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Ohde T, Mito T, Niimi T. A hemimetabolous wing development suggests the wing origin from lateral tergum of a wingless ancestor. Nat Commun 2022; 13:979. [PMID: 35190538 PMCID: PMC8861169 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28624-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The origin and evolution of the novel insect wing remain enigmatic after a century-long discussion. The mechanism of wing development in hemimetabolous insects, in which the first functional wings evolved, is key to understand where and how insect wings evolutionarily originate. This study explored the developmental origin and the postembryonic dramatic growth of wings in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. We find that the lateral tergal margin, which is homologous between apterygote and pterygote insects, comprises a growth organizer to expand the body wall to form adult wing blades in Gryllus. We also find that Wnt, Fat-Dachsous, and Hippo pathways are involved in the disproportional growth of Gryllus wings. These data provide insights into where and how insect wings originate. Wings evolved from the pre-existing lateral terga of a wingless insect ancestor, and the reactivation or redeployment of Wnt/Fat-Dachsous/Hippo-mediated feed-forward circuit might have expanded the lateral terga. Here, the authors investigate wing development in cricket and find support for evolution of the novel insect wing from the pre-existing dorsal body wall of a wingless ancestor by activation of an evolutionarily conserved growth mechanism.
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Kulkarni A, Extavour CG. The Cricket Gryllus bimaculatus: Techniques for Quantitative and Functional Genetic Analyses of Cricket Biology. Results Probl Cell Differ 2019; 68:183-216. [PMID: 31598857 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-23459-1_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
All extant species are an outcome of nature's "experiments" during evolution, and hence multiple species need to be studied and compared to gain a thorough understanding of evolutionary processes. The field of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) aspires to expand the number of species studied, because most functional genetic studies in animals have been limited to a small number of "traditional" model organisms, many of which belong to the same phylum (Chordata). The phylum Arthropoda, and particularly its component class Insecta, possesses many important characteristics that are considered favorable and attractive for evo-devo research, including an astonishing diversity of extant species and a wide disparity in body plans. The development of the most thoroughly investigated insect genetic model system to date, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (a holometabolous insect), appears highly derived with respect to other insects and indeed with respect to most arthropods. In comparison, crickets (a basally branching hemimetabolous insect lineage compared to the Holometabola) are thought to embody many developmental features that make them more representative of insects. Here we focus on crickets as emerging models to study problems in a wide range of biological areas and summarize the currently available molecular, genomic, forward and reverse genetic, imaging and computational tool kit that has been established or adapted for cricket research. With an emphasis on the cricket species Gryllus bimaculatus, we highlight recent efforts made by the scientific community in establishing this species as a laboratory model for cellular biology and developmental genetics. This broad toolkit has the potential to accelerate many traditional areas of cricket research, including studies of adaptation, evolution, neuroethology, physiology, endocrinology, regeneration, and reproductive behavior. It may also help to establish newer areas, for example, the use of crickets as animal infection model systems and human food sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Kulkarni
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cassandra G Extavour
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Sutton ER, Yu Y, Shimeld SM, White-Cooper H, Alphey AL. Identification of genes for engineering the male germline of Aedes aegypti and Ceratitis capitata. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:948. [PMID: 27871244 PMCID: PMC5117610 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3280-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synthetic biology approaches are promising new strategies for control of pest insects that transmit disease and cause agricultural damage. These strategies require characterised modular components that can direct appropriate expression of effector sequences, with components conserved across species being particularly useful. The goal of this study was to identify genes from which new potential components could be derived for manipulation of the male germline in two major pest species, the mosquito Aedes aegypti and the tephritid fruit fly Ceratitis capitata. RESULTS Using RNA-seq data from staged testis samples, we identified several candidate genes with testis-specific expression and suitable expression timing for use of their regulatory regions in synthetic control constructs. We also developed a novel computational pipeline to identify candidate genes with testis-specific splicing from this data; use of alternative splicing is another method for restricting expression in synthetic systems. Some of the genes identified display testis-specific expression or splicing that is conserved across species; these are particularly promising candidates for construct development. CONCLUSIONS In this study we have identified a set of genes with testis-specific expression or splicing. In addition to their interest from a basic biology perspective, these findings provide a basis from which to develop synthetic systems to control important pest insects via manipulation of the male germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth R Sutton
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.,Oxitec Ltd, Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RX, UK.,Present address: Sistemic, West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow, G20 0SP, UK
| | - Yachuan Yu
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.,Present address: The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, CRUK, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | | | | | - And Luke Alphey
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK. .,Oxitec Ltd, Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RX, UK. .,The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK.
