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Santander MD, Maronna MM, Ryan JF, Andrade SCS. The state of Medusozoa genomics: current evidence and future challenges. Gigascience 2022; 11:6586816. [PMID: 35579552 PMCID: PMC9112765 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Medusozoa is a widely distributed ancient lineage that harbors one-third of Cnidaria diversity divided into 4 classes. This clade is characterized by the succession of stages and modes of reproduction during metagenic lifecycles, and includes some of the most plastic body plans and life cycles among animals. The characterization of traditional genomic features, such as chromosome numbers and genome sizes, was rather overlooked in Medusozoa and many evolutionary questions still remain unanswered. Modern genomic DNA sequencing in this group started in 2010 with the publication of the Hydra vulgaris genome and has experienced an exponential increase in the past 3 years. Therefore, an update of the state of Medusozoa genomics is warranted. We reviewed different sources of evidence, including cytogenetic records and high-throughput sequencing projects. We focused on 4 main topics that would be relevant for the broad Cnidaria research community: (i) taxonomic coverage of genomic information; (ii) continuity, quality, and completeness of high-throughput sequencing datasets; (iii) overview of the Medusozoa specific research questions approached with genomics; and (iv) the accessibility of data and metadata. We highlight a lack of standardization in genomic projects and their reports, and reinforce a series of recommendations to enhance future collaborative research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mylena D Santander
- Correspondence address. Mylena D. Santander, Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade São Paulo, 277 Rua do Matão, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil. E-mail:
| | - Maximiliano M Maronna
- Correspondence address. Maximiliano M. Maronna, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 101 Rua do Matão Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil. E-mail:
| | - Joseph F Ryan
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA,Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Sónia C S Andrade
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade São Paulo, 277 Rua do Matão, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
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2
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Holstein TW. The role of cnidarian developmental biology in unraveling axis formation and Wnt signaling. Dev Biol 2022; 487:74-98. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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3
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Houliston E, Leclère L, Munro C, Copley RR, Momose T. Past, present and future of Clytia hemisphaerica as a laboratory jellyfish. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 147:121-151. [PMID: 35337447 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2021.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The hydrozoan species Clytia hemisphaerica was selected in the mid-2000s to address the cellular and molecular basis of body axis specification in a cnidarian, providing a reliable daily source of gametes and building on a rich foundation of experimental embryology. The many practical advantages of this species include genetic uniformity of laboratory jellyfish, derived clonally from easily-propagated polyp colonies. Phylogenetic distance from other laboratory models adds value in providing an evolutionary perspective on many biological questions. Here we outline the current state of the art regarding available experimental approaches and in silico resources, and illustrate the contributions of Clytia to understanding embryo patterning mechanisms, oogenesis and regeneration. Looking forward, the recent establishment of transgenesis methods is now allowing gene function and imaging studies at adult stages, making Clytia particularly attractive for whole organism biology studies across fields and extending its scientific impact far beyond the original question of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Houliston
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), France.
| | - Lucas Leclère
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), France
| | - Catriona Munro
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), France; Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Richard R Copley
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), France
| | - Tsuyoshi Momose
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), France
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4
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The Tentacular Spectacular: Evolution of Regeneration in Sea Anemones. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12071072. [PMID: 34356088 PMCID: PMC8306839 DOI: 10.3390/genes12071072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea anemones vary immensely in life history strategies, environmental niches and their ability to regenerate. While the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis is the starlet of many key regeneration studies, recent work is emerging on the diverse regeneration strategies employed by other sea anemones. This manuscript will explore current molecular mechanisms of regeneration employed by non-model sea anemones Exaiptasia diaphana (an emerging model species for coral symbiosis studies) and Calliactis polypus (a less well-studied species) and examine how these species compare to the model sea anemone N. vectensis. We summarize the field of regeneration within sea anemones, within the greater context of phylum Cnidaria and in other invertebrate models of regeneration. We also address the current knowledge on two key systems that may be implemented in regeneration: the innate immune system and developmental pathways, including future aspects of work and current limitations.
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5
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Conci N, Lehmann M, Vargas S, Wörheide G. Comparative Proteomics of Octocoral and Scleractinian Skeletomes and the Evolution of Coral Calcification. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 12:1623-1635. [PMID: 32761183 PMCID: PMC7533068 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Corals are the ecosystem engineers of coral reefs, one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems. The ability of corals to form reefs depends on the precipitation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) under biological control. However, several mechanisms underlying coral biomineralization remain elusive, for example, whether corals employ different molecular machineries to deposit different CaCO3 polymorphs (i.e., aragonite or calcite). Here, we used tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to compare the proteins occluded in the skeleton of three octocoral and one scleractinian species: Tubipora musica and Sinularia cf. cruciata (calcite sclerites), the blue coral Heliopora coerulea (aragonitic skeleton), and the scleractinian aragonitic Montipora digitata. Reciprocal Blast analysis revealed extremely low overlap between aragonitic and calcitic species, while a core set of proteins is shared between octocorals producing calcite sclerites. However, the carbonic anhydrase CruCA4 is present in the skeletons of both polymorphs. Phylogenetic analysis highlighted several possible instances of protein co-option in octocorals. These include acidic proteins and scleritin, which appear to have been secondarily recruited for calcification and likely derive from proteins playing different functions. Similarities between octocorals and scleractinians included presence of a galaxin-related protein, carbonic anhydrases, and one hephaestin-like protein. Although the first two appear to have been independently recruited, the third appear to share a common origin. This work represents the first attempt to identify and compare proteins associated with coral skeleton polymorph diversity, providing several new research targets and enabling both future functional and evolutionary studies aimed at elucidating the origin and evolution of coral biomineralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Conci
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Martin Lehmann
- Department of Biology I-Botany, Biozentrum der LMU München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sergio Vargas
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Gert Wörheide
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany.,SNSB - Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Munich, Germany.,GeoBio-Center LMU, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
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van der Burg CA, Pavasovic A, Gilding EK, Pelzer ES, Surm JM, Smith HL, Walsh TP, Prentis PJ. The Rapid Regenerative Response of a Model Sea Anemone Species Exaiptasia pallida Is Characterised by Tissue Plasticity and Highly Coordinated Cell Communication. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 22:285-307. [PMID: 32016679 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-020-09951-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Regeneration of a limb or tissue can be achieved through multiple different pathways and mechanisms. The sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida has been observed to have excellent regenerative proficiency, but this has not yet been described transcriptionally. In this study, we examined the genetic expression changes during a regenerative timecourse and reported key genes involved in regeneration and wound healing. We found that the major response was an early (within the first 8 h) upregulation of genes involved in cellular movement and cell communication, which likely contribute to a high level of tissue plasticity resulting in the rapid regeneration response observed in this species. We find the immune system was only transcriptionally active in the first 8 h post-amputation and conclude, in accordance with previous literature, that the immune system and regeneration have an inverse relationship. Fifty-nine genes (3.8% of total) differentially expressed during regeneration were identified as having no orthologues in other species, indicating that regeneration in E. pallida may rely on the activation of species-specific novel genes. Additionally, taxonomically restricted novel genes, including species-specific novels, and highly conserved genes were identified throughout the regenerative timecourse, showing that both may work in concert to achieve complete regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé A van der Burg
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia.
