1
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Weng W, Deng Y, Deviatiiarov R, Hamidi S, Kajikawa E, Gusev O, Kiyonari H, Zhang G, Sheng G. ETV2 induces endothelial, but not hematopoietic, lineage specification in birds. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202402694. [PMID: 38570190 PMCID: PMC10992995 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular system develops from the lateral plate mesoderm. Its three primary cell lineages (hematopoietic, endothelial, and muscular) are specified by the sequential actions of conserved transcriptional factors. ETV2, a master regulator of mammalian hemangioblast development, however, is absent in the chicken genome and acts downstream of NPAS4L in zebrafish. Here, we investigated the epistatic relationship between NPAS4L and ETV2 in avian hemangioblast development. We showed that ETV2 is deleted in all 363 avian genomes analyzed. Mouse ETV2 induced LMO2, but not NPAS4L or SCL, expression in chicken mesoderm. Squamate (lizards, geckos, and snakes) genomes contain both NPAS4L and ETV2 In Madagascar ground gecko, both genes were expressed in developing hemangioblasts. Gecko ETV2 induced only LMO2 in chicken mesoderm. We propose that both NPAS4L and ETV2 were present in ancestral amniote, with ETV2 acting downstream of NPAS4L in endothelial lineage specification. ETV2 may have acted as a pioneer factor by promoting chromatin accessibility of endothelial-specific genes and, in parallel with NPAS4L loss in ancestral mammals, has gained similar function in regulating blood-specific genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Weng
- https://ror.org/02cgss904 International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yuan Deng
- Beijing Genome Institute (BGI), Shenzhen, China
| | - Ruslan Deviatiiarov
- https://ror.org/02cgss904 International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Sofiane Hamidi
- https://ror.org/02cgss904 International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | | | - Oleg Gusev
- https://ror.org/02cgss904 International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
- Life Improvement by Future Technologies (LIFT) Center, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Guojie Zhang
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Evolutionary & Organismal Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guojun Sheng
- https://ror.org/02cgss904 International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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2
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Pavlicev M, Wagner GP. Reading the palimpsest of cell interactions: What questions may we ask of the data? iScience 2024; 27:109670. [PMID: 38665209 PMCID: PMC11043885 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological function depends on the composition and structure of the organism, the latter describing the organization of interactions between parts. While cells in multicellular organisms are capable of a remarkable degree of autonomy, most functions do require cell communication: the coordination of functions (growth, differentiation, and apoptosis), the compartmentalization of cellular processes, and the integration of cells into higher levels of structural organization. A wealth of data on putative cell interactions has become available, yet its biological interpretation depends on our expectations about the structure of interaction networks. Here, we attempt to formulate basic questions to ask when interpreting cell interaction data. We build on the understanding that cells fulfill two general functions: the integrity-maintaining and the organismal service function. We derive the expected patterns of cell interactions considering two intertwined aspects: the functional and the evolutionary. Based on these, we propose guidelines for analysis and interpretation of transcriptional cell-interactome data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Pavlicev
- Unit for Theoretical Biology, Department for Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria
- Complexity Science Hub, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Günter P. Wagner
- Unit for Theoretical Biology, Department for Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria
- Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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3
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Laundon D, Gostling NJ, Sengers BG, Chavatte-Palmer P, Lewis RM. Placental evolution from a three-dimensional and multiscale structural perspective. Evolution 2024; 78:13-25. [PMID: 37974468 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The placenta mediates physiological exchange between the mother and the fetus. In placental mammals, all placentas are descended from a single common ancestor and functions are conserved across species; however, the placenta exhibits radical structural diversity. The selective pressures behind this structural diversity are poorly understood. Traditionally, placental structures have largely been investigated by grouping them into qualitative categories. Assessing the placenta on this basis could be problematic when inferring the relative "efficiency" of a placental configuration to transfer nutrients from mother to fetus. We argue that only by considering placentas as three-dimensional (3D) biological structures, integrated across scales, can the evolutionary questions behind their enormous structural diversity be quantitatively determined. We review the current state of placental evolution from a structural perspective, detail where 3D imaging and computational modeling have been used to gain insight into placental function, and outline an experimental roadmap to answer evolutionary questions from a multiscale 3D structural perspective. Our approach aims to shed light on placental evolution, and can be transferred to evolutionary investigations in any organ system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davis Laundon
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Human Development and Health, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Neil J Gostling
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Bram G Sengers
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, School of Engineering, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Pascale Chavatte-Palmer
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Rohan M Lewis
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Human Development and Health, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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4
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Nuño de la Rosa L. Agency in Reproduction. Evol Dev 2023; 25:418-429. [PMID: 37243316 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
While niche construction theory and developmental approaches to evolution have brought to the front the active role of organisms as ecological and developmental agents, respectively, the role of agents in reproduction has been widely neglected by organismal perspectives of evolution. This paper addresses this problem by proposing an agential view of reproduction and shows that such a perspective has implications for the explanation of the origin of modes of reproduction, the evolvability of reproductive modes, and the coevolution between reproduction and social behavior. After introducing the two prevalent views of agency in evolutionary biology, namely those of organismal agency and selective agency, I contrast these two perspectives as applied to the evolution of animal reproduction. Taking eutherian pregnancy as a case study, I wonder whether organismal approaches to agency forged in the frame of niche construction and developmental plasticity theories can account for the goal-directed activities involved in reproductive processes. I conclude that the agential role of organisms in reproduction is irreducible to developmental and ecological agency, and that reproductive goals need to be included into our definitions of organismal agency. I then explore the evolutionary consequences of endorsing an agential approach to reproduction, showing how such an approach might illuminate our understanding of the evolutionary origination and developmental evolvability of reproductive modes. Finally, I analyze recent studies on the coevolution between viviparity and social behavior in vertebrates to suggest that an agential notion of reproduction can provide unforeseen links between developmental and ecological agency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Nuño de la Rosa
- Department of Logic and Theoretical Philosophy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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5
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Fouks B, Harrison MC, Mikhailova AA, Marchal E, English S, Carruthers M, Jennings EC, Chiamaka EL, Frigard RA, Pippel M, Attardo GM, Benoit JB, Bornberg-Bauer E, Tobe SS. Live-bearing cockroach genome reveals convergent evolutionary mechanisms linked to viviparity in insects and beyond. iScience 2023; 26:107832. [PMID: 37829199 PMCID: PMC10565785 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Live birth (viviparity) has arisen repeatedly and independently among animals. We sequenced the genome and transcriptome of the viviparous Pacific beetle-mimic cockroach and performed comparative analyses with two other viviparous insect lineages, tsetse flies and aphids, to unravel the basis underlying the transition to viviparity in insects. We identified pathways undergoing adaptive evolution for insects, involved in urogenital remodeling, tracheal system, heart development, and nutrient metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis of cockroach and tsetse flies revealed that uterine remodeling and nutrient production are increased and the immune response is altered during pregnancy, facilitating structural and physiological changes to accommodate and nourish the progeny. These patterns of convergent evolution of viviparity among insects, together with similar adaptive mechanisms identified among vertebrates, highlight that the transition to viviparity requires changes in urogenital remodeling, enhanced tracheal and heart development (corresponding to angiogenesis in vertebrates), altered nutrient metabolism, and shifted immunity in animal systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Fouks
- University of Münster, Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Mark C. Harrison
- University of Münster, Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Alina A. Mikhailova
- University of Münster, Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Marchal
- Department of Biology, Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab., Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Naamsestraat 59-Box 2465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sinead English
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | | | - Emily C. Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Ezemuoka L. Chiamaka
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Ronja A. Frigard
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Martin Pippel
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Geoffrey M. Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Joshua B. Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Erich Bornberg-Bauer
- University of Münster, Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Max-Planck-Ring 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephen S. Tobe
- Department of Biology, Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab., Division of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Naamsestraat 59-Box 2465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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6
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Pan X, Ma Z, Sun X, Li H, Zhang T, Zhao C, Wang N, Heller R, Hung Wong W, Wang W, Jiang Y, Wang Y. CNEReg Interprets Ruminant-specific Conserved Non-coding Elements by Developmental Gene Regulatory Network. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 21:632-648. [PMID: 36494035 PMCID: PMC10787174 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The genetic information coded in DNA leads to trait innovation via a gene regulatory network (GRN) in development. Here, we developed a conserved non-coding element interpretation method to integrate multi-omics data into gene regulatory network (CNEReg) to investigate the ruminant multi-chambered stomach innovation. We generated paired expression and chromatin accessibility data during rumen and esophagus development in sheep, and revealed 1601 active ruminant-specific conserved non-coding elements (active-RSCNEs). To interpret the function of these active-RSCNEs, we defined toolkit transcription factors (TTFs) and modeled their regulation on rumen-specific genes via batteries of active-RSCNEs during development. Our developmental GRN revealed 18 TTFs and 313 active-RSCNEs regulating 7 rumen functional modules. Notably, 6 TTFs (OTX1, SOX21, HOXC8, SOX2, TP63, and PPARG), as well as 16 active-RSCNEs, functionally distinguished the rumen from the esophagus. Our study provides a systematic approach to understanding how gene regulation evolves and shapes complex traits by putting evo-devo concepts into practice with developmental multi-omics data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Pan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Department of Medical Research, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhaoxia Ma
- Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Mathematics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xinqi Sun
- Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Mathematics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hui Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530005, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Chen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Nini Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Rasmus Heller
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Wing Hung Wong
- Department of Statistics, Department of Biomedical Data Science, Bio-X Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Wen Wang
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
| | - Yu Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
| | - Yong Wang
- Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Mathematics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.
