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Genome Biology and Evolution Jul 2023Cyclical parthenogenesis, where females can engage in sexual or asexual reproduction depending on environmental conditions, represents a novel reproductive phenotype...
Cyclical parthenogenesis, where females can engage in sexual or asexual reproduction depending on environmental conditions, represents a novel reproductive phenotype that emerged during eukaryotic evolution. The fact that environmental conditions can trigger cyclical parthenogens to engage in distinct reproductive modes strongly suggests that gene expression plays a key role in the origin of cyclical parthenogenesis. However, the genetic basis underlying cyclical parthenogenesis remains understudied. In this study, we characterize the female transcriptomic signature of sexual versus asexual reproduction in the cyclically parthenogenetic microcrustacean Daphnia pulex and Daphnia pulicaria. Our analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), pathway enrichment, and gene ontology (GO) term enrichment clearly show that compared with sexual reproduction, the asexual reproductive stage is characterized by both the underregulation of meiosis and cell cycle genes and the upregulation of metabolic genes. The consensus set of DEGs that this study identifies within the meiotic, cell cycle, and metabolic pathways serves as candidate genes for future studies investigating how the two reproductive cycles in cyclical parthenogenesis are mediated at a molecular level. Furthermore, our analyses identify some cases of divergent expression among gene family members (e.g., doublesex and NOTCH2) associated with asexual or sexual reproductive stage, suggesting potential functional divergence among gene family members.
Topics: Parthenogenesis; Transcriptome; Reproduction, Asexual; Male; Female; Animals; Daphnia; Gene Expression Profiling
PubMed: 37392457
DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad122 -
STAR Protocols Dec 2023Most species of sexually reproducing Drosophila are capable of some degree of facultative parthenogenesis, which involves the initiation of development in an...
Most species of sexually reproducing Drosophila are capable of some degree of facultative parthenogenesis, which involves the initiation of development in an unfertilized egg. Here, we present an optimized protocol to screen facultative parthenogenesis in Drosophila. We describe steps for the collection and maintenance of virgin flies. We then detail offspring screening for the analysis of parthenogenesis. This protocol can be applied to different Drosophila strains and can be adapted for the analysis of parthenogenesis in other animals. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Sperling et al..
Topics: Animals; Drosophila; Parthenogenesis
PubMed: 37740913
DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102585 -
Annual Review of Animal Biosciences Feb 2024Cloning as it relates to the animal kingdom generally refers to the production of genetically identical individuals. Because cloning is increasingly the subject of... (Review)
Review
Cloning as it relates to the animal kingdom generally refers to the production of genetically identical individuals. Because cloning is increasingly the subject of renewed attention as a tool for rescuing endangered or extinct species, it seems timely to dissect the role of the numerous reproductive techniques encompassed by this term in animal species conservation. Although cloning is typically associated with somatic cell nuclear transfer, the recent advent of additional techniques that allow genome replication without genetic recombination demands that the use of induced pluripotent stem cells to generate gametes or embryos, as well as older methods such as embryo splitting, all be included in this discussion. Additionally, the phenomenon of natural cloning (e.g., a subset of fish, birds, invertebrates, and reptilian species that reproduce via parthenogenesis) must also be pointed out. Beyond the biology of these techniques are practical considerations and the ethics of using cloning and associated procedures in endangered or extinct species. All of these must be examined in concert to determine whether cloning has a place in species conservation. Therefore, we synthesize progress in cloning and associated techniques and dissect the practical and ethical aspects of these methods as they pertain to endangered species conservation.
Topics: Animals; Endangered Species; Cloning, Organism; Nuclear Transfer Techniques; Fishes; Cloning, Molecular
PubMed: 37988633
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-071423-093523 -
FASEB Journal : Official Publication of... Dec 2023Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) binds to and stabilizes melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), which activates protein kinase A (PKA) by regulating G proteins. GRP78 is...
Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) binds to and stabilizes melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), which activates protein kinase A (PKA) by regulating G proteins. GRP78 is primarily used as a marker for endoplasmic reticulum stress; however, its other functions have not been well studied. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the function of GRP78 during porcine embryonic development. The developmental quality of porcine embryos, expression of cell cycle proteins, and function of mitochondria were evaluated by inhibiting the function of GRP78. Porcine oocytes were activated to undergo parthenogenesis, and blastocysts were obtained after 7 days of in vitro culture. GRP78 function was inhibited by adding 20 μM HA15 to the in vitro culture medium. The inhibition in GRP78 function led to a decrease in G proteins release, which subsequently downregulated the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/PKA pathway. Ultimately, inhibition of GRP78 function induced the inhibition of CDK1 and cyclin B expression and disruption of the cell cycle. In addition, inhibition of GRP78 function regulated DRP1 and SIRT1 expression, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction. This study provides new insights into the role of GRP78 in porcine embryonic development, particularly its involvement in the regulation of the MC4R pathway and downstream cAMP/PKA signaling. The results suggest that the inhibition of GRP78 function in porcine embryos by HA15 treatment may have negative effects on embryo quality and development. This study also demonstrated that GRP78 plays a crucial role in the functioning of MC4R, which releases the G protein during porcine embryonic development.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Swine; Animals; Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; Embryonic Development; Parthenogenesis; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; GTP-Binding Proteins
PubMed: 37917004
DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301356R -
International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2023The increasing frequency of general and particularly male cancer coupled with the reduction in male fertility seen worldwide motivated us to seek a potential... (Review)
Review
The increasing frequency of general and particularly male cancer coupled with the reduction in male fertility seen worldwide motivated us to seek a potential evolutionary link between these two phenomena, concerning the reproductive transcriptional modules observed in cancer and the expression of cancer-testis antigens (CTA). The phylostratigraphy analysis of the human genome allowed us to link the early evolutionary origin of cancer via the reproductive life cycles of the unicellulars and early multicellulars, potentially driving soma-germ transition, female meiosis, and the parthenogenesis of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), with the expansion of the CTA multi-families, very late during their evolution. CTA adaptation was aided by retrovirus domestication in the unstable genomes of mammals, for protecting male fertility in stress conditions, particularly that of humans, as compensation for the energy consumption of a large complex brain which also exploited retrotransposition. We found that the early and late evolutionary branches of human cancer are united by the immunity-proto-placental network, which evolved in the Cambrian and shares stress regulators with the finely-tuned sex determination system. We further propose that social stress and endocrine disruption caused by environmental pollution with organic materials, which alter sex determination in male foetuses and further spermatogenesis in adults, bias the development of PGCC-parthenogenetic cancer by default.
Topics: Pregnancy; Animals; Humans; Male; Female; Testis; Placenta; Spermatogenesis; Reproduction; Neoplasms; Mammals; Polyploidy; Fertility
PubMed: 37511419
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411660 -
Comparative Cytogenetics 2023An account is given of my development of techniques to obtain well-spread Giemsa-stained banded chromosome preparations. Apparent G-banding could be obtained following...
An account is given of my development of techniques to obtain well-spread Giemsa-stained banded chromosome preparations. Apparent G-banding could be obtained following very slight trypsin treatment of freshly prepared slides, but this banding was very fine (close-grained) and possibly not a reflection of chromosome structure. However, treatment of developing embryos with 5-fluorouridine produced a similar chromomere banding, which is therefore regarded as genuine. Steady accumulation of Fabricius, 1775 karyotypes has resulted in the production of an Atlas covering 62 of the 170 species known to occur in the Palaearctic. Chromosome polymorphisms involving pericentric inversions and addition of extra C-banding regions have been found, as well as small B-chromosomes in a few species. In general, karyotypes have proved very useful in establishing the limits of individual species. Parthenogenesis involving triploidy has been found in two species. Karyotypes of experimentally produced hybrids have revealed irregularities in chromosome condensation.
PubMed: 38284104
DOI: 10.3897/compcytogen.17.112831 -
Genome Biology and Evolution Apr 2024Bacteria in the genus Wolbachia have evolved numerous strategies to manipulate arthropod sex, including the conversion of would-be male offspring to asexually...
Bacteria in the genus Wolbachia have evolved numerous strategies to manipulate arthropod sex, including the conversion of would-be male offspring to asexually reproducing females. This so-called "parthenogenesis induction" phenotype can be found in a number of Wolbachia strains that infect arthropods with haplodiploid sex determination systems, including parasitoid wasps. Despite the discovery of microbe-mediated parthenogenesis more than 30 yr ago, the underlying genetic mechanisms have remained elusive. We used a suite of genomic, computational, and molecular tools to identify and characterize two proteins that are uniquely found in parthenogenesis-inducing Wolbachia and have strong signatures of host-associated bacterial effector proteins. These putative parthenogenesis-inducing proteins have structural homology to eukaryotic protein domains including nucleoporins, the key insect sex determining factor Transformer, and a eukaryotic-like serine-threonine kinase with leucine-rich repeats. Furthermore, these proteins significantly impact eukaryotic cell biology in the model Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We suggest that these proteins are parthenogenesis-inducing factors and our results indicate that this would be made possible by a novel mechanism of bacterial-host interaction.
