1
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Mörsdorf D, Knabl P, Genikhovich G. Highly conserved and extremely evolvable: BMP signalling in secondary axis patterning of Cnidaria and Bilateria. Dev Genes Evol 2024:10.1007/s00427-024-00714-4. [PMID: 38472535 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-024-00714-4] [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: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Bilateria encompass the vast majority of the animal phyla. As the name states, they are bilaterally symmetric, that is with a morphologically clear main body axis connecting their anterior and posterior ends, a second axis running between their dorsal and ventral surfaces, and with a left side being roughly a mirror image of their right side. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling has widely conserved functions in the formation and patterning of the second, dorso-ventral (DV) body axis, albeit to different extents in different bilaterian species. Whilst initial findings in the fruit fly Drosophila and the frog Xenopus highlighted similarities amongst these evolutionarily very distant species, more recent analyses featuring other models revealed considerable diversity in the mechanisms underlying dorsoventral patterning. In fact, as phylogenetic sampling becomes broader, we find that this axis patterning system is so evolvable that even its core components can be deployed differently or lost in different model organisms. In this review, we will try to highlight the diversity of ways by which BMP signalling controls bilaterality in different animals, some of which do not belong to Bilateria. Future research combining functional analyses and modelling is bound to give us some understanding as to where the limits to the extent of the evolvability of BMP-dependent axial patterning may lie.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mörsdorf
- Dept. Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, UBB, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul Knabl
- Dept. Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, UBB, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution (VDSEE), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Grigory Genikhovich
- Dept. Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, UBB, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
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2
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Ahuja N, Cao X, Schultz DT, Picciani N, Lord A, Shao S, Jia K, Burdick DR, Haddock SHD, Li Y, Dunn CW. Giants among Cnidaria: Large Nuclear Genomes and Rearranged Mitochondrial Genomes in Siphonophores. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae048. [PMID: 38502059 PMCID: PMC10980510 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae048] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Siphonophores (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) are abundant predators found throughout the ocean and are important constituents of the global zooplankton community. They range in length from a few centimeters to tens of meters. They are gelatinous, fragile, and difficult to collect, so many aspects of the biology of these roughly 200 species remain poorly understood. To survey siphonophore genome diversity, we performed Illumina sequencing of 32 species sampled broadly across the phylogeny. Sequencing depth was sufficient to estimate nuclear genome size from k-mer spectra in six specimens, ranging from 0.7 to 2.3 Gb, with heterozygosity estimates between 0.69% and 2.32%. Incremental k-mer counting indicates k-mer peaks can be absent with nearly 20× read coverage, suggesting minimum genome sizes range from 1.4 to 5.6 Gb in the 25 samples without peaks in the k-mer spectra. This work confirms most siphonophore nuclear genomes are large relative to the genomes of other cnidarians, but also identifies several with reduced size that are tractable targets for future siphonophore nuclear genome assembly projects. We also assembled complete mitochondrial genomes for 33 specimens from these new data, indicating a conserved gene order shared among nonsiphonophore hydrozoans, Cystonectae, and some Physonectae, revealing the ancestral mitochondrial gene order of siphonophores. Our results also suggest extensive rearrangement of mitochondrial genomes within other Physonectae and in Calycophorae. Though siphonophores comprise a small fraction of cnidarian species, this survey greatly expands our understanding of cnidarian genome diversity. This study further illustrates both the importance of deep phylogenetic sampling and the utility of k-mer-based genome skimming in understanding the genomic diversity of a clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namrata Ahuja
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Xuwen Cao
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Darrin T Schultz
- Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
| | - Natasha Picciani
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Arianna Lord
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Shengyuan Shao
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Kejue Jia
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Yuanning Li
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Casey W Dunn
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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3
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Sierra NC, Gold DA. The evolution of cnidarian stinging cells supports a Precambrian radiation of animal predators. Evol Dev 2024; 26:e12469. [PMID: 38236185 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12469] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Cnidarians-the phylum including sea anemones, corals, jellyfish, and hydroids-are one of the oldest groups of predatory animals. Nearly all cnidarians are carnivores that use stinging cells called cnidocytes to ensnare and/or envenom their prey. However, there is considerable diversity in cnidocyte form and function. Tracing the evolutionary history of cnidocytes may therefore provide a proxy for early animal feeding strategies. In this study, we generated a time-calibrated molecular clock of cnidarians and performed ancestral state reconstruction on 12 cnidocyte types to test the hypothesis that the original cnidocyte was involved in prey capture. We conclude that the first cnidarians had only the simplest and least specialized cnidocyte type (the isorhiza) which was just as likely to be used for adhesion and/or defense as the capture of prey. A rapid diversification of specialized cnidocytes occurred through the Ediacaran (~654-574 million years ago), with major subgroups developing unique sets of cnidocytes to match their distinct feeding styles. These results are robust to changes in the molecular clock model, and are consistent with growing evidence for an Ediacaran diversification of animals. Our work also provides insight into the evolution of this complex cell type, suggesting that convergence of forms is rare, with the mastigophore being an interesting counterexample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie C Sierra
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Integrative Genetics and Genomics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - David A Gold
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Integrative Genetics and Genomics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
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4
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Lecaudey LA, Netzer R, Wibberg D, Busche T, Bloecher N. Metatranscriptome analysis reveals the putative venom toxin repertoire of the biofouling hydroid Ectopleura larynx. Toxicon 2024; 237:107556. [PMID: 38072317 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107556] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Cnidarians thriving in biofouling communities on aquaculture net pens represent a significant health risk for farmed finfish due to their stinging cells. The toxins coming into contact with the fish, during net cleaning, can adversely affect their behavior, welfare, and survival, with a particularly serious health risk for the gills, causing direct tissue damage such as formation of thrombi and increasing risks of secondary infections. The hydroid Ectopleura larynx is one of the most common fouling organisms in Northern Europe. However, despite its significant economic, environmental, and operational impact on finfish aquaculture, biological information on this species is scarce and its venom composition has never been investigated. In this study, we generated a whole transcriptome of E. larynx, and identified its putative expressed venom toxin proteins (predicted toxin proteins, not functionally characterized) based on in silico transcriptome annotation mining and protein sequence analysis. The results uncovered a broad and diverse repertoire of putative toxin proteins for this hydroid species. Its toxic arsenal appears to include a wide and complex selection of toxin proteins, covering a large panel of potential biological functions that play important roles in envenomation. The putative toxins identified in this species, such as neurotoxins, GTPase toxins, metalloprotease toxins, ion channel impairing toxins, hemorrhagic toxins, serine protease toxins, phospholipase toxins, pore-forming toxins, and multifunction toxins may cause various major deleterious effects in prey, predators, and competitors. These results provide valuable new insights into the venom composition of cnidarians, and venomous marine organisms in general, and offer new opportunities for further research into novel and valuable bioactive molecules for medicine, agronomics and biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roman Netzer
- SINTEF Ocean, Aquaculture Department, Brattørkaia 17c, 7010, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Daniel Wibberg
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Tobias Busche
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany; Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, Morgenbreede 1, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Nina Bloecher
- SINTEF Ocean, Aquaculture Department, Brattørkaia 17c, 7010, Trondheim, Norway
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5
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Zimmermann B, Montenegro JD, Robb SMC, Fropf WJ, Weilguny L, He S, Chen S, Lovegrove-Walsh J, Hill EM, Chen CY, Ragkousi K, Praher D, Fredman D, Schultz D, Moran Y, Simakov O, Genikhovich G, Gibson MC, Technau U. Topological structures and syntenic conservation in sea anemone genomes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8270. [PMID: 38092765 PMCID: PMC10719294 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44080-7] [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: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
There is currently little information about the evolution of gene clusters, genome architectures and karyotypes in early branching animals. Slowly evolving anthozoan cnidarians can be particularly informative about the evolution of these genome features. Here we report chromosome-level genome assemblies of two related anthozoans, the sea anemones Nematostella vectensis and Scolanthus callimorphus. We find a robust set of 15 chromosomes with a clear one-to-one correspondence between the two species. Both genomes show chromosomal conservation, allowing us to reconstruct ancestral cnidarian and metazoan chromosomal blocks, consisting of at least 19 and 16 ancestral linkage groups, respectively. We show that, in contrast to Bilateria, the Hox and NK clusters of investigated cnidarians are largely disintegrated, despite the presence of staggered hox/gbx expression in Nematostella. This loss of microsynteny conservation may be facilitated by shorter distances between cis-regulatory sequences and their cognate transcriptional start sites. We find no clear evidence for topologically associated domains, suggesting fundamental differences in long-range gene regulation compared to vertebrates. These data suggest that large sets of ancestral metazoan genes have been retained in ancestral linkage groups of some extant lineages; yet, higher order gene regulation with associated 3D architecture may have evolved only after the cnidarian-bilaterian split.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bob Zimmermann
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Research platform SinCeReSt, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Juan D Montenegro
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Research platform SinCeReSt, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sofia M C Robb
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Whitney J Fropf
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Lukas Weilguny
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shuonan He
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Shiyuan Chen
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Jessica Lovegrove-Walsh
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eric M Hill
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Cheng-Yi Chen
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Katerina Ragkousi
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
- Department of Biology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA, 01002, USA
| | - Daniela Praher
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - David Fredman
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Darrin Schultz
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yehu Moran
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Oleg Simakov
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Research platform SinCeReSt, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Grigory Genikhovich
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthew C Gibson
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA.
