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Deshpande G, Zhao S, Waggoner P, Beyers R, Morrison E, Huynh N, Vodyanoy V, Denney TS, Katz JS. Two Separate Brain Networks for Predicting Trainability and Tracking Training-Related Plasticity in Working Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1082. [PMID: 38612321 PMCID: PMC11010877 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071082] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional brain connectivity based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been shown to be correlated with human personality and behavior. In this study, we sought to know whether capabilities and traits in dogs can be predicted from their resting-state connectivity, as in humans. We trained awake dogs to keep their head still inside a 3T MRI scanner while resting-state fMRI data was acquired. Canine behavior was characterized by an integrated behavioral score capturing their hunting, retrieving, and environmental soundness. Functional scans and behavioral measures were acquired at three different time points across detector dog training. The first time point (TP1) was prior to the dogs entering formal working detector dog training. The second time point (TP2) was soon after formal detector dog training. The third time point (TP3) was three months' post detector dog training while the dogs were engaged in a program of maintenance training for detection work. We hypothesized that the correlation between resting-state FC in the dog brain and behavior measures would significantly change during their detection training process (from TP1 to TP2) and would maintain for the subsequent several months of detection work (from TP2 to TP3). To further study the resting-state FC features that can predict the success of training, dogs at TP1 were divided into a successful group and a non-successful group. We observed a core brain network which showed relatively stable (with respect to time) patterns of interaction that were significantly stronger in successful detector dogs compared to failures and whose connectivity strength at the first time point predicted whether a given dog was eventually successful in becoming a detector dog. A second ontologically based flexible peripheral network was observed whose changes in connectivity strength with detection training tracked corresponding changes in behavior over the training program. Comparing dog and human brains, the functional connectivity between the brain stem and the frontal cortex in dogs corresponded to that between the locus coeruleus and left middle frontal gyrus in humans, suggestive of a shared mechanism for learning and retrieval of odors. Overall, the findings point toward the influence of phylogeny and ontogeny in dogs producing two dissociable functional neural networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopikrishna Deshpande
- Auburn University Neuroimaging Center, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (S.Z.); (R.B.); (N.H.); (T.S.D.J.)
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Alabama Advanced Imaging Consortium, Birmingham, AL 36849, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India
- Department of Heritage Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad 502285, India
| | - Sinan Zhao
- Auburn University Neuroimaging Center, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (S.Z.); (R.B.); (N.H.); (T.S.D.J.)
| | - Paul Waggoner
- Canine Performance Sciences Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA;
| | - Ronald Beyers
- Auburn University Neuroimaging Center, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (S.Z.); (R.B.); (N.H.); (T.S.D.J.)
| | - Edward Morrison
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (E.M.); (V.V.)
| | - Nguyen Huynh
- Auburn University Neuroimaging Center, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (S.Z.); (R.B.); (N.H.); (T.S.D.J.)
| | - Vitaly Vodyanoy
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (E.M.); (V.V.)
| | - Thomas S. Denney
- Auburn University Neuroimaging Center, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (S.Z.); (R.B.); (N.H.); (T.S.D.J.)
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Alabama Advanced Imaging Consortium, Birmingham, AL 36849, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Jeffrey S. Katz
- Auburn University Neuroimaging Center, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (S.Z.); (R.B.); (N.H.); (T.S.D.J.)
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Alabama Advanced Imaging Consortium, Birmingham, AL 36849, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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2
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Fisher AG. Cell and developmental biology: grand challenges. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1377073. [PMID: 38559812 PMCID: PMC10978741 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1377073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda G. Fisher
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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3
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Pearse IS, LoPresti E, Baldwin BG, Krimmel B. The evolution of glandularity as a defense against herbivores in the tarweed clade. Am J Bot 2024; 111:e16281. [PMID: 38334065 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16281] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
PREMISE Glandular trichomes are implicated in direct and indirect defense of plants. However, the degree to which glandular and non-glandular trichomes have evolved as a consequence of herbivory remains unclear, because their heritability, their association with herbivore resistance, their trade-offs with one another, and their association with other functions are rarely quantified. METHODS We conducted a phylogenetic comparison of trichomes and herbivore resistance against the generalist caterpillar, Heliothis virescens, among tarweed species (Asteraceae: Madiinae) and a genetic correlation study comparing those same traits among maternal half-sibs of three tarweed species. RESULTS Within a tarweed species, we found no evidence that herbivore growth rate decreased on tarweed individuals or maternal sib groups with more glandularity or denser trichomes. However, tarweed species with more glandularity and fewer non-glandular trichomes resulted in slower-growing herbivores. Likewise, a trade-off between glandular and non-glandular trichomes was apparent among tarweed species, but not among individuals or sib groups within a species. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that this key herbivore does not select for trichomes as a direct defense in tarweed species. However, trichomes differed substantially among species and likely affect herbivore pressure on those species. Our results demonstrate that trade-offs among plant traits, as well as inference on the function of those traits, can depend on scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian S Pearse
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Eric LoPresti
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Bruce G Baldwin
- University of California-Berkeley, Jepson Herbarium and Department of Integrative Biology, Berkeley, CA, USA
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4
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Marzi SJ, Schilder BM, Nott A, Frigerio CS, Willaime-Morawek S, Bucholc M, Hanger DP, James C, Lewis PA, Lourida I, Noble W, Rodriguez-Algarra F, Sharif JA, Tsalenchuk M, Winchester LM, Yaman Ü, Yao Z, Ranson JM, Llewellyn DJ. Artificial intelligence for neurodegenerative experimental models. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:5970-5987. [PMID: 37768001 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13479] [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: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Experimental models are essential tools in neurodegenerative disease research. However, the translation of insights and drugs discovered in model systems has proven immensely challenging, marred by high failure rates in human clinical trials. METHODS Here we review the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in experimental medicine for dementia research. RESULTS Considering the specific challenges of reproducibility and translation between other species or model systems and human biology in preclinical dementia research, we highlight best practices and resources that can be leveraged to quantify and evaluate translatability. We then evaluate how AI and ML approaches could be applied to enhance both cross-model reproducibility and translation to human biology, while sustaining biological interpretability. DISCUSSION AI and ML approaches in experimental medicine remain in their infancy. However, they have great potential to strengthen preclinical research and translation if based upon adequate, robust, and reproducible experimental data. HIGHLIGHTS There are increasing applications of AI in experimental medicine. We identified issues in reproducibility, cross-species translation, and data curation in the field. Our review highlights data resources and AI approaches as solutions. Multi-omics analysis with AI offers exciting future possibilities in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Marzi
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Brian M Schilder
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Alexi Nott
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Magda Bucholc
- School of Computing, Engineering & Intelligent Systems, Ulster University, Derry, UK
| | - Diane P Hanger
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Patrick A Lewis
- Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | - Wendy Noble
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Jalil-Ahmad Sharif
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Tsalenchuk
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Ümran Yaman
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
| | | | | | - David J Llewellyn
- University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
- Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
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5
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Engel MS. Grand challenges in insect systematics. Front Insect Sci 2023; 3:1327005. [PMID: 38469463 PMCID: PMC10926366 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1327005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Engel
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
- Museum at Prairiefire, Overland Park, KS, United States
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6
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Caspi Y, Pantazopoulou CK, Prompers JJ, Pieterse CMJ, Hulshoff Pol H, Kajala K. Why did glutamate, GABA, and melatonin become intercellular signalling molecules in plants? eLife 2023; 12:e83361. [PMID: 37338964 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Intercellular signalling is an indispensable part of multicellular life. Understanding the commonalities and differences in how signalling molecules function in two remote branches of the tree of life may shed light on the reasons these molecules were originally recruited for intercellular signalling. Here we review the plant function of three highly studied animal intercellular signalling molecules, namely glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and melatonin. By considering both their signalling function in plants and their broader physiological function, we suggest that molecules with an original function as key metabolites or active participants in reactive ion species scavenging have a high chance of becoming intercellular signalling molecules. Naturally, the evolution of machinery to transduce a message across the plasma membrane is necessary. This fact is demonstrated by three other well-studied animal intercellular signalling molecules, namely serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine, for which there is currently no evidence that they act as intercellular signalling molecules in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Caspi
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Jeanine J Prompers
- Department of Radiology, Imaging Division, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Corné M J Pieterse
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Kaisa Kajala
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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7
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Willbrand EH, Maboudian SA, Kelly JP, Parker BJ, Foster BL, Weiner KS. Sulcal morphology of posteromedial cortex substantially differs between humans and chimpanzees. bioRxiv 2023:2023.02.06.527223. [PMID: 36798269 PMCID: PMC9934567 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.06.527223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies identify a surprising coupling between evolutionarily new sulci and the functional organization of human posteromedial cortex (PMC). Yet, no study has compared this modern PMC sulcal patterning between humans and non-human hominoids. To fill this gap in knowledge, we first manually defined 918 sulci in 120 chimpanzee ( Pan Troglodytes ) hemispheres and 1619 sulci in 144 human hemispheres. We uncovered four new PMC sulci, and quantitatively identified species differences in incidence, depth, and surface area. Interestingly, some PMC sulci are more common in humans and others, in chimpanzees. Further, we found that the prominent marginal ramus of the cingulate sulcus differs significantly between species. Contrary to classic observations, the present results reveal that the surface anatomy of PMC substantially differs between humans and chimpanzees â€" findings which lay a foundation for better understanding the evolution of neuroanatomical-functional and neuroanatomical-behavioral relationships in this highly expanded region of the human cerebral cortex.
