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Mousavi SE, Patil JG. Stages of embryonic development in the live-bearing fish, Gambusia holbrooki. Dev Dyn 2021; 251:287-320. [PMID: 34139034 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Divergent morphology and placentation of Poeciliids make them suitable model for investigating how evolutionary selection has altered and conserved the developmental mechanisms. However, there is limited description of their embryonic staging, despite representing a key evolutionary node that shares developmental strategy with placental vertebrates. Here, we describe the embryonic developmental stages of Gambusia holbrooki from zygote to parturition using freshly harvested embryos. RESULTS We defined 40 embryonic stages using a numbered (stages 0-39; zygote to parturition, respectively) and named (grouped into seven periods, ie, zygote, cleavage, blastula, gastrula, segmentation, pharyngula, and parturition) staging system. Two sets of quantitative (ie, egg diameter, embryonic total length, otic vesicle closure index, heart rates, the number of caudal fin rays and elements) and qualitative (ie, three-dimensional analysis of images and key morphological criteria) data were acquired and used in combination to describe each stage. All 40 stages are separated by well-defined morphological traits, revealing developmental novelties that are influenced by narrow perivitelline space, placentation, internal gestation, and sex differentiation. CONCLUSIONS The principal diagnostic features described are quick, reliable, and easy to apply. This system will benefit researchers investigating molecular ontogeny, particularly sexual differentiation mechanisms in G. holbrooki.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Ehsan Mousavi
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Jawahar G Patil
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, Tasmania, Australia.,Inland Fisheries Service, New Norfolk, Tasmania, Australia
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Kudlicki A. Why a Constant Number of Vertebrae? Digital Control of Segmental Identity during Vertebrate Development: The Somite Cycle Controls a Digital, Chromatin-Based Counter That Defines Segmental Identity and Body Plans in Vertebrate Animals. Bioessays 2019; 42:e1900133. [PMID: 31755133 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
It is not understood how the numbers and identities of vertebrae are controlled during mammalian development. The remarkable robustness and conservation of segmental numbers may suggest the digital nature of the underlying process. The study proposes a mechanism that allows cells to obtain and store the segmental information in digital form, and to produce a pattern of chromatin accessibility that in turn regulates Hox gene expression specific to the metameric segment. The model requires that a regulatory element be present such that the number of occurrences of the motif between two consecutive Hox genes equals the number of segments under the control of the anterior gene. This is true for the recently discovered hydroxyl radical cleavage 3bp-periodic (HRC3) motif, associated with histone modifications and developmental genes. The finding not only allows the correct prediction of the numbers of segments using only sequence information, but also resolves the 40-year-old enigma of the function of temporal and spatial collinearity of Hox genes. The logic of the mechanism is illustrated in the attached animated video. How different aspects of the proposed mechanism can be tested experimentally is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Kudlicki
- Institute for Translational Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, USA
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Fongang B, Cunningham KA, Rowicka M, Kudlicki A. Coevolution of Residues Provides Evidence of a Functional Heterodimer of 5-HT 2AR and 5-HT 2CR Involving Both Intracellular and Extracellular Domains. Neuroscience 2019; 412:48-59. [PMID: 31158438 PMCID: PMC7299066 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating activities such as sleep, appetite, mood and substance abuse disorders; serotonin receptors 5-HT2AR and 5-HT2CR are active within pathways associated with substance abuse. It has been suggested that 5-HT2AR and 5-HT2CR may form a dimer that affects behavioral processes. Here we study the coevolution of residues in 5-HT2AR and 5-HT2CR to identify potential interactions between residues in both proteins. Coevolution studies can detect protein interactions, and since the thus uncovered interactions are subject to evolutionary pressure, they are likely functional. We assessed the significance of the 5-HT2AR/5-HT2CR interactions using randomized phylogenetic trees and found the coevolution significant (p-value = 0.01). We also discuss how co-expression of the receptors suggests the predicted interaction is functional. Finally, we analyze how several single nucleotide polymorphisms for the 5-HT2AR and 5-HT2CR genes affect their interaction. Our findings are the first to characterize the binding interface of 5-HT2AR/5-HT2CR and indicate a correlation between this interface and location of SNPs in both proteins.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Databases, Genetic
- Evolution, Molecular
- Papio anubis
- Phosphorylation
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/genetics
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/metabolism
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C/genetics
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C/metabolism
- Transcriptome
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Fongang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Diseases, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
| | - Kathryn A Cunningham
- Center for Addiction Research and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Maga Rowicka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Andrzej Kudlicki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
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Kuchta K, Towpik J, Biernacka A, Kutner J, Kudlicki A, Ginalski K, Rowicka M. Predicting proteome dynamics using gene expression data. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13866. [PMID: 30217992 PMCID: PMC6138643 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31752-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
While protein concentrations are physiologically most relevant, measuring them globally is challenging. mRNA levels are easier to measure genome-wide and hence are typically used to infer the corresponding protein abundances. The steady-state condition (assumption that protein levels remain constant) has typically been used to calculate protein concentrations, as it is mathematically convenient, even though it is often not satisfied. Here, we propose a method to estimate genome-wide protein abundances without this assumption. Instead, we assume that the system returns to its baseline at the end of the experiment, which is true for cyclic phenomena (e.g. cell cycle) and many time-course experiments. Our approach only requires availability of gene expression and protein half-life data. As proof-of-concept, we predicted proteome dynamics associated with the budding yeast cell cycle, the results are available for browsing online at http://dynprot.cent.uw.edu.pl/. The approach was validated experimentally by verifying that the predicted protein concentration changes were consistent with measurements for all proteins tested. Additionally, if proteomic data are available as well, we can also infer changes in protein half-lives in response to posttranslational regulation, as we did for Clb2, a post-translationally regulated protein. The predicted changes in Clb2 abundance are consistent with earlier observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Kuchta
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Towpik
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Biernacka
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Kutner
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Kudlicki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Translational Sciences, and Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Krzysztof Ginalski
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Maga Rowicka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Translational Sciences, and Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
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Fongang B, Kong F, Negi S, Braun W, Kudlicki A. A Conserved Structural Signature of the Homeobox Coding DNA in HOX genes. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35415. [PMID: 27739488 PMCID: PMC5064350 DOI: 10.1038/srep35415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The homeobox encodes a DNA-binding domain found in transcription factors regulating key developmental processes. The most notable examples of homeobox containing genes are the Hox genes, arranged on chromosomes in the same order as their expression domains along the body axis. The mechanisms responsible for the synchronous regulation of Hox genes and the molecular function of their colinearity remain unknown. Here we report the discovery of a conserved structural signature of the 180-base pair DNA fragment comprising the homeobox. We demonstrate that the homeobox DNA has a characteristic 3-base-pair periodicity in the hydroxyl radical cleavage pattern. This periodic pattern is significant in most of the 39 mammalian Hox genes and in other homeobox-containing transcription factors. The signature is present in segmented bilaterian animals as evolutionarily distant as humans and flies. It remains conserved despite the fact that it would be disrupted by synonymous mutations, which raises the possibility of evolutionary selective pressure acting on the structure of the coding DNA. The homeobox coding DNA may therefore have a secondary function, possibly as a regulatory element. The existence of such element may have important consequences for understanding how these genes are regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Fongang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Fanping Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Surendra Negi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Werner Braun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Andrzej Kudlicki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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