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Patwary ZP, Zhao M, Paul NA, Cummins SF. Identification of reproductive sex-biased gene expression in Asparagopsis taxiformis (lineage 6) gametophytes. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2024; 60:327-342. [PMID: 38156746 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The sub-tropical red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis is of significant interest due to its ability to store halogenated compounds, including bromoform, which can mitigate methane production in ruminants. Significant scale-up of aquaculture production of this seaweed is required; however, relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control fundamental physiological processes, including the regulatory factors that determine sexual dimorphism in gametophytes. In this study, we used comparative RNA-sequencing analysis between different morphological parts of mature male and female A. taxiformis (lineage 6) gametophytes that resulted in greater number of sex-biased gene expression in tips (containing the reproductive structures for both sexes), compared with the somatic main axis and rhizomes. Further comparative RNA-seq against immature tips was used to identify 62 reproductive sex-biased genes (59 male-biased, 3 female-biased). Of the reproductive male-biased genes, 46% had an unknown function, while others were predicted to be regulatory factors and enzymes involved in signaling. We found that bromoform content obtained from female samples (8.5 ± 1.0 mg·g-1 dry weight) was ~10% higher on average than that of male samples (6.5 ± 1.0 mg·g-1 dry weight), although no significant difference was observed (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in the marine bromoform biosynthesis locus gene expression. In summary, our comparative RNA-sequencing analysis provides a first insight into the potential molecular factors relevant to gametogenesis and sexual differentiation in A. taxiformis, with potential benefits for identification of sex-specific markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubaida Parveen Patwary
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh
| | - Min Zhao
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Paul
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
| | - Scott F Cummins
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
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2
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Bessho K, Sasaki A. Evolution of parental care in haploid-diploid plants. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232351. [PMID: 38351800 PMCID: PMC10865002 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2351] [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: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In bryophytes that alternate between haploid gametophytes and diploid sporophytes through sexual reproduction, sporophytes are often attached to and nurtured on the female gametophyte. A similar phenomenon is seen in Florideophyceae (a group of red algae). These systems in which a gametophyte (mother) invests nutrients in sporophytes (offspring) are ideal for studying the evolution of 'parental care' in non-animal organisms. Here, we propose a model of a haploid-diploid life cycle and examine the evolution of maternal investment in sporophytes focusing on two effects: the degree of paternal or maternal control of investment and the number of sporophytes. We find that when the female dominantly controls the investment, the evolutionarily stable level of investment is that which maximizes the expected reproductive success of the female gametophyte. The genomic conflict between maternal and paternal alleles complicates the evolutionary outcome; however, a greater male allelic effect and a higher number of sporophytes favour a higher energy investment, which may lead to evolutionary branching or run-away escalation of the investment level. This suggests that the selfishness of the paternal gene is the evolutionary driver of parental care and that complex structures such as fusion cells in red algae may have evolved to suppress it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Bessho
- Medical Research Center, Saitama Medical University, 38 Morohongo Moroyama-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama 350-0495, Japan
| | - Akira Sasaki
- Research Center for Integrative Evolutionary Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0193, Japan
- Evolution and Ecology Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Schlosplatz 1, Laxenburg 2361, Austria
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Borg M, Krueger-Hadfield SA, Destombe C, Collén J, Lipinska A, Coelho SM. Red macroalgae in the genomic era. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:471-488. [PMID: 37649301 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Rhodophyta (or red algae) are a diverse and species-rich group that forms one of three major lineages in the Archaeplastida, a eukaryotic supergroup whose plastids arose from a single primary endosymbiosis. Red algae are united by several features, such as relatively small intron-poor genomes and a lack of cytoskeletal structures associated with motility like flagella and centrioles, as well as a highly efficient photosynthetic capacity. Multicellular red algae (or macroalgae) are one of the earliest diverging eukaryotic lineages to have evolved complex multicellularity, yet despite their ecological, evolutionary, and commercial importance, they have remained a largely understudied group of organisms. Considering the increasing availability of red algal genome sequences, we present a broad overview of fundamental aspects of red macroalgal biology and posit on how this is expected to accelerate research in many domains of red algal biology in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Borg
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stacy A Krueger-Hadfield
- Department of Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory, Wachapreague, VA, 23480, USA
| | - Christophe Destombe
- International Research Laboratory 3614 (IRL3614) - Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Sorbonne Université, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Austral de Chile, Roscoff, 29680, France
| | - Jonas Collén
- CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M, UMR8227), Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, 29680, France
| | - Agnieszka Lipinska
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susana M Coelho
- Department of Algal Development and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Biology, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
