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Losilla M, Gallant JR. Molecular evolution of the ependymin-related gene epdl2 in African weakly electric fish. G3 (Bethesda) 2023; 13:6931758. [PMID: 36529459 PMCID: PMC9997568 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Gene duplication and subsequent molecular evolution can give rise to taxon-specific gene specializations. In previous work, we found evidence that African weakly electric fish (Mormyridae) may have as many as three copies of the epdl2 gene, and the expression of two epdl2 genes is correlated with electric signal divergence. Epdl2 belongs to the ependymin-related family (EPDR), a functionally diverse family of secretory glycoproteins. In this study, we first describe vertebrate EPDR evolution and then present a detailed evolutionary history of epdl2 in Mormyridae with emphasis on the speciose genus Paramormyrops. Using Sanger sequencing, we confirm three apparently functional epdl2 genes in Paramormyrops kingsleyae. Next, we developed a nanopore-based amplicon sequencing strategy and bioinformatics pipeline to obtain and classify full-length epdl2 gene sequences (N = 34) across Mormyridae. Our phylogenetic analysis proposes three or four epdl2 paralogs dating from early Paramormyrops evolution. Finally, we conducted selection tests which detected positive selection around the duplication events and identified ten sites likely targeted by selection in the resulting paralogs. These sites' locations in our modeled 3D protein structure involve four sites in ligand binding and six sites in homodimer formation. Together, these findings strongly imply an evolutionary mechanism whereby epdl2 genes underwent selection-driven functional specialization after tandem duplications in the rapidly speciating Paramormyrops. Considering previous evidence, we propose that epdl2 may contribute to electric signal diversification in mormyrids, an important aspect of species recognition during mating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Losilla
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jason R Gallant
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Thompson AW, Hawkins MB, Parey E, Wcisel DJ, Ota T, Kawasaki K, Funk E, Losilla M, Fitch OE, Pan Q, Feron R, Louis A, Montfort J, Milhes M, Racicot BL, Childs KL, Fontenot Q, Ferrara A, David SR, McCune AR, Dornburg A, Yoder JA, Guiguen Y, Roest Crollius H, Berthelot C, Harris MP, Braasch I. The bowfin genome illuminates the developmental evolution of ray-finned fishes. Nat Genet 2021; 53:1373-1384. [PMID: 34462605 PMCID: PMC8423624 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00914-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The bowfin (Amia calva) is a ray-finned fish that possesses a unique suite of ancestral and derived phenotypes, which are key to understanding vertebrate evolution. The phylogenetic position of bowfin as a representative of neopterygian fishes, its archetypical body plan and its unduplicated and slowly evolving genome make bowfin a central species for the genomic exploration of ray-finned fishes. Here we present a chromosome-level genome assembly for bowfin that enables gene-order analyses, settling long-debated neopterygian phylogenetic relationships. We examine chromatin accessibility and gene expression through bowfin development to investigate the evolution of immune, scale, respiratory and fin skeletal systems and identify hundreds of gene-regulatory loci conserved across vertebrates. These resources connect developmental evolution among bony fishes, further highlighting the bowfin's importance for illuminating vertebrate biology and diversity in the genomic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Thompson
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Ecology, Evolution & Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - M Brent Hawkins
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Elise Parey
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Département de Biologie, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Dustin J Wcisel
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Tatsuya Ota
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, SOKENDAI (the Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Kawasaki
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Emily Funk
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Animal Science Department, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Mauricio Losilla
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Ecology, Evolution & Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Olivia E Fitch
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Ecology, Evolution & Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Qiaowei Pan
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Romain Feron
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Louis
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Département de Biologie, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | | | - Marine Milhes
- GeT-PlaGe, INRAE, Genotoul, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Brett L Racicot
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Kevin L Childs
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Quenton Fontenot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA, USA
| | - Allyse Ferrara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA, USA
| | - Solomon R David
- Department of Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA, USA
| | - Amy R McCune
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Alex Dornburg
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Yoder
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Comparative Medicine Institute, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | | | - Hugues Roest Crollius
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Département de Biologie, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Camille Berthelot
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Département de Biologie, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Matthew P Harris
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ingo Braasch
