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Ciabrelli F, Atinbayeva N, Pane A, Iovino N. Epigenetic inheritance and gene expression regulation in early Drosophila embryos. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:4131-4152. [PMID: 39285248 PMCID: PMC11467379 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00245-z] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Precise spatiotemporal regulation of gene expression is of paramount importance for eukaryotic development. The maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) during early embryogenesis in Drosophila involves the gradual replacement of maternally contributed mRNAs and proteins by zygotic gene products. The zygotic genome is transcriptionally activated during the first 3 hours of development, in a process known as "zygotic genome activation" (ZGA), by the orchestrated activities of a few pioneer factors. Their decisive role during ZGA has been characterized in detail, whereas the contribution of chromatin factors to this process has been historically overlooked. In this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge of how chromatin regulation impacts the first stages of Drosophila embryonic development. In particular, we will address the following questions: how chromatin factors affect ZGA and transcriptional silencing, and how genome architecture promotes the integration of these processes early during development. Remarkably, certain chromatin marks can be intergenerationally inherited, and their presence in the early embryo becomes critical for the regulation of gene expression at later stages. Finally, we speculate on the possible roles of these chromatin marks as carriers of epialleles during transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Ciabrelli
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Nazerke Atinbayeva
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Attilio Pane
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences/UFRJ, 21941902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Nicola Iovino
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
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2
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Mikucki EE, O’Leary TS, Lockwood BL. Heat tolerance, oxidative stress response tuning and robust gene activation in early-stage Drosophila melanogaster embryos. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240973. [PMID: 39163981 PMCID: PMC11335408 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0973] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
In organisms with complex life cycles, life stages that are most susceptible to environmental stress may determine species persistence in the face of climate change. Early embryos of Drosophila melanogaster are particularly sensitive to acute heat stress, yet tropical embryos have higher heat tolerance than temperate embryos, suggesting adaptive variation in embryonic heat tolerance. We compared transcriptomic responses to heat stress among tropical and temperate embryos to elucidate the gene regulatory basis of divergence in embryonic heat tolerance. The transcriptomes of tropical and temperate embryos differed in both constitutive and heat-stress-induced responses of the expression of relatively few genes, including genes involved in oxidative stress. Most of the transcriptomic response to heat stress was shared among all embryos. Embryos shifted the expression of thousands of genes, including increases in the expression of heat shock genes, suggesting robust zygotic gene activation and demonstrating that, contrary to previous reports, early embryos are not transcriptionally silent. The involvement of oxidative stress genes corroborates recent reports on the critical role of redox homeostasis in coordinating developmental transitions. By characterizing adaptive variation in the transcriptomic basis of embryonic heat tolerance, this study is a novel contribution to the literature on developmental physiology and developmental genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E. Mikucki
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
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Hashimshony T, Levin L, Fröbius AC, Dahan N, Chalifa-Caspi V, Hamo R, Gabai-Almog O, Blais I, Assaraf YG, Lubzens E. A transcriptomic examination of encased rotifer embryos reveals the developmental trajectory leading to long-term dormancy; are they "animal seeds"? BMC Genomics 2024; 25:119. [PMID: 38281016 PMCID: PMC10821554 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-09961-1] [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: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Organisms from many distinct evolutionary lineages acquired the capacity to enter a dormant state in response to environmental conditions incompatible with maintaining normal life activities. Most studied organisms exhibit seasonal or annual episodes of dormancy, but numerous less studied organisms enter long-term dormancy, lasting decades or even centuries. Intriguingly, many planktonic animals produce encased embryos known as resting eggs or cysts that, like plant seeds, may remain dormant for decades. Herein, we studied a rotifer Brachionus plicatilis as a model planktonic species that forms encased dormant embryos via sexual reproduction and non-dormant embryos via asexual reproduction and raised the following questions: Which genes are expressed at which time points during embryogenesis? How do temporal transcript abundance profiles differ between the two types of embryos? When does the cell cycle arrest? How do dormant embryos manage energy? RESULTS As the molecular developmental kinetics of encased embryos remain unknown, we employed single embryo RNA sequencing (CEL-seq) of samples collected during dormant and non-dormant embryogenesis. We identified comprehensive and temporal transcript abundance patterns of genes and their associated enriched functional pathways. Striking differences were uncovered between dormant and non-dormant embryos. In early development, the cell cycle-associated pathways were enriched in both embryo types but terminated with fewer nuclei in dormant embryos. As development progressed, the gene transcript abundance profiles became increasingly divergent between dormant and non-dormant embryos. Organogenesis was suspended in dormant embryos, concomitant with low transcript abundance of homeobox genes, and was replaced with an ATP-poor preparatory phase characterized by very high transcript abundance of genes encoding for hallmark dormancy proteins (e.g., LEA proteins, sHSP, and anti-ROS proteins, also found in plant seeds) and proteins involved in dormancy exit. Surprisingly, this period appeared analogous to the late maturation phase of plant seeds. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights novel divergent temporal transcript abundance patterns between dormant and non-dormant embryos. Remarkably, several convergent functional solutions appear during the development of resting eggs and plant seeds, suggesting a similar preparatory phase for long-term dormancy. This study accentuated the broad novel molecular features of long-term dormancy in encased animal embryos that behave like "animal seeds".
