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Bai Y, Lv YN, Zeng M, Yan ZY, Huang DY, Wen JZ, Lu HN, Zhang PY, Wang YF, Ban N, Yuan DW, Li S, Luan YX. E93 is indispensable for reproduction in ametabolous and hemimetabolous insects. Development 2024; 151:dev202518. [PMID: 38646855 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Ecdysone-induced protein 93 (E93), known as the 'adult-specifier' transcription factor in insects, triggers metamorphosis in both hemimetabolous and holometabolous insects. Although E93 is conserved in ametabolous insects, its spatiotemporal expression and physiological function remain poorly understood. In this study, we first discover that, in the ametabolous firebrat Thermobia domestica, the previtellogenic ovary exhibits cyclically high E93 expression, and E93 mRNA is broadly distributed in previtellogenic ovarioles. E93 homozygous mutant females of T. domestica exhibit severe fecundity deficiency due to impaired previtellogenic development of the ovarian follicles, likely because E93 induces the expression of genes involved in ECM (extracellular matrix)-receptor interactions during previtellogenesis. Moreover, we reveal that in the hemimetabolous cockroach Blattella germanica, E93 similarly promotes previtellogenic ovarian development. In addition, E93 is also essential for vitellogenesis that is necessary to guarantee ovarian maturation and promotes the vitellogenesis-previtellogenesis switch in the fat body of adult female cockroaches. Our findings deepen the understanding of the roles of E93 in controlling reproduction in insects, and of E93 expression and functional evolution, which are proposed to have made crucial contributions to the origin of insect metamorphosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Bai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
- Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou 514000, China
| | - Ya-Nan Lv
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Mei Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Zi-Yu Yan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Dan-Yan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Jia-Zhen Wen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Hu-Na Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Pei-Yan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Yi-Fan Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Ning Ban
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Dong-Wei Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
- Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou 514000, China
| | - Yun-Xia Luan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Development Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510000, China
- Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou 514000, China
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Gomez A, Gonzalez S, Oke A, Luo J, Duong JB, Esquerra RM, Zimmerman T, Capponi S, Fung JC, Nystul TG. A high-throughput method for quantifying Drosophila fecundity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.27.587093. [PMID: 38585877 PMCID: PMC10996622 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.27.587093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Measurements of Drosophila fecundity are used in a wide variety of studies, such as investigations of stem cell biology, nutrition, behavior, and toxicology. In addition, because fecundity assays are performed on live flies, they are suitable for longitudinal studies such as investigations of aging or prolonged chemical exposure. However, standard Drosophila fecundity assays have been difficult to perform in a high-throughput manner because experimental factors such as the physiological state of the flies and environmental cues must be carefully controlled to achieve consistent results. In addition, exposing flies to a large number of different experimental conditions (such as chemical additives in the diet) and manually counting the number of eggs laid to determine the impact on fecundity is time-consuming. We have overcome these challenges by combining a new multiwell fly culture strategy with a novel 3D-printed fly transfer device to rapidly and accurately transfer flies from one plate to another; the RoboCam, a low-cost, custom built robotic camera to capture images of the wells automatically; and an image segmentation pipeline to automatically identify and quantify eggs. We show that this method is compatible with robust and consistent egg laying throughout the assay period; and demonstrate that the automated pipeline for quantifying fecundity is very accurate (r2 = 0.98 for the correlation between the automated egg counts and the ground truth) In addition, we show that this method can be used to efficiently detect the effects on fecundity induced by dietary exposure to chemicals. Taken together, this strategy substantially increases the efficiency and reproducibility of high throughput egg laying assays that require exposing flies to multiple different media conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreana Gomez
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Anatomy
| | - Sergio Gonzalez
- San Francisco State University, Department of Biology
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
| | - Ashwini Oke
- San Francisco State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of California, San Francisco, OB/GYN Department
- IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA; University of California, San Francisco, Center for Reproductive Sciences
| | - Jiayu Luo
- San Francisco State University, Department of Biology
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
| | - Johnny B Duong
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
- San Francisco State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of California, San Francisco, OB/GYN Department
| | - Raymond M Esquerra
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
- San Francisco State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of California, San Francisco, OB/GYN Department
| | - Thomas Zimmerman
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
- IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA; University of California, San Francisco, Center for Reproductive Sciences
| | - Sara Capponi
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA
- IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA; University of California, San Francisco, Center for Reproductive Sciences
| | - Jennifer C Fung
- San Francisco State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of California, San Francisco, OB/GYN Department
- IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA; University of California, San Francisco, Center for Reproductive Sciences
- University of California, San Francisco EaRTH Center
| | - Todd G Nystul
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Anatomy
- San Francisco State University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of California, San Francisco, OB/GYN Department
- IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA; University of California, San Francisco, Center for Reproductive Sciences
- University of California, San Francisco EaRTH Center
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3
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Finger DS, Williams AE, Holt VV, Ables ET. Novel roles for RNA binding proteins squid, hephaesteus, and Hrb27C in Drosophila oogenesis. Dev Dyn 2023; 252:415-428. [PMID: 36308715 PMCID: PMC9991940 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.550] [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: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproductive capacity in many organisms is maintained by germline stem cells (GSCs). A complex regulatory network influences stem cell fate, including intrinsic factors, local signals, and hormonal and nutritional cues. Posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms ensure proper cell fate transitions, promoting germ cell differentiation to oocytes. As essential RNA binding proteins with constitutive functions in RNA metabolism, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) have been implicated in GSC function and axis specification during oocyte development. HnRNPs support biogenesis, localization, maturation, and translation of nascent transcripts. Whether and individual hnRNPs specifically regulate GSC function has yet to be explored. RESULTS We demonstrate that hnRNPs are expressed in distinct patterns in the Drosophila germarium. We show that three hnRNPs, squid, hephaestus, and Hrb27C are cell-autonomously required in GSCs for their maintenance. Although these hnRNPs do not impact adhesion of GSCs to adjacent cap cells, squid and hephaestus (but not Hrb27C) are necessary for proper bone morphogenetic protein signaling in GSCs. Moreover, Hrb27C promotes proper GSC proliferation, whereas hephaestus promotes cyst division. CONCLUSIONS We find that hnRNPs are independently and intrinsically required in GSCs for their maintenance in adults. Our results support the model that hnRNPs play unique roles in stem cells essential for their self-renewal and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle S. Finger
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Anna E. Williams
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Vivian V. Holt
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Elizabeth T. Ables
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
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Merkle JA. Dissection, Fixation, and Standard Staining of Adult Drosophila Ovaries. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2626:49-68. [PMID: 36715899 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2970-3_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Studies of the Drosophila ovary have provided significant insight into the molecular and cellular processes that control cell function, tissue organization, and animal development. To characterize mutants with defects in oogenesis or to observe the distribution of gene products involved in egg production, the ovaries must be carefully extracted and prepared for analysis. This chapter describes the manual dissection of ovaries from adult Drosophila females, followed by standard fixation and staining of the isolated tissue. Specifically, this chapter provides procedures for simple DNA and F-actin staining to assess cell and tissue morphology, as well as immunostaining to localize proteins of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Merkle
- Department of Biology, University of Evansville, Evansville, IN, USA.
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5
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Hoedjes KM, Kostic H, Flatt T, Keller L. A Single Nucleotide Variant in the PPARγ-homolog Eip75B Affects Fecundity in Drosophila. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:7005670. [PMID: 36703226 PMCID: PMC9922802 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Single nucleotide polymorphisms are the most common type of genetic variation, but how these variants contribute to the adaptation of complex phenotypes is largely unknown. Experimental evolution and genome-wide association studies have demonstrated that variation in the PPARγ-homolog Eip75B has associated with longevity and life-history differences in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Using RNAi knockdown, we first demonstrate that reduced expression of Eip75B in adult flies affects lifespan, egg-laying rate, and egg volume. We then tested the effects of a naturally occurring SNP within a cis-regulatory domain of Eip75B by applying two complementary approaches: a Mendelian randomization approach using lines of the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel, and allelic replacement using precise CRISPR/Cas9-induced genome editing. Our experiments reveal that this natural polymorphism has a significant pleiotropic effect on fecundity and egg-to-adult viability, but not on longevity or other life-history traits. Our results provide a rare functional validation at the nucleotide level and identify a natural allelic variant affecting fitness and life-history adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hristina Kostic
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Khalid MZ, Sun Z, Zhang J, Zhang S, Zhong G. Cyromazine affects the ovarian germ cells of Drosophila via the ecdysone signaling pathway. Front Physiol 2022; 13:992306. [PMID: 36246127 PMCID: PMC9557234 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.992306] [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: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyromazine, an insect growth regulator, has been extensively used against the insect pests of livestock and households. Previously, it was observed that the continuous selection of cyromazine from the larval to the adult stage decreased the number of germline stem cells (GSCs) and cystoblasts (CBs) in the adult ovary. In addition, in this study, we observed that the number of primordial germ cells (PGCs) was also decreased in the larval ovary after treatment with cyromazine. However, the mechanism by which it affects the germ cells is yet to be explored. Consequently, to deeply investigate the effects of cyromazine on the germ cells, we performed tissue-specific RNA sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the ecdysone signaling pathway was significantly influenced under cyromazine stress. Based on that, we screened and selected 14 ecdysone signaling responsive genes and silenced their expression in the germ cells only. Results of that showed a considerable reduction in the number of germ cells. Furthermore, we mixed exogenous 20E with the cyromazine-containing diet to rescue the ecdysone signaling. Our results supported that the application of exogenous 20E significantly rescued the germ cells in the transgenic lines. Therefore, this implies that the cyromazine decreased the number of germ cells by affecting the ecdysone signaling pathway.
