1
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Hintermann A, Bolt CC, Hawkins MB, Valentin G, Lopez-Delisle L, Gitto S, Gómez PB, Mascrez B, Mansour TA, Nakamura T, Harris MP, Shubin NH, Duboule D. EVOLUTIONARY CO-OPTION OF AN ANCESTRAL CLOACAL REGULATORY LANDSCAPE DURING THE EMERGENCE OF DIGITS AND GENITALS. bioRxiv 2024:2024.03.24.586442. [PMID: 38585989 PMCID: PMC10996561 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.24.586442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The transition from fins to limbs has been a rich source of discussion for more than a century. One open and important issue is understanding how the mechanisms that pattern digits arose during vertebrate evolution. In this context, the analysis of Hox gene expression and functions to infer evolutionary scenarios has been a productive approach to explain the changes in organ formation, particularly in limbs. In tetrapods, the transcription of Hoxd genes in developing digits depends on a well-characterized set of enhancers forming a large regulatory landscape1,2. This control system has a syntenic counterpart in zebrafish, even though they lack bona fide digits, suggestive of deep homology3 between distal fin and limb developmental mechanisms. We tested the global function of this landscape to assess ancestry and source of limb and fin variation. In contrast to results in mice, we show here that the deletion of the homologous control region in zebrafish has a limited effect on the transcription of hoxd genes during fin development. However, it fully abrogates hoxd expression within the developing cloaca, an ancestral structure related to the mammalian urogenital sinus. We show that similar to the limb, Hoxd gene function in the urogenital sinus of the mouse also depends on enhancers located in this same genomic domain. Thus, we conclude that the current regulation underlying Hoxd gene expression in distal limbs was co-opted in tetrapods from a preexisting cloacal program. The orthologous chromatin domain in fishes may illustrate a rudimentary or partial step in this evolutionary co-option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Hintermann
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, 30 quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christopher Chase Bolt
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - M. Brent Hawkins
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Department of Orthopedic Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Guillaume Valentin
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucille Lopez-Delisle
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Gitto
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, 30 quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paula Barrera Gómez
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bénédicte Mascrez
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, 30 quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Tetsuya Nakamura
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Matthew P. Harris
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Department of Orthopedic Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Neil H. Shubin
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Denis Duboule
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, 30 quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology CIRB, Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
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2
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Lozovska A, Korovesi AG, Dias A, Lopes A, Fowler DA, Martins GG, Nóvoa A, Mallo M. Tgfbr1 controls developmental plasticity between the hindlimb and external genitalia by remodeling their regulatory landscape. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2509. [PMID: 38509075 PMCID: PMC10954616 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46870-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The hindlimb and external genitalia of present-day tetrapods are thought to derive from an ancestral common primordium that evolved to generate a wide diversity of structures adapted for efficient locomotion and mating in the ecological niche occupied by the species. We show that despite long evolutionary distance from the ancestral condition, the early primordium of the mouse external genitalia preserved the capacity to take hindlimb fates. In the absence of Tgfbr1, the pericloacal mesoderm generates an extra pair of hindlimbs at the expense of the external genitalia. It has been shown that the hindlimb and the genital primordia share many of their key regulatory factors. Tgfbr1 controls the response to those factors by modulating the accessibility status of regulatory elements that control the gene regulatory networks leading to the formation of genital or hindlimb structures. Our work uncovers a remarkable tissue plasticity with potential implications in the evolution of the hindlimb/genital area of tetrapods, and identifies an additional mechanism for Tgfbr1 activity that might also contribute to the control of other physiological or pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Lozovska
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Artemis G Korovesi
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - André Dias
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alexandre Lopes
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Donald A Fowler
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Gabriel G Martins
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Ana Nóvoa
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Moisés Mallo
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156, Oeiras, Portugal.
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3
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Atsuta Y, Lee C, Rodrigues AR, Colle C, Tomizawa RR, Lujan EG, Tschopp P, Galan L, Zhu M, Gorham JM, Vannier JP, Seidman CE, Seidman JG, Ros MA, Pourquié O, Tabin CJ. Direct reprogramming of non-limb fibroblasts to cells with properties of limb progenitors. Dev Cell 2024; 59:415-430.e8. [PMID: 38320485 PMCID: PMC10932627 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The early limb bud consists of mesenchymal limb progenitors derived from the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM). The LPM also gives rise to the mesodermal components of the flank and neck. However, the cells at these other levels cannot produce the variety of cell types found in the limb. Taking advantage of a direct reprogramming approach, we find a set of factors (Prdm16, Zbtb16, and Lin28a) normally expressed in the early limb bud and capable of imparting limb progenitor-like properties to mouse non-limb fibroblasts. The reprogrammed cells show similar gene expression profiles and can differentiate into similar cell types as endogenous limb progenitors. The further addition of Lin41 potentiates the proliferation of the reprogrammed cells. These results suggest that these same four factors may play pivotal roles in the specification of endogenous limb progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Atsuta
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Biology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - ChangHee Lee
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Alan R Rodrigues
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Charlotte Colle
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Reiko R Tomizawa
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ernesto G Lujan
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Patrick Tschopp
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Zoological Institute, University of Basel, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laura Galan
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnologia de Cantabria, CSIC, SODERCAN- Universidad de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Meng Zhu
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joshua M Gorham
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Christine E Seidman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jonathan G Seidman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marian A Ros
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnologia de Cantabria, CSIC, SODERCAN- Universidad de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Olivier Pourquié
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Clifford J Tabin
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Loffet EA, Durel JF, Nerurkar NL. Evo-Devo Mechanobiology: The Missing Link. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:1455-1473. [PMID: 37193661 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
While the modern framework of evolutionary development (evo-devo) has been decidedly genetic, historic analyses have also considered the importance of mechanics in the evolution of form. With the aid of recent technological advancements in both quantifying and perturbing changes in the molecular and mechanical effectors of organismal shape, how molecular and genetic cues regulate the biophysical aspects of morphogenesis is becoming increasingly well studied. As a result, this is an opportune time to consider how the tissue-scale mechanics that underlie morphogenesis are acted upon through evolution to establish morphological diversity. Such a focus will enable a field of evo-devo mechanobiology that will serve to better elucidate the opaque relations between genes and forms by articulating intermediary physical mechanisms. Here, we review how the evolution of shape is measured and related to genetics, how recent strides have been made in the dissection of developmental tissue mechanics, and how we expect these areas to coalesce in evo-devo studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise A Loffet
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - John F Durel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Nandan L Nerurkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
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5
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Lozovska A, Korovesi AG, Duarte P, Casaca A, Assunção T, Mallo M. The control of transitions along the main body axis. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 159:272-308. [PMID: 38729678 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Although vertebrates display a large variety of forms and sizes, the mechanisms controlling the layout of the basic body plan are substantially conserved throughout the clade. Following gastrulation, head, trunk, and tail are sequentially generated through the continuous addition of tissue at the caudal embryonic end. Development of each of these major embryonic regions is regulated by a distinct genetic network. The transitions from head-to-trunk and from trunk-to-tail development thus involve major changes in regulatory mechanisms, requiring proper coordination to guarantee smooth progression of embryonic development. In this review, we will discuss the key cellular and embryological events associated with those transitions giving particular attention to their regulation, aiming to provide a cohesive outlook of this important component of vertebrate development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Patricia Duarte
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Ana Casaca
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Tereza Assunção
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Moises Mallo
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, Oeiras, Portugal.
