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Ito-Harashima S, Sano E, Takada E, Nakashima M, Kawanishi M, Yagi T. Development of a New Reporter Gene Assay for Detecting Juvenile Hormone Agonists Using Yeast Expressing Methoprene-Tolerant of the Freshwater Cladoceran Daphnia magna. J Appl Toxicol 2025. [PMID: 40223157 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 03/23/2025] [Accepted: 03/25/2025] [Indexed: 04/15/2025]
Abstract
Juvenile hormones (JHs) play crucial roles in regulating growth, metamorphosis, and reproduction in arthropods. Synthetic JH agonists (JHAs), categorized as insect growth regulators, have been widely employed as insecticides. Natural JHs and synthetic JHAs both exert their physiological effects by binding to the JH receptor methoprene-tolerant (Met), forming a functional heterodimer complex with steroid receptor coactivators (SRCs). These juvenoids induce male offspring production in various daphnids, including Daphnia magna, highlighting the significance of the Met-mediated signaling in environmental sex determination. As a representative invertebrate model for assessing aquatic endocrine-disrupting chemicals, D. magna is incorporated in the test guidelines of the Organization for Economic Corporation and Development. We herein introduced a newly developed yeast-based reporter gene assay (RGA) for easy and rapid screening of JH-like ligands for D. magna Met (Dapma-Met). Dapma-Met was expressed alongside the SRC of D. magna (Dapma-SRC) in yeast cells carrying the lacZ reporter plasmid with a JH-responsive element derived from the Bombyx mori Krüppel homolog 1 gene. The yeast RGA system for Dapma-Met revealed a dose-dependent response to various juvenoids. The rank order of the ligand potencies of natural JHs and synthetic JHAs examined in yeast RGA strongly correlated with those previously observed in RGAs for Daphnia Met proteins established in Chinese hamster ovary cells and positively correlated with the male neonate-inducing activity in vivo. Our novel yeast RGA offers a rapid, easy-to-handle, and cost-effective solution that will be valuable for discriminating Dapma-Met ligands among chemicals with male offspring-inducing activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayoko Ito-Harashima
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agriculture, Osaka Metropolitan University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Erika Sano
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Eiji Takada
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mayuko Nakashima
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masanobu Kawanishi
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takashi Yagi
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
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2
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Mitchell LC, Moczek AP, Nadolski EM. A Conserved Somatic Sex Determination Cascade Instructs Trait-Specific Sexual Dimorphism in Horned Dung Beetles. Evol Dev 2025; 27:e70004. [PMID: 40108788 PMCID: PMC11923317 DOI: 10.1111/ede.70004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2024] [Revised: 01/08/2025] [Accepted: 03/05/2025] [Indexed: 03/22/2025]
Abstract
Sex-specific trait expression represents a striking dimension of morphological variation within and across species. The mechanisms instructing sex-specific organ development have been well studied in a small number of insect model systems, suggesting striking conservation in some parts of the somatic sex determination pathway while hinting at possible evolutionary lability in others. However, further resolution of this phenomenon necessitates additional taxon sampling, particularly in groups in which sexual dimorphisms have undergone significant elaboration and diversification. Here, we functionally investigate the somatic sex determination pathway in the gazelle dung beetle Digitonthophagus gazella, an emerging model system in the study of the development and evolution of sexual dimorphisms. We find that RNA interference (RNAi) targeting transformer (tra) caused chromosomal females to develop morphological traits largely indistinguishable from those normally only observed in males, and that traRNAi is sufficient to induce splicing of the normally male-specific isoform of doublesex in chromosomal females, while leaving males unaffected. Further, intersexRNAi was found to phenocopy previously described RNAi phenotypes of doublesex in female but not male beetles. These findings match predictions derived from models of the sex determination cascade as developed largely through studies in Drosophila melanogaster. In contrast, efforts to target transformer2 via RNAi resulted in high juvenile mortality but did not appear to affect doublesex splicing, whereas RNAi targeting Sex-lethal and two putative orthologs of hermaphrodite yielded no obvious phenotypic modifications in either males or females, raising the possibility that the function of a subset of sex determination genes may be derived in select Diptera and thus nonrepresentative of their roles in other holometabolous orders. Our results help illuminate how the differential evolutionary lability of the somatic sex determination pathway has contributed to the extraordinary morphological diversification of sex-specific trait expression found in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Armin P. Moczek
- Department of BiologyIndiana UniversityBloomingtonIndianaUSA
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3
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Mitchell LC, Moczek AP, Nadolski EM. A conserved somatic sex determination cascade instructs trait-specific sexual dimorphism in horned dung beetles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2024.10.10.617608. [PMID: 39416209 PMCID: PMC11482913 DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.10.617608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2024]
Abstract
Sex-specific trait expression represents a striking dimension of morphological variation within and across species. The mechanisms instructing sex-specific organ development have been well studied in a small number of insect model systems, suggesting striking conservation in some parts of the somatic sex determination pathway while hinting at possible evolutionary lability in others. However, further resolution of this phenomenon necessitates additional taxon sampling, particularly in groups in which sexual dimorphisms have undergone significant elaboration and diversification. Here, we functionally investigate the somatic sex determination pathway in the gazelle dung beetle Digitonthophagus gazella, an emerging model system in the study of the development and evolution of sexual dimorphisms. We find that RNA interference (RNAi) targeting transformer (tra) caused chromosomal females to develop morphological traits largely indistinguishable from those normally only observed in males, and that tra RNAi is sufficient to induce splicing of the normally male-specific isoform of doublesex in chromosomal females, while leaving males unaffected. Further, intersex RNAi was found to phenocopy previously described RNAi phenotypes of doublesex in female but not male beetles. These findings match predictions derived from models of the sex determination cascade as developed largely through studies in Drosophila melanogaster. In contrast, transformer2 NAi resulted in larval mortality and was not sufficient to affect doublesex splicing, whereas RNAi targeting Sex-lethal and two putative orthologs of hermaphrodite yielded no obvious phenotypic modifications in either males or females, raising the possibility that the function of a subset of sex determination genes may be derived in select Diptera and thus non-representative of their roles in other holometabolous orders. Our results help illuminate how the differential evolutionary lability of the somatic sex determination pathway has contributed to the extraordinary morphological diversification of sex-specific trait expression found in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- London C. Mitchell
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, 915 East 3 Street, Bloomington IN 47405, USA
| | - Armin P. Moczek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, 915 East 3 Street, Bloomington IN 47405, USA
| | - Erica M. Nadolski
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, 915 East 3 Street, Bloomington IN 47405, USA
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4
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Miyakawa H. Environmentally Dependent Alteration of Reproductive Strategies and Juvenile Hormone Signaling in Daphnia (Crustacea: Cladocera). Zoolog Sci 2025; 42. [PMID: 39932751 DOI: 10.2108/zs240054] [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: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 10/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2025]
Abstract
Daphnia switches between asexual and sexual reproductive strategies, depending on environmental conditions. For sexual reproduction, unfavorable environmental signals induce production of males and formation of meiotic eggs. Induction of both these phenotypes is strongly dependent upon the arthropod endocrine factor juvenile hormone (JH). This review presents the current state of research on regulatory mechanisms of reproductive strategy alteration in Daphnia, focusing on studies related to JH signaling conducted during the past several decades. Additionally, it discusses what is needed in future research to fully understand these mechanisms and evolution of complicated life cycle and environmental adaptation systems in Daphnia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Miyakawa
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan,
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5
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Watanabe H, Abe R, Tatarazako N, Yamamoto H. Non-chemical stresses do not strongly induce male offspring in Daphnia magna ascertained using the short-term juvenile hormone activity screening assay. J Appl Toxicol 2024; 44:1914-1923. [PMID: 39134406 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4678] [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: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 11/09/2024]
Abstract
Juvenile hormone (JH), together with ecdysone, regulates molting, metamorphosis, growth, and reproduction in arthropods. The effects of its analogs used as insecticides on nontarget species are of concern. Since JH and JH analogs (JHAs) induce male offspring in daphnids, which generally reproduce by parthenogenesis, short-term JH activity screening assay (JHASA) using the male offspring ratio as an endpoint has been developed as a detection method for JHA. However, the production of male offspring is also induced by environmental stresses such as temperature, short-day length, overcrowding, and food limitation. Thus, it is vital to prevent non-chemical stresses from inducing male offspring during the test to detect chemicals with potential JH activity accurately. Therefore, we investigated the effects of temperature (low and high), hardness, high density with low feeding, and day length on male production utilizing JHASA. Male offspring were not strongly induced by any stresses in JHASA, although the male ratios of 4-12% were observed in the preculture under high density (≥70 daphnid/L) and constant darkness. The Clone A strain was relatively more sensitive to high density and day length compared with the strain from National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES). The selection of strains that rarely produce males under non-chemical stresses and finding the culturing conditions for each strain appropriate for not-inducing male offspring are recommended to control and prevent male offspring induction during JHASA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruna Watanabe
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ryoko Abe
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Norihisa Tatarazako
- Department of Science and Technology for Biological Resources and Environment, Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yamamoto
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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6
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Shimizu R, Sakamoto J, Adhitama N, Fujikawa M, Religia P, Kamei Y, Watanabe H, Kato Y. Spatiotemporal control of transgene expression using an infrared laser in the crustacean Daphnia magna. Sci Rep 2024; 14:25696. [PMID: 39465323 PMCID: PMC11514169 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-77458-8] [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: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 10/22/2024] [Indexed: 10/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The crustacean Daphnia magna is an emerging model for ecological and toxicological genomics. However, the lack of methods for spatial and temporal control of gene expression has impaired the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying responses to environments in vivo. Here we report local activation of the hsp70 promoter-driven gene cassette in D. magna by the infrared laser-evoked gene operator (IR-LEGO), a method for heating the target cells with infrared irradiation. We identified the heat-inducible promoter upstream of the D. magna hsp70-A gene. Using this promoter, we generated a transgenic Daphnia harboring the heat-shock responsive GFP reporter gene and confirmed that the GFP gene responds to heat treatment not only in juveniles and adults but also in embryos. We collected embryos from the reporter line and irradiated four different regions of interest in the embryos: a proximal region of the third thoracic segment, a part of the midline, a second maxilla, and a distal region of the endopodite of the second antenna, all of which increased GFP fluorescence with an infrared laser. Our results suggest that the IR-LEGO method is useful for spatial and temporal control of gene expression and would advance the functional genomics in D. magna.