| | - Ulrich Technau
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
- Research platform SinCeReSt, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
- Max Perutz laboratories, University of Vienna, Dr. Bohrgasse 5, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
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6
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Mańko MK, Munro C, Leclère L. Establishing Bilateral Symmetry in Hydrozoan Planula Larvae, a Review of Siphonophore Early Development. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:975-989. [PMID: 37353930 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Siphonophores are colonial hydrozoans, characterized by complex colony organization and unparalleled zooid functional specialization. Recent genomic studies have offered an evolutionary perspective on how this morphological complexity arose, but a molecular characterization of symmetry breaking in siphonophore embryonic development is still largely missing. Here, bringing together historical data on early development with new immunohistochemical data, we review the diversity of developmental trajectories that lead to the formation of bilaterally symmetric planula larvae in siphonophores. Embryonic development, up to the planula stage, is remarkably similar across siphonophore phylogeny. Then, with the appearance of the lateral endodermal thickening (= ventral endoderm), larval development diverges between taxa, differing in the location and patterning of the primary buds, chronology of budding, establishment of growth zones, and retention of larval zooids. Our work also uncovers a number of open questions in siphonophore development, including homology of different zooids, mechanisms underlying formation and maintenance of spatially restricted growth zone(s), and molecular factors establishing a secondary dorsal-ventral axis in planulae. By discussing siphonophore development and body axes within the broader cnidarian context, we then set the framework for future work on siphonophores, which is finally achievable with the advent of culturing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej K Mańko
- Laboratory of Plankton Biology, Department of Marine Biology and Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, Gdynia, 81-378, Poland
| | - Catriona Munro
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, 75005, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Villefranche-sur-Mer, 06230, France
| | - Lucas Leclère
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Villefranche-sur-Mer, 06230, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM), Banyuls-sur-Mer, 66650, France
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7
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Law STS, Yu Y, Nong W, So WL, Li Y, Swale T, Ferrier DEK, Qiu J, Qian P, Hui JHL. The genome of the deep-sea anemone Actinernus sp. contains a mega-array of ANTP-class homeobox genes. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231563. [PMID: 37876192 PMCID: PMC10598428 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1563] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the phylum Cnidaria include sea anemones, corals and jellyfish, and have successfully colonized both marine and freshwater habitats throughout the world. The understanding of how cnidarians adapt to extreme environments such as the dark, high-pressure deep-sea habitat has been hindered by the lack of genomic information. Here, we report the first chromosome-level deep-sea cnidarian genome, of the anemone Actinernus sp., which was 1.39 Gbp in length and contained 44 970 gene models including 14 806 tRNA genes and 30 164 protein-coding genes. Analyses of homeobox genes revealed the longest chromosome hosts a mega-array of Hox cluster, HoxL, NK cluster and NKL homeobox genes; until now, such an array has only been hypothesized to have existed in ancient ancestral genomes. In addition to this striking arrangement of homeobox genes, analyses of microRNAs revealed cnidarian-specific complements that are distinctive for nested clades of these animals, presumably reflecting the progressive evolution of the gene regulatory networks in which they are embedded. Also, compared with other sea anemones, circadian rhythm genes were lost in Actinernus sp., which likely reflects adaptation to living in the dark. This high-quality genome of a deep-sea cnidarian thus reveals some of the likely molecular adaptations of this ecologically important group of metazoans to the extreme deep-sea environment. It also deepens our understanding of the evolution of genome content and organization of animals in general and cnidarians in particular, specifically from the viewpoint of key developmental control genes like the homeobox-encoding genes, where we find an array of genes that until now has only been hypothesized to have existed in the ancient ancestor that pre-dated both the cnidarians and bilaterians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Tsz Sum Law
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifei Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenyan Nong
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wai Lok So
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiqian Li
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Thomas Swale
- Dovetail Genomics, LLC, Scotts Valley, CA 95066, USA
| | - David E. K. Ferrier
- The Scottish Oceans Institute, Gatty Marine Laboratory, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK
| | - Jianwen Qiu
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Peiyuan Qian
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jerome Ho Lam Hui
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
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8
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Mills CE, Westlake H, Hirano YM, Miranda LS. Description of a common stauromedusa on the Pacific Coast of the United States and Canada, Haliclystus sanjuanensis new species (Cnidaria: Staurozoa). PeerJ 2023; 11:e15944. [PMID: 37744232 PMCID: PMC10512941 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15944] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Haliclystus "sanjuanensis" nomen nudum is the most common staurozoan on the west coast of the United States and Canada. This species was described in the M.S. Thesis by Gellermann (1926) and although that name has been in use nearly continuously since that time, no published description exists. Furthermore, the most popular operative name for this species has varied between several related species names over time, resulting in confusion. Herein, we provide a detailed description and synonymy of Haliclystus sanjuanensis n. sp., whose distribution is verified from Unalaska Island in the Aleutians (53.4° N, 166.8° W) in the northwest, to Santa Barbara County, California, just north of Point Conception (34.5° N, 120.5° W), in the south. Haliclystus sanjuanensis n. sp. is compared with the twelve other described species of Haliclystus and illustrations of both macroscopic and microscopic anatomy are provided. Haliclystus sanjuanensis n. sp. is unique among species of Haliclystus in the arrangement of the bright-white nematocyst spots in its calyx and the pattern of dark stripes running the length of the stalk and up the outside of the calyx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia E. Mills
- Friday Harbor Laboratories and the Department of Biology, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, Washington, United States
| | - Hannah Westlake
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yayoi M. Hirano
- Coastal Branch of Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba, Katsuura, Chiba, Japan
| | - Lucília S. Miranda
- Department of Zoology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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9
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Gahan JM, Cartwright P, Nicotra ML, Schnitzler CE, Steinmetz PRH, Juliano CE. Cnidofest 2022: hot topics in cnidarian research. EvoDevo 2023; 14:13. [PMID: 37620964 PMCID: PMC10463417 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-023-00217-9] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The second annual Cnidarian Model Systems Meeting, aka "Cnidofest", took place in Davis, California from 7 to 10th of September, 2022. The meeting brought together scientists using cnidarians to study molecular and cellular biology, development and regeneration, evo-devo, neurobiology, symbiosis, physiology, and comparative genomics. The diversity of topics and species represented in presentations highlighted the importance and versatility of cnidarians in addressing a wide variety of biological questions. In keeping with the spirit of the first meeting (and its predecessor, Hydroidfest), almost 75% of oral presentations were given by early career researchers (i.e., graduate students and postdocs). In this review, we present research highlights from the meeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Gahan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Michael Sars Centre, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgt. 55, 5008, Bergen, Norway
| | - Paulyn Cartwright
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Matthew L Nicotra
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
- Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Christine E Schnitzler
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Department of Biology, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | | | - Celina E Juliano
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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10
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Randolph Quek ZB, Jain SS, Richards ZT, Arrigoni R, Benzoni F, Hoeksema BW, Carvajal JI, Wilson NG, Baird AH, Kitahara MV, Seiblitz IGL, Vaga CF, Huang D. A hybrid-capture approach to reconstruct the phylogeny of Scleractinia (Cnidaria: Hexacorallia). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023:107867. [PMID: 37348770 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
A well-supported evolutionary tree representing most major lineages of scleractinian corals is in sight with the development and application of phylogenomic approaches. Specifically, hybrid-capture techniques are shedding light on the evolution and systematics of corals. Here, we reconstructed a broad phylogeny of Scleractinia to test previous phylogenetic hypotheses inferred from a few molecular markers, in particular, the relationships among major scleractinian families and genera, and to identify clades that require further research. We analysed 449 nuclear loci from 422 corals, comprising 266 species spanning 26 families, combining data across whole genomes, transcriptomes, hybrid capture and low-coverage sequencing to reconstruct the largest phylogenomic tree of scleractinians to date. Due to the large number of loci and data completeness (<38% missing data), node supports were high across shallow and deep nodes with incongruences observed in only a few shallow nodes. The "Robust" and "Complex" clades were recovered unequivocally, and our analyses confirmed that Micrabaciidae Vaughan, 1905 is sister to the "Robust" clade, transforming our understanding of the "Basal" clade. Several families remain polyphyletic in our phylogeny, including Deltocyathiidae Kitahara, Cairns, Stolarski & Miller, 2012, Caryophylliidae Dana, 1846, and Coscinaraeidae Benzoni, Arrigoni, Stefani & Stolarski, 2012, and we hereby formally proposed the family name Pachyseridae Benzoni & Hoeksema to accommodate Pachyseris Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849, which is phylogenetically distinct from Agariciidae Gray, 1847. Results also revealed species misidentifications and inconsistencies within morphologically complex clades, such as Acropora Oken, 1815 and Platygyra Ehrenberg, 1834, underscoring the need for reference skeletal material and topotypes, as well as the importance of detailed taxonomic work. The approach and findings here provide much promise for further stabilising the topology of the scleractinian tree of life and advancing our understanding of coral evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z B Randolph Quek
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore; Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore 138527, Singapore.
| | - Sudhanshi S Jain
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Zoe T Richards
- Coral Conservation and Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia
| | - Roberto Arrigoni
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Genoa Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn-National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, 16126 Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Benzoni
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bert W Hoeksema
- Taxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jose I Carvajal
- Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia
| | - Nerida G Wilson
- Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Andrew H Baird
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Marcelo V Kitahara
- Centre for Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, 11612-109 São Sebastião, Brazil; Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560, United States of America
| | - Isabela G L Seiblitz
- Centre for Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, 11612-109 São Sebastião, Brazil; Graduate Program in Zoology, Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-090 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Claudia F Vaga
- Centre for Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, 11612-109 São Sebastião, Brazil; Graduate Program in Zoology, Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-090 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore; Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117377, Singapore; Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119227, Singapore; Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore.
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11
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Feng H, Lv S, Li R, Shi J, Wang J, Cao P. Mitochondrial genome comparison reveals the evolution of cnidarians. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10157. [PMID: 37325715 PMCID: PMC10261974 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cnidarians are the most primitive metazoans, but their evolutionary relationships are poorly understood, although recent studies present several phylogenetic hypotheses. Here, we collected 266 complete cnidarian mitochondrial genomes and re-evaluated the phylogenetic relationships between the major lineages. We described the gene rearrangement patterns of Cnidaria. Anthozoans had significantly greater mitochondrial genome size and lower A + T content than medusozoans. Most of the protein-coding genes in anthozoans such as COX 13, ATP6, and CYTB displayed a faster rate of evolution based on selection analysis. There were 19 distinct patterns of mitochondrial gene order, including 16 unique gene orders in anthozoans and 3 mtDNA gene orders pattern in medusozoans, were identified among cnidarians. The gene order arrangement suggested that a linearized mtDNA structure may be more conducive to Medusozoan mtDNA stability. Based on phylogenetic analyses, the monophyly of the Anthozoa was strongly supported compared to previous mitochondrial genome-based analyses rather than octocorals forming a sister group relationship with medusozoans. In addition, Staurozoa were more closely related to Anthozoa than to Medusozoa. In conclusion, these results largely support the traditional phylogenetic view of the relationships of cnidarians and provide new insights into the evolutionary processes for studying the most ancient animal radiations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Feng
- Marine Microorganism Ecological & Application LabZhejiang Ocean UniversityZhoushanChina
| | - Sitong Lv
- Graduate School of Life SciencesTohoku UniversitySendaiJapan
| | - Rong Li
- Marine Microorganism Ecological & Application LabZhejiang Ocean UniversityZhoushanChina
| | - Jing Shi
- Marine Microorganism Ecological & Application LabZhejiang Ocean UniversityZhoushanChina
| | - Jianxing Wang
- Marine Microorganism Ecological & Application LabZhejiang Ocean UniversityZhoushanChina
| | - Pinglin Cao
- Marine Microorganism Ecological & Application LabZhejiang Ocean UniversityZhoushanChina
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12
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Quattrini AM, Snyder KE, Purow-Ruderman R, Seiblitz IGL, Hoang J, Floerke N, Ramos NI, Wirshing HH, Rodriguez E, McFadden CS. Mito-nuclear discordance within Anthozoa, with notes on unique properties of their mitochondrial genomes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7443. [PMID: 37156831 PMCID: PMC10167242 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34059-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Whole mitochondrial genomes are often used in phylogenetic reconstruction. However, discordant patterns in species relationships between mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies are commonly observed. Within Anthozoa (Phylum Cnidaria), mitochondrial (mt)-nuclear discordance has not yet been examined using a large and comparable dataset. Here, we used data obtained from target-capture enrichment sequencing to assemble and annotate mt genomes and reconstruct phylogenies for comparisons to phylogenies inferred from hundreds of nuclear loci obtained from the same samples. The datasets comprised 108 hexacorals and 94 octocorals representing all orders and > 50% of extant families. Results indicated rampant discordance between datasets at every taxonomic level. This discordance is not attributable to substitution saturation, but rather likely caused by introgressive hybridization and unique properties of mt genomes, including slow rates of evolution driven by strong purifying selection and substitution rate variation. Strong purifying selection across the mt genomes caution their use in analyses that rely on assumptions of neutrality. Furthermore, unique properties of the mt genomes were noted, including genome rearrangements and the presence of nad5 introns. Specifically, we note the presence of the homing endonuclease in ceriantharians. This large dataset of mitochondrial genomes further demonstrates the utility of off-target reads generated from target-capture data for mt genome assembly and adds to the growing knowledge of anthozoan evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M Quattrini
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA.