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6
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Lozovska A, Nóvoa A, Kuo YY, Jurberg AD, Martins GG, Hadjantonakis AK, Mallo M. Tgfbr1 regulates lateral plate mesoderm and endoderm reorganization during the trunk to tail transition. bioRxiv 2023:2023.08.22.554351. [PMID: 37662386 PMCID: PMC10473653 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.22.554351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
During the trunk to tail transition the mammalian embryo builds the outlets for the intestinal and urogenital tracts, lays down the primordia for the hindlimb and external genitalia, and switches from the epiblast/primitive streak to the tailbud as the driver of axial extension. Genetic and molecular data indicate that Tgfbr1 is a key regulator of the trunk to tail transition. Tgfbr1 has been shown to control the switch of the neuro mesodermal-competent cells from the epiblast to the chordo-neural hinge to generate the tail bud. We now show that Tgfbr1 signaling also controls the remodeling of the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) and of the embryonic endoderm associated with the trunk to tail transition. In the absence of Tgfbr1 the two LPM layers do not converge at the end of the trunk, extending instead as separate layers enclosing the celomic cavity until the caudal embryonic extremity, and failing to activate markers of primordia for the hindlimb and external genitalia. However, this extended LPM, does not exhibit the molecular signatures characteristic of this tissue in the trunk. The vascular remodeling involving the dorsal aorta and the umbilical artery leading to the connection between embryonic and extraembryonic circulation was also affected in the Tgfbr1 mutant embryos. Similar alterations in the LPM and vascular system were also observed in Isl1 null mutants, indicating that this factor acts in the regulatory cascade downstream of Tgfbr1 in LPM-derived tissues. In addition, in the absence of Tgfbr1 the embryonic endoderm fails to expand to form the endodermal cloaca and to extend posteriorly to generate the tail gut. We present evidence suggesting that the remodeling activity of Tgfbr1 in the LPM and endoderm results from the control of the posterior primitive streak fate after its regression during the trunk to tail transition. Our data, together with previously reported observations, place Tgfbr1 at the top of the regulatory processes controlling the trunk to tail transition.
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7
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Young JJ. In preprints: of genitalia and six-legged mice. Development 2023; 150:dev202264. [PMID: 37647032 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John J Young
- Simmons University, 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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8
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Clear E, Grant RA, Carroll M, Brassey CA. A Review and Case Study of 3D Imaging Modalities for Female Amniote Reproductive Anatomy. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:icac027. [PMID: 35536568 PMCID: PMC10570564 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in non-invasive imaging methods have revitalised the field of comparative anatomy, and reproductive anatomy has been no exception. The reproductive systems of female amniotes present specific challenges, namely their often internal "hidden" anatomy. Quantifying female reproductive systems is crucial to recognising reproductive pathologies, monitoring menstrual cycles, and understanding copulatory mechanics. Here we conduct a review of the application of non-invasive imaging techniques to female amniote reproductive anatomy. We introduce the commonly used imaging modalities of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), highlighting their advantages and limitations when applied to female reproductive tissues, and make suggestions for future advances. We also include a case study of micro CT and MRI, along with their associated staining protocols, applied to cadavers of female adult stoats (Mustela erminea). In doing so, we will progress the discussion surrounding the imaging of female reproductive anatomy, whilst also impacting the fields of sexual selection research and comparative anatomy more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Clear
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester St, Manchester M1 5GD, UK
- Williamson Park Zoo, Quernmore Road, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 1UX, UK
| | - Robyn A Grant
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester St, Manchester M1 5GD, UK
| | - Michael Carroll
- Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester St, Manchester M1 5GD, UK
| | - Charlotte A Brassey
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester St, Manchester M1 5GD, UK
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Perry SM, Mitchell MA. Reptile assisted reproductive technologies: can ART help conserve 300million years of evolution by preserving extant reptile biodiversity? Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 34:385-400. [PMID: 34914885 DOI: 10.1071/rd21034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity loss is the greatest environmental problem threatening ecosystem, animal, and human health. Anthropogenic induced changes to climate, habitat, disease, species distributions, poaching, and unsustainable trade have accelerated extinction rates in all vertebrates, including reptiles. Preventing reptile extinctions will require humans to acknowledge these losses and develop ex situ and in situ plans to preserve them. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are management tools used to protect numerous vertebrate taxa; however, progress in developing ART for reptiles has lagged. Creating functional and sustainable reptile ART will strengthen our conservation capacity by capturing genetic material from select individuals to overcome natural or manmade boundaries. Utilising short-term gamete storage and genome resource banking, in conjunction with timed artificial insemination (AI) or ex ovo incubation, could lead to profound advances in reptile conservation, mitigating the loss of reptile biodiversity. In this article, we review ART reptile research completed since the 1970s. Topics include AI, hormonal control of reproduction, gamete collection, gamete storage, and genome resource banking. Additionally, we review the potential application of advanced reproductive methodologies, including in vitro/ex ovo fertilisation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, cloning (somatic cell nuclear transfer), and genetic editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Perry
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, USA; and Mississippi Aquarium, 2100 E Beach Boulevard, Gulfport, MS, USA
| | - Mark A Mitchell
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
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10
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Abstract
Evolutionary developmental biology (evo‐devo) is the study of the evolution of developmental mechanisms. Here, I review some of the theories, models, and laws in evo‐devo, past and present. Nineteenth‐century evo‐devo was dominated by recapitulation theory and archetypes. It also gave us germ layer theory, the vertebral theory of the skull, floral organs as modified leaves, and the “inverted invertebrate” theory, among others. Newer theories and models include the frameshift theory, the genetic toolkit for development, the ABC model of flower development, the developmental hourglass, the zootype, Urbilateria, and the hox code. Some of these new theories show the influence of archetypes and recapitulation. Interestingly, recent studies support the old “primordial leaf,” “inverted invertebrate,” and “segmented head” theories. Furthermore, von Baer's first three laws may now need to be rehabilitated, and the hourglass model modified, in view of what Abzhanov has pointed out about the maternal‐zygotic transition. There are many supposed “laws” of evo‐devo but I argue that these are merely generalizations about trends in particular lineages. I argue that the “body plan” is an archetype, and is often used in such a way that it lacks any scientific meaning. Looking to the future, one challenge for evo‐devo will be to develop new theories and models to accommodate the wealth of new data from high‐throughput sequencing, including single‐cell sequencing. One step in this direction is the use of sophisticated in silico analyses, as in the “transcriptomic hourglass” models. Laws and other universal concepts, past and present, are reviewed. I show that many concepts focus on conserved aspects of development. The puzzle remains as to how embryonic phenotype, natural selection, and developmental mechanisms can be aligned to give an integrated view of evolution and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Richardson
- Sylvius Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
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11
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Royle SR, Tabin CJ, Young JJ. Limb positioning and initiation: An evolutionary context of pattern and formation. Dev Dyn 2021; 250:1264-1279. [PMID: 33522040 PMCID: PMC10623539 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Before limbs or fins, can be patterned and grow they must be initiated. Initiation of the limb first involves designating a portion of lateral plate mesoderm along the flank as the site of the future limb. Following specification, a myriad of cellular and molecular events interact to generate a bud that will grow and form the limb. The past three decades has provided a wealth of understanding on how those events generate the limb bud and how variations in them result in different limb forms. Comparatively, much less attention has been given to the earliest steps of limb formation and what impacts altering the position and initiation of the limb have had on evolution. Here, we first review the processes and pathways involved in these two phases of limb initiation, as determined from amniote model systems. We then broaden our scope to examine how variation in the limb initiation module has contributed to biological diversity in amniotes. Finally, we review what is known about limb initiation in fish and amphibians, and consider what mechanisms are conserved across vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha R Royle
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Clifford J Tabin
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John J Young
- Department of Biology, Simmons University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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12
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Feregrino C, Tschopp P. Assessing evolutionary and developmental transcriptome dynamics in homologous cell types. Dev Dyn 2021; 251:1472-1489. [PMID: 34114716 PMCID: PMC9545966 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During development, complex organ patterns emerge through the precise temporal and spatial specification of different cell types. On an evolutionary timescale, these patterns can change, resulting in morphological diversification. It is generally believed that homologous anatomical structures are built—largely—by homologous cell types. However, whether a common evolutionary origin of such cell types is always reflected in the conservation of their intrinsic transcriptional specification programs is less clear. Results Here, we developed a user‐friendly bioinformatics workflow to detect gene co‐expression modules and test for their conservation across developmental stages and species boundaries. Using a paradigm of morphological diversification, the tetrapod limb, and single‐cell RNA‐sequencing data from two distantly related species, chicken and mouse, we assessed the transcriptional dynamics of homologous cell types during embryonic patterning. With mouse limb data as reference, we identified 19 gene co‐expression modules with varying tissue or cell type‐restricted activities. Testing for co‐expression conservation revealed modules with high evolutionary turnover, while others seemed maintained—to different degrees, in module make‐up, density or connectivity—over developmental and evolutionary timescales. Conclusions We present an approach to identify evolutionary and developmental dynamics in gene co‐expression modules during patterning‐relevant stages of homologous cell type specification using single‐cell RNA‐sequencing data. We present an approach to identify evolutionary and developmental dynamics in gene co‐expression modules during patterning‐relevant stages of homologous cell type specification using single‐cell RNA‐sequencing data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Feregrino
- DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Berlin, Germany. Hannoversche Str. 28, Berlin, Germany
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13
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Armfield BA, Cohn MJ. Single cell transcriptomic analysis of external genitalia reveals complex and sexually dimorphic cell populations in the early genital tubercle. Dev Biol 2021; 477:145-154. [PMID: 34033822 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
External genital organs are among the most recognizable sexually dimorphic characters. The penis and clitoris develop from the embryonic genital tubercle, an outgrowth at the anterior margin of the cloaca that undergoes an extensive period of development in male and female embryos prior to the onset of sexual differentiation. In mice, differentiation into the penis and clitoris begins around embryonic day (E)15.5. Current knowledge of cell types that comprise the genital tubercle is limited to a few studies that have fate mapped derivatives of endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. Here we use single cell transcriptomics to characterize the cell populations in the genital tubercles of male and female mouse embryos at E14.5, approximately 24 h before the onset of sexual differentiation, and we present the first comprehensive atlas of single-cell gene expression during external genital development. Clustering analyses and annotation using marker genes shows 19 distinct cell populations in E14.5 genital tubercles. Mapping of cell clusters to anatomical locations using in situ gene expression patterns revealed granularity of cellular specializations and positional identities. Although E14.5 precedes sexually dimorphic morphogenesis of the genital tubercle, comparative analysis of males and females identified sexual dimorphisms at the single cell level, including male-specific cell clusters with transcriptional signatures of smooth muscle and bone progenitors, both of which are known to be sexually dimorphic in adult genitalia, as well as immune cells. These results provide a new resource for classification of external genital cell types based on gene expression profiles and reveal sex-specific cellular specializations in the early genital tubercle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke A Armfield
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Martin J Cohn
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA; Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
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14
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Jia A, Xu L, Wang Y. Venn diagrams in bioinformatics. Brief Bioinform 2021; 22:6220174. [PMID: 33839742 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbab108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Venn diagrams are widely used tools for graphical depiction of the unions, intersections and distinctions among multiple datasets, and a large number of programs have been developed to generate Venn diagrams for applications in various research areas. However, a comprehensive review comparing these tools has not been previously performed. In this review, we collect Venn diagram generators (i.e. tools for visualizing the relationships of input lists within a Venn diagram) and Venn diagram application tools (i.e. tools for analyzing the relationships between biological data and visualizing them in a Venn diagram) to compare their functional capacity as follows: ability to generate high-quality diagrams; maximum datasets handled by each program; input data formats; output diagram styles and image output formats. We also evaluate the picture beautification parameters of the Venn diagram generators in terms of the graphical layout and briefly describe the functional characteristics of the most popular Venn diagram application tools. Finally, we discuss the challenges in improving Venn diagram application tools and provide a perspective on Venn diagram applications in bioinformatics. Our aim is to assist users in selecting suitable tools for analyzing and visualizing user-defined datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anqiang Jia
- Biological Science Research Center at Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Ling Xu
- University of California, Berkeley 400715, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Biological Science Research Center at Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
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15
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Saxena A, Cooper KL. Diversification of the vertebrate limb: sequencing the events. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2021; 69:42-47. [PMID: 33647833 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Naturalists leading up to the early 20th century were captivated by the diversity of limb form and function and described its development in a variety of species. The advent of discoveries in genetics followed by molecular biology led to focused efforts in few 'model' species, namely mouse and chicken, to understand conserved mechanisms of limb axis specification and development of the musculoskeletal system. 'Non-traditional' species largely fell by the wayside until their recent resurgence into the spotlight with advances in next-generation sequencing technologies (NGS). In this review, we focus on how the use of NGS has provided insights into the development, loss, and diversification of amniote limbs. Coupled with advances in chromatin interrogation techniques and functional tests in vivo, NGS is opening possibilities to understand the genetic mechanisms that govern the remarkable radiation of vertebrate limb form and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Saxena
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kimberly L Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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16
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Abstract
The development and evolution of multicellular body plans is complex. Many distinct organs and body parts must be reproduced at each generation, and those that are traceable over long time scales are considered homologous. Among the most pressing and least understood phenomena in evolutionary biology is the mode by which new homologs, or "novelties" are introduced to the body plan and whether the developmental changes associated with such evolution deserve special treatment. In this chapter, we address the concepts of homology and evolutionary novelty through the lens of development. We present a series of case studies, within insects and vertebrates, from which we propose a developmental model of multicellular organ identity. With this model in hand, we make predictions regarding the developmental evolution of body plans and highlight the need for more integrative analysis of developing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Z McKenna
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Günter P Wagner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.
| | - Kimberly L Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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17
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Stadler HS, Peters CA, Sturm RM, Baker LA, Best CJM, Bird VY, Geller F, Hoshizaki DK, Knudsen TB, Norton JM, Romao RLP, Cohn MJ. Meeting report on the NIDDK/AUA Workshop on Congenital Anomalies of External Genitalia: challenges and opportunities for translational research. J Pediatr Urol 2020; 16:791-804. [PMID: 33097421 PMCID: PMC7885182 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2020.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Congenital anomalies of the external genitalia (CAEG) are a prevalent and serious public health concern with lifelong impacts on the urinary function, sexual health, fertility, tumor development, and psychosocial wellbeing of affected individuals. Complications of treatment are frequent, and data reflecting long-term outcomes in adulthood are limited. To identify a path forward to improve treatments and realize the possibility of preventing CAEG, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the American Urological Association convened researchers from a range of disciplines to coordinate research efforts to fully understand the different etiologies of these common conditions, subsequent variation in clinical phenotypes, and best practices for long term surgical success. Meeting participants concluded that a central data hub for clinical evaluations, including collection of DNA samples from patients and their parents, and short interviews to determine familial penetrance (small pedigrees), would accelerate research in this field. Such a centralized datahub will advance efforts to develop detailed multi-dimensional phenotyping and will enable access to genome sequence analyses and associated metadata to define the genetic bases for these conditions. Inclusion of tissue samples and integration of clinical studies with basic research using human cells and animal models will advance efforts to identify the developmental mechanisms that are disrupted during development and will add cellular and molecular granularity to phenotyping CAEG. While the discussion focuses heavily on hypospadias, this can be seen as a potential template for other conditions in the realm of CAEG, including cryptorchidism or the exstrophy-epispadias complex. Taken together with long-term clinical follow-up, these data could inform surgical choices and improve likelihood for long-term success.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Scott Stadler
- Department of Skeletal Biology, Shriners Hospital for Children, 3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Portland, 97239, OR, USA.
| | - Craig A Peters
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, 75390-9110, TX, USA; Pediatric Urology, Children's Health System Texas, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, 75390, TX, USA.
| | - Renea M Sturm
- Department of Urology, Division of Pediatric Urology, University of California Los Angeles, 200 Medical Plaza #170, Los Angeles, 90095, CA, USA
| | - Linda A Baker
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, 75390-9110, TX, USA
| | - Carolyn J M Best
- American Urological Association, 1000 Corporate Boulevard, Linthicum, 21090, MD, USA
| | - Victoria Y Bird
- Department of Urology, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32610, FL, USA; National Medical Association and Research Group, 5745 SW 75th Street, #507, Gainesville, 32608, FL, USA
| | - Frank Geller
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, 5 Artillerivej, Copenhagen S, DK-2300, Denmark
| | - Deborah K Hoshizaki
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, 20892, MD, USA
| | - Thomas B Knudsen
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Research Triangle Park, 27711, NC, USA
| | - Jenna M Norton
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, 20892, MD, USA
| | - Rodrigo L P Romao
- Departments of Surgery and Urology, IWK Health Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Martin J Cohn
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Department of Biology, And UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, PO Box 103610, Gainesville, 32610, FL, USA.