| | - Ana Pavasovic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Edward K Gilding
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4067, Australia
| | - Elise S Pelzer
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Joachim M Surm
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hayden L Smith
- Earth, Environment and Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- Institute for Future Environments, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Terence P Walsh
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Peter J Prentis
- Earth, Environment and Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- Institute for Future Environments, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
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7
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Conci N, Wörheide G, Vargas S. New Non-Bilaterian Transcriptomes Provide Novel Insights into the Evolution of Coral Skeletomes. Genome Biol Evol 2019; 11:3068-3081. [PMID: 31518412 PMCID: PMC6824150 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evz199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A general trend observed in animal skeletomes-the proteins occluded in animal skeletons-is the copresence of taxonomically widespread and lineage-specific proteins that actively regulate the biomineralization process. Among cnidarians, the skeletomes of scleractinian corals have been shown to follow this trend. However, distributions and phylogenetic analyses of biomineralization-related genes are often based on only a few species, with other anthozoan calcifiers such as octocorals (soft corals), not being fully considered. We de novo assembled the transcriptomes of four soft-coral species characterized by different calcification strategies (aragonite skeleton vs. calcitic sclerites) and data-mined published nonbilaterian transcriptome resources to construct a taxonomically comprehensive sequence database to map the distribution of scleractinian and octocoral skeletome components. Cnidaria shared no skeletome proteins with Placozoa or Ctenophora, but did share some skeletome proteins with Porifera, such as galaxin-related proteins. Within Scleractinia and Octocorallia, we expanded the distribution for several taxonomically restricted genes such as secreted acidic proteins, scleritin, and carbonic anhydrases, and propose an early, single biomineralization-recruitment event for galaxin sensu stricto. Additionally, we show that the enrichment of acidic residues within skeletogenic proteins did not occur at the Corallimorpharia-Scleractinia transition, but appears to be associated with protein secretion into the organic matrix. Finally, the distribution of octocoral calcification-related proteins appears independent of skeleton mineralogy (i.e., aragonite/calcite) with no differences in the proportion of shared skeletogenic proteins between scleractinians and aragonitic or calcitic octocorals. This points to skeletome homogeneity within but not between groups of calcifying cnidarians, although some proteins such as galaxins and SCRiP-3a could represent instances of commonality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Conci
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Palaeontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Gert Wörheide
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Palaeontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- GeoBio-Center LMU, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- SNSB—Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Munich, Germany
| | - Sergio Vargas
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Palaeontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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8
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Medusozoan genomes inform the evolution of the jellyfish body plan. Nat Ecol Evol 2019; 3:811-822. [PMID: 30988488 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-0853-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cnidarians are astonishingly diverse in body form and lifestyle, including the presence of a jellyfish stage in medusozoans and its absence in anthozoans. Here, we sequence the genomes of Aurelia aurita (a scyphozoan) and Morbakka virulenta (a cubozoan) to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for the origin of the jellyfish body plan. We show that the magnitude of genetic differences between the two jellyfish types is equivalent, on average, to the level of genetic differences between humans and sea urchins in the bilaterian lineage. About one-third of Aurelia genes with jellyfish-specific expression have no matches in the genomes of the coral and sea anemone, indicating that the polyp-to-jellyfish transition requires a combination of conserved and novel, medusozoa-specific genes. While no genomic region is specifically associated with the ability to produce a jellyfish stage, the arrangement of genes involved in the development of a nematocyte-a phylum-specific cell type-is highly structured and conserved in cnidarian genomes; thus, it represents a phylotypic gene cluster.
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9
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Burmistrova YA, Osadchenko BV, Bolshakov FV, Kraus YA, Kosevich IA. Embryonic development of thecate hydrozoanGonothyraea loveni(Allman, 1859). Dev Growth Differ 2018; 60:483-501. [DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yulia A. Burmistrova
- Biological Faculty; Department of Invertebrate Zoology; M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University; Moscow Russia
| | - Boris V. Osadchenko
- Biological Faculty; Department of Invertebrate Zoology; M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University; Moscow Russia
| | - Fedor V. Bolshakov
- Biological Faculty; Department of Invertebrate Zoology; M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University; Moscow Russia
| | - Yulia A. Kraus
- Biological Faculty; Department of Invertebrate Zoology; M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University; Moscow Russia
| | - Igor A. Kosevich
- Biological Faculty; Department of Invertebrate Zoology; M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University; Moscow Russia
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Khadka A, Martínez-Bartolomé M, Burr SD, Range RC. A novel gene's role in an ancient mechanism: secreted Frizzled-related protein 1 is a critical component in the anterior-posterior Wnt signaling network that governs the establishment of the anterior neuroectoderm in sea urchin embryos. EvoDevo 2018; 9:1. [PMID: 29387332 PMCID: PMC5778778 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-017-0089-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The anterior neuroectoderm (ANE) in many deuterostome embryos (echinoderms, hemichordates, urochordates, cephalochordates, and vertebrates) is progressively restricted along the anterior-posterior axis to a domain around the anterior pole. In the sea urchin embryo, three integrated Wnt signaling branches (Wnt/β-catenin, Wnt/JNK, and Wnt/PKC) govern this progressive restriction process, which begins around the 32- to 60-cell stage and terminates by the early gastrula stage. We previously have established that several secreted Wnt modulators of the Dickkopf and secreted Frizzled-related protein families (Dkk1, Dkk3, and sFRP-1/5) are expressed within the ANE and play important roles in modulating the Wnt signaling network during this process. In this study, we use morpholino and dominant-negative interference approaches to characterize the function of a novel Frizzled-related protein, secreted Frizzled-related protein 1 (sFRP-1), during ANE restriction. sFRP-1 appears to be related to a secreted Wnt modulator, sFRP3/4, that is essential to block Wnt signaling and establish the ANE in vertebrates. Here, we show that the sea urchin sFRP3/4 orthologue is not expressed during ANE restriction in the sea urchin embryo. Instead, our results indicate that ubiquitously expressed maternal sFRP-1 and Fzl1/2/7 signaling act together as early as the 32- to 60-cell stage to antagonize the ANE restriction mechanism mediated by Wnt/β-catenin and Wnt/JNK signaling. Then, starting from the blastula stage, Fzl5/8 signaling activates zygotic sFRP-1 within the ANE territory, where it works with the secreted Wnt antagonist Dkk1 (also activated by Fzl5/8 signaling) to antagonize Wnt1/Wnt8-Fzl5/8-JNK signaling in a negative feedback mechanism that defines the outer ANE territory boundary. Together, these data indicate that maternal and zygotic sFRP-1 protects the ANE territory by antagonizing the Wnt1/Wnt8-Fzl5/8-JNK signaling pathway throughout ANE restriction, providing precise spatiotemporal control of the mechanism responsible for the establishment of the ANE territory around the anterior pole of the sea urchin embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Khadka
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762 USA
| | | | - Stephanie D Burr
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762 USA.,2School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS USA
| | - Ryan C Range
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762 USA
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11
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Structural and functional analysis of coral Hypoxia Inducible Factor. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186262. [PMID: 29117182 PMCID: PMC5695583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissues of symbiotic Cnidarians are exposed to wide, rapid and daily variations of oxygen concentration. Indeed, during daytime, intracellular O2 concentration increases due to symbiont photosynthesis, while during night, respiration of both host cells and symbionts leads to intra-tissue hypoxia. The Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 (HIF-1) is a heterodimeric transcription factor used for maintenance of oxygen homeostasis and adaptation to hypoxia. Here, we carried out a mechanistic study of the response to variations of O2 concentrations of the coral model Stylophora pistillata. In silico analysis showed that homologs of HIF-1 α (SpiHIF-1α) and HIF-1β (SpiHIF-1β) exist in coral. A specific SpiHIF-1 DNA binding on mammalian Hypoxia Response Element (HRE) sequences was shown in extracts from coral exposed to dark conditions. Then, we cloned the coral HIF-1α and β genes and determined their expression and transcriptional activity. Although HIF-1α has an incomplete Oxygen-dependent Degradation Domain (ODD) relative to its human homolog, its protein level is increased under hypoxia when tested in mammalian cells. Moreover, co-transfection of SpiHIF-1α and β in mammalian cells stimulated an artificial promoter containing HRE only in hypoxic conditions. This study shows the strong conservation of molecular mechanisms involved in adaptation to O2 concentration between Cnidarians and Mammals whose ancestors diverged about 1,200-1,500 million years ago.