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8
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Gilliland CA, Patel V, McCormick AC, Mackett BM, Vogel KJ. Using axenic and gnotobiotic insects to examine the role of different microbes on the development and reproduction of the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Mol Ecol 2023; 32:920-935. [PMID: 36464913 PMCID: PMC10107482 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
Kissing bugs (Hempitera: Reduviidae) are obligately and exclusively blood feeding insects. Vertebrate blood is thought to provide insufficient B vitamins to insects, which rely on symbiotic relationships with bacteria that provision these nutrients. Kissing bugs harbour environmentally acquired bacteria in their gut lumen, without which they are unable to develop to adulthood. Rhodococcus rhodnii was initially identified as the sole symbiont of Rhodnius prolixus, but modern studies of the kissing bug microbiome suggest that R. rhodnii is not always present or abundant in wild-caught individuals. We asked whether R. rhodnii or other bacteria alone could function as symbionts of R. prolixus. We produced insects with no bacteria (axenic) or with known microbiomes (gnotobiotic). Gnotobiotic insects harbouring R. rhodnii alone developed faster, had higher survival, and laid more eggs than those harbouring other bacterial monocultures, including other described symbionts of kissing bugs. R. rhodnii grew to high titre in the guts of R. prolixus while other tested species were found at much lower abundance. Rhodococcus species tested had nearly identical B vitamin biosynthesis genes, and dietary supplementation of B vitamins had a relatively minor effect on development and survival of gnotobiotic R. prolixus. Our results indicate that R. prolixus have a higher fitness when harbouring R. rhodnii than other bacteria tested, that this may be due to R. rhodnii existing at higher titres and providing more B vitamins to the host, and that symbiont B vitamin synthesis is probably a necessary but not sufficient function of gut bacteria in kissing bugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vilas Patel
- Department of Entomology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Ashley C McCormick
- Department of Entomology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Bradley M Mackett
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kevin J Vogel
- Department of Entomology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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9
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Cracraft J. It is time to move on from homology in comparative biology. J Morphol 2023; 284:e21530. [PMID: 36314971 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21530] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The continued use of the idea of homology is questionable on philosophical and scientific grounds. It is based on the widespread idea that a "homologue" in extant taxa can be "traced back" to a feature in common ancestor. In contrast, Richard Owen, who first used the term in 1846, saw homology (homologue) differently, as "sameness": "the same organ in different animals under every variety of form and function." At that point in time, he was not influenced by evolutionary thinking, and more focused on the details and approaches to biological comparison and description. His was a perceptive approach to comparison. This paper argues that the concept of homology no longer plays a useful role in comparative biology. It is a conceptual idea with little or no empirical implications for modern comparisons among phenotypes. Comparative biology now uses formal phylogenetic analysis in which similar features in individuals of two or more taxa are treated as characters on a tree and tested for historical "sameness" in terms of the concept of synapomorphy. If we are to understand the complexities of phenotypic evolution, applying this method to detailed comparative data will be essential. At the same time, a deep understanding of the phenotype and its history will emerge only through the use of multidisciplinary approaches that address historical changes at different hierarchical levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Cracraft
- Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
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10
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Minelli A. A refreshed approach to homology-Prioritizing epistemology over metaphysics. J Morphol 2023; 284:e21533. [PMID: 36342140 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Unease with the inclusion of "sameness" in Owen's definition of homology characterizes a substantial part of the literature on this subject, where this term has acquired an increasingly strict metaphysical flavor. Taken for granted the existence of body features that are "the same," their existence has been explained by appealing to universal laws of form, as the product of common ancestry, or in terms of proximal causes responsible for the emergence of conserved developmental modules. However, a fundamentally different approach is possible, if we shift attention from metaphysics to epistemology. We may reword Owen's statement as follows: organs of different animals, in so far as they can be described as the same despite any difference in form and function, are called homologues. The proposed framework provides an umbrella for both the traditional, all-or-nothing concept of homology, and the less fashionable alternatives of factorial or partial homology, as well as for an extension of homology from form to function. No less attractive is the prospect to handle also ghost homologues, the body parts or organs of which there is non-objective evidence in a given clade, but can nevertheless be represented, in a description that encapsulates some of the traits observable in their extant homologue in the sister clade. Stripped of its different and constraining metaphysical explanations, homology survives as an anchor concept to which different nomadic disciplines and research agendas can be associated.
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11
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Reichard M, Giannetti K, Ferreira T, Maouche A, Vrtílek M, Polačik M, Blažek R, Ferreira MG. Lifespan and telomere length variation across populations of wild-derived African killifish. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5979-5992. [PMID: 34826177 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres and telomerase prevent the continuous erosion of chromosome-ends caused by lifelong cell division. Shortened telomeres are associated with age-related pathologies. While short telomere length is positively correlated with increased lethality at the individual level, in comparisons across species short telomeres are associated with long (and not short) lifespans. Here, we tested this contradiction between individual and evolutionary patterns in telomere length using African annual killifish. We analysed lifespan and telomere length in a set of captive strains derived from well-defined wild populations of Nothobranchius furzeri and its sister species, N. kadleci, from sites along a strong gradient of aridity which ultimately determines maximum natural lifespan. Overall, males were shorter-lived than females, and also had shorter telomeres. Male lifespan (measured in controlled laboratory conditions) was positively associated with the amount of annual rainfall in the site of strain origin. However, fish from wetter climates had shorter telomeres. In addition, individual fish which grew largest over the juvenile period possessed shorter telomeres at the onset of adulthood. This demonstrates that individual condition and environmentally-driven selection indeed modulate the relationship between telomere length and lifespan in opposite directions, validating the existence of inverse trends within a single taxon. Intraindividual heterogeneity of telomere length (capable to detect very short telomeres) was not associated with mean telomere length, suggesting that the shortest telomeres are controlled by regulatory pathways other than those that determine mean telomere length. The substantial variation in telomere length between strains from different environments identifies killifish as a powerful system in understanding the adaptive value of telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Reichard
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Ahmed Maouche
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), UMR7284 U1081 Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Milan Vrtílek
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Matej Polačik
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Blažek
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miguel Godinho Ferreira
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal.,Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), UMR7284 U1081 Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
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12
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13
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Capdevila P, Stott I, Cant J, Beger M, Rowlands G, Grace M, Salguero-Gómez R. Life history mediates the trade-offs among different components of demographic resilience. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1566-1579. [PMID: 35334148 PMCID: PMC9314072 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Accelerating rates of biodiversity loss underscore the need to understand how species achieve resilience—the ability to resist and recover from a/biotic disturbances. Yet, the factors determining the resilience of species remain poorly understood, due to disagreements on its definition and the lack of large‐scale analyses. Here, we investigate how the life history of 910 natural populations of animals and plants predicts their intrinsic ability to be resilient. We show that demographic resilience can be achieved through different combinations of compensation, resistance and recovery after a disturbance. We demonstrate that these resilience components are highly correlated with life history traits related to the species’ pace of life and reproductive strategy. Species with longer generation times require longer recovery times post‐disturbance, whilst those with greater reproductive capacity have greater resistance and compensation. Our findings highlight the key role of life history traits to understand species resilience, improving our ability to predict how natural populations cope with disturbance regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pol Capdevila
- Zoology Department, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Iain Stott
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
| | - James Cant
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Maria Beger
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.,Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Molly Grace
- Zoology Department, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Roberto Salguero-Gómez
- Zoology Department, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany
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14
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Strauss ED, DeCasien AR, Galindo G, Hobson EA, Shizuka D, Curley JP. DomArchive: a century of published dominance data. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200436. [PMID: 35000444 PMCID: PMC8743893 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dominance behaviours have been collected for many groups of animals since 1922 and serve as a foundation for research on social behaviour and social structure. Despite a wealth of data from the last century of research on dominance hierarchies, these data are only rarely used for comparative insight. Here, we aim to facilitate comparative studies of the structure and function of dominance hierarchies by compiling published dominance interaction datasets from the last 100 years of work. This compiled archive includes 436 datasets from 190 studies of 367 unique groups (mean group size 13.8, s.d. = 13.4) of 135 different species, totalling over 243 000 interactions. These data are presented in an R package alongside relevant metadata and a tool for subsetting the archive based on biological or methodological criteria. In this paper, we explain how to use the archive, discuss potential limitations of the data, and reflect on best practices in publishing dominance data based on our experience in assembling this dataset. This archive will serve as an important resource for future comparative studies and will promote the development of general unifying theories of dominance in behavioural ecology that can be grounded in testing with empirical data. This article is part of the theme issue 'The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli D. Strauss
- Department of Collective Behavior, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118 USA
| | - Alex R. DeCasien
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MA, USA
| | - Gabriela Galindo
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Hobson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Daizaburo Shizuka
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118 USA
| | - James P. Curley
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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15