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Grants
- 22NIBB505, 21-405, 20-509, 19-511 NIBB Collaborative Research Project for Integrative Imaging
- 23K21753, 21H03602 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- 24H01367 , 23K23964, 23K18048, 22H05598, 22H02701, 20H04923, 19H05423 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
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Affiliation(s)
- Rina Shimizu
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Joe Sakamoto
- Optics and Imaging Facility, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
- Biophotonics Research Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Division of Biophotonics, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Nikko Adhitama
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mana Fujikawa
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Pijar Religia
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kamei
- Optics and Imaging Facility, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Hajime Watanabe
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Kato
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
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7
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Kajimoto A, Toyota K, Ohira T, Yusa Y. Transcriptomic analysis of sexually dimorphic cypris larvae of the rhizocephalan barnacle Peltogasterella gracilis. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2024; 52:101342. [PMID: 39437456 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 10/09/2024] [Indexed: 10/25/2024]
Abstract
Peltogasterella gracilis (Cirripedia: Rhizocephala), a crustacean parasite of hermit crabs, displays genotypic sex determination. Its larvae are planktonic, and female larvae settle on the host. Subsequently, the females control the host's behavior by spreading a root-like structure called "the interna" within the host's body, and form sacs containing eggs called "the externae" outside the host's body. On the other hand, male larvae settle on immature externae and become dwarf males. The cypris larvae of P. gracilis show sexual dimorphism in size and morphology. However, there is no understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the sexual dimorphism observed at the larval stage. Here, we conducted a transcriptome analysis and compared the expression of genes in male and female cyprids to better understand their sexual differentiation and settlement processes. A total of 2870 differentially expressed transcripts, comprising 456 female- and 2414 male-biased transcripts were identified. Among the male-biased ones, ionotropic glutamate receptor-, heat shock protein-, acetylcholine-, and homeobox-, cuticle-related transcripts were included. Additionally, 29 gene ontology terms were associated with the sex-specific traits. The present study improves our understanding of sex determination, sexual differentiation, and settlement processes of rhizocephalans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asami Kajimoto
- Nara Women's University, Kitauoya-nishi 630-8506, Nara, Japan.
| | - Kenji Toyota
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kanagawa University, 3-27-1, Rokkakubashi, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-city, Kanagawa 221-8686, Japan; Department of Bioresource Science, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4, Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima-shi, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan; Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan.
| | - Tsuyoshi Ohira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kanagawa University, 3-27-1, Rokkakubashi, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-city, Kanagawa 221-8686, Japan
| | - Yoichi Yusa
- Nara Women's University, Kitauoya-nishi 630-8506, Nara, Japan
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8
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Li X, Colbourne JK. A molecular mechanism for environmental sex determination. Trends Genet 2024; 40:817-818. [PMID: 39079787 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.07.005] [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: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
Daphnia produce genetically identical males and females; their sex is determined by environmental conditions. Recently, Kato et al. identified isoform switching events in Daphnia as a gene regulatory mechanism for sex-specific development. This finding uncovers the impact of alternative usage of gene isoforms on this extreme phenotypic plasticity trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Li
- Centre for Environmental Research and Justice (CERJ), School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - John K Colbourne
- Centre for Environmental Research and Justice (CERJ), School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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9
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Mongue AJ, Baird RB. Genetic drift drives faster-Z evolution in the salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis. Evolution 2024; 78:1594-1605. [PMID: 38863398 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpae090] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
How sex chromosomes evolve compared to autosomes remains an unresolved question in population genetics. Most studies focus on only a handful of taxa, resulting in uncertainty over whether observed patterns reflect general processes or idiosyncrasies in particular clades. For example, in female heterogametic (ZW) systems, bird Z chromosomes tend to evolve quickly but not adaptively, while in Lepidopterans they evolve adaptively, but not always quickly. To understand how these observations fit into broader evolutionary patterns, we explore Z chromosome evolution outside of these two well-studied clades. We utilize a publicly available genome, gene expression, population, and outgroup data in the salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis, an important agricultural pest copepod. We find that the Z chromosome is faster evolving than autosomes, but that this effect is driven by increased drift rather than adaptive evolution. Due to high rates of female reproductive failure, the Z chromosome exhibits a slightly lower effective population size than the autosomes which is nonetheless to decrease efficiency of hemizygous selection acting on the Z. These results highlight the usefulness of organismal life history in calibrating population genetic expectations and demonstrate the value of the ever-expanding wealth of publicly available data to help resolve outstanding evolutionary questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Mongue
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Robert B Baird
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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10
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Sugiura K, Yoshida Y, Hayashi K, Arakawa K, Kunieda T, Matsumoto M. Sexual dimorphism in the tardigrade Paramacrobiotus metropolitanus transcriptome. ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2024; 10:11. [PMID: 38902818 PMCID: PMC11191345 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-024-00233-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In gonochoristic animals, the sex determination pathway induces different morphological and behavioral features that can be observed between sexes, a condition known as sexual dimorphism. While many components of this sex differentiation cascade show high levels of diversity, factors such as the Doublesex-Mab-3-Related Transcription factor (DMRT) are widely conserved across animal taxa. Species of the phylum Tardigrada exhibit remarkable diversity in morphology and behavior between sexes, suggesting a pathway regulating this dimorphism. Despite the wealth of genomic and zoological knowledge accumulated in recent studies, the sexual differences in tardigrades genomes have not been identified. In the present study, we focused on the gonochoristic species Paramacrobiotus metropolitanus and employed omics analyses to unravel the molecular basis of sexual dimorphism. RESULTS Transcriptome analysis between sex-identified specimens revealed numerous differentially expressed genes, of which approximately 2,000 male-biased genes were focused on 29 non-male-specific genomic loci. From these regions, we identified two Macrobiotidae family specific DMRT paralogs, which were significantly upregulated in males and lacked sex specific splicing variants. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis indicated all tardigrade genomes lack the doublesex ortholog, suggesting doublesex emerged after the divergence of Tardigrada. In contrast to sex-specific expression, no evidence of genomic differences between the sexes was found. We also identified several anhydrobiosis genes that exhibit sex-biased expression, suggesting a possible mechanism for protection of sex-specific tissues against extreme stress. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a comprehensive analysis for analyzing the genetic differences between sexes in tardigrades. The existence of male-biased, but not male-specific, genomic loci and identification of the family specific male-biased DMRT subfamily provides the foundation for understanding the sex determination cascade. In addition, sex-biased expression of several tardigrade-specific genes which are involved their stress tolerance suggests a potential role in protecting sex-specific tissue and gametes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Sugiura
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan
| | - Yuki Yoshida
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Kohei Hayashi
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan
| | - Kazuharu Arakawa
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, 403-1 Nihonkoku, Daihoji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-0017, Japan
- Exploratory Research Center On Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Takekazu Kunieda
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Midori Matsumoto
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan.
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11
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Abe S, Takahata Y, Miyakawa H. Daphnia uses its circadian clock for short-day recognition in environmental sex determination. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2002-2010.e3. [PMID: 38579713 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.027] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Some organisms have developed a mechanism called environmental sex determination (ESD), which allows environmental cues, rather than sex chromosomes or genes, to determine offspring sex.1,2,3,4 ESD is advantageous to optimize sex ratios according to environmental conditions, enhancing reproductive success.5,6 However, the process by which organisms perceive and translate diverse environmental signals into offspring sex remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the environmental perception mechanism in the crustacean, Daphnia pulex, a seasonal (photoperiodic) ESD arthropod, capable of producing females under long days and males under short days.7,8,9,10 Through breeding experiments, we found that their circadian clock likely contributes to perception of day length. To explore this further, we created a genetically modified daphnid by knocking out the clock gene, period, using genome editing. Knockout disrupted the daphnid's ability to sustain diel vertical migration (DVM) under constant darkness, driven by the circadian clock, and leading them to produce females regardless of day length. Additionally, when exposed to an analog of juvenile hormone (JH), an endocrine factor synthesized in mothers during male production, or subjected to unfavorable conditions of high density and low food availability, these knockout daphnids produced males regardless of day length, like wild-type daphnids. Based on these findings, we propose that recognizing short days via the circadian clock is the initial step in sex determination. This recognition subsequently triggers male production by signaling the endocrine system, specifically via the JH signal. Establishment of a connection between these two processes may be the crucial element in evolution of ESD in Daphnia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shione Abe
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan
| | - Yugo Takahata
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Miyakawa
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan.
