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Hafezi Y, Omurzakov A, Carlisle JA, Caldas IV, Wolfner MF, Clark AG. The Drosophila melanogaster Y-linked gene, WDY, is required for sperm to swim in the female reproductive tract. Commun Biol 2024; 7:90. [PMID: 38216628 PMCID: PMC10786823 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05717-x] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Unique patterns of inheritance and selection on Y chromosomes have led to the evolution of specialized gene functions. We report CRISPR mutants in Drosophila of the Y-linked gene, WDY, which is required for male fertility. We demonstrate that the sperm tails of WDY mutants beat approximately half as fast as those of wild-type and that mutant sperm do not propel themselves within the male ejaculatory duct or female reproductive tract. Therefore, although mature sperm are produced by WDY mutant males, and are transferred to females, those sperm fail to enter the female sperm storage organs. We report genotype-dependent and regional differences in sperm motility that appear to break the correlation between sperm tail beating and propulsion. Furthermore, we identify a significant change in hydrophobicity at a residue at a putative calcium-binding site in WDY orthologs at the split between the melanogaster and obscura species groups, when WDY first became Y-linked. This suggests that a major functional change in WDY coincided with its appearance on the Y chromosome. Finally, we show that mutants for another Y-linked gene, PRY, also show a sperm storage defect that may explain their subfertility. Overall, we provide direct evidence for the long-held presumption that protein-coding genes on the Drosophila Y regulate sperm motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yassi Hafezi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
| | - Arsen Omurzakov
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Jolie A Carlisle
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Ian V Caldas
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Andrew G Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
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2
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Sundaram P, Rao K, Yajima M. Vasa, a regulator of localized mRNA translation on the spindle. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2300004. [PMID: 36825672 PMCID: PMC10023503 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300004] [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: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Localized mRNA translation is a biological process that allows mRNA to be translated on-site, which is proposed to provide fine control in protein regulation, both spatially and temporally within a cell. We recently reported that Vasa, an RNA-helicase, is a promising factor that appears to regulate this process on the spindle during the embryonic development of the sea urchin, yet the detailed roles and functional mechanisms of Vasa in this process are still largely unknown. In this review article, to elucidate these remaining questions, we first summarize the prior knowledge and our recent findings in the area of Vasa research and further discuss how Vasa may function in localized mRNA translation, contributing to efficient protein regulation during rapid embryogenesis and cancer cell regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Sundaram
- Department of Molecular Biology Cell Biology Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL277, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Kavya Rao
- Department of Molecular Biology Cell Biology Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL277, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Mamiko Yajima
- Department of Molecular Biology Cell Biology Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL277, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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3
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Hafezi Y, Omurzakov A, Carlisle JA, Caldas IV, Wolfner MF, Clark AG. The Drosophila melanogaster Y-linked gene, WDY, is required for sperm to swim in the female reproductive tract. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.02.526876. [PMID: 36778485 PMCID: PMC9915733 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.02.526876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Unique patterns of inheritance and selection on Y chromosomes lead to the evolution of specialized gene functions. Yet characterizing the function of genes on Y chromosomes is notoriously difficult. We report CRISPR mutants in Drosophila of the Y-linked gene, WDY, which is required for male fertility. WDY mutants produce mature sperm with beating tails that can be transferred to females but fail to enter the female sperm storage organs. We demonstrate that the sperm tails of WDY mutants beat approximately half as fast as wild-type sperm's and that the mutant sperm do not propel themselves within the male ejaculatory duct or female reproductive tract (RT). These specific motility defects likely cause the sperm storage defect and sterility of the mutants. Regional and genotype-dependent differences in sperm motility suggest that sperm tail beating and propulsion do not always correlate. Furthermore, we find significant differences in the hydrophobicity of key residues of a putative calcium-binding domain between orthologs of WDY that are Y-linked and those that are autosomal. Given that WDY appears to be evolving under positive selection, our results suggest that WDY's functional evolution coincides with its transition from autosomal to Y-linked in Drosophila melanogaster and its most closely related species. Finally, we show that mutants for another Y-linked gene, PRY, also show a sperm storage defect that may explain their subfertility. In contrast to WDY, PRY mutants do swim in the female RT, suggesting they are defective in yet another mode of motility, navigation, or a necessary interaction with the female RT. Overall, we provide direct evidence for the long-held presumption that protein-coding genes on the Drosophila Y regulate sperm motility.