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Bronikowski AM, Meisel RP, Biga PR, Walters J, Mank JE, Larschan E, Wilkinson GS, Valenzuela N, Conard AM, de Magalhães JP, Duan J, Elias AE, Gamble T, Graze R, Gribble KE, Kreiling JA, Riddle NC. Sex-specific aging in animals: Perspective and future directions. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13542. [PMID: 35072344 PMCID: PMC8844111 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [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: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in aging occur in many animal species, and they include sex differences in lifespan, in the onset and progression of age-associated decline, and in physiological and molecular markers of aging. Sex differences in aging vary greatly across the animal kingdom. For example, there are species with longer-lived females, species where males live longer, and species lacking sex differences in lifespan. The underlying causes of sex differences in aging remain mostly unknown. Currently, we do not understand the molecular drivers of sex differences in aging, or whether they are related to the accepted hallmarks or pillars of aging or linked to other well-characterized processes. In particular, understanding the role of sex-determination mechanisms and sex differences in aging is relatively understudied. Here, we take a comparative, interdisciplinary approach to explore various hypotheses about how sex differences in aging arise. We discuss genomic, morphological, and environmental differences between the sexes and how these relate to sex differences in aging. Finally, we present some suggestions for future research in this area and provide recommendations for promising experimental designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. Bronikowski
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal BiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
| | - Richard P. Meisel
- Department of Biology and BiochemistryUniversity of HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Peggy R. Biga
- Department of BiologyThe University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| | - James R. Walters
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyThe University of KansasLawrenceKansasUSA
| | - Judith E. Mank
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
- Department of BioscienceUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | - Erica Larschan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and BiochemistryBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | | | - Nicole Valenzuela
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal BiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
| | - Ashley Mae Conard
- Department of Computer ScienceCenter for Computational and Molecular BiologyBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - João Pedro de Magalhães
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing GroupInstitute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | | | - Amy E. Elias
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and BiochemistryBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Tony Gamble
- Department of Biological SciencesMarquette UniversityMilwaukeeWisconsinUSA
- Milwaukee Public MuseumMilwaukeeWisconsinUSA
- Bell Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMinnesotaUSA
| | - Rita M. Graze
- Department of Biological SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabamaUSA
| | - Kristin E. Gribble
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and EvolutionMarine Biological LaboratoryWoods HoleMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jill A. Kreiling
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and BiochemistryBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Nicole C. Riddle
- Department of BiologyThe University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
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16
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Bertolone L, Shin HKH, Baek JH, Gao Y, Spitalnik SL, Buehler PW, D'Alessandro A. ZOOMICS: Comparative Metabolomics of Red Blood Cells From Guinea Pigs, Humans, and Non-human Primates During Refrigerated Storage for Up to 42 Days. Front Physiol 2022; 13:845347. [PMID: 35388289 PMCID: PMC8977988 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.845347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Unlike other rodents, guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) have evolutionarily lost their capacity to synthesize vitamin C (ascorbate) de novo and, like several non-human primates and humans, rely on dietary intake and glutathione-dependent recycling to cope with oxidant stress. This is particularly relevant in red blood cell physiology, and especially when modeling blood storage, which exacerbates erythrocyte oxidant stress. Herein we provide a comprehensive metabolomics analysis of fresh and stored guinea pig red blood cell concentrates (n = 20), with weekly sampling from storage day 0 through 42. Results were compared to previously published ZOOMICS studies on red blood cells from three additional species with genetic loss of L-gulonolactone oxidase function, including humans (n = 21), olive baboons (n = 20), and rhesus macaques (n = 20). While metabolic trends were comparable across all species, guinea pig red blood cells demonstrated accelerated alterations of the metabolic markers of the storage lesion that are consistent with oxidative stress. Compared to the other species, guinea pig red blood cells showed aberrant glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway end product metabolites, purine breakdown products, methylation, glutaminolysis, and markers of membrane lipid remodeling. Consistently, guinea pig red blood cells demonstrated higher end storage hemolysis, and scanning electron microscopy confirmed a higher degree of morphological alterations of their red blood cells, as compared to the other species. Despite a genetic inability to produce ascorbate that is common to the species evaluated, guinea pig red blood cells demonstrate accelerated oxidant stress under standard storage conditions. These data may offer relevant insights into the basal and cold storage metabolism of red blood cells from species that cannot synthesize endogenous ascorbate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Bertolone
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Hye Kyung H Shin
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Jin Hyen Baek
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Yamei Gao
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Steven L Spitalnik
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Paul W Buehler
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Angelo D'Alessandro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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17
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Kang W, Fromm B, Houben AJ, Høye E, Bezdan D, Arnan C, Thrane K, Asp M, Johnson R, Biryukova I, Friedländer MR. MapToCleave: High-throughput profiling of microRNA biogenesis in living cells. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110015. [PMID: 34788611 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous large-scale studies have uncovered many features that determine the processing of microRNA (miRNA) precursors; however, they have been conducted in vitro. Here, we introduce MapToCleave, a method to simultaneously profile processing of thousands of distinct RNA structures in living cells. We find that miRNA precursors with a stable lower basal stem are more efficiently processed and also have higher expression in vivo in tissues from 20 animal species. We systematically compare the importance of known and novel sequence and structural features and test biogenesis of miRNA precursors from 10 animal and plant species in human cells. Lastly, we provide evidence that the GHG motif better predicts processing when defined as a structure rather than sequence motif, consistent with recent cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies. In summary, we apply a screening assay in living cells to reveal the importance of lower basal stem stability for miRNA processing and in vivo expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Kang
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bastian Fromm
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; The Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anna J Houben
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona (BIST), Catalonia, Spain
| | - Eirik Høye
- Department of Tumor Biology, Oslo Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniela Bezdan
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona (BIST), Catalonia, Spain; Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; NGS Competence Center Tübingen (NCCT), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carme Arnan
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona (BIST), Catalonia, Spain
| | - Kim Thrane
- Department of Gene Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden
| | - Michaela Asp
- Department of Gene Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden
| | - Rory Johnson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Inna Biryukova
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marc R Friedländer
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
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18
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Lonnqvist B, Bornet A, Doerig A, Herzog MH. A comparative biology approach to DNN modeling of vision: A focus on differences, not similarities. J Vis 2021; 21:17. [PMID: 34551062 PMCID: PMC8475290 DOI: 10.1167/jov.21.10.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Deep neural networks (DNNs) have revolutionized computer science and are now widely used for neuroscientific research. A hot debate has ensued about the usefulness of DNNs as neuroscientific models of the human visual system; the debate centers on to what extent certain shortcomings of DNNs are real failures and to what extent they are redeemable. Here, we argue that the main problem is that we often do not understand which human functions need to be modeled and, thus, what counts as a falsification. Hence, not only is there a problem on the DNN side, but there is also one on the brain side (i.e., with the explanandum-the thing to be explained). For example, should DNNs reproduce illusions? We posit that we can make better use of DNNs by adopting an approach of comparative biology by focusing on the differences, rather than the similarities, between DNNs and humans to improve our understanding of visual information processing in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Lonnqvist
- Laboratory of Psychophysics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alban Bornet
- Laboratory of Psychophysics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Adrien Doerig
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Michael H Herzog
- Laboratory of Psychophysics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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19
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Abstract
Motilin, produced in endocrine cells in the mucosa of the upper intestine, is an important regulator of gastrointestinal (GI) motility and mediates the phase III of interdigestive migrating motor complex (MMC) in the stomach of humans, dogs and house musk shrews through the specific motilin receptor (MLN-R). Motilin-induced MMC contributes to the maintenance of normal GI functions and transmits a hunger signal from the stomach to the brain. Motilin has been identified in various mammals, but the physiological roles of motilin in regulating GI motility in these mammals are well not understood due to inconsistencies between studies conducted on different species using a range of experimental conditions. Motilin orthologs have been identified in non-mammalian vertebrates, and the sequence of avian motilin is relatively close to that of mammals, but reptile, amphibian and fish motilins show distinctive different sequences. The MLN-R has also been identified in mammals and non-mammalian vertebrates, and can be divided into two main groups: mammal/bird/reptile/amphibian clade and fish clade. Almost 50 years have passed since discovery of motilin, here we reviewed the structure, distribution, receptor and the GI motility regulatory function of motilin in vertebrates from fish to mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takio Kitazawa
- Comparative Animal Pharmacology, Department of Veterinary Science, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kaiya
- Department of Biochemistry, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Japan
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20
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Cockrell C, An G. Comparative Computational Modeling of the Bat and Human Immune Response to Viral Infection with the Comparative Biology Immune Agent Based Model. Viruses 2021; 13:1620. [PMID: 34452484 DOI: 10.3390/v13081620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the impact of pandemics due to viruses of bat origin, there is increasing interest in comparative investigation into the differences between bat and human immune responses. The practice of comparative biology can be enhanced by computational methods used for dynamic knowledge representation to visualize and interrogate the putative differences between the two systems. We present an agent based model that encompasses and bridges differences between bat and human responses to viral infection: the comparative biology immune agent based model, or CBIABM. The CBIABM examines differences in innate immune mechanisms between bats and humans, specifically regarding inflammasome activity and type 1 interferon dynamics, in terms of tolerance to viral infection. Simulation experiments with the CBIABM demonstrate the efficacy of bat-related features in conferring viral tolerance and also suggest a crucial role for endothelial inflammasome activity as a mechanism for bat systemic viral tolerance and affecting the severity of disease in human viral infections. We hope that this initial study will inspire additional comparative modeling projects to link, compare, and contrast immunological functions shared across different species, and in so doing, provide insight and aid in preparation for future viral pandemics of zoonotic origin.
