimeric SDG in the ancestor of the allotetraploid Xenopus species, offering new insights into de novo origin and functional evolution of chimerical genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shun Hayashi
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Kosuke Suda
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Fuga Fujimura
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Makoto Fujikawa
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Kei Tamura
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Daisuke Tsukamoto
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Ben J Evans
- Department of Biology, Life Sciences Room 328, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Nobuhiko Takamatsu
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| | - Michihiko Ito
- Department of Bioscience, School of Science, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minamiku Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhong J, Wan H, Zhang Z, Zeng X, Zou P, Jia X, Wang Y. Cloning, expression, and function of the Spdmrt-like gene in Scylla paramamosain. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:6483-6493. [PMID: 35552959 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07477-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mud crab Scylla paramamosain is an economically important species for aquaculture in China and has sexually dimorphic between females and males. Understanding sex differentiation in this species is essential for the development of monosex aquaculture. The Dmrt genes play a vital role in sex differentiation in animals. METHODS AND RESULTS In this study, two dmrt-like transcript variants, Spdmrt-like-tv1 and Spdmrt-like-v2, were cloned. SpDmrt-like-tv1 contained a DM domain, while SpDmrt-like-tv2 contained a DM and a DMA domain. Spdmrt-like-tv1 and Spdmrt-like-tv2 were both specifically expressed in testis. During testicular development, the expression level of Spdmrt-like-tv1 increased from stage I to stage II (P > 0.05) and then decreased from stage II to stage III (P < 0.05). The expression level of Spdmrt-like-tv2 in stages I and II was significantly higher than that in stage III (P < 0.05). During embryonic development, the expression level of Spdmrt-like-tv1 was higher in the mid-embryonic stage compared with the early and late stages, but the differences were not significant. Moreover, the expression level of Spdmrt-like-tv2 was stable and remained high throughout embryonic development. Furthermore, the expression level of Spdmrt-like-tv2 was significantly higher than that of Spdmrt-like-tv1. Knockdown of Spdmrt-like variants indicated that the regulative target gene of Spdmrt-like-tv1 was Spsox21, and the regulative target genes of Spdmrt-like-tv2 were Spfoxl2 and Spsox21. Combined with the results in our previously published peer-reviewed articles that the expression of Spfoxl2 in the testis was significantly higher than that in the ovary, and Spfoxl2 negatively regulated Spvtg expression. Spsox21 played a role in the development and maintenance of testis as well as in the process of neural development and regulation of body segmentation. CONCLUSION Therefore, we suggest that Spdmrt-like-tv1 and Spdmrt-like-tv2 might be involved in testicular development and embryonic development, and Spdmrt-like-tv2 might play more important roles in these two developmental processes by regulating the expression of Spfoxl2 and Spsox21 due to its high expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinying Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China.,Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Haifu Wan
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China.,Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Ziping Zhang
- College of Marine Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Fujian Province, Institute of Oceanology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Xianyuan Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China.,Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Pengfei Zou
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China.,Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Xiwei Jia
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China.,Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yilei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China. .,Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, 361021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Evensen KG, Robinson WE, Krick K, Murray HM, Poynton HC. Comparative phylotranscriptomics reveals putative sex differentiating genes across eight diverse bivalve species. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2022; 41:100952. [PMID: 34952324 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mollusks, especially bivalves, exhibit a great diversity of sex determining mechanisms, including both genetic and environmental sex determination. Some bivalve species can be gonochoristic (separate sexes), while others are hermaphroditic (sequential or simultaneous). Several models have been proposed for specific bivalve species, utilizing information gained from gene expression data, as well as limited RAD-seq data (e.g., from Crassostrea gigas). However, these mechanisms are not as well studied as those in model organisms (e.g., Mus musculus, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans) and many genes involved in sex differentiation are not well characterized. We used phylotranscriptomics to better understand which possible sex differentiating genes are in bivalves and how these genes relate to similar