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12
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Transcriptome profiling of Galaxea fascicularis and its endosymbiont Symbiodinium reveals chronic eutrophication tolerance pathways and metabolic mutualism between partners. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42100. [PMID: 28181581 PMCID: PMC5299600 DOI: 10.1038/srep42100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In the South China Sea, coastal eutrophication in the Beibu Gulf has seriously threatened reef habitats by subjecting corals to chronic physiological stress. To determine how coral holobionts may tolerate such conditions, we examined the transcriptomes of healthy colonies of the galaxy coral Galaxea fascicularis and its endosymbiont Symbiodinium from two reef sites experiencing pristine or eutrophied nutrient regimes. We identified 236 and 205 genes that were differentially expressed in eutrophied hosts and symbionts, respectively. Both gene sets included pathways related to stress responses and metabolic interactions. An analysis of genes originating from each partner revealed striking metabolic integration with respect to vitamins, cofactors, amino acids, fatty acids, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The expression levels of these genes supported the existence of a continuum of mutualism in this coral-algal symbiosis. Additionally, large sets of transcription factors, cell signal transduction molecules, biomineralization components, and galaxin-related proteins were expanded in G. fascicularis relative to other coral species.
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Bosch TCG, Klimovich A, Domazet-Lošo T, Gründer S, Holstein TW, Jékely G, Miller DJ, Murillo-Rincon AP, Rentzsch F, Richards GS, Schröder K, Technau U, Yuste R. Back to the Basics: Cnidarians Start to Fire. Trends Neurosci 2016; 40:92-105. [PMID: 28041633 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2016.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The nervous systems of cnidarians, pre-bilaterian animals that diverged close to the base of the metazoan radiation, are structurally simple and thus have great potential to reveal fundamental principles of neural circuits. Unfortunately, cnidarians have thus far been relatively intractable to electrophysiological and genetic techniques and consequently have been largely passed over by neurobiologists. However, recent advances in molecular and imaging methods are fueling a renaissance of interest in and research into cnidarians nervous systems. Here, we review current knowledge on the nervous systems of cnidarian species and propose that researchers should seize this opportunity and undertake the study of members of this phylum as strategic experimental systems with great basic and translational relevance for neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tomislav Domazet-Lošo
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Stefan Gründer
- Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
| | | | - Gáspár Jékely
- Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - David J Miller
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, Australia
| | | | - Fabian Rentzsch
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Gemma S Richards
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Norway; University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | | | - Rafael Yuste
- Neurotechnology Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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14
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A new transcriptome and transcriptome profiling of adult and larval tissue in the box jellyfish Alatina alata: an emerging model for studying venom, vision and sex. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:650. [PMID: 27535656 PMCID: PMC4989536 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2944-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cubozoans (box jellyfish) are cnidarians that have evolved a number of distinguishing features. Many cubozoans have a particularly potent sting, effected by stinging structures called nematocysts; cubozoans have well-developed light sensation, possessing both image-forming lens eyes and light-sensitive eye spots; and some cubozoans have complex mating behaviors, including aggregations, copulation and internal fertilization. The cubozoan Alatina alata is emerging as a cnidarian model because it forms predictable monthly nearshore breeding aggregations in tropical to subtropical waters worldwide, making both adult and larval material reliably accessible. To develop resources for A. alata, this study generated a functionally annotated transcriptome of adult and larval tissue, applying preliminary differential expression analyses to identify candidate genes involved in nematogenesis and venom production, vision and extraocular sensory perception, and sexual reproduction, which for brevity we refer to as “venom”, “vision” and “sex”. Results We assembled a transcriptome de novo from RNA-Seq data pooled from multiple body parts (gastric cirri, ovaries, tentacle (with pedalium base) and rhopalium) of an adult female A. alata medusa and larval planulae. Our transcriptome comprises ~32 K transcripts, after filtering, and provides a basis for analyzing patterns of gene expression in adult and larval box jellyfish tissues. Furthermore, we annotated a large set of candidate genes putatively involved in venom, vision and sex, providing an initial molecular characterization of these complex features in cubozoans. Expression profiles and gene tree reconstruction provided a number of preliminary insights into the putative sites of nematogenesis and venom production, regions of phototransduction activity and fertilization dynamics in A. alata. Conclusions Our Alatina alata transcriptome significantly adds to the genomic resources for this emerging cubozoan model. This study provides the first annotated transcriptome from multiple tissues of a cubozoan focusing on both the adult and larvae. Our approach of using multiple body parts and life stages to generate this transcriptome effectively identified a broad range of candidate genes for the further study of coordinated processes associated with venom, vision and sex. This new genomic resource and the candidate gene dataset are valuable for further investigating the evolution of distinctive features of cubozoans, and of cnidarians more broadly. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2944-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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15
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Bhattacharya D, Agrawal S, Aranda M, Baumgarten S, Belcaid M, Drake JL, Erwin D, Foret S, Gates RD, Gruber DF, Kamel B, Lesser MP, Levy O, Liew YJ, MacManes M, Mass T, Medina M, Mehr S, Meyer E, Price DC, Putnam HM, Qiu H, Shinzato C, Shoguchi E, Stokes AJ, Tambutté S, Tchernov D, Voolstra CR, Wagner N, Walker CW, Weber AP, Weis V, Zelzion E, Zoccola D, Falkowski PG. Comparative genomics explains the evolutionary success of reef-forming corals. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27218454 PMCID: PMC4878875 DOI: 10.7554/elife.13288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptome and genome data from twenty stony coral species and a selection of reference bilaterians were studied to elucidate coral evolutionary history. We identified genes that encode the proteins responsible for the precipitation and aggregation of the aragonite skeleton on which the organisms live, and revealed a network of environmental sensors that coordinate responses of the host animals to temperature, light, and pH. Furthermore, we describe a variety of stress-related pathways, including apoptotic pathways that allow the host animals to detoxify reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that are generated by their intracellular photosynthetic symbionts, and determine the fate of corals under environmental stress. Some of these genes arose through horizontal gene transfer and comprise at least 0.2% of the animal gene inventory. Our analysis elucidates the evolutionary strategies that have allowed symbiotic corals to adapt and thrive for hundreds of millions of years. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.13288.001 For millions of years, reef-building stony corals have created extensive habitats for numerous marine plants and animals in shallow tropical seas. Stony corals consist of many small, tentacled animals called polyps. These polyps secrete a mineral called aragonite to create the reef – an external ‘skeleton’ that supports and protects the corals. Photosynthesizing algae live inside the cells of stony corals, and each species depends on the other to survive. The algae produce the coral’s main source of food, although they also produce some waste products that can harm the coral if they build up inside cells. If the oceans become warmer and more acidic, the coral are more likely to become stressed and expel the algae from their cells in a process known as coral bleaching. This makes the coral more likely to die or become diseased. Corals have survived previous periods of ocean warming, although it is not known how they evolved to do so. The evolutionary history of an organism can be traced by studying its genome – its complete set of DNA – and the RNA molecules encoded by these genes. Bhattacharya et al. performed this analysis for twenty stony coral species, and compared the resulting genome and RNA sequences with the genomes of other related marine organisms, such as sea anemones and sponges. In particular, Bhattacharya et al. examined “ortholog” groups of genes, which are present in different species and evolved from a common ancestral gene. This analysis identified the genes in the corals that encode the proteins responsible for constructing the aragonite skeleton. The coral genome also encodes a network of environmental sensors that coordinate how the polyps respond to temperature, light and acidity. Bhattacharya et al. also uncovered a variety of stress-related pathways, including those that detoxify the polyps of the damaging molecules generated by algae, and the pathways that enable the polyps to adapt to environmental stress. Many of these genes were recruited from other species in a process known as horizontal gene transfer. The oceans are expected to become warmer and more acidic in the coming centuries. Provided that humans do not physically destroy the corals’ habitats, the evidence found by Bhattacharya et al. suggests that the genome of the corals contains the diversity that will allow them to adapt to these new conditions. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.13288.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashish Bhattacharya
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, United States.,Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, United States
| | - Shobhit Agrawal
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manuel Aranda
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sebastian Baumgarten