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7
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Wen J, Ishihara T, Renfree MB, Griffith OW. Comparing the potential for maternal-fetal signalling in oviparous and viviparous lizards. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210262. [PMID: 36252210 PMCID: PMC9574625 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of a placenta requires several steps including changing the timing of reproductive events, facilitating nutrient exchange, and the capacity for maternal-fetal communication. To understand the evolution of maternal-fetal communication, we used ligand-receptor gene expression as a proxy for the potential for cross-talk in a live-bearing lizard (Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii) and homologous tissues in a related egg-laying lizard (Lampropholis guichenoti). Approximately 70% of expressed ligand/receptor genes were shared by both species. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that there was no GO-enrichment in the fetal membranes of the egg-laying species, but live-bearing fetal tissues were significantly enriched for 50 GO-terms. Differences in enrichment suggest that the evolution of viviparity involved reinforcing specific signalling pathways, perhaps to support fetal control of placentation. One identified change was in transforming growth factor beta signalling. Using immunohistochemistry, we show the production of the signalling molecule inhibin beta B (INHBB) occurs in viviparous fetal membranes but was absent in closely related egg-laying tissues, suggesting that the evolution of viviparity may have involved changes to signalling via this pathway. We argue that maternal-fetal signalling evolved through co-opting expressed signalling molecules and recruiting new signalling molecules to support the complex developmental changes required to support a fetus in utero. This article is part of the theme issue 'Extraembryonic tissues: exploring concepts, definitions and functions across the animal kingdom'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglin Wen
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Teruhito Ishihara
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Marilyn B. Renfree
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Oliver W. Griffith
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
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8
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Plianchaisuk A, Kusama K, Kato K, Sriswasdi S, Tamura K, Iwasaki W. Origination of LTR retroelement-derived NYNRIN coincides with therian placental emergence. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6661932. [PMID: 35959649 PMCID: PMC9447858 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of the placenta is a revolutionary event in the evolution of therian mammals, to which some LTR retroelement–derived genes, such as PEG10, RTL1, and syncytin, are known to contribute. However, therian genomes contain many more LTR retroelement–derived genes that may also have contributed to placental evolution. We conducted large-scale evolutionary genomic and transcriptomic analyses to comprehensively search for LTR retroelement–derived genes whose origination coincided with therian placental emergence and that became consistently expressed in therian placentae. We identified NYNRIN as another Ty3/Gypsy LTR retroelement–derived gene likely to contribute to placental emergence in the therian stem lineage. NYNRIN knockdown inhibited the invasion of HTR8/SVneo invasive-type trophoblasts, whereas the knockdown of its nonretroelement-derived homolog KHNYN did not. Functional enrichment analyses suggested that NYNRIN modulates trophoblast invasion by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix remodeling and that the ubiquitin-proteasome system is responsible for the functional differences between NYNRIN and KHNYN. These findings extend our knowledge of the roles of LTR retroelement–derived genes in the evolution of therian mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnon Plianchaisuk
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan
| | - Kazuya Kusama
- Department of Endocrine Pharmacology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Kiyoko Kato
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Sira Sriswasdi
- Center of Excellence in Computational Molecular Biology, Research Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Kazuhiro Tamura
- Department of Endocrine Pharmacology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Wataru Iwasaki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan.,Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.,Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan.,Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo. Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.,Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
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9
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Conflict and the evolution of viviparity in vertebrates. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03171-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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10
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Pascual F. Trophoblast Organoids: A New Tool for Studying Placental Development. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:54003. [PMID: 35638568 PMCID: PMC9153080 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
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11
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Foster CSP, Van Dyke JU, Thompson MB, Smith NMA, Simpfendorfer CA, Murphy CR, Whittington CM. Different genes are recruited during convergent evolution of pregnancy and the placenta. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6564414. [PMID: 35388432 PMCID: PMC9048886 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The repeated evolution of the same traits in distantly related groups (convergent evolution) raises a key question in evolutionary biology: do the same genes underpin convergent phenotypes? Here we explore one such trait, viviparity (live birth), which qualitative studies suggest may indeed have evolved via genetic convergence. There are >150 independent origins of live birth in vertebrates, providing a uniquely powerful system to test the mechanisms underpinning convergence in morphology, physiology, and/or gene recruitment during pregnancy. We compared transcriptomic data from eight vertebrates (lizards, mammals, sharks) that gestate embryos within the uterus. Since many previous studies detected qualitative similarities in gene use during independent origins of pregnancy, we expected to find significant overlap in gene use in viviparous taxa. However, we found no more overlap in uterine gene expression associated with viviparity than we would expect by chance alone. Each viviparous lineage exhibits the same core set of uterine physiological functions, yet, contrary to prevailing assumptions about this trait, we find that none of the same genes are differentially expressed in all viviparous lineages, or even in all viviparous amniote lineages. Therefore, across distantly related vertebrates, different genes have been recruited to support the morphological and physiological changes required for successful pregnancy. We conclude that redundancies in gene function have enabled the repeated evolution of viviparity through recruitment of different genes from genomic 'toolboxes', which are uniquely constrained by the ancestries of each lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S P Foster
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - James U Van Dyke
- School of Molecular Sciences, La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga campus, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael B Thompson
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas M A Smith
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Colin A Simpfendorfer
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Christopher R Murphy
- School of Medical Sciences and The Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Camilla M Whittington
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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12
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Du K, Pippel M, Kneitz S, Feron R, da Cruz I, Winkler S, Wilde B, Avila Luna EG, Myers E, Guiguen Y, Macias Garcia C, Schartl M. Genome biology of the Darkedged Splitfin, Girardinichthys multiradiatus, and the evolution of sex chromosomes and placentation. Genome Res 2022; 32:583-594. [PMID: 35082141 PMCID: PMC8896457 DOI: 10.1101/gr.275826.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Viviparity evolved independently about 150 times in vertebrates and more than 20 times in fish. Several lineages added to the protection of the embryo inside the body of the mother, the provisioning of nutrients, and physiological exchange. This often led to the evolution of a placenta. Among fish, one of the most complex systems serving the function of the placenta is the embryonal trophotaenia/ovarian luminal epithelium of the goodeid fishes. For a better understanding of this feature and others of this group of fishes, high-quality genomic resources are essential. We have sequenced the genome of the darkedged splitfin, Girardinichthys multiradiatus. The assembly is chromosome level and includes the X and Y Chromosomes. A large male-specific region on the Y was identified covering 80% of Chromosome 20, allowing some first inferences on the recent origin and a candidate male sex determining gene. Genome-wide transcriptomics uncovered sex-specific differences in brain gene expression with an enrichment for neurosteroidogenesis and testis genes in males. The expression signatures of the splitfin embryonal and maternal placenta showed overlap with homologous tissues including human placenta, the ovarian follicle epithelium of matrotrophic poeciliid fish species and the brood pouch epithelium of the seahorse. Our comparative analyses on the evolution of embryonal and maternal placenta indicate that the evolutionary novelty of maternal provisioning development repeatedly made use of genes that already had the same function in other tissues. In this way, preexisting modules are assembled and repurposed to provide the molecular changes for this novel trait.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Pippel
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
| | | | - Romain Feron
- University of Lausanne, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, INRAE, LPGP
| | | | - Sylke Winkler
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
| | | | - Edgar G Avila Luna
- Instituto de Ecologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Circuito exterior s/n anexo al Jardín Botánico
| | - Eugene Myers
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
| | | | - Constantino Macias Garcia
- Instituto de Ecologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Circuito exterior s/n anexo al Jardín Botánico
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13
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Evolutionary assembly of cooperating cell types in an animal chemical defense system. Cell 2021; 184:6138-6156.e28. [PMID: 34890552 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
How the functions of multicellular organs emerge from the underlying evolution of cell types is poorly understood. We deconstructed evolution of an organ novelty: a rove beetle gland that secretes a defensive cocktail. We show how gland function arose via assembly of two cell types that manufacture distinct compounds. One cell type, comprising a chemical reservoir within the abdomen, produces alkane and ester compounds. We demonstrate that this cell type is a hybrid of cuticle cells and ancient pheromone and adipocyte-like cells, executing its function via a mosaic of enzymes from each parental cell type. The second cell type synthesizes benzoquinones using a chimera of conserved cellular energy and cuticle formation pathways. We show that evolution of each cell type was shaped by coevolution between the two cell types, yielding a potent secretion that confers adaptive value. Our findings illustrate how cooperation between cell types arises, generating new, organ-level behaviors.