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Matsumoto CS, Shidara H, Matsuda K, Nakamura T, Mito T, Matsumoto Y, Oka K, Ogawa H. Targeted gene delivery in the cricket brain, using in vivo electroporation. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 59:1235-1241. [PMID: 24161373 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2013.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Revised: 10/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) is a hemimetabolous insect that is emerging as a model organism for the study of neural and molecular mechanisms of behavioral traits. However, research strategies have been limited by a lack of genetic manipulation techniques that target the nervous system of the cricket. The development of a new method for efficient gene delivery into cricket brains, using in vivo electroporation, is described here. Plasmid DNA, which contained an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) gene, under the control of a G. bimaculatus actin (Gb'-act) promoter, was injected into adult cricket brains. Injection was followed by electroporation at a sufficient voltage. Expression of eGFP was observed within the brain tissue. Localized gene expression, targeted to specific regions of the brain, was also achieved using a combination of local DNA injection and fine arrangement of the electroporation electrodes. Further studies using this technique will lead to a better understanding of the neural and molecular mechanisms that underlie cricket behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihiro Sato Matsumoto
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
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Masumoto M, Ohde T, Shiomi K, Yaginuma T, Niimi T. A Baculovirus immediate-early gene, ie1, promoter drives efficient expression of a transgene in both Drosophila melanogaster and Bombyx mori. PLoS One 2012; 7:e49323. [PMID: 23152896 PMCID: PMC3496687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Accepted: 10/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many promoters have been used to drive expression of heterologous transgenes in insects. One major obstacle in the study of non-model insects is the dearth of useful promoters for analysis of gene function. Here, we investigated whether the promoter of the immediate-early gene, ie1, from the Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) could be used to drive efficient transgene expression in a wide variety of insects. We used a piggyBac-based vector with a 3xP3-DsRed transformation marker to generate a reporter construct; this construct was used to determine the expression patterns driven by the BmNPV ie1 promoter; we performed a detailed investigation of the promoter in transgene expression pattern in Drosophila melanogaster and in B. mori. Drosophila and Bombyx belong to different insect orders (Diptera and Lepidoptera, respectively); however, and to our surprise, ie1 promoter-driven expression was evident in several tissues (e.g., prothoracic gland, midgut, and tracheole) in both insects. Furthermore, in both species, the ie1 promoter drove expression of the reporter gene from a relatively early embryonic stage, and strong ubiquitous ie1 promoter-driven expression continued throughout the larval, pupal, and adult stages by surface observation. Therefore, we suggest that the ie1 promoter can be used as an efficient expression driver in a diverse range of insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika Masumoto
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan
- Division of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ohde
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kunihiro Shiomi
- Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Nagano, Japan
| | - Toshinobu Yaginuma
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Teruyuki Niimi
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Nakamura T, Yoshizaki M, Ogawa S, Okamoto H, Shinmyo Y, Bando T, Ohuchi H, Noji S, Mito T. Imaging of transgenic cricket embryos reveals cell movements consistent with a syncytial patterning mechanism. Curr Biol 2010; 20:1641-7. [PMID: 20800488 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2010.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2010] [Revised: 07/29/2010] [Accepted: 07/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The mode of insect embryogenesis varies among species, reflecting adaptations to different life history strategies [1, 2]. In holometabolous insects, which include the model systems, such as the fruit fly and the red flour beetle, a large proportion of the blastoderm produces an embryo, whereas hemimetabolous embryos generally arise from a small region of the blastoderm [3]. Despite their importance in evolutionary studies, information of early developmental dynamics of hemimetabolous insects remains limited. Here, to clarify how maternal and gap gene products act in patterning the embryo of basal hemimetabolous insects, we analyzed the dynamic segmentation process in transgenic embryos of an intermediate-germ insect species, the cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus. Our data based on live imaging of fluorescently labeled embryonic cells and nuclei suggest that the positional specification of the cellular blastoderm may be established in the syncytium, where maternally derived gradients could act fundamentally in a way that is similar to that of Drosophila, namely throughout the egg. Then, the blastoderm cells move dynamically, retaining their positional information to form the posteriorly localized germ anlage. Furthermore, we find that the anterior head region of the cricket embryo is specified by orthodenticle in a cellular environment earlier than the gnathal and thoracic regions. Our findings imply that the syncytial mode of the early segmentation in long-germ insects evolved from a dynamic syncytial-to-cellular mode found in the present study, accompanied by a heterochronic shift of gap gene action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Nakamura