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12
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Kato Y, Nitta JH, Perez CAG, Adhitama N, Religia P, Toyoda A, Iwasaki W, Watanabe H. Identification of gene isoforms and their switching events between male and female embryos of the parthenogenetic crustacean Daphnia magna. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9407. [PMID: 38688940 PMCID: PMC11061156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59774-1] [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: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The cladoceran crustacean Daphnia exhibits phenotypic plasticity, a phenomenon that leads to diverse phenotypes from one genome. Alternative usage of gene isoforms has been considered a key gene regulation mechanism for controlling different phenotypes. However, to understand the phenotypic plasticity of Daphnia, gene isoforms have not been comprehensively analyzed. Here we identified 25,654 transcripts derived from the 9710 genes expressed during environmental sex determination of Daphnia magna using the long-read RNA-Seq with PacBio Iso-Seq. We found that 14,924 transcripts were previously unidentified and 5713 genes produced two or more isoforms. By a combination of Illumina short-read RNA-Seq, we detected 824 genes that implemented switching of the highest expressed isoform between females and males. Among the 824 genes, we found isoform switching of an ortholog of CREB-regulated transcription coactivator, a major regulator of carbohydrate metabolism in animals, and a correlation of this switching event with the sexually dimorphic expression of carbohydrate metabolic genes. These results suggest that a comprehensive catalog of isoforms may lead to understanding the molecular basis for environmental sex determination of Daphnia. We also infer the applicability of the full-length isoform analyses to the elucidation of phenotypic plasticity in Daphnia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiko Kato
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Joel H Nitta
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Nikko Adhitama
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Pijar Religia
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Wataru Iwasaki
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hajime Watanabe
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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13
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Wang Y, Lin J, Li W, Ji G, Liu Z. Identification, Expression and Evolutional Analysis of Two cyp19-like Genes in Amphioxus. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1140. [PMID: 38672288 PMCID: PMC11047327 DOI: 10.3390/ani14081140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of sex determination and differentiation in animals remains a central focus of reproductive and developmental biology research, and the regulation of sex differentiation in amphioxus remains poorly understood. Cytochrome P450 Family 19 Subfamily A member 1 (CYP19A1) is a crucial sex differentiation gene that catalyzes the conversion of androgens into estrogens. In this study, we identified two aromatase-like genes in amphioxus: cyp19-like1 and cyp19-like2. The cyp19-like1 is more primitive and may represent the ancestral form of cyp19 in zebrafish and other vertebrates, while the cyp19-like2 is likely the result of gene duplication within amphioxus. To gain further insights into the expression level of these two aromatase-like, we examined their expression in different tissues and during different stages of gonad development. While the expression level of the two genes differs in tissues, both are highly expressed in the gonad primordium and are primarily localized to microsomal membrane systems. However, as development proceeds, their expression level decreases significantly. This study enhances our understanding of sex differentiation mechanisms in amphioxus and provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution of sex determination mechanisms in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Zhenhui Liu
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; (Y.W.); (J.L.); (W.L.); (G.J.)
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14
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Hull JJ, Heu CC, Gross RJ, LeRoy DM, Schutze IX, Langhorst D, Fabrick JA, Brent CS. Doublesex is essential for masculinization but not feminization in Lygus hesperus. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 166:104085. [PMID: 38307215 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104085] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
In most holometabolous insects, sex differentiation occurs via a hierarchical cascade of transcription factors, with doublesex (dsx) regulating genes that control sex-specific traits. Although less is known in hemimetabolous insects, early evidence suggests that substantial differences exist from more evolutionarily advanced insects. Here, we identified and characterized dsx in Lygus hesperus (western tarnished plant bug), a hemipteran pest of many agricultural crops in western North America. The full-length transcript for L. hesperus dsx (Lhdsx) and several variants encode proteins with conserved DNA binding and oligomerization domains. Transcript profiling revealed that Lhdsx is ubiquitously expressed, likely undergoes alternative pre-mRNA splicing, and, unlike several model insects, is sex-biased rather than sex-specific. Embryonic RNA interference (RNAi) of Lhdsx only impacted sex development in adult males, which lacked both internal reproductive organs and external genitalia. No discernible impacts on adult female development or reproductivity were observed. RNAi knockdown of Lhdsx in nymphs likewise only affected adult males, which lacked the characteristic dimorphic coloration but had dramatically elevated vitellogenin transcripts. Gene knockout of Lhdsx by CRISPR/Cas9 editing yielded only females in G0 and strongly biased heterozygous G1 offspring to females with the few surviving males showing severely impaired genital development. These results indicate that L. hesperus male development requires Lhdsx, whereas female development proceeds via a basal pathway that functions independently of dsx. A fundamental understanding of sex differentiation in L. hesperus could be important for future gene-based management strategies of this important agricultural pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Joe Hull
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA.
| | - Chan C Heu
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Roni J Gross
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Dannialle M LeRoy
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Inana X Schutze
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Daniel Langhorst
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Fabrick
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Colin S Brent
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
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15
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Nong C, Chen Y, Yang H, Chen N, Tian C, Li S, Chen H. Phenotypic sorting of individual male and female intersex Cherax quadricarinatus and analysis of molecular differences in the gonadal transcriptome. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2024; 49:101194. [PMID: 38246110 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101194] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Cherax quadricarinatus exhibit sexual dimorphism, with males outpacing females in size specification and growth rate. However, there is limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying sex determination and sex differentiation in crustaceans. To study the differences between intersex individuals and normal individuals, this study counted the proportion of intersex individuals in the natural population, collected the proportion of 7 different phenotypes in 200 intersex individuals, and observed the differences in tissue sections. RNA-seq was used to study the different changes in the transcriptome of normal and intersex gonads. The results showed that: the percentage of intersex in the natural population was 1.5 %, and the percentage of different types of intersex ranged from 0.5 % to 22.5 %; the sections revealed that the development of normal ovaries was stagnant at the primary oocyte stage when intersex individuals with ovaries were present; We screened for pathways and genes that may be associated with gonadal development and sex, including ovarian steroid synthesis, estrogen signaling pathway, oocyte meiosis, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, etc. Relevant genes including tra2a, dmrta2, ccnb2, foxl2, and smad4. This study provides an important molecular basis for sex determination, sex-controlled breeding, and unisex breeding in red crayfish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuntai Nong
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yibin Chen
- Guangdong Evergreen Feed Industry Co., Ltd., Evergreen Tower, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Nanxiong Chen
- Guangdong Evergreen Feed Industry Co., Ltd., Evergreen Tower, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Changxu Tian
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Sedong Li
- Guangdong Evergreen Feed Industry Co., Ltd., Evergreen Tower, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China.; Zhanjiang Ocean and Fishery Development Research Center, Zhanjiang, China.
| | - Huapu Chen
- Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, Zhanjiang 524088, China; Guangdong Havwii agriculture group Co., Ltd, Zhanjiang 524266, China.
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16
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Jiang G, Xue Y, Huang X. Temperature-Induced Sex Differentiation in River Prawn ( Macrobrachium nipponense): Mechanisms and Effects. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1207. [PMID: 38279207 PMCID: PMC10816446 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrobrachium nipponense is gonochoristic and sexually dimorphic. The male prawn grows faster and usually has a larger size than the female. Therefore, a higher male proportion in stock usually results in higher yield. To investigate the impact of temperature on sexual differentiation in M. nipponense, two temperature treatments (26 °C and 31 °C) were conducted. The results showed that compared to the 31 °C treatment (3.20 ± 0.12), the 26 °C treatment displayed a lower female/male ratio (2.20 ± 0.11), which implied that a lower temperature could induce masculinization in M. nipponense. The temperature-sensitive sex differentiation phase was 25-35 days post hatching (DPH) at 26 °C while 15-20 DPH at 31 °C. Transcriptome and qPCR analysis revealed that a lower temperature up-regulated the expression of genes related to androgen secretion, and down-regulated the expressions of genes related to oogonia differentiation. Thirty-one temperature-regulated sex-differentiation genes were identified and the molecular mechanism of temperature-regulated sex differentiation was suggested. The finding of this study indicates that temperature regulation can be proposed as an innovative strategy for improving the culture yield of M. nipponense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Jiang
- Centre for Research on Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition (CREEFN) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; (G.J.); (Y.X.)
| | - Yucai Xue
- Centre for Research on Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition (CREEFN) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; (G.J.); (Y.X.)
| | - Xuxiong Huang
- Centre for Research on Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition (CREEFN) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; (G.J.); (Y.X.)