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14
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Recknagel H, Carruthers M, Yurchenko AA, Nokhbatolfoghahai M, Kamenos NA, Bain MM, Elmer KR. The functional genetic architecture of egg-laying and live-bearing reproduction in common lizards. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:1546-1556. [PMID: 34621056 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01555-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
All amniotes reproduce either by egg-laying (oviparity), which is ancestral to vertebrates or by live-bearing (viviparity), which has evolved many times independently. However, the genetic basis of these parity modes has never been resolved and, consequently, its convergence across evolutionary scales is currently unknown. Here, we leveraged natural hybridizations between oviparous and viviparous common lizards (Zootoca vivipara) to describe the functional genes and genetic architecture of parity mode and its key traits, eggshell and gestation length, and compared our findings across vertebrates. In these lizards, parity trait genes were associated with progesterone-binding functions and enriched for tissue remodelling and immune system pathways. Viviparity involved more genes and complex gene networks than did oviparity. Angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth and adrenoreceptor pathways were enriched in the viviparous female reproductive tissue, while pathways for transforming growth factor were enriched in the oviparous. Natural selection on these parity mode genes was evident genome-wide. Our comparison to seven independent origins of viviparity in mammals, squamates and fish showed that genes active in pregnancy were related to immunity, tissue remodelling and blood vessel generation. Therefore, our results suggest that pre-established regulatory networks are repeatedly recruited for viviparity and that these are shared at deep evolutionary scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Recknagel
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Madeleine Carruthers
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Andrey A Yurchenko
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Inserm U981, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Mohsen Nokhbatolfoghahai
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nicholas A Kamenos
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Maureen M Bain
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Kathryn R Elmer
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
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15
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Senft AD, Macfarlan TS. Transposable elements shape the evolution of mammalian development. Nat Rev Genet 2021; 22:691-711. [PMID: 34354263 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-021-00385-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) promote genetic innovation but also threaten genome stability. Despite multiple layers of host defence, TEs actively shape mammalian-specific developmental processes, particularly during pre-implantation and extra-embryonic development and at the maternal-fetal interface. Here, we review how TEs influence mammalian genomes both directly by providing the raw material for genetic change and indirectly via co-evolving TE-binding Krüppel-associated box zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs). Throughout mammalian evolution, individual activities of ancient TEs were co-opted to enable invasive placentation that characterizes live-born mammals. By contrast, the widespread activity of evolutionarily young TEs may reflect an ongoing co-evolution that continues to impact mammalian development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna D Senft
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Todd S Macfarlan
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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16
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Dudley JS, Murphy CR, Thompson MB, McAllan BM. Uterine cellular changes during mammalian pregnancy and the evolution of placentation. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:1381-1400. [PMID: 34514493 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
There are many different forms of nutrient provision in viviparous (live bearing) species. The formation of a placenta is one method where the placenta functions to transfer nutrients from mother to fetus (placentotrophy), transfer waste from the fetus to the mother and respiratory gas exchange. Despite having the same overarching function, there are different types of placentation within placentotrophic vertebrates, and many morphological changes occur in the uterus during pregnancy to facilitate formation of the placenta. These changes are regulated in complex ways but are controlled by similar hormonal mechanisms across species. This review describes current knowledge of the morphological and molecular changes to the uterine epithelium preceding implantation among mammals. Our aim is to identify the commonalities and constraints of these cellular changes to understand the evolution of placentation in mammals and propose directions for future research. We compare and discuss the complex modifications to the ultrastructure of uterine epithelial cells and show that there are similarities in the changes to the cytoskeleton and gross morphology of the uterine epithelial cells, especially of the apical and lateral plasma membrane of the cells during the formation of a placenta in all eutherians and marsupials studied to date. We conclude that further research is needed to understand the evolution of placentation among viviparous mammals, particularly concerning the level of placental invasiveness, hormonal control and genetic underpinnings of pregnancy in marsupial taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S Dudley
- School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Christopher R Murphy
- School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Michael B Thompson
- School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Bronwyn M McAllan
- School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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17
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Stadtmauer DJ, Wagner GP. The Primacy of Maternal Innovations to the Evolution of Embryo Implantation. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 60:742-752. [PMID: 32525521 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryo implantation is a hallmark of the female reproductive biology of eutherian (placental) mammals and does not exist in a sustainable form in any other vertebrate group. Implantation is the initial process that leads to a sustained fetal-maternal unit engendering a complex functional relationship between the mother and the embryo/fetus. The nature of this relationship is often portrayed as one of conflict between an aggressive embryo and a passive or defensive maternal organism. Recent progress in elucidating the evolutionary origin of eutherian pregnancy leads to a different picture. The emerging scenario suggests that the very initial stages in the evolution of embryo implantation required evolutionary changes to the maternal physiology which modified an ancestral generic mucosal inflammation in response to the presence of the embryo into an active embedding process. This "female-first" evolutionary scenario also explains the role of endometrial receptivity in human pregnancy. On the marsupial side, where in most animals the fetal-maternal interaction is short and does not lead to a long term sustainable placentation, the relationship is mutual. In these mammals, uterine inflammation is followed by parturition in short order. The inflammatory signaling pathways, however, are cooperative, i.e., they are performed by both the fetus and the mother and therefore we call this relationship "cooperative inflammation." Based on these discoveries we reconceive the narrative of the maternal-fetal relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Stadtmauer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Yale Systems Biology Institute, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Günter P Wagner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Yale Systems Biology Institute, West Haven, CT 06516, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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18
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Abstract
Significant advances have been observed in the field of cell biology, with numerous studies exploring the molecular genetic pathways that have contributed to species evolution and disease development. The current study adds to the existing body of research evidence by reviewing information related to the role of leftover viruses and/or viral remnants in human physiology. To explore leftover viruses, their incorporation, and their roles in human physiology. The study entailed conducting a systematic search in the PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases to locate articles related to the topic of investigation. The search terms included “leftovers,” “viruses,” “genome sequences,” “transposable elements,” “immune response,” and “evolution.” Additional articles were selected from the references of the studies identified in the electronic databases. Evidence showed that both retroviruses and nonretroviruses can be integrated into the human germline via various mechanisms. The role of leftover viruses in human physiology has been explored by studying the activation of human retroviral genes in the human placenta, RNA transfer between neurons through virus-like particles, and RNA transfer through extracellular vesicles. Research evidence suggested that leftover viruses play key roles in human physiology. A more complete understanding of the underlying pathways may provide an avenue for studying human evolution and allow researchers to determine the pathogenesis of some viral infections. Evidence obtained in this review shows that leftover viruses may be incorporated into the human genome. Retroviral genes are critical for the development of different parts of the body, such as the placenta in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borros Arneth
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital of the Universities of Giessen and Marburg UKGM, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Feulgenstr. 12, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
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19
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Lesch BJ. Epigenetic states in the human placenta: A singular epigenome for an exceptional tissue. Dev Cell 2021; 56:1211-1212. [PMID: 33945779 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The placenta is a dynamic, short-lived organ, and many features of its epigenome are unique among human tissues. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Zhang et al. define new aspects of epigenetic regulation in normal and disease-associated placental cells and relate them to the specialized biological requirements of this organ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bluma J Lesch
- Department of Genetics and Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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20