| | - Karen E Snyder
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA
| | | | - Isabela G L Seiblitz
- Centre for Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, São Sebastião, 11612-109, Brazil
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Johnson Hoang
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA
| | - Natasha Floerke
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA
| | - Nina I Ramos
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
| | - Herman H Wirshing
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
| | - Estefanía Rodriguez
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA
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13
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Lara A, Simonson BT, Ryan JF, Jegla T. Genome-Scale Analysis Reveals Extensive Diversification of Voltage-Gated K+ Channels in Stem Cnidarians. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:6994550. [PMID: 36669828 PMCID: PMC9989356 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Ion channels are highly diverse in the cnidarian model organism Nematostella vectensis (Anthozoa), but little is known about the evolutionary origins of this channel diversity and its conservation across Cnidaria. Here, we examined the evolution of voltage-gated K+ channels in Cnidaria by comparing genomes and transcriptomes of diverse cnidarian species from Anthozoa and Medusozoa. We found an average of over 40 voltage-gated K+ channel genes per species, and a phylogenetic reconstruction of the Kv, KCNQ, and Ether-a-go-go (EAG) gene families identified 28 voltage-gated K+ channels present in the last common ancestor of Anthozoa and Medusozoa (23 Kv, 1 KCNQ, and 4 EAG). Thus, much of the diversification of these channels took place in the stem cnidarian lineage prior to the emergence of modern cnidarian classes. In contrast, the stem bilaterian lineage, from which humans evolved, contained no more than nine voltage-gated K+ channels. These results hint at a complexity to electrical signaling in all cnidarians that contrasts with the perceived anatomical simplicity of their neuromuscular systems. These data provide a foundation from which the function of these cnidarian channels can be investigated, which will undoubtedly provide important insights into cnidarian physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adolfo Lara
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St Augustine, Florida, USA
| | - Benjamin T Simonson
- Department of Biology and Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joseph F Ryan
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St Augustine, Florida, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Timothy Jegla
- Department of Biology and Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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14
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McCarthy CGP, Mulhair PO, Siu-Ting K, Creevey CJ, O’Connell MJ. Improving Orthologous Signal and Model Fit in Datasets Addressing the Root of the Animal Phylogeny. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:6989790. [PMID: 36649189 PMCID: PMC9848061 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
There is conflicting evidence as to whether Porifera (sponges) or Ctenophora (comb jellies) comprise the root of the animal phylogeny. Support for either a Porifera-sister or Ctenophore-sister tree has been extensively examined in the context of model selection, taxon sampling, and outgroup selection. The influence of dataset construction is comparatively understudied. We re-examine five animal phylogeny datasets that have supported either root hypothesis using an approach designed to enrich orthologous signal in phylogenomic datasets. We find that many component orthogroups in animal datasets fail to recover major lineages as monophyletic with the exception of Ctenophora, regardless of the supported root. Enriching these datasets to retain orthogroups recovering ≥3 major lineages reduces dataset size by up to 50% while retaining underlying phylogenetic information and taxon sampling. Site-heterogeneous phylogenomic analysis of these enriched datasets recovers both Porifera-sister and Ctenophora-sister positions, even with additional constraints on outgroup sampling. Two datasets which previously supported Ctenophora-sister support Porifera-sister upon enrichment. All enriched datasets display improved model fitness under posterior predictive analysis. While not conclusively rooting animals at either Porifera or Ctenophora, we do see an increase in signal for Porifera-sister and a decrease in signal for Ctenophore-sister when data are filtered for orthologous signal. Our results indicate that dataset size and construction as well as model fit influence animal root inference.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karen Siu-Ting
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Creevey
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, United Kingdom
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15
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Steinworth BM, Martindale MQ, Ryan JF. Gene Loss may have Shaped the Cnidarian and Bilaterian Hox and ParaHox Complement. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 15:6889381. [PMID: 36508343 PMCID: PMC9825252 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hox and ParaHox transcription factors are important for specifying cell fates along the primary body axes during the development of most animals. Within Cnidaria, much of the research on Hox/ParaHox genes has focused on Anthozoa (anemones and corals) and Hydrozoa (hydroids) and has concentrated on the evolution and function of cnidarian Hox genes in relation to their bilaterian counterparts. Here we analyze together the full complement of Hox and ParaHox genes from species representing all four medusozoan classes (Staurozoa, Cubozoa, Hydrozoa, and Scyphozoa) and both anthozoan classes (Octocorallia and Hexacorallia). Our results show that Hox genes involved in patterning the directive axes of anthozoan polyps are absent in the stem leading to Medusozoa. For the first time, we show spatial and temporal expression patterns of Hox and ParaHox genes in the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana (Scyphozoa), which are consistent with diversification of medusozoan Hox genes both from anthozoans and within medusozoa. Despite unprecedented taxon sampling, our phylogenetic analyses, like previous studies, are characterized by a lack of clear homology between most cnidarian and bilaterian Hox and Hox-related genes. Unlike previous studies, we propose the hypothesis that the cnidarian-bilaterian ancestor possessed a remarkably large Hox complement and that extensive loss of Hox genes was experienced by both cnidarian and bilaterian lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey M Steinworth
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St Augustine, Florida 32080,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - Mark Q Martindale
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St Augustine, Florida 32080,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
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16
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siRNA-mediated gene knockdown via electroporation in hydrozoan jellyfish embryos. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16049. [PMID: 36180523 PMCID: PMC9525680 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20476-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
As the sister group to bilaterians, cnidarians stand in a unique phylogenetic position that provides insight into evolutionary aspects of animal development, physiology, and behavior. While cnidarians are classified into two types, sessile polyps and free-swimming medusae, most studies at the cellular and molecular levels have been conducted on representative polyp-type cnidarians and have focused on establishing techniques of genetic manipulation. Recently, gene knockdown by delivery of short hairpin RNAs into eggs via electroporation has been introduced in two polyp-type cnidarians, Nematostella vectensis and Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus, enabling systematic loss-of-function experiments. By contrast, current methods of genetic manipulation for most medusa-type cnidarians, or jellyfish, are quite limited, except for Clytia hemisphaerica, and reliable techniques are required to interrogate function of specific genes in different jellyfish species. Here, we present a method to knock down target genes by delivering small interfering RNA (siRNA) into fertilized eggs via electroporation, using the hydrozoan jellyfish, Clytia hemisphaerica and Cladonema paciificum. We show that siRNAs targeting endogenous GFP1 and Wnt3 in Clytia efficiently knock down gene expression and result in known planula phenotypes: loss of green fluorescence and defects in axial patterning, respectively. We also successfully knock down endogenous Wnt3 in Cladonema by siRNA electroporation, which circumvents the technical difficulty of microinjecting small eggs. Wnt3 knockdown in Cladonema causes gene expression changes in axial markers, suggesting a conserved Wnt/β-catenin-mediated pathway that controls axial polarity during embryogenesis. Our gene-targeting siRNA electroporation method is applicable to other animals, including and beyond jellyfish species, and will facilitate the investigation and understanding of myriad aspects of animal development.
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17
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Dunn FS, Kenchington CG, Parry LA, Clark JW, Kendall RS, Wilby PR. A crown-group cnidarian from the Ediacaran of Charnwood Forest, UK. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1095-1104. [PMID: 35879540 PMCID: PMC9349040 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01807-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cnidarians are a disparate and ancient phylum, encompassing corals and jellyfish, and occupy both the pelagic and benthic realms. They have a rich fossil record from the Phanerozoic eon lending insight into the early history of the group but, although cnidarians diverged from other animals in the Precambrian period, their record from the Ediacaran period (635–542 million years ago) is controversial. Here, we describe a new fossil cnidarian—Auroralumina attenboroughii gen. et sp. nov.—from the Ediacaran of Charnwood Forest (557–562 million years ago) that shows two bifurcating polyps enclosed in a rigid, polyhedral, organic skeleton with evidence of simple, densely packed tentacles. Auroralumina displays a suite of characters allying it to early medusozoans but shows others more typical of Anthozoa. Phylogenetic analyses recover Auroralumina as a stem-group medusozoan and, therefore, the oldest crown-group cnidarian. Auroralumina demonstrates both the establishment of the crown group of an animal phylum and the fixation of its body plan tens of millions of years before the Cambrian diversification of animal life. A new fossil cnidarian, Auroralumina attenboroughi, from the Ediacaran of Charnwood Forest, UK, described as showing mosaic anthozoan and medusozoan characters, is the oldest yet-known crown-group cnidarian.