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21
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Abstract
Comparative biology builds up systematic knowledge of the diversity of life, across evolutionary lineages and levels of organization, starting with evidence from a sparse sample of model organisms. In developmental biology, a key obstacle to the growth of comparative approaches is that the concept of homology is not very well defined for levels of organization that are intermediate between individual genes and morphological characters. In this paper, we investigate what it means for ontogenetic processes to be homologous, focusing specifically on the examples of insect segmentation and vertebrate somitogenesis. These processes can be homologous without homology of the underlying genes or gene networks, since the latter can diverge over evolutionary time, while the dynamics of the process remain the same. Ontogenetic processes like these therefore constitute a dissociable level and distinctive unit of comparison requiring their own specific criteria of homology. In addition, such processes are typically complex and nonlinear, such that their rigorous description and comparison requires not only observation and experimentation, but also dynamical modelling. We propose six criteria of process homology, combining recognized indicators (sameness of parts, morphological outcome and topological position) with novel ones derived from dynamical systems modelling (sameness of dynamical properties, dynamical complexity and evidence for transitional forms). We show how these criteria apply to animal segmentation and other ontogenetic processes. We conclude by situating our proposed dynamical framework for homology of process in relation to similar research programmes, such as process structuralism and developmental approaches to morphological homology.
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Affiliation(s)
- James DiFrisco
- Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johannes Jaeger
- Complexity Science Hub (CSH) Vienna, Josefstädter Strasse 39, 1080 Vienna, Austria
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22
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Abstract
Because every species has unique attributes relevant to understanding specific aspects of aging, using a diversity of study systems and a comparative biology approach for aging research has the potential to lead to novel discoveries applicable to human health. Monogonont rotifers, a standard model for studies of aquatic ecology, evolutionary biology, and ecotoxicology, have also been used to study lifespan and healthspan for nearly a century. However, because much of this work has been published in the ecology and evolutionary biology literature, it may not be known to the biomedical research community. In this review, we provide an overview of Brachionus rotifers as a model to investigate nutritional and metabolic regulators of aging, with a focus on recent studies of dietary and metabolic pathway manipulation. Rotifers are microscopic, aquatic invertebrates with many advantages as a system for studying aging, including a two-week lifespan, easy laboratory culture, direct development without a larval stage, sexual and asexual reproduction, easy delivery of pharmaceuticals in liquid culture, and transparency allowing imaging of cellular morphology and processes. Rotifers have greater gene homology with humans than do established invertebrate models for aging, and thus rotifers may be used to investigate novel genetic mechanisms relevant to human lifespan and healthspan. The research on caloric restriction; dietary, pharmaceutical, and genetic interventions; and transcriptomics of aging using rotifers provide insights into the metabolic regulators of lifespan and health and suggest future directions for aging research. Capitalizing on the unique biology of Brachionus rotifers, referencing the vast existing literature about the influence of diet and drugs on rotifer lifespan and health, continuing the development of genetic tools for rotifers, and growing the rotifer research community will lead to new discoveries a better understanding of the biology of aging.
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23
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Ludwig M, Busch FA, Khoshravesh R, Covshoff S. Editorial: Understanding C 4 Evolution and Function. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:774818. [PMID: 34745197 PMCID: PMC8570096 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.774818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Martha Ludwig
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Florian A. Busch
- School of Biosciences and Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Roxana Khoshravesh
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, MN, United States
| | - Sarah Covshoff
- Independent Researcher, Las Vegas, NV, United States
- *Correspondence: Sarah Covshoff
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24
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Bertolone L, Shin HK, Stefanoni D, Baek JH, Gao Y, Morrison EJ, Nemkov T, Thomas T, Francis RO, Hod EA, Zimring JC, Yoshida T, Karafin M, Schwartz J, Hudson KE, Spitalnik SL, Buehler PW, D'Alessandro A. ZOOMICS: Comparative Metabolomics of Red Blood Cells From Old World Monkeys and Humans. Front Physiol 2020; 11:593841. [PMID: 33192610 PMCID: PMC7645159 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.593841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
As part of the ZOOMICS project, we set out to investigate common and diverging metabolic traits in the blood metabolome across various species by taking advantage of recent developments in high-throughput metabolomics. Here we provide the first comparative metabolomics analysis of fresh and stored human (n = 21, 10 males, 11 females), olive baboon (n = 20), and rhesus macaque (n = 20) red blood cells at baseline and upon 42 days of storage under blood bank conditions. The results indicated similarities and differences across species, which ultimately resulted in a differential propensity to undergo morphological alterations and lyse as a function of the duration of refrigerated storage. Focusing on purine oxidation, carboxylic acid, fatty acid, and arginine metabolism further highlighted species-specific metabolic wiring. For example, through a combination of steady state measurements and 13C615N4-arginine tracing experiments, we report an increase in arginine catabolism into ornithine in humans, suggestive of species-specific arginase 1 activity and nitric oxide synthesis—an observation that may impact the translatability of cardiovascular disease studies carried out in non-human primates (NHPs). Finally, we correlated metabolic measurements to storage-induced morphological alterations via scanning electron microscopy and hemolysis, which were significantly lower in human red cells compared to both NHPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Bertolone
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Hye K Shin
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Davide Stefanoni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Jin Hyen Baek
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Yamei Gao
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Evan J Morrison
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Travis Nemkov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Tiffany Thomas
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Richard O Francis
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eldad A Hod
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - James C Zimring
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charloteseville, VA, United States
| | | | - Matthew Karafin
- Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Joseph Schwartz
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Krystalyn E Hudson
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Steven L Spitalnik
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Paul W Buehler
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Angelo D'Alessandro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States.,Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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25
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Abstract
For the last century we have relied on model organisms to help understand fundamental biological processes. Now, with advancements in genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation, non-model organisms may be studied with the same advanced bioanalytical toolkit as model organisms. Proteomics is one such technique, which classically relies on predicted protein sequences to catalog and measure complex proteomes across tissues and biofluids. Applying proteomics to non-model organisms can advance and accelerate biomimicry studies, biomedical advancements, veterinary medicine, agricultural research, behavioral ecology, and food safety. In this postmodel organism era, we can study almost any species, meaning that many non-model organisms are, in fact, important emerging model organisms. Herein we specifically focus on eukaryotic organisms and discuss the steps to generate sequence databases, analyze proteomic data with or without a database, and interpret results as well as future research opportunities. Proteomics is more accessible than ever before and will continue to rapidly advance in the coming years, enabling critical research and discoveries in non-model organisms that were hitherto impossible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Heck
- Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Plant Pathology and Plant Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin A. Neely
- Chemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Charleston, SC, USA
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26
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Herrick JR. Assisted reproductive technologies for endangered species conservation: developing sophisticated protocols with limited access to animals with unique reproductive mechanisms. Biol Reprod 2020; 100:1158-1170. [PMID: 30770538 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have been proposed as a means of overcoming the significant challenges of managing small, isolated populations of endangered species in zoos. However, efficient protocols for ARTs do not exist for most endangered species. This review will focus on research efforts to characterize unique reproductive mechanisms and develop species-specific ARTs. Central to these studies are assays to measure steroid metabolites in urine or feces and/or training programs to allow unrestrained blood collections and ultrasound evaluations. The resulting information about estrous cycle dynamics, combined with studies of semen collection and processing, provides the foundation for the development of artificial insemination (AI). In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer are also discussed in relation to the advantages these techniques could provide relative to AI, as well as the significant challenges involved with technologies that require oocytes and embryos. Finally, an argument is made for additional research of nontraditional model species (e.g., domestic cats and dogs) and the development of novel models representing unique taxa. Whether these species are studied by zoo-based researchers with the expressed intent of developing ARTs for conservation or academic scientists interested in basic biology, the resulting information will provide a unique, evolutionary perspective on reproduction that could have wide-reaching benefits. The more information we have available, the better our chances will be of developing effective ARTs and making a difference in conservation efforts for endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Herrick