- Department of Life Systems, Institute of Technology and Science, The University of Tokushima, Japan
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Bazopoulou D, Tavernarakis N. The NemaGENETAG initiative: large scale transposon insertion gene-tagging in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetica 2009; 137:39-46. [PMID: 19343510 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-009-9361-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2008] [Accepted: 03/20/2009] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a widely appreciated, powerful platform in which to study important biological mechanisms related to human health. More than 65% of human disease genes have homologues in the C. elegans genome, and essential aspects of mammalian cell biology, neurobiology and development are faithfully recapitulated in this organism. The EU-funded NemaGENETAG project was initiated with the aim to develop cutting-edge tools and resources that will facilitate modelling of human pathologies in C. elegans, and advance our understanding of animal development and physiology. The main objective of the project involves the generation and evaluation of a large collection of transposon-tagged mutants. In the process of achieving this objective the NemaGENETAG consortium also endeavours to optimize and automate existing transposon-mediated mutagenesis methodologies based on the Mos1 transposable element, in addition to developing alternatives using other transposon systems. The final product of this initiative-a comprehensive collection of transposon-tagged alleles-together with the acquisition of efficient transposon-based tools for mutagenesis and transgenesis in C. elegans, should yield a wealth of information on gene function, immediately relevant to key biological processes and to pharmaceutical research and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne Bazopoulou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, N. Plastira 100, Vassilika Vouton, 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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Mito T, Noji S. The Two-Spotted Cricket Gryllus bimaculatus: An Emerging Model for Developmental and Regeneration Studies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 2008:pdb.emo110. [PMID: 21356736 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.emo110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTIONThe two-spotted cricket Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), which is one of the most abundant cricket species, inhabits the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Europe. G. bimaculatus can be easily bred in the laboratory and has been widely used to study insect physiology and neurobiology. Recently, this species has become established as a model animal for studies on molecular mechanisms of development and regeneration because its mode of development is more typical of arthropods than that of Drosophila melanogaster, and the cricket is probably ancestral for this phylum. Moreover, the cricket is a hemimetabolous insect, in which nymphs possess functional legs with a remarkable capacity for regeneration after damage. Because RNA interference (RNAi) works effectively in this species, the elucidation of mechanisms of development and regeneration has been expedited through loss-of-function analyses of genes. Furthermore, because RNAi-based techniques for analyzing gene functions can be combined with assay systems in other research areas (such as behavioral analyses), G. bimaculatus is expected to become a model organism in various fields of biology. Thus, it may be possible to establish the cricket as a simple model system for exploring more complex organisms such as humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Mito
- Department of Life Systems, Institute of Technology and Science, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8506, Japan
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Divergent and conserved roles of extradenticle in body segmentation and appendage formation, respectively, in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. Dev Biol 2008; 313:67-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.09.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2007] [Revised: 09/19/2007] [Accepted: 09/26/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Pavlopoulos A, Oehler S, Kapetanaki MG, Savakis C. The DNA transposon Minos as a tool for transgenesis and functional genomic analysis in vertebrates and invertebrates. Genome Biol 2007; 8 Suppl 1:S2. [PMID: 18047694 PMCID: PMC2106841 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2007-8-s1-s2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposons are powerful tools for conducting genetic manipulation and functional studies in organisms that are of scientific, economic, or medical interest. Minos, a member of the Tc1/mariner family of DNA transposons, exhibits a low insertional bias and transposes with high frequency in vertebrates and invertebrates. Its use as a tool for transgenesis and genome analysis of rather different animal species is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Pavlopoulos
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Vassilika Vouton, PO Box 1385, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece
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11
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Sasakura Y, Oogai Y, Matsuoka T, Satoh N, Awazu S. Transposon mediated transgenesis in a marine invertebrate chordate: Ciona intestinalis. Genome Biol 2007; 8 Suppl 1:S3. [PMID: 18047695 PMCID: PMC2106840 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2007-8-s1-s3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Achievement of transposon mediated germline transgenesis in a basal chordate, Ciona intestinalis, is discussed. A Tc1/mariner superfamily transposon, Minos, has excision and transposition activities in Ciona. Minos enables the creation of stable transgenic lines, enhancer detection, and insertional mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, 415-0025, Japan.