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Affiliation(s)
- F S Dunn
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - C G Kenchington
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - L A Parry
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - J W Clark
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - R S Kendall
- British Geological Survey, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - P R Wilby
- British Geological Survey, Nicker Hill, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK.,Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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18
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Chrysostomou E, Febrimarsa, DuBuc T, Frank U. Gene Manipulation in Hydractinia. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2450:419-436. [PMID: 35359321 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2172-1_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The ability to regenerate lost body parts is irregularly distributed among animals, with substantial differences in regenerative potential between and within metazoan phyla. It is widely believed that regenerative animal clades inherited some aspects of their capacity to regenerate from their common ancestors but have also evolved new mechanisms that are not shared with other regenerative animals. Therefore, to gain a broad understanding of animal regenerative mechanisms and evolution, a broad sampling approach is necessary. Unfortunately, only few regenerative animals have been established as laboratory models with protocols for functional gene studies. Here, we describe the methods to establish transgenic individuals of the marine cnidarian Hydractinia. We also provide methods for transient gene expression manipulation without modifying the genome of the animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Chrysostomou
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Febrimarsa
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Timothy DuBuc
- Biology Department, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, USA
| | - Uri Frank
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
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19
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Erofeeva TV, Grigorenko AP, Gusev FE, Kosevich IA, Rogaev EI. Studying of Molecular Regulation of Developmental Processes of Lower Metazoans Exemplified by Cnidaria Using High-Throughput Sequencing. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:269-293. [PMID: 35526848 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922030075] [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: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A unique set of features and characteristics of species of the Cnidaria phylum is the one reason that makes them a model for a various studies. The plasticity of a life cycle and the processes of cell differentiation and development of an integral multicellular organism associated with it are of a specific scientific interest. A new stage of development of molecular genetic methods, including methods for high-throughput genome, transcriptome, and epigenome sequencing, both at the level of the whole organism and at the level of individual cells, makes it possible to obtain a detailed picture of the development of these animals. This review examines some modern approaches and advances in the reconstruction of the processes of ontogenesis of cnidarians by studying the regulatory signal transduction pathways and their interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taisia V Erofeeva
- Department Research Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Krasnodar Region, 354349, Russia
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Anastasia P Grigorenko
- Department Research Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Krasnodar Region, 354349, Russia.
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Fedor E Gusev
- Department Research Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Krasnodar Region, 354349, Russia
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Igor A Kosevich
- Department Research Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Krasnodar Region, 354349, Russia
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - Evgeny I Rogaev
- Department Research Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Krasnodar Region, 354349, Russia
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
- Department of Psychiatry, UMass Chan Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, USA
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20
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Wang X, Vannier J, Yang X, Leclère L, Ou Q, Song X, Komiya T, Han J. Muscle systems and motility of early animals highlighted by cnidarians from the basal Cambrian. eLife 2022; 11:74716. [PMID: 35098925 PMCID: PMC8837203 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Although fossil evidence suggests that various animal groups were able to move actively through their environment in the early stages of their evolution, virtually no direct information is available on the nature of their muscle systems. The origin of jellyfish swimming, for example, is of great interest to biologists. Exceptionally preserved muscles are described here in benthic peridermal olivooid medusozoans from the basal Cambrian of China (Kuanchuanpu Formation, ca. 535 Ma) that have direct equivalent in modern medusozoans. They consist of circular fibers distributed over the bell surface (subumbrella) and most probably have a myoepithelial origin. This is the oldest record of a muscle system in cnidarians and more generally in animals. This basic system was probably co-opted by early Cambrian jellyfish to develop capacities for jet-propelled swimming within the water column. Additional lines of fossil evidence obtained from ecdysozoans (worms and panarthropods) show that the muscle systems of early animals underwent a rapid diversification through the early Cambrian and increased their capacity to colonize a wide range of habitats both within the water column and sediment at a critical time of their evolutionary radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Wang
- China Geological Survey, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Qingdao, China
| | - Jean Vannier
- CNRS UMR 5276, Laboratoire de géologie de Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Xiaoguang Yang
- Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lucas Leclère
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, Sorbonne Université, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Qiang Ou
- Early Life Evolution Laboratory, School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xikun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Tsuyoshi Komiya
- Department of Earth Science and Astronomy, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jian Han
- Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
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21
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Ou Q, Shu D, Zhang Z, Han J, Van Iten H, Cheng M, Sun J, Yao X, Wang R, Mayer G. Dawn of complex animal food webs: A new predatory anthozoan (Cnidaria) from Cambrian. Innovation (N Y) 2022; 3:100195. [PMID: 35005675 PMCID: PMC8717384 DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2021.100195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cnidarians diverged very early in animal evolution; therefore, investigations of the morphology and trophic levels of early fossil cnidarians may provide critical insights into the evolution of metazoans and the origin of modern marine food webs. However, there has been a lack of unambiguous anthozoan cnidarians from Ediacaran assemblages, and undoubted anthozoans from the Cambrian radiation of metazoans are very rare and lacking in ecological evidence. Here, we report a new polypoid cnidarian, Nailiana elegans gen. et sp. nov., represented by multiple solitary specimens from the early Cambrian Chengjiang biota (∼520 Ma) of South China. These specimens show eight unbranched tentacles surrounding a single opening into the gastric cavity, which may have born multiple mesenteries. Thus, N. elegans displays a level of organization similar to that of extant cnidarians. Phylogenetic analyses place N. elegans in the stem lineage of Anthozoa and suggest that the ancestral anthozoan was a soft-bodied, solitary polyp showing octoradial symmetry. Moreover, one specimen of the new polyp preserves evidence of predation on an epifaunal lingulid brachiopod. This case provides the oldest direct evidence of macrophagous predation, the advent of which may have triggered the emergence of complex trophic/ecological relationships in Cambrian marine communities and spurred the explosive radiation of animal body plans. Polypoid animal from early Cambrian of China is a stem-group anthozoan cnidarian Anthozoan ancestor inferred to be soft-bodied, solitary polyp of octoradial symmetry The new anthozoan provides the oldest direct evidence of macrophagous predation Macrophagous predation may have triggered complex food webs in early Cambrian
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Ou
- Early Life Evolution Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China.,Department of Zoology, University of Kassel, Kassel 34132, Germany
| | - Degan Shu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Zhifei Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Jian Han
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Heyo Van Iten
- Department of Geology, Hanover College, Hanover, IN 47243, USA.,Cincinnati Museum Center, Department of Invertebrate Paleontology, 1301 Western Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45203, USA
| | - Meirong Cheng
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Jie Sun
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Xiaoyong Yao
- School of Earth Science and Resources, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Early Life Evolution Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Georg Mayer
- Department of Zoology, University of Kassel, Kassel 34132, Germany
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22
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Chrysostomou E, Flici H, Gornik SG, Salinas-Saavedra M, Gahan JM, McMahon ET, Thompson K, Hanley S, Kilcoyne M, Schnitzler CE, Gonzalez P, Baxevanis AD, Frank U. A cellular and molecular analysis of SoxB-driven neurogenesis in a cnidarian. eLife 2022; 11:78793. [PMID: 35608899 PMCID: PMC9173746 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurogenesis is the generation of neurons from stem cells, a process that is regulated by SoxB transcription factors (TFs) in many animals. Although the roles of these TFs are well understood in bilaterians, how their neural function evolved is unclear. Here, we use Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus, a member of the early-branching phylum Cnidaria, to provide insight into this question. Using a combination of mRNA in situ hybridization, transgenesis, gene knockdown, transcriptomics, and in vivo imaging, we provide a comprehensive molecular and cellular analysis of neurogenesis during embryogenesis, homeostasis, and regeneration in this animal. We show that SoxB genes act sequentially at least in some cases. Stem cells expressing Piwi1 and Soxb1, which have broad developmental potential, become neural progenitors that express Soxb2 before differentiating into mature neural cells. Knockdown of SoxB genes resulted in complex defects in embryonic neurogenesis. Hydractinia neural cells differentiate while migrating from the aboral to the oral end of the animal, but it is unclear whether migration per se or exposure to different microenvironments is the main driver of their fate determination. Our data constitute a rich resource for studies aiming at addressing this question, which is at the heart of understanding the origin and development of animal nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Chrysostomou
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
| | - Hakima Flici
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
| | - Sebastian G Gornik
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
| | - Miguel Salinas-Saavedra
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
| | - James M Gahan
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
| | - Emma T McMahon
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
| | - Kerry Thompson
- Centre for Microscopy and Imaging, Discipline of Anatomy, National University of Ireland, GalwayGalwayIreland
| | - Shirley Hanley
- National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland, GalwayGalwayIreland
| | - Michelle Kilcoyne
- Carbohydrate Signalling Group, Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
| | - Christine E Schnitzler
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of FloridaSt. Augustine, FloridaUnited States,Department of Biology, University of FloridaGainesville, FloridaUnited States
| | - Paul Gonzalez
- Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesda, MarylandUnited States
| | - Andreas D Baxevanis
- Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesda, MarylandUnited States
| | - Uri Frank
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland GalwayGalwayIreland
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23
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Zhang X, Jacobs D. OUP accepted manuscript. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6519162. [PMID: 35104341 PMCID: PMC8857923 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation, an important component of eukaryotic epigenetics, varies in pattern and function across Metazoa. Notably, bilaterian vertebrates and invertebrates differ dramatically in gene body methylation (GbM). Using the frequency of cytosine-phospho-guanines (CpGs), which are lost through mutation when methylated, we report the first broad survey of DNA methylation in Cnidaria, the ancient sister group to Bilateria. We find that: 1) GbM differentially relates to expression categories as it does in most bilaterian invertebrates, but distributions of GbM are less discretely bimodal. 2) Cnidarians generally have lower CpG frequencies on gene bodies than bilaterian invertebrates potentially suggesting a compensatory mechanism to replace CpG lost to mutation in Bilateria that is lacking in Cnidaria. 3) GbM patterns show some consistency within taxonomic groups such as the Scleractinian corals; however, GbM patterns variation across a range of taxonomic ranks in Cnidaria suggests active evolutionary change in GbM within Cnidaria. 4) Some but not all GbM variation is associated with life history change and genome expansion, whereas GbM loss is evident in endoparasitic cnidarians. 5) Cnidarian repetitive elements are less methylated than gene bodies, and methylation of both correlate with genome repeat content. 6) These observations reinforce claims that GbM evolved in stem Metazoa. Thus, this work supports overlap between DNA methylation processes in Cnidaria and Bilateria, provides a framework to compare methylation within and between Cnidaria and Bilateria, and demonstrates the previously unknown rapid evolution of cnidarian methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhui Zhang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - David Jacobs
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Corresponding author: E-mail:
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24
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Ozment E, Tamvacakis AN, Zhou J, Rosiles-Loeza PY, Escobar-Hernandez EE, Fernandez-Valverde SL, Nakanishi N. Cnidarian hair cell development illuminates an ancient role for the class IV POU transcription factor in defining mechanoreceptor identity. eLife 2021; 10:74336. [PMID: 34939935 PMCID: PMC8846589 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Although specialized mechanosensory cells are found across animal phylogeny, early evolutionary histories of mechanoreceptor development remain enigmatic. Cnidaria (e.g. sea anemones and jellyfishes) is the sister group to well-studied Bilateria (e.g. flies and vertebrates), and has two mechanosensory cell types – a lineage-specific sensory effector known as the cnidocyte, and a classical mechanosensory neuron referred to as the hair cell. While developmental genetics of cnidocytes is increasingly understood, genes essential for cnidarian hair cell development are unknown. Here, we show that the class IV POU homeodomain transcription factor (POU-IV) – an indispensable regulator of mechanosensory cell differentiation in Bilateria and cnidocyte differentiation in Cnidaria – controls hair cell development in the sea anemone cnidarian Nematostella vectensis. N. vectensis POU-IV is postmitotically expressed in tentacular hair cells, and is necessary for development of the apical mechanosensory apparatus, but not of neurites, in hair cells. Moreover, it binds to deeply conserved DNA recognition elements, and turns on a unique set of effector genes – including the transmembrane receptor-encoding gene polycystin 1 – specifically in hair cells. Our results suggest that POU-IV directs differentiation of cnidarian hair cells and cnidocytes via distinct gene regulatory mechanisms, and support an evolutionarily ancient role for POU-IV in defining the mature state of mechanosensory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Ozment
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, United States
| | - Arianna N Tamvacakis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, United States
| | - Jianhong Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, United States
| | - Pablo Yamild Rosiles-Loeza
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (Langebio), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Irapuato, Mexico
| | | | - Selene L Fernandez-Valverde
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (Langebio), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Irapuato, Mexico
| | - Nagayasu Nakanishi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, United States
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25
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Nematostella vectensis, an Emerging Model for Deciphering the Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Underlying Whole-Body Regeneration. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102692. [PMID: 34685672 PMCID: PMC8534814 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity to regenerate lost or injured body parts is a widespread feature within metazoans and has intrigued scientists for centuries. One of the most extreme types of regeneration is the so-called whole body regenerative capacity, which enables regeneration of fully functional organisms from isolated body parts. While not exclusive to this habitat, whole body regeneration is widespread in aquatic/marine invertebrates. Over the past decade, new whole-body research models have emerged that complement the historical models Hydra and planarians. Among these, the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis has attracted increasing interest in regard to deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the whole-body regeneration process. This manuscript will present an overview of the biological features of this anthozoan cnidarian as well as the available tools and resources that have been developed by the scientific community studying Nematostella. I will further review our current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying whole-body regeneration in this marine organism, with emphasis on how comparing embryonic development and regeneration in the same organism provides insight into regeneration specific elements.