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Cyromazine Effects the Reproduction of Drosophila by Decreasing the Number of Germ Cells in the Female Adult Ovary. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13050414. [PMID: 35621750 PMCID: PMC9144682 DOI: 10.3390/insects13050414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Cyromazine, an insect growth regulator, is used to control the Dipteran pest population. Previous findings observed that treatment with cyromazine increased the larval mortality, by interfering with the ecdysone signaling. In addition, the application of exogenous 20E significantly reduced the mortality caused by cyromazine. Many studies have also supported the role of ecdysone signaling in the maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs), where mutations in ecdysone signaling-related genes significantly decreased the number of GSCs. However, to date, no study has reported the effect of cyromazine on the GSCs of Drosophila melanogaster. In the present study, we observed that cyromazine significantly reduced the number of both GSCs and cystoblasts (CBs) in the ovary of adult female. To further understand the effect of cyromazine on germ cells, we selected some key genes related to the ecdysone signaling pathway and evaluated their expression through RT-qPCR. Additionally, we measured the ecdysone titer from the cyromazine-treated ovaries. Our results indicated a significant decrease in the expression of ecdysone signaling-related genes and also in the ecdysone titer. These results further supported our findings that cyromazine reduced the number of germ cells by interfering with the ecdysone signaling pathway. Abstract In the present study, we observed a 58% decrease in the fecundity of Drosophila melanogaster, after treatment with the cyromazine. To further elucidate the effects of cyromazine on reproduction, we counted the number of both germline stem cells (GSCs) and cystoblasts (CBs) in the ovary of a 3-day-old adult female. The results showed a significant decrease in the number of GSCs and CBs as compared to the control group. The mode of action of cyromazine is believed to be through the ecdysone signaling pathway. To further support this postulate, we observed the expression of key genes involved in the ecdysone signaling pathway and also determined the ecdysone titer from cyromazine-treated ovaries. Results indicated a significant decrease in the expression of ecdysone signaling-related genes as compared to the control group. Furthermore, the titer of the ecdysone hormone was also markedly reduced (90%) in cyromazine-treated adult ovaries, suggesting that ecdysone signaling was directly related to the decrease in the number of GSCs and CBs. However, further studies are required to understand the mechanism by which cyromazine affects the GSCs and CBs in female adult ovaries.
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Hutfilz C. Endocrine Regulation of Lifespan in Insect Diapause. Front Physiol 2022; 13:825057. [PMID: 35242054 PMCID: PMC8886022 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.825057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Diapause is a physiological adaptation to conditions that are unfavorable for growth or reproduction. During diapause, animals become long-lived, stress-resistant, developmentally static, and non-reproductive, in the case of diapausing adults. Diapause has been observed at all developmental stages in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In adults, diapause traits weaken into adaptations such as hibernation, estivation, dormancy, or torpor, which represent evolutionarily diverse versions of the traditional diapause traits. These traits are regulated through modifications of the endocrine program guiding development. In insects, this typically includes changes in molting hormones, as well as metabolic signals that limit growth while skewing the organism's energetic demands toward conservation. While much work has been done to characterize these modifications, the interactions between hormones and their downstream consequences are incompletely understood. The current state of diapause endocrinology is reviewed here to highlight the relevance of diapause beyond its use as a model to study seasonality and development. Specifically, insect diapause is an emerging model to study mechanisms that determine lifespan. The induction of diapause represents a dramatic change in the normal progression of age. Hormones such as juvenile hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone, and prothoracicotropic hormone are well-known to modulate this plasticity. The induction of diapause-and by extension, the cessation of normal aging-is coordinated by interactions between these pathways. However, research directly connecting diapause endocrinology to the biology of aging is lacking. This review explores connections between diapause and aging through the perspective of endocrine signaling. The current state of research in both fields suggests appreciable overlap that will greatly contribute to our understanding of diapause and lifespan determination.
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Yildirim E, Curtis R, Hwangbo DS. Roles of peripheral clocks: lessons from the fly. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:263-293. [PMID: 34862983 PMCID: PMC8844272 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
To adapt to and anticipate rhythmic changes in the environment such as daily light-dark and temperature cycles, internal timekeeping mechanisms called biological clocks evolved in a diverse set of organisms, from unicellular bacteria to humans. These biological clocks play critical roles in organisms' fitness and survival by temporally aligning physiological and behavioral processes to the external cues. The central clock is located in a small subset of neurons in the brain and drives daily activity rhythms, whereas most peripheral tissues harbor their own clock systems, which generate metabolic and physiological rhythms. Since the discovery of Drosophila melanogaster clock mutants in the early 1970s, the fruit fly has become an extensively studied model organism to investigate the mechanism and functions of circadian clocks. In this review, we primarily focus on D. melanogaster to survey key discoveries and progresses made over the past two decades in our understanding of peripheral clocks. We discuss physiological roles and molecular mechanisms of peripheral clocks in several different peripheral tissues of the fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evrim Yildirim
- unaffiliated, Istanbul, Turkey,Correspondence: Dae-Sung Hwangbo, Ph.D., Department of Biology, University of Louisville, 139 Life Sciences Bldg., Louisville, KY, 40292, USA. , Tel: 1-502-852-5937; Evrim Yildirim, Ph.D., Eskibostan Sok. No:6 Celebi Sitesi: A-2, Kartal, Istanbul, 34860, Turkey. , Tel: 90-546-919-02-81
| | - Rachel Curtis
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Dae-Sung Hwangbo
