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Perillo M, Sepe RM, Paganos P, Toscano A, Annunziata R. Sea cucumbers: an emerging system in evo-devo. EvoDevo 2024; 15:3. [PMID: 38368336 PMCID: PMC10874539 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-023-00220-0] [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: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
A challenge for evolutionary developmental (evo-devo) biology is to expand the breadth of research organisms used to investigate how animal diversity has evolved through changes in embryonic development. New experimental systems should couple a relevant phylogenetic position with available molecular tools and genomic resources. As a phylum of the sister group to chordates, echinoderms extensively contributed to our knowledge of embryonic patterning, organ development and cell-type evolution. Echinoderms display a variety of larval forms with diverse shapes, making them a suitable group to compare the evolution of embryonic developmental strategies. However, because of the laboratory accessibility and the already available techniques, most studies focus on sea urchins and sea stars mainly. As a comparative approach, the field would benefit from including information on other members of this group, like the sea cucumbers (holothuroids), for which little is known on the molecular basis of their development. Here, we review the spawning and culture methods, the available morphological and molecular information, and the current state of genomic and transcriptomic resources on sea cucumbers. With the goal of making this system accessible to the broader community, we discuss how sea cucumber embryos and larvae can be a powerful system to address the open questions in evo-devo, including understanding the origins of bilaterian structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Perillo
- Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, 7 MBL St., Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA.
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy.
| | - Rosa Maria Sepe
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Periklis Paganos
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Alfonso Toscano
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy
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Jönsson M, Morin M, Wang CK, Craik DJ, Degnan SM, Degnan BM. Sex-specific expression of pheromones and other signals in gravid starfish. BMC Biol 2022; 20:288. [PMID: 36528687 PMCID: PMC9759900 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01491-0] [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: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many echinoderms form seasonal aggregations prior to spawning. In some fecund species, a spawning event can lead to population outbreaks with detrimental ecosystem impacts. For instance, outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), a corallivore, can destroy coral reefs. Here, we examine the gene expression in gravid male and female COTS prior to spawning in the wild, to identify genome-encoded factors that may regulate aggregation and spawning. This study is informed by a previously identified exoproteome that attracts conspecifics. To capture the natural gene expression profiles, we isolated RNAs from gravid female and male COTS immediately after they were removed from the Great Barrier Reef. RESULTS: Sexually dimorphic gene expression is present in all seven somatic tissues and organs that we surveyed and in the gonads. Approximately 40% of the exoproteome transcripts are differentially expressed between sexes. Males uniquely upregulate an additional 68 secreted factors in their testes. A suite of neuropeptides in sensory organs, coelomocytes and gonads is differentially expressed between sexes, including the relaxin-like gonad-stimulating peptide and gonadotropin-releasing hormones. Female sensory tentacles-chemosensory organs at the distal tips of the starfish arms-uniquely upregulate diverse receptors and signalling molecules, including chemosensory G-protein-coupled receptors and several neuropeptides, including kisspeptin, SALMFamide and orexin. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of 103 tissue/organ transcriptomes from 13 wild COTS has revealed genes that are consistently differentially expressed between gravid females and males and that all tissues surveyed are sexually dimorphic at the molecular level. This finding is consistent with female and male COTS using sex-specific pheromones to regulate reproductive aggregations and synchronised spawning events. These pheromones appear to be received primarily by the sensory tentacles, which express a range of receptors and signalling molecules in a sex-specific manner. Furthermore, coelomocytes and gonads differentially express signalling and regulatory factors that control gametogenesis and spawning in other echinoderms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Jönsson
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Centre for Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Marie Morin
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Centre for Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Conan K. Wang
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Institute for Molecular Bioscience, ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Institute for Molecular Bioscience, ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Sandie M. Degnan
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Centre for Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Bernard M. Degnan
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Centre for Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
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Hamel JF, Eeckhaut I, Conand C, Sun J, Caulier G, Mercier A. Global knowledge on the commercial sea cucumber Holothuria scabra. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2022; 91:1-286. [PMID: 35777924 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Holothuria scabra is one of the most intensively studied holothuroids, or sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea), having been discussed in the literature since the early 19th century. The species is important for several reasons: (1) it is widely distributed and historically abundant in several shallow soft-bottom habitats throughout the Indo-Pacific, (2) it has a high commercial value on the Asian markets, where it is mainly sold as a dried product (beche-de-mer) and (3) it is the only tropical holothuroid species that can currently be mass-produced in hatcheries. Over 20 years have elapsed since the last comprehensive review on H. scabra published in 2001. Research on H. scabra has continued to accumulate, fuelled by intense commercial exploitation, and further declines in wild stocks over the entire distribution range. This review compiles data from over 950 publications pertaining to the biology, ecology, physiology, biochemical composition, aquaculture, fishery, processing and trade of H. scabra, presenting the most complete synthesis to date, including scientific papers and material published by local institutions and/or in foreign languages. The main goal of this project was to summarize and critically discuss the abundant literature on this species, making it more readily accessible to all stakeholders aiming to conduct fundamental and applied research on H. scabra, or wishing to develop aquaculture, stock enhancement and management programs across its geographic range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Hamel
- Society for the Exploration and Valuing of the Environment (SEVE), St. Philips, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada.
| | - Igor Eeckhaut
- Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics unit, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Chantal Conand
- Département origines et évolution, Muséum National Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Jiamin Sun
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
| | - Guillaume Caulier
- Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics unit, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Annie Mercier
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada.