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Buddle AL, Van Dyke JU, Thompson MB, Simpfendorfer CA, Murphy CR, Dowland SN, Whittington CM. Structure of the paraplacenta and the yolk sac placenta of the viviparous Australian sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon taylori. Placenta 2021; 108:11-22. [PMID: 33780667 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Viviparity (live-birth) has evolved from oviparity (egg-laying) multiple times in sharks. While most transitions from oviparity to viviparity have resulted in non-placental forms of viviparity, some sharks develop a yolk sac placenta during pregnancy. The Australian sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon taylori) is a placental species that suspends embryonic development in a diapause for most of pregnancy. METHODS To identify structures involved in supporting rapid embryonic growth in late pregnancy, we examined uterine and placental morphology by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS Paraplacental uterine regions have morphological specialisations consistent with secretion and fluid transport between uterine tissues and the lumen. Uterine secretions in the lumen may be absorbed by the outgrowths on the embryonic umbilical cord ('appendiculae'), which are densely covered by microvilli. The placenta consists of uterine villi that interdigitate with the yolk sac and enhance the surface area available for fetomaternal exchange. The yolk sac does not invade the uterine epithelium, and the egg capsule remains intact at the placental interface, separating maternal and fetal tissues. Some placental uterine epithelial cells are secretory, and endocytic vesicles in the opposing yolk sac ectodermal cells suggest that nutrient transport is by histotrophic uterine secretion followed by fetal absorption. Respiratory gases, water and possibly small nutrients likely diffuse across the placenta, where maternal and fetal blood vessels are ~2 μm apart. DISCUSSION Placental structure in R. taylori is similar to most other sharks, but there are differences in cellular structures between species that may indicate species-specific placental transport mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice L Buddle
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building (A08), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - James U Van Dyke
- Department of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, School of Molecular Sciences, La Trobe University, Wodonga, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael B Thompson
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building (A08), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Colin A Simpfendorfer
- College of Science of Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Christopher R Murphy
- School of Medical Sciences (Anatomy and Histology), The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Samson N Dowland
- School of Medical Sciences (Anatomy and Histology), The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Camilla M Whittington
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building (A08), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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21
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Hernández-Díaz N, Leal F, Ramírez-Pinilla MP. Parallel evolution of placental calcium transfer in the lizard Mabuya and eutherian mammals. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.237891. [PMID: 33568441 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.237891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
An exceptional case of parallel evolution between lizards and eutherian mammals occurs in the evolution of viviparity. In the lizard genus Mabuya, viviparity provided the environment for the evolution of yolk-reduced eggs and obligate placentotrophy. One major event that favored the evolution of placentation was the reduction of the eggshell. As with all oviparous reptiles, lizard embryos obtain calcium from both the eggshell and egg yolk. Therefore, the loss of the eggshell likely imposes a constraint for the conservation of the egg yolk, which can only be obviated by the evolution of alternative mechanisms for the transport of calcium directly from the mother. The molecular and cellular mechanisms employed to solve these constraints, in a lizard with only a rudimentary eggshell such as Mabuya, are poorly understood. Here, we used RT-qPCR on placental and uterine samples during different stages of gestation in Mabuya, and demonstrate that transcripts of the calcium transporters trpv6, cabp28k, cabp9k and pmca are expressed and gradually increase in abundance through pregnancy stages, reaching their maximum expression when bone mineralization occurs. Furthermore, CABP28K/9K proteins were studied by immunofluorescence, demonstrating expression in specific regions of the mature placenta. Our results indicate that the machinery for calcium transportation in the Mabuya placenta was co-opted from other tissues elsewhere in the vertebrate bodyplan. Thus, the calcium transportation machinery in the placenta of Mabuya evolved in parallel with the mammalian placenta by redeploying the expression of similar calcium transporter genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaly Hernández-Díaz
- Grupo de Estudios en Biodiversidad, Escuela de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia
| | - Francisca Leal
- Grupo de Estudios en Biodiversidad, Escuela de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia
| | - Martha Patricia Ramírez-Pinilla
- Grupo de Estudios en Biodiversidad, Escuela de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia
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22
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Nuño de la Rosa L, Pavličev M, Etxeberria A. Pregnant Females as Historical Individuals: An Insight From the Philosophy of Evo-Devo. Front Psychol 2021; 11:572106. [PMID: 33551898 PMCID: PMC7854466 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.572106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Criticisms of the "container" model of pregnancy picturing female and embryo as separate entities multiply in various philosophical and scientific contexts during the last decades. In this paper, we examine how this model underlies received views of pregnancy in evolutionary biology, in the characterization of the transition from oviparity to viviparity in mammals and in the selectionist explanations of pregnancy as an evolutionary strategy. In contrast, recent evo-devo studies on eutherian reproduction, including the role of inflammation and new maternal cell types, gather evidence in favor of considering pregnancy as an evolved relational novelty. Our thesis is that from this perspective we can identify the emergence of a new historical individual in evolution. In evo-devo, historical units are conceptualized as evolved entities which fulfill two main criteria, their continuous persistence and their non-exchangeability. As pregnancy can be individuated in this way, we contend that pregnant females are historical individuals. We argue that historical individuality differs from, and coexists with, other views of biological individuality as applied to pregnancy (the physiological, the evolutionary and the ecological one), but brings forward an important new insight which might help dissolve misguided conceptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Nuño de la Rosa
- Department of Logic and Theoretical Philosophy, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mihaela Pavličev
- Department of Theoretical Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arantza Etxeberria
- Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, IAS Research Center for Life, Mind, and Society, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
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23
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Griffith OW. Novel tissue interactions support the evolution of placentation. J Morphol 2021; 282:1047-1053. [PMID: 33433907 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Organ development occurs through the coordinated interaction of distinct tissue types. So, a question at the core of understanding the evolution of new organs is, how do new tissue-tissue signalling networks arise? The placenta is a great model for understanding the evolution of new organs, because placentas have evolved repeatedly, evolved relatively recently in some lineages, and exhibit intermediate forms in extant clades. Placentas, like other organs, form from the interaction of two distinct tissues, one maternal and one fetal. If each of these tissues produces signals that can be received by the other, then the apposition of these tissues is likely to result in new signalling dynamics that can be used as a scaffold to support placenta development. Using published data and examples, in this review I demonstrate that placentas are derived from hormonally active organs, that considerable signalling potential exists between maternal and fetal tissues in egg-laying vertebrates, that this signalling potential is conserved through the oviparity-viviparity transition, and that consequences of these interactions form the basis of derived aspects of placentation including embryo implantation. I argue that the interaction of placental tissues, is not merely a consequence of placenta formation, but that novel interactions form the basis of new placental regulatory networks, functions, and patterning mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver W Griffith
- Department of Biological Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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24
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Abstract
Three versions of syncytiotrophoblast exist in the human placenta: an invasive type associated with the implanting conceptus, non-invasive villous type of definitive placenta, and placental bed giant cells. Syncytins are encoded by modified env genes of endogenous retroviruses (ERV), but how they contribute functionally to placental syncytial structures is unclear. A minimum of eight genes (ERVW1, ERVFRD-1, ERVV-1, ERVV-2, ERVH48-1, ERVMER34-1, ERV3-1, & ERVK13-1) encoding syncytin family members are expressed in human trophoblast, the majority from implantation to term. ERVW1 (Syncytin 1) and ERVFRD-1 (Syncytin 2) are considered the major fusogens, but, when the expression of their genes is analyzed by single cell RNAseq in first trimester placenta, their transcripts are distinctly patterned and also differ from those of their proposed binding partners, SLC1A5 and MFSD2A, respectively. ERVRH48-1 (suppressyn or SUPYN) and ERVMER34-1 are probable negative regulators of fusion and co-expressed, primarily in cytotrophoblast. The remaining genes and their products have been little studied. Syncytin expression is a feature of placental development in almost all eutherian mammals studied, in at least one marsupial, and in viviparous lizards, which lack the trophoblast lineage. Their expression has been inferred to be essential for pregnancy success in the mouse. All the main human ERV genes arose following independent retroviral insertion events, none of which trace back to the divergence of eutherians and metatherians (marsupials). While syncytins may be crucial for placental development, it seems unlikely that they helped orchestrate the divergence of eutherians and marsupials.