- Department of Reproductive Sciences, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, 3701 S. 10th St., Omaha, NE 68107, USA
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27
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Edwards PD, Sookhan N, Boonstra R. The role of herbivory in the macroevolution of vertebrate hormone dynamics. Ecol Lett 2020; 23:1340-1348. [PMID: 32510838 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Vertebrates have high species-level variation in circulating hormone concentrations, and the functional significance of this variation is largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that interspecific differences in hormone concentrations are partially driven by plant consumption, based on the prediction that herbivores should have higher basal hormone levels to 'outcompete' plant endocrine disruptors. We compared levels of glucocorticoids (GCs), the hormones with the most available data, across 166 species. Using phylogenetically informed comparisons, we found that herbivores had higher GC levels than carnivores. Furthermore, we found that the previously described negative relationship between GC levels and body mass only held in herbivores, not carnivores, and that the effect of diet was greatest at extreme body sizes. These findings demonstrate the far-reaching effects of diet on animal physiology, and provide evidence that herbivory influences circulating hormone concentrations. We urge future direct testing of the relationship between phytochemical load and GC levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe D Edwards
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Nicholas Sookhan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Rudy Boonstra
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
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Buckmaster CL, Rathmann-Bloch JE, de Lecea L, Schatzberg AF, Lyons DM. Multisensory modulation of body ownership in mice. Neurosci Conscious 2020; 2020:niz019. [PMID: 31988796 PMCID: PMC6977007 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niz019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Body ownership is a fundamental aspect of self-consciousness that reflects more than the presence of physical body parts. As demonstrated by the rubber hand illusion (RHI), human brains construct body ownership experiences using available multisensory information. Experimental conditions similar to those that induce the RHI in humans have been recently adapted to induce the rubber tail illusion (RTI) in mice. Here, we show that the RTI is enhanced in both sexes of mice by repetitive synchronous stroking comprised of correlated visual and tactile stimulation of real and rubber tails compared to visual-only mimicked stroking conducted without tactile stimulation. The RTI also appears to be enhanced in female but not male mice by slow compared to fast stroking that reflects an interoceptive manipulation associated with affective touch in humans. Sex differences in slow stroking effects are exploratory and require replication in mice. Sex differences have not been reported for the RHI in healthy humans, but women rate slow stroking as more affectively pleasant compared to the ratings of men. Results suggest that the RHI in humans resembles aspects of the RTI in mice. Studies of mice may therefore provide neurobiological insights on evolutionarily conserved mechanisms of bodily self-consciousness in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine L Buckmaster
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Julia E Rathmann-Bloch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Luis de Lecea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Alan F Schatzberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - David M Lyons
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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Milani L, Ghiselli F. Faraway, so close. The comparative method and the potential of non-model animals in mitochondrial research. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 375:20190186. [PMID: 31787048 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Inference from model organisms has been the engine for many discoveries in life science, but indiscriminate generalization leads to oversimplifications and misconceptions. Model organisms and inductive reasoning are irreplaceable: there is no other way to tackle the complexity of living systems. At the same time, it is not advisable to infer general patterns from a restricted number of species, which are very far from being representative of the diversity of life. Not all models are equal. Some organisms are suitable to find similarities across species, other highly specialized organisms can be used to focus on differences. In this opinion piece, we discuss the dominance of the mechanistic/reductionist approach in life sciences and make a case for an enhanced application of the comparative approach to study processes in all their various forms across different organisms. We also enlist some rising animal models in mitochondrial research, to exemplify how non-model organisms can be chosen in a comparative framework. These taxa often do not possess implemented tools and dedicated methods/resources. However, because of specific features, they have the potential to address still unanswered biological questions. Finally, we discuss future perspectives and caveats of the comparative method in the age of 'big data'. This article is part of the theme issue 'Linking the mitochondrial genotype to phenotype: a complex endeavour'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Milani
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Ghiselli
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Moorad J, Promislow D, Silvertown J. Evolutionary Ecology of Senescence and a Reassessment of Williams' 'Extrinsic Mortality' Hypothesis. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34:519-530. [PMID: 30857756 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionary theory of senescence underpins research in life history evolution and the biology of aging. In 1957 G.C. Williams predicted that higher adult death rates select for earlier senescence and shorter length of life, but preadult mortality does not matter to the evolution of senescence. This was subsequently interpreted as predicting that senescence should be caused by 'extrinsic' sources of mortality. This idea still motivates empirical studies, although formal, mathematical theory shows it is wrong. It has nonetheless prospered because it offers an intuitive explanation for patterns observed in nature. We review the flaws in Williams' model, explore alternative explanations for comparative patterns that are consistent with the evolutionary theory of senescence, and discuss how hypotheses based on it can be tested. We argue that focusing on how sources of mortality affect ages differently offers greater insight into evolutionary processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Moorad
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Daniel Promislow
- Department of Pathology and Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. https://twitter.com@DPromislow
| | - Jonathan Silvertown
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK. https://twitter.com@JWSilvertown
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Vágási CI, Vincze O, Pătraș L, Osváth G, Pénzes J, Haussmann MF, Barta Z, Pap PL. Longevity and life history coevolve with oxidative stress in birds. Funct Ecol 2019; 33:152-161. [PMID: 34290466 PMCID: PMC8291348 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
1. The mechanisms that underpin the evolution of ageing and life histories remain elusive. Oxidative stress, which results in accumulated cellular damages, is one of the mechanisms suggested to play a role. 2. In this paper, we set out to test the "oxidative stress theory of ageing" and the "oxidative stress hypothesis of life histories" using a comprehensive phylogenetic comparison based on an unprecedented dataset of oxidative physiology in 88 free-living bird species. 3. We show for the first time that bird species with longer lifespan have higher non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity and suffer less oxidative damage to their lipids. We also found that bird species featuring a faster pace-of-life either have lower non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity or are exposed to higher levels of oxidative damage, while adult annual mortality does not relate to oxidative state. 4. These results reinforce the role of oxidative stress in the evolution of lifespan and also corroborate the role of oxidative state in the evolution of life histories among free-living birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csongor I. Vágási
- Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology, MTA-DE Behavioural Ecology Research Group, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Vincze
- Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology, MTA-DE Behavioural Ecology Research Group, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Laura Pătraș
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gergely Osváth
- Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology, MTA-DE Behavioural Ecology Research Group, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Museum of Zoology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Janka Pénzes
- Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | - Zoltán Barta
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology, MTA-DE Behavioural Ecology Research Group, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Péter L. Pap
- Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology, MTA-DE Behavioural Ecology Research Group, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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Arbuckle K. Phylogenetic Comparative Methods can Provide Important Insights into the Evolution of Toxic Weaponry. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:E518. [PMID: 30563097 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10120518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The literature on chemical weaponry of organisms is vast and provides a rich understanding of the composition and mechanisms of the toxins and other components involved. However, an ecological or evolutionary perspective has often been lacking and is largely limited to (1) molecular evolutionary studies of particular toxins (lacking an ecological view); (2) comparisons across different species that ignore phylogenetic relatedness (lacking an evolutionary view); or (3) descriptive studies of venom composition and toxicology that contain post hoc and untested ecological or evolutionary interpretations (a common event but essentially uninformative speculation). Conveniently, comparative biologists have prolifically been developing and using a wide range of phylogenetic comparative methods that allow us to explicitly address many ecological and evolutionary questions relating to venoms and poisons. Nevertheless, these analytical tools and approaches are rarely used and poorly known by biological toxinologists and toxicologists. In this review I aim to (1) introduce phylogenetic comparative methods to the latter audience; (2) highlight the range of questions that can be addressed using them; and (3) encourage biological toxinologists and toxicologists to either seek out adequate training in comparative biology or seek collaboration with comparative biologists to reap the fruits of a powerful interdisciplinary approach to the field.