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA,Correspondence: Dae-Sung Hwangbo, Ph.D., Department of Biology, University of Louisville, 139 Life Sciences Bldg., Louisville, KY, 40292, USA. , Tel: 1-502-852-5937; Evrim Yildirim, Ph.D., Eskibostan Sok. No:6 Celebi Sitesi: A-2, Kartal, Istanbul, 34860, Turkey. , Tel: 90-546-919-02-81
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10
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Beachum AN, Whitehead KM, McDonald SI, Phipps DN, Berghout HE, Ables ET. Orphan nuclear receptor ftz-f1 (NR5A3) promotes egg chamber survival in the Drosophila ovary. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 11:6114459. [PMID: 33693603 PMCID: PMC8022936 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab003] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Gamete production in mammals and insects is controlled by cell signaling pathways that facilitate communication between germ cells and somatic cells. Nuclear receptor signaling is a key mediator of many aspects of reproduction, including gametogenesis. For example, the NR5A subfamily of nuclear receptors is essential for gonad development and sex steroid production in mammals. Despite the original identification of the NR5A subfamily in the model insect Drosophila melanogaster, it has been unclear whether Drosophila NR5A receptors directly control oocyte production. Ftz-f1 is expressed throughout the ovary, including in germline stem cells, germline cysts, and several populations of somatic cells. We show that ftz-f1 is required in follicle cells prior to stage 10 to promote egg chamber survival at the mid-oogenesis checkpoint. Our data suggest that egg chamber death in the absence of ftz-f1 is due, at least in part, to failure of follicle cells to exit the mitotic cell cycle or failure to accumulate oocyte-specific factors in the germline. Taken together, these results show that, as in mammals, the NR5A subfamily promotes maximal reproductive output in Drosophila. Our data underscore the importance of nuclear receptors in the control of reproduction and highlight the utility of Drosophila oogenesis as a key model for unraveling the complexity of nuclear receptor signaling in gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison N Beachum
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | | | | | - Daniel N Phipps
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Hanna E Berghout
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Elizabeth T Ables
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
- Corresponding author: Department of Biology, East Carolina University, 1001 E. 10th St., Mailstop 551, 553 Science & Technology Building, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
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11
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Finger DS, Whitehead KM, Phipps DN, Ables ET. Nuclear receptors linking physiology and germline stem cells in Drosophila. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2021; 116:327-362. [PMID: 33752824 PMCID: PMC8063499 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2020.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Maternal nutrition and physiology are intimately associated with reproductive success in diverse organisms. Despite decades of study, the molecular mechanisms linking maternal diet to the production and quality of oocytes remain poorly defined. Nuclear receptors (NRs) link nutritional signals to cellular responses and are essential for oocyte development. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is an excellent genetically tractable model to study the relationship between NR signaling and oocyte production. In this review, we explore how NRs in Drosophila regulate the earliest stages of oocyte development. Long-recognized as an essential mediator of developmental transitions, we focus on the intrinsic roles of the Ecdysone Receptor and its ligand, ecdysone, in oogenesis. We also review recent studies suggesting broader roles for NRs as regulators of maternal physiology and their impact specifically on oocyte production. We propose that NRs form the molecular basis of a broad physiological surveillance network linking maternal diet with oocyte production. Given the functional conservation between Drosophila and humans, continued experimental investigation into the molecular mechanisms by which NRs promote oogenesis will likely aid our understanding of human fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle S Finger
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Kaitlin M Whitehead
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Daniel N Phipps
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Elizabeth T Ables
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States.
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12
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Chebbo S, Josway S, Belote JM, Manier MK. A putative novel role for Eip74EF in male reproduction in promoting sperm elongation at the cost of male fecundity. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2020; 336:620-628. [PMID: 32725718 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Spermatozoa are the most morphologically variable cell type, yet little is known about genes controlling natural variation in sperm shape. Drosophila fruit flies have the longest sperm known, which are evolving under postcopulatory sexual selection, driven by sperm competition and cryptic female choice. Long sperm outcompete short sperm but primarily when females have a long seminal receptacle (SR), the primary sperm storage organ. Thus, the selection on sperm length is mediated by SR length, and the two traits are coevolving across the Drosophila lineage, driven by a genetic correlation and fitness advantage of long sperm and long SR genotypes in both males and females. Ecdysone-induced protein 74EF (Eip74EF) is expressed during postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis when spermatid elongation occurs, and we found that it is rapidly evolving under positive selection in Drosophila. Hypomorphic knockout of the E74A isoform leads to shorter sperm but does not affect SR length, suggesting that E74A may be involved in promoting spermatid elongation but is not a genetic driver of male-female coevolution. We also found that E74A knockout has opposing effects on fecundity in males and females, with an increase in fecundity for males but a decrease in females, consistent with its documented role in oocyte maturation. Our results suggest a novel function of Eip74EF in spermatogenesis and demonstrates that this gene influences both male and female reproductive success. We speculate on possible roles for E74A in spermatogenesis and male reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharif Chebbo
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sarah Josway
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - John M Belote
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Mollie K Manier
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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13
