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Audoor S, Bilcke G, Pargana K, Belišová D, Thierens S, Van Bel M, Sterck L, Rijsdijk N, Annunziata R, Ferrante MI, Vandepoele K, Vyverman W. Transcriptional chronology reveals conserved genes involved in pennate diatom sexual reproduction. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17320. [PMID: 38506152 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Sexual reproduction is a major driver of adaptation and speciation in eukaryotes. In diatoms, siliceous microalgae with a unique cell size reduction-restitution life cycle and among the world's most prolific primary producers, sex also acts as the main mechanism for cell size restoration through the formation of an expanding auxospore. However, the molecular regulators of the different stages of sexual reproduction and size restoration are poorly explored. Here, we combined RNA sequencing with the assembly of a 55 Mbp reference genome for Cylindrotheca closterium to identify patterns of gene expression during different stages of sexual reproduction. These were compared with a corresponding transcriptomic time series of Seminavis robusta to assess the degree of expression conservation. Integrative orthology analysis revealed 138 one-to-one orthologues that are upregulated during sex in both species, among which 56 genes consistently upregulated during cell pairing and gametogenesis, and 11 genes induced when auxospores are present. Several early, sex-specific transcription factors and B-type cyclins were also upregulated during sex in other pennate and centric diatoms, pointing towards a conserved core regulatory machinery for meiosis and gametogenesis across diatoms. Furthermore, we find molecular evidence that the pheromone-induced cell cycle arrest is short-lived in benthic diatoms, which may be linked to their active mode of mate finding through gliding. Finally, we exploit the temporal resolution of our comparative analysis to report the first marker genes for auxospore identity called AAE1-3 ("Auxospore-Associated Expression"). Altogether, we introduce a multi-species model of the transcriptional dynamics during size restoration in diatoms and highlight conserved gene expression dynamics during different stages of sexual reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sien Audoor
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gust Bilcke
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katerina Pargana
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Darja Belišová
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sander Thierens
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Michiel Van Bel
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lieven Sterck
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nadine Rijsdijk
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Maria Immacolata Ferrante
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- Associate to the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, Trieste, Italy
| | - Klaas Vandepoele
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for AI & Computational Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Vyverman
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
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Klapper F, Audoor S, Vyverman W, Pohnert G. Pheromone Mediated Sexual Reproduction of Pennate Diatom Cylindrotheca closterium. J Chem Ecol 2021; 47:504-512. [PMID: 33914225 PMCID: PMC8217010 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-021-01277-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Benthic diatoms dominate primary production in marine subtidal and intertidal environments. Their extraordinary species diversity and ecological success is thought to be linked with their predominantly heterothallic sexual reproduction. Little is known about pheromone involvement during mating of pennate diatoms. Here we describe pheromone guided mating in the coastal raphid diatom Cylindrotheca closterium. We show that the two mating types (mt+ and mt−) have distinct functions. Similar to other benthic diatoms, mt+ cells are searching for the mt− cells to pair. To enhance mating efficiency mt− exudes an attraction pheromone which we proved by establishing a novel capillary assay. Further, two more pheromones produced by mt− promote the sexual events. One arrests the cell cycle progression of mt+ while the other induces gametogenesis of mt+. We suggest that C. closterium shares a functionally similar pheromone system with other pennate diatoms like Seminavis robusta and Pseudostaurosira trainorii which synchronize sexual events and mate attraction. Remarkably, we found no evidence of mt+ producing pheromones, which differentiates C. closterium from other pennates and suggests a less complex pheromone system in C. closterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Klapper
- Bioorganic Analytics, Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Lessingstrasse 8, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Sien Audoor
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, University Gent, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Wim Vyverman
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, University Gent, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Georg Pohnert
- Bioorganic Analytics, Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Lessingstrasse 8, 07743, Jena, Germany. .,Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745, Jena, Germany.