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Mito T, Kobayashi C, Sarashina I, Zhang H, Shinahara W, Miyawaki K, Shinmyo Y, Ohuchi H, Noji S. even-skipped has gap-like, pair-rule-like, and segmental functions in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, a basal, intermediate germ insect (Orthoptera). Dev Biol 2007; 303:202-13. [PMID: 17174947 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2006] [Revised: 09/13/2006] [Accepted: 11/03/2006] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Developmental mechanisms of segmentation appear to be varied among insects in spite of their conserved body plan. Although the expression patterns of the segment polarity genes in all insects examined imply well conserved function of this class of genes, expression patterns and function of the pair-rule genes tend to exhibit diversity. To gain further insights into the evolution of the segmentation process and the role of pair-rule genes, we have examined expression and function of an ortholog of the Drosophila pair-rule gene even-skipped (eve) in a phylogenetically basal insect, Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera, intermediate germ cricket). We find that Gryllus eve (Gb'eve) is expressed as stripes in each of the prospective gnathal, thoracic, and abdominal segments and as a broad domain in the posterior growth zone. Dynamics of stripe formation vary among Gb'eve stripes, representing one of the three modes, the segmental, incomplete pair-rule, and complete pair-rule mode. Furthermore, we find that RNAi suppression of Gb'eve results in segmentation defects in both anterior and posterior regions of the embryo. Mild depletion of Gb'eve shows a pair-rule-like defect in anterior segments, while stronger depletion causes a gap-like defect showing deletion of anterior and posterior segments. These results suggest that Gb'eve acts as a pair-rule gene at least during anterior segmentation and also has segmental and gap-like functions. Additionally, Gb'eve may be involved in the regulation of hunchback and Krüppel expression. Comparisons with eve functions in other species suggest that the Gb'eve function may represent an intermediate state of the evolution of pair-rule patterning by eve in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Mito
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minami-Jyosanjima-cho, Tokushima City 770-8506, Japan
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Sasakura Y. Germline transgenesis and insertional mutagenesis in the ascidianCiona intestinalis. Dev Dyn 2007; 236:1758-67. [PMID: 17342755 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stable transgenesis is a splendid technique that is applicable to the creation of useful marker lines, enhancer/gene traps, and insertional mutagenesis. Recently, transposon-mediated transformation using a Tc1/mariner transposable element Minos has been reported in two ascidians: Ciona intestinalis and C. savignyi. The transposon derived from an insect, Drosophila hydei, has high activity for excision in Ciona embryos and transposition in their genome. As much as 37% of Minos-injected C. intestinalis transmitted transposon insertions to the subsequent generation. Minos-mediated germline transgenesis has also been achieved by means of electroporation method. Minos techniques have been applied to enhancer traps and insertional mutagenesis in Ciona. For those reasons, Minos offers the high potential for use as a powerful tool for future genetic studies. This review specifically addresses recent achievements of transformation techniques in Ciona, as exemplified using the Minos system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan.