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Abstract
The insulin-like growth factor (Igf) binding protein (Igfbp) family has a broad range of physiological functions and a fascinating evolutionary history. This review focuses on the Igfbps of teleost fishes, where genome duplication events have diversified gene repertoire, function, and physiological regulation-with six core Igfbps expanded into a family of over twenty genes in some lineages. In addition to briefly summarizing the current state of knowledge on teleost Igfbp evolution, function, and expression-level regulation, we highlight gaps in our understanding and promising areas for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Garcia de la Serrana
- School of Biology, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Daniel Garcia de la Serrana,
| | - Daniel J. Macqueen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Suppose that a colleague proposed a fantastic experiment: to introduce human stem cells into a neonatal mouse so that its entire brain developed into "human-like" neuronal structures. The colleague claimed it would still be a mouse, and that its chimeric brain would be nothing like a "human" one. It would not, as a result, have a moral status beyond its nonhuman animal origins. Thus, the "human neuron mouse" would allow scientists to tinker with human-like neurology in ways that would be precluded if it were a human being, and that would promise to lead to substantial understanding of the destructive and incurable brain diseases that befall humanity. The colleague does admit, however, that for reasons of comparative fidelity, experiments in human patients would be scientifically preferable, although in this case, neither ethically justified nor legally permitted. For that reason, it might be desirable to create a human brain in a nonhuman primate, where it would be more likely that significant human-like neuronal development would occur, but still could not become a person. This article explores the significance of a "human neuron chimpanzee," and suggests that contradictions in the design of the experiment make it unethical to proceed in either murine or primate models.
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Ke Z, Mallik P, Johnson AB, Luna F, Nevo E, Zhang ZD, Gladyshev VN, Seluanov A, Gorbunova V. Translation fidelity coevolves with longevity. Aging Cell 2017; 16:988-993. [PMID: 28707419 PMCID: PMC5595694 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether errors in protein synthesis play a role in aging has been a subject of intense debate. It has been suggested that rare mistakes in protein synthesis in young organisms may result in errors in the protein synthesis machinery, eventually leading to an increasing cascade of errors as organisms age. Studies that followed generally failed to identify a dramatic increase in translation errors with aging. However, whether translation fidelity plays a role in aging remained an open question. To address this issue, we examined the relationship between translation fidelity and maximum lifespan across 17 rodent species with diverse lifespans. To measure translation fidelity, we utilized sensitive luciferase‐based reporter constructs with mutations in an amino acid residue critical to luciferase activity, wherein misincorporation of amino acids at this mutated codon re‐activated the luciferase. The frequency of amino acid misincorporation at the first and second codon positions showed strong negative correlation with maximum lifespan. This correlation remained significant after phylogenetic correction, indicating that translation fidelity coevolves with longevity. These results give new life to the role of protein synthesis errors in aging: Although the error rate may not significantly change with age, the basal rate of translation errors is important in defining lifespan across mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghe Ke
- Department of Biology; University of Rochester; Rochester NY USA
| | - Pramit Mallik
- Department of Biology; University of Rochester; Rochester NY USA
| | - Adam B. Johnson
- Department of Biology; University of Rochester; Rochester NY USA
| | - Facundo Luna
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; CONICET-UNMdP; Mar del Plata Argentina
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution; University of Haifa; Haifa 3498838 Israel
| | - Zhengdong D. Zhang
- Department of Genetics; Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Bronx NY USA
| | - Vadim N. Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston MA USA
| | - Andrei Seluanov
- Department of Biology; University of Rochester; Rochester NY USA
| | - Vera Gorbunova
- Department of Biology; University of Rochester; Rochester NY USA
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Tian X, Seluanov A, Gorbunova V. Molecular Mechanisms Determining Lifespan in Short- and Long-Lived Species. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2017; 28:722-734. [PMID: 28888702 PMCID: PMC5679293 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 07/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a global decline of physiological functions, leading to an increased susceptibility to diseases and ultimately death. Maximum lifespans differ up to 200-fold between mammalian species. Although considerable progress has been achieved in identifying conserved pathways that regulate individual lifespan within model organisms, whether the same pathways are responsible for the interspecies differences in longevity remains to be determined. Recent cross-species studies have begun to identify pathways responsible for interspecies differences in lifespan. Here, we review the evidence supporting the role of anticancer mechanisms, DNA repair machinery, insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling, and proteostasis in defining species lifespans. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for the dramatic differences in lifespan between species will have a transformative effect on developing interventions to improve human health and longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Tian
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Andrei Seluanov
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.
| | - Vera Gorbunova
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.
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Agrawal AA. Toward a Predictive Framework for Convergent Evolution: Integrating Natural History, Genetic Mechanisms, and Consequences for the Diversity of Life. Am Nat 2017; 190:S1-S12. [PMID: 28731831 DOI: 10.1086/692111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
A charm of biology as a scientific discipline is the diversity of life. Although this diversity can make laws of biology challenging to discover, several repeated patterns and general principles govern evolutionary diversification. Convergent evolution, the independent evolution of similar phenotypes, has been at the heart of one approach to understand generality in the evolutionary process. Yet understanding when and why organismal traits and strategies repeatedly evolve has been a central challenge. These issues were the focus of the American Society of Naturalists Vice Presidential Symposium in 2016 and are the subject of this collection of articles. Although naturalists have long made inferences about convergent evolution and its importance, there has been confusion in the interpretation of the pattern of convergence. Does convergence primarily indicate adaptation or constraint? How often should convergence be expected? Are there general principles that would allow us to predict where and when and by what mechanisms convergent evolution should occur? What role does natural history play in advancing our understanding of general evolutionary principles? In this introductory article, I address these questions, review several generalizations about convergent evolution that have emerged over the past 15 years, and present a framework for advancing the study and interpretation of convergence. Perhaps the most important emerging conclusion is that the genetic mechanisms of convergent evolution are phylogenetically conserved; that is, more closely related species tend to share the same genetic basis of traits, even when independently evolved. Finally, I highlight how the articles in this special issue further develop concepts, methodologies, and case studies at the frontier of our understanding of the causes and consequences of convergent evolution.