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Raz AA, Vida GS, Stern SR, Mahadevaraju S, Fingerhut JM, Viveiros JM, Pal S, Grey JR, Grace MR, Berry CW, Li H, Janssens J, Saelens W, Shao Z, Hu C, Yamashita YM, Przytycka T, Oliver B, Brill JA, Krause H, Matunis EL, White-Cooper H, DiNardo S, Fuller MT. Emergent dynamics of adult stem cell lineages from single nucleus and single cell RNA-Seq of Drosophila testes. eLife 2023; 12:e82201. [PMID: 36795469 PMCID: PMC9934865 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Proper differentiation of sperm from germline stem cells, essential for production of the next generation, requires dramatic changes in gene expression that drive remodeling of almost all cellular components, from chromatin to organelles to cell shape itself. Here, we provide a single nucleus and single cell RNA-seq resource covering all of spermatogenesis in Drosophila starting from in-depth analysis of adult testis single nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) data from the Fly Cell Atlas (FCA) study. With over 44,000 nuclei and 6000 cells analyzed, the data provide identification of rare cell types, mapping of intermediate steps in differentiation, and the potential to identify new factors impacting fertility or controlling differentiation of germline and supporting somatic cells. We justify assignment of key germline and somatic cell types using combinations of known markers, in situ hybridization, and analysis of extant protein traps. Comparison of single cell and single nucleus datasets proved particularly revealing of dynamic developmental transitions in germline differentiation. To complement the web-based portals for data analysis hosted by the FCA, we provide datasets compatible with commonly used software such as Seurat and Monocle. The foundation provided here will enable communities studying spermatogenesis to interrogate the datasets to identify candidate genes to test for function in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie A Raz
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteCambridgeUnited States
| | - Gabriela S Vida
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The Perelman School of Medicine and The Penn Institute for Regenerative MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Sarah R Stern
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
| | - Sharvani Mahadevaraju
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Jaclyn M Fingerhut
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteCambridgeUnited States
| | - Jennifer M Viveiros
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Soumitra Pal
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Jasmine R Grey
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Mara R Grace
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Cameron W Berry
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
| | - Hongjie Li
- Huffington Center on Aging and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Jasper Janssens
- JVIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, and the Department of Human Genetics, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Wouter Saelens
- Data Mining and Modeling for Biomedicine, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, and Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - Zhantao Shao
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Chun Hu
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Yukiko M Yamashita
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteCambridgeUnited States
| | - Teresa Przytycka
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Brian Oliver
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaUnited States
| | - Julie A Brill
- Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Henry Krause
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Erika L Matunis
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | | | - Stephen DiNardo
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The Perelman School of Medicine and The Penn Institute for Regenerative MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Margaret T Fuller
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
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5
