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Arthropod Structure & Development Sep 2021Thysanoptera are haplo-diploid insects that reproduce either via arrhenotoky or thelytoky. Beside genetically based thelytoky, this reproduction mode can also be...
Thysanoptera are haplo-diploid insects that reproduce either via arrhenotoky or thelytoky. Beside genetically based thelytoky, this reproduction mode can also be endosymbiont induced. The recovery of these females from their infection again leads to the development of males. Functionality of these males ranges widely, and this might be associated with sperm structure. We analyzed the sperm ultrastructure in three different species belonging to both suborders with different reproduction systems via electron microscopy. Beside the different reproduction modes, and adaptations to their life style, the arrhenotokous species Suocerathrips linguis (Thysanoptera: Tubulifera) and Echinothrips americanus (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia) possess typical thysanopteran-like sperm structure. But endosymbiont-cured males from the thelytokous species Hercinothrips femoralis (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia) possess several malformed spermatozoa and a large amount of secretions in their testes. Spermiophagy seems to be typical. It indicates a highly conserved mechanism of the male developmental pathways, despite the observed decay. However, this decay would explain why in some species no stable arrhenotokous line can be re-established.
Topics: Animals; Female; Insecta; Male; Parthenogenesis; Reproduction; Spermatozoa; Thysanoptera
PubMed: 34293581
DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2021.101084 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2020In humans, parthenogenesis and androgenesis occur naturally in mature cystic ovarian teratomas and androgenetic complete hydatidiform moles (CHM), respectively. Our...
In humans, parthenogenesis and androgenesis occur naturally in mature cystic ovarian teratomas and androgenetic complete hydatidiform moles (CHM), respectively. Our previous study has reported human parthenogenetic induced pluripotent stem cells from ovarian teratoma-derived fibroblasts and screening of imprinted genes using genome-wide DNA methylation analysis. However, due to the lack of the counterparts of uniparental cells, identification of new imprinted differentially methylated regions has been limited. CHM are inherited from only the paternal genome. In this study, we generated human androgenetic induced pluripotent stem cells (AgHiPSCs) from primary androgenetic fibroblasts derived from CHM. To investigate the pluripotency state of AgHiPSCs, we analyzed their cellular and molecular characteristics. We tested the DNA methylation status of imprinted genes using bisulfite sequencing and demonstrated the androgenetic identity of AgHiPSCs. AgHiPSCs might be an attractive alternative source of human androgenetic embryonic stem cells. Furthermore, AgHiPSCs can be used in regenerative medicine, for analysis of genomic imprinting, to study imprinting-related development, and for disease modeling in humans.
Topics: Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; DNA Methylation; Female; Fibroblasts; Genomic Imprinting; Humans; Hydatidiform Mole; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Male; Paternal Inheritance; Pregnancy; Reproduction, Asexual
PubMed: 32109236
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60363-1 -
GM Crops & Food Jan 2021Hybrid seeds of several important crops with supreme qualities including yield, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance have been cultivated for decades. Thus far, a major... (Review)
Review
Hybrid seeds of several important crops with supreme qualities including yield, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance have been cultivated for decades. Thus far, a major challenge with hybrid seeds is that they do not have the ability to produce plants with the same qualities over subsequent generations. Apomixis, an asexual mode of reproduction by avoiding meiosis, exists naturally in flowering plants, and ultimately leads to seed production. Apomixis has the potential to preserve hybrid vigor for multiple generations in economically important plant genotypes. The evolution and genetics of asexual seed production are unclear, and much more effort will be required to determine the genetic architecture of this phenomenon. To fix hybrid vigor, synthetic apomixis has been suggested. The development of (mitosis instead of meiosis) genotypes has been utilized for clonal gamete production. However, the identification and parental origin of genes responsible for synthetic apomixis are little known and need further clarification. Genome modifications utilizing genome editing technologies (GETs), such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (cas), a reverse genetics tool, have paved the way toward the utilization of emerging technologies in plant molecular biology. Over the last decade, several genes in important crops have been successfully edited. The vast availability of GETs has made functional genomics studies easy to conduct in crops important for food security. Disruption in the expression of genes specific to egg cell () through the CRISPR/Cas genome editing system promotes the induction of haploid seed, whereas triple knockout of the () genes , and cause embryo arrest and abortion, which can be fully rescued by male-transmitted . The establishment of synthetic apomixis by engineering the genotype by genome editing of expression or disruption of leads to clonal seed production and heritability for multiple generations. In the present review, we discuss current developments related to the use of CRISPR/Cas technology in plants and the possibility of promoting apomixis in crops to preserve hybrid vigor. In addition, genetics, evolution, epigenetic modifications, and strategies for genotype development are discussed in detail.