genes in diverse phyla. We collected RNAseq data from eight phylogenetically diverse bivalve species: Argopecten irradians, Ensis directus, Geukensia demissa, Macoma tenta, Mercenaria mercenaria, Mya arenaria, Mytilus edulis, and Solemya velum. Using these data, we assembled representative transcriptomes for each species. We then searched for candidate sex differentiating genes using BLAST and confirmed the identity of nine genes using phylogenetics analyses from nine phyla. To increase the confidence of identification, we included ten bivalve genomes in our analyses. From the analysis of doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor (DMRT) genes, we confirmed the identify of a Mollusk-specific sex determining DMRT gene: DMRT1L. Based on gene expression data from M. edulis and previous research, DMRT1L and FoxL2 are key genes for male and female development, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Garrett Evensen
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America
| | - William E Robinson
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America
| | - Keegan Krick
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America
| | - Harry M Murray
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 80 East White Hills Road, St John's, NL A1C 5X1, Canada
| | - Helen C Poynton
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Sex Determination and Differentiation in Teleost: Roles of Genetics, Environment, and Brain. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10100973. [PMID: 34681072 PMCID: PMC8533387 DOI: 10.3390/biology10100973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The fish reproductive system is a complex biological system. Nonetheless, reproductive organ development is conserved, which starts with sex determination and then sex differentiation. The sex of a teleost is determined and differentiated from bipotential primordium by genetics, environmental factors, or both. These two processes are species-specific. There are several prominent genes and environmental factors involved during sex determination and differentiation. At the cellular level, most of the sex-determining genes suppress the female pathway. For environmental factors, there are temperature, density, hypoxia, pH, and social interaction. Once the sexual fate is determined, sex differentiation takes over the gonadal developmental process. Environmental factors involve activation and suppression of various male and female pathways depending on the sexual fate. Alongside these factors, the role of the brain during sex determination and differentiation remains elusive. Nonetheless, GnRH III knockout has promoted a male sex-biased population, which shows brain involvement during sex determination. During sex differentiation, LH and FSH might not affect the gonadal differentiation, but are required for regulating sex differentiation. This review discusses the role of prominent genes, environmental factors, and the brain in sex determination and differentiation across a few teleost species.
Collapse
|
15
|
Sex-Biased Gene Expression and Isoform Profile of Brine Shrimp Artemia franciscana by Transcriptome Analysis. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11092630. [PMID: 34573596 PMCID: PMC8465105 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The brine shrimp Artemia is a promising model organism for ZW sex determination system, but the genes related to sex determination and differentiation of Artemia have not yet been examined in detail. In this study, the first isoform-level transcriptome sequencing was performed on female and male Artemia franciscana. By using PacBio Iso-Seq and Illumina RNA-Seq technologies, we found 39 candidate sex determination genes that showed sex-biased gene expression. The male-biased expressed genes included DMRT1 and Sad genes, which had three and seven isoforms, respectively. Among these, the Sad gene is an ecdysteroid biosynthetic pathway gene associated with arthropod molting and metamorphosis. We propose the importance and the necessity of further research on genes involved in ecdysteroid biosynthesis. These results will contribute to understand sex determination and differentiation of Artemia and other crustaceans having ZW systems. Abstract The brine shrimp Artemia has a ZW sex determination system with ZW chromosomes in females and ZZ chromosomes in males. Artemia has been considered a promising model organism for ZW sex-determining systems, but the genes involved in sex determination and differentiation of Artemia have not yet been identified. Here, we conducted transcriptome sequencing of female and male A. franciscana using PacBio Iso-Seq and Illumina RNA-Seq techniques to identify candidate sex determination genes. Among the 42,566 transcripts obtained from Iso-Seq, 23,514 were analyzed. Of these, 2065 (8.8%) were female specific, 2513 (10.7%) were male specific, and 18,936 (80.5%) were co-expressed in females and males. Based on GO enrichment analysis and expression values, we found 10 female-biased and 29 male-biased expressed genes, including DMRT1 and Sad genes showing male-biased expression. Our results showed that DMRT1 has three isoforms with five exons, while Sad has seven isoforms with 2–11 exons. The Sad gene is involved in ecdysteroid signaling related to molting and metamorphosis in arthropods. Further studies on ecdysteroid biosynthetic genes are needed to improve our understanding of Artemia sex determination. This study will provide a valuable resource for sex determination and differentiation studies on Artemia and other crustaceans with ZW systems.
