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Oliveira JIN, Cabral-de-Mello DC, Valente GT, Martins C. Transcribing the enigma: the B chromosome as a territory of uncharted RNAs. Genetics 2024; 227:iyae026. [PMID: 38513121 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae026] [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: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
B chromosomes are supernumerary elements found in several groups of eukaryotes, including fungi, plants, and animals. Typically, these chromosomes either originate from their hosts through errors in meiosis or interspecifically through horizontal transfer. While many B chromosomes are primarily heterochromatic and possess a low number of coding genes, these additional elements are still capable of transcribing sequences and exerting influence on the expression of host genes. How B chromosomes escape elimination and which impacts can be promoted in the cell always intrigued the cytogeneticists. In pursuit of understanding the behavior and functional impacts of these extra elements, cytogenetic studies meet the advances of molecular biology, incorporating various techniques into investigating B chromosomes from a functional perspective. In this review, we present a timeline of studies investigating B chromosomes and RNAs, highlighting the advances and key findings throughout their history. Additionally, we identified which RNA classes are reported in the B chromosomes and emphasized the necessity for further investigation into new perspectives on the B chromosome functions. In this context, we present a phylogenetic tree that illustrates which branches either report B chromosome presence or have functional RNA studies related to B chromosomes. We propose investigating other unexplored RNA classes and conducting functional analysis in conjunction with cytogenetic studies to enhance our understanding of the B chromosome from an RNA perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diogo C Cabral-de-Mello
- Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Guilherme T Valente
- Applied Biotechnology Laboratory, Clinical Hospital of Botucatu Medical School, Botucatu 18618-687, Brazil
| | - Cesar Martins
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences at Botucatu, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, Brazil
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Rajpal VR, Sharma S, Sehgal D, Sharma P, Wadhwa N, Dhakate P, Chandra A, Thakur RK, Deb S, Rama Rao S, Mir BA, Raina SN. Comprehending the dynamism of B chromosomes in their journey towards becoming unselfish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1072716. [PMID: 36684438 PMCID: PMC9846793 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1072716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigated for more than a century now, B chromosomes (Bs) research has come a long way from Bs being considered parasitic or neutral to becoming unselfish and bringing benefits to their hosts. B chromosomes exist as accessory chromosomes along with the standard A chromosomes (As) across eukaryotic taxa. Represented singly or in multiple copies, B chromosomes are largely heterochromatic but also contain euchromatic and organellar segments. Although B chromosomes are derived entities, they follow their species-specific evolutionary pattern. B chromosomes fail to pair with the standard chromosomes during meiosis and vary in their number, size, composition and structure across taxa and ensure their successful transmission through non-mendelian mechanisms like mitotic, pre-meiotic, meiotic or post-meiotic drives, unique non-disjunction, self-pairing or even imparting benefits to the host when they lack drive. B chromosomes have been associated with cellular processes like sex determination, pathogenicity, resistance to pathogens, phenotypic effects, and differential gene expression. With the advancements in B-omics research, novel insights have been gleaned on their functions, some of which have been associated with the regulation of gene expression of A chromosomes through increased expression of miRNAs or differential expression of transposable elements located on them. The next-generation sequencing and emerging technologies will further likely unravel the cellular, molecular and functional behaviour of these enigmatic entities. Amidst the extensive fluidity shown by B chromosomes in their structural and functional attributes, we perceive that the existence and survival of B chromosomes in the populations most likely seem to be a trade-off between the drive efficiency and adaptive significance versus their adverse effects on reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Rani Rajpal
- Department of Botany, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India,*Correspondence: Vijay Rani Rajpal, , ; Soom Nath Raina,
| | - Suman Sharma
- Department of Botany, Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Deepmala Sehgal
- Syngenta, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico
| | - Prashansa Sharma
- Department of Botany, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Nikita Wadhwa
- University School of Biotechnology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Atika Chandra
- Department of Botany, Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Rakesh Kr. Thakur
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sohini Deb
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India
| | - Satyawada Rama Rao
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India
| | - Bilal Ahmad Mir
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Soom Nath Raina
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India,*Correspondence: Vijay Rani Rajpal, , ; Soom Nath Raina,