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18
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Baskin L, Sinclair A, Derpinghaus A, Cao M, Li Y, Overland M, Aksel S, Cunha GR. Estrogens and development of the mouse and human external genitalia. Differentiation 2020; 118:82-106. [PMID: 33092894 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The Jost hypothesis states that androgens are necessary for normal development of the male external genitalia. In this review, we explore the complementary hypothesis that estrogens can elicit abnormal development of male external genitalia. Herein, we review available data in both humans and mice on the deleterious effects of estrogen on external genitalia development, especially during the "window of susceptibility" to exogenous estrogens. The male and female developing external genitalia in both the human and mouse express ESR1 and ESR2, along with the androgen receptor (AR). Human clinical data suggests that exogenous estrogens can adversely affect normal penile and urethral development, resulting in hypospadias. Experimental mouse data also strongly supports the idea that exogenous estrogens cause penile and urethral defects. Despite key differences, estrogen-induced hypospadias in the mouse displays certain morphogenetic homologies to human hypospadias, including disruption of urethral fusion and preputial abnormalities. Timing of estrogenic exposure, or the "window of susceptibility," is an important consideration when examining malformations of the external genitalia in both humans and mice. In addition to a review of normal human and mouse external genital development, this article aims to review the present data on the role of estrogens in normal and abnormal development of the mouse and human internal and external genitalia. Based on the current literature for both species, we conclude that estrogen-dependent processes may play a role in abnormal genital development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Baskin
- University of California, San Francisco, Division of Pediatric Urology, Department of Urology, 550 16th St, 5th Floor, Mission Hall Pediatric Urology, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Adriane Sinclair
- University of California, San Francisco, Division of Pediatric Urology, Department of Urology, 550 16th St, 5th Floor, Mission Hall Pediatric Urology, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Amber Derpinghaus
- University of California, San Francisco, Division of Pediatric Urology, Department of Urology, 550 16th St, 5th Floor, Mission Hall Pediatric Urology, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Mei Cao
- University of California, San Francisco, Division of Pediatric Urology, Department of Urology, 550 16th St, 5th Floor, Mission Hall Pediatric Urology, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Yi Li
- University of California, San Francisco, Division of Pediatric Urology, Department of Urology, 550 16th St, 5th Floor, Mission Hall Pediatric Urology, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Maya Overland
- University of California, San Francisco, Division of Pediatric Urology, Department of Urology, 550 16th St, 5th Floor, Mission Hall Pediatric Urology, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Sena Aksel
- University of California, San Francisco, Division of Pediatric Urology, Department of Urology, 550 16th St, 5th Floor, Mission Hall Pediatric Urology, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Gerald R Cunha
- University of California, San Francisco, Division of Pediatric Urology, Department of Urology, 550 16th St, 5th Floor, Mission Hall Pediatric Urology, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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19
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Rasys AM, Park S, Ball RE, Alcala AJ, Lauderdale JD, Menke DB. CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing in Lizards through Microinjection of Unfertilized Oocytes. Cell Rep 2020; 28:2288-2292.e3. [PMID: 31461646 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.07.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing has enabled the direct manipulation of gene function in many species. However, the reproductive biology of reptiles presents unique barriers for the use of this technology, and there are no reptiles with effective methods for targeted mutagenesis. Here, we demonstrate that the microinjection of immature oocytes within the ovaries of Anolis sagrei females enables the production of CRISPR-Cas9-induced mutations. This method is capable of producing F0 embryos and hatchlings with monoallelic or biallelic mutations. We demonstrate that these mutations can be transmitted through the germline to establish genetically modified strains of lizards. Direct tests of gene function can now be performed in Anolis lizards, an important model for studies of reptile evolution and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Rasys
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Sungdae Park
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Rebecca E Ball
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Aaron J Alcala
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - James D Lauderdale
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Neuroscience Division of the Biomedical Health Sciences Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Douglas B Menke
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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20
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Amândio AR, Lopez-Delisle L, Bolt CC, Mascrez B, Duboule D. A complex regulatory landscape involved in the development of mammalian external genitals. eLife 2020; 9:e52962. [PMID: 32301703 PMCID: PMC7185996 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental genes are often controlled by large regulatory landscapes matching topologically associating domains (TADs). In various contexts, the associated chromatin backbone is modified by specific enhancer-enhancer and enhancer-promoter interactions. We used a TAD flanking the mouse HoxD cluster to study how these regulatory architectures are formed and deconstructed once their function achieved. We describe this TAD as a functional unit, with several regulatory sequences acting together to elicit a transcriptional response. With one exception, deletion of these sequences didn't modify the transcriptional outcome, a result at odds with a conventional view of enhancer function. The deletion and inversion of a CTCF site located near these regulatory sequences did not affect transcription of the target gene. Slight modifications were nevertheless observed, in agreement with the loop extrusion model. We discuss these unexpected results considering both conventional and alternative explanations relying on the accumulation of poorly specific factors within the TAD backbone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Amândio
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Lucille Lopez-Delisle
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Christopher Chase Bolt
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Bénédicte Mascrez
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
| | - Denis Duboule
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
- Collège de FranceParisFrance
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21
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Luxey M, Berki B, Heusermann W, Fischer S, Tschopp P. Development of the chick wing and leg neuromuscular systems and their plasticity in response to changes in digit numbers. Dev Biol 2020; 458:133-140. [PMID: 31697937 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The tetrapod limb has long served as a paradigm to study vertebrate pattern formation. During limb morphogenesis, a number of distinct tissue types are patterned and subsequently must be integrated to form coherent functional units. For example, the musculoskeletal apparatus of the limb requires the coordinated development of the skeletal elements, connective tissues, muscles and nerves. Here, using light-sheet microscopy and 3D-reconstructions, we concomitantly follow the developmental emergence of nerve and muscle patterns in chicken wings and legs, two appendages with highly specialized locomotor outputs. Despite a comparable flexor/extensor-arrangement of their embryonic muscles, wings and legs show a rotated innervation pattern for their three main motor nerve branches. To test the functional implications of these distinct neuromuscular topologies, we challenge their ability to adapt and connect to an experimentally altered skeletal pattern in the distal limb, the autopod. Our results show that, unlike autopod muscle groups, motor nerves are unable to fully adjust to a changed peripheral organisation, potentially constrained by their original projection routes. As the autopod has undergone substantial morphological diversifications over the course of tetrapod evolution, our results have implications for the coordinated modification of the distal limb musculoskeletal apparatus, as well as for our understanding of the varying degrees of motor functionality associated with human hand and foot malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maëva Luxey
- DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bianka Berki
- DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Sabrina Fischer
- DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Tschopp
- DUW Zoology, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051, Basel, Switzerland.
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22
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Tarulli GA, Pask AJ, Renfree MB. Discrete Hedgehog Factor Expression and Action in the Developing Phallus. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1237. [PMID: 32059607 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypospadias is a failure of urethral closure within the penis occurring in 1 in 125 boys at birth and is increasing in frequency. While paracrine hedgehog signalling is implicated in the process of urethral closure, how these factors act on a tissue level to execute closure itself is unknown. This study aimed to understand the role of different hedgehog signalling members in urethral closure. The tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) provides a unique system to understand urethral closure as it allows direct treatment of developing offspring because mothers give birth to young before urethral closure begins. Wallaby pouch young were treated with vehicle or oestradiol (known to induce hypospadias in males) and samples subjected to RNAseq for differential expression and gene ontology analyses. Localisation of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) and Indian Hedgehog (IHH), as well as the transcription factor SOX9, were assessed in normal phallus tissue using immunofluorescence. Normal tissue culture explants were treated with SHH or IHH and analysed for AR, ESR1, PTCH1, GLI2, SOX9, IHH and SHH expression by qPCR. Gene ontology analysis showed enrichment for bone differentiation terms in male samples compared with either female samples or males treated with oestradiol. Expression of SHH and IHH localised to specific tissue areas during development, akin to their compartmentalised expression in developing bone. Treatment of phallus explants with SHH or IHH induced factor-specific expression of genes associated with bone differentiation. This reveals a potential developmental interaction involved in urethral closure that mimics bone differentiation and incorporates discrete hedgehog activity within the developing phallus and phallic urethra.
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23
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De-Lima AKS, Paschoaletto IP, Pinho LO, Benmamman P, Klaczko J. Are hemipenial traits under sexual selection in Tropidurus lizards? Hemipenial development, male and female genital morphology, allometry and coevolution in Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata: Tropiduridae). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219053. [PMID: 31291313 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Male genitalia show considerable morphological variation among animals with internal fertilization and exhibit a high level of evolvability in lizards. Studies have suggested that sexual selection may be driving hemipenial evolution against natural selection and pleiotropy. Given the direct interaction of male and female genitals, coevolution of the aforementioned is posited by several hypotheses of genital evolution. However, there are only a few studies on female genitalia morphology, resulting in a lack of coevolution description and understanding. Studies of allometric patterns have filled some gaps by answering questions about male genital evolution and could prove a powerful tool in clarifying coevolution between male and female genitals. Here, we studied the genital morphology of Tropidurus torquatus. This Tropidurus lizard species is an emerging Neotropical lizard model organism notable for having enlarged hemipenial lobes in contrast with other tropidurid species. In this study, we analyzed hemipenial development in early and late stages, describing both morphological variation and ontogenetic allometric pattern. We used quantitative traits to describe male and female genital morphology, examining their static allometric patterns and correspondence. Our study provides a quantitative discussion on the evolution of lizard genitals, suggesting that sexual selection plays an important role in genital evolution in Tropidurus lizards.