Collapse
|
16
|
Wang Y, Wang X, Ge J, Wang G, Li J. Identification and Functional Analysis of the Sex-Determiner Transformer-2 Homologue in the Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Hyriopsis cumingii. Front Physiol 2021; 12:704548. [PMID: 34305654 PMCID: PMC8298206 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.704548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transformer-2 (Tra-2) is an upstream regulatory element of the sex regulation mechanism in insects and plays a critical role in sex formation. To understand the role of tra-2 in Hyriopsis cumingii, the full-length Hctra-2 (1867 bp) was obtained from the gonads, and sequence alignment with other species showed that HCTRA-2 protein had a highly conserved RRM domain. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the HCTRA-2 protein was a close relative to of the mollusks TRA-2 protein. The qRT-PCR of tissue-specific expression pattern showed that the Hctra-2 was abundant in gonads, and the expression in testes was higher than that in ovaries (p < 0.01). It suggests that Hctra-2 may play a potential regulatory role in gonadal development of H. cumingii. In the early gonadal development, the Hctra-2 expression was the highest on the third day after fertilization and increased slightly from 4 months to 5 months, which may be related to the embryonic sex determination and early gonadal development. In situ hybridization showed that Hctra-2 mRNA signals were present in both male and female gonads. After silencing Hctra-2 by RNAi, the expression levels of Hcfem-1b and Hcdmrt were changed. It is speculated that there may be a certain relationship between them, which plays an important role in the sex regulation of H. cumingii. Our research will help to deepen our understanding of the shellfish sex determination mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yayu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyuan Ge
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai, China
| | - Guiling Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiale Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kasahara R, Yuzawa T, Fujii T, Aoki F, Suzuki MG. dmrt11E ortholog is a crucial factor for oogenesis of the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 129:103517. [PMID: 33422636 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
DMRT (Doublesex and Mab-3-related transcription factor) is a highly conserved transcription factor family involved in sex determination in numerous animal species. One DMRT, dmrt2/dmrt11E, has entirely different functions in invertebrate and vertebrate species, indicating unpredicted functions. Here, we performed functional analysis of the dmrt11E gene in the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori. This gene was preferentially expressed in ovarioles at the last larval instar stage. Its mRNA accumulated in ovarian eggs during the adult stage. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of Bombyx dmrt11E (Bmdmrt11E) caused defects in oogenesis, resulting in the production of abnormal eggs with transparent liquids. These eggs had significantly reduced fertility and lipid levels. Transcriptomic comparisons between ovaries of control and mutant insects at two developmental stages identified six genes that may be under the control of Bmdmrt11E. Finally, we provide a possible model for lipid uptake and storage in eggs of Bombyx mori.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Kasahara
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan
| | - Tomohisa Yuzawa
- Japan Water Systems Corporation, 4-9-4 Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0032, Japan
| | - Takehsi Fujii
- Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Setsunan University, 45-1 Nagao-Togecho, Hirakata-shi, Osaka, 573-0101, Japan
| | - Fugaku Aoki
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan
| | - Masataka G Suzuki
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Li J, Zhou Y, Zhou Z, Lin C, Wei J, Qin Y, Xiang Z, Ma H, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Yu Z. Comparative transcriptome analysis of three gonadal development stages reveals potential genes involved in gametogenesis of the fluted giant clam (Tridacna squamosa). BMC Genomics 2020; 21:872. [PMID: 33287701 PMCID: PMC7720611 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07276-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gonad development and differentiation is an essential function for all sexually reproducing species, and many aspects of these developmental processes are highly conserved among the metazoa. However, the mechanisms underlying gonad development and gametogenesis remain unclear in Tridacna squamosa, a large-size bivalve of great ecological value. They are protandrous simultaneous hermaphrodites, with the male gonad maturing first, eventually followed by the female gonads. In this study, nine gonad libraries representing resting, male and hermaphrodite stages in T. squamosa were performed to identify the molecular mechanisms. RESULTS Sixteen thousand four hundred ninety-one unigenes were annotated in the NCBI non-redundant protein database. Among the annotated unigenes, 5091 and 7328 unigenes were assigned to Gene Ontology categories and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Pathway database, respectively. A total of 4763 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by comparing male to resting gonads, consisting of 3499 which were comparatively upregulated in males and 1264 which were downregulated in males. Six hundred-ninteen DEGs between male and hermaphroditic gonads were identified, with 518 DEGs more strongly expressed in hermaphrodites and 101 more strongly expressed in males. GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG pathway analyses revealed that various biological functions and processes, including functions related to the endocrine system, oocyte meiosis, carbon metabolism, and the cell cycle, were involved in regulating gonadal development and gametogenesis in T. squamosa. Testis-specific serine/threonine kinases 1 (TSSK1), TSSK4, TSSK5, Doublesex- and mab-3-related transcription factor 1 (DMRT1), SOX, Sperm surface protein 17 (SP17) and other genes were involved in male gonadal development in Tridacna squamosal. Both spermatogenesis- (TSSK4, spermatogenesis-associated protein 17, spermatogenesis-associated protein 8, sperm motility kinase X, SP17) and oogenesis-related genes (zona pellucida protein, Forkhead Box L2, Vitellogenin, Vitellogenin receptor, 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor) were simultaneously highly expressed in the hermaphroditic gonad to maintain the hermaphroditism of T. squamosa. CONCLUSION All these results from our study will facilitate better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying giant clam gonad development and gametogenesis, which can provided a base on obtaining excellent gametes during the seed production process for giant clams.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Yinyin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zihua Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chuanxu Lin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510301, China
| | - Jinkuan Wei
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
| | - Yanpin Qin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
| | - Zhiming Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
| | - Haitao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 510301, China
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China
| | - Yuehuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510301, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 510301, China.