- Building of China-ASEAN Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Mariculture Technology and Joint Research on Mariculture Technology, Shanghai 201306, China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
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17
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Yu Y, Chen M, Shen ZG. Molecular biological, physiological, cytological, and epigenetic mechanisms of environmental sex differentiation in teleosts: A systematic review. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 267:115654. [PMID: 37918334 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Human activities have been exerting widespread stress and environmental risks in aquatic ecosystems. Environmental stress, including temperature rise, acidification, hypoxia, light pollution, and crowding, had a considerable negative impact on the life histology of aquatic animals, especially on sex differentiation (SDi) and the resulting sex ratios. Understanding how the sex of fish responds to stressful environments is of great importance for understanding the origin and maintenance of sex, the dynamics of the natural population in the changing world, and the precise application of sex control in aquaculture. This review conducted an exhaustive search of the available literature on the influence of environmental stress (ES) on SDi. Evidence has shown that all types of ES can affect SDi and universally result in an increase in males or masculinization, which has been reported in 100 fish species and 121 cases. Then, this comprehensive review aimed to summarize the molecular biology, physiology, cytology, and epigenetic mechanisms through which ES contributes to male development or masculinization. The relationship between ES and fish SDi from multiple aspects was analyzed, and it was found that environmental sex differentiation (ESDi) is the result of the combined effects of genetic and epigenetic factors, self-physiological regulation, and response to environmental signals, which involves a sophisticated network of various hormones and numerous genes at multiple levels and multiple gradations in bipotential gonads. In both normal male differentiation and ES-induced masculinization, the stress pathway and epigenetic regulation play important roles; however, how they co-regulate SDi is unclear. Evidence suggests that the universal emergence or increase in males in aquatic animals is an adaptation to moderate ES. ES-induced sex reversal should be fully investigated in more fish species and extensively in the wild. The potential aquaculture applications and difficulties associated with ESDi have also been addressed. Finally, the knowledge gaps in the ESDi are presented, which will guide the priorities of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yu
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Min Chen
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Zhi-Gang Shen
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
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18
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Toyota K, Mekuchi M, Akashi H, Miyagawa S, Ohira T. Sexual dimorphic eyestalk transcriptome of kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus. Gene 2023; 885:147700. [PMID: 37572801 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147700] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Kuruma prawn (Marsupenaeus japonicus) is a benthic decapod crustacean that is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region. It is one of the most important fishery resources in Japan, but its annual catches have declined sharply since the 1990s. To increase stocks, various approaches such as seed production and aquaculture were attempted. Since the demand for important fishery species, including kuruma prawn, is expected to increase worldwide in the future, there is a need to develop new technologies that will make aquaculture more efficient. Historically, the eyestalk endocrine organ is known to consist of the X-organ and sinus gland (XO/SG) complex that synthesizes and secrets various neuropeptide hormones that regulate growth, molt, sexual maturation, reproduction, and changes in body color. In the current study, eyestalk-derived neuropeptides were identified in the transcriptome. In addition, most orthologs of sex-determination genes were expressed in eyestalks. We identified two doublesex genes (MjapDsx1 and MjapDsx2) and found that MjapDsx1 showed male-biased expression in the eyestalk ganglion with no sex-specific splicing, unlike insect species. Therefore, this study will provide an opportunity to advance the research of neuropeptides and sex determination in the kuruma prawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Toyota
- Noto Marine Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Ogi, Noto-cho, Ishikawa 927-0553, Japan; Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kanagawa University, 2946 Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Japan.
| | - Miyuki Mekuchi
- Yokohama Field Station, Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-12-4 Hukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Akashi
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan; Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
| | - Shinichi Miyagawa
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Ohira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kanagawa University, 2946 Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Japan.
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19
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Choi HJ, Kim JH, Le VQA, Kim BN, Cho BK, Kim YH, Min J. Yeast vacuolar enzymes as novel hatching inhibitors for aquatic organisms, Daphnia magna and Danio rerio eggs. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 264:115446. [PMID: 37688866 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Concerns over the spread of non-native species in aquatic environments have led to the need for effective methods to prevent and control their spread while protecting native species. This study investigated the potential of yeast vacuolar enzymes as a natural hatching inhibitor for controlling aquatic organisms. Hatching experiments with Daphnia magna eggs demonstrated that exposure to yeast vacuole enzymes inhibited hatching in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting their potential as an effective inhibitor of egg hatching in aquatic organisms. Interestingly, the protease used for comparative purposes did not inhibit hatching, but instead increased the mortality of hatched D. magna. Additionally, chorionic changes were observed in non-hatched D. magna eggs and zebrafish eggs exposed to yeast vacuole enzymes, suggesting that the enzyme can alter the chorion and interfere with hatching. These findings suggest that yeast vacuolar enzymes may be a promising and natural management tool for controlling the spread of harmful aquatic organisms, and further research is warranted to explore their potential for species-specific control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo Jin Choi
- School of Chemical Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, South Korea
| | - Ji Hun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Vu Quynh Anh Le
- School of Chemical Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, South Korea
| | - Bit-Na Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, South Korea.
| | - Byung-Kwan Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 34141, South Korea.
| | - Yang-Hoon Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-Ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju 28644, South Korea.
| | - Jiho Min
- School of Chemical Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, South Korea.
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20
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Huynh TV, Hall AS, Xu S. The Transcriptomic Signature of Cyclical Parthenogenesis. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad122. [PMID: 37392457 PMCID: PMC10340444 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclical parthenogenesis, where females can engage in sexual or asexual reproduction depending on environmental conditions, represents a novel reproductive phenotype that emerged during eukaryotic evolution. The fact that environmental conditions can trigger cyclical parthenogens to engage in distinct reproductive modes strongly suggests that gene expression plays a key role in the origin of cyclical parthenogenesis. However, the genetic basis underlying cyclical parthenogenesis remains understudied. In this study, we characterize the female transcriptomic signature of sexual versus asexual reproduction in the cyclically parthenogenetic microcrustacean Daphnia pulex and Daphnia pulicaria. Our analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), pathway enrichment, and gene ontology (GO) term enrichment clearly show that compared with sexual reproduction, the asexual reproductive stage is characterized by both the underregulation of meiosis and cell cycle genes and the upregulation of metabolic genes. The consensus set of DEGs that this study identifies within the meiotic, cell cycle, and metabolic pathways serves as candidate genes for future studies investigating how the two reproductive cycles in cyclical parthenogenesis are mediated at a molecular level. Furthermore, our analyses identify some cases of divergent expression among gene family members (e.g., doublesex and NOTCH2) associated with asexual or sexual reproductive stage, suggesting potential functional divergence among gene family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trung Viet Huynh
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Alexander S Hall
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Sen Xu
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
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21
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Zhu D, Feng T, Mo N, Han R, Lu W, Cui Z. Eriocheir sinensis feminization-1c ( Fem-1c) and Its Predicted miRNAs Involved in Sexual Development and Regulation. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1813. [PMID: 37889731 PMCID: PMC10251896 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Feminization-1c (Fem-1c) is important for sex differentiation in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. In our previous study, the basic molecular characteristics of the Fem-1c gene (EsFem-1c) in Eriocheir sinensis (Henri Milne Edwards, 1854) were cloned to determine the relationship with sex differentiation. In this study, the genomic sequence of EsFem-1c contained five exons and four introns, with an exceptionally long 3'UTR sequence. The qRT-PCR results of EsFem-1c demonstrated lower tissue expression in the androgenic gland of the intersex crab than the normal male crab, implying that EsFem-1c plays a role in crab AG development. RNA interference experiments and morphological observations of juvenile and mature crabs indicated that EsFem-1c influences sexual development in E. sinensis. A dual-luciferase reporter assay disclosed that tcf-miR-315-5p effectively inhibits the translation of the EsFem-1c gene, influencing male development. An intriguing finding was that miRNA tcf-miR-307 could increase EsFem-1c expression by binding to the alternative splicing region with a length of 248 bp (ASR-248) in the 3'UTR sequence. The present research contributes to a better understanding of the molecular regulation mechanism of EsFem-1c and provides a resource for future studies of the miRNA-mediated regulation of sexual development and regulation in E. sinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Zhu
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
| | - Tianyi Feng
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
| | - Nan Mo
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
| | - Rui Han
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
| | - Wentao Lu
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
| | - Zhaoxia Cui
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China; (D.Z.)
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
- DECAPODA Biology Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (Lianyungang), Lianyungang 222000, China
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22
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Zhang P, Yang Y, Xu Y, Cui Z. Analyses of the Dmrt family in a decapod crab, Eriocheir sinensis uncover new facets on the evolution of DM domain genes. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1201846. [PMID: 37304820 PMCID: PMC10252143 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1201846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
DM domain genes are a group of transcription factors that are integral to sexual development and its evolution in metazoans. Their functions and regulatory mechanisms are not well understood in Malacostraca (crabs and crayfish) while these sex regulators have been widely identified in the past decade. In this study, the Dmrt family was investigated in the decapod crab, Eriocheir sinensis. We find that most members of the EsDmrt family begin to enrich around the juvenile 1 stage. In reproductive organs, EsDsx1, EsDsx2, EsiDMY and EsiDmrt1a highly express in the male-specific androgenic gland (AG), while EsDmrt-like, EsDsx-like, EsDmrt11E, and EsiDmrt1b show relatively high expression in testis. Also, we find the highly aberrant expression of EsiDMY and EsiDmrt1a in the chimeric AG, strongly indicating their function in AG development. Moreover, RNA interference of EsDsx1, EsiDMY, and EsiDmrt1a results in a significant decrease in transcription of the Insulin-like androgenic hormone (IAG), respectively. Our findings suggest that Dmrt genes in E. sinensis primarily function in male sexual differentiation, especially in AG development. Besides, this study identifies two unique groups of Dmrt genes in Malacostraca: Dsx and iDmrt1. In Malacostraca Dsx, we uncover a cryptic mutation in the eight zinc motif-specific residues, which were firmly believed to be invariant across the Dmrt family. This mutation sets the Malacostraca Dsx apart from all the other Dmrt genes and implies a different way of transcriptional regulation. Genes from the iDmrt1 group show phylogenetical limitation to the malacostracan species and underwent positive selection, suggesting their highly specialized gene function to this class. Based on these findings, we propose that Dsx and iDmrt1 in Malacostraca have developed unique transcriptional regulation mechanisms to facilitate AG development. We hope that this study would contribute to our understandings of sexual development in Malacostraca and provide new insights into the evolutionary history of the Dmrt family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yanan Yang
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yuanfeng Xu
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Zhaoxia Cui
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
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23
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Wang Q, Cao T, Wang Y, Li X, Wang Y. Genome-wide identification and comparative analysis of Dmrt genes in echinoderms. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7664. [PMID: 37169947 PMCID: PMC10175285 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34819-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The Dmrt (Doublesex-mab3-related transcription factor) gene family is a class of crucial transcription factors characterized by one or several conserved DM (Doublesex/Mab-3) domains. Dmrt family genes can participate in various physiological developmental processes, especially in sex determination/differentiation. Echinoderms are extremely important research objects in various fields, such as sex determination/differentiation and neuroscience. However, to date, the genome-wide characterization and analysis of Dmrt genes in echinoderms have not been investigated. In this study, the identification and analysis of Dmrt genes in 11 representative echinoderms were performed using bioinformatics methods. A total of 43 Dmrt genes have been found in the studied echinoderms, and the number of Dmrt genes in different species ranges from 2 to 5. The phylogenetic tree showed that all Dmrt genes from echinoderms can be subdivided into 5 classes, the Dmrt2-like class, Dmrt3-like class, Dmrt4/5-like class, Dsx-like class, and a novel Dmrt (starfish-specific) class. Furthermore, selective pressure assessment suggested that the Dmrt genes underwent purifying selection pressure. In general, this study provides a molecular basis for echinoderm Dmrt genes and may serve as a reference for in-depth phylogenomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanchao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Warning, Protection and Restoration for Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, 266061, China
| | - Tiangui Cao
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Yanxia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Xiaojing Li
- Yantai Vocational College, Yantai, 264670, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Yantai Vocational College, Yantai, 264670, China.