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Identification and differentiation of Asian seabass and mangrove red snapper fillets by CYTB sequence-based PCR analysis. JOURNAL OF FOOD MEASUREMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11694-022-01545-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Orbán L, Shen X, Phua N, Varga L. Toward Genome-Based Selection in Asian Seabass: What Can We Learn From Other Food Fishes and Farm Animals? Front Genet 2021; 12:506754. [PMID: 33968125 PMCID: PMC8097054 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.506754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the steadily increasing need for seafood and the plateauing output of fisheries, more fish need to be produced by aquaculture production. In parallel with the improvement of farming methods, elite food fish lines with superior traits for production must be generated by selection programs that utilize cutting-edge tools of genomics. The purpose of this review is to provide a historical overview and status report of a selection program performed on a catadromous predator, the Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer, Bloch 1790) that can change its sex during its lifetime. We describe the practices of wet lab, farm and lab in detail by focusing onto the foundations and achievements of the program. In addition to the approaches used for selection, our review also provides an inventory of genetic/genomic platforms and technologies developed to (i) provide current and future support for the selection process; and (ii) improve our understanding of the biology of the species. Approaches used for the improvement of terrestrial farm animals are used as examples and references, as those processes are far ahead of the ones used in aquaculture and thus they might help those working on fish to select the best possible options and avoid potential pitfalls.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Orbán
- Reproductive Genomics Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Singapore, Singapore.,Frontline Fish Genomics Research Group, Department of Applied Fish Biology, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Keszthely, Hungary
| | - Xueyan Shen
- Reproductive Genomics Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Singapore, Singapore.,Tropical Futures Institute, James Cook University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Norman Phua
- Reproductive Genomics Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Singapore, Singapore
| | - László Varga
- Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllõ, Hungary.,Institute for Farm Animal Gene Conservation, National Centre for Biodiversity and Gene Conservation, Gödöllõ, Hungary
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Martins C, Jehangir M. A genomic glimpse of B chromosomes in cichlids. Genes Genomics 2021; 43:199-208. [PMID: 33547625 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-021-01049-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND B chromosomes (Bs) are extra karyotype elements in addition to A chromosomes and are found in all major eukaryotic taxa. Among hundreds of investigated species, cichlid fishes have emerged as an interesting group of model and have contributed to unravel the complex biology of B chromosome. OBJECTIVE We review the current state of knowledge on B chromosome investigation in cichlid fish and discuss the recent genomic advances over gene and sequences hunting on Bs and their impact on the current concept of B chromosomes. RESULTS The Bs of cichlids have been under the subject of classical cytogenetics and high scale DNA, RNA and epigenetics analysis and a list of B chromosome genes and functional sequences has been generated. B chromosomes of cichlids are restricted to females in some species and are enriched with genes, relics of genes, transposable elements and sequences transcribing for many significant biological functions. Diverse potentially functional sequences have been described in the B chromosome of cichlids and could influence important biological characteristics as well seems to affect transcription and epigenetic modifications of the whole genome. CONCLUSION One of the most enigmatic characteristics of Bs in cichlids is their genic content related to cell cycle and chromosome structure, and their influence over sex rates. The relationship of Bs with cell cycle and sex determination looks like to be connected with the drive of the Bs during cell divisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Martins
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences at Botucatu, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, 18618-689, Brazil.
| | - Maryam Jehangir
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences at Botucatu, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, 18618-689, Brazil
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Iannucci A, Makunin AI, Lisachov AP, Ciofi C, Stanyon R, Svartman M, Trifonov VA. Bridging the Gap between Vertebrate Cytogenetics and Genomics with Single-Chromosome Sequencing (ChromSeq). Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:124. [PMID: 33478118 PMCID: PMC7835784 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of vertebrate genome evolution is currently facing a revolution, brought about by next generation sequencing technologies that allow researchers to produce nearly complete and error-free genome assemblies. Novel approaches however do not always provide a direct link with information on vertebrate genome evolution gained from cytogenetic approaches. It is useful to preserve and link cytogenetic data with novel genomic discoveries. Sequencing of DNA from single isolated chromosomes (ChromSeq) is an elegant approach to determine the chromosome content and assign genome assemblies to chromosomes, thus bridging the gap between cytogenetics and genomics. The aim of this paper is to describe how ChromSeq can support the study of vertebrate genome evolution and how it can help link cytogenetic and genomic data. We show key examples of ChromSeq application in the refinement of vertebrate genome assemblies and in the study of vertebrate chromosome and karyotype evolution. We also provide a general overview of the approach and a concrete example of genome refinement using this method in the species Anolis carolinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Iannucci
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (C.C.); (R.S.)