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Hashimshony
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Liron Levin
- National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Andreas C Fröbius
- Molecular Andrology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Gießen, Gießen, Germany.
| | - Nitsan Dahan
- Interdisciplinary Center for Life Sciences and Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Vered Chalifa-Caspi
- National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Reini Hamo
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Oshri Gabai-Almog
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Idit Blais
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF, Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yehuda G Assaraf
- The Fred Wyszkowski Cancer Research Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Esther Lubzens
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
- (Retired) Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel.
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Ciabrelli F, Rabbani L, Cardamone F, Zenk F, Löser E, Schächtle MA, Mazina M, Loubiere V, Iovino N. CBP and Gcn5 drive zygotic genome activation independently of their catalytic activity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf2687. [PMID: 37083536 PMCID: PMC10121174 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf2687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is a crucial step of embryonic development. So far, little is known about the role of chromatin factors during this process. Here, we used an in vivo RNA interference reverse genetic screen to identify chromatin factors necessary for embryonic development in Drosophila melanogaster. Our screen reveals that histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases are crucial ZGA regulators. We demonstrate that Nejire (CBP/EP300 ortholog) is essential for the acetylation of histone H3 lysine-18 and lysine-27, whereas Gcn5 (GCN5/PCAF ortholog) for lysine-9 of H3 at ZGA, with these marks being enriched at all actively transcribed genes. Nonetheless, these HATs activate distinct sets of genes. Unexpectedly, individual catalytic dead mutants of either Nejire or Gcn5 can activate zygotic transcription (ZGA) and transactivate a reporter gene in vitro. Together, our data identify Nejire and Gcn5 as key regulators of ZGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Ciabrelli
- Department of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Leily Rabbani
- Department of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Francesco Cardamone
- Department of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- University of Freiburg, Faculty of Biology, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Fides Zenk
- Department of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Eva Löser
- Department of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Melanie A. Schächtle
- Department of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Marina Mazina
- Department of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | | | - Nicola Iovino
- Department of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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Sokac AM, Biel N, De Renzis S. Membrane-actin interactions in morphogenesis: Lessons learned from Drosophila cellularization. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 133:107-122. [PMID: 35396167 PMCID: PMC9532467 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
During morphogenesis, changes in the shapes of individual cells are harnessed to mold an entire tissue. These changes in cell shapes require the coupled remodeling of the plasma membrane and underlying actin cytoskeleton. In this review, we highlight cellularization of the Drosophila embryo as a model system to uncover principles of how membrane and actin dynamics are co-regulated in space and time to drive morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Marie Sokac
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Graduate Program in Integrative and Molecular Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Natalie Biel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Graduate Program in Integrative and Molecular Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Stefano De Renzis
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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Cardoso-Jaime V, Broderick NA, Maya-Maldonado K. Metal ions in insect reproduction: a crosstalk between reproductive physiology and immunity. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 52:100924. [PMID: 35483647 PMCID: PMC9357134 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2022.100924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Most insects exhibit high reproductive capacity, which demands large amounts of energy, including macronutrients and micronutrients. Interestingly, many proteins involved in oogenesis depend on metals ions, in particular iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu). Mechanisms by which metal ions influence reproduction have been described in Drosophila melanogaster, but remain poorly understood in hematophagous insects where blood meals include significant ingestion of metal ions. Moreover, there is evidence that some proteins involved in reproduction and immunity could have dual function in both processes. This review highlights the importance of metal ions in the reproduction of non-hematophagous and hematophagous insects. In addition, we discuss how insects optimize physiological processes using proteins involved in crosstalk between reproductive physiology and immunity, which is a double-edge sword in allocating their functions to protect the insect and ensure reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Cardoso-Jaime
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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7
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Dynamics of maternal gene expression in Rhodnius prolixus. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6538. [PMID: 35449214 PMCID: PMC9023505 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09874-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of developmental processes in Rhodnius prolixus has recently advanced with the sequencing of the genome. In this work, we analyze the maternal gene expression driving oogenesis and early embryogenesis in R. prolixus. We examined the transcriptional profile of mRNAs to establish the genes expressed across the ovary, unfertilized eggs and different embryonic stages of R. prolixus until the formation of the germ band anlage (0, 12, 24, and 48 h post egg laying). We identified 81 putative maternal and ovary-related genes and validated their expression by qRT-PCR. We validate the function of the ortholog gene Bicaudal-D (Rp-BicD) by in situ hybridization and parental RNAi. Consistent with a role in oogenesis and early development of R. prolixus, we show that lack of Rp-BicD does not significantly affect oogenesis but impairs the formation of the blastoderm. Based on our findings, we propose three times of action for maternal genes during oogenesis and embryogenesis in R. prolixus.