Topics: Apomixis; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Crops, Agricultural; Gene Editing; Hybrid Vigor; Seeds
PubMed: 32877304
DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2020.1808423 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2022The genus comprises 52 species and 19 subspecies, with the cultivated sunflower ( L.) representing one of the most important oilseed crops in the world, which is also... (Review)
Review
The genus comprises 52 species and 19 subspecies, with the cultivated sunflower ( L.) representing one of the most important oilseed crops in the world, which is also of value for fodder and technical purposes. Currently, the leading direction in sunflower breeding is to produce highly effective heterosis F hybrids with increased resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The production of inbred parental lines via repeated self-pollination takes 4-8 years, and the creation of a commercial hybrid can take as long as 10 years. However, the use of doubled haploid technology allows for the obtainment of inbred lines in one generation, shortening the time needed for hybrid production. Moreover, it allows for the introgression of the valuable genes present in the wild species into cultivated sunflowers. Additionally, this technology makes it possible to manipulate the ploidy level, thereby restoring fertility in interspecific hybridization. This review systematizes and analyzes the knowledge available thus far about the production of haploid and dihaploid plants using male (isolated anther and microspore cultures) and female (unpollinated ovaries and ovules culture) gametophytes, as well as by induced parthenogenesis using γ-irradiated pollen and interspecific hybridization. The genetic, physiological, and physical factors influencing the efficiency of haploid plant production are considered. A special section focuses on the approaches used to double a haploid chromosome set and the direct and indirect methods for determining the ploidy level. The current analyzed data on the successful application of haploid sunflower plants in breeding are summarized.
PubMed: 36365372
DOI: 10.3390/plants11212919 -
Genomics Mar 2022Daphnia sinensis is a widespread freshwater microcrustacean. The assembled D. sinensis genome totaled 131.58 Mb with 92.23% of the assembly anchored onto 10...
Daphnia sinensis is a widespread freshwater microcrustacean. The assembled D. sinensis genome totaled 131.58 Mb with 92.23% of the assembly anchored onto 10 chromosomes. Based on the whole genome information, we further compared the transcriptomic and epigenomic characterization among parthenogenetic females, sexual females and males in D. sinensis. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the up-regulated genes in males were mainly grouped into the cuticle, sex differentiation and methyl farnesoate synthesis, which might play a pivotal role in steering development and reproduction processes. By comparison, the highly expressed genes in parthenogenetic females were mainly grouped into energy metabolism, mitosis, and DNA replication, which might contribute to maintaining rapid production of parthenogenetic females, and nutrient uptake for the growth of neonates. The whole-genome DNA methylation analysis showed that the methylation rate in parthenogenetic females was higher than that in sexual females and males, which might contribute to its rapid response to environment stress.
Topics: Animals; Biology; Daphnia; Female; Male; Parthenogenesis; Reproduction; Sex Differentiation
PubMed: 35131477
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110309 -
Uirusu 2021In insects, sex ratio bias is sometimes introduced by feminization, parthenogenesis, cytoplasmic incompatibility, or male-killing. Some intracellular bacteria such as...
In insects, sex ratio bias is sometimes introduced by feminization, parthenogenesis, cytoplasmic incompatibility, or male-killing. Some intracellular bacteria such as Wolbachia or Spiroplasma has been known as male-killing agents. Here I introduce an example of non-bacterial male-killing agent, Osugoroshi virus found in oriental tea tortrix.