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Temporal Coordination of Collective Migration and Lumen Formation by Antagonism between Two Nuclear Receptors. iScience 2020; 23:101335. [PMID: 32682323 PMCID: PMC7366032 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
During development, cells undergo multiple, distinct morphogenetic processes to form a tissue or organ, but how their temporal order and time interval are determined remain poorly understood. Here we show that the nuclear receptors E75 and DHR3 regulate the temporal order and time interval between the collective migration and lumen formation of a coherent group of cells named border cells during Drosophila oogenesis. We show that E75, in response to ecdysone signaling, antagonizes the activity of DHR3 during border cell migration, and DHR3 is necessary and sufficient for the subsequent lumen formation that is critical for micropyle morphogenesis. DHR3's lumen-inducing function is mainly mediated through βFtz-f1, another nuclear receptor and transcription factor. Furthermore, both DHR3 and βFtz-f1 are required for chitin secretion into the lumen, whereas DHR3 is sufficient for chitin secretion. Lastly, DHR3 and βFtz-f1 suppress JNK signaling in the border cells to downregulate cell adhesion during lumen formation. E75 antagonizes DHR3's function in inducing lumen formation of border cells (BCs) E75 and DHR3 temporally coordinate collective migration and lumen formation of BCs DHR3 is required and sufficient for chitin secretion into the lumen DHR3 and βFtz-f1 downregulate JNK signaling and cell adhesion in the BCs
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14
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Willink B, Duryea MC, Wheat C, Svensson EI. Changes in gene expression during female reproductive development in a color polymorphic insect. Evolution 2020; 74:1063-1081. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Willink
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Unit, Ecology BuildingLund University Lund 223–62 Sweden
- Current Address: School of BiologyUniversity of Costa Rica San José 11501–2060 Costa Rica
| | | | | | - Erik I. Svensson
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Unit, Ecology BuildingLund University Lund 223–62 Sweden
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15
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Hinnant TD, Merkle JA, Ables ET. Coordinating Proliferation, Polarity, and Cell Fate in the Drosophila Female Germline. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:19. [PMID: 32117961 PMCID: PMC7010594 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Gametes are highly specialized cell types produced by a complex differentiation process. Production of viable oocytes requires a series of precise and coordinated molecular events. Early in their development, germ cells are an interconnected group of mitotically dividing cells. Key regulatory events lead to the specification of mature oocytes and initiate a switch to the meiotic cell cycle program. Though the chromosomal events of meiosis have been extensively studied, it is unclear how other aspects of oocyte specification are temporally coordinated. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has long been at the forefront as a model system for genetics and cell biology research. The adult Drosophila ovary continuously produces germ cells throughout the organism’s lifetime, and many of the cellular processes that occur to establish oocyte fate are conserved with mammalian gamete development. Here, we review recent discoveries from Drosophila that advance our understanding of how early germ cells balance mitotic exit with meiotic initiation. We discuss cell cycle control and establishment of cell polarity as major themes in oocyte specification. We also highlight a germline-specific organelle, the fusome, as integral to the coordination of cell division, cell polarity, and cell fate in ovarian germ cells. Finally, we discuss how the molecular controls of the cell cycle might be integrated with cell polarity and cell fate to maintain oocyte production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor D Hinnant
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Julie A Merkle
- Department of Biology, University of Evansville, Evansville, IN, United States
| | - Elizabeth T Ables
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
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16
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McDonald SI, Beachum AN, Hinnant TD, Blake AJ, Bynum T, Hickman EP, Barnes J, Churchill KL, Roberts TS, Zangwill DE, Ables ET. Novel cis-regulatory regions in ecdysone responsive genes are sufficient to promote gene expression in Drosophila ovarian cells. Gene Expr Patterns 2019; 34:119074. [PMID: 31563631 PMCID: PMC6996244 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2019.119074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The insect steroid hormone ecdysone is a key regulator of oogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster and many other species. Despite the diversity of cellular functions of ecdysone in oogenesis, the molecular regulation of most ecdysone-responsive genes in ovarian cells remains largely unexplored. We performed a functional screen using the UAS/Gal4 system to identify non-coding cis-regulatory elements within well-characterized ecdysone-response genes capable of driving transcription of an indelible reporter in ovarian cells. Using two publicly available transgenic collections (the FlyLight and Vienna Tiles resources), we tested 62 Gal4 drivers corresponding to ecdysone-response genes EcR, usp, E75, br, ftz-f1 and Hr3. We observed 31 lines that were sufficient to drive a UAS-lacZ reporter in discrete cell populations in the ovary. Reporter expression was reproducibly observed in both somatic and germ cells at distinct stages of oogenesis, including those previously characterized as critical points of ecdysone regulation. Our studies identified several useful new reagents, adding to the UAS/Gal4 toolkit available for genetic analysis of oogenesis in Drosophila. Further, our study provides novel insight into the molecular regulation of ecdysone signaling in oogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allison N Beachum
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Taylor D Hinnant
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Amelia J Blake
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Tierra Bynum
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - E Parris Hickman
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Joseph Barnes
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Kaely L Churchill
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Tamesia S Roberts
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Denise E Zangwill
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
| | - Elizabeth T Ables
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA.