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26
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Arossa S, Cerrano C, Barucca M, Carducci F, Puce S, Di Camillo CG. An integrative study of Anemonia viridis (Forsskål, 1775) and Aiptasia couchii (Cocks, 1851) (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from the North Adriatic Sea. ZOOMORPHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00435-021-00539-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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27
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Bentlage B, Collins AG. Tackling the phylogenetic conundrum of Hydroidolina (Cnidaria: Medusozoa: Hydrozoa) by assessing competing tree topologies with targeted high-throughput sequencing. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12104. [PMID: 34589302 PMCID: PMC8435201 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher-level relationships of the Hydrozoan subclass Hydroidolina, which encompasses the vast majority of medusozoan cnidarian species diversity, have been elusive to confidently infer. The most widely adopted phylogenetic framework for Hydroidolina based on ribosomal RNA data received low support for several higher level relationships. To address this issue, we developed a set of RNA baits to target more than a hundred loci from the genomes of a broad taxonomic sample of Hydroidolina for high-throughput sequencing. Using these data, we inferred the relationships of Hydroidolina using maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. Both inference methods yielded well-supported phylogenetic hypotheses that largely agree with each other. Using maximum likelihood and Baysian hypothesis testing frameworks, we found that several alternate topological hypotheses proposed previously may be rejected in light of the genomic data generated for this study. Both the maximum likelihood and Bayesian topologies inferred herein consistently score well across testing frameworks, suggesting that their consensus represents the most likely phylogenetic hypothesis of Hydroidolina. This phylogenetic framework places Aplanulata as sister lineage to the remainder of Hydroidolina. This is a strong deviation from previous phylogenetic analyses that placed Capitata or Siphonophorae as sister group to the remainder of Hydroidolina. Considering that Aplanulata represents a lineage comprised of species that for the most part possess a life cycle involving a solitary polyp and free-swimming medusa stage, the phylogenetic hypotheses presented herein have potentially large implications for clarifying the evolution of life cycles, coloniality, and the division of labor in Hydrozoa as taxon sampling for phylogenetic analyses becomes more complete.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allen G Collins
- National Museum of Natural History & National Systematics Laboratory of NOAA's Fisheries Service, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
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28
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Early development and coloniality in Oligophylloides from the Devonian of Morocco-Are Heterocorallia Palaeozoic octocorals? PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257523. [PMID: 34587221 PMCID: PMC8480748 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterocorals represent an enigmatic group of Palaeozoic corals, known from relatively short time intervals in the Devonian and Carboniferous periods. The major differences between Heterocorallia and other Palaeozoic corals are the lack of an external theca (epitheca), lack of calices and the presence of dichotomously dividing septa-like structures. Heterocoral skeleton was presumably externally covered by the soft tissue and each branch of their skeleton has, until now, been regarded as a corallite-a skeleton of a single polyp. We investigated upper Famennian Oligophylloides from Morocco, focussing on branching processes, wall structure, previously poorly known initial growth stages and the growing tip, described here for the first time. We demonstrate that Oligophylloides shows a unique colony development not known in any group of anthozoans possessing a septate-like architecture and suggest that the previously postulated homology between true septa in hexa- and rugose corals on one hand, and Oligophylloides on the other, must be rejected. Based on the skeleton structure and branching patterns, we postulate, contrary to former ideas, that the stem and branches of heterocorals represent the skeleton of a multi-polyp colonial coral, similar to many extant octocorals. We found numerous potential homologies with octocoral skeletons (notably the Keratoisidinae within the Isididae) and, as a result, we propose the inclusion of the order Heterocorallia within the subclass Octocorallia. This suggestion requires, however, further research on the other taxa of heterocorals. We also propose some changes to the morphological terminology for the Heterocorallia.
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29
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Gornik SG, Bergheim BG, Morel B, Stamatakis A, Foulkes NS, Guse A. Photoreceptor Diversification Accompanies the Evolution of Anthozoa. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:1744-1760. [PMID: 33226083 PMCID: PMC8097283 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthozoan corals are an ecologically important group of cnidarians, which power the productivity of reef ecosystems. They are sessile, inhabit shallow, tropical oceans and are highly dependent on sun- and moonlight to regulate sexual reproduction, phototaxis, and photosymbiosis. However, their exposure to high levels of sunlight also imposes an increased risk of UV-induced DNA damage. How have these challenging photic environments influenced photoreceptor evolution and function in these animals? To address this question, we initially screened the cnidarian photoreceptor repertoire for Anthozoa-specific signatures by a broad-scale evolutionary analysis. We compared transcriptomic data of more than 36 cnidarian species and revealed a more diverse photoreceptor repertoire in the anthozoan subphylum than in the subphylum Medusozoa. We classified the three principle opsin classes into distinct subtypes and showed that Anthozoa retained all three classes, which diversified into at least six subtypes. In contrast, in Medusozoa, only one class with a single subtype persists. Similarly, in Anthozoa, we documented three photolyase classes and two cryptochrome (CRY) classes, whereas CRYs are entirely absent in Medusozoa. Interestingly, we also identified one anthozoan CRY class, which exhibited unique tandem duplications of the core functional domains. We next explored the functionality of anthozoan photoreceptors in the model species Exaiptasia diaphana (Aiptasia), which recapitulates key photo-behaviors of corals. We show that the diverse opsin genes are differentially expressed in important life stages common to reef-building corals and Aiptasia and that CRY expression is light regulated. We thereby provide important clues linking coral evolution with photoreceptor diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian G Gornik
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Benoit Morel
- Computational Molecular Evolution Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexandros Stamatakis
- Computational Molecular Evolution Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute for Theoretical Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Nicholas S Foulkes
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Annika Guse
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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30
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The Tentacular Spectacular: Evolution of Regeneration in Sea Anemones. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12071072. [PMID: 34356088 PMCID: PMC8306839 DOI: 10.3390/genes12071072] [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: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea anemones vary immensely in life history strategies, environmental niches and their ability to regenerate. While the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis is the starlet of many key regeneration studies, recent work is emerging on the diverse regeneration strategies employed by other sea anemones. This manuscript will explore current molecular mechanisms of regeneration employed by non-model sea anemones Exaiptasia diaphana (an emerging model species for coral symbiosis studies) and Calliactis polypus (a less well-studied species) and examine how these species compare to the model sea anemone N. vectensis. We summarize the field of regeneration within sea anemones, within the greater context of phylum Cnidaria and in other invertebrate models of regeneration. We also address the current knowledge on two key systems that may be implemented in regeneration: the innate immune system and developmental pathways, including future aspects of work and current limitations.
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31
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Levy S, Elek A, Grau-Bové X, Menéndez-Bravo S, Iglesias M, Tanay A, Mass T, Sebé-Pedrós A. A stony coral cell atlas illuminates the molecular and cellular basis of coral symbiosis, calcification, and immunity. Cell 2021; 184:2973-2987.e18. [PMID: 33945788 PMCID: PMC8162421 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Stony corals are colonial cnidarians that sustain the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on Earth: coral reefs. Despite their ecological importance, little is known about the cell types and molecular pathways that underpin the biology of reef-building corals. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we define over 40 cell types across the life cycle of Stylophora pistillata. We discover specialized immune cells, and we uncover the developmental gene expression dynamics of calcium-carbonate skeleton formation. By simultaneously measuring the transcriptomes of coral cells and the algae within them, we characterize the metabolic programs involved in symbiosis in both partners. We also trace the evolution of these coral cell specializations by phylogenetic integration of multiple cnidarian cell type atlases. Overall, this study reveals the molecular and cellular basis of stony coral biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shani Levy
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel; Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel
| | - Anamaria Elek
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Grau-Bové
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Simón Menéndez-Bravo
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Iglesias
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amos Tanay
- Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tali Mass
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel; Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel.