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25
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Rokas A, Mesiano S, Tamam O, LaBella A, Zhang G, Muglia L. Developing a theoretical evolutionary framework to solve the mystery of parturition initiation. eLife 2020; 9:58343. [PMID: 33380346 PMCID: PMC7775106 DOI: 10.7554/elife.58343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Eutherian mammals have characteristic lengths of gestation that are key for reproductive success, but relatively little is known about the processes that determine the timing of parturition, the process of birth, and how they are coordinated with fetal developmental programs. This issue remains one of biology's great unsolved mysteries and has significant clinical relevance because preterm birth is the leading cause of infant and under 5 year old child mortality worldwide. Here, we consider the evolutionary influences and potential signaling mechanisms that maintain or end pregnancy in eutherian mammals and use this knowledge to formulate general theoretical evolutionary models. These models can be tested through evolutionary species comparisons, studies of experimental manipulation of gestation period and birth timing, and human clinical studies. Understanding how gestation time and parturition are determined will shed light on this fundamental biological process and improve human health through the development of therapies to prevent preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, United States
| | - Ortal Tamam
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Abigail LaBella
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Ge Zhang
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, United States
| | - Louis Muglia
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, United States.,Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Research Triangle Park, Durham, United States
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26
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Cohen Goldemberg D, Novaes Pinheiro T, Santos-Silva AR, de Melo AC, Leão JC, Fedele S, Porter S. Comments on "The tubarial salivary glands: First description of a potential new organ at risk for head-neck radiotherapy". Radiother Oncol 2020; 154:316-317. [PMID: 33310003 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2020.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Cohen Goldemberg
- Clinical Research Coordination, National Cancer Institute of Brazil (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Tiago Novaes Pinheiro
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Dentistry, Amazonas State University, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Alan Roger Santos-Silva
- Oral Diagnosis Department, Semiology and Pathology Areas, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Andreia Cristina de Melo
- Clinical Research Coordination, National Cancer Institute of Brazil (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jair Carneiro Leão
- Oral Medicine Postgraduate Program Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Brazil
| | - Stefano Fedele
- University College London (UCL) Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK; University College London (UCL), Eastman Dental Institute, NIHR University College London Hospitals (UCLH), Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Porter
- University College London (UCL) Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK
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27
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Modes of genetic adaptations underlying functional innovations in the rumen. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2020; 64:1-21. [PMID: 33165812 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1828-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The rumen is the hallmark organ of ruminants and hosts a diverse ecosystem of microorganisms that facilitates efficient digestion of plant fibers. We analyzed 897 transcriptomes from three Cetartiodactyla lineages: ruminants, camels and cetaceans, as well as data from ruminant comparative genomics and functional assays to explore the genetic basis of rumen functional innovations. We identified genes with relatively high expression in the rumen, of which many appeared to be recruited from other tissues. These genes show functional enrichment in ketone body metabolism, regulation of microbial community, and epithelium absorption, which are the most prominent biological processes involved in rumen innovations. Several modes of genetic change underlying rumen functional innovations were uncovered, including coding mutations, genes newly evolved, and changes of regulatory elements. We validated that the key ketogenesis rate-limiting gene (HMGCS2) with five ruminant-specific mutations was under positive selection and exhibits higher synthesis activity than those of other mammals. Two newly evolved genes (LYZ1 and DEFB1) are resistant to Gram-positive bacteria and thereby may regulate microbial community equilibrium. Furthermore, we confirmed that the changes of regulatory elements accounted for the majority of rumen gene recruitment. These results greatly improve our understanding of rumen evolution and organ evo-devo in general.