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24
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Boer EF, Van Hollebeke HF, Park S, Infante CR, Menke DB, Shapiro MD. Pigeon foot feathering reveals conserved limb identity networks. Dev Biol 2019; 454:128-44. [PMID: 31247188 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The tetrapod limb is a stunning example of evolutionary diversity, with dramatic variation not only among distantly related species, but also between the serially homologous forelimbs (FLs) and hindlimbs (HLs) within species. Despite this variation, highly conserved genetic and developmental programs underlie limb development and identity in all tetrapods, raising the question of how limb diversification is generated from a conserved toolkit. In some breeds of domestic pigeon, shifts in the expression of two conserved limb identity transcription factors, PITX1 and TBX5, are associated with the formation of feathered HLs with partial FL identity. To determine how modulation of PITX1 and TBX5 expression affects downstream gene expression, we compared the transcriptomes of embryonic limb buds from pigeons with scaled and feathered HLs. We identified a set of differentially expressed genes enriched for genes encoding transcription factors, extracellular matrix proteins, and components of developmental signaling pathways with important roles in limb development. A subset of the genes that distinguish scaled and feathered HLs are also differentially expressed between FL and scaled HL buds in pigeons, pinpointing a set of gene expression changes downstream of PITX1 and TBX5 in the partial transformation from HL to FL identity. We extended our analyses by comparing pigeon limb bud transcriptomes to chicken, anole lizard, and mammalian datasets to identify deeply conserved PITX1- and TBX5-responsive components of the limb identity program. Our analyses reveal a suite of predominantly low-level gene expression changes that are conserved across amniotes to regulate the identity of morphologically distinct limbs.
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25
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Sabarís G, Laiker I, Preger-Ben Noon E, Frankel N. Actors with Multiple Roles: Pleiotropic Enhancers and the Paradigm of Enhancer Modularity. Trends Genet 2019; 35:423-433. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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26
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Liang C, Musser JM, Cloutier A, Prum RO, Wagner GP. Pervasive Correlated Evolution in Gene Expression Shapes Cell and Tissue Type Transcriptomes. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 10:538-552. [PMID: 29373668 PMCID: PMC5800078 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evy016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution and diversification of cell types is a key means by which animal complexity evolves. Recently, hierarchical clustering and phylogenetic methods have been applied to RNA-seq data to infer cell type evolutionary history and homology. A major challenge for interpreting this data is that cell type transcriptomes may not evolve independently due to correlated changes in gene expression. This nonindependence can arise for several reasons, such as common regulatory sequences for genes expressed in multiple tissues, that is, pleiotropic effects of mutations. We develop a model to estimate the level of correlated transcriptome evolution (LCE) and apply it to different data sets. The results reveal pervasive correlated transcriptome evolution among different cell and tissue types. In general, tissues related by morphology or developmental lineage exhibit higher LCE than more distantly related tissues. Analyzing new data collected from bird skin appendages suggests that LCE decreases with the phylogenetic age of tissues compared, with recently evolved tissues exhibiting the highest LCE. Furthermore, we show correlated evolution can alter patterns of hierarchical clustering, causing different tissue types from the same species to cluster together. To identify genes that most strongly contribute to the correlated evolution signal, we performed a gene-wise estimation of LCE on a data set with ten species. Removing genes with high LCE allows for accurate reconstruction of evolutionary relationships among tissue types. Our study provides a statistical method to measure and account for correlated gene expression evolution when interpreting comparative transcriptome data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Liang
- Yale Systems Biology Institute, West Haven, Connecticut.,Interdepartmental Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University.,Integrated Graduate Program in Physical and Engineering Biology, Yale University
| | - Jacob M Musser
- Yale Systems Biology Institute, West Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Developmental Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alison Cloutier
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard O Prum
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University.,Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Günter P Wagner
- Yale Systems Biology Institute, West Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
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27
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Kruepunga N, Hikspoors JPJM, Mekonen HK, Mommen GMC, Meemon K, Weerachatyanukul W, Asuvapongpatana S, Eleonore Köhler S, Lamers WH. The development of the cloaca in the human embryo. J Anat 2018; 233:724-739. [PMID: 30294789 PMCID: PMC6231168 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Subdivision of cloaca into urogenital and anorectal passages has remained controversial because of disagreements about the identity and role of the septum developing between both passages. This study aimed to clarify the development of the cloaca using a quantitative 3D morphological approach in human embryos of 4–10 post‐fertilisation weeks. Embryos were visualised with Amira 3D‐reconstruction and Cinema 4D‐remodelling software. Distances between landmarks were computed with Amira3D software. Our main finding was a pronounced difference in growth between rapidly expanding central and ventral parts, and slowly or non‐growing cranial and dorsal parts. The entrance of the Wolffian duct into the cloaca proved a stable landmark that remained linked to the position of vertebra S3. Suppressed growth in the cranial cloaca resulted in an apparent craniodorsal migration of the entrance of the Wolffian duct, while suppressed growth in the dorsal cloaca changed the entrance of the hindgut from cranial to dorsal on the cloaca. Transformation of this ‘end‐to‐end’ into an ‘end‐to‐side’ junction produced temporary ‘lateral (Rathke's) folds’. The persistent difference in dorsoventral growth straightened the embryonic caudal body axis and concomitantly extended the frontally oriented ‘urorectal (Tourneux's) septum’ caudally between the ventral urogenital and dorsal anorectal parts of the cloaca. The dorsoventral growth difference also divided the cloacal membrane into a well‐developed ventral urethral plate and a thin dorsal cloacal membrane proper, which ruptured at 6.5 weeks. The expansion of the pericloacal mesenchyme followed the dorsoventral growth difference and produced the genital tubercle. Dysregulation of dorsal cloacal development is probably an important cause of anorectal malformations: too little regressive development may result in anorectal agenesis, and too much regression in stenosis or atresia of the remaining part of the dorsal cloaca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nutmethee Kruepunga
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jill P J M Hikspoors
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Hayelom K Mekonen
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Greet M C Mommen
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Krai Meemon
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - S Eleonore Köhler
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter H Lamers
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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28
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Sun B, Fan P, Liao M, Zhang Y. Modeling endophilin-mediated Aβ disposal in glioma cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 2018; 1865:1385-1396. [PMID: 30049645 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2018.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy dysregulation has emerged in age-related neurological diseases (Ulland et al.; Matheoud et al.; Ashkenazi et al.). Alzheimer Disease (AD), the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques caused by aberrant Aβ metabolism (Qiang et al.; Sevigny et al.; Ittner et al.). Glia constitute the brain immune system and ingest extracellular Aβ for degradation via the autophagy-lysosome machinery (Ries and Sastre; Cho et al.). Here, we model the molecular rationale for this clearance process in glioma cells by showing that miR34a inhibits autophagy-mediated disposal of Aβ fibrils and identifying two novel direct targets of miR34a, endophilin-3 and cathepsin B (CTSB, a previously reported enzyme for Aβ degrading (Sun et al.)). Bioinformatics analyses revealed that endophilin-3 expresses at a significantly lower level in neurodegenerative diseases. Its gain-of-function substantially promotes both uptake and degradation of Aβ while small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated endophilin-3 knockdown slowed down Aβ clearance and blocked autolysosome formation. Mechanistically, gene ontology (GO) analysis of the endophilin-3 interactome identified by mass spectrometry uncovered enriched components involved in actin binding (with the highest score). Importantly, we validated that the actin-binding protein phostensin interacted with endophilin-3. Phostensin knockdown restored endophilin-3-mediated up-regulation of Aβ clearance. Thus, our findings indicate that miR34a inhibits Aβ clearance by targeting endophilin-3 and CTSB at multiple steps including uptake and autophagy-mediated degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Sun
- Key Lab in Healthy Science and Technology, Division of Life Science, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Ping Fan
- Key Lab in Healthy Science and Technology, Division of Life Science, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Meijian Liao
- Key Lab in Healthy Science and Technology, Division of Life Science, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Yaou Zhang
- Key Lab in Healthy Science and Technology, Division of Life Science, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China; Open FIESTA Center, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China.