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Colonnetta MM, Abrahante JE, Schedl P, Gohl DM, Deshpande G. CLAMP regulates zygotic genome activation in Drosophila embryos. Genetics 2021; 219:iyab107. [PMID: 34849887 PMCID: PMC8633140 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic patterning is critically dependent on zygotic genome activation (ZGA). In Drosophila melanogaster embryos, the pioneer factor Zelda directs ZGA, possibly in conjunction with other factors. Here, we have explored the novel involvement of Chromatin-Linked Adapter for MSL Proteins (CLAMP) during ZGA. CLAMP binds thousands of sites genome-wide throughout early embryogenesis. Interestingly, CLAMP relocates to target promoter sequences across the genome when ZGA is initiated. Although there is a considerable overlap between CLAMP and Zelda binding sites, the proteins display distinct temporal dynamics. To assess whether CLAMP occupancy affects gene expression, we analyzed transcriptomes of embryos zygotically compromised for either clamp or zelda and found that transcript levels of many zygotically activated genes are similarly affected. Importantly, compromising either clamp or zelda disrupted the expression of critical segmentation and sex determination genes bound by CLAMP (and Zelda). Furthermore, clamp knockdown embryos recapitulate other phenotypes observed in Zelda-depleted embryos, including nuclear division defects, centrosome aberrations, and a disorganized actomyosin network. Based on these data, we propose that CLAMP acts in concert with Zelda to regulate early zygotic transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Colonnetta
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Juan E Abrahante
- University of Minnesota Informatics Institute, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Paul Schedl
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Daryl M Gohl
- University of Minnesota Genomics Center, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Girish Deshpande
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
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9
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The nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio directly regulates zygotic transcription in Drosophila through multiple modalities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2010210118. [PMID: 33790005 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2010210118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Early embryos must rapidly generate large numbers of cells to form an organism. Many species accomplish this through a series of rapid, reductive, and transcriptionally silent cleavage divisions. Previous work has demonstrated that the number of divisions before both cell cycle elongation and zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is regulated by the ratio of nuclear content to cytoplasm (N/C). To understand how the N/C ratio affects the timing of ZGA, we directly assayed the behavior of several previously identified N/C ratio-dependent genes using the MS2-MCP reporter system in living Drosophila embryos with altered ploidy and cell cycle durations. For every gene that we examined, we found that nascent RNA output per cycle is delayed in haploid embryos. Moreover, we found that the N/C ratio influences transcription through three overlapping modes of action. For some genes (knirps, fushi tarazu, and snail), the effect of ploidy can be primarily attributed to changes in cell cycle duration. However, additional N/C ratio-mediated mechanisms contribute significantly to transcription delays for other genes. For giant and bottleneck, the kinetics of transcription activation are significantly disrupted in haploids, while for frühstart and Krüppel, the N/C ratio controls the probability of transcription initiation. Our data demonstrate that the regulatory elements of N/C ratio-dependent genes respond directly to the N/C ratio through multiple modes of regulation.
