1
|
Kröner L, Lötters S, Hopp MT. Insights into caudate amphibian skin secretions with a focus on the chemistry and bioactivity of derived peptides. Biol Chem 2024; 0:hsz-2024-0035. [PMID: 38766708 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2024-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Amphibians are well-known for their ability to produce and secrete a mixture of bioactive substances in specialized skin glands for the purpose of antibiotic self-protection and defense against predators. Some of these secretions contain various small molecules, such as the highly toxic batrachotoxin, tetrodotoxin, and samandarine. For some time, the presence of peptides in amphibian skin secretions has attracted researchers, consisting of a diverse collection of - to the current state of knowledge - three to 104 amino acid long sequences. From these more than 2000 peptides many are known to exert antimicrobial effects. In addition, there are some reports on amphibian skin peptides that can promote wound healing, regulate immunoreactions, and may serve as antiparasitic and antioxidative substances. So far, the focus has mainly been on skin peptides from frogs and toads (Anura), eclipsing the research on skin peptides of the ca. 700 salamanders and newts (Caudata). Just recently, several novel observations dealing with caudate peptides and their structure-function relationships were reported. This review focuses on the chemistry and bioactivity of caudate amphibian skin peptides and their potential as novel agents for clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Kröner
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, 38899 University of Koblenz , D-56070 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Stefan Lötters
- Department of Biogeography, University of Trier, D-54286 Trier, Germany
| | - Marie-T Hopp
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, 38899 University of Koblenz , D-56070 Koblenz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Derby CD, McClintock TS, Caprio J. Understanding responses to chemical mixtures: looking forward from the past. Chem Senses 2022; 47:6539698. [PMID: 35226060 PMCID: PMC8883806 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjac002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Our goal in this article is to provide a perspective on how to understand the nature of responses to chemical mixtures. In studying responses to mixtures, researchers often identify "mixture interactions"-responses to mixtures that are not accurately predicted from the responses to the mixture's individual components. Critical in these studies is how to predict responses to mixtures and thus to identify a mixture interaction. We explore this issue with a focus on olfaction and on the first level of neural processing-olfactory sensory neurons-although we use examples from taste systems as well and we consider responses beyond sensory neurons, including behavior and psychophysics. We provide a broadly comparative perspective that includes examples from vertebrates and invertebrates, from genetic and nongenetic animal models, and from literature old and new. In the end, we attempt to recommend how to approach these problems, including possible future research directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles D Derby
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Corresponding author: Charles Derby, Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA. e-mail:
| | | | - John Caprio
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Woodley SK, Staub NL. Pheromonal communication in urodelan amphibians. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:327-345. [PMID: 33427952 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03408-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Pheromonal communication is an ancient and pervasive sensory modality in urodelan amphibians. One family of salamander pheromones (the sodefrin precursor-like factor (SPF) family) originated 300 million years ago, at the origin of amphibians. Although salamanders are often thought of as relatively simple animals especially when compared to mammals, the pheromonal systems are varied and complex with nuanced effects on behavior. Here, we review the function and evolution of pheromonal signals involved in male-female reproductive interactions. After describing common themes of salamander pheromonal communication, we describe what is known about the rich diversity of pheromonal communication in each salamander family. Several pheromones have been described, ranging from simple, invariant molecules to complex, variable blends of pheromones. While some pheromones elicit overt behavioral responses, others have more nuanced effects. Pheromonal signals have diversified within salamander lineages and have experienced rapid evolution. Once receptors have been matched to pheromonal ligands, rapid advance can be made to better understand the olfactory detection and processing of salamander pheromones. In particular, a large number of salamander species deliver pheromones across the skin of females, perhaps reflecting a novel mode of pheromonal communication. At the end of our review, we list some of the many intriguing unanswered questions. We hope that this review will inspire a new generation of scientists to pursue work in this rewarding field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Woodley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA.
| | - Nancy L Staub
- Biology Department, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, 99203, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
The rise and fall of globins in the amphibia. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2020; 37:100759. [PMID: 33202310 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2020.100759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The globin gene repertoire of gnathostome vertebrates is dictated by differential retention and loss of nine paralogous genes: androglobin, neuroglobin, globin X, cytoglobin, globin Y, myoglobin, globin E, and the α- and β-globins. We report the globin gene repertoire of three orders of modern amphibians: Anura, Caudata, and Gymnophiona. Combining phylogenetic and conserved synteny analysis, we show that myoglobin and globin E were lost only in the Batrachia clade, but retained in Gymnophiona. The major amphibian groups also retained different paralogous copies of globin X. None of the amphibian presented αD-globin gene. Nevertheless, two clades of β-globins are present in all amphibians, indicating that the amphibian ancestor possessed two paralogous proto β-globins. We also show that orthologs of the gene coding for the monomeric hemoglobin found in the heart of Rana catesbeiana are present in Neobatrachia and Pelobatoidea species we analyzed. We suggest that these genes might perform myoglobin- and globin E-related functions. We conclude that the repertoire of globin genes in amphibians is dictated by both retention and loss of the paralogous genes cited above and the rise of a new globin gene through co-option of an α-globin, possibly facilitated by a prior event of transposition.
Collapse
|
5
|
Montero-Mendieta S, Grabherr M, Lantz H, De la Riva I, Leonard JA, Webster MT, Vilà C. A practical guide to build de-novo assemblies for single tissues of non-model organisms: the example of a Neotropical frog. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3702. [PMID: 28879061 PMCID: PMC5582611 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is a very valuable resource to understand the evolutionary history of poorly known species. However, in organisms with large genomes, as most amphibians, WGS is still excessively challenging and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) represents a cost-effective tool to explore genome-wide variability. Non-model organisms do not usually have a reference genome and the transcriptome must be assembled de-novo. We used RNA-seq to obtain the transcriptomic profile for Oreobates cruralis, a poorly known South American direct-developing frog. In total, 550,871 transcripts were assembled, corresponding to 422,999 putative genes. Of those, we identified 23,500, 37,349, 38,120 and 45,885 genes present in the Pfam, EggNOG, KEGG and GO databases, respectively. Interestingly, our results suggested that genes related to immune system and defense mechanisms are abundant in the transcriptome of O. cruralis. We also present a pipeline to assist with pre-processing, assembling, evaluating and functionally annotating a de-novo transcriptome from RNA-seq data of non-model organisms. Our pipeline guides the inexperienced user in an intuitive way through all the necessary steps to build de-novo transcriptome assemblies using readily available software and is freely available at: https://github.com/biomendi/TRANSCRIPTOME-ASSEMBLY-PIPELINE/wiki.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Montero-Mendieta
- Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Integrative Ecology, Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain
| | - Manfred Grabherr
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (BILS), Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Henrik Lantz
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (BILS), Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ignacio De la Riva
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jennifer A Leonard
- Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Integrative Ecology, Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain
| | - Matthew T Webster
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carles Vilà
- Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Integrative Ecology, Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wilburn DB, Arnold SJ, Houck LD, Feldhoff PW, Feldhoff RC. Gene Duplication, Co-option, Structural Evolution, and Phenotypic Tango in the Courtship Pheromones of Plethodontid Salamanders. HERPETOLOGICA 2017. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-16-00082.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Damien B. Wilburn
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Stevan J. Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Lynne D. Houck
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Pamela W. Feldhoff
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Richard C. Feldhoff
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| |
Collapse
|