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29
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Whiteley SL, Holleley CE, Ruscoe WA, Castelli M, Whitehead DL, Lei J, Georges A, Weisbecker V. Sex determination mode does not affect body or genital development of the central bearded dragon ( Pogona vitticeps). EvoDevo 2017; 8:25. [PMID: 29225770 PMCID: PMC5716226 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-017-0087-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The development of male- or female-specific phenotypes in squamates is typically controlled by either temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) or chromosome-based genetic sex determination (GSD). However, while sex determination is a major switch in individual phenotypic development, it is unknownhow evolutionary transitions between GSD and TSD might impact on the evolution of squamate phenotypes, particularly the fast-evolving and diverse genitalia. Here, we take the unique opportunity of studying the impact of both sex determination mechanisms on the embryological development of the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps). This is possible because of the transitional sex determination system of this species, in which genetically male individuals reverse sex at high incubation temperatures. This can trigger the evolutionary transition of GSD to TSD in a single generation, making P. vitticeps an ideal model organism for comparing the effects of both sex determination processes in the same species. Results We conducted four incubation experiments on 265 P. vitticeps eggs, covering two temperature regimes ("normal" at 28 °C and "sex reversing" at 36 °C) and the two maternal sexual genotypes (concordant ZW females or sex-reversed ZZ females). From this, we provide the first detailed staging system for the species, with a focus on genital and limb development. This was augmented by a new sex chromosome identification methodology for P. vitticeps that is non-destructive to the embryo. We found a strong correlation between embryo age and embryo stage. Aside from faster growth in 36 °C treatments, body and external genital development was entirely unperturbed by temperature, sex reversal or maternal sexual genotype. Unexpectedly, all females developed hemipenes (the genital phenotype of adult male P. vitticeps), which regress close to hatching. Conclusions The tight correlation between embryo age and embryo stage allows the precise targeting of specific developmental periods in the emerging field of molecular research on P. vitticeps. The stability of genital development in all treatments suggests that the two sex-determining mechanisms have little impact on genital evolution, despite their known role in triggering genital development. Hemipenis retention in developing female P. vitticeps, together with frequent occurrences of hemipenis-like structures during development in other squamate species, raises the possibility of a bias towards hemipenis formation in the ancestral developmental programme for squamate genitalia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Whiteley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia.,Australian National Wildlife Collection, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO, Canberra, ACT Australia.,Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT Australia
| | - Clare E Holleley
- Australian National Wildlife Collection, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO, Canberra, ACT Australia.,Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT Australia
| | - Wendy A Ruscoe
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT Australia
| | - Meghan Castelli
- Australian National Wildlife Collection, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO, Canberra, ACT Australia.,Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT Australia
| | - Darryl L Whitehead
- School of Biomedical Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Juan Lei
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Arthur Georges
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT Australia
| | - Vera Weisbecker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
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30
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Abstract
The principle of homology is central to conceptualizing the comparative aspects of morphological evolution. The distinctions between homologous or non-homologous structures have become blurred, however, as modern evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) has shown that novel features often result from modification of pre-existing developmental modules, rather than arising completely de novo. With this realization in mind, the term 'deep homology' was coined, in recognition of the remarkably conserved gene expression during the development of certain animal structures that would not be considered homologous by previous strict definitions. At its core, it can help to formulate an understanding of deeper layers of ontogenetic conservation for anatomical features that lack any clear phylogenetic continuity. Here, we review deep homology and related concepts in the context of a gene expression-based homology discussion. We then focus on how these conceptual frameworks have profited from the recent rise of high-throughput next-generation sequencing. These techniques have greatly expanded the range of organisms amenable to such studies. Moreover, they helped to elevate the traditional gene-by-gene comparison to a transcriptome-wide level. We will end with an outlook on the next challenges in the field and how technological advances might provide exciting new strategies to tackle these questions.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evo-devo in the genomics era, and the origins of morphological diversity'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Tschopp
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Clifford J Tabin
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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31
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Leal F, Cohn MJ. Developmental, genetic, and genomic insights into the evolutionary loss of limbs in snakes. Genesis 2017; 56. [DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francisca Leal
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32610
- Department of Biology; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32610
| | - Martin J. Cohn
- Department of Biology; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32610
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32610
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32
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Infante CR, Rasys AM, Menke DB. Appendages and gene regulatory networks: Lessons from the limbless. Genesis 2017; 56. [PMID: 29076617 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Among squamate reptiles, dozens of lineages have independently evolved complete or partial limb reduction. This remarkable convergence of limbless and limb-reduced phenotypes provides multiple natural replicates of different ages to explore the evolution and development of the vertebrate limb and the gene regulatory network that controls its formation. The most successful and best known of the limb-reduced squamates are snakes, which evolved a limb-reduced body form more than 100 million years ago. Recent studies have revealed the unexpected finding that many ancient limb enhancers are conserved in the genomes of snakes. Analyses in limbed animals show that many of these limb enhancers are also active during development of the phallus, suggesting that these enhancers may have been retained in snakes due their importance in regulating transcription in the external genitalia. This hypothesis is substantiated by functional tests of snake enhancers, which demonstrate that snake enhancer elements have lost limb function while retaining genital enhancer function. The large degree of overlap in the gene regulatory networks deployed during limb and phallus development may act to constrain the divergence of shared gene network components and the evolution of appendage morphology. Future studies will reveal whether limb regulatory elements have undergone similar functional changes in other lineages of limb-reduced squamates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos R Infante
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721
| | - Ashley M Rasys
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602.,Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
| | - Douglas B Menke
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
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33
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Klaczko J, Gilman CA, Irschick DJ. Hemipenis shape and hindlimb size are highly correlated in Anolis lizards. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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34
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Matsubara Y, Hirasawa T, Egawa S, Hattori A, Suganuma T, Kohara Y, Nagai T, Tamura K, Kuratani S, Kuroiwa A, Suzuki T. Anatomical integration of the sacral-hindlimb unit coordinated by GDF11 underlies variation in hindlimb positioning in tetrapods. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:1392-1399. [PMID: 29046533 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0247-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Elucidating how body parts from different primordia are integrated during development is essential for understanding the nature of morphological evolution. In tetrapod evolution, while the position of the hindlimb has diversified along with the vertebral formula, the mechanism responsible for this coordination has not been well understood. However, this synchronization suggests the presence of an evolutionarily conserved developmental mechanism that coordinates the positioning of the hindlimb skeleton derived from the lateral plate mesoderm with that of the sacral vertebrae derived from the somites. Here we show that GDF11 secreted from the posterior axial mesoderm is a key factor in the integration of sacral vertebrae and hindlimb positioning by inducing Hox gene expression in two different primordia. Manipulating the onset of GDF11 activity altered the position of the hindlimb in chicken embryos, indicating that the onset of Gdf11 expression is responsible for the coordinated positioning of the sacral vertebrae and hindlimbs. Through comparative analysis with other vertebrate embryos, we also show that each tetrapod species has a unique onset timing of Gdf11 expression, which is tightly correlated with the anteroposterior levels of the hindlimb bud. We conclude that the evolutionary diversity of hindlimb positioning resulted from heterochronic shifts in Gdf11 expression, which led to coordinated shifts in the sacral-hindlimb unit along the anteroposterior axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiyuki Matsubara
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan
| | | | - Shiro Egawa
- Department of Developmental Biology and Neurosciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Ayumi Hattori
- Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takaya Suganuma
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Yuhei Kohara
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Nagai
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Koji Tamura
- Department of Developmental Biology and Neurosciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | | | - Atsushi Kuroiwa
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan.
| | - Takayuki Suzuki
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan.