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Duan T, Rodriguez-Tirado F, Geyer PK. Immunohistochemical Analysis of Nuclear Lamina Structures in the Drosophila Ovary Using CRISPR-Tagged Genes. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2626:109-134. [PMID: 36715902 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2970-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The Drosophila ovary represents an outstanding model for investigating tissue homeostasis. Females continuously produce oocytes throughout their lifetime. However, as females age, fecundity declines, in part, due to changes in ovarian niche function and germline stem cell (GSC) homeostasis. Understanding the dynamics of GSC maintenance will provide needed insights into how coordinated tissue homeostasis is lost during aging. Critical regulators of GSC maintenance are proteins that reside in the nuclear lamina (NL), including the NL proteins emerin and Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor (BAF). Continued investigation of how emerin, BAF, and other NL proteins contribute to GSC function depends upon the availability of antibodies for NL proteins, a limiting resource. In this chapter, we discuss strategies for using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genomic editing to produce endogenously tagged NL genes to circumvent this obstacle, using the generation of the gfp-baf allele as an example. We describe strategies for validation of tagged alleles. Finally, we outline methods for immunohistochemical analysis of resulting tagged-NL proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Duan
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Felipe Rodriguez-Tirado
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Pamela K Geyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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6
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Post-transcriptional regulation of factors important for the germ line. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 146:49-78. [PMID: 35152986 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2021.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Echinoderms are a major model system for many general aspects of biology, including mechanisms of gene regulation. Analysis of transcriptional regulation (Gene regulatory networks, direct DNA-binding of proteins to specific cis-elements, and transgenesis) has contributed to our understanding of how an embryo works. This chapter looks at post-transcriptional gene regulation in the context of how the primordial germ cells are formed, and how the factors essential for this process are regulated. Important in echinoderms, as in many embryos, is that key steps of fate determination are made post-transcriptionally. This chapter highlights these steps uncovered in sea urchins and sea stars, and links them to a general theme of how the germ line may regulate its fate differently than many of the embryo's somatic cell lineages.
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7
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Xu C, Cao Y, Bao J. Building RNA-protein germ granules: insights from the multifaceted functions of DEAD-box helicase Vasa/Ddx4 in germline development. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 79:4. [PMID: 34921622 PMCID: PMC11072811 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04069-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The segregation and maintenance of a dedicated germline in multicellular organisms is essential for species propagation in the sexually reproducing metazoan kingdom. The germline is distinct from somatic cells in that it is ultimately dedicated to acquiring the "totipotency" and to regenerating the offspring after fertilization. The most striking feature of germ cells lies in the presence of characteristic membraneless germ granules that have recently proven to behave like liquid droplets resulting from liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Vasa/Ddx4, a faithful DEAD-box family germline marker highly conserved across metazoan species, harbors canonical DEAD-box motifs and typical intrinsically disordered sequences at both the N-terminus and C-terminus. This feature enables it to serve as a primary driving force behind germ granule formation and helicase-mediated RNA metabolism (e.g., piRNA biogenesis). Genetic ablation of Vasa/Ddx4 or the catalytic-dead mutations abolishing its helicase activity led to sexually dimorphic germline defects resulting in either male or female sterility among diverse species. While recent efforts have discovered pivotal functions of Vasa/Ddx4 in somatic cells, especially in multipotent stem cells, we herein summarize the helicase-dependent and -independent functions of Vasa/Ddx4 in the germline, and discuss recent findings of Vasa/Ddx4-mediated phase separation, germ granule formation and piRNA-dependent retrotransposon control essential for germline development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caoling Xu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Yuzhu Cao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China
| | - Jianqiang Bao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Anhui, China.