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahdi Belcaid
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, United States
| | - Jeana L Drake
- Environmental Biophysics and Molecular Ecology Program, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, United States
| | - Douglas Erwin
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, United States
| | - Sylvian Foret
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.,Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Ruth D Gates
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, United States
| | - David F Gruber
- American Museum of Natural History, Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, New York, United States.,Department of Natural Sciences, City University of New York, Baruch College and The Graduate Center, New York, United States
| | - Bishoy Kamel
- Department of Biology, Mueller Lab, Penn State University, University Park, United States
| | - Michael P Lesser
- School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, United States
| | - Oren Levy
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gam, Israel
| | - Yi Jin Liew
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Matthew MacManes
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, United States
| | - Tali Mass
- Environmental Biophysics and Molecular Ecology Program, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, United States.,Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Israel
| | - Monica Medina
- Department of Biology, Mueller Lab, Penn State University, University Park, United States
| | - Shaadi Mehr
- American Museum of Natural History, Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, New York, United States.,Biological Science Department, State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, New York, United States
| | - Eli Meyer
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
| | - Dana C Price
- Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, United States
| | | | - Huan Qiu
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, United States
| | - Chuya Shinzato
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Eiichi Shoguchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Alexander J Stokes
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, United States.,Chaminade University, Honolulu, United States
| | | | - Dan Tchernov
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Israel
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nicole Wagner
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, United States
| | - Charles W Walker
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, United States
| | - Andreas Pm Weber
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Virginia Weis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
| | - Ehud Zelzion
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, United States
| | | | - Paul G Falkowski
- Environmental Biophysics and Molecular Ecology Program, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, United States.,Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Rutgers University, New Jersey, United States
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Babonis LS, Martindale MQ, Ryan JF. Do novel genes drive morphological novelty? An investigation of the nematosomes in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:114. [PMID: 27216622 PMCID: PMC4877951 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0683-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The evolution of novel genes is thought to be a critical component of morphological innovation but few studies have explicitly examined the contribution of novel genes to the evolution of novel tissues. Nematosomes, the free-floating cellular masses that circulate through the body cavity of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, are the defining apomorphy of the genus Nematostella and are a useful model for understanding the evolution of novel tissues. Although many hypotheses have been proposed, the function of nematosomes is unknown. To gain insight into their putative function and to test hypotheses about the role of lineage-specific genes in the evolution of novel structures, we have re-examined the cellular and molecular biology of nematosomes. RESULTS Using behavioral assays, we demonstrate that nematosomes are capable of immobilizing live brine shrimp (Artemia salina) by discharging their abundant cnidocytes. Additionally, the ability of nematosomes to engulf fluorescently labeled bacteria (E. coli) reveals the presence of phagocytes in this tissue. Using RNA-Seq, we show that the gene expression profile of nematosomes is distinct from that of the tentacles and the mesenteries (their tissue of origin) and, further, that nematosomes (a Nematostella-specific tissue) are enriched in Nematostella-specific genes. CONCLUSIONS Despite the small number of cell types they contain, nematosomes are distinct among tissues, both functionally and molecularly. We provide the first evidence that nematosomes comprise part of the innate immune system in N. vectensis, and suggest that this tissue is potentially an important place to look for genes associated with pathogen stress. Finally, we demonstrate that Nematostella-specific genes comprise a significant proportion of the differentially expressed genes in all three of the tissues we examined and may play an important role in novel cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie S Babonis
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.
| | - Mark Q Martindale
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Joseph F Ryan
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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17
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Ferrier DEK. The origin of the Hox/ParaHox genes, the Ghost Locus hypothesis and the complexity of the first animal. Brief Funct Genomics 2015; 15:333-41. [PMID: 26637506 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elv056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A key aim in evolutionary biology is to deduce ancestral states to better understand the evolutionary origins of clades of interest and the diversification process(es) that has/have elaborated them. These ancestral deductions can hit difficulties when undetected loss events are misinterpreted as ancestral absences. With the ever-increasing amounts of animal genomic sequence data, we are gaining a much clearer view of the preponderance of differential gene losses across animal lineages. This has become particularly clear with recent progress in our understanding of the origins of the Hox/ParaHox developmental control genes relative to the earliest branching lineages of the animal kingdom: the sponges (Porifera), comb jellies (Ctenophora) and placozoans (Placozoa). These reassessments of the diversity and complexity of developmental control genes in the earliest animal ancestors need to go hand-in-hand with complementary advances in comparative morphology, phylogenetics and palaeontology to clarify our understanding of the complexity of the last common ancestor of all animals. The field is currently undergoing a shift from the traditional consensus of a sponge-like animal ancestor from which morphological and molecular elaboration subsequently evolved, to a scenario of a more complex animal ancestor, with subsequent losses and simplifications in various lineages.
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18
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Vervoort M, Meulemeester D, Béhague J, Kerner P. Evolution of Prdm Genes in Animals: Insights from Comparative Genomics. Mol Biol Evol 2015; 33:679-96. [PMID: 26560352 PMCID: PMC4760075 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Prdm genes encode transcription factors with a subtype of SET domain known as the PRDF1-RIZ (PR) homology domain and a variable number of zinc finger motifs. These genes are involved in a wide variety of functions during animal development. As most Prdm genes have been studied in vertebrates, especially in mice, little is known about the evolution of this gene family. We searched for Prdm genes in the fully sequenced genomes of 93 different species representative of all the main metazoan lineages. A total of 976 Prdm genes were identified in these species. The number of Prdm genes per species ranges from 2 to 19. To better understand how the Prdm gene family has evolved in metazoans, we performed phylogenetic analyses using this large set of identified Prdm genes. These analyses allowed us to define 14 different subfamilies of Prdm genes and to establish, through ancestral state reconstruction, that 11 of them are ancestral to bilaterian animals. Three additional subfamilies were acquired during early vertebrate evolution (Prdm5, Prdm11, and Prdm17). Several gene duplication and gene loss events were identified and mapped onto the metazoan phylogenetic tree. By studying a large number of nonmetazoan genomes, we confirmed that Prdm genes likely constitute a metazoan-specific gene family. Our data also suggest that Prdm genes originated before the diversification of animals through the association of a single ancestral SET domain encoding gene with one or several zinc finger encoding genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Vervoort
- Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS, UMR 7592, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - David Meulemeester
- Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS, UMR 7592, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Julien Béhague
- Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS, UMR 7592, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Kerner
- Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS, UMR 7592, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
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19
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Dunn CW, Ryan JF. The evolution of animal genomes. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2015; 35:25-32. [PMID: 26363125 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2015.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Genome sequences are now available for hundreds of species sampled across the animal phylogeny, bringing key features of animal genome evolution into sharper focus. The field of animal evolutionary genomics has focused on identifying and classifying the diversity genomic features, reconstructing the history of evolutionary changes in animal genomes, and testing hypotheses about the evolutionary relationships of animals. The grand challenges moving forward are to connect evolutionary changes in genomes with particular evolutionary changes in phenotypes, and to determine which changes are driven by selection. This will require far greater genome sampling both across and within species, extensive phenotype data, a well resolved animal phylogeny, and advances in comparative methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey W Dunn
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, 80 Waterman St., Providence, RI 02906, USA.