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Sasakura Y, Konno A, Mizuno K, Satoh N, Inaba K. Enhancer detection in the ascidianCiona intestinalis with transposase-expressing lines ofMinos. Dev Dyn 2007; 237:39-50. [DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Shinmyo Y, Mito T, Uda T, Nakamura T, Miyawaki K, Ohuchi H, Noji S. brachyenteron is necessary for morphogenesis of the posterior gut but not for anteroposterior axial elongation from the posterior growth zone in the intermediate-germband cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. Development 2006; 133:4539-47. [PMID: 17050622 DOI: 10.1242/dev.02646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In the long-germband insect Drosophila, all body segments and posterior terminal structures, including the posterior gut and anal pads, are specified at the blastoderm stage. In short- and intermediate-germband insects, however, posterior segments are sequentially produced from the posterior growth zone, a process resembling somitogenesis in vertebrates, and invagination of the posterior gut starts after anteroposterior (AP) axial elongation from the growth zone. The mechanisms underlying posterior segmentation and terminal patterning in these insects are poorly understood. In order to elucidate these mechanisms, we have investigated the roles of the Brachyury/brachyenteron (Bra/byn) homolog in the intermediate-germband cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. Loss-of-function analysis by RNA interference (RNAi) revealed that Gryllus byn (Gb'byn) is not required for AP axial elongation or normal segment formation, but is required for specification of the posterior gut. We also analyzed Gryllus caudal (Gb'cad) RNAi embryos using in situ hybridization with a Gb'byn probe, and found that Gb'cad is required for internalization of the posterior gut primordium, in addition to AP axial elongation. These results suggest that the functions of byn and cad in posterior terminal patterning are highly conserved in Gryllus and Drosophila despite their divergent posterior patterning. Moreover, because it is thought that the progressive growth of the AP axis from the growth zone, controlled by a genetic program involving Cdx/cad and Bra/byn, might be ancestral to bilaterians, our data suggest that the function of Bra/byn in this process might have been lost in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Shinmyo
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minami-Josanjima-cho, Tokushima City 770-8506, Japan
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Shinmyo Y, Mito T, Matsushita T, Sarashina I, Miyawaki K, Ohuchi H, Noji S. caudal is required for gnathal and thoracic patterning and for posterior elongation in the intermediate-germband cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. Mech Dev 2005; 122:231-9. [PMID: 15652710 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2004.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2004] [Revised: 09/27/2004] [Accepted: 10/04/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Although the molecular mechanisms directing anteroposterior patterning of the Drosophila embryo (long-germband mode) are well understood, how these mechanisms were evolved from an ancestral mode of insect embryogenesis remains largely unknown. In order to gain insight into mechanisms of evolution in insect embryogenesis, we have examined the expression and function of the orthologue of Drosophila caudal (cad) in the intermediate-germband cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. We observed that a posterior (high) to anterior (low) gradient in the levels of Gryllus bimaculatus cad (Gb' cad) transcript was formed in the early-stage embryo, and then Gb' cad was expressed in the posterior growth zone until the posterior segmentation was completed. Reduction of Gb' cad expression level by RNA interference resulted in deletion of the gnathum, thorax, and abdomen in embryos, remaining only anterior head. We found that the gnathal and thoracic segments are formed by Gb' cad probably through the transcriptional regulation of gap genes including Gb' hunchback and Gb' Kruppel. Furthermore, Gb' cad was found to be involved in the posterior elongation, acting as a downstream gene in the Wingless/Armadillo signalling pathways. These findings indicate that Gb' cad does not function as it does in Drosophila, suggesting that regulatory and functional changes of cad occurred during insect evolution. Since Wnt/Cdx pathways are involved in the posterior patterning of vertebrates, such mechanisms may be conserved in animals that undergo sequential segmentation from the posterior growth zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Shinmyo
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minami-Josanjima-cho, Tokushima City 770-8506, Japan