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35
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Maier JA, Rivas-Astroza M, Deng J, Dowling A, Oboikovitz P, Cao X, Behringer RR, Cretekos CJ, Rasweiler JJ, Zhong S, Sears KE. Transcriptomic insights into the genetic basis of mammalian limb diversity. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:86. [PMID: 28335721 PMCID: PMC5364624 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-0902-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background From bat wings to whale flippers, limb diversification has been crucial to the evolutionary success of mammals. We performed the first transcriptome-wide study of limb development in multiple species to explore the hypothesis that mammalian limb diversification has proceeded through the differential expression of conserved shared genes, rather than by major changes to limb patterning. Specifically, we investigated the manner in which the expression of shared genes has evolved within and among mammalian species. Results We assembled and compared transcriptomes of bat, mouse, opossum, and pig fore- and hind limbs at the ridge, bud, and paddle stages of development. Results suggest that gene expression patterns exhibit larger variation among species during later than earlier stages of limb development, while within species results are more mixed. Consistent with the former, results also suggest that genes expressed at later developmental stages tend to have a younger evolutionary age than genes expressed at earlier stages. A suite of key limb-patterning genes was identified as being differentially expressed among the homologous limbs of all species. However, only a small subset of shared genes is differentially expressed in the fore- and hind limbs of all examined species. Similarly, a small subset of shared genes is differentially expressed within the fore- and hind limb of a single species and among the forelimbs of different species. Conclusions Taken together, results of this study do not support the existence of a phylotypic period of limb development ending at chondrogenesis, but do support the hypothesis that the hierarchical nature of development translates into increasing variation among species as development progresses. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-017-0902-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Maier
- School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, 505 S Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Marcelo Rivas-Astroza
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jenny Deng
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Anna Dowling
- School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, 505 S Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Paige Oboikovitz
- School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, 505 S Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Xiaoyi Cao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Richard R Behringer
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Chris J Cretekos
- Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, 921 South 8th Avenue, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA
| | - John J Rasweiler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson, Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA
| | - Sheng Zhong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Karen E Sears
- School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, 505 S Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA. .,Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, 1206 W Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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36
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Pantalacci S, Guéguen L, Petit C, Lambert A, Peterkovà R, Sémon M. Transcriptomic signatures shaped by cell proportions shed light on comparative developmental biology. Genome Biol 2017; 18:29. [PMID: 28202034 PMCID: PMC5312534 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-017-1157-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Comparative transcriptomics can answer many questions in developmental and evolutionary developmental biology. Most transcriptomic studies start by showing global patterns of variation in transcriptomes that differ between species or organs through developmental time. However, little is known about the kinds of expression differences that shape these patterns. Results We compared transcriptomes during the development of two morphologically distinct serial organs, the upper and lower first molars of the mouse. We found that these two types of teeth largely share the same gene expression dynamics but that three major transcriptomic signatures distinguish them, all of which are shaped by differences in the relative abundance of different cell types. First, lower/upper molar differences are maintained throughout morphogenesis and stem from differences in the relative abundance of mesenchyme and from constant differences in gene expression within tissues. Second, there are clear time-shift differences in the transcriptomes of the two molars related to cusp tissue abundance. Third, the transcriptomes differ most during early-mid crown morphogenesis, corresponding to exaggerated morphogenetic processes in the upper molar involving fewer mitotic cells but more migrating cells. From these findings, we formulate hypotheses about the mechanisms enabling the two molars to reach different phenotypes. We also successfully applied our approach to forelimb and hindlimb development. Conclusions Gene expression in a complex tissue reflects not only transcriptional regulation but also abundance of different cell types. This knowledge provides valuable insights into the cellular processes underpinning differences in organ development. Our approach should be applicable to most comparative developmental contexts. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13059-017-1157-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Pantalacci
- UnivLyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, 15 parvis Descartes, F-69007, Lyon, France.
| | - Laurent Guéguen
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive (LBBE), Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Coraline Petit
- UnivLyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, 15 parvis Descartes, F-69007, Lyon, France
| | - Anne Lambert
- UnivLyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, 15 parvis Descartes, F-69007, Lyon, France
| | - Renata Peterkovà
- Department of Teratology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences AS CR, Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Sémon
- UnivLyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, 15 parvis Descartes, F-69007, Lyon, France.
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37
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Tickle C, Urrutia AO. Perspectives on the history of evo-devo and the contemporary research landscape in the genomics era. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:20150473. [PMID: 27994116 PMCID: PMC5182407 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental question in biology is how the extraordinary range of living organisms arose. In this theme issue, we celebrate how evolutionary studies on the origins of morphological diversity have changed over the past 350 years since the first publication of the Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society Current understanding of this topic is enriched by many disciplines, including anatomy, palaeontology, developmental biology, genetics and genomics. Development is central because it is the means by which genetic information of an organism is translated into morphology. The discovery of the genetic basis of development has revealed how changes in form can be inherited, leading to the emergence of the field known as evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo). Recent approaches include imaging, quantitative morphometrics and, in particular, genomics, which brings a new dimension. Articles in this issue illustrate the contemporary evo-devo field by considering general principles emerging from genomics and how this and other approaches are applied to specific questions about the evolution of major transitions and innovations in morphology, diversification and modification of structures, intraspecific morphological variation and developmental plasticity. Current approaches enable a much broader range of organisms to be studied, thus building a better appreciation of the origins of morphological diversity.This article is part of the themed issue 'Evo-devo in the genomics era, and the origins of morphological diversity'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryll Tickle
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Araxi O Urrutia
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
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38
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Abstract
Anolis lizards , known for their replicated patterns of morphological diversification, are widely studied in the fields of evolution and ecology. As a textbook example of adaptive radiation, this genus has supported decades of intense study in natural history, behavior, morphological evolution, and systematics. Following the publication of the A. carolinensis genome, research on Anolis lizards has expanded into new areas, toward obtaining an understanding the developmental and genetic bases of anole diversity. Here, we discuss recent progress in these areas and the burgeoning methodological toolkit that has been used to elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying anatomical variation in this group. We also highlight the growing number of studies that have used A. carolinensis as the representative squamate in large-scale comparison of amniote evolution and development . Finally, we address one of the largest technical challenges biologists are facing in making Anolis a model for integrative studies of ecology, evolution, development , and genetics, the development of ex-ovo culturing techniques that have broad utility. Ultimately, with the power to ask questions across all biological scales in this diverse genus full, anoles are rapidly becoming a uniquely integrative and powerful biological system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Sanger
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA.
| | - Bonnie K Kircher
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
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39
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Rapp Py-Daniel T, Kennedy Soares De-Lima A, Campos Lima F, Pic-Taylor A, Rodrigues Pires Junior O, Sebben A. A Staging Table of Post-Ovipositional Development for the South American Collared LizardTropidurus torquatus(Squamata: Tropiduridae). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2016; 300:277-290. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.23500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- tainã Rapp Py-Daniel
- Laboratory of Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy; Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília; Brasília Brazil
| | | | - Fabiano Campos Lima
- Laboratory of Human and Comparative Anatomy; Institute of Biological Sciences. Federal University of Goiás; Jataí Goiás Brazil
| | - Aline Pic-Taylor
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology; Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília; Brasília Brazil
| | | | - Antonio Sebben
- Laboratory of Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy; Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília; Brasília Brazil
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Suzuki K, Matsumaru D, Matsushita S, Murashima A, Ludwig M, Reutter H, Yamada G. Epispadias and the associated embryopathies: genetic and developmental basis. Clin Genet 2016; 91:247-253. [PMID: 27649475 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The abnormalities in the urogenital organs are frequently observed as human developmental diseases. Among such diseases, the defects in the upper part of external genitalia are rather rare named epispadias. The cleft in the dorsal part of external genitalia often reaches to the urethra. In general, the urogenital abnormalities accompany defects in the adjacent tissues and organs. The ventral body wall and bladder can also be affected in the patients with dorsal defects of the external genitalia. Therefore, such multiple malformations are often classified as bladder exstrophy and epispadias complex (BEEC). Because of the lower frequency of such birth defects and their early embryonic development, animal models are required to analyze the pathogenic mechanisms and the functions of responsible genes. Mutant mouse analyses on various signal cascades for external genitalia and body wall development are increasingly performed. The genetic interactions between growth factors such as bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmp) and transcription factors such as Msx1/2 and Isl1 have been suggested to play roles for such organogenesis. The significance of epithelial-mesenchymal interaction (EMI) is suggested during development. In this review, we describe on such local interactions and developmental regulators. We also introduce some mutant mouse models displaying external genitalia-body wall abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Suzuki