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24
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Sun D, Yu H, Li Q. Early gonadal differentiation is associated with the antagonistic action of Foxl2 and Dmrt1l in the Pacific oyster. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2023; 265:110831. [PMID: 36681266 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2023.110831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
As the second largest phylum in the zoological kingdom next to arthropods, the mechanism of gonadal differentiation in mollusca is quite complex. Currently, although much has been carried out on gonadal differentiation in the Pacific oyster, there is still unknown information that needs to be further explored. Here, analysis of the Foxl2 and Dmrt1l expression in samples at different development periods of male and female gonads as well as in annual gonad samples revealed that Log10 (Foxl2/Dmrt1l) values were an effective method for sex identification in oysters. In differentiated gonadal tissue, Log10 (Foxl2/Dmrt1l) values greater than 2 were females and less than 1 for males. Subsequent sequential sampling of the same individuals verified that Log10 (Foxl2/Dmrt1l) values greater than 2 for resting gonads would develop as females and less than 1 would develop as males in the future. Relative expression analysis of Foxl2 and Dmrt1l in the annual samples revealed a negative correlation between Log10 (Foxl2) and Log10 (Dmrt1l). Double fluorescence reporter validation results showed that DMRT1L protein was able to bind the Foxl2 promoter and repress its activity with a weak dosage effect. Antagonism between Dmrt1l and Foxl2 is therefore not restricted to vertebrates, and the competing regulatory networks are of great significance in the maintenance of gonadal sex in oysters after sexual differentiation. This study provides novel ideas and insights into the study of early gonadal differentiation in the adult oyster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongfang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China.
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25
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Wu WT, Xu LY, Yan ZJ, Bi N, Cheng CY, Yang F, Yang WJ, Yang JS. Identification and characterization of the Doublesex gene and its mRNA isoforms in the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Biochem J 2023; 480:385-401. [PMID: 36852878 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Doublesex (DSX) proteins are members of the Doublesex/mab-3-related (DMRT) protein family and play crucial roles in sex determination and differentiation among the animal kingdom. In the present study, we identified two Doublesex (Dsx)-like mRNA isoforms in the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana (Kellogg 1906), which are generated by the combination of alternative promoters, alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation. The two transcripts exhibited sex-biased enrichment, which we termed AfrDsxM and AfrDsxF. They share a common region which encodes an identical N-terminal DNA-binding (DM) domain. RT-qPCR analyses showed that AfrDsxM is dominantly expressed in male Artemia while AfrDsxF is specifically expressed in females. Expression levels of both isoforms increased along with the developmental stages of their respective sexes. RNA interference with dsRNA showed that the knockdown of AfrDsxM in male larvae led to the appearance of female traits including an ovary-like structure in the original male reproductive system and an elevated expression of vitellogenin. However, silencing of AfrDsxF induced no clear phenotypic change in female Artemia. These results indicated that the male AfrDSXM may act as inhibiting regulator upon the default female developmental mode in Artemia. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses revealed that the unique DM domain of AfrDSXs can specifically bind to promoter segments of potential downstream target genes like AfrVtg. These data show that AfrDSXs play crucial roles in regulating sexual development in Artemia, and further provide insight into the evolution of sex determination/differentiation in sexual organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Tao Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lian-Ying Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ning Bi
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cai-Yuan Cheng
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fan Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei-Jun Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jin-Shu Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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26
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Chen R, Sanders SM, Ma Z, Paschall J, Chang ES, Riscoe BM, Schnitzler CE, Baxevanis AD, Nicotra ML. XY sex determination in a cnidarian. BMC Biol 2023; 21:32. [PMID: 36782149 PMCID: PMC9926710 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01532-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex determination occurs across animal species, but most of our knowledge about its mechanisms comes from only a handful of bilaterian taxa. This limits our ability to infer the evolutionary history of sex determination within animals. RESULTS In this study, we generated a linkage map of the genome of the colonial cnidarian Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus and used it to demonstrate that this species has an XX/XY sex determination system. We demonstrate that the X and Y chromosomes have pseudoautosomal and non-recombining regions. We then use the linkage map and a method based on the depth of sequencing coverage to identify genes encoded in the non-recombining region and show that many of them have male gonad-specific expression. In addition, we demonstrate that recombination rates are enhanced in the female genome and that the haploid chromosome number in Hydractinia is n = 15. CONCLUSIONS These findings establish Hydractinia as a tractable non-bilaterian model system for the study of sex determination and the evolution of sex chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoxu Chen
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Visiting Scholar, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Steven M Sanders
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zhiwei Ma
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Justin Paschall
- Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - E Sally Chang
- Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Brooke M Riscoe
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Andreas D Baxevanis
- Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew L Nicotra
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Just J, Laslo M, Lee YJ, Yarnell M, Zhang Z, Angelini DR. Distinct developmental mechanisms influence sexual dimorphisms in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222083. [PMID: 36722087 PMCID: PMC9890105 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism is common in animals. The most complete model of sex determination comes from Drosophila melanogaster, where the relative dosage of autosomes and X chromosomes leads indirectly to sex-specific transcripts of doublesex (dsx). Female Dsx interacts with a mediator complex protein encoded by intersex (ix) to activate female development. In males, the transcription factor encoded by fruitless (fru) promotes male-specific behaviour. The genetics of sex determination have been examined in a small number of other insects, yet several questions remain about the plesiomorphic state. Is dsx required for female and male development? Is fru conserved in male behaviour or morphology? Are other components such as ix functionally conserved? To address these questions, we report expression and functional tests of dsx, ix and fru in the hemipteran Oncopeltus fasciatus, characterizing three sexual dimorphisms. dsx prevents ix phenotypes in all sexes and dimorphic traits in the milkweed bug. ix and fru are expressed across the body, in females and males. fru and ix also affect the genitalia of both sexes, but have effects limited to different dimorphic structures in different sexes. These results reveal roles for ix and fru distinct from other insects, and demonstrate distinct development mechanisms in different sexually dimorphic structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Just
- Department of Biology, Colby College, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Mara Laslo
- Curriculum Fellows Program, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ye Jin Lee
- Department of Biology, Colby College, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
| | - Michael Yarnell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13123 East 16th Avenue, B065, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Zhuofan Zhang
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 777 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - David R. Angelini
- Department of Biology, Colby College, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
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28
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Ye Z, Bishop T, Wang Y, Shahriari R, Lynch M. Evolution of sex determination in crustaceans. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 5:1-11. [PMID: 37073332 PMCID: PMC10077267 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-023-00163-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Sex determination (SD) involves mechanisms that determine whether an individual will develop into a male, female, or in rare cases, hermaphrodite. Crustaceans harbor extremely diverse SD systems, including hermaphroditism, environmental sex determination (ESD), genetic sex determination (GSD), and cytoplasmic sex determination (e.g., Wolbachia controlled SD systems). Such diversity lays the groundwork for researching the evolution of SD in crustaceans, i.e., transitions among different SD systems. However, most previous research has focused on understanding the mechanism of SD within a single lineage or species, overlooking the transition across different SD systems. To help bridge this gap, we summarize the understanding of SD in various clades of crustaceans, and discuss how different SD systems might evolve from one another. Furthermore, we review the genetic basis for transitions between different SD systems (i.e., Dmrt genes) and propose the microcrustacean Daphnia (clade Branchiopoda) as a model to study the transition from ESD to GSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Ye
- Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 USA
| | - Trent Bishop
- Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 USA
| | - Yaohai Wang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, KLMME, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Ryan Shahriari
- Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 USA
| | - Michael Lynch
- Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 USA
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29
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The function and evolution of a genetic switch controlling sexually dimorphic eye differentiation in honeybees. Nat Commun 2023; 14:463. [PMID: 36709321 PMCID: PMC9884244 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36153-4] [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] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals develop sex-specific morphological structures that are diverse between organisms. However, understanding the developmental and evolutionary mechanisms governing these traits is still limited and largely restricted to DM domain genes, which are conserved, sex-specific developmental regulators identified in genetic models. Here, we report a sex-specific developmental regulator gene, glubschauge (glu) that selectively regulates sexually dimorphic eye differentiation in honeybees. We found that the sex determination gene feminizer (fem) controls sex-specific splicing of glu transcripts, establishing a genetic switch in which Glu proteins with a zinc finger (ZnF) domain are only expressed in females. We showed that female coding sequence was essential and sufficient for partial feminization. Comparative sequence and functional studies revealed that the evolutionary origination of the genetic switch was followed by the mutational origin of the essential ZnF domain. Our results demonstrate that glu is a newly evolved sex-specific genetic switch for region-specific regulation of a dimorphic character.