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8
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Li Z, Marcel N, Devkota S, Auradkar A, Hedrick SM, Gantz VM, Bier E. CopyCatchers are versatile active genetic elements that detect and quantify inter-homolog somatic gene conversion. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2625. [PMID: 33976171 PMCID: PMC8113449 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22927-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-based active genetic elements, or gene-drives, copied via homology-directed repair (HDR) in the germline, are transmitted to progeny at super-Mendelian frequencies. Active genetic elements also can generate widespread somatic mutations, but the genetic basis for such phenotypes remains uncertain. It is generally assumed that such somatic mutations are generated by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), the predominant double stranded break repair pathway active in somatic cells. Here, we develop CopyCatcher systems in Drosophila to detect and quantify somatic gene conversion (SGC) events. CopyCatchers inserted into two independent genetic loci reveal unexpectedly high rates of SGC in the Drosophila eye and thoracic epidermis. Focused RNAi-based genetic screens identify several unanticipated loci altering SGC efficiency, one of which (c-MYC), when downregulated, promotes SGC mediated by both plasmid and homologous chromosome-templates in human HEK293T cells. Collectively, these studies suggest that CopyCatchers can serve as effective discovery platforms to inform potential gene therapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqian Li
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nimi Marcel
- Section of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sushil Devkota
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ankush Auradkar
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Stephen M Hedrick
- Section of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Valentino M Gantz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ethan Bier
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Tata Institute for Genetics and Society-UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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9
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Adams KL, Abernathy DG, Willett BC, Selland EK, Itoe MA, Catteruccia F. Wolbachia cifB induces cytoplasmic incompatibility in the malaria mosquito vector. Nat Microbiol 2021; 6:1575-1582. [PMID: 34819638 PMCID: PMC8612931 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-021-00998-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Wolbachia, a maternally inherited intracellular bacterial species, can manipulate host insect reproduction by cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), which results in embryo lethality in crosses between infected males and uninfected females. CI is encoded by two prophage genes, cifA and cifB. Wolbachia, coupled with the sterile insect technique, has been used in field trials to control populations of the dengue vector Aedes albopictus, but CI-inducing strains are not known to infect the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. Here we show that cifA and cifB can induce conditional sterility in the malaria vector An. gambiae. We used transgenic expression of these Wolbachia-derived genes in the An. gambiae germline to show that cifB is sufficient to cause embryonic lethality and that cifB-induced sterility is rescued by cifA expression in females. When we co-expressed cifA and cifB in male mosquitoes, the CI phenotype was attenuated. In female mosquitoes, cifB impaired fertility, which was overcome by co-expression of cifA. Our findings pave the way towards using CI to control malaria mosquito vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey L. Adams
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Daniel G. Abernathy
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Bailey C. Willett
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Emily K. Selland
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Maurice A. Itoe
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Flaminia Catteruccia
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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10
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Xu X, Yang J, Harvey-Samuel T, Huang Y, Asad M, Chen W, He W, Yang G, Alphey L, You M. Identification and characterization of the vasa gene in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 122:103371. [PMID: 32283279 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Vasa is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase, participating in multiple biological processes. It has been widely used as a germ cell marker and its promoter has become a key component of several genetic pest control systems. Here we present the vasa gene structure and its promoter activity in Plutella xylostella, one of the most destructive pests of cruciferous crops. Full length Pxvasa cDNA sequences were obtained, revealing 14 exons and at least 30 alternatively spliced transcripts. Inferred amino acid sequences showed nine conserved DEAD-box family protein motifs with partial exclusion from some isoforms. Real-time quantitative PCR indicated the up-regulation of Pxvasa in both female and male adults compared with other developmental stages, and the expression levels of Pxvasa were found to be much higher in adult gonads, especially ovaries, than in other tissues. The putative promoter region of Pxvasa was sequenced and several ecdysone-induced transcription factor (TF) binding sites were predicted in silico. To further analyze the promoter region, two upstream regulatory fragments of different lengths were tested as putative promoters in transient cell and embryo expression assays, one of which was subsequently utilized to drive Cas9 expression in vivo. A transgenic line was recovered and the expression patterns of Cas9 and native Pxvasa were profiled in adult tissues and eggs with RT-PCR. This work provides the foundation for further studies on the gene functions of Pxvasa as well as the potential application of its promoter in genetic manipulation of P. xylostella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Tim Harvey-Samuel
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Yuping Huang
- Department of Physiology & Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Muhammad Asad
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Weiyi He
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
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11
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Molecular approaches underlying the oogenic cycle of the scleractinian coral, Acropora tenuis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9914. [PMID: 32555307 PMCID: PMC7303178 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66020-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to elucidate the physiological processes of oogenesis in Acropora tenuis. Genes/proteins related to oogenesis were investigated: Vasa, a germ cell marker, vitellogenin (VG), a major yolk protein precursor, and its receptor (LDLR). Coral branches were collected monthly from coral reefs around Sesoko Island (Okinawa, Japan) for histological observation by in situ hybridisation (ISH) of the Vasa (AtVasa) and Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor (AtLDLR) genes and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of AtVasa and AtVG. AtVasa immunoreactivity was detected in germline cells and ooplasm, whereas AtVG immunoreactivity was detected in ooplasm and putative ovarian tissues. AtVasa was localised in germline cells located in the retractor muscles of the mesentery, whereas AtLDLR was localised in the putative ovarian and mesentery tissues. AtLDLR was detected in coral tissues during the vitellogenic phase, whereas AtVG immunoreactivity was found in primary oocytes. Germline cells expressing AtVasa are present throughout the year. In conclusion, Vasa has physiological and molecular roles throughout the oogenic cycle, as it determines gonadal germline cells and ensures normal oocyte development, whereas the roles of VG and LDLR are limited to the vitellogenic stages because they act in coordination with lipoprotein transport, vitellogenin synthesis, and yolk incorporation into oocytes.