Topics: Male; Animals; Female; Wolbachia; Parthenogenesis; Wasps; Bacterial Proteins; Genomics; Symbiosis
PubMed: 38530785
DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae036 -
Ecology and Evolution Jul 2023Reconstruction of species histories is a central aspect of evolutionary biology. Patterns of genetic variation within and among populations can be leveraged to elucidate...
Reconstruction of species histories is a central aspect of evolutionary biology. Patterns of genetic variation within and among populations can be leveraged to elucidate evolutionary processes and demographic histories. However, interpreting genetic signatures and unraveling the contributing processes can be challenging, in particular for non-model organisms with complex reproductive modes and genome organization. One way forward is the combined consideration of patterns revealed by different molecular markers (nuclear vs. mitochondrial) and types of variants (common vs. rare) that differ in their age, mode, and rate of evolution. Here, we applied this approach to RNAseq data generated for (Archaeognatha), an Alpine jumping bristletail considered parthenogenetic and triploid. We generated de novo transcriptome and mitochondrial assemblies to obtain high-density data to investigate patterns of mitochondrial and common and rare nuclear variation in 17 individuals sampled from all known populations. We find that the different variant types capture distinct aspects of the evolutionary history and discuss the observed patterns in the context of parthenogenesis, polyploidy, and survival during glaciation. This study highlights the potential of different variant types to gain insights into evolutionary scenarios even from challenging but often available data and the suitability of and the genus as a study system for the evolution of sexual strategies and polyploidization during environmental change. We also emphasize the need for further research which will be stimulated and facilitated by these newly generated resources and insights.
PubMed: 37404697
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10227 -
Nature Communications Nov 2023The formation and consequences of polyploidization in animals with clonal reproduction remain largely unknown. Clade I root-knot nematodes (RKNs), characterized by...
The formation and consequences of polyploidization in animals with clonal reproduction remain largely unknown. Clade I root-knot nematodes (RKNs), characterized by parthenogenesis and allopolyploidy, show a widespread geographical distribution and extensive agricultural destruction. Here, we generated 4 unzipped polyploid RKN genomes and identified a putative novel alternative telomeric element. Then we reconstructed 4 chromosome-level assemblies and resolved their genome structures as AAB for triploid and AABB for tetraploid. The phylogeny of subgenomes revealed polyploid RKN origin patterns as hybridization between haploid and unreduced gametes. We also observed extensive chromosomal fusions and homologous gene expression decrease after polyploidization, which might offset the disadvantages of clonal reproduction and increase fitness in polyploid RKNs. Our results reveal a rare pathway of polyploidization in parthenogenic polyploid animals and provide a large number of high-precision genetic resources that could be used for RKN prevention and control.
Topics: Animals; Polyploidy; Hybridization, Genetic; Triploidy; Germ Cells; Chromosomes; Nematoda
PubMed: 37935661
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42700-w -
Annual Review of Microbiology Sep 2023Among endosymbiotic bacteria living within eukaryotic cells, is exceptionally widespread, particularly in arthropods. Inherited through the female germline, it has... (Review)
Review
Among endosymbiotic bacteria living within eukaryotic cells, is exceptionally widespread, particularly in arthropods. Inherited through the female germline, it has evolved ways to increase the fraction of bacterially infected offspring by inducing parthenogenesis, feminization, male killing, or, most commonly, cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). In CI, infection of males causes embryonic lethality unless they mate with similarly infected females, creating a relative reproductive advantage for infected females. A set of related bicistronic operons encodes the CI-inducing factors. The downstream gene encodes a deubiquitylase or nuclease and is responsible for CI induction by males, while the upstream product when expressed in females binds its sperm-introduced cognate partner and rescues viability. Both toxin-antidote and host-modification mechanisms have been proposed to explain CI. Interestingly, male killing by either or endosymbionts involves deubiquitylases as well. Interference with the host ubiquitin system may therefore be a common theme among endosymbiont-mediated reproductive alterations.
Topics: Female; Male; Humans; Wolbachia; Semen; Reproduction; Cytoplasm; Molecular Biology; Symbiosis
PubMed: 37285552
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-041020-024616