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Delroisse J, Léonet A, Alexandre H, Eeckhaut I. Intracellular Pathways of Holothuroid Oocyte Maturation Induced by the Thioredoxin Trx-REES. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:1201. [PMID: 34439448 PMCID: PMC8388914 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10081201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In holothuroids, oocyte maturation is stopped in ovaries at the prophase I stage of meiosis. In natural conditions, the blockage is removed during the spawning by an unknown mechanism. When oocytes are isolated by dissection, the meiotic release can be successfully induced by a natural inducer, the REES (i.e., Rough Extract of Echinoid Spawn) that is used in aquaculture to obtain viable larvae in mass. A thioredoxin has recently been identified in the REES as the molecule responsible for holothuroid oocyte maturation. As a redox-active protein, thioredoxin is thought to reduce target proteins within the oocyte membrane and initiate an intracellular reaction cascade that leads to the unblocking of the oocyte meiosis. Our results allow us to understand additional steps in the intracellular reaction cascade induced by the action of thioredoxin on oocytes. Pharmacological agents known to have activating or inhibiting actions on oocyte maturation have been used (Forskolin, Isobutylmethylxanthine, Hypoxanthine, 6-dimethyaminopurine, Lavendustin, Genistein, Roscovitine, Cycloheximide). The effects of these agents were analysed on oocytes of the holothuroid Holothuria tubulosa incubated with or without REES and were compared to those obtained with another reducing agent, the dithiothreitol. Our results demonstrated that, at the opposite of dithiothreitol-induced oocyte maturation, thioredoxin-induced oocyte maturation is cAMP independent, but dependent of the presence of calcium in the seawater. Both pathways of induction require the activation of protein serine/threonine kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Delroisse
- Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium;
- Belaza Marine Station, Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines, University of Toliaria, Toliaria 601, Madagascar
| | - Aline Léonet
- Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium;
- Haute Ecole Du Hainaut, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Henri Alexandre
- Embryology Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium;
| | - Igor Eeckhaut
- Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium;
- Haute Ecole Du Hainaut, 7000 Mons, Belgium
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Chieu HD, Turner L, Smith MK, Wang T, Nocillado J, Palma P, Suwansa-Ard S, Elizur A, Cummins SF. Aquaculture Breeding Enhancement: Maturation and Spawning in Sea Cucumbers Using a Recombinant Relaxin-Like Gonad-Stimulating Peptide. Front Genet 2019; 10:77. [PMID: 30838021 PMCID: PMC6389678 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Wild sea cucumber resources have been rapidly exhausted and therefore there is an urgent need to develop approaches that will help restocking. Currently, there is a lack of information regarding the genes involved in sea cucumber reproductive processes. The neurohormone relaxin-like gonad-stimulating peptide (RGP) has been identified as the active gonad-stimulating peptide in sea stars (Asteroidea), which could also be present in other echinoderm groups. In this study, a sea cucumber RGP was identified and confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. A recombinant Holothuria scabra RGP was produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris and confirmed by mass spectrometry. To assess bioactivity, four levels of purification were tested in an in vitro germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) bioassay. The most pure form induced 98.56 ± 1.19% GVBD in H. scabra and 89.57 ± 1.19% GVBD in Holothuria leucospilota. Cruder levels of purification still resulted in some GVBD. Upon single injection into female H. scabra, the recombinant RGP induced head waving behavior followed by spawning within 90–170 min. Spawned oocytes were fertilized successfully, larvae settled and developed into juveniles. Our results provide a key finding for the development of a break-through new artificial breeding approach in sea cucumber aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Dinh Chieu
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia.,Research Institute for Marine Fisheries, HaiPhong, Vietnam
| | - Luke Turner
- Tasmanian Seafoods Pty. Ltd., Smithton, TAS, Australia
| | - Meaghan K Smith
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Tianfang Wang
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Josephine Nocillado
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Peter Palma
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia.,Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Iloilo, Philippines
| | - Saowaros Suwansa-Ard
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Abigail Elizur
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Scott F Cummins
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
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Reproductive Biology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-799953-1.00006-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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Kalachev AV. A brief summary of neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction in sea stars. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 183:79-82. [PMID: 23313074 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Revised: 12/23/2012] [Accepted: 12/26/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Over than fifty years starfishes have been widely used as model for studying the mechanisms of cell cycle regulation, oocyte maturation and fertilization. Besides, significant work has been done to investigate the role of nervous system in the control of reproduction and spawning in these animals. Nowadays, sea stars represent one of the most thoroughly studied model for hormonal regulation of reproduction among invertebrates. However, while the general picture of neuroendocrine control of asteroid reproduction can be drawn easily, our knowledge concerning the details of this process still has some gaps. Filling these gaps is essential for studying the diversity of hormonal mechanisms involved in regulation of animal reproduction. The present paper aims to briefly summarize current data on hormonal regulation of reproduction in sea stars and to highlight existing gaps in our knowledge on the details of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander V Kalachev
- A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 17 Palchevskogo str., Vladivostok, Russia.
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Ahmed HO, Katow T, Katow H. Spatiotemporal expression pattern of gonad-stimulating substance-like peptide of the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. Dev Growth Differ 2011; 53:639-52. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2011.01277.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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