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Mito T, Sarashina I, Zhang H, Iwahashi A, Okamoto H, Miyawaki K, Shinmyo Y, Ohuchi H, Noji S. Non-canonical functions of hunchback in segment patterning of the intermediate germ cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. Development 2005; 132:2069-79. [PMID: 15788457 DOI: 10.1242/dev.01784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In short and intermediate germ insects, only the anterior segments are specified during the blastoderm stage, leaving the posterior segments to be specified later, during embryogenesis, which differs from the segmentation process in Drosophila, a long germ insect. To elucidate the segmentation mechanisms of short and intermediate germ insects, we have investigated the orthologs of the Drosophila segmentation genes in a phylogenetically basal, intermediate germ insect, Gryllus bimaculatus(Gb). Here, we have focused on its hunchback ortholog(Gb'hb), because Drosophila hb functions as a gap gene during anterior segmentation, referred as a canonical function. Gb'hb is expressed in a gap pattern during the early stages of embryogenesis, and later in the posterior growth zone. By means of embryonic and parental RNA interference for Gb'hb, we found the following: (1) Gb'hb regulates Hox gene expression to specify regional identity in the anterior region, as observed in Drosophila and Oncopeltus; (2) Gb'hb controls germband morphogenesis and segmentation of the anterior region, probably through the pair-rule gene, even-skipped at least; (3) Gb'hb may act as a gap gene in a limited region between the posterior of the prothoracic segment and the anterior of the mesothoracic segment; and (4) Gb'hb is involved in the formation of at least seven abdominal segments, probably through its expression in the posterior growth zone, which is not conserved in Drosophila. These findings suggest that Gb'hb functions in a non-canonical manner in segment patterning. A comparison of our results with the results for other derived species revealed that the canonical hbfunction may have evolved from the non-canonical hb functions during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Mito
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minami-Jyosanjima-cho, Tokushima City 770-8506, Japan
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Pavlopoulos A, Berghammer AJ, Averof M, Klingler M. Efficient transformation of the beetle Tribolium castaneum using the Minos transposable element: quantitative and qualitative analysis of genomic integration events. Genetics 2005; 167:737-46. [PMID: 15238525 PMCID: PMC1470898 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.103.023085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic transformation in insects holds great promise as a tool for genetic manipulation in species of particular scientific, economic, or medical interest. A number of transposable elements have been tested recently as potential vectors for transformation in a range of insects. Minos is one of the most promising elements because it appears to be active in diverse species and has the capacity to carry large inserts. We report here the use of the Minos element as a transformation vector in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera), an important species for comparative developmental and pest management studies. Transgenic G(1) beetles were recovered from 32.4% of fertile G(0)'s injected with a plasmid carrying a 3xP3-EGFP-marked transposon and in vitro synthesized mRNA encoding the Minos transposase. This transformation efficiency is 2.8-fold higher than that observed when using a plasmid helper. Molecular and genetic analyses show that several independent insertions can be recovered from a single injected parent, but that the majority of transformed individuals carry single Minos insertions. These results establish Minos as one of the most efficient vectors for genetic transformation in insects. In combination with piggyBac-based transgenesis, our work allows the introduction of sophisticated multicomponent genetic tools in Tribolium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Pavlopoulos
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB-FORTH), 711 10 Iraklio Crete, Greece.
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Matsuoka T, Awazu S, Satoh N, Sasakura Y. Minos transposon causes germline transgenesis of the ascidian Ciona savignyi. Dev Growth Differ 2004; 46:249-55. [PMID: 15206956 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2004.00742.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
An ascidian, Ciona savignyi, is regarded as a good experimental animal for genetics because of its small and compact genome for which a draft sequence is available, its short generation time and its interesting phylogenic position. ENU-based mutagenesis has been carried out using this animal. However, insertional mutagenesis using transposable elements (transposons) has not yet been introduced. Recently, one of the Tc1/mariner superfamily transposons, Minos, was demonstrated to cause germline transgenesis in the related species Ciona intestinalis. In this report, we show that Minos has the ability to transpose from DNA to DNA in Ciona savignyi in transposition assays. Although the activity was slightly weaker than in Ciona intestinalis, Minos still caused germline transgenesis in Ciona savignyi. In addition, one insertion seemed to have caused an enhancer trapping. These results indicate that Minos provides a potential tool for transgenic techniques such as insertional mutagenesis in Ciona savignyi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terumi Matsuoka