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Veenhof RJ, Coleman MA, Champion C, Dworjanyn SA. Urchin grazing of kelp gametophytes in warming oceans. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:838-855. [PMID: 37432133 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Sea urchins can cause extensive damage to kelp forests, and their overgrazing can create extensive barren areas, leading to a loss of biodiversity. Barrens may persist when the recruitment of kelp, which occurs through the microscopic haploid gametophyte stage, is suppressed. However, the ecology of kelp gametophytes is poorly understood, and here we investigate if grazing by juvenile urchins on kelp gametophytes can suppress kelp recruitment and if this is exacerbated by climate change. We compared grazing of Ecklonia radiata gametophytes by two species of juvenile urchins, the tropical Tripneustes gratilla and the temperate Centrostephanus rodgersii, at winter (19°C), summer (23°C), and ocean warming (26°C) temperatures for the low-latitude range edge of E. radiata, which is vulnerable to ocean warming. We examined the rate of recovery of gametophytes following grazing and determined whether they survived and formed sporophytes after ingestion by sea urchins. Both T. gratilla and C. rodgersii grazed E. radiata gametophytes, reducing their abundance compared to no grazing controls. Surprisingly, temperature did not influence grazing rates, but gametophytes did not recover from grazing in the ocean warming (26°C) treatment. Gametophytes survived ingestion by both species of sea urchin and formed sporophytes after ingestion by T. gratilla, but not C. rodgersii. These results suggest complex grazer-gametophyte interactions, in which both negative (reduced abundance and poor recovery with warming) and positive (facilitated recruitment) effects are possible. Small grazers may play a more important role in kelp ecosystem function than previously thought and should be considered in our understanding of alternate stable states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reina J Veenhof
- National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Melinda A Coleman
- National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Curtis Champion
- National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Symon A Dworjanyn
- National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
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Faria AVF, Martins NT, Ayres-Ostrock LM, Gurgel CFD, Plastino EM. Phylogeography of the red alga Gracilariopsis tenuifrons (Gracilariales) along the Brazilian coast. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:1041-1052. [PMID: 37435655 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Changes in the sea level during the Holocene are regarded as one of the most prevalent drivers of the diversity and distribution of macroalgae in Brazil, influenced by the emergence of the Vitória-Trindade seamount chain (VTC). Gracilariopsis tenuifrons has a wide geographic distribution along the Brazilian coast, from Maranhão state (2°48'64.3" S) to Santa Catarina state (27.5°73'83" S). The knowledge of historical processes affecting diversity may allow the development of conservation strategies in environments against anthropogenic influence. Therefore, knowledge about phylogeography and populational genetic diversity in G. tenuifrons is necessary. Six populations were sampled along the northeastern tropical (Maranhão-MA, Rio Grande do Norte-RN, Alagoas-AL, and Bahia-BA States) and southeastern subtropical (São Paulo "Ubatuba"-SP1 and São Paulo "Itanhaém"-SP2 States) regions along the Brazilian coast. The genetic diversity and structure of G. tenuifrons were inferred using mitochondrial (COI-5P and cox2-3 concatenated) DNA markers. Gracilariopsis tenuifrons populations showed an evident separation between the northeast (from 2°48'64.3" S to 14°18'23" S; 17 haplotypes) and the southeast (from 23°50'14.9" S to 24°20'04.7" S; 10 haplotypes) regions by two mutational steps between them. The main biogeographical barrier to gene flow is located nearby the VTC. The southeast region (São Paulo State) is separated by two subphylogroups (SP1, three haplotypes and SP2, six haplotypes), and Santos Bay (estuary) has been considered a biogeographical barrier between them. The presence of genetic structure and putative barriers to gene flow are in concordance with previous studies reporting biogeographic breaks in the southwest Atlantic Ocean, including the genetic isolation between northeast and southeast regions for red and brown algae in the vicinity of the VTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre V F Faria
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nuno T Martins
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ligia M Ayres-Ostrock
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Hortimare-Breeding and Propagating Seaweed, Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands
| | - Carlos F D Gurgel
- Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade-NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Estela M Plastino
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Lavaut E, Valero M, Mauger S, Guillemin ML, Destombe C, Dufay M. Sexual selection in seaweed? Testing Bateman's principles in the red alga Gracilaria gracilis. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231668. [PMID: 37700657 PMCID: PMC10498045 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1668] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In anisogamous species, sexual selection is expected to be stronger in males. Bateman's principles state that the variance in (i) reproductive and (ii) mating success is greater for males, and (iii) the relationship between reproductive success and mating success (the Bateman gradient) is also stronger for males than for females. Sexual selection, based on Bateman's principles, has been demonstrated in animals and some angiosperms, but never in a seaweed. Here we focus on the oogamous haploid-diploid rhodophyte Gracilaria gracilis in which previous studies have shown evidence for non-random mating, suggesting the existence of male-male competition and female choice. We estimated mating and reproductive success using paternity analyses in a natural population where up to 92% of fertilizations occurred between partners of that population. The results show that the variance in mating success is significantly greater in males than in females and that the Bateman gradient is positive only in males. Distance to female partners also explains a minor part of the variance in male mating success. Although there is no evidence for sexual dimorphism, our study supports the hypothesis that sexual selection occurs in G. gracilis, probably on male traits, even if we cannot observe, characterize or quantify them yet.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Lavaut
- IRL EBEA 3614, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Austral de Chile, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Place Georges Teissier, 29688 Roscoff cedex, France
| | - M. Valero
- IRL EBEA 3614, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Austral de Chile, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Place Georges Teissier, 29688 Roscoff cedex, France
| | - S. Mauger
- IRL EBEA 3614, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Austral de Chile, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Place Georges Teissier, 29688 Roscoff cedex, France
| | - M. L. Guillemin
- IRL EBEA 3614, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Austral de Chile, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Place Georges Teissier, 29688 Roscoff cedex, France
- Núcleo Milenio MASH, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - C. Destombe
- IRL EBEA 3614, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Austral de Chile, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Place Georges Teissier, 29688 Roscoff cedex, France
| | - M. Dufay
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
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Ollerton J, Ren ZX. Did pollination exist before plants? Science 2022; 377:471-472. [PMID: 35901153 DOI: 10.1126/science.add3198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Research shows that seaweeds depend on crustaceans for fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Ollerton
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology, University of Northampton, Northampton, UK
| | - Zong-Xin Ren
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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