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3
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Osuna-Cruz CM, Bilcke G, Vancaester E, De Decker S, Bones AM, Winge P, Poulsen N, Bulankova P, Verhelst B, Audoor S, Belisova D, Pargana A, Russo M, Stock F, Cirri E, Brembu T, Pohnert G, Piganeau G, Ferrante MI, Mock T, Sterck L, Sabbe K, De Veylder L, Vyverman W, Vandepoele K. Author Correction: The Seminavis robusta genome provides insights into the evolutionary adaptations of benthic diatoms. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5331. [PMID: 33067470 PMCID: PMC7567852 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19222-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Maria Osuna-Cruz
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.,VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.,Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gust Bilcke
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.,VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.,Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Emmelien Vancaester
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.,VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.,Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sam De Decker
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Atle M Bones
- Cell Molecular Biology and Genomics Group, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Per Winge
- Cell Molecular Biology and Genomics Group, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Nicole Poulsen
- B CUBE Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technical University of Dresden, Tatzberg 41, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Petra Bulankova
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.,VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bram Verhelst
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.,VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sien Audoor
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Darja Belisova
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aikaterini Pargana
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Monia Russo
- Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples, Italy
| | - Frederike Stock
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Emilio Cirri
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Lessingstrasse 8, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Tore Brembu
- Cell Molecular Biology and Genomics Group, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Georg Pohnert
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Lessingstrasse 8, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Gwenael Piganeau
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 7232 Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins BIOM, Observatoire Océanologique, F-66650, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | | | - Thomas Mock
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Lieven Sterck
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.,VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Koen Sabbe
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lieven De Veylder
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.,VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Vyverman
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Klaas Vandepoele
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium. .,VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium. .,Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
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4
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Osuna-Cruz CM, Bilcke G, Vancaester E, De Decker S, Bones AM, Winge P, Poulsen N, Bulankova P, Verhelst B, Audoor S, Belisova D, Pargana A, Russo M, Stock F, Cirri E, Brembu T, Pohnert G, Piganeau G, Ferrante MI, Mock T, Sterck L, Sabbe K, De Veylder L, Vyverman W, Vandepoele K. The Seminavis robusta genome provides insights into the evolutionary adaptations of benthic diatoms. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3320. [PMID: 32620776 PMCID: PMC7335047 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17191-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Benthic diatoms are the main primary producers in shallow freshwater and coastal environments, fulfilling important ecological functions such as nutrient cycling and sediment stabilization. However, little is known about their evolutionary adaptations to these highly structured but heterogeneous environments. Here, we report a reference genome for the marine biofilm-forming diatom Seminavis robusta, showing that gene family expansions are responsible for a quarter of all 36,254 protein-coding genes. Tandem duplications play a key role in extending the repertoire of specific gene functions, including light and oxygen sensing, which are probably central for its adaptation to benthic habitats. Genes differentially expressed during interactions with bacteria are strongly conserved in other benthic diatoms while many species-specific genes are strongly upregulated during sexual reproduction. Combined with re-sequencing data from 48 strains, our results offer insights into the genetic diversity and gene functions in benthic diatoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Maria Osuna-Cruz
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gust Bilcke
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Emmelien Vancaester
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sam De Decker
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Atle M Bones
- Cell Molecular Biology and Genomics Group, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Per Winge
- Cell Molecular Biology and Genomics Group, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Nicole Poulsen
- B CUBE Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technical University of Dresden, Tatzberg 41, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Petra Bulankova
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bram Verhelst
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sien Audoor
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Darja Belisova
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aikaterini Pargana
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Monia Russo
- Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples, Italy
| | - Frederike Stock
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Emilio Cirri
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Lessingstrasse 8, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Tore Brembu
- Cell Molecular Biology and Genomics Group, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Georg Pohnert
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Lessingstrasse 8, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Gwenael Piganeau
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 7232 Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins BIOM, Observatoire Océanologique, F-66650, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | | | - Thomas Mock
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Lieven Sterck
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Koen Sabbe
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lieven De Veylder
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Vyverman
- Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Klaas Vandepoele
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
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