| | - Joseph F Ryan
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., St Augustine, FL 32080, USA; Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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20
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Morel G, Sterck L, Swennen D, Marcet-Houben M, Onesime D, Levasseur A, Jacques N, Mallet S, Couloux A, Labadie K, Amselem J, Beckerich JM, Henrissat B, Van de Peer Y, Wincker P, Souciet JL, Gabaldón T, Tinsley CR, Casaregola S. Differential gene retention as an evolutionary mechanism to generate biodiversity and adaptation in yeasts. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11571. [PMID: 26108467 PMCID: PMC4479816 DOI: 10.1038/srep11571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary history of the characters underlying the adaptation of microorganisms to food and biotechnological uses is poorly understood. We undertook comparative genomics to investigate evolutionary relationships of the dairy yeast Geotrichum candidum within Saccharomycotina. Surprisingly, a remarkable proportion of genes showed discordant phylogenies, clustering with the filamentous fungus subphylum (Pezizomycotina), rather than the yeast subphylum (Saccharomycotina), of the Ascomycota. These genes appear not to be the result of Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT), but to have been specifically retained by G. candidum after the filamentous fungi-yeasts split concomitant with the yeasts' genome contraction. We refer to these genes as SRAGs (Specifically Retained Ancestral Genes), having been lost by all or nearly all other yeasts, and thus contributing to the phenotypic specificity of lineages. SRAG functions include lipases consistent with a role in cheese making and novel endoglucanases associated with degradation of plant material. Similar gene retention was observed in three other distantly related yeasts representative of this ecologically diverse subphylum. The phenomenon thus appears to be widespread in the Saccharomycotina and argues that, alongside neo-functionalization following gene duplication and HGT, specific gene retention must be recognized as an important mechanism for generation of biodiversity and adaptation in yeasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Morel
- INRA UMR1319, Micalis Institute, CIRM-Levures, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
- AgroParisTech UMR1319, Micalis Institute, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Lieven Sterck
- Department of Plant Systems Biology VIB, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Dominique Swennen
- INRA UMR1319, Micalis Institute, CIRM-Levures, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
- AgroParisTech UMR1319, Micalis Institute, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Marina Marcet-Houben
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Djamila Onesime
- INRA UMR1319, Micalis Institute, CIRM-Levures, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
- AgroParisTech UMR1319, Micalis Institute, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Anthony Levasseur
- INRA UMR1163, Biotechnologie des Champignons Filamenteux, Aix-Marseille Université, Polytech Marseille, 163 avenue de Luminy, CP 925, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Noémie Jacques
- INRA UMR1319, Micalis Institute, CIRM-Levures, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
- AgroParisTech UMR1319, Micalis Institute, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Sandrine Mallet
- INRA UMR1319, Micalis Institute, CIRM-Levures, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
- AgroParisTech UMR1319, Micalis Institute, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Arnaux Couloux
- CEA, Institut de Génomique, Genoscope, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, Évry F-91000, France
| | - Karine Labadie
- CEA, Institut de Génomique, Genoscope, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, Évry F-91000, France
| | - Joëlle Amselem
- INRA UR1164, Unité de Recherche Génomique – Info, 78000 Versailles, France
| | - Jean-Marie Beckerich
- INRA UMR1319, Micalis Institute, CIRM-Levures, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
- AgroParisTech UMR1319, Micalis Institute, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | | | - Yves Van de Peer
- Department of Plant Systems Biology VIB, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Gent, Belgium
- Genomics Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Hatfield Campus, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Patrick Wincker
- CEA, Institut de Génomique, Genoscope, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, Évry F-91000, France
- CNRS UMR 8030, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, Évry, 91000, France
- Université d’Evry, Bd François Mitterand, Evry,91025, France
| | - Jean-Luc Souciet
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR7156, Strasbourg, 67000, France
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Colin R. Tinsley
- INRA UMR1319, Micalis Institute, CIRM-Levures, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
- AgroParisTech UMR1319, Micalis Institute, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Serge Casaregola
- INRA UMR1319, Micalis Institute, CIRM-Levures, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
- AgroParisTech UMR1319, Micalis Institute, 78850 F-Thiverval-Grignon, France
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Grasis JA, Lachnit T, Anton-Erxleben F, Lim YW, Schmieder R, Fraune S, Franzenburg S, Insua S, Machado G, Haynes M, Little M, Kimble R, Rosenstiel P, Rohwer FL, Bosch TCG. Species-specific viromes in the ancestral holobiont Hydra. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109952. [PMID: 25343582 PMCID: PMC4208763 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence showing host specificity of colonizing bacteria supports the view that multicellular organisms are holobionts comprised of the macroscopic host in synergistic interdependence with a heterogeneous and host-specific microbial community. Whereas host-bacteria interactions have been extensively investigated, comparatively little is known about host-virus interactions and viral contribution to the holobiont. We sought to determine the viral communities associating with different Hydra species, whether these viral communities were altered with environmental stress, and whether these viruses affect the Hydra-associated holobiont. Here we show that each species of Hydra harbors a diverse host-associated virome. Primary viral families associated with Hydra are Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Inoviridae, and Herpesviridae. Most Hydra-associated viruses are bacteriophages, a reflection of their involvement in the holobiont. Changes in environmental conditions alter the associated virome, increase viral diversity, and affect the metabolism of the holobiont. The specificity and dynamics of the virome point to potential viral involvement in regulating microbial associations in the Hydra holobiont. While viruses are generally regarded as pathogenic agents, our study suggests an evolutionary conserved ability of viruses to function as holobiont regulators and, therefore, constitutes an emerging paradigm shift in host-microbe interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juris A. Grasis
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Tim Lachnit
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Yan Wei Lim
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Robert Schmieder
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Sebastian Fraune
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sören Franzenburg
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Santiago Insua
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - GloriaMay Machado
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Matthew Haynes
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Mark Little
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Robert Kimble
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Philip Rosenstiel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Forest L. Rohwer
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas C. G. Bosch
- Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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22
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Lapébie P, Ruggiero A, Barreau C, Chevalier S, Chang P, Dru P, Houliston E, Momose T. Differential responses to Wnt and PCP disruption predict expression and developmental function of conserved and novel genes in a cnidarian. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004590. [PMID: 25233086 PMCID: PMC4169000 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We have used Digital Gene Expression analysis to identify, without bilaterian bias, regulators of cnidarian embryonic patterning. Transcriptome comparison between un-manipulated Clytia early gastrula embryos and ones in which the key polarity regulator Wnt3 was inhibited using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides (Wnt3-MO) identified a set of significantly over and under-expressed transcripts. These code for candidate Wnt signaling modulators, orthologs of other transcription factors, secreted and transmembrane proteins known as developmental regulators in bilaterian models or previously uncharacterized, and also many cnidarian-restricted proteins. Comparisons between embryos injected with morpholinos targeting Wnt3 and its receptor Fz1 defined four transcript classes showing remarkable correlation with spatiotemporal expression profiles. Class 1 and 3 transcripts tended to show sustained expression at "oral" and "aboral" poles respectively of the developing planula larva, class 2 transcripts in cells ingressing into the endodermal region during gastrulation, while class 4 gene expression was repressed at the early gastrula stage. The preferential effect of Fz1-MO on expression of class 2 and 4 transcripts can be attributed to Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) disruption, since it was closely matched by morpholino knockdown of the specific PCP protein Strabismus. We conclude that endoderm and post gastrula-specific gene expression is particularly sensitive to PCP disruption while Wnt-/β-catenin signaling dominates gene regulation along the oral-aboral axis. Phenotype analysis using morpholinos targeting a subset of transcripts indicated developmental roles consistent with expression profiles for both conserved and cnidarian-restricted genes. Overall our unbiased screen allowed systematic identification of regionally expressed genes and provided functional support for a shared eumetazoan developmental regulatory gene set with both predicted and previously unexplored members, but also demonstrated that fundamental developmental processes including axial patterning and endoderm formation in cnidarians can involve newly evolved (or highly diverged) genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Lapébie
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, and CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Observatoire Océanographique, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Antonella Ruggiero
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, and CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Observatoire Océanographique, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Carine Barreau
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, and CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Observatoire Océanographique, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Sandra Chevalier
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, and CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Observatoire Océanographique, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Patrick Chang