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Mikkelsen E, Lauridsen H, Nielsen PM, Qi H, Nørlinger T, Andersen MD, Uldbjerg N, Laustsen C, Sandager P, Pedersen M. The chinchilla as a novel animal model of pregnancy. R Soc Open Sci 2017; 4:161098. [PMID: 28484627 PMCID: PMC5414264 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.161098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Several parameters are important when choosing the most appropriate animal to model human obstetrics, including gestation period, number of fetuses per gestation and placental structure. The domesticated long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) is a well-suited and appropriate animal model of pregnancy that often will carry only one offspring and has a long gestation period of 105-115 days. Furthermore, the chinchilla placenta is of the haemomonochorial labyrinthine type and is therefore comparable to the human villous haemomonochorial placenta. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated the feasibility in laboratory settings, and demonstrated the potential of the pregnant chinchilla as an animal model for obstetric research and its potential usefulness for non-invasive measurements in the placenta. We demonstrate measurements of the placental and fetal metabolism (demonstrated in vivo by hyperpolarized MRI and in vitro by qPCR analyses), placental vessels (demonstrated ex vivo by contrast-enhanced CT angiography) and overall anatomy (demonstrated in vivo by whole-body CT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmeli Mikkelsen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Comparative Medicine Lab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- MR Research Centre, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Henrik Lauridsen
- Comparative Medicine Lab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Per Mose Nielsen
- MR Research Centre, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Haiyun Qi
- MR Research Centre, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Thomas Nørlinger
- Comparative Medicine Lab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- MR Research Centre, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Maria Dahl Andersen
- Comparative Medicine Lab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Niels Uldbjerg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Christoffer Laustsen
- MR Research Centre, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Puk Sandager
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Michael Pedersen
- Comparative Medicine Lab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
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Lievens L, Pollier J, Goossens A, Beyaert R, Staal J. Abscisic Acid as Pathogen Effector and Immune Regulator. Front Plant Sci 2017; 8:587. [PMID: 28469630 PMCID: PMC5395610 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Abscisic acid (ABA) is a sesquiterpene signaling molecule produced in all kingdoms of life. To date, the best known functions of ABA are derived from its role as a major phytohormone in plant abiotic stress resistance. Different organisms have developed different biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways related to ABA. Despite this, there are also intriguing common themes where ABA often suppresses host immune responses and is utilized by pathogens as an effector molecule. ABA also seems to play an important role in compatible mutualistic interactions such as mycorrhiza and rhizosphere bacteria with plants, and possibly also the animal gut microbiome. The frequent use of ABA in inter-species communication could be a possible reason for the wide distribution and re-invention of ABA as a signaling molecule in different organisms. In humans and animal models, it has been shown that ABA treatment or nutrient-derived ABA is beneficial in inflammatory diseases like colitis and type 2 diabetes, which confer potential to ABA as an interesting nutraceutical or pharmacognostic drug. The anti-inflammatory activity, cellular metabolic reprogramming, and other beneficial physiological and psychological effects of ABA treatment in humans and animal models has sparked an interest in this molecule and its signaling pathway as a novel pharmacological target. In contrast to plants, however, very little is known about the ABA biosynthesis and signaling in other organisms. Genes, tools and knowledge about ABA from plant sciences and studies of phytopathogenic fungi might benefit biomedical studies on the physiological role of endogenously generated ABA in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurens Lievens
- Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, VIBGhent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent UniversityGhent, Belgium
| | - Jacob Pollier
- VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIBGhent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent UniversityGhent, Belgium
| | - Alain Goossens
- VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIBGhent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent UniversityGhent, Belgium
| | - Rudi Beyaert
- Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, VIBGhent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent UniversityGhent, Belgium
| | - Jens Staal
- Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, VIBGhent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent UniversityGhent, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Jens Staal
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L King
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Kathryn W Davis Center for Regenerative Biology & Medicine, Salisbury Cove, ME 04672, USA
| | - Viravuth P Yin
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Kathryn W Davis Center for Regenerative Biology & Medicine, Salisbury Cove, ME 04672, USA
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Orr ME, Garbarino VR, Salinas A, Buffenstein R. Extended Postnatal Brain Development in the Longest-Lived Rodent: Prolonged Maintenance of Neotenous Traits in the Naked Mole-Rat Brain. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:504. [PMID: 27877105 PMCID: PMC5099538 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The naked mole-rat (NMR) is the longest-lived rodent with a maximum lifespan >31 years. Intriguingly, fully-grown naked mole-rats (NMRs) exhibit many traits typical of neonatal rodents. However, little is known about NMR growth and maturation, and we question whether sustained neotenous features when compared to mice, reflect an extended developmental period, commensurate with their exceptionally long life. We tracked development from birth to 3 years of age in the slowest maturing organ, the brain, by measuring mass, neural stem cell proliferation, axonal, and dendritic maturation, synaptogenesis and myelination. NMR brain maturation was compared to data from similar sized rodents, mice, and to that of long-lived mammals, humans, and non-human primates. We found that at birth, NMR brains are significantly more developed than mice, and rather are more similar to those of newborn primates, with clearly laminated hippocampi and myelinated white matter tracts. Despite this more mature brain at birth than mice, postnatal NMR brain maturation occurs at a far slower rate than mice, taking four-times longer than required for mice to fully complete brain development. At 4 months of age, NMR brains reach 90% of adult size with stable neuronal cytostructural protein expression whereas myelin protein expression does not plateau until 9 months of age in NMRs, and synaptic protein expression continues to change throughout the first 3 years of life. Intriguingly, NMR axonal composition is more similar to humans than mice whereby NMRs maintain expression of three-repeat (3R) tau even after brain growth is complete; mice experience an abrupt downregulation of 3R tau by postnatal day 8 which continues to diminish through 6 weeks of age. We have identified key ages in NMR cerebral development and suggest that the long-lived NMR may provide neurobiologists an exceptional model to study brain developmental processes that are compressed in common short-lived laboratory animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda E Orr
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA; The Barshop Institute for Longevity, Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Valentina R Garbarino
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Angelica Salinas
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Rochelle Buffenstein
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA; The Barshop Institute for Longevity, Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA; Calico Life Sciences LLCSouth San Francisco, CA, USA
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Erratum: Defining Mononuclear Phagocyte Subset Homology across Several Distant Warm-Blooded Vertebrates through Comparative Transcriptomics. Front Immunol 2016; 7:143. [PMID: 27199980 PMCID: PMC4848309 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
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Gómez JF, Talle B, Wilson ZA. Anther and pollen development: A conserved developmental pathway. J Integr Plant Biol 2015; 57:876-91. [PMID: 26310290 PMCID: PMC4794635 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/23/2015] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Pollen development is a critical step in plant development that is needed for successful breeding and seed formation. Manipulation of male fertility has proved a useful trait for hybrid breeding and increased crop yield. However, although there is a good understanding developing of the molecular mechanisms of anther and pollen anther development in model species, such as Arabidopsis and rice, little is known about the equivalent processes in important crops. Nevertheless the onset of increased genomic information and genetic tools is facilitating translation of information from the models to crops, such as barley and wheat; this will enable increased understanding and manipulation of these pathways for agricultural improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Fernández Gómez
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Behzad Talle
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Zoe A Wilson
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
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Abstract
Most evolutionary theory focuses on species that reproduce through sexual reproduction where both sexes have a diploid chromosome count. Yet a substantial proportion of multicellular species display complex life cycles, with both haploid and diploid life stages. A classic example is haplodiploidy, where females develop from fertilized eggs and are diploid, while males develop from unfertilized eggs and are haploid. Although haplodiploids make up about 15% of all animals (de la Filia et al. ), this type of reproduction is rarely considered in evolutionary theory. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Patten et al. () develop a theoretical model to compare the rate of nuclear and mitochondrial introgression in haplodiploid and diploid species. They show that when two haplodiploid species hybridize, nuclear genes are much less likely to cross the species barrier than if both species were to be diploids. The reason for this is that only half of the offspring resulting from matings between haplodiploid species are true hybrids: sons from such mating only inherit their mother genes and therefore only contain genes of the maternal species. Truly, hybrid males can only occur through backcrossing of a hybrid female to a male of one of the parental species. While this twist of haplodiploid transmission genetics limits nuclear introgression, mitochondrial genes, which are maternally inherited, are unaffected by the scarcity of hybrid males. In other words, the rate of mitochondrial introgression is the same for haplodiploid and diploid species. As a result, haplodiploid species on average show a bias of mitochondrial compared to nuclear introgression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Lohse
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Laura Ross
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK