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17
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Drummond-Barbosa D. Local and Physiological Control of Germline Stem Cell Lineages in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 2019; 213:9-26. [PMID: 31488592 PMCID: PMC6727809 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.300234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The long-term survival of any multicellular species depends on the success of its germline in producing high-quality gametes and maximizing survival of the offspring. Studies in Drosophila melanogaster have led our growing understanding of how germline stem cell (GSC) lineages maintain their function and adjust their behavior according to varying environmental and/or physiological conditions. This review compares and contrasts the local regulation of GSCs by their specialized microenvironments, or niches; discusses how diet and diet-dependent factors, mating, and microorganisms modulate GSCs and their developing progeny; and briefly describes the tie between physiology and development during the larval phase of the germline cycle. Finally, it concludes with broad comparisons with other organisms and some future directions for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Drummond-Barbosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
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18
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Swevers L. An update on ecdysone signaling during insect oogenesis. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 31:8-13. [PMID: 31109678 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
An overview is presented of the different functions of ecdysone signaling during insect oogenesis. An extensive genetic toolkit allowed analysis with unprecedented temporal and spatial detail in Drosophila where functions were revealed in stem cell proliferation and niche maintenance, germline cyst differentiation and follicle formation, integration of nutrient and lipid signaling, follicle maturation and ovulation. Besides putative autocrine/paracrine signaling, hormonal networks were identified that integrate ecdysone with other endocrine signaling pathways. In other insects, progress in oogenesis has lagged behind although recently RNAi emerged as a new tool to analyze gene function in ovaries in hemimetabolous insects and Tribolium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences & Applications, NCSR "Demokritos", Aghia Paraskevi, Greece.
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19
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Yoshinari Y, Kurogi Y, Ameku T, Niwa R. Endocrine regulation of female germline stem cells in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 31:14-19. [PMID: 31109668 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Germline stem cells (GSCs) are critical for the generation of sperms and eggs in most animals including the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. It is well known that self-renewal and differentiation of female D. melanogaster GSCs are regulated by local niche signals. However, little is known about whether and how the GSC number is regulated by paracrine signals. In the last decade, however, multiple humoral factors, including insulin and ecdysteroids, have been recognized as key regulators of female D. melanogaster GSCs. This review paper summarizes the role of humoral factors in female D. melanogaster GSC proliferation and maintenance in response to internal and external conditions, such as nutrients, mating stimuli, and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuto Yoshinari
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennoudai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Yoshitomo Kurogi
- College of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennoudai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Tomotsune Ameku
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennoudai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Niwa
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennoudai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan; AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, 1-7-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan.
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20
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Mirth CK, Nogueira Alves A, Piper MD. Turning food into eggs: insights from nutritional biology and developmental physiology of Drosophila. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 31:49-57. [PMID: 31109673 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Nutrition plays a central role in fecundity, regulating the onset of reproductive maturity, egg production, and the survival and health of offspring from insects to humans. Although decades of research have worked to uncover how nutrition mediates these effects, it has proven difficult to disentangle the relative role of nutrients as the raw material for egg and offspring development versus their role in stimulating endocrine cascades necessary to drive development. This has been further complicated by the fact that both nutrients and the signalling cascades they regulate interact in complex ways to control fecundity. Separating the two effects becomes important when trying to understand how fecundity is regulated, and in devising strategies to offset the negative effects of nutrition on reproductive health. In this review, we use the extensive literature on egg development in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to explore how the nutrients from food provide the building blocks and stimulate signalling cascades necessary for making an egg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christen K Mirth
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - André Nogueira Alves
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Matthew Dw Piper
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
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21
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A genetic mosaic screen identifies genes modulating Notch signaling in Drosophila. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203781. [PMID: 30235233 PMCID: PMC6147428 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is conserved in most multicellular organisms and plays critical roles during animal development. The core components and major signal transduction mechanism of Notch signaling have been extensively studied. However, our understanding of how Notch signaling activity is regulated in diverse developmental processes still remains incomplete. Here, we report a genetic mosaic screen in Drosophila melanogaster that leads to identification of Notch signali ng modulators during wing development. We discovered a group of genes required for the formation of the fly wing margin, a developmental process that is strictly dependent on the balanced Notch signaling activity. These genes encode transcription factors, protein phosphatases, vacuolar ATPases and factors required for RNA transport, stability, and translation. Our data support the view that Notch signaling is controlled through a wide range of molecular processes. These results also provide foundations for further study by showing that Me31B and Wdr62 function as two novel modulators of Notch signaling activity.
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22
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Weaver LN, Drummond-Barbosa D. Maintenance of Proper Germline Stem Cell Number Requires Adipocyte Collagen in Adult Drosophila Females. Genetics 2018; 209:1155-1166. [PMID: 29884747 PMCID: PMC6063239 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells reside in specialized niches and are regulated by a variety of physiological inputs. Adipocytes influence whole-body physiology and stem cell lineages; however, the molecular mechanisms linking adipocytes to stem cells are poorly understood. Here, we report that collagen IV produced in adipocytes is transported to the ovary to maintain proper germline stem cell (GSC) number in adult Drosophila females. Adipocyte-derived collagen IV acts through β-integrin signaling to maintain normal levels of E-cadherin at the niche, thereby ensuring proper adhesion to GSCs. These findings demonstrate that extracellular matrix components produced in adipocytes can be transported to and incorporated into an established adult tissue to influence stem cell number.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesley N Weaver
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Daniela Drummond-Barbosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
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23
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Non-Pleiotropic Coupling of Daily and Seasonal Temporal Isolation in the European Corn Borer. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9040180. [PMID: 29587435 PMCID: PMC5924522 DOI: 10.3390/genes9040180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Speciation often involves the coupling of multiple isolating barriers to produce reproductive isolation, but how coupling is generated among different premating barriers is unknown. We measure the degree of coupling between the daily mating time and seasonal mating time between strains of European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) and evaluate the hypothesis that the coupling of different forms of allochrony is due to a shared genetic architecture, involving genes with pleiotropic effects on both timing phenotypes. We measure differences in gene expression at peak mating times and compare these genes to previously identified candidates that are associated with changes in seasonal mating time between the corn borer strains. We find that the E strain, which mates earlier in the season, also mates 2.7 h earlier in the night than the Z strain. Earlier daily mating is correlated with the differences in expression of the circadian clock genes cycle, slimb, and vrille. However, different circadian clock genes associate with daily and seasonal timing, suggesting that the coupling of timing traits is maintained by natural selection rather than pleiotropy. Juvenile hormone gene expression was associated with both types of timing, suggesting that circadian genes activate common downstream modules that may impose constraint on future evolution of these traits.