| | - Arnau Sebé-Pedrós
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
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32
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Krasovec G, Pottin K, Rosello M, Quéinnec É, Chambon JP. Apoptosis and cell proliferation during metamorphosis of the planula larva of Clytia hemisphaerica (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria). Dev Dyn 2021; 250:1739-1758. [PMID: 34036636 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metamorphosis in marine species is characterized by profound changes at the ecophysiological, morphological, and cellular levels. The cnidarian Clytia hemisphaerica exhibits a triphasic life cycle that includes a planula larva, a colonial polyp, and a sexually reproductive medusa. Most studies so far have focused on the embryogenesis of this species, whereas its metamorphosis has been only partially studied. RESULTS We investigated the main morphological changes of the planula larva of Clytia during the metamorphosis, and the associated cell proliferation and apoptosis. Based on our observations of planulae at successive times following artificial metamorphosis induction using GLWamide, we subdivided the Clytia's metamorphosis into a series of eight morphological stages occurring during a pre-settlement phase (from metamorphosis induction to planula ready for settlement) and the post-settlement phase (from planula settlement to primary polyp). Drastic morphological changes prior to definitive adhesion to the substrate were accompanied by specific patterns of stem-cell proliferation as well as apoptosis in both ectoderm and endoderm. Further waves of apoptosis occurring once the larva has settled were associated with morphogenesis of the primary polyp. CONCLUSION Clytia larval metamorphosis is characterized by distinct patterns of apoptosis and cell proliferation during the pre-settlement phase and the settled planula-to-polyp transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Krasovec
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, IBPS, Evolution Paris Seine, Paris, France
| | - Karen Pottin
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, IBPS, Evolution Paris Seine, Paris, France
| | - Marion Rosello
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, IBPS, Evolution Paris Seine, Paris, France
| | - Éric Quéinnec
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, IBPS, Evolution Paris Seine, Paris, France.,Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'histoire Naturelle, Paris Cedex, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Chambon
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, IBPS, Evolution Paris Seine, Paris, France.,Centre de Recherche de Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Montpellier University, CNRS, Montpellier, France
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33
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Hartigan A, Jaimes-Becerra A, Okamura B, Doonan LB, Ward M, Marques AC, Long PF. Recruitment of toxin-like proteins with ancestral venom function supports endoparasitic lifestyles of Myxozoa. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11208. [PMID: 33981497 PMCID: PMC8083181 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cnidarians are the oldest lineage of venomous animals and use nematocysts to discharge toxins. Whether venom toxins have been recruited to support parasitic lifestyles in the Endocnidozoa (Myxozoa + Polypodium) is, however, unknown. To examine this issue we variously employed transcriptomic, proteomic, associated molecular phylogenies, and localisation studies on representative primitive and derived myxozoans (Malacosporea and Myxosporea, respectively), Polypodium hydriforme, and the free-living staurozoan Calvadosia cruxmelitensis. Our transcriptomics and proteomics analyses provide evidence for expression and translation of venom toxin homologs in myxozoans. Phylogenetic placement of Kunitz type serine protease inhibitors and phospholipase A2 enzymes reveals modification of toxins inherited from ancestral free-living cnidarian toxins, and that venom diversity is reduced in myxozoans concordant with their reduced genome sizes. Various phylogenetic analyses of the Kunitz-type toxin family in Endocnidozoa suggested lineage-specific gene duplications, which offers a possible mechanism for enhancing toxin diversification. Toxin localisation in the malacosporean Buddenbrockia plumatellae substantiates toxin translation and thus illustrates a repurposing of toxin function for endoparasite development and interactions with hosts, rather than for prey capture or defence. Whether myxozoan venom candidates are expressed in transmission stages (e.g. in nematocysts or secretory vesicles) requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashlie Hartigan
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.,Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Jaimes-Becerra
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Beth Okamura
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Liam B Doonan
- Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Malcolm Ward
- Aulesa Biosciences Ltd, Shefford, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Antonio C Marques
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paul F Long
- Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom.,Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Klompen AML, Kayal E, Collins AG, Cartwright P. Phylogenetic and Selection Analysis of an Expanded Family of Putatively Pore-Forming Jellyfish Toxins (Cnidaria: Medusozoa). Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6248095. [PMID: 33892512 PMCID: PMC8214413 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many jellyfish species are known to cause a painful sting, but box jellyfish (class Cubozoa) are a well-known danger to humans due to exceptionally potent venoms. Cubozoan toxicity has been attributed to the presence and abundance of cnidarian-specific pore-forming toxins called jellyfish toxins (JFTs), which are highly hemolytic and cardiotoxic. However, JFTs have also been found in other cnidarians outside of Cubozoa, and no comprehensive analysis of their phylogenetic distribution has been conducted to date. Here, we present a thorough annotation of JFTs from 147 cnidarian transcriptomes and document 111 novel putative JFTs from over 20 species within Medusozoa. Phylogenetic analyses show that JFTs form two distinct clades, which we call JFT-1 and JFT-2. JFT-1 includes all known potent cubozoan toxins, as well as hydrozoan and scyphozoan representatives, some of which were derived from medically relevant species. JFT-2 contains primarily uncharacterized JFTs. Although our analyses detected broad purifying selection across JFTs, we found that a subset of cubozoan JFT-1 sequences are influenced by gene-wide episodic positive selection compared with homologous toxins from other taxonomic groups. This suggests that duplication followed by neofunctionalization or subfunctionalization as a potential mechanism for the highly potent venom in cubozoans. Additionally, published RNA-seq data from several medusozoan species indicate that JFTs are differentially expressed, spatially and temporally, between functionally distinct tissues. Overall, our findings suggest a complex evolutionary history of JFTs involving duplication and selection that may have led to functional diversification, including variability in toxin potency and specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M L Klompen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA
| | - Ehsan Kayal
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Sorbonne Université, CNRS, FR2424, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Allen G Collins
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,National Systematics Laboratory of NOAA's Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Paulyn Cartwright
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA
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Ortiz González IC, Rivera-Vicéns RE, Schizas NV. Description of four Millepora spp. transcriptomes and their potential to delimit the Caribbean fire coral species. Mar Genomics 2021; 59:100863. [PMID: 33762174 DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2021.100863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Millepora is a relatively species-rich genus of hydrocorals, with 16 species distributed around the globe. It is considered an important reef building cnidarian. The current diversity of Caribbean Millepora species consists of Millepora complanata, M. alcicornis, M. squarrosa and M. striata. Here, we report the de novo transcriptome assembly and phylotranscriptomic analysis of M. alcicornis, M. complanata, M. squarrosa and a undescribed morphotype (Millepora sp.) found in exposed Thalassia beds and mangrove areas in southwest Puerto Rico. Over 345 million sequence reads were obtained for the analysis of the Millepora transcriptomes (Illumina HiSeq4000; 2x150bp). The analysis pipeline consisted of assembly with Trinity, BUSCO, RSEM and ORFs calling for each transcriptome, followed by ontology (Blast2GO) and phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic analysis was performed after selecting homologous genes among the transcriptomes, resulting in 10,596 sequences. Concatenation analysis (Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference) and a coalescence-based analysis were performed to the dataset too. Concatenation analysis yielded a topology supporting a clade of M. complanata and M. alcicornis, with Millepora sp. outside this clade and M. squarrosa as an outgroup. The coalescence-based tree estimation analysis (ASTRAL-II), presented a different topology placing M. alcicornis and Millepora sp. as sister taxa, rather than grouping with M. alcicornis with M. complanata. Our coalescence analysis indicated that there is a high degree of incomplete lineage sorting, suggesting a very recent time of species emergence among three out of the four Caribbean Millepora species. Calculations of ABBA-BABA statistics derived from transcriptome-wide SNP data indicate the possible presence of introgression between Millepora complanata and M. alcicornis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ramón E Rivera-Vicéns
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, PO Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00680, USA; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Richard-Wagner-Str. 10, 80333 München, Germany
| | - Nikolaos V Schizas
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, PO Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00680, USA.
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Conci N, Vargas S, Wörheide G. The Biology and Evolution of Calcite and Aragonite Mineralization in Octocorallia. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.623774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Octocorallia (class Anthozoa, phylum Cnidaria) is a group of calcifying corals displaying a wide diversity of mineral skeletons. This includes skeletal structures composed of different calcium carbonate polymorphs (aragonite and calcite). This represents a unique feature among anthozoans, as scleractinian corals (subclass Hexacorallia), main reef builders and focus of biomineralization research, are all characterized by an aragonite exoskeleton. From an evolutionary perspective, the presence of aragonitic skeletons in Octocorallia is puzzling as it is observed in very few species and has apparently originated during a Calcite sea (i.e., time interval characterized by calcite-inducing seawater conditions). Despite this, octocorals have been systematically overlooked in biomineralization studies. Here we review what is known about octocoral biomineralization, focusing on the evolutionary and biological processes that underlie calcite and aragonite formation. Although differences in research focus between octocorals and scleractinians are often mentioned, we highlight how strong variability also exists between different octocoral groups. Different main aspects of octocoral biomineralization have been in fact studied in a small set of species, including the (calcitic) gorgonian Leptogorgia virgulata and/or the precious coral Corallium rubrum. These include descriptions of calcifying cells (scleroblasts), calcium transport and chemistry of the calcification fluids. With the exception of few histological observations, no information on these features is available for aragonitic octocorals. Availability of sequencing data is also heterogeneous between groups, with no transcriptome or genome available, for instance, for the clade Calcaxonia. Although calcite represents by far the most common polymorph deposited by octocorals, we argue that studying aragonite-forming could provide insight on octocoral, and more generally anthozoan, biomineralization. First and foremost it would allow to compare calcification processes between octocoral groups, highlighting homologies and differences. Secondly, similarities (exoskeleton) between Heliopora and scleractinian skeletons, would provide further insight on which biomineralization features are driven by skeleton characteristics (shared by scleractinians and aragonitic octocorals) and those driven by taxonomy (shared by octocorals regardless of skeleton polymorph). Including the diversity of anthozoan mineralization strategies into biomineralization studies remains thus essential to comprehensively study how skeletons form and evolved within this ecologically important group of marine animals.