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28
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Stewart JR. Developmental morphology and evolution of extraembryonic membranes of lizards and snakes (Reptilia, Squamata). J Morphol 2020; 282:973-994. [PMID: 32936974 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Amniote embryos are supported and nourished by a suite of tissues, the extraembryonic membranes, that provide vascular connections to the egg contents. Oviparous reptiles share a basic pattern of development inherited from a common ancestor; a vascular chorioallantoic membrane, functioning as a respiratory organ, contacts the eggshell and a vascular yolk sac membrane conveys nutrients to the embryo. Squamates (lizards, snakes) have evolved a novel variation in morphogenesis of the yolk sac that results in a unique structure, the yolk cleft/isolated yolk mass complex. This structure is a source of phylogenetic variation in architecture of the extraembryonic membranes among oviparous squamates. The yolk cleft/isolated yolk mass complex is retained in viviparous species and influences placental architecture. The aim of this paper is to review extraembryonic membrane development and morphology in oviparous and related viviparous squamates to explore patterns of variation. The survey includes all oviparous species for which data are available (11 species; 4 families). Comparisons with viviparous species encompass six independent origins of viviparity. The comparisons reveal that both phylogeny and reproductive mode influence variation in extraembryonic membrane development and that phylogenetic variation influences placental evolution. Models of the evolution of squamate placentation have relied primarily on comparisons between independently derived viviparous species. The inclusion of oviparous species in comparative analyses largely supports these models, yet exposes convergent patterns of evolution that become apparent when phylogenetic variation is recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Stewart
- Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
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29
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Tang VW. Collagen, stiffness, and adhesion: the evolutionary basis of vertebrate mechanobiology. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 31:1823-1834. [PMID: 32730166 PMCID: PMC7525820 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-12-0709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of collagen I in vertebrates resulted in a dramatic increase in the stiffness of the extracellular environment, supporting long-range force propagation and the development of low-compliant tissues necessary for the development of vertebrate traits including pressurized circulation and renal filtration. Vertebrates have also evolved integrins that can bind to collagens, resulting in the generation of higher tension and more efficient force transmission in the extracellular matrix. The stiffer environment provides an opportunity for the vertebrates to create new structures such as the stress fibers, new cell types such as endothelial cells, new developmental processes such as neural crest delamination, and new tissue organizations such as the blood-brain barrier. Molecular players found only in vertebrates allow the modification of conserved mechanisms as well as the design of novel strategies that can better serve the physiological needs of the vertebrates. These innovations collectively contribute to novel morphogenetic behaviors and unprecedented increases in the complexities of tissue mechanics and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian W. Tang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
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30
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van Kruistum H, Guernsey MW, Baker JC, Kloet SL, Groenen MAM, Pollux BJA, Megens HJ. The Genomes of the Livebearing Fish Species Poeciliopsis retropinna and Poeciliopsis turrubarensis Reflect Their Different Reproductive Strategies. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:1376-1386. [PMID: 31960923 PMCID: PMC7182214 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of a placenta is predicted to be accompanied by rapid evolution of genes involved in processes that regulate mother-offspring interactions during pregnancy, such as placenta formation, embryonic development, and nutrient transfer to offspring. However, these predictions have only been tested in mammalian species, where only a single instance of placenta evolution has occurred. In this light, the genus Poeciliopsis is a particularly interesting model for placenta evolution, because in this genus a placenta has evolved independently from the mammalian placenta. Here, we present and compare genome assemblies of two species of the livebearing fish genus Poeciliopsis (family Poeciliidae) that differ in their reproductive strategy: Poeciliopsis retropinna which has a well-developed complex placenta and P. turrubarensis which lacks a placenta. We applied different assembly strategies for each species: PacBio sequencing for P. retropinna (622-Mb assembly, scaffold N50 of 21.6 Mb) and 10× Genomics Chromium technology for P. turrubarensis (597-Mb assembly, scaffold N50 of 4.2 Mb). Using the high contiguity of these genome assemblies and near-completeness of gene annotations to our advantage, we searched for gene duplications and performed a genome-wide scan for genes evolving under positive selection. We find rapid evolution in major parts of several molecular pathways involved in parent-offspring interaction in P. retropinna, both in the form of gene duplications as well as positive selection. We conclude that the evolution of the placenta in the genus Poeciliopsis is accompanied by rapid evolution of genes involved in similar genomic pathways as found in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henri van Kruistum
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Michael W Guernsey
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Julie C Baker
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Susan L Kloet
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Martien A M Groenen
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart J A Pollux
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik-Jan Megens
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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31
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Wang Y, Zhang C, Wang N, Li Z, Heller R, Liu R, Zhao Y, Han J, Pan X, Zheng Z, Dai X, Chen C, Dou M, Peng S, Chen X, Liu J, Li M, Wang K, Liu C, Lin Z, Chen L, Hao F, Zhu W, Song C, Zhao C, Zheng C, Wang J, Hu S, Li C, Yang H, Jiang L, Li G, Liu M, Sonstegard TS, Zhang G, Jiang Y, Wang W, Qiu Q. Genetic basis of ruminant headgear and rapid antler regeneration. Science 2020; 364:364/6446/eaav6335. [PMID: 31221830 DOI: 10.1126/science.aav6335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Ruminants are the only extant mammalian group possessing bony (osseous) headgear. We obtained 221 transcriptomes from bovids and cervids and sequenced three genomes representing the only two pecoran lineages that convergently lack headgear. Comparative analyses reveal that bovid horns and cervid antlers share similar gene expression profiles and a common cellular basis developed from neural crest stem cells. The rapid regenerative properties of antler tissue involve exploitation of oncogenetic pathways, and at the same time some tumor suppressor genes are under strong selection in deer. These results provide insights into the evolutionary origin of ruminant headgear as well as mammalian organ regeneration and oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Chenzhou Zhang
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Nini Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Zhipeng Li
- Department of Special Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, China
| | - Rasmus Heller
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Jiangang Han
- Institute of Animal Science (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiangyu Pan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Zhuqing Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xueqin Dai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Ceshi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Mingle Dou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Shujun Peng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xianqing Chen
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Zeshan Lin
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Fei Hao
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Wenbo Zhu
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Chengchuang Song
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Chen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Chengli Zheng
- Sichuan Institute of Musk Deer Breeding, Sichuan 610000, China
| | - Jianming Wang
- Sichuan Institute of Musk Deer Breeding, Sichuan 610000, China
| | - Shengwei Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Cunyuan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- Institute of Animal Science (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Guangyu Li
- Department of Special Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, China
| | - Mingjun Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of Xinjiang, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Xinjiang, Urumqi 830026, China
| | | | - Guojie Zhang
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yu Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
| | - Wen Wang
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China. .,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Qiang Qiu
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
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Stadtmauer DJ, Wagner GP. Cooperative inflammation: The recruitment of inflammatory signaling in marsupial and eutherian pregnancy. J Reprod Immunol 2020; 137:102626. [PMID: 31783286 PMCID: PMC7028515 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2019.102626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of viviparity in therian mammals, i.e. marsupials and "placental" mammals, occurred by retention of the conceptus in the female reproductive tract and precocious "hatching" from the shell coat. Both eutherian embryo implantation and the opossum embryo attachment reaction are evolutionarily derived from and homologous to a defensive inflammatory process induced after shell coat hatching. However, both lineages, marsupials and placental mammals, have modified the inflammatory response substantially. We review the induction, maintenance, and effects of inflammation throughout pregnancy, with special attention to the role of prostaglandins and the mucosal inflammatory response, both of which likely had roles in early mammalian viviparity. We propose that the key step was not only suppression of the inflammatory response after implantation in placental mammals, but also the transfer of the inflammatory cell-cell communication network to a different set of cell types than in generic inflammation. To support this conclusion we discuss evidence that pro-inflammatory signal production in the opossum is not limited to maternal cells, as expected in bona fide defensive inflammation, but also includes fetal tissues, in a process we term cooperative inflammation. The ways in which the inflammatory reaction was independently modified in these two lineages helps explain major life history differences between extant marsupials and eutherians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Stadtmauer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale Universisty. 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University. 850 West Campus Drive, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Günter P Wagner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale Universisty. 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University. 850 West Campus Drive, West Haven, CT, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine. 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University. 540 East Canfield Avenue, Detroit, MI, USA.
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33
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Van Dyke JU, Thompson MB, Burridge CP, Castelli MA, Clulow S, Dissanayake DSB, Dong CM, Doody JS, Edwards DL, Ezaz T, Friesen CR, Gardner MG, Georges A, Higgie M, Hill PL, Holleley CE, Hoops D, Hoskin CJ, Merry DL, Riley JL, Wapstra E, While GM, Whiteley SL, Whiting MJ, Zozaya SM, Whittington CM. Australian lizards are outstanding models for reproductive biology research. AUST J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/zo21017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Australian lizards are a diverse group distributed across the continent and inhabiting a wide range of environments. Together, they exhibit a remarkable diversity of reproductive morphologies, physiologies, and behaviours that is broadly representative of vertebrates in general. Many reproductive traits exhibited by Australian lizards have evolved independently in multiple lizard lineages, including sociality, complex signalling and mating systems, viviparity, and temperature-dependent sex determination. Australian lizards are thus outstanding model organisms for testing hypotheses about how reproductive traits function and evolve, and they provide an important basis of comparison with other animals that exhibit similar traits. We review how research on Australian lizard reproduction has contributed to answering broader evolutionary and ecological questions that apply to animals in general. We focus on reproductive traits, processes, and strategies that are important areas of current research, including behaviours and signalling involved in courtship; mechanisms involved in mating, egg production, and sperm competition; nesting and gestation; sex determination; and finally, birth in viviparous species. We use our review to identify important questions that emerge from an understanding of this body of research when considered holistically. Finally, we identify additional research questions within each topic that Australian lizards are well suited for reproductive biologists to address.