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30
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Han C, Peng Q, Su X, Xing L, Ji X, Pan Y. A male-specific doublesex isoform reveals an evolutionary pathway of sexual development via distinct alternative splicing mechanisms. Commun Biol 2022; 5:728. [PMID: 35869175 PMCID: PMC9307624 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03664-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The doublesex/mab-3 related transcription factor (Dmrt) genes regulate sexual development in metazoans. Studies of the doublesex (dsx) gene in insects, in particular Drosophila melanogaster, reveal that alternative splicing of dsx generates sex-specific Dsx isoforms underlying sexual differentiation. Such a splicing-based mechanism underlying sex-specific Dmrt function is thought to be evolved from a transcription-based mechanism used in non-insect species, but how such transition occurs during evolution is not known. Here we identified a male-specific dsx transcript (dsxM2) through intron retention (IR), in addition to previously identified dsxM and dsxF transcripts through alternative polyadenylation (APA) with mutually exclusive exons. We found that DsxM2 had similarly masculinizing function as DsxM. We also found that the IR-based mechanism generating sex-specific dsx transcripts was conserved from flies to cockroaches. Further analysis of these dsx transcripts suggested an evolutionary pathway from sexually monomorphic to sex-specific dsx via the sequential use of IR-based and APA-based alternative splicing. An ancestral male-specific doublesex isoform, dsxM2, is identified via intron retention, with a masculinizing function weaker than the modern dsxM
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31
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The Sex-Specific Splicing of Doublesex in Brine Shrimp Artemia franciscana. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13111997. [PMID: 36360234 PMCID: PMC9690683 DOI: 10.3390/genes13111997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The understanding of sex determination and differentiation in animals has recently made remarkable strides through the use of advanced research tools. At the gene level, the Mab-3-related transcription factor (Dmrt) gene family, which encodes for the typical DNA-binding doublesex/Mab-3 (DM) domain in their protein, is known for its contribution to sex determination and differentiation in insects. In this study, DNA-binding DM domain screening has identified eight transcripts from Artemia franciscana transcriptomic that encode proteins containing one conserved DNA-binding DM domain. The genome mapping confirmed that these eight transcripts are transcribed from six different loci on the A. franciscana genome assembly. One of those loci, the Af.dsx-4 locus, is closely related to Doublesex, a gene belonging to the Dmrt gene family. This locus could be transcribed into three alternative transcripts, namely Af.dsx4, Af.dsxF and Af.dsxM. While Af.dsx4 and Af.dsxF could putatively be translated to form an identical Af.dsxF protein of 186 aa long, Af.dsxM translates for an Af.dsxM protein of 289 aa long but shares a DNA-binding DM domain. Interestingly, Af.dsxF and Af.dsxM are confirmed as sex-specific transcripts, Af.dsxF is only present in females, and Af.dsxM is only present in male individuals. The results suggest that the sex-specific splicing mechanism of the doublesex described in insects is also present in A. franciscana. Af.dxs-4 locus can be used in further studies to clarify the sex determination pathways in A. fracnciscana.
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Identification and Expression Analysis of Dsx and Its Positive Transcriptional Regulation of IAG in Black Tiger Shrimp ( Penaeus monodon). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012701. [PMID: 36293554 PMCID: PMC9604489 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Doublesex (Dsx) is a polymorphic transcription factor of the DMRTs family, which is involved in male sex trait development and controls sexual dimorphism at different developmental stages in arthropods. However, the transcriptional regulation of the Dsx gene is largely unknown in decapods. In this study, we reported the cDNA sequence of PmDsx in Penaeus monodon, which encodes a 257 amino acid polypeptide. It shared many similarities with Dsx homologs and has a close relationship in the phylogeny of different species. We demonstrated that the expression of the male sex differentiation gene Dsx was predominantly expressed in the P. monodon testis, and that PmDsx dsRNA injection significantly decreased the expression of the insulin-like androgenic gland hormone (IAG) and male sex-determining gene while increasing the expression of the female sex-determining gene. We also identified a 5′-flanking region of PmIAG that had two potential cis-regulatory elements (CREs) for the PmDsx transcription. Further, the dual-luciferase reporter analysis and truncated mutagenesis revealed that PmDsx overexpression significantly promoted the transcriptional activity of the PmIAG promoter via a specific CRE. These results suggest that PmDsx is engaged in male reproductive development and positively regulates the transcription of the PmIAG by specifically binding upstream of the promoter of the PmIAG. It provides a theoretical basis for exploring the sexual regulation pathway and evolutionary dynamics of Dmrt family genes in P. monodon.
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Tirta YK, Adachi S, Perez CAG, Adhitama N, Nong QD, Natsume T, Kato Y, Watanabe H. CELF1 represses Doublesex1 expression via its 5' UTR in the crustacean Daphnia magna. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275526. [PMID: 36240182 PMCID: PMC9565731 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In sex determination of the crustacean Daphnia magna, male-specific expression of DM-domain transcription factor Doublesex1 (Dsx1) orchestrates the male developmental program triggered by environmental stimuli. We previously identified the CELF1 ortholog as a candidate of proteins associated with the 5' UTR of the Dsx1α isoform. Here we report the CELF1-dependent suppression of Dsx1 expression in D. magna. During embryogenesis, CELF1 expression was not sexually dimorphic. Silencing of CELF1 led to the activation of Dsx1 expression both in female and male embryos. Overexpression of CELF1 in male embryos resulted in a reduction of Dsx1 expression. By these manipulations of CELF1 expression, the Dsx1 transcript level was not significantly changed. To investigate whether the CELF1 controls Dsx1 expression via its 5' UTR, we injected the GFP reporter mRNA having intact Dsx1α 5' UTR or mutated one lacking the GU-rich element (GRE) that is known as a binding site of the CELF1 ortholog. We found that deletion of the GRE significantly increased the reporter gene expression. These results indicate that CELF1 suppresses Dsx1 expression both in females and males, possibly at the post-transcriptional level. We speculate that CELF1 may avoid unintended Dsx1 expression and generation of sexual ambiguity by setting a threshold of Dsx1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shungo Adachi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute (CMB), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Nikko Adhitama
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Quang Dang Nong
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Toru Natsume
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute (CMB), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Kato
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI), Osaka Univeristy, Suita, Japan
- * E-mail: (HW); (YK)
| | - Hajime Watanabe
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI), Osaka Univeristy, Suita, Japan
- * E-mail: (HW); (YK)
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Jankowski MD, Fairbairn DJ, Baller JA, Westerhoff BM, Schoenfuss HL. Using the Daphnia magna Transcriptome to Distinguish Water Source: Wetland and Stormwater Case Studies. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:2107-2123. [PMID: 35622010 PMCID: PMC9545677 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A major challenge in ecotoxicology is accurately and sufficiently measuring chemical exposures and biological effects given the presence of complex and dynamic contaminant mixtures in surface waters. It is impractical to quantify all chemicals in such matrices over space and time, and even if it were practical, concomitant biological effects would not be elucidated. Our study examined the performance of the Daphnia magna transcriptome to detect distinct responses across three water sources in Minnesota: laboratory (well) waters, wetland waters, and storm waters. Pyriproxyfen was included as a gene expression and male neonate production positive control to examine whether gene expression resulting from exposure to this well-studied juvenoid hormone analog can be detected in complex matrices. Laboratory-reared (<24 h) D. magna were exposed to a water source and/or pyriproxyfen for 16 days to monitor phenotypic changes or 96 h to examine gene expression responses using Illumina HiSeq 2500 (10 million reads per library, 50-bp paired end [2 × 50]). The results indicated that a unique gene expression profile was produced for each water source. At 119 ng/L pyriproxyfen (~25% effect concentration) for male neonate production, as expected, the Doublesex1 gene was up-regulated. In descending order, gene expression patterns were most discernable with respect to pyriproxyfen exposure status, season of stormwater sample collection, and wetland quality, as indicated by the index of biological integrity. However, the biological implications of the affected genes were not broadly clear given limited genome resources for invertebrates. Our study provides support for the utility of short-term whole-organism transcriptomic testing in D. magna to discern sample type, but highlights the need for further work on invertebrate genomics. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2107-2123. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Jankowski
- Minnesota Pollution Control AgencySt. PaulMinnesotaUSA
- Veterinary Population Medicine DepartmentUniversity of Minnesota—Twin CitiesSt. PaulMinnesotaUSA
- US Environmental Protection AgencySeattleWashingtonUSA
| | | | - Joshua A. Baller
- Minnesota Supercomputing InstituteUniversity of Minnesota—Twin CitiesMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | | | - Heiko L. Schoenfuss
- Aquatic Toxicology LaboratorySt. Cloud State UniversitySt. CloudMinnesotaUSA
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Singh Brar G, Singh S, Nath Shukla J, Kumar V, Emyr Davies TG, Kaur G, Pandher S, Kaur R. doublesex homolog is sex-specifically spliced and governs the sexual differentiation process in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci biotype AsiaII-1. Gene 2022; 850:146929. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Wang Z, Zhang F, Jin Q, Wang Y, Wang W, Deng D. Transcriptome analysis of different life-history stages and screening of male-biased genes in Daphnia sinensis. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:589. [PMID: 35964016 PMCID: PMC9375365 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08824-x] [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: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the life history of Daphnia, the reproductive mode of parthenogenesis and sexual reproduction alternate in aquatic ecosystem, which are often affected by environmental and genetic factors. Recently, the sex-biased genes are of great significance for clarifying the origin and evolution of reproductive transformation and the molecular regulation mechanism of sex determination in Daphnia. Although some genes on reproductive transition of Daphnia had been researched, molecular mechanism on the maintenance of sexually dimorphic phenotypes of Daphnia are still not well known, including differentially expressed genes in different life-history stages. Results In this study, four life-history stages of Daphnia sinensis, juvenile female (JF), parthenogenetic female (PF), sexual female (SF) and male (M), were performed for transcriptome, and male-biased genes were screened. A total of 110437 transcripts were obtained and assembled into 22996 unigenes. In the four life-history stages (JF, PF, SF and M), the number of unique unigenes is respectively 2863, 445, 437 and 586, and the number of common unigenes is 9708. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between male and other three female stages (M vs JF, M vs PF and M vs SF) were 4570, 4358 and 2855, respectively. GO gene enrichment analysis showed that the up-regulated genes in male were mainly enriched in hydrolase activity and peptidase activity. Thirty-six genes in male were significantly higher expression than in the three female stages, including one Doublesex (Dsx) gene, one laminin gene, five trypsin genes and one serine protease genes, and one chitin synthase gene and two chitinase genes. Conclusions Our results showed that thirty-six candidate genes may be as the male-biased genes involving in the maintenance of sexually dimorphic phenotypes. This work will provide a reference for further exploring the functional genes related to sex differentiation in Daphnia species. Moreover, according to previous investigations, we thought that the expression level of functional genes may be related to the life-history stages of organisms, and may be also affected by different Daphnia species. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08824-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyan Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, 100 Dongshan Road, Huaibei, Anhui, China
| | - Feiyun Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, 100 Dongshan Road, Huaibei, Anhui, China
| | - Qide Jin
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, 100 Dongshan Road, Huaibei, Anhui, China
| | - Yeping Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, 100 Dongshan Road, Huaibei, Anhui, China
| | - Wenping Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, 100 Dongshan Road, Huaibei, Anhui, China.