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Song X, Ruthensteiner B, Lyu M, Liu X, Wang J, Han J. Advanced Cambrian hydroid fossils (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) extend the medusozoan evolutionary history. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202939. [PMID: 33529559 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Primitive cnidarians are crucial for elucidating the early evolution of metazoan body plans and life histories in the late Neoproterozoic and Palaeozoic. The highest complexity of both evolutionary aspects within cnidarians is found in extant hydrozoans. Many colonial hydrozoans coated with chitinous exoskeletons have the potential to form fossils; however, only a few fossils possibly representing hydroids have been reported, which still require scrutiny. Here, we present an exceptionally well-preserved hydroid found in the Upper Cambrian Fengshan Formation in northern China. It was originally interpreted as a problematic graptolite with an uncertain systematic position. Based on three characteristic morphological traits shared with extant hydroids (with paired hydrothecae, regular hydrocaulus internodes and special intrathecal origin pattern of hydrocladium), we propose this fossil hydroid as a new genus, Palaeodiphasia gen. nov., affiliated with the advanced monophyletic hydrozoan clade Macrocolonia typically showing loss of the medusa stage. More Macrocolonia fossils reviewed here indicate that this life strategy of medusa loss has been achieved already as early as the Middle Devonian. The early stratigraphical appearance of such advanced hydroid contrasts with previous molecular hypotheses regarding the timing of medusozoan evolution, and may be indicative for understanding the Ediacaran cnidarian radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xikun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Mingxin Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Liu
- Northwest University Museum, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Wang
- Xi'an Center of Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Xi'an 710054, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Han
- State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environments, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, People's Republic of China
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McFadden CS, Quattrini AM, Brugler MR, Cowman PF, Dueñas LF, Kitahara MV, Paz-García DA, Reimer JD, Rodríguez E. Phylogenomics, Origin, and Diversification of Anthozoans (Phylum Cnidaria). Syst Biol 2021; 70:635-647. [PMID: 33507310 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syaa103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthozoan cnidarians (corals and sea anemones) include some of the world's most important foundation species, capable of building massive reef complexes that support entire ecosystems. Although previous molecular phylogenetic analyses have revealed widespread homoplasy of the morphological characters traditionally used to define orders and families of anthozoans, analyses using mitochondrial genes or rDNA have failed to resolve many key nodes in the phylogeny. With a fully resolved, time-calibrated phylogeny for 234 species constructed from hundreds of ultraconserved elements and exon loci, we explore the evolutionary origins of the major clades of Anthozoa and some of their salient morphological features. The phylogeny supports reciprocally monophyletic Hexacorallia and Octocorallia, with Ceriantharia as the earliest diverging hexacorals; two reciprocally monophyletic clades of Octocorallia; and monophyly of all hexacoral orders with the exception of the enigmatic sea anemone Relicanthus daphneae. Divergence dating analyses place Anthozoa in the Cryogenian to Tonian periods (648-894 Ma), older than has been suggested by previous studies. Ancestral state reconstructions indicate that the ancestral anthozoan was a solitary polyp that had bilateral symmetry and lacked a skeleton. Colonial growth forms and the ability to precipitate calcium carbonate evolved in the Ediacaran (578 Ma) and Cambrian (503 Ma) respectively; these hallmarks of reef-building species have subsequently arisen multiple times independently in different orders. Anthozoans formed associations with photosymbionts by the Devonian (383 Ma), and photosymbioses have been gained and lost repeatedly in all orders. Together, these results have profound implications for the interpretation of the Precambrian environment and the early evolution of metazoans.[Bilateral symmetry; coloniality; coral; early metazoans; exon capture; Hexacorallia; Octocorallia photosymbiosis; sea anemone; ultraconserved elements.].
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine S McFadden
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, 1250 N. Dartmouth Ave., Claremont, CA 91711 USA
| | - Andrea M Quattrini
- Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, 1250 N. Dartmouth Ave., Claremont, CA 91711 USA.,Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA
| | - Mercer R Brugler
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, USA.,Biological Sciences Department, NYC College of Technology, City University of New York, 285 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.,Department of Natural Sciences, University of South Carolina Beaufort, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort, SC 29902, USA
| | - Peter F Cowman
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,Biodiversity and Geosciences Program, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Queensland Museum, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Luisa F Dueñas
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 No.45-03 Edificio 421, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
| | - Marcelo V Kitahara
- Department of Marine Science, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, SP 11070-100 Brazil.,Centre for Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, São Sebastião, SP 11612-109 Brazil
| | - David A Paz-García
- CONACyT-Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR). Laboratorio de Necton y Ecología de Arrecifes. Calle IPN 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, 23096 La Paz, B.C.S., México
| | - James D Reimer
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Marine Science, Chemistry, and Biology, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.,Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Estefanía Rodríguez
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, USA
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Cooke I, Ying H, Forêt S, Bongaerts P, Strugnell JM, Simakov O, Zhang J, Field MA, Rodriguez-Lanetty M, Bell SC, Bourne DG, van Oppen MJ, Ragan MA, Miller DJ. Genomic signatures in the coral holobiont reveal host adaptations driven by Holocene climate change and reef specific symbionts. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/48/eabc6318. [PMID: 33246955 PMCID: PMC7695477 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc6318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Genetic signatures caused by demographic and adaptive processes during past climatic shifts can inform predictions of species' responses to anthropogenic climate change. To identify these signatures in Acropora tenuis, a reef-building coral threatened by global warming, we first assembled the genome from long reads and then used shallow whole-genome resequencing of 150 colonies from the central inshore Great Barrier Reef to inform population genomic analyses. We identify population structure in the host that reflects a Pleistocene split, whereas photosymbiont differences between reefs most likely reflect contemporary (Holocene) conditions. Signatures of selection in the host were associated with genes linked to diverse processes including osmotic regulation, skeletal development, and the establishment and maintenance of symbiosis. Our results suggest that adaptation to post-glacial climate change in A. tenuis has involved selection on many genes, while differences in symbiont specificity between reefs appear to be unrelated to host population structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ira Cooke
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hua Ying
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Sylvain Forêt
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Pim Bongaerts
- California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jan M Strugnell
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Oleg Simakov
- Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Jia Zhang
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Matt A Field
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty
- Institute of Environment and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Fl 33199, USA
| | - Sara C Bell
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - David G Bourne
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Madeleine Jh van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mark A Ragan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - David J Miller
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Experimental Tools to Study Regeneration in the Sea Anemone Nematostella vectensis. Methods Mol Biol 2020. [PMID: 33074534 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0974-3_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Animal regeneration is a biological process leading to the reformation of injured or lost tissues/body parts. One of the most fascinating regenerative phenomena is the so-called whole-body regeneration, leading to the reformation of fully functional organisms within days after bisection. The sea anemone Nematostella vectensis is currently emerging as novel whole-body regeneration model. Here we describe the methods of inducing the regenerative process in this cnidarian as well as the fixation and staining protocols for morphological, molecular, and cellular analysis.
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A comparative genomics study of neuropeptide genes in the cnidarian subclasses Hexacorallia and Ceriantharia. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:666. [PMID: 32993486 PMCID: PMC7523074 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-06945-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Nervous systems originated before the split of Proto- and Deuterostomia, more than 600 million years ago. Four animal phyla (Cnidaria, Placozoa, Ctenophora, Porifera) diverged before this split and studying these phyla could give us important information on the evolution of the nervous system. Here, we have annotated the neuropeptide preprohormone genes of twenty species belonging to the subclass Hexacorallia or Ceriantharia (Anthozoa: Cnidaria), using thirty-seven publicly accessible genome or transcriptome databases. Studying hexacorals is important, because they are versatile laboratory models for development (e.g., Nematostella vectensis) and symbiosis (e.g., Exaiptasia diaphana) and also are prominent reef-builders. Results We found that each hexacoral or ceriantharian species contains five to ten neuropeptide preprohormone genes. Many of these preprohormones contain multiple copies of immature neuropeptides, which can be up to 50 copies of identical or similar neuropeptide sequences. We also discovered preprohormones that only contained one neuropeptide sequence positioned directly after the signal sequence. Examples of them are neuropeptides that terminate with the sequence RWamide (the Antho-RWamides). Most neuropeptide sequences are N-terminally protected by pyroglutamyl (pQ) or one or more prolyl residues, while they are C-terminally protected by an amide group. Previously, we isolated and sequenced small neuropeptides from hexacorals that were N-terminally protected by an unusual L-3-phenyllactyl group. In our current analysis, we found that these N-phenyllactyl-peptides are derived from N-phenylalanyl-peptides located directly after the signal sequence of the preprohormone. The N-phenyllactyl- peptides appear to be confined to the hexacorallian order Actiniaria and do not occur in other cnidarians. On the other hand, (1) the neuropeptide Antho-RFamide (pQGRFamide); (2) peptides with the C-terminal sequence GLWamide; and (3) tetrapeptides with the X1PRX2amide consensus sequence (most frequently GPRGamide) are ubiquitous in Hexacorallia. Conclusions We found GRFamide, GLWamide, and X1PRX2amide peptides in all tested Hexacorallia. Previously, we discovered these three neuropeptide classes also in Cubozoa, Scyphozoa, and Staurozoa, indicating that these neuropeptides originated in the common cnidarian ancestor and are evolutionarily ancient. In addition to these ubiquitous neuropeptides, other neuropeptides appear to be confined to specific cnidarian orders or subclasses.
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The genetic basis for PRC1 complex diversity emerged early in animal evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:22880-22889. [PMID: 32868440 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2005136117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Polycomb group proteins are essential regulators of developmental processes across animals. Despite their importance, studies on Polycomb are often restricted to classical model systems and, as such, little is known about the evolution of these important chromatin regulators. Here we focus on Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1) and trace the evolution of core components of canonical and non-canonical PRC1 complexes in animals. Previous work suggested that a major expansion in the number of PRC1 complexes occurred in the vertebrate lineage. We show that the expansion of the Polycomb Group RING Finger (PCGF) protein family, an essential step for the establishment of the large diversity of PRC1 complexes found in vertebrates, predates the bilaterian-cnidarian ancestor. This means that the genetic repertoire necessary to form all major vertebrate PRC1 complexes emerged early in animal evolution, over 550 million years ago. We further show that PCGF5, a gene conserved in cnidarians and vertebrates but lost in all other studied groups, is expressed in the nervous system in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, similar to its mammalian counterpart. Together this work provides a framework for understanding the evolution of PRC1 complex diversity and it establishes Nematostella as a promising model system in which the functional ramifications of this diversification can be further explored.
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Palaeoclimate ocean conditions shaped the evolution of corals and their skeletons through deep time. Nat Ecol Evol 2020; 4:1531-1538. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-01291-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Zullo L, Bozzo M, Daya A, Di Clemente A, Mancini FP, Megighian A, Nesher N, Röttinger E, Shomrat T, Tiozzo S, Zullo A, Candiani S. The Diversity of Muscles and Their Regenerative Potential across Animals. Cells 2020; 9:cells9091925. [PMID: 32825163 PMCID: PMC7563492 DOI: 10.3390/cells9091925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells with contractile functions are present in almost all metazoans, and so are the related processes of muscle homeostasis and regeneration. Regeneration itself is a complex process unevenly spread across metazoans that ranges from full-body regeneration to partial reconstruction of damaged organs or body tissues, including muscles. The cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in regenerative processes can be homologous, co-opted, and/or evolved independently. By comparing the mechanisms of muscle homeostasis and regeneration throughout the diversity of animal body-plans and life cycles, it is possible to identify conserved and divergent cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying muscle plasticity. In this review we aim at providing an overview of muscle regeneration studies in metazoans, highlighting the major regenerative strategies and molecular pathways involved. By gathering these findings, we wish to advocate a comparative and evolutionary approach to prompt a wider use of “non-canonical” animal models for molecular and even pharmacological studies in the field of muscle regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Zullo
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Micro-BioRobotics & Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology (NSYN), 16132 Genova, Italy;
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.Z.); (A.Z.)
| | - Matteo Bozzo
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 5, 16132 Genova, Italy; (M.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Alon Daya
- Faculty of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Michmoret 40297, Israel; (A.D.); (N.N.); (T.S.)
| | - Alessio Di Clemente
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Micro-BioRobotics & Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology (NSYN), 16132 Genova, Italy;
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Aram Megighian
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Nir Nesher
- Faculty of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Michmoret 40297, Israel; (A.D.); (N.N.); (T.S.)
| | - Eric Röttinger
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging (IRCAN), Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, INSERM, 06107 Nice, France;
| | - Tal Shomrat
- Faculty of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Michmoret 40297, Israel; (A.D.); (N.N.); (T.S.)
| | - Stefano Tiozzo
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-Mer (LBDV), Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Paris, France;
| | - Alberto Zullo
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.Z.); (A.Z.)
| | - Simona Candiani
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 5, 16132 Genova, Italy; (M.B.); (S.C.)