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34
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Moon JM, Capra JA, Abbot P, Rokas A. Immune Regulation in Eutherian Pregnancy: Live Birth Coevolved with Novel Immune Genes and Gene Regulation. Bioessays 2019; 41:e1900072. [PMID: 31373044 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Novel regulatory elements that enabled expression of pre-existing immune genes in reproductive tissues and novel immune genes with pregnancy-specific roles in eutherians have shaped the evolution of mammalian pregnancy by facilitating the emergence of novel mechanisms for immune regulation over its course. Trade-offs arising from conflicting fitness effects on reproduction and host defenses have further influenced the patterns of genetic variation of these genes. These three mechanisms (novel regulatory elements, novel immune genes, and trade-offs) played a pivotal role in refining the regulation of maternal immune systems during pregnancy in eutherians, likely facilitating the establishment of prolonged direct maternal-fetal contact in eutherians without causing immunological rejection of the genetically distinct fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyun M Moon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - John A Capra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Patrick Abbot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
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35
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Human placental methylome in the interplay of adverse placental health, environmental exposure, and pregnancy outcome. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008236. [PMID: 31369552 PMCID: PMC6675049 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is the interface between maternal and fetal circulations, integrating maternal and fetal signals to selectively regulate nutrient, gas, and waste exchange, as well as secrete hormones. In turn, the placenta helps create the in utero environment and control fetal growth and development. The unique epigenetic profile of the human placenta likely reflects its early developmental separation from the fetus proper and its role in mediating maternal–fetal exchange that leaves it open to a range of exogenous exposures in the maternal circulation. In this review, we cover recent advances in DNA methylation in the context of placental function and development, as well as the interaction between the pregnancy and the environment.
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36
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van Kruistum H, van den Heuvel J, Travis J, Kraaijeveld K, Zwaan BJ, Groenen MAM, Megens HJ, Pollux BJA. The genome of the live-bearing fish Heterandria formosa implicates a role of conserved vertebrate genes in the evolution of placental fish. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:156. [PMID: 31349784 PMCID: PMC6660938 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1484-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The evolution of complex organs is thought to occur via a stepwise process, each subsequent step increasing the organ’s complexity by a tiny amount. This evolutionary process can be studied by comparing closely related species that vary in the presence or absence of their organs. This is the case for the placenta in the live-bearing fish family Poeciliidae, as members of this family vary markedly in their ability to supply nutrients to their offspring via a placenta. Here, we investigate the genomic basis underlying this phenotypic variation in Heterandria formosa, a poeciliid fish with a highly complex placenta. We compare this genome to three published reference genomes of non-placental poeciliid fish to gain insight in which genes may have played a role in the evolution of the placenta in the Poeciliidae. Results We sequenced the genome of H. formosa, providing the first whole genome sequence for a placental poeciliid. We looked for signatures of adaptive evolution by comparing its gene sequences to those of three non-placental live-bearing relatives. Using comparative evolutionary analyses, we found 17 genes that were positively selected exclusively in H. formosa, as well as five gene duplications exclusive to H. formosa. Eight of the genes evolving under positive selection in H. formosa have a placental function in mammals, most notably endometrial tissue remodelling or endometrial cell proliferation. Conclusions Our results show that a substantial portion of positively selected genes have a function that correlates well with the morphological changes that form the placenta of H. formosa, compared to the corresponding tissue in non-placental poeciliids. These functions are mainly endometrial tissue remodelling and endometrial cell proliferation. Therefore, we hypothesize that natural selection acting on genes involved in these functions plays a key role in the evolution of the placenta in H. formosa. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-019-1484-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henri van Kruistum
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. .,Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Joost van den Heuvel
- Plant Sciences Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joseph Travis
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA
| | - Ken Kraaijeveld
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leiden Genome Technology Center Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bas J Zwaan
- Plant Sciences Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martien A M Groenen
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik-Jan Megens
- Animal Breeding and Genomics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart J A Pollux
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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37
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The Impact of Iron Overload and Ferroptosis on Reproductive Disorders in Humans: Implications for Preeclampsia. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20133283. [PMID: 31277367 PMCID: PMC6651445 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron is an essential element for the survival of most organisms, including humans. Demand for iron increases significantly during pregnancy to support growth and development of the fetus. Paradoxically, epidemiologic studies have shown that excessive iron intake and/or high iron status can be detrimental to pregnancy and is associated with reproductive disorders ranging from endometriosis to preeclampsia. Reproductive complications resulting from iron deficiency have been reviewed elsewhere. Here, we focus on reproductive disorders associated with iron overload and the contribution of ferroptosis-programmed cell death mediated by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation within cell membranes-using preeclampsia as a model system. We propose that the clinical expressions of many reproductive disorders and pregnancy complications may be due to an underlying ferroptopathy (elemental iron-associated disease), characterized by a dysregulation in iron homeostasis leading to excessive ferroptosis.
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38
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Griffith OW, Chavan AR, Pavlicev M, Protopapas S, Callahan R, Maziarz J, Wagner GP. Endometrial recognition of pregnancy occurs in the grey short-tailed opossum ( Monodelphis domestica). Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190691. [PMID: 31213185 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In human pregnancy, recognition of an embryo within the uterus is essential to support the fetus through gestation. In most marsupials, such as the opossums, pregnancy is shorter than the oestrous cycle and the steroid hormone profile during pregnancy and oestrous cycle are indistinguishable. For these reasons, it was assumed that recognition of pregnancy, as a trait, evolved in the eutherian (placental) stem lineage and independently in wallabies and kangaroos. To investigate whether uterine recognition of pregnancy occurs in species with pregnancy shorter than the oestrous cycle, we examined reproduction in the short-tailed opossum ( Monodelphis domestica), a marsupial with a plesiomorphic mode of pregnancy. We examined the morphological and gene expression changes in the uterus of females in the non-pregnant oestrous cycle and compared these to pregnancy. We found that the presence of an embryo did not alter some aspects of uterine development but increased glandular activity. Transcriptionally, we saw big differences between the uterus of pregnant and cycling animals. These differences included an upregulation of genes involved in transport, inflammation and metabolic-activity in response to the presence of a fetus. Furthermore, transcriptional differences reflected protein level differences in transporter abundance. Our results suggest that while the uterus exhibits programmed changes after ovulation, its transcriptional landscape during pregnancy responds to the presence of a fetus and upregulates genes that may be essential for fetal support. These results are consistent with endometrial recognition of pregnancy occurring in the opossum. While the effects on maternal physiology appear to differ, recognition of pregnancy has now been observed in eutherian mammals, as well as, Australian and American marsupials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver W Griffith
- 1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA.,2 Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA.,3 School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria , Australia
| | - Arun R Chavan
- 1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA.,2 Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA
| | - Mihaela Pavlicev
- 4 Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , Cincinnati, OH , USA
| | - Stella Protopapas
- 1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA.,2 Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA
| | - Ryan Callahan
- 1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA
| | - Jamie Maziarz
- 1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA.,2 Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA
| | - Günter P Wagner
- 1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA.,2 Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA.,5 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale Medical School , New Haven, CT , USA.,6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University , Detroit, MI , USA
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Malnou EC, Umlauf D, Mouysset M, Cavaillé J. Imprinted MicroRNA Gene Clusters in the Evolution, Development, and Functions of Mammalian Placenta. Front Genet 2019; 9:706. [PMID: 30713549 PMCID: PMC6346411 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the expression of a subset of microRNA (miRNA) genes is governed by genomic imprinting, an epigenetic mechanism that confers monoallelic expression in a parent-of-origin manner. Three evolutionarily distinct genomic intervals contain the vast majority of imprinted miRNA genes: the rodent-specific, paternally expressed C2MC located in intron 10 of the Sfmbt2 gene, the primate-specific, paternally expressed C19MC positioned at human Chr.19q13.4 and the eutherian-specific, maternally expressed miRNAs embedded within the imprinted Dlk1-Dio3 domains at human 14q32 (also named C14MC in humans). Interestingly, these imprinted miRNA genes form large clusters composed of many related gene copies that are co-expressed with a marked, or even exclusive, localization in the placenta. Here, we summarize our knowledge on the evolutionary, molecular, and physiological relevance of these epigenetically-regulated, recently-evolved miRNAs, by focusing on their roles in placentation and possibly also in pregnancy diseases (e.g., preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth).