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China.
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.
| | - Ziniu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, 510301, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 510301, China.
- Hainan Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology, Sanya Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572024, China.
- Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Dong J, Li J, Hu J, Sun C, Tian Y, Li W, Yan N, Sun C, Sheng X, Yang S, Shi Q, Ye X. Comparative Genomics Studies on the dmrt Gene Family in Fish. Front Genet 2020; 11:563947. [PMID: 33281869 PMCID: PMC7689362 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.563947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Doublesex and mab-3-related transcription factor (dmrt) genes are widely distributed across various biological groups and play critical roles in sex determination and neural development. Here, we applied bioinformatics methods to exam cross-species changes in the dmrt family members and evolutionary relationships of the dmrt genes based on genomes of 17 fish species. All the examined fish species have dmrt1-5 while only five species contained dmrt6. Most fish harbored two dmrt2 paralogs (dmrt2a and dmrt2b), with dmrt2b being unique to fish. In the phylogenetic tree, 147 DMRT are categorized into eight groups (DMRT1-DMRT8) and then clustered in three main groups. Selective evolutionary pressure analysis indicated purifying selections on dmrt1-3 genes and the dmrt1-3-2(2a) gene cluster. Similar genomic conservation patterns of the dmrt1-dmrt3-dmrt2(2a) gene cluster with 20-kb upstream/downstream regions in fish with various sex-determination systems were observed except for three regions with remarkable diversity. Synteny analysis revealed that dmrt1, dmrt2a, dmrt2b, and dmrt3-5 were relatively conserved in fish during the evolutionary process. While dmrt6 was lost in most species during evolution. The high conservation of the dmrt1-dmrt3-dmrt2(2a) gene cluster in various fish genomes suggests their crucial biological functions while various dmrt family members and sequences across fish species suggest different biological roles during evolution. This study provides a molecular basis for fish dmrt functional analysis and may serve as a reference for in-depth phylogenomics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junjian Dong
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fisheries Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia Li
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI Group, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jie Hu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fisheries Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengfei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fisheries Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Tian
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fisheries Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wuhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fisheries Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ningning Yan
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fisheries Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengxi Sun
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xihui Sheng
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Song Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiong Shi
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI Group, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xing Ye
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fisheries Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bayer EA, Stecky RC, Neal L, Katsamba PS, Ahlsen G, Balaji V, Hoppe T, Shapiro L, Oren-Suissa M, Hobert O. Ubiquitin-dependent regulation of a conserved DMRT protein controls sexually dimorphic synaptic connectivity and behavior. eLife 2020; 9:59614. [PMID: 33021200 PMCID: PMC7538159 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex-specific synaptic connectivity is beginning to emerge as a remarkable, but little explored feature of animal brains. We describe here a novel mechanism that promotes sexually dimorphic neuronal function and synaptic connectivity in the nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We demonstrate that a phylogenetically conserved, but previously uncharacterized Doublesex/Mab-3 related transcription factor (DMRT), dmd-4, is expressed in two classes of sex-shared phasmid neurons specifically in hermaphrodites but not in males. We find dmd-4 to promote hermaphrodite-specific synaptic connectivity and neuronal function of phasmid sensory neurons. Sex-specificity of DMD-4 function is conferred by a novel mode of posttranslational regulation that involves sex-specific protein stabilization through ubiquitin binding to a phylogenetically conserved but previously unstudied protein domain, the DMA domain. A human DMRT homolog of DMD-4 is controlled in a similar manner, indicating that our findings may have implications for the control of sexual differentiation in other animals as well.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Bayer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - Rebecca C Stecky
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - Lauren Neal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - Phinikoula S Katsamba
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, United States
| | - Goran Ahlsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, United States
| | - Vishnu Balaji
- Institute for Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thorsten Hoppe
- Institute for Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lawrence Shapiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, United States
| | - Meital Oren-Suissa
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Neurobiology, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Shavali M, Pouladi N, Abdolahi S, Farajzadeh D, Moniri S. Investigating the association of rs920778T > C polymorphism in HOTAIR gene in breast cancer patients in the northwestern of Iran. Meta Gene 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2020.100756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
|