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24
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Roy S, Saha TT, Zou Z, Raikhel AS. Regulatory Pathways Controlling Female Insect Reproduction. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 63:489-511. [PMID: 29058980 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-020117-043258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 291] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The synthesis of vitellogenin and its uptake by maturing oocytes during egg maturation are essential for successful female reproduction. These events are regulated by the juvenile hormones and ecdysteroids and by the nutritional signaling pathway regulated by neuropeptides. Juvenile hormones act as gonadotropins, regulating vitellogenesis in most insects, but ecdysteroids control this process in Diptera and some Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera. The complex crosstalk between the juvenile hormones, ecdysteroids, and nutritional signaling pathways differs distinctly depending on the reproductive strategies adopted by various insects. Molecular studies within the past decade have revealed much about the relationships among, and the role of, these pathways with respect to regulation of insect reproduction. Here, we review the role of juvenile hormones, ecdysteroids, and nutritional signaling, along with that of microRNAs, in regulating female insect reproduction at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Roy
- Department of Entomology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, and Center for Disease Vector Research, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA; , ,
| | - Tusar T Saha
- Department of Entomology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, and Center for Disease Vector Research, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA; , ,
| | - Zhen Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;
| | - Alexander S Raikhel
- Department of Entomology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, and Center for Disease Vector Research, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA; , ,
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25
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Manning L, Sheth J, Bridges S, Saadin A, Odinammadu K, Andrew D, Spencer S, Montell D, Starz-Gaiano M. A hormonal cue promotes timely follicle cell migration by modulating transcription profiles. Mech Dev 2017; 148:56-68. [PMID: 28610887 PMCID: PMC5758037 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cell migration is essential during animal development. In the Drosophila ovary, the steroid hormone ecdysone coordinates nutrient sensing, growth, and the timing of morphogenesis events including border cell migration. To identify downstream effectors of ecdysone signaling, we profiled gene expression in wild-type follicle cells compared to cells expressing a dominant negative Ecdysone receptor or its coactivator Taiman. Of approximately 400 genes that showed differences in expression, we validated 16 candidate genes for expression in border and centripetal cells, and demonstrated that seven responded to ectopic ecdysone activation by changing their transcriptional levels. We found a requirement for seven putative targets in effective cell migration, including two other nuclear hormone receptors, a calcyphosine-encoding gene, and a prolyl hydroxylase. Thus, we identified multiple new genetic regulators modulated at the level of transcription that allow cells to interpret information from the environment and coordinate cell migration in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lathiena Manning
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, United States; UNC Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Jinal Sheth
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Stacey Bridges
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Afsoon Saadin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kamsi Odinammadu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Deborah Andrew
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Denise Montell
- University of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States.
| | - Michelle Starz-Gaiano
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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26
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Zhang Q, Sun W, Sun BY, Xiao Y, Zhang Z. The dynamic landscape of gene regulation during Bombyx mori oogenesis. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:714. [PMID: 28893182 PMCID: PMC5594438 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4123-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oogenesis in the domestic silkworm (Bombyx mori) is a complex process involving previtellogenesis, vitellogenesis and choriogenesis. During this process, follicles show drastic morphological and physiological changes. However, the genome-wide regulatory profiles of gene expression during oogenesis remain to be determined. RESULTS In this study, we obtained time-series transcriptome data and used these data to reveal the dynamic landscape of gene regulation during oogenesis. A total of 1932 genes were identified to be differentially expressed among different stages, most of which occurred during the transition from late vitellogenesis to early choriogenesis. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we identified six stage-specific gene modules that correspond to multiple regulatory pathways. Strikingly, the biosynthesis pathway of the molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) was enriched in one of the modules. Further analysis showed that the ecdysteroid 20-hydroxylase gene (CYP314A1) of steroidgenesis genes was mainly expressed in previtellogenesis and early vitellogenesis. However, the 20E-inactivated genes, particularly the ecdysteroid 26-hydroxylase encoding gene (Cyp18a1), were highly expressed in late vitellogenesis. These distinct expression patterns between 20E synthesis and catabolism-related genes might ensure the rapid decline of the hormone titer at the transition point from vitellogenesis to choriogenesis. In addition, we compared landscapes of gene regulation between silkworm (Lepidoptera) and fruit fly (Diptera) oogeneses. Our results show that there is some consensus in the modules of gene co-expression during oogenesis in these insects. CONCLUSIONS The data presented in this study provide new insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying oogenesis in insects with polytrophic meroistic ovaries. The results also provide clues for further investigating the roles of epigenetic reconfiguration and circadian rhythm in insect oogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044 China
| | - Wei Sun
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044 China
| | - Bang-Yong Sun
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044 China
| | - Yang Xiao