| | - Alexey I. Makunin
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK;
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
| | - Artem P. Lisachov
- Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), University of Tyumen, 625003 Tyumen, Russia;
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Claudio Ciofi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (C.C.); (R.S.)
| | - Roscoe Stanyon
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (C.C.); (R.S.)
| | - Marta Svartman
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil;
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Transcriptomic Analysis of Gill and Kidney from Asian Seabass ( Lates calcarifer) Acclimated to Different Salinities Reveals Pathways Involved with Euryhalinity. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11070733. [PMID: 32630108 PMCID: PMC7397140 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Asian seabass (or commonly known as barramundi), Lates calcarifer, is a bony euryhaline teleost from the Family Latidae, inhabiting nearshore, estuarine, and marine connected freshwaters throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific region. The species is catadromous, whereby adults spawn in salinities between 28 and 34 ppt at the mouth of estuaries, with resultant juveniles usually moving into brackish and freshwater systems to mature, before returning to the sea to spawn again as adults. The species lives in both marine and freshwater habitats and can move quickly between the two; thus, the species' ability to tolerate changes in salinity makes it a good candidate for studying the salinity acclimation response in teleosts. In this study, the transcriptome of two major osmoregulatory organs (gills and kidneys) of young juvenile Asian seabass reared in freshwater and seawater were compared. The euryhaline nature of Asian seabass was found to be highly pliable and the moldability of the trait was further confirmed by histological analyses of gills and kidneys. Differences in major expression pathways were observed, with differentially expressed genes including those related to osmoregulation, tissue/organ morphogenesis, and cell volume regulation as central to the osmo-adaptive response. Additionally, genes coding for mucins were upregulated specifically under saline conditions, whereas several genes important for growth and development, as well as circadian entrainment were specifically enriched in fish reared in freshwater. Routing of the circadian rhythm mediated by salinity changes could be the initial step in salinity acclimation and possibly migration in euryhaline fish species such as the Asian seabass.
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Karyotype analysis and report on B-chromosome in Gloriosa superba L. by differential staining. THE NUCLEUS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13237-018-0259-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
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Houben A, Jones N, Martins C, Trifonov V. Evolution, Composition and Regulation of Supernumerary B Chromosomes. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E161. [PMID: 30791610 PMCID: PMC6409906 DOI: 10.3390/genes10020161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Supernumerary B chromosomes (Bs) are dispensable genetic elements found in thousands of species of plants and animals, and some fungi [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Houben
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466 Gatersleben, Germany.
| | - Neil Jones
- Aberystwyth University, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK.
| | - Cesar Martins
- Institute of Bioscience at Botucatu, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP 18618, Brazil.
| | - Vladimir Trifonov
- Laboratory of Comparative Genomics, Department of the Diversity and Evolution of Genomes, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
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Ahmad SF, Martins C. The Modern View of B Chromosomes Under the Impact of High Scale Omics Analyses. Cells 2019; 8:E156. [PMID: 30781835 PMCID: PMC6406668 DOI: 10.3390/cells8020156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Supernumerary B chromosomes (Bs) are extra karyotype units in addition to A chromosomes, and are found in some fungi and thousands of animals and plant species. Bs are uniquely characterized due to their non-Mendelian inheritance, and represent one of the best examples of genomic conflict. Over the last decades, their genetic composition, function and evolution have remained an unresolved query, although a few successful attempts have been made to address these phenomena. A classical concept based on cytogenetics and genetics is that Bs are selfish and abundant with DNA repeats and transposons, and in most cases, they do not carry any function. However, recently, the modern quantum development of high scale multi-omics techniques has shifted B research towards a new-born field that we call "B-omics". We review the recent literature and add novel perspectives to the B research, discussing the role of new technologies to understand the mechanistic perspectives of the molecular evolution and function of Bs. The modern view states that B chromosomes are enriched with genes for many significant biological functions, including but not limited to the interesting set of genes related to cell cycle and chromosome structure. Furthermore, the presence of B chromosomes could favor genomic rearrangements and influence the nuclear environment affecting the function of other chromatin regions. We hypothesize that B chromosomes might play a key function in driving their transmission and maintenance inside the cell, as well as offer an extra genomic compartment for evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Farhan Ahmad
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences at Botucatu, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), CEP 18618689, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
| | - Cesar Martins
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences at Botucatu, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), CEP 18618689, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
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