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Sander SE, Hall DW. Variation in opsin genes correlates with signalling ecology in North American fireflies. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:4679-96. [PMID: 26289828 PMCID: PMC4599352 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [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: 04/14/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Genes underlying signal reception should evolve to maximize signal detection in a particular environment. In animals, opsins, the protein component of visual pigments, are predicted to evolve according to this expectation. Fireflies are known for their bioluminescent mating signals. The eyes of nocturnal species are expected to maximize the detection of conspecific signal colours emitted in the typical low-light environment. This is not expected for species that have transitioned to diurnal activity in bright daytime environments. Here, we test the hypothesis that opsin gene sequence plays a role in modifying firefly eye spectral sensitivity. We use genome and transcriptome sequencing in four firefly species, transcriptome sequencing in six additional species and targeted gene sequencing in 28 other species to identify all opsin genes present in North American fireflies and to elucidate amino acid sites under positive selection. We also determine whether amino acid substitutions in opsins are linked to evolutionary changes in signal mode, signal colour and light environment. We find only two opsins, one long wavelength and one ultraviolet, in all firefly species and identify 25 candidate sites that may be involved in determining spectral sensitivity. In addition, we find elevated rates of evolution at transitions to diurnal activity, and changes in selective constraint on long wavelength opsin associated with changes in light environment. Our results suggest that changes in eye spectral sensitivity are at least partially due to opsin sequence. Fireflies continue to be a promising system in which to investigate the evolution of signals, receptors and signalling environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Sander
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - D W Hall
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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Vu Manh TP, Elhmouzi-Younes J, Urien C, Ruscanu S, Jouneau L, Bourge M, Moroldo M, Foucras G, Salmon H, Marty H, Quéré P, Bertho N, Boudinot P, Dalod M, Schwartz-Cornil I. Defining Mononuclear Phagocyte Subset Homology Across Several Distant Warm-Blooded Vertebrates Through Comparative Transcriptomics. Front Immunol 2015; 6:299. [PMID: 26150816 PMCID: PMC4473062 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mononuclear phagocytes are organized in a complex system of ontogenetically and functionally distinct subsets, that has been best described in mouse and to some extent in human. Identification of homologous mononuclear phagocyte subsets in other vertebrate species of biomedical, economic, and environmental interest is needed to improve our knowledge in physiologic and physio-pathologic processes, and to design intervention strategies against a variety of diseases, including zoonotic infections. We developed a streamlined approach combining refined cell sorting and integrated comparative transcriptomics analyses which revealed conservation of the mononuclear phagocyte organization across human, mouse, sheep, pigs and, in some respect, chicken. This strategy should help democratizing the use of omics analyses for the identification and study of cell types across tissues and species. Moreover, we identified conserved gene signatures that enable robust identification and universal definition of these cell types. We identified new evolutionarily conserved gene candidates and gene interaction networks for the molecular regulation of the development or functions of these cell types, as well as conserved surface candidates for refined subset phenotyping throughout species. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that orthologous genes of the conserved signatures exist in teleost fishes and apparently not in Lamprey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thien-Phong Vu Manh
- UM2, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université , Marseille , France ; U1104, INSERM , Marseille , France ; UMR7280, CNRS , Marseille , France
| | - Jamila Elhmouzi-Younes
- UR892, Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, Domaine de Vilvert , Jouy-en-Josas , France
| | - Céline Urien
- UR892, Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, Domaine de Vilvert , Jouy-en-Josas , France
| | - Suzana Ruscanu
- UR892, Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, Domaine de Vilvert , Jouy-en-Josas , France
| | - Luc Jouneau
- UR892, Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, Domaine de Vilvert , Jouy-en-Josas , France
| | - Mickaël Bourge
- IFR87 La Plante et son Environnement, IMAGIF CNRS , Gif-sur-Yvette , France
| | - Marco Moroldo
- CRB GADIE, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, INRA, Domaine de Vilvert , Jouy-en-Josas , France
| | - Gilles Foucras
- UMR1225, Université de Toulouse, INPT, ENVT , Toulouse , France ; UMR1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes, INRA , Toulouse , France
| | - Henri Salmon
- UMR1282, Infectiologie et Santé Publique, INRA , Nouzilly , France ; UMR1282, Université François Rabelais de Tours , Tours , France
| | - Hélène Marty
- UMR1282, Infectiologie et Santé Publique, INRA , Nouzilly , France ; UMR1282, Université François Rabelais de Tours , Tours , France
| | - Pascale Quéré
- UMR1282, Infectiologie et Santé Publique, INRA , Nouzilly , France ; UMR1282, Université François Rabelais de Tours , Tours , France
| | - Nicolas Bertho
- UR892, Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, Domaine de Vilvert , Jouy-en-Josas , France
| | - Pierre Boudinot
- UR892, Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, Domaine de Vilvert , Jouy-en-Josas , France
| | - Marc Dalod
- UM2, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université , Marseille , France ; U1104, INSERM , Marseille , France ; UMR7280, CNRS , Marseille , France
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Beck KL, Weber D, Phinney BS, Smilowitz JT, Hinde K, Lönnerdal B, Korf I, Lemay DG. Comparative Proteomics of Human and Macaque Milk Reveals Species-Specific Nutrition during Postnatal Development. J Proteome Res 2015; 14:2143-57. [PMID: 25757574 DOI: 10.1021/pr501243m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Milk has been well established as the optimal nutrition source for infants, yet there is still much to be understood about its molecular composition. Therefore, our objective was to develop and compare comprehensive milk proteomes for human and rhesus macaques to highlight differences in neonatal nutrition. We developed a milk proteomics technique that overcomes previous technical barriers including pervasive post-translational modifications and limited sample volume. We identified 1606 and 518 proteins in human and macaque milk, respectively. During analysis of detected protein orthologs, we identified 88 differentially abundant proteins. Of these, 93% exhibited increased abundance in human milk relative to macaque and include lactoferrin, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, alpha-1 antichymotrypsin, vitamin D-binding protein, and haptocorrin. Furthermore, proteins more abundant in human milk compared with macaque are associated with development of the gastrointestinal tract, the immune system, and the brain. Overall, our novel proteomics method reveals the first comprehensive macaque milk proteome and 524 newly identified human milk proteins. The differentially abundant proteins observed are consistent with the perspective that human infants, compared with nonhuman primates, are born at a slightly earlier stage of somatic development and require additional support through higher quantities of specific proteins to nurture human infant maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Katie Hinde
- ⊥Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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Vogwill T, Kojadinovic M, Furió V, MacLean RC. Testing the role of genetic background in parallel evolution using the comparative experimental evolution of antibiotic resistance. Mol Biol Evol 2014; 31:3314-23. [PMID: 25228081 PMCID: PMC4245821 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msu262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Parallel evolution is the independent evolution of the same phenotype or genotype in response to the same selection pressure. There are examples of parallel molecular evolution across divergent genetic backgrounds, suggesting that genetic background may not play an important role in determining the outcome of adaptation. Here, we measure the influence of genetic background on phenotypic and molecular adaptation by combining experimental evolution with comparative analysis. We selected for resistance to the antibiotic rifampicin in eight strains of bacteria from the genus Pseudomonas using a short term selection experiment. Adaptation occurred by 47 mutations at conserved sites in rpoB, the target of rifampicin, and due to the high diversity of possible mutations the probability of within-strain parallel evolution was low. The probability of between-strain parallel evolution was only marginally lower, because different strains substituted similar rpoB mutations. In contrast, we found that more than 30% of the phenotypic variation in the growth rate of evolved clones was attributable to among-strain differences. Parallel molecular evolution across strains resulted in divergent phenotypic evolution because rpoB mutations had different effects on growth rate in different strains. This study shows that genetic divergence between strains constrains parallel phenotypic evolution, but had little detectable impact on the molecular basis of adaptation in this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Vogwill
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mila Kojadinovic
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Ingénierie des Protéines, UMR 7281, IMM, Marseille, France
| | - Victoria Furió
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - R Craig MacLean
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Krabbenhoft TJ, Turner TF. Clock gene evolution: seasonal timing, phylogenetic signal, or functional constraint? J Hered 2014; 105:407-15. [PMID: 24558102 PMCID: PMC3984439 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esu008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 09/02/2013] [Revised: 10/21/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic determinants of seasonal reproduction are not fully understood but may be important predictors of organism responses to climate change. We used a comparative approach to study the evolution of seasonal timing within a fish community in a natural common garden setting. We tested the hypothesis that allelic length variation in the PolyQ domain of a circadian rhythm gene, Clock1a, corresponded to interspecific differences in seasonal reproductive timing across 5 native and 1 introduced cyprinid fishes (n = 425 individuals) that co-occur in the Rio Grande, NM, USA. Most common allele lengths were longer in native species that initiated reproduction earlier (Spearman's r = -0.70, P = 0.23). Clock1a allele length exhibited strong phylogenetic signal and earlier spawners were evolutionarily derived. Aside from length variation in Clock1a, all other amino acids were identical across native species, suggesting functional constraint over evolutionary time. Interestingly, the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) exhibited less allelic variation in Clock1a and observed heterozygosity was 2- to 6-fold lower than the 5 other (nonimperiled) species. Reduced genetic variation in this functionally important gene may impede this species' capacity to respond to ongoing environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor J Krabbenhoft
- the Museum of Southwestern Biology, Department of Biology, MSC03-2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
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50
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Teichert RW. Investigating neuronal cell types through comparative cellular physiology. Temperature (Austin) 2014; 1:22-3. [PMID: 27580692 PMCID: PMC4972511 DOI: 10.4161/temp.29540] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Revised: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Comprehensive understanding of nervous systems would require the unambiguous identification of all neuronal cell types, which are distinguished by gene-expression differences, particularly in plasma-membrane receptors and ion channels. Toward this ultimate goal, a recent paper initiated an approach to identify and study divergent neuronal cell types through comparative cellular physiology.
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