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, and CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Observatoire Océanographique, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Philippe Dru
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, and CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Observatoire Océanographique, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Evelyn Houliston
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, and CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Observatoire Océanographique, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Tsuyoshi Momose
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, and CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer, Observatoire Océanographique, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
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Wenger Y, Galliot B. Punctuated emergences of genetic and phenotypic innovations in eumetazoan, bilaterian, euteleostome, and hominidae ancestors. Genome Biol Evol 2014; 5:1949-68. [PMID: 24065732 PMCID: PMC3814200 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic traits derive from the selective recruitment of genetic materials over macroevolutionary times, and protein-coding genes constitute an essential component of these materials. We took advantage of the recent production of genomic scale data from sponges and cnidarians, sister groups from eumetazoans and bilaterians, respectively, to date the emergence of human proteins and to infer the timing of acquisition of novel traits through metazoan evolution. Comparing the proteomes of 23 eukaryotes, we find that 33% human proteins have an ortholog in nonmetazoan species. This premetazoan proteome associates with 43% of all annotated human biological processes. Subsequently, four major waves of innovations can be inferred in the last common ancestors of eumetazoans, bilaterians, euteleostomi (bony vertebrates), and hominidae, largely specific to each epoch, whereas early branching deuterostome and chordate phyla show very few innovations. Interestingly, groups of proteins that act together in their modern human functions often originated concomitantly, although the corresponding human phenotypes frequently emerged later. For example, the three cnidarians Acropora, Nematostella, and Hydra express a highly similar protein inventory, and their protein innovations can be affiliated either to traits shared by all eumetazoans (gut differentiation, neurogenesis); or to bilaterian traits present in only some cnidarians (eyes, striated muscle); or to traits not identified yet in this phylum (mesodermal layer, endocrine glands). The variable correspondence between phenotypes predicted from protein enrichments and observed phenotypes suggests that a parallel mechanism repeatedly produce similar phenotypes, thanks to novel regulatory events that independently tie preexisting conserved genetic modules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvan Wenger
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Genetics and Genomics in Geneva (iGE3), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Wissler L, Gadau J, Simola DF, Helmkampf M, Bornberg-Bauer E. Mechanisms and dynamics of orphan gene emergence in insect genomes. Genome Biol Evol 2013; 5:439-55. [PMID: 23348040 PMCID: PMC3590893 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Orphan genes are defined as genes that lack detectable similarity to genes in other species and therefore no clear signals of common descent (i.e., homology) can be inferred. Orphans are an enigmatic portion of the genome because their origin and function are mostly unknown and they typically make up 10% to 30% of all genes in a genome. Several case studies demonstrated that orphans can contribute to lineage-specific adaptation. Here, we study orphan genes by comparing 30 arthropod genomes, focusing in particular on seven recently sequenced ant genomes. This setup allows analyzing a major metazoan taxon and a comparison between social Hymenoptera (ants and bees) and nonsocial Diptera (flies and mosquitoes). First, we find that recently split lineages undergo accelerated genomic reorganization, including the rapid gain of many orphan genes. Second, between the two insect orders Hymenoptera and Diptera, orphan genes are more abundant and emerge more rapidly in Hymenoptera, in particular, in leaf-cutter ants. With respect to intragenomic localization, we find that ant orphan genes show little clustering, which suggests that orphan genes in ants are scattered uniformly over the genome and between nonorphan genes. Finally, our results indicate that the genetic mechanisms creating orphan genes—such as gene duplication, frame-shift fixation, creation of overlapping genes, horizontal gene transfer, and exaptation of transposable elements—act at different rates in insects, primates, and plants. In Formicidae, the majority of orphan genes has their origin in intergenic regions, pointing to a high rate of de novo gene formation or generalized gene loss, and support a recently proposed dynamic model of frequent gene birth and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lothar Wissler
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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25
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Dunlap WC, Starcevic A, Baranasic D, Diminic J, Zucko J, Gacesa R, van Oppen MJH, Hranueli D, Cullum J, Long PF. KEGG orthology-based annotation of the predicted proteome of Acropora digitifera: ZoophyteBase - an open access and searchable database of a coral genome. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:509. [PMID: 23889801 PMCID: PMC3750612 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Contemporary coral reef research has firmly established that a genomic approach is urgently needed to better understand the effects of anthropogenic environmental stress and global climate change on coral holobiont interactions. Here we present KEGG orthology-based annotation of the complete genome sequence of the scleractinian coral Acropora digitifera and provide the first comprehensive view of the genome of a reef-building coral by applying advanced bioinformatics. DESCRIPTION Sequences from the KEGG database of protein function were used to construct hidden Markov models. These models were used to search the predicted proteome of A. digitifera to establish complete genomic annotation. The annotated dataset is published in ZoophyteBase, an open access format with different options for searching the data. A particularly useful feature is the ability to use a Google-like search engine that links query words to protein attributes. We present features of the annotation that underpin the molecular structure of key processes of coral physiology that include (1) regulatory proteins of symbiosis, (2) planula and early developmental proteins, (3) neural messengers, receptors and sensory proteins, (4) calcification and Ca2+-signalling proteins, (5) plant-derived proteins, (6) proteins of nitrogen metabolism, (7) DNA repair proteins, (8) stress response proteins, (9) antioxidant and redox-protective proteins, (10) proteins of cellular apoptosis, (11) microbial symbioses and pathogenicity proteins, (12) proteins of viral pathogenicity, (13) toxins and venom, (14) proteins of the chemical defensome and (15) coral epigenetics. CONCLUSIONS We advocate that providing annotation in an open-access searchable database available to the public domain will give an unprecedented foundation to interrogate the fundamental molecular structure and interactions of coral symbiosis and allow critical questions to be addressed at the genomic level based on combined aspects of evolutionary, developmental, metabolic, and environmental perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter C Dunlap
- Centre for Marine Microbiology and Genetics, Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3 Townsville MC, Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Antonio Starcevic
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Damir Baranasic
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Janko Diminic
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jurica Zucko
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ranko Gacesa
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Madeleine JH van Oppen
- Centre for Marine Microbiology and Genetics, Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3 Townsville MC, Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daslav Hranueli
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - John Cullum
- Department of Genetics, University of Kaiserslautern, Postfach 3049, 67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Paul F Long
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemistry King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
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26
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Weiss Y, Forêt S, Hayward DC, Ainsworth T, King R, Ball EE, Miller DJ. The acute transcriptional response of the coral Acropora millepora to immune challenge: expression of GiMAP/IAN genes links the innate immune responses of corals with those of mammals and plants. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:400. [PMID: 23768317 PMCID: PMC3723955 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background As a step towards understanding coral immunity we present the first whole transcriptome analysis of the acute responses of Acropora millepora to challenge with the bacterial cell wall derivative MDP and the viral mimic poly I:C, defined immunogens provoking distinct but well characterised responses in higher animals. Results These experiments reveal similarities with the responses both of arthropods and mammals, as well as coral-specific effects. The most surprising finding was that MDP specifically induced three members of the GiMAP gene family, which has been implicated in immunity in mammals but is absent from Drosophila and Caenorhabditis. Like their mammalian homologs, GiMAP genes are arranged in a tandem cluster in the coral genome. Conclusions A phylogenomic survey of this gene family implies ancient origins, multiple independent losses and lineage-specific expansions during animal evolution. Whilst functional convergence cannot be ruled out, GiMAP expression in corals may reflect an ancestral role in immunity, perhaps in phagolysosomal processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Weiss
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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27
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Wenger Y, Galliot B. RNAseq versus genome-predicted transcriptomes: a large population of novel transcripts identified in an Illumina-454 Hydra transcriptome. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:204. [PMID: 23530871 PMCID: PMC3764976 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Evolutionary studies benefit from deep sequencing technologies that generate
genomic and transcriptomic sequences from a variety of organisms. Genome
sequencing and RNAseq have complementary strengths. In this study, we
present the assembly of the most complete Hydra transcriptome to
date along with a comparative analysis of the specific features of RNAseq
and genome-predicted transcriptomes currently available in the freshwater
hydrozoan Hydra vulgaris. Results To produce an accurate and extensive Hydra transcriptome, we
combined Illumina and 454 Titanium reads, giving the primacy to Illumina
over 454 reads to correct homopolymer errors. This strategy yielded an
RNAseq transcriptome that contains 48’909 unique sequences including
splice variants, representing approximately 24’450 distinct genes.