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Dubey P, Kapoor T, Gupta S, Shirolikar S, Ray K. Atypical septate junctions maintain the somatic enclosure around maturing spermatids and prevent premature sperm release in Drosophila testis. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.036939. [PMID: 30635267 PMCID: PMC6398457 DOI: 10.1242/bio.036939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tight junctions prevent paracellular flow and maintain cell polarity in an epithelium. These junctions are also required for maintaining the blood-testis barrier, which is essential for sperm differentiation. Septate junctions in insects are orthologous to the tight junctions. In Drosophila testis, major septate junction components co-localize at the interface of germline and somatic cells initially, and then condense between the two somatic cells in a cyst after germline meiosis. Their localization is extensively remodeled in subsequent stages. We find that characteristic septate junctions are formed between the somatic cyst cells at the elongated spermatid stage. Consistent with previous reports, knockdown of essential junctional components – Discs-large-1 and Neurexin-IV – during the early stages disrupted sperm differentiation beyond the spermatocyte stage. Knockdown of these proteins during the final stages of spermatid maturation caused premature release of spermatids inside the testes, resulting in partial loss of male fertility. These results indicate the importance of maintaining the integrity of the somatic enclosure during spermatid coiling and release in Drosophila testis. It also highlights the functional similarity with the tight junction proteins during mammalian spermatogenesis. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Septate junctions seal the somatic enclosure around maturing spermatids in Drosophila testis. The junction integrity, maintained by Dlg1 and NrxIV, is essential for keeping the somatic enclosure intact until the mature spermatids are released.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Dubey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Tushna Kapoor
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Samir Gupta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Seema Shirolikar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Krishanu Ray
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
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Spermiogenesis and Male Fertility Require the Function of Suppressor of Hairy-Wing in Somatic Cyst Cells of Drosophila. Genetics 2018; 209:757-772. [PMID: 29739818 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Drosophila Suppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)] protein is an example of a multivalent transcription factor. Although best known for its role in establishing the chromatin insulator of the gypsy retrotransposon, Su(Hw) functions as an activator and repressor at non-gypsy genomic sites. It remains unclear how the different regulatory activities of Su(Hw) are utilized during development. Motivated from observations of spatially restricted expression of Su(Hw) in the testis, we investigated the role of Su(Hw) in spermatogenesis to advance an understanding of its developmental contributions as an insulator, repressor, and activator protein. We discovered that Su(Hw) is required for sustained male fertility. Although dynamics of Su(Hw) expression coincide with changes in nuclear architecture and activation of coregulated testis-specific gene clusters, we show that loss of Su(Hw) does not disrupt meiotic chromosome pairing or transcription of testis-specific genes, suggesting that Su(Hw) has minor architectural or insulator functions in the testis. Instead, Su(Hw) has a prominent role as a repressor of neuronal genes, consistent with suggestions that Su(Hw) is a functional homolog of mammalian REST, a repressor of neuronal genes in non-neuronal tissues. We show that Su(Hw) regulates transcription in both germline and somatic cells. Surprisingly, the essential spermatogenesis function of Su(Hw) resides in somatic cyst cells, implying context-specific consequences due to loss of this transcription factor. Together, our studies highlight that Su(Hw) has a major developmental function as a transcriptional repressor, with the effect of its loss dependent upon the cell-specific factors.