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10
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Finch G, Nandyal S, Perretta C, Davies B, Rosendale AJ, Holmes CJ, Gantz JD, Spacht DE, Bailey ST, Chen X, Oyen K, Didion EM, Chakraborty S, Lee RE, Denlinger DL, Matter SF, Attardo GM, Weirauch MT, Benoit JB. Multi-level analysis of reproduction in an Antarctic midge identifies female and male accessory gland products that are altered by larval stress and impact progeny viability. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19791. [PMID: 33188214 PMCID: PMC7666147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76139-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica, is a wingless, non-biting midge endemic to Antarctica. Larval development requires at least 2 years, but adults live only 2 weeks. The nonfeeding adults mate in swarms and females die shortly after oviposition. Eggs are suspended in a gel of unknown composition that is expressed from the female accessory gland. This project characterizes molecular mechanisms underlying reproduction in this midge by examining differential gene expression in whole males, females, and larvae, as well as in male and female accessory glands. Functional studies were used to assess the role of the gel encasing the eggs, as well as the impact of stress on reproductive biology. RNA-seq analyses revealed sex- and development-specific gene sets along with those associated with the accessory glands. Proteomic analyses were used to define the composition of the egg-containing gel, which is generated during multiple developmental stages and derived from both the accessory gland and other female organs. Functional studies indicate the gel provides a larval food source as well as a buffer for thermal and dehydration stress. All of these function are critical to juvenile survival. Larval dehydration stress directly reduces production of storage proteins and key accessory gland components, a feature that impacts adult reproductive success. Modeling reveals that bouts of dehydration may have a significant impact on population growth. This work lays a foundation for further examination of reproduction in midges and provides new information related to general reproduction in dipterans. A key aspect of this work is that reproduction and stress dynamics, currently understudied in polar organisms, are likely to prove critical in determining how climate change will alter their survivability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Finch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sonya Nandyal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Carlie Perretta
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Benjamin Davies
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Andrew J Rosendale
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Biology, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Christopher J Holmes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - J D Gantz
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
- Department of Biology and Health Science, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, USA
| | - Drew E Spacht
- Departments of Entomology and Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Samuel T Bailey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Kennan Oyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Elise M Didion
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Souvik Chakraborty
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Richard E Lee
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - David L Denlinger
- Departments of Entomology and Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Stephen F Matter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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11
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Samata M, Alexiadis A, Richard G, Georgiev P, Nuebler J, Kulkarni T, Renschler G, Basilicata MF, Zenk FL, Shvedunova M, Semplicio G, Mirny L, Iovino N, Akhtar A. Intergenerationally Maintained Histone H4 Lysine 16 Acetylation Is Instructive for Future Gene Activation. Cell 2020; 182:127-144.e23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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12
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Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster embryos develop initially as a syncytium of totipotent nuclei and subsequently, once cellularized, undergo morphogenetic movements associated with gastrulation to generate the three somatic germ layers of the embryo: mesoderm, ectoderm, and endoderm. In this chapter, we focus on the first phase of gastrulation in Drosophila involving patterning of early embryos when cells differentiate their gene expression programs. This patterning process requires coordination of multiple developmental processes including genome reprogramming at the maternal-to-zygotic transition, combinatorial action of transcription factors to support distinct gene expression, and dynamic feedback between this genetic patterning by transcription factors and changes in cell morphology. We discuss the gene regulatory programs acting during patterning to specify the three germ layers, which involve the regulation of spatiotemporal gene expression coupled to physical tissue morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelike Stathopoulos
- Division of Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States.
| | - Susan Newcomb
- Division of Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
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13
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Hamm DC, Harrison MM. Regulatory principles governing the maternal-to-zygotic transition: insights from Drosophila melanogaster. Open Biol 2018; 8:180183. [PMID: 30977698 PMCID: PMC6303782 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.180183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The onset of metazoan development requires that two terminally differentiated germ cells, a sperm and an oocyte, become reprogrammed to the totipotent embryo, which can subsequently give rise to all the cell types of the adult organism. In nearly all animals, maternal gene products regulate the initial events of embryogenesis while the zygotic genome remains transcriptionally silent. Developmental control is then passed from mother to zygote through a process known as the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). The MZT comprises an intimately connected set of molecular events that mediate degradation of maternally deposited mRNAs and transcriptional activation of the zygotic genome. This essential developmental transition is conserved among metazoans but is perhaps best understood in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. In this article, we will review our understanding of the events that drive the MZT in Drosophila embryos and highlight parallel mechanisms driving this transition in other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melissa M. Harrison
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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