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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Shinmyo Y, Mito T, Matsushita T, Sarashina I, Miyawaki K, Ohuchi H, Noji S. piggyBac-mediated somatic transformation of the two-spotted cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus. Dev Growth Differ 2004; 46:343-9. [PMID: 15367202 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2004.00751.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic insects have been artificially produced to study functions of interesting developmental genes, using insect transposons such as piggyBac. In the case of the cricket, however, transgenic animals have not yet been successfully artificially produced. In the present study, we examined whether the piggyBac transposon functions as a tool for gene delivery in embryos of Gryllus bimaculatus. We used either a piggyBac helper plasmid or a helper RNA synthesized in vitro as a transposase source. An excision assay revealed that the helper RNA was more effective in early Gryllus eggs to transpose a marker gene of eGFP than the helper plasmid containing the piggyBac transposase gene driven by the G. bimaculatus actin3/4 promoter. Further, only when the helper RNA was used, somatic transformation of the embryo with the eGFP gene was observed. These results suggest that the piggyBac system with the helper RNA may be effective for making transgenic crickets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Shinmyo
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minami-Jyosanjima-cho, Tokushima City 770-8506, Japan
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Miyawaki K, Mito T, Sarashina I, Zhang H, Shinmyo Y, Ohuchi H, Noji S. Involvement of Wingless/Armadillo signaling in the posterior sequential segmentation in the cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera), as revealed by RNAi analysis. Mech Dev 2004; 121:119-30. [PMID: 15037314 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2004.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2003] [Revised: 01/05/2004] [Accepted: 01/09/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In insects, there are two different modes of segmentation. In the higher dipteran insects (like Drosophila), their segmentation takes place almost simultaneously in the syncytial blastoderm. By contrast, in the orthopteran insects (like Schistocerca (grasshopper)), the anterior segments form almost simultaneously in the cellular blastoderm and then the remaining posterior part elongates to form segments sequentially from the posterior proliferative zone. Although most of their orthologues of the Drosophila segmentation genes may be involved in their segmentation, little is known about their roles. We have investigated segmentation processes of Gryllus bimaculatus, focusing on its orthologues of the Drosophila segment-polarity genes, G. bimaculatus wingless (Gbwg), armadillo (Gbarm) and hedgehog (Gbhh). Gbhh and Gbwg were observed to be expressed in the each anterior segment and the posterior proliferative zone. In order to know their roles, we used RNA interference (RNAi). We could not observed any significant effects of RNAi for Gbwg and Gbhh on segmentation, probably due to functional replacement by another member of the corresponding gene families. Embryos obtained by RNAi for Gbarm exhibited abnormal anterior segments and lack of the abdomen. Our results suggest that GbWg/GbArm signaling is involved in the posterior sequential segmentation in the G. bimaculatus embryos, while Gbwg, Gbarm and Gbhh are likely to act as the segment-polarity genes in the anterior segmentation similarly as in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuyuki Miyawaki
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minami-jyosanjima-cho, Tokushima 770-8506, Japan
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O'Brochta DA, Sethuraman N, Wilson R, Hice RH, Pinkerton AC, Levesque CS, Bideshi DK, Jasinskiene N, Coates CJ, James AA, Lehane MJ, Atkinson PW. Gene vector and transposable element behavior in mosquitoes. J Exp Biol 2003; 206:3823-34. [PMID: 14506218 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.00638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYThe development of efficient germ-line transformation technologies for mosquitoes has increased the ability of entomologists to find, isolate and analyze genes. The utility of the currently available systems will be determined by a number of factors including the behavior of the gene vectors during the initial integration event and their behavior after chromosomal integration. Post-integration behavior will determine whether the transposable elements being employed currently as primary gene vectors will be useful as gene-tagging and enhancer-trapping agents. The post-integration behavior of existing insect vectors has not been extensively examined. Mos1 is useful as a primary germ-line transformation vector in insects but is inefficiently remobilized in Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti. Hermes transforms D. melanogaster efficiently and can be remobilized in this species. This element is also useful for creating transgenic A. aegypti, but its mode of integration in mosquitoes results in the insertion of flanking plasmid DNA. Hermes can be remobilized in the soma of A. aegypti and transposes using a common cut-and-paste mechanism; however, the element does not remobilize in the germ line. piggyBac can be used to create transgenic mosquitoes and occasionally integrates using a mechanism other than a simple cut-and-paste mechanism. Preliminary data suggest that remobilization is infrequent. Minos also functions in mosquitoes and, like the other gene vectors,appears to remobilize inefficiently following integration. These results have implications for future gene vector development efforts and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A O'Brochta
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, MD 20742-4450, USA.
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