Comparative analysis to the available genome-predicted transcriptomes
identified 10’597 novel Hydra transcripts that encode 529
evolutionarily-conserved proteins. The annotation of 170 human orthologs
points to critical functions in protein biosynthesis, FGF and TOR signaling,
vesicle transport, immunity, cell cycle regulation, cell death,
mitochondrial metabolism, transcription and chromatin regulation. However, a
majority of these novel transcripts encodes short ORFs, at least 767 of them
corresponding to pseudogenes. This RNAseq transcriptome also lacks
11’270 predicted transcripts that correspond either to silent genes or
to genes expressed below the detection level of this study. Conclusions We established a simple and powerful strategy to combine Illumina and 454
reads and we produced, with genome assistance, an extensive and accurate
Hydra transcriptome. The comparative analysis of the RNAseq
transcriptome with genome-predicted transcriptomes lead to the
identification of large populations of novel as well as missing transcripts
that might reflect Hydra-specific evolutionary events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvan Wenger
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Genetics and Genomics in Geneva (iGE3), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Probing a coral genome for components of the photoprotective scytonemin biosynthetic pathway and the 2-aminoethylphosphonate pathway. Mar Drugs 2013; 11:559-70. [PMID: 23434798 PMCID: PMC3640398 DOI: 10.3390/md11020559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2013] [Revised: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome sequences of the reef-building coral, Acropora digitifera, have been decoded. Acropora inhabits an environment with intense ultraviolet exposure and hosts the photosynthetic endosymbiont, Symbiodinium. Acropora homologs of all four genes necessary for biosynthesis of the photoprotective cyanobacterial compound, shinorine, are present. Among metazoans, these genes are found only in anthozoans. To gain further evolutionary insights into biosynthesis of photoprotective compounds and associated coral proteins, we surveyed the Acropora genome for 18 clustered genes involved in cyanobacterial synthesis of the anti-UV compound, scytonemin, even though it had not previously been detected in corals. We identified candidates for only 6 of the 18 genes, including tyrP, scyA, and scyB. Therefore, it does not appear that Acropora digitifera can synthesize scytonemin independently. On the other hand, molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that one tyrosinase gene is an ortholog of vertebrate tyrosinase genes and that the coral homologs, scyA and scyB, are similar to bacterial metabolic genes, phosphonopyruvate (ppyr) decarboxylase and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), respectively. Further genomic searches for ppyr gene-related biosynthetic components indicate that the coral possesses a metabolic pathway similar to the bacterial 2-aminoethylphosphonate (AEP) biosynthetic pathway. The results suggest that de novo synthesis of carbon-phosphorus compounds is performed in corals.
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Momose T, Kraus Y, Houliston E. A conserved function for Strabismus in establishing planar cell polarity in the ciliated ectoderm during cnidarian larval development. Development 2012; 139:4374-82. [PMID: 23095884 DOI: 10.1242/dev.084251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Functional and morphological planar cell polarity (PCP) oriented along the oral-aboral body axis is clearly evident in the ectoderm of torpedo-shaped planula larvae of hydrozoan cnidarians such as Clytia hemisphaerica. Ectodermal epithelial cells bear a single motile cilium the beating of which is coordinated between cells, causing directional swimming towards the blunt, aboral pole. We have characterised PCP during Clytia larval development and addressed its molecular basis. PCP is first detectable in ectodermal cells during gastrulation as coordinated basal body positioning, the ciliary root becoming consistently positioned on the oral side of the apical surface of the cell. At later stages, more pronounced structural polarity develops around the base of each cilium in relation to the cilia beating direction, including a characteristic asymmetric cortical actin organisation. Morpholino antisense oligonucleotide and mRNA injection studies showed that PCP development requires the Clytia orthologues of the core Fz-PCP pathway components Strabismus (CheStbm), Frizzled (CheFz1) and Dishevelled (CheDsh). Morpholinos targeting any of these components prevented ectodermal PCP, disrupted ciliogenesis and inhibited embryo elongation during gastrulation, which involves cell intercalation. We show that YFP-tagged CheStbm adopts a polarised intracellular distribution, localising preferentially to the aboral boundary of each cell, as has been demonstrated in Drosophila and some vertebrate PCP studies. Our findings in a cnidarian strongly suggest that the Fz-PCP pathway is a highly conserved and evolutionary ancient metazoan feature that is probably widely responsible for oriented swimming and/or feeding in relation to body axis in the many ciliated larval types found throughout the animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Momose
- University of Pierre and Marie Curie, Developmental Biology Unit, Observatoire Océanologique, 06234 Villefranche-sur-mer, France.
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Aranda M, DeSalvo MK, Bayer T, Medina M, Voolstra CR. Evolutionary insights into scleractinian corals using comparative genomic hybridizations. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:501. [PMID: 22994626 PMCID: PMC3469353 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coral reefs belong to the most ecologically and economically important ecosystems on our planet. Yet, they are under steady decline worldwide due to rising sea surface temperatures, disease, and pollution. Understanding the molecular impact of these stressors on different coral species is imperative in order to predict how coral populations will respond to this continued disturbance. The use of molecular tools such as microarrays has provided deep insight into the molecular stress response of corals. Here, we have performed comparative genomic hybridizations (CGH) with different coral species to an Acropora palmata microarray platform containing 13,546 cDNA clones in order to identify potentially rapidly evolving genes and to determine the suitability of existing microarray platforms for use in gene expression studies (via heterologous hybridization). Results Our results showed that the current microarray platform for A. palmata is able to provide biological relevant information for a wide variety of coral species covering both the complex clade as well the robust clade. Analysis of the fraction of highly diverged genes showed a significantly higher amount of genes without annotation corroborating previous findings that point towards a higher rate of divergence for taxonomically restricted genes. Among the genes with annotation, we found many mitochondrial genes to be highly diverged in M. faveolata when compared to A. palmata, while the majority of nuclear encoded genes maintained an average divergence rate. Conclusions The use of present microarray platforms for transcriptional analyses in different coral species will greatly enhance the understanding of the molecular basis of stress and health and highlight evolutionary differences between scleractinian coral species. On a genomic basis, we show that cDNA arrays can be used to identify patterns of divergence. Mitochondrion-encoded genes seem to have diverged faster than nuclear encoded genes in robust corals. Accordingly, this needs to be taken into account when using mitochondrial markers for scleractinian phylogenies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Aranda
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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31
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Mitogenome polymorphism in a single branch sample revealed by SOLiD deep sequencing of the Lophelia pertusa coral genome. Gene 2012; 506:344-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2012] [Accepted: 06/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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MOYA A, HUISMAN L, BALL EE, HAYWARD DC, GRASSO LC, CHUA CM, WOO HN, GATTUSO JP, FORÊT S, MILLER DJ. Whole Transcriptome Analysis of the CoralAcropora milleporaReveals Complex Responses to CO2-driven Acidification during the Initiation of Calcification. Mol Ecol 2012; 21:2440-54. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05554.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 248] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Tran C, Hadfield MG. Are G-protein-coupled receptors involved in mediating larval settlement and metamorphosis of coral planulae? THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2012; 222:128-136. [PMID: 22589403 DOI: 10.1086/bblv222n2p128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Larvae of the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis are induced to settle and metamorphose by the presence of marine bacterial biofilms, and the larvae of Montipora capitata respond to a combination of filamentous and crustose coralline algae. The primary goal of this study was to better understand metamorphosis of cnidarian larvae by determining what types of receptors and signal-transduction pathways are involved during stimulation of metamorphosis of P. damicornis and M. capitata. Evidence from studies on larvae of hydrozoans suggests that G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are good candidates. Settlement experiments were conducted in which competent larvae were exposed to neuropharmacological agents that affect GPCRs and their associated signal-transduction pathways, AC/cAMP and PI/DAG/PKC. On the basis of the results of these experiments, we conclude that GPCRs and these pathways do not mediate settlement and metamorphosis in either coral species. Two compounds that had an effect on both species, forskolin and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (TPA), may be acting on other cellular processes not related to GPCRs. This study strengthens our understanding of the underlying physiological mechanisms that regulate metamorphosis in coral larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cawa Tran
- Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 41 Ahui Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