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Klompen AML, Macrander J, Reitzel AM, Stampar SN. Transcriptomic Analysis of Four Cerianthid (Cnidaria, Ceriantharia) Venoms. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:md18080413. [PMID: 32764303 PMCID: PMC7460484 DOI: 10.3390/md18080413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tube anemones, or cerianthids, are a phylogenetically informative group of cnidarians with complex life histories, including a pelagic larval stage and tube-dwelling adult stage, both known to utilize venom in stinging-cell rich tentacles. Cnidarians are an entirely venomous group that utilize their proteinaceous-dominated toxins to capture prey and defend against predators, in addition to several other ecological functions, including intraspecific interactions. At present there are no studies describing the venom for any species within cerianthids. Given their unique development, ecology, and distinct phylogenetic-placement within Cnidaria, our objective is to evaluate the venom-like gene diversity of four species of cerianthids from newly collected transcriptomic data. We identified 525 venom-like genes between all four species. The venom-gene profile for each species was dominated by enzymatic protein and peptide families, which is consistent with previous findings in other cnidarian venoms. However, we found few toxins that are typical of sea anemones and corals, and furthermore, three of the four species express toxin-like genes closely related to potent pore-forming toxins in box jellyfish. Our study is the first to provide a survey of the putative venom composition of cerianthids and contributes to our general understanding of the diversity of cnidarian toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. L. Klompen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Jason Macrander
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262, USA; (J.M.); (A.M.R.)
- Department of Biology, Florida Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth, Drive Lakeland, FL 33801, USA
| | - Adam M. Reitzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262, USA; (J.M.); (A.M.R.)
| | - Sérgio N. Stampar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), FCL, Assis, SP 19806, Brazil;
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Technau U. Gastrulation and germ layer formation in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis and other cnidarians. Mech Dev 2020; 163:103628. [PMID: 32603823 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2020.103628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Among the basally branching metazoans, cnidarians display well-defined gastrulation processes leading to a diploblastic body plan, consisting of an endodermal and an ectodermal cell layer. As the outgroup to all Bilateria, cnidarians are an interesting group to investigate ancestral developmental mechanisms. Interestingly, all known gastrulation mechanisms known in Bilateria are already found in different species of Cnidaria. Here I review the morphogenetic processes found in different Cnidaria and focus on the investigation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, which has been a major model organism among cnidarians for evolutionary developmental biology. Many of the genes involved in germ layer specification and morphogenetic processes in Bilateria are also found active during gastrulation of Nematostella and other cnidarians, suggesting an ancestral role of this process. The molecular analyses indicate a tight link between gastrulation and axis patterning processes by Wnt and FGF signaling. Interestingly, the endodermal layer displays many features of the mesodermal layer in Bilateria, while the pharyngeal ectoderm has an endodermal expression profile. Comparative analyses as well as experimental studies using embryonic aggregates suggest that minor differences in the gene regulatory networks allow the embryo to transition relatively easily from one mode of gastrulation to another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Technau
- University of Vienna, Dept. of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Wien, Austria.
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Quek RZB, Jain SS, Neo ML, Rouse GW, Huang D. Transcriptome-based target-enrichment baits for stony corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia). Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 20:807-818. [PMID: 32077619 PMCID: PMC7468246 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite the ecological and economic significance of stony corals (Scleractinia), a robust understanding of their phylogeny remains elusive due to patchy taxonomic and genetic sampling, as well as the limited availability of informative markers. To increase the number of genetic loci available for phylogenomic analyses in Scleractinia, we designed 15,919 DNA enrichment baits targeting 605 orthogroups (mean 565 ± SD 366 bp) over 1,139 exon regions. A further 236 and 62 barcoding baits were designed for COI and histone H3 genes respectively for quality and contamination checks. Hybrid capture using these baits was performed on 18 coral species spanning the presently understood scleractinian phylogeny, with two corallimorpharians as outgroup. On average, 74% of all loci targeted were successfully captured for each species. Barcoding baits were matched unambiguously to their respective samples and revealed low levels of cross-contamination in accordance with expectation. We put the data through a series of stringent filtering steps to ensure only scleractinian and phylogenetically informative loci were retained, and the final probe set comprised 13,479 baits, targeting 452 loci (mean 531 ± SD 307 bp) across 865 exon regions. Maximum likelihood, Bayesian and species tree analyses recovered maximally supported, topologically congruent trees consistent with previous phylogenomic reconstructions. The phylogenomic method presented here allows for consistent capture of orthologous loci among divergent coral taxa, facilitating the pooling of data from different studies and increasing the phylogenetic sampling of scleractinians in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randolph Z. B. Quek
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Sudhanshi S. Jain
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Mei Lin Neo
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Tropical Marine Science InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Greg W. Rouse
- Scripps Institution of OceanographyUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCAUSA
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Tropical Marine Science InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
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Vohsen SA, Anderson KE, Gade AM, Gruber-Vodicka HR, Dannenberg RP, Osman EO, Dubilier N, Fisher CR, Baums IB. Deep-sea corals provide new insight into the ecology, evolution, and the role of plastids in widespread apicomplexan symbionts of anthozoans. MICROBIOME 2020; 8:34. [PMID: 32164774 PMCID: PMC7068898 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00798-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apicomplexans are the causative agents of major human diseases such as malaria and toxoplasmosis. A novel group of apicomplexans, recently named corallicolids, have been detected in corals inhabiting tropical shallow reefs. These apicomplexans may represent a transitional lifestyle between free-living phototrophs and obligate parasites. To shed light on the evolutionary history of apicomplexans and to investigate their ecology in association with corals, we screened scleractinians, antipatharians, alcyonaceans, and zoantharians from shallow, mesophotic, and deep-sea communities. We detected corallicolid plastids using 16S metabarcoding, sequenced the nuclear 18S rRNA gene of corallicolids from selected samples, assembled and annotated the plastid and mitochondrial genomes from a corallicolid that associates with a deep-sea coral, and screened the metagenomes of four coral species for corallicolids. RESULTS We detected 23 corallicolid plastotypes that were associated with 14 coral species from three orders and depths down to 1400 m. Individual plastotypes were restricted to coral hosts within a single depth zone and within a single taxonomic order of corals. Some clusters of closely related corallicolids were revealed that associated with closely related coral species. However, the presence of divergent corallicolid lineages that associated with similar coral species and depths suggests that corallicolid/coral relations are flexible over evolutionary timescales and that a large diversity of apicomplexans may remain undiscovered. The corallicolid plastid genome from a deep-sea coral contained four genes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis: the three genes of the LIPOR complex and acsF. CONCLUSIONS The presence of corallicolid apicomplexans in corals below the photic zone demonstrates that they are not restricted to shallow-water reefs and are more general anthozoan symbionts. The presence of LIPOR genes in the deep-sea corallicolid precludes a role involving photosynthesis and suggests they may be involved in a different function. Thus, these genes may represent another set of genetic tools whose function was adapted from photosynthesis as the ancestors of apicomplexans evolved towards parasitic lifestyles. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Vohsen
- Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - Kaitlin E Anderson
- Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Andrea M Gade
- Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | | | - Richard P Dannenberg
- Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Epic, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Eslam O Osman
- Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Marine Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nicole Dubilier
- Department of Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Charles R Fisher
- Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Iliana B Baums
- Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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Hancy AD, Antcliffe JB. Anoxia can increase the rate of decay for cnidarian tissue: Using Actinia equina to understand the early fossil record. GEOBIOLOGY 2020; 18:167-184. [PMID: 31990129 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
An experimental decay methodology is developed for a cnidarian model organism to serve as a comparison to the many previous such studies on bilaterians. This allows an examination of inherent bias against the fossilisation of cnidarian tissue and their diagnostic characters, under what conditions these occur, and in what way. The decay sequence of Actinia equina was examined under a series of controlled conditions. These experiments show that cnidarian decay begins with an initial rupturing of the epidermis, followed by rapid loss of recognisable internal morphological characters. This suggests that bacteria work quicker on the epidermis than autolysis does on the internal anatomy. The data also show that diploblastic tissue is not universally decayed more slowly under anoxic or reducing conditions than under oxic conditions. Indeed, some cnidarian characters decay more rapidly under anoxic conditions than they do under oxic conditions. This suggests the decay pathways acting may be different to those affecting soft bilaterian tissue such as soft epidermis and internal organs. What is most important in the decay of soft polyp anatomy is the microbial community, which can be dominated by oxic or anoxic bacteria. Different Lagerstätte, even of the same type, will inevitably have subtle difference in their bacterial communities, which among other factors, could be a control on soft polyp preservation leading to either an absence of compelling soft anthozoans (Burgess Shale) or an astonishing abundance (Qingjiang biota).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D Hancy
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jonathan B Antcliffe
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford, UK
- Institut des Sciences de la Terre, Bâtiment Géopolis, UNIL-Mouline, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Initial Virome Characterization of the Common Cnidarian Lab Model Nematostella vectensis. Viruses 2020; 12:v12020218. [PMID: 32075325 PMCID: PMC7077227 DOI: 10.3390/v12020218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of viruses in forming a stable holobiont has been the subject of extensive research in recent years. However, many emerging model organisms still lack any data on the composition of the associated viral communities. Here, we re-analyzed seven publicly available transcriptome datasets of the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, the most commonly used anthozoan lab model, and searched for viral sequences. We applied a straightforward, yet powerful approach of de novo assembly followed by homology-based virus identification and a multi-step, thorough taxonomic validation. The comparison of different lab populations of N. vectensis revealed the existence of the core virome composed of 21 viral sequences, present in all adult datasets. Unexpectedly, we observed an almost complete lack of viruses in the samples from the early developmental stages, which together with the identification of the viruses shared with the major source of the food in the lab, the brine shrimp Artemia salina, shed new light on the course of viral species acquisition in N. vectensis. Our study provides an initial, yet comprehensive insight into N. vectensis virome and sets the first foundation for the functional studies of viruses and antiviral systems in this lab model cnidarian.
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