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Affiliation(s)
- E Cécile Malnou
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INSERM, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - David Umlauf
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Maïlys Mouysset
- Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INSERM, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Jérôme Cavaillé
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
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Abstract
The co-option of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) is increasingly recognized as a recurrent theme in placental biology, which has far-reaching implications for our understanding of mammalian evolution and reproductive health. Most research in this area has focused on ERV-derived proteins, which have been repeatedly co-opted to promote cell–cell fusion and immune modulation in the placenta. ERVs also harbor regulatory sequences that can potentially control placental gene expression, but there has been limited evidence to support this role. In a recent study, Dunn-Fletcher and colleagues discover a striking example of an ERV-derived enhancer element that has been co-opted to regulate a gene important for human pregnancy. Using genomic and experimental approaches, they firmly establish that a primate-specific ERV functions as a placenta-specific enhancer for corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), a hormone linked to the control of birth timing in humans. Their findings implicate an extensive yet understudied role for retroviruses in shaping the evolution of placental gene regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward B. Chuong
- BioFrontiers Institute, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Erkenbrack EM, Maziarz JD, Griffith OW, Liang C, Chavan AR, Nnamani MC, Wagner GP. The mammalian decidual cell evolved from a cellular stress response. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2005594. [PMID: 30142145 PMCID: PMC6108454 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Among animal species, cell types vary greatly in terms of number and kind. The number of cell types found within an organism differs considerably between species, and cell type diversity is a significant contributor to differences in organismal structure and function. These observations suggest that cell type origination is a significant source of evolutionary novelty. The molecular mechanisms that result in the evolution of novel cell types, however, are poorly understood. Here, we show that a novel cell type of eutherians mammals, the decidual stromal cell (DSC), evolved by rewiring an ancestral cellular stress response. We isolated the precursor cell type of DSCs, endometrial stromal fibroblasts (ESFs), from the opossum Monodelphis domestica. We show that, in opossum ESFs, the majority of decidual core regulatory genes respond to decidualizing signals but do not regulate decidual effector genes. Rather, in opossum ESFs, decidual transcription factors function in apoptotic and oxidative stress response. We propose that rewiring of cellular stress responses was an important mechanism for the evolution of the eutherian decidual cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M. Erkenbrack
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jamie D. Maziarz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Oliver W. Griffith
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cong Liang
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Interdepartmental Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Arun R. Chavan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Mauris C. Nnamani
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Günter P. Wagner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
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Van Dyke JU, Griffith OW. Mechanisms of reproductive allocation as drivers of developmental plasticity in reptiles. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2018; 329:275-286. [PMID: 29733527 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Developmental plasticity in offspring phenotype occurs as a result of the environmental conditions embryos experience during development. The nutritional environment provided to a fetus is an important source of developmental plasticity. Reptiles are a particularly interesting system to study this plasticity because of their varied routes of maternal nutrient allocation to reproduction. Most reptiles provide their offspring with all or most of the nutrients they require in egg yolk (lecithotrophy) while viviparous reptiles also provide their offspring with nutrients via a placenta (placentotrophy). We review the ways in which both lecithotrophy and placentotrophy can lead to differences in the nutrients embryonic reptiles receive, and discuss how these differences lead to developmental plasticity in offspring phenotype. We finish by reviewing the ecological and conservation consequences of nutritional-driven developmental plasticity in reptiles. If nutritional-driven developmental plasticity has fitness consequences, then understanding the basis of this plasticity has exciting potential to identify how reptile recruitment is affected by environmental changes in food supply. Such knowledge is critical to our ability to protect taxa threatened by environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- James U Van Dyke
- School of Environmental Sciences, Institute of Land, Water & Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia
| | - Oliver W Griffith
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.,Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut
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Abstract
The mammalian placenta shows an extraordinary degree of variation in gross and fine structure, but this has been difficult to interpret in physiological terms. Transcriptomics offers a path to understanding how structure relates to function. This essay examines how studies of gene transcription can inform us about placental evolution in eutherian and marsupial mammals and more broadly about convergent evolution of viviparity and placentation in vertebrates. Thus far, the focus has been on the chorioallantoic placenta of eutherians at term, the reproductive strategies of eutherians and marsupials, and the decidual response of the uterus at implantation. Future work should address gene expression during early stages of placental development and endeavor to cover all major groups of mammals. Comparative studies across oviparous and viviparous vertebrates have centered on the chorioallantoic membrane and yolk sac. They point to the possibility of defining a set of genes that can be recruited to support commonalities in reproductive strategies. Further advances can be anticipated from single-cell transcriptomics if those techniques are applied to a range of placental structures and in species other than humans and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony M Carter
- Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsloews Vej 21, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
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Reply to Liu: Inflammation before implantation both in evolution and development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 115:E3-E4. [PMID: 29233940 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1717001115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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The inflammation paradox in the evolution of mammalian pregnancy: turning a foe into a friend. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2017; 47:24-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2017.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Candidate genes involved in the evolution of viviparity: a RAD sequencing experiment in the lizard Zootoca vivipara (Squamata: Lacertidae). Zool J Linn Soc 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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Abstract
Humans are one of the few mammalian viviparous species in which pregnancy is extended beyond the luteal phase, the phase during which progesterone is synthesized by the maternal ovary. Instead, it is the fetal placenta that produces progesterone throughout the latter 2 trimesters of human pregnancy. The placenta is developmentally crucial for reproductive success and is the most conspicuous anatomical novelty of placental mammals. However, before it can exert its dual functions as both an endocrine organ and an organ capable of facilitating gas and nutrient exchange, enormous changes must take place within the uterus to not only tolerate the presence of this hemiallogeneic tissue but to also accommodate and support placental development. The most dramatic of these changes is endometrial decidualization, the origin of which coincides in evolutionary history with invasive placentation. This article builds on the observation that the physiological changes that occur during the nonpregnant secretory phase of the uterine cycle in women are remarkably similar to that seen during pregnancy. The fundamental characteristics of human pregnancy (including endometrial decidualization followed several months later by intrauterine inflammation, uterine contractions, and discharge of the decidual lining from the uterine cavity) are present already in the nonpregnant menstrual cycle and are thus independent of the fetus. We hypothesize that many of the physiological defects that lead to complications during pregnancy and parturition are detectable already during spontaneous decidualization in the nonpregnant state and at the onset of menstruation, and can thus be determined before the onset of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Pavlicev
- 1 Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Errol R Norwitz
- 2 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,3 Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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Embryo implantation evolved from an ancestral inflammatory attachment reaction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E6566-E6575. [PMID: 28747528 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1701129114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular changes that support implantation in eutherian mammals are necessary to establish pregnancy. In marsupials, pregnancy is relatively short, and although a placenta does form, it is present for only a few days before parturition. However, morphological changes in the uterus of marsupials at term mimic those that occur during implantation in humans and mice. We investigated the molecular similarity between term pregnancy in the marsupials and implantation in eutherian mammals using the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) as a model. Transcriptomic analysis shows that term pregnancy in the opossum is characterized by an inflammatory response consistent with implantation in humans and mice. This immune response is temporally correlated with the loss of the eggshell, and we used immunohistochemistry to report that this reaction occurs at the materno-fetal interface. We demonstrate that key markers of implantation, including Heparin binding EGF-like growth factor and Mucin 1, exhibit expression and localization profiles consistent with the pattern observed during implantation in eutherian mammals. Finally, we show that there are transcriptome-wide similarities between the opossum attachment reaction and implantation in rabbits and humans. Our data suggest that the implantation reaction that occurs in eutherians is derived from an attachment reaction in the ancestral therian mammal which, in the opossum, leads directly to parturition. Finally, we argue that the ability to shift from an inflammatory attachment reaction to a noninflammatory period of pregnancy was a key innovation in eutherian mammals that allowed an extended period of intimate placentation.
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