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan
| | - D Matsumaru
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan
| | - S Matsushita
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan
| | - A Murashima
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan.,Division of Human Embryology, Department of Anatomy, Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Japan
| | - M Ludwig
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - H Reutter
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - G Yamada
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan
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Guerreiro I, Gitto S, Novoa A, Codourey J, Nguyen Huynh TH, Gonzalez F, Milinkovitch MC, Mallo M, Duboule D. Reorganisation of Hoxd regulatory landscapes during the evolution of a snake-like body plan. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27476854 PMCID: PMC4969037 DOI: 10.7554/elife.16087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Within land vertebrate species, snakes display extreme variations in their body plan, characterized by the absence of limbs and an elongated morphology. Such a particular interpretation of the basic vertebrate body architecture has often been associated with changes in the function or regulation of Hox genes. Here, we use an interspecies comparative approach to investigate different regulatory aspects at the snake HoxD locus. We report that, unlike in other vertebrates, snake mesoderm-specific enhancers are mostly located within the HoxD cluster itself rather than outside. In addition, despite both the absence of limbs and an altered Hoxd gene regulation in external genitalia, the limb-associated bimodal HoxD chromatin structure is maintained at the snake locus. Finally, we show that snake and mouse orthologous enhancer sequences can display distinct expression specificities. These results show that vertebrate morphological evolution likely involved extensive reorganisation at Hox loci, yet within a generally conserved regulatory framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Guerreiro
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Gitto
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ana Novoa
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Julien Codourey
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Federico Gonzalez
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Moises Mallo
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Denis Duboule
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Abstract
Sex assignment in newborns depends on the anatomy of the external genitalia, despite this stage being the final in embryogenesis. According to the current view, the genital tubercle is the embryonic precursor of penis and clitoris. It originates from mesenchymal tissue, but mesenchymal cells are arranged across the embryonal body and do not have specific androgen receptors. The nature of the signal that initiates early derivation of the indifferent genital tubercle is unknown at present. The aims of this article are to improve surgical management of intersex disorders and investigate the development of the genital tubercle. Clinical examination of 114 females with various forms of DSD revealed ambiguous (bisexual) external genitalia in 73 patients, and 51 of them underwent feminizing surgery. Intersexuality (ambiguity) in 46,XY patients results from disruptors in the pathways of sex steroid hormones or receptors; in 46,XX females arises from excessive levels of androgens. Systematization of intersex disorders distinguishes the karyotype, gonadal morphology, and genital anatomy to provide a differential diagnosis and guide appropriate surgical management. Modified feminizing clitoroplasty with preservation of the dorsal and ventral neurovascular bundles to retain erogenous sensitivity was performed in females with severe virilization (Prader degree III-V). The outgrowth of the genital tubercle and the fusion of the urethral fold proceed in an ordered fashion; but in some cases of ambiguity, there was discordance due to different pathways. Speculation about the derivation of the genital tubercle have discussed with a literature review. The genital tubercle derives from the following 3 layers: the ectodermal glans of the tubercle, the mesodermal corpora cavernosa and the endodermal urogenital groove. According to the new hypothesis, during the indifferent stages, the 5 sacral somites have to recede from their segmentation and disintegrate: the sclerotomes form the pelvic bones, the fused myotomes follow with their genuine neurotomes and the angiotomes join to the corpora cavernosa of the genital tubercle. Sexual differentiation of external genitalia is final in gender embryogenesis, but surprisingly derivation of the indifferent genital tubercle from 5 somites occurs before gonadal and internal organs development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zograb Makiyan
- a Department of Operative Gynaecology , Federal State Scientific Centre of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology after V.I. Kulakov , Moscow , Russia
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Abstract
Intromittent organs-structures that place gametes into a mate for internal fertilization-evolved many times within the animal kingdom, and are remarkable for their extravagant morphological diversity. Some taxa build intromittent organs from tissues with reproductive system antecedents, but others copulate with modified fins, tentacles, or legs: anatomically, these structures can include combinations of stiff tissues, extensible tissues, and muscle. Their mechanical behavior during copulation is also diverse: males in some taxa reorient or protrude genital tissues, others inflate them and change their shape, while still other taxa combine these strategies. For these animals, the ability to ready an intromittent organ for copulation and physically interact with a mate's genital tissues is critical to reproductive success, and may be tied to aspects of postcopulatory selection such as sperm competition and sexual conflict. But we know little about their mechanical behavior during copulation. This review surveys mechanical strategies that animals may use for intromittent organ function during intromission and copulation, and discusses how they may perform when their tissues experience stresses in tension, compression, bending, torsion, or shear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane A Kelly
- *Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Tobin Hall, 135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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Schultz NG, Ingels J, Hillhouse A, Wardwell K, Chang PL, Cheverud JM, Lutz C, Lu L, Williams RW, Dean MD. The Genetic Basis of Baculum Size and Shape Variation in Mice. G3 (Bethesda) 2016; 6:1141-51. [PMID: 26935419 PMCID: PMC4856068 DOI: 10.1534/g3.116.027888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The rapid divergence of male genitalia is a preeminent evolutionary pattern. This rapid divergence is especially striking in the baculum, a bone that occurs in the penis of many mammalian species. Closely related species often display diverse baculum morphology where no other morphological differences can be discerned. While this fundamental pattern of evolution has been appreciated at the level of gross morphology, nearly nothing is known about the genetic basis of size and shape divergence. Quantifying the genetic basis of baculum size and shape variation has been difficult because these structures generally lack obvious landmarks, so comparing them in three dimensions is not straightforward. Here, we develop a novel morphometric approach to quantify size and shape variation from three-dimensional micro-CT scans taken from 369 bacula, representing 75 distinct strains of the BXD family of mice. We identify two quantitative trait loci (QTL) that explain ∼50% of the variance in baculum size, and a third QTL that explains more than 20% of the variance in shape. Together, our study demonstrates that baculum morphology may diverge relatively easily, with mutations at a few loci of large effect that independently modulate size and shape. Based on a combination of bioinformatic investigations and new data on RNA expression, we prioritized these QTL to 16 candidate genes, which have hypothesized roles in bone morphogenesis and may enable future genetic manipulation of baculum morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas G Schultz
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - Jesse Ingels
- University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
| | - Andrew Hillhouse
- Texas A & M, Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College Station, Texas 77845
| | | | - Peter L Chang
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089
| | - James M Cheverud
- Loyola University, Department of Biology, Chicago, Illinois 60626
| | | | - Lu Lu
- University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
| | - Robert W Williams
- University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
| | - Matthew D Dean
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089
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Matsubara Y, Kuroiwa A, Suzuki T. Efficient harvesting methods for early-stage snake and turtle embryos. Dev Growth Differ 2016; 58:241-9. [DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Revised: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiyuki Matsubara
- Division of Biological Science; Graduate School of Science; Nagoya University Furo-cho; Chikusa-ku Nagoya 464-8602 Japan
| | - Atsushi Kuroiwa
- Division of Biological Science; Graduate School of Science; Nagoya University Furo-cho; Chikusa-ku Nagoya 464-8602 Japan
| | - Takayuki Suzuki
- Division of Biological Science; Graduate School of Science; Nagoya University Furo-cho; Chikusa-ku Nagoya 464-8602 Japan
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Villar D, Odom DT. When the Snake Lost Its Limbs, What Did the Mouse and Lizard Say? Dev Cell 2015; 35:3-4. [PMID: 26460939 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this issue of Developmental Cell, Infante et al. (2015) compare regulatory DNA sequences in mice, lizards, and limbless snakes to reveal widespread sharing of enhancer activity in developing limbs and genitalia. Genetic deletion of a limb-genital enhancer demonstrates that common regulatory elements affect development of both appendages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Villar
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.
| | - Duncan T Odom
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK.
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Infante CR, Mihala AG, Park S, Wang JS, Johnson KK, Lauderdale JD, Menke DB. Shared Enhancer Activity in the Limbs and Phallus and Functional Divergence of a Limb-Genital cis-Regulatory Element in Snakes. Dev Cell 2015; 35:107-19. [PMID: 26439399 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Revised: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The amniote phallus and limbs differ dramatically in their morphologies but share patterns of signaling and gene expression in early development. Thus far, the extent to which genital and limb transcriptional networks also share cis-regulatory elements has remained unexplored. We show that many limb enhancers are retained in snake genomes, suggesting that these elements may function in non-limb tissues. Consistent with this, our analysis of cis-regulatory activity in mice and Anolis lizards reveals that patterns of enhancer activity in embryonic limbs and genitalia overlap heavily. In mice, deletion of HLEB, an enhancer of Tbx4, produces defects in hindlimbs and genitalia, establishing the importance of this limb-genital enhancer for development of these different appendages. Further analyses demonstrate that the HLEB of snakes has lost hindlimb enhancer function while retaining genital activity. Our findings identify roles for Tbx4 in genital development and highlight deep similarities in cis-regulatory activity between limbs and genitalia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos R Infante
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | | | - Sungdae Park
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jialiang S Wang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Kenji K Johnson
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - James D Lauderdale
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Douglas B Menke
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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