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He S, Zhu L, Liu F, Liu Q, Shao Y, Hua M, Ding H, Shao W, Du Y, Hou X, Ren C, Liu M, Shen J. Functions of the Vasa gene in Schistosoma japonicum as assessed by RNA interference. Gene 2017; 638:13-19. [PMID: 28964895 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.09.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 09/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Vasa, an enzyme belonging to the helicase family, contributes to the regulation of reproductive system development in many species. Thus, we hypothesized that the Vasa3 gene may function in the reproductive system of the parasite Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum), which is a major causative agent of schistosomiasis. It is a severe disease globally affecting humans and animals. To test this hypothesis, we firstly conducted whole mount in situ hybridization analyses and found that the S. japonicum Vasa3 (SjVasa3) gene was expressed mainly in the reproductive organs. We then explored the reproductive functions of Vasa3 in S. japonicum using RNA interference (RNAi) techniques. Coupled schistosomes collected from mice 28days post infection (dpi) were transfected three times with SjVasa3-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) and cultured in vitro for up to 10days. As measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot analysis, levels of SjVasa3 mRNA and protein in Vasa siRNA treated worms were significantly reduced compared with untreated and scrambled siRNA treated worms. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images showed markedly siRNA induced changes in the morphology of the reproductive organs, especially in the female ovary, vitellarium and the male testes. SjVasa3 gene silencing also significantly reduced egg production. These data demonstrate that SjVasa3 is essential in reproductive organ development and egg production in S. japonicum, and could be a potential target for developing novel compounds to treat schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu He
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Lulu Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengchun Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Quan Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanjing Shao
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengqing Hua
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Han Ding
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Shao
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinan Du
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Hou
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuiping Ren
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jijia Shen
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, 81#Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Oulhen N, Heyland A, Carrier TJ, Zazueta-Novoa V, Fresques T, Laird J, Onorato TM, Janies D, Wessel G. Regeneration in bipinnaria larvae of the bat star Patiria miniata induces rapid and broad new gene expression. Mech Dev 2016; 142:10-21. [PMID: 27555501 PMCID: PMC5154901 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some metazoa have the capacity to regenerate lost body parts. This phenomenon in adults has been classically described in echinoderms, especially in sea stars (Asteroidea). Sea star bipinnaria larvae can also rapidly and effectively regenerate a complete larva after surgical bisection. Understanding the capacity to reverse cell fates in the larva is important from both a developmental and biomedical perspective; yet, the mechanisms underlying regeneration in echinoderms are poorly understood. RESULTS Here, we describe the process of bipinnaria regeneration after bisection in the bat star Patiria miniata. We tested transcriptional, translational, and cell proliferation activity after bisection in anterior and posterior bipinnaria halves as well as expression of SRAP, reported as a sea star regeneration associated protease (Vickery et al., 2001b). Moreover, we found several genes whose transcripts increased in abundance following bisection, including: Vasa, dysferlin, vitellogenin 1 and vitellogenin 2. CONCLUSION These results show a transformation following bisection, especially in the anterior halves, of cell fate reassignment in all three germ layers, with clear and predictable changes. These results define molecular events that accompany the cell fate changes coincident to the regenerative response in echinoderm larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Oulhen
- Brown University, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, USA
| | - Andreas Heyland
- Brown University, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, USA; University of Guelph, Integrative Biology, Canada.
| | - Tyler J Carrier
- Brown University, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, USA; University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Biological Sciences, USA
| | | | - Tara Fresques
- Brown University, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, USA
| | - Jessica Laird
- Brown University, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, USA
| | | | - Daniel Janies
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, USA
| | - Gary Wessel
- Brown University, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, USA.