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Ecology, Evolution & Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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Losilla M, Luecke DM, Gallant JR. The transcriptional correlates of divergent electric organ discharges in Paramormyrops electric fish. BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:6. [PMID: 31918666 PMCID: PMC6953315 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1572-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding the genomic basis of phenotypic diversity can be greatly facilitated by examining adaptive radiations with hypervariable traits. In this study, we focus on a rapidly diverged species group of mormyrid electric fish in the genus Paramormyrops, which are characterized by extensive phenotypic variation in electric organ discharges (EODs). The main components of EOD diversity are waveform duration, complexity and polarity. Using an RNA-sequencing based approach, we sought to identify gene expression correlates for each of these EOD waveform features by comparing 11 specimens of Paramormyrops that exhibit variation in these features. Results Patterns of gene expression among Paramormyrops are highly correlated, and 3274 genes (16%) were differentially expressed. Using our most restrictive criteria, we detected 145–183 differentially expressed genes correlated with each EOD feature, with little overlap between them. The predicted functions of several of these genes are related to extracellular matrix, cation homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and cytoskeletal and sarcomeric proteins. These genes are of significant interest given the known morphological differences between electric organs that underlie differences in the EOD waveform features studied. Conclusions In this study, we identified plausible candidate genes that may contribute to phenotypic differences in EOD waveforms among a rapidly diverged group of mormyrid electric fish. These genes may be important targets of selection in the evolution of species-specific differences in mate-recognition signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Losilla
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - David Michael Luecke
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Jason R Gallant
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. .,Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
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Tian R, Losilla M, Lu Y, Yang G, Zakon H. Molecular evolution of globin genes in Gymnotiform electric fishes: relation to hypoxia tolerance. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:51. [PMID: 28193153 PMCID: PMC5307702 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-0893-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nocturnally active gymnotiform weakly electric fish generate electric signals for communication and navigation, which can be energetically taxing. These fish mainly inhabit the Amazon basin, where some species prefer well-oxygenated waters and others live in oxygen-poor, stagnant habitats. The latter species show morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations for hypoxia-tolerance. However, there have been no studies of hypoxia tolerance on the molecular level. Globins are classic respiratory proteins. They function principally in oxygen-binding and -delivery in various tissues and organs. Here, we investigate the molecular evolution of alpha and beta hemoglobins, myoglobin, and neuroglobin in 12 gymnotiforms compared with other teleost fish. RESULTS The present study identified positively selected sites (PSS) on hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb) genes using different maximum likelihood (ML) methods; some PSS fall in structurally important protein regions. This evidence for the positive selection of globin genes suggests that the adaptive evolution of these genes has helped to enhance the capacity for oxygen storage and transport. Interestingly, a substitution of a Cys at a key site in the obligate air-breathing electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) is predicted to enhance oxygen storage of Mb and contribute to NO delivery during hypoxia. A parallel Cys substitution was also noted in an air-breathing African electric fish (Gymnarchus niloticus). Moreover, the expected pattern under normoxic conditions of high expression of myoglobin in heart and neuroglobin in the brain in two hypoxia-tolerant species suggests that the main effect of selection on these globin genes is on their sequence rather than their basal expression patterns. CONCLUSION Results indicate a clear signature of positive selection in the globin genes of most hypoxia-tolerant gymnotiform fishes, which are obligate or facultative air breathers. These findings highlight the critical role of globin genes in hypoxia tolerance evolution of Gymnotiform electric fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Tian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, China
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78759, USA
| | - Mauricio Losilla
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Ying Lu
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78759, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78759, USA
| | - Guang Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210046, China.
| | - Harold Zakon
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78759, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78759, USA.
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Pitchers WR, Constantinou SJ, Losilla M, Gallant JR. Electric fish genomics: Progress, prospects, and new tools for neuroethology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 110:259-272. [PMID: 27769923 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphysparis.2016.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Electric fish have served as a model system in biology since the 18th century, providing deep insight into the nature of bioelectrogenesis, the molecular structure of the synapse, and brain circuitry underlying complex behavior. Neuroethologists have collected extensive phenotypic data that span biological levels of analysis from molecules to ecosystems. This phenotypic data, together with genomic resources obtained over the past decades, have motivated new and exciting hypotheses that position the weakly electric fish model to address fundamental 21st century biological questions. This review article considers the molecular data collected for weakly electric fish over the past three decades, and the insights that data of this nature has motivated. For readers relatively new to molecular genetics techniques, we also provide a table of terminology aimed at clarifying the numerous acronyms and techniques that accompany this field. Next, we pose a research agenda for expanding genomic resources for electric fish research over the next 10years. We conclude by considering some of the exciting research prospects for neuroethology that electric fish genomics may offer over the coming decades, if the electric fish community is successful in these endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Pitchers
- Dept. of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, 288 Farm Lane RM 203, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Savvas J Constantinou
- Dept. of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, 288 Farm Lane RM 203, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Mauricio Losilla
- Dept. of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, 288 Farm Lane RM 203, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jason R Gallant
- Dept. of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, 288 Farm Lane RM 203, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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