- Sericulture & Agri-food Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agriculture Science, Guangzhou, 510640 China
| | - Ze Zhang
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044 China
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331 China
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27
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Adipocyte Metabolic Pathways Regulated by Diet Control the Female Germline Stem Cell Lineage in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 2017; 206:953-971. [PMID: 28396508 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.201921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutrients affect adult stem cells through complex mechanisms involving multiple organs. Adipocytes are highly sensitive to diet and have key metabolic roles, and obesity increases the risk for many cancers. How diet-regulated adipocyte metabolic pathways influence normal stem cell lineages, however, remains unclear. Drosophila melanogaster has highly conserved adipocyte metabolism and a well-characterized female germline stem cell (GSC) lineage response to diet. Here, we conducted an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) proteomic analysis to identify diet-regulated adipocyte metabolic pathways that control the female GSC lineage. On a rich (relative to poor) diet, adipocyte Hexokinase-C and metabolic enzymes involved in pyruvate/acetyl-CoA production are upregulated, promoting a shift of glucose metabolism toward macromolecule biosynthesis. Adipocyte-specific knockdown shows that these enzymes support early GSC progeny survival. Further, enzymes catalyzing fatty acid oxidation and phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis in adipocytes promote GSC maintenance, whereas lipid and iron transport from adipocytes controls vitellogenesis and GSC number, respectively. These results show a functional relationship between specific metabolic pathways in adipocytes and distinct processes in the GSC lineage, suggesting the adipocyte metabolism-stem cell link as an important area of investigation in other stem cell systems.
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28
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Ables ET, Drummond-Barbosa D. Steroid Hormones and the Physiological Regulation of Tissue-Resident Stem Cells: Lessons from the Drosophila Ovary. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2017; 3:9-18. [PMID: 28458991 PMCID: PMC5407287 DOI: 10.1007/s40778-017-0070-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Stem cells respond to local paracrine signals; more recently, however, systemic hormones have also emerged as key regulators of stem cells. This review explores the role of steroid hormones in stem cells, using the Drosophila germline stem cell as a centerpiece for discussion. RECENT FINDINGS Stem cells sense and respond directly and indirectly to steroid hormones, which regulate diverse sets of target genes via interactions with nuclear hormone receptors. Hormone-regulated networks likely integrate the actions of multiple systemic signals to adjust the activity of stem cell lineages in response to changes in physiological status. SUMMARY Hormones are inextricably linked to animal physiology, and can control stem cells and their local niches. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of hormone signaling in stem cells is essential for our understanding of the fundamental underpinnings of stem cell biology, and for informing new therapeutic interventions against cancers or for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth T. Ables
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Daniela Drummond-Barbosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Division of Reproductive Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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29
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Ameku T, Yoshinari Y, Fukuda R, Niwa R. Ovarian ecdysteroid biosynthesis and female germline stem cells. Fly (Austin) 2017. [PMID: 28631993 DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2017.1291472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The germline stem cells (GSCs) are critical for gametogenesis throughout the adult life. Stem cell identity is maintained by local signals from a specialized microenvironment called the niche. However, it is unclear how systemic signals regulate stem cell activity in response to environmental cues. In our previous article, we reported that mating stimulates GSC proliferation in female Drosophila. The mating-induced GSC proliferation is mediated by ovarian ecdysteroids, whose biosynthesis is positively controlled by Sex peptide signaling. Here, we characterized the post-eclosion and post-mating expression pattern of the genes encoding the ecdysteroidogenic enzymes in the ovary. We further investigated the biosynthetic functions of the ovarian ecdysteroid in GSC maintenance in the mated females. We also briefly discuss the regulation of the ecdysteroidogenic enzyme-encoding genes and the subsequent ecdysteroid biosynthesis in the ovary of the adult Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomotsune Ameku
- a Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Ibaraki , Japan
| | - Yuto Yoshinari
- a Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Ibaraki , Japan
| | - Ruriko Fukuda
- b College of Biological Sciences , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Ibaraki , Japan
| | - Ryusuke Niwa
- c Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Ibaraki , Japan.,d PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency , Kawaguchi , Saitama , Japan
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Laws KM, Drummond-Barbosa D. Control of Germline Stem Cell Lineages by Diet and Physiology. Results Probl Cell Differ 2017; 59:67-99. [PMID: 28247046 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-44820-6_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tight coupling of reproduction to environmental factors and physiological status is key to long-term species survival. In particular, highly conserved pathways modulate germline stem cell lineages according to nutrient availability. This chapter focuses on recent in vivo studies in genetic model organisms that shed light on how diet-dependent signals control the proliferation, maintenance, and survival of adult germline stem cells and their progeny. These signaling pathways can operate intrinsically in the germ line, modulate the niche, or act through intermediate organs to influence stem cells and their differentiating progeny. In addition to illustrating the extent of dietary regulation of reproduction, findings from these studies have implications for fertility during aging or disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin M Laws
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Daniela Drummond-Barbosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. .,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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