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16
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Poon J, Wessel GM, Yajima M. An unregulated regulator: Vasa expression in the development of somatic cells and in tumorigenesis. Dev Biol 2016; 415:24-32. [PMID: 27179696 PMCID: PMC4902722 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence in diverse organisms shows that genes originally thought to function uniquely in the germ line may also function in somatic cells, and in some cases even contribute to tumorigenesis. Here we review the somatic functions of Vasa, one of the most conserved "germ line" factors among metazoans. Vasa expression in somatic cells is tightly regulated and often transient during normal development, and appears to play essential roles in regulation of embryonic cells and regenerative tissues. Its dysregulation, however, is believed to be an important element of tumorigenic cell regulation. In this perspectives paper, we propose how some conserved functions of Vasa may be selected for somatic cell regulation, including its potential impact on efficient and localized translational activities and in some cases on cellular malfunctioning and tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Poon
- MCB Department, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL173, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Gary M Wessel
- MCB Department, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL173, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Mamiko Yajima
- MCB Department, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, BOX-GL173, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
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Schwager EE, Meng Y, Extavour CG. vasa and piwi are required for mitotic integrity in early embryogenesis in the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum. Dev Biol 2014; 402:276-90. [PMID: 25257304 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Revised: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Studies in vertebrate and invertebrate model organisms on the molecular basis of primordial germ cell (PGC) specification have revealed that metazoans can specify their germ line either early in development by maternally transmitted cytoplasmic factors (inheritance), or later in development by signaling factors from neighboring tissues (induction). Regardless of the mode of PGC specification, once animal germ cells are specified, they invariably express a number of highly conserved genes. These include vasa and piwi, which can play essential roles in any or all of PGC specification, development, or gametogenesis. Although the arthropods are the most speciose animal phylum, to date there have been no functional studies of conserved germ line genes in species of the most basally branching arthropod clade, the chelicerates (which includes spiders, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs). Here we present the first such study by using molecular and functional tools to examine germ line development and the roles of vasa and piwi orthologues in the common house spider Parasteatoda (formerly Achaearanea) tepidariorum. We use transcript and protein expression patterns of Pt-vasa and Pt-piwi to show that primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the spider arise during late embryogenesis. Neither Pt-vasa nor Pt-piwi gene products are localized asymmetrically to any embryonic region before PGCs emerge as paired segmental clusters in opisthosomal segments 2-6 at late germ band stages. RNA interference studies reveal that both genes are required maternally for egg laying, mitotic progression in early embryos, and embryonic survival. Our results add to the growing body of evidence that vasa and piwi can play important roles in somatic development, and provide evidence for a previously hypothesized conserved role for vasa in cell cycle progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn E Schwager
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yue Meng
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Cassandra G Extavour
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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18
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Stickel S, Su TT. Oncogenic mutations produce similar phenotypes in Drosophila tissues of diverse origins. Biol Open 2014; 3:201-9. [PMID: 24570398 PMCID: PMC4001236 DOI: 10.1242/bio.20147161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
An emerging interest in oncology is to tailor treatment to particular cancer genotypes, i.e. oncogenic mutations present in the tumor, and not the tissue of cancer incidence. Integral to such a practice is the idea that the same oncogenic mutation(s) produces similar outcomes in different tissues. To test this idea experimentally, we studied tumors driven by a combination of Ras(V12) and scrib(1) mutations in Drosophila larvae. We found that tumors induced in tissues of neural ectodermal and mesodermal origins behaved similarly in every manner examined: cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis, cellular morphology, increased aneuploidy and response to Taxol. We conclude that oncogenic effects override tissue-specific differences, at least for the mutations, tissues, and phenotypes studied herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Stickel
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0347, USA
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