| | - Daogui Deng
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, 100 Dongshan Road, Huaibei, Anhui, China.
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Ebert D. Daphnia as a versatile model system in ecology and evolution. EvoDevo 2022; 13:16. [PMID: 35941607 PMCID: PMC9360664 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-022-00199-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Water fleas of the genus Daphnia have been a model system for hundreds of years and is among the best studied ecological model organisms to date. Daphnia are planktonic crustaceans with a cyclic parthenogenetic life-cycle. They have a nearly worldwide distribution, inhabiting standing fresh- and brackish water bodies, from small temporary pools to large lakes. Their predominantly asexual reproduction allows for the study of phenotypes excluding genetic variation, enabling us to separate genetic from non-genetic effects. Daphnia are often used in studies related to ecotoxicology, predator-induced defence, host–parasite interactions, phenotypic plasticity and, increasingly, in evolutionary genomics. The most commonly studied species are Daphnia magna and D. pulex, for which a rapidly increasing number of genetic and genomic tools are available. Here, I review current research topics, where the Daphnia model system plays a critical role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Ebert
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051, Basel, Switzerland.
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Zhang X, Li G, Zhou J, Lv M, Li L, Chen J. Full-length gonad transcriptome analysis of Amur sturgeon Dmrt family genes: identification, characterization, and expression patterns during gonadal differentiation. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2022; 48:839-852. [PMID: 35650309 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-022-01087-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The regulatory mechanisms that govern sex differentiation in sturgeon are still poorly understood. The doublesex and Mab-3-related transcription factor (Dmrt) gene family is known for its extensive roles in sex determination and differentiation across vertebrates. This study aimed to identify new members of sturgeon Dmrt family genes and core actors in the gonadal differentiation of Amur sturgeon. A full-length gonad transcriptome database was exploited to identify Dmrt gene orthologs. Analyses of phylogenetic relationships and selection pressure were performed, and tissue expression profiles and spatiotemporal expression patterns in gonads were then analyzed using real-time PCR. In total, five Dmrt family genes were identified from the full-length gonad transcriptome, including Dmrt2, DmrtA1, DmrtA2, DmrtB1a, and DmrtB1b. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these genes were clustered into clades corresponding to the doublesex/Mav-3 (DM) genes of vertebrates. Furthermore, the analysis of evolutionary selective pressure indicated that DmrtB1a and DmrtB1b were subject to positive selection, suggesting the existence of adaptive evolution in sturgeon. The extensive tissue expression profiling of each Dmrt family gene revealed typical characteristics. Remarkably, according to a spatiotemporal expression pattern analysis, in later stages, DmrtB1b expression increased in testes and was significantly higher in testes than in ovaries at 24 months after hatching (M) and 36 M. This study provides a genetic resource of full-length Dmrt family genes and increases the understanding of Dmrt functions in sex differentiation in sturgeon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujuan Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guanyu Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiabin Zhou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mei Lv
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Linmiao Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinping Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Takahata Y, Miyakawa H. Developmental Staging of Sexual Egg Formation in Daphnia pulex: Unmated Females Resorb Meiotic Oocytes to Resist Starvation. Zoolog Sci 2022; 39:407-412. [DOI: 10.2108/zs220010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yugo Takahata
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, 350 Mine-machi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Miyakawa
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, 350 Mine-machi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan
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40
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Chikami Y, Okuno M, Toyoda A, Itoh T, Niimi T. Evolutionary History of Sexual Differentiation Mechanism in Insects. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac145. [PMID: 35820410 PMCID: PMC9290531 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing underpins functional diversity in proteins and the complexity and diversity of eukaryotes. An example is the doublesex gene, the key transcriptional factor in arthropod sexual differentiation. doublesex is controlled by sex-specific splicing and promotes both male and female differentiation in holometabolan insects, whereas in hemimetabolan species, doublesex has sex-specific isoforms but is not required for female differentiation. How doublesex evolved to be essential for female development remains largely unknown. Here, we investigate ancestral states of doublesex using Thermobia domestica belonging to Zygentoma, the sister group of Pterygota, that is, winged insects. We find that, in T. domestica, doublesex expresses sex-specific isoforms but is only necessary for male differentiation of sexual morphology. This result supports the hypothesis that doublesex initially promoted male differentiation during insect evolution. However, T. domestica doublesex has a short female-specific region and upregulates the expression of vitellogenin homologs in females, suggesting that doublesex may already play some role in female morphogenesis of the common ancestor of Pterygota. Reconstruction of the ancestral sequence and prediction of protein structures show that the female-specific isoform of doublesex has an extended C-terminal disordered region in holometabolan insects but not in nonholometabolan species. We propose that doublesex acquired its function in female morphogenesis through a change in the protein motif structure rather than the emergence of the female-specific exon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiko Chikami
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Miki Okuno
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, School of Medicine, Kurume University, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Takehiko Itoh
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Teruyuki Niimi
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan
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Comparative Transcriptomics of Gonads Reveals the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Gonadal Development in Giant Freshwater Prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10060737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is a prawn that has economic significance throughout the world. It exhibits sex-related growth dimorphism, whereby the males grow significantly more rapidly than the females. Therefore, a study on the molecular regulatory mechanism, which underlies the sexual differentiation of M. rosenbergii, is of both scientific and commercial importance. However, a scarcity of genomic and transcriptomic resources severely limits our knowledge of the sexual differentiation mechanisms in M. rosenbergii. Here, transcriptome sequencing of several gonadic samples of males and females in M. rosenbergii was performed to investigate the molecular basis underlying gonadal development. Our results showed that 2149 unigenes presented as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ovaries of females compared to the testes of males, which contained 484 down-regulated and 1665 up-regulated genes. Enrichment analysis of DEGs revealed many of these genes to be related to sexual differentiation and gonadal development. From our transcriptome analyses, and as confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR, male-related genes (Mrr, MRPINK, IR, IAGBP, TESK1, and dsx) in the testes were significantly up-regulated, and female-related genes (ERR, Sxl3, cyclinB, Dmrt99B, PPP2A, and ADCY9) in the ovaries were also significantly up-regulated. This indicates the potential role these genes play in the gonadal development of M. rosenbergii. Furthermore, multiple signal transduction pathways relating to gonadal maturation and spermatogenesis, including MAPK, were identified herein. Our data also supports previous ideas that IAG and IAGBP-IR signaling schemes could help in the regulation of testis’ development in M. rosenbergii and the ERR gene could regulate ovarian development by affecting the expression of cyclinB, PPP2A, and ADCY9. The data from this study provides incredibly usefully genomic resources for future research on the sexual differentiation and practical aquaculture of M. rosenbergii.
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Kato Y, Watanabe H. Regulation of Doublesex1 Expression for Environmental Sex Determination in the Cladoceran Crustacean Daphnia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:881255. [PMID: 35493103 PMCID: PMC9043111 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.881255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cladoceran crustacean Daphnia produces only females by parthenogenesis in a healthy population. However, in response to environmental declines such as crowding and lack of foods, it produces eggs destined to become males that are genetically identical to females. During the development of the sexually committed eggs, DM domain-containing transcription factor Doublesex1 (Dsx1) orchestrates male trait formation globally both in somatic and gonadal tissues. Recent studies have revealed that Dsx1 expression is tightly controlled at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic levels to avoid sexual ambiguity. In this review, together with basic information on Dsx1 structure and expression, we introduce the multi-layered Dsx1 regulation and discuss how each regulation is interconnected for controlling male development in environmental sex-determining Daphnia.