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Iguchi A, Shinzato C, Forêt S, Miller DJ. Identification of fast-evolving genes in the scleractinian coral Acropora using comparative EST analysis. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20140. [PMID: 21701682 PMCID: PMC3119059 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2011] [Accepted: 04/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To identify fast-evolving genes in reef-building corals, we performed direct comparative sequence analysis with expressed sequence tag (EST) datasets from two acroporid species: Acropora palmata from the Caribbean Sea and A. millepora from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Comparison of 589 independent sequences from 1,421 A. palmata contigs, with 10,247 A. millepora contigs resulted in the identification of 196 putative homologues. Most of the homologous pairs demonstrated high amino acid similarities (over 90%). Comparisons of putative homologues showing low amino acid similarities (under 90%) among the Acropora species to the near complete datasets from two other cnidarians (Hydra magnipapillata and Nematostella vectensis) implied that some were non-orthologous. Within 86 homologous pairs, 39 exhibited dN/dS ratios significantly less than 1, suggesting that these genes are under purifying selection associated with functional constraints. Eight independent genes showed dN/dS ratios exceeding 1, while three deviated significantly from 1, suggesting that these genes may play important roles in the adaptive evolution of Acropora. Our results also indicated that CEL-III lectin was under positive selection, consistent with a possible role in immunity or symbiont recognition. Further studies are needed to clarify the possible functions of the genes under positive selection to provide insight into the evolutionary process of corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Iguchi
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
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35
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Voolstra CR, Sunagawa S, Matz MV, Bayer T, Aranda M, Buschiazzo E, DeSalvo MK, Lindquist E, Szmant AM, Coffroth MA, Medina M. Rapid evolution of coral proteins responsible for interaction with the environment. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20392. [PMID: 21633702 PMCID: PMC3102110 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2011] [Accepted: 05/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Corals worldwide are in decline due to climate change effects (e.g., rising seawater temperatures), pollution, and exploitation. The ability of corals to cope with these stressors in the long run depends on the evolvability of the underlying genetic networks and proteins, which remain largely unknown. A genome-wide scan for positively selected genes between related coral species can help to narrow down the search space considerably. Methodology/Principal Findings We screened a set of 2,604 putative orthologs from EST-based sequence datasets of the coral species Acropora millepora and Acropora palmata to determine the fraction and identity of proteins that may experience adaptive evolution. 7% of the orthologs show elevated rates of evolution. Taxonomically-restricted (i.e. lineage-specific) genes show a positive selection signature more frequently than genes that are found across many animal phyla. The class of proteins that displayed elevated evolutionary rates was significantly enriched for proteins involved in immunity and defense, reproduction, and sensory perception. We also found elevated rates of evolution in several other functional groups such as management of membrane vesicles, transmembrane transport of ions and organic molecules, cell adhesion, and oxidative stress response. Proteins in these processes might be related to the endosymbiotic relationship corals maintain with dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. Conclusion/Relevance This study provides a birds-eye view of the processes potentially underlying coral adaptation, which will serve as a foundation for future work to elucidate the rates, patterns, and mechanisms of corals' evolutionary response to global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R. Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- * E-mail: (CRV); (MM)
| | | | - Mikhail V. Matz
- Section of Integrative Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Till Bayer
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manuel Aranda
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emmanuel Buschiazzo
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Michael K. DeSalvo
- Department of Anesthesia, UCSF School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Erika Lindquist
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California, United States of America
| | - Alina M. Szmant
- Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Mary Alice Coffroth
- Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior and Department of Geology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Mónica Medina
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CRV); (MM)
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The biology of coral metamorphosis: Molecular responses of larvae to inducers of settlement and metamorphosis. Dev Biol 2011; 353:411-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2010] [Revised: 12/22/2010] [Accepted: 02/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Abstract
There is growing interest in the use of cnidarians (corals, sea anemones, jellyfish and hydroids) to investigate the evolution of key aspects of animal development, such as the formation of the third germ layer (mesoderm), the nervous system and the generation of bilaterality. The recent sequencing of the Nematostella and Hydra genomes, and the establishment of methods for manipulating gene expression, have inspired new research efforts using cnidarians. Here, we present the main features of cnidarian models and their advantages for research, and summarize key recent findings using these models that have informed our understanding of the evolution of the developmental processes underlying metazoan body plan formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Technau
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Centre for Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna, Austria.
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Steele RE, David CN, Technau U. A genomic view of 500 million years of cnidarian evolution. Trends Genet 2010; 27:7-13. [PMID: 21047698 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2010.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2010] [Revised: 09/23/2010] [Accepted: 10/08/2010] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Cnidarians (corals, anemones, jellyfish and hydras) are a diverse group of animals of interest to evolutionary biologists, ecologists and developmental biologists. With the publication of the genome sequences of Hydra and Nematostella, whose last common ancestor was the stem cnidarian, researchers are beginning to see the genomic underpinnings of cnidarian biology. Cnidarians are known for the remarkable plasticity of their morphology and life cycles. This plasticity is reflected in the Hydra and Nematostella genomes, which differ to an exceptional degree in size, base composition, transposable element content and gene conservation. It is now known what cnidarian genomes, given 500 million years, are capable of; as we discuss here, the next challenge is to understand how this genomic history has led to the striking diversity seen in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Steele
- Department of Biological Chemistry and the Developmental Biology Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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Coral larvae exhibit few measurable transcriptional changes during the onset of coral-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis. Mar Genomics 2010; 3:107-16. [PMID: 21798204 DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2010.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2010] [Revised: 08/05/2010] [Accepted: 08/07/2010] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The cellular mechanisms controlling the successful establishment of a stable mutualism between cnidarians and their dinoflagellate partners are largely unknown. The planula larva of the solitary Hawaiian scleractinian coral Fungia scutaria and its dinoflagellate symbiont Symbiodinium sp. type C1f represents an ideal model for studying the onset of cnidarian-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis due to the predictable availability of gametes, the ability to raise non-symbiotic larvae and establish the symbiosis experimentally, and the ability to precisely quantify infection success. The goal of this study was to identify genes differentially expressed in F. scutaria larvae during the initiation of endosymbiosis with Symbiodinium sp. C1f. Newly symbiotic larvae were compared to non-symbiotic larvae using a custom cDNA microarray. The 5184-feature array was constructed with cDNA libraries from newly symbiotic and non-symbiotic F. scutaria larvae, including 3072 features (60%) that were enriched for either state by subtractive hybridization. Our analyses revealed very few changes in the F. scutaria transcriptome as a result of infection with Symbiodinium sp. C1f, similar to other studies focused on the early stages of this symbiotic interaction. We suggest that these results may be due, in part, to an inability to detect the transcriptional signal from the small percentage of infected cells compared to uninfected cells. We discuss several other potential explanations for this result, including suggesting that certain types of Symbiodinium sp. may have evolved mechanisms to suppress or circumvent cnidarian host responses to infection.
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Forêt S, Seneca F, de Jong D, Bieller A, Hemmrich G, Augustin R, Hayward DC, Ball EE, Bosch TCG, Agata K, Hassel M, Miller DJ. Phylogenomics reveals an anomalous distribution of USP genes in metazoans. Mol Biol Evol 2010; 28:153-61. [PMID: 20660083 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msq183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the universal stress protein (USP) family were originally identified in stressed bacteria on the basis of a shared domain, which has since been reported in a phylogenetically diverse range of prokaryotes, fungi, protists, and plants. Although not previously characterized in metazoans, here we report that USP genes are distributed in animal genomes in a unique pattern that reflects frequent independent losses and independent expansions. Multiple USP loci are present in urochordates as well as all Cnidaria and Lophotrochozoa examined, but none were detected in any of the available ecdysozoan or non-urochordate deuterostome genome data. The vast majority of the metazoan USPs are short, single-domain proteins and are phylogenetically distinct from the prokaryotic, plant, protist, and fungal members of the protein family. Whereas most of the metazoan USP genes contain introns, with few exceptions those in the cnidarian Hydra are intronless and cluster together in phylogenetic analyses. Expression patterns were determined for several cnidarian USPs, including two genes belonging to the intronless clade, and these imply diverse functions. The apparent paradox of implied diversity of roles despite high overall levels of sequence (and implied structural) similarity parallels the situation in bacteria. The absence of USP genes in ecdysozoans and most deuterostomes may be a consequence of functional redundancy or specialization in taxon-specific roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Forêt
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies and Comparative Genomics Centre, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Houliston E, Momose T, Manuel M. Clytia hemisphaerica: a jellyfish cousin joins the laboratory. Trends Genet 2010; 26:159-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2010.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2009] [Revised: 01/24/2010] [Accepted: 01/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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