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43
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Thaijongrak P, Chotwiwatthanakun C, Laphyai P, Prachumwat A, Kruangkum T, Sobhon P, Vanichviriyakit R. Molecular characterization and expression profiling of transformer 2 and fruitless-like homologs in the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12980. [PMID: 35194532 PMCID: PMC8858584 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12980] [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: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Transformer 2 (tra 2) and fruitless (fru) genes have been proven to play a key role in sex determination pathways in many Arthropods, including insects and crustaceans. In this study, a paralog of P. monodon tra 2 (Pmtra 2), P. monodon ovarian associated transformer 2 (PmOvtra 2) and 2 isoforms of P. monodon fruitless-like gene (Pmfru-1 and Pmfru-2) were identified and characterized. The full cDNA sequence of PmOvtra 2 consisted of 1,774 bp with the longest open reading frame (ORF) of 744 bp encoding for 247 amino acids. The PmOvtra 2 exhibited a predicted RNA-recognition motif (RRM) domain and two arginine-serine (RS) regions, suggesting its function in RNA splicing. The full cDNA sequence of Pmfru-1 consisted of 1,306 bp with 1,182 bp ORF encoding for 393 amino acids, whereas the full cDNA sequence of Pmfru-2 consisted of 1,858 bp with 1,437 bp ORF encoding 478 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequences of Pmfru-1 and Pmfru-2 exhibited highly conserved domains of Fru proteins, including Broad-complex, Tramtrack and Bric-a-brac (BTB), and zinc finger (ZF) domains. In addition, Pmfru-1 and Pmfru-2 were suggestively originated from the same single genomic locus by genomic sequence analysis. Specifically, Pmfru pre-mRNA was alternatively spliced for Pmfru-1 and Pmfru-2 to include mutually exclusive exon 7 and exon 6, respectively. Temporal and spatial expression of PmOvtra 2, Pmfru-1, and Pmfru-2 were also investigated by qPCR. The results showed that all were expressed in early developmental stages with undifferentiated gonads starting from nauplius until postlarvae. The expression of PmOvtra 2 started at nauplius stage and gradually increased from mysis to postlarvae (PL) 1. However, the expression of Pmfru-1 was low at the nauplii stage and slightly increased from protozoea to PL5, whereas the expression of Pmfru-2 maintained a low level from nauplius to mysis and then gradually increased at the PL stages. Expressions of PmOvtra 2, Pmfru-1, and Pmfru-2 were detected in various tissues including nervous tissue, gill, heart, hepatopancreas, gut, and gonads. Interestingly, the sexually dimorphic expression of PmOvtra 2, Pmfru-1, and Pmfru-2 was demonstrated in fully developed gonads in which the ovary showed significantly higher expressions than the testis. The great difference in the expression pattern of PmOvtra 2, Pmfru-1, and Pmfru-2 in the ovary and testis suggested their roles in the female sex determination in P. monodon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prawporn Thaijongrak
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand,Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand,Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Charoonroj Chotwiwatthanakun
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand,Nakhonsawan Campus, Mahidol University, Nakhonsawan, Thailand
| | - Phaivit Laphyai
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand,Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Anuphap Prachumwat
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand,National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Thanapong Kruangkum
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand,Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Prasert Sobhon
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rapeepun Vanichviriyakit
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand,Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Toyota K, Watanabe H, Hirano M, Abe R, Miyakawa H, Song Y, Sato T, Miyagawa S, Tollefsen KE, Yamamoto H, Tatarazako N, Iguchi T. Juvenile hormone synthesis and signaling disruption triggering male offspring induction and population decline in cladocerans (water flea): Review and adverse outcome pathway development. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 243:106058. [PMID: 34965494 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.106058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Juvenile hormone (JH) are a family of multifunctional hormones regulating larval development, molting, metamorphosis, reproduction, and phenotypic plasticity in arthropods. Based on its importance in arthropod life histories, many insect growth regulators (IGRs) mimicking JH have been designed to control harmful insects in agriculture and aquaculture. These JH analogs (JHAs) may also pose hazards to nontarget species by causing unexpected endocrine-disrupting (ED) effects such as molting and metamorphosis defects, larval lethality, and disruption of the sexual identity. This critical review summarizes the current knowledge of the JH-mediated effects in the freshwater cladoceran crustaceans such as Daphnia species on JHA-triggered endocrine disruptive outputs to establish a systematic understanding of JHA effects. Based on the current knowledge, adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) addressing the JHA-mediated ED effects in cladoceran leading to male offspring production and subsequent population decline were developed. The weight of evidence (WoE) of AOPs was assessed according to established guidelines. The review and AOP development aim to present the current scientific understanding of the JH pathway and provide a robust reference for the development of tiered testing strategies and new risk assessment approaches for JHAs in future ecotoxicological research and regulatory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Toyota
- Marine Biological Station, Sado Center for Ecological Sustainability, Niigata University, 87 Tassha, Sado, Niigata 952-2135, Japan; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kanagawa University, 2946 Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Japan; Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan.
| | - Haruna Watanabe
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
| | - Masashi Hirano
- Department of Bioscience, School of Agriculture, Tokai University, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto 862-8652, Japan
| | - Ryoko Abe
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Miyakawa
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, 350 Mine-machi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan
| | - You Song
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Section of Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadalléen, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tomomi Sato
- Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
| | - Shinichi Miyagawa
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Section of Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Gaustadalléen, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Environmental Science and Technology, Department of Environmental Sciences (IMV), Ås, Norway
| | - Hiroshi Yamamoto
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Norihisa Tatarazako
- Department of Science and Technology for Biological Resources and Environment, Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan
| | - Taisen Iguchi
- Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan.
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45
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Guo XF, Zhou YL, Liu M, Wang ZW, Gui JF. Integrated application of Iso-seq and RNA-seq provides insights into unsynchronized growth in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). AQUACULTURE REPORTS 2022; 22:101008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aqrep.2022.101008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2025]
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46
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Jia J, Dong C, Han M, Ma S, Chen W, Dou J, Feng C, Liu X. Multi-omics perspective on studying reproductive biology in Daphnia sinensis. Genomics 2022; 114:110309. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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47
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Liu X, Zhou L, Luo B, Qian H, Ye B, Ma K, Qiu G. Identification of novel Z/W chromosome-specific markers from the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aaf.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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48
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He P, Zhu P, Wei P, Zhuo X, Ma Y, Chen X, Lin Y, Xu Y, Luo H, Peng J. Gonadal transcriptomic analysis and differentially expressed genes between the testes and ovaries in Trachinotus ovatus. AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aaf.2020.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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49
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Zarkower D, Murphy MW. DMRT1: An Ancient Sexual Regulator Required for Human Gonadogenesis. Sex Dev 2022; 16:112-125. [PMID: 34515237 PMCID: PMC8885888 DOI: 10.1159/000518272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional regulators related to the invertebrate sexual regulators doublesex and mab-3 occur throughout metazoans and control sex in most animal groups. Seven of these DMRT genes are found in mammals, and mouse genetics has shown that one, Dmrt1, plays a crucial role in testis differentiation, both in germ cells and somatic cells. Deletions and, more recently, point mutations affecting human DMRT1 have demonstrated that its heterozygosity is associated with 46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis. Most of our detailed knowledge of DMRT1 function in the testis, the focus of this review, derives from mouse studies, which have revealed that DMRT1 is essential for male somatic and germ cell differentiation and maintenance of male somatic cell fate after differentiation. Moreover, ectopic DMRT1 can reprogram differentiated female granulosa cells into male Sertoli-like cells. The ability of DMRT1 to control sexual cell fate likely derives from at least 3 properties. First, DMRT1 functionally collaborates with another key male sex regulator, SOX9, and possibly other proteins to maintain and reprogram sexual cell fate. Second, and related, DMRT1 appears to function as a pioneer transcription factor, binding "closed" inaccessible chromatin and promoting its opening to allow binding by other regulators including SOX9. Third, DMRT1 binds DNA by a highly unusual form of interaction and can bind with different stoichiometries.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Zarkower
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mark W. Murphy
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Abstract
AbstractTrade-offs and constraints are inherent to life, and studies of these phenomena play a central role in both organismal and evolutionary biology. Trade-offs can be defined, categorized, and studied in at least six, not mutually exclusive, ways. (1) Allocation constraints are caused by a limited resource (e.g., energy, time, space, essential nutrients), such that increasing allocation to one component necessarily requires a decrease in another (if only two components are involved, this is referred to as the Y-model, e.g., energy devoted to size versus number of offspring). (2) Functional conflicts occur when features that enhance performance of one task decrease performance of another (e.g., relative lengths of in-levers and out-levers, force-velocity trade-offs related to muscle fiber type composition). (3) Shared biochemical pathways, often involving integrator molecules (e.g., hormones, neurotransmitters, transcription factors), can simultaneously affect multiple traits, with some effects being beneficial for one or more components of Darwinian fitness (e.g., survival, age at first reproduction, fecundity) and others detrimental. (4) Antagonistic pleiotropy describes genetic variants that increase one component of fitness (or a lower-level trait) while simultaneously decreasing another. (5) Ecological circumstances (or selective regime) may impose trade-offs, such as when foraging behavior increases energy availability yet also decreases survival. (6) Sexual selection may lead to the elaboration of (usually male) secondary sexual characters that improve mating success but handicap survival and/or impose energetic costs that reduce other fitness components. Empirical studies of trade-offs often search for negative correlations between two traits that are the expected outcomes of the trade-offs, but this will generally be inadequate if more than two traits are involved and especially for complex physiological networks of interacting traits. Moreover, trade-offs often occur only in populations that are experiencing harsh environmental conditions or energetic challenges at the extremes of phenotypic distributions, such as among individuals or species that have exceptional athletic abilities. Trade-offs may be (partially) circumvented through various compensatory mechanisms, depending on the timescale involved, ranging from acute to evolutionary. Going forward, a pluralistic view of trade-offs and constraints, combined with integrative analyses that cross levels of biological organization and traditional boundaries among disciplines, will enhance the study of evolutionary organismal biology.
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