Topics: Animals; DNA Viruses; Male; Moths; RNA Viruses; Sex Ratio; Spiroplasma; Symbiosis; Viruses, Unclassified; Wolbachia
PubMed: 35526996
DOI: 10.2222/jsv.71.63 -
Biology Letters Jun 2023Over the past two decades, there has been an astounding growth in the documentation of vertebrate facultative parthenogenesis (FP). This unusual reproductive mode has...
Over the past two decades, there has been an astounding growth in the documentation of vertebrate facultative parthenogenesis (FP). This unusual reproductive mode has been documented in birds, non-avian reptiles-specifically lizards and snakes-and elasmobranch fishes. Part of this growth among vertebrate taxa is attributable to awareness of the phenomenon itself and advances in molecular genetics/genomics and bioinformatics, and as such our understanding has developed considerably. Nonetheless, questions remain as to its occurrence outside of these vertebrate lineages, most notably in Chelonia (turtles) and Crocodylia (crocodiles, alligators and gharials). The latter group is particularly interesting because unlike all previously documented cases of FP in vertebrates, crocodilians lack sex chromosomes and sex determination is controlled by temperature. Here, using whole-genome sequencing data, we provide, to our knowledge, the first evidence of FP in a crocodilian, the American crocodile, . The data support terminal fusion automixis as the reproductive mechanism; a finding which suggests a common evolutionary origin of FP across reptiles, crocodilians and birds. With FP now documented in the two main branches of extant archosaurs, this discovery offers tantalizing insights into the possible reproductive capabilities of the extinct archosaurian relatives of crocodilians and birds, notably members of Pterosauria and Dinosauria.
Topics: Animals; Alligators and Crocodiles; Biological Evolution; Genomics; Dinosaurs; Turtles; Birds; Parthenogenesis
PubMed: 37282490
DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0129 -
BMC Genomics Aug 2022In the life history of Daphnia, the reproductive mode of parthenogenesis and sexual reproduction alternate in aquatic ecosystem, which are often affected by...
BACKGROUND
In the life history of Daphnia, the reproductive mode of parthenogenesis and sexual reproduction alternate in aquatic ecosystem, which are often affected by environmental and genetic factors. Recently, the sex-biased genes are of great significance for clarifying the origin and evolution of reproductive transformation and the molecular regulation mechanism of sex determination in Daphnia. Although some genes on reproductive transition of Daphnia had been researched, molecular mechanism on the maintenance of sexually dimorphic phenotypes of Daphnia are still not well known, including differentially expressed genes in different life-history stages.
RESULTS
In this study, four life-history stages of Daphnia sinensis, juvenile female (JF), parthenogenetic female (PF), sexual female (SF) and male (M), were performed for transcriptome, and male-biased genes were screened. A total of 110437 transcripts were obtained and assembled into 22996 unigenes. In the four life-history stages (JF, PF, SF and M), the number of unique unigenes is respectively 2863, 445, 437 and 586, and the number of common unigenes is 9708. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between male and other three female stages (M vs JF, M vs PF and M vs SF) were 4570, 4358 and 2855, respectively. GO gene enrichment analysis showed that the up-regulated genes in male were mainly enriched in hydrolase activity and peptidase activity. Thirty-six genes in male were significantly higher expression than in the three female stages, including one Doublesex (Dsx) gene, one laminin gene, five trypsin genes and one serine protease genes, and one chitin synthase gene and two chitinase genes.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that thirty-six candidate genes may be as the male-biased genes involving in the maintenance of sexually dimorphic phenotypes. This work will provide a reference for further exploring the functional genes related to sex differentiation in Daphnia species. Moreover, according to previous investigations, we thought that the expression level of functional genes may be related to the life-history stages of organisms, and may be also affected by different Daphnia species.
Topics: Animals; Daphnia; Ecosystem; Female; Gene Expression Profiling; Male; Parthenogenesis; Transcriptome
PubMed: 35964016
DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08824-x -
IScience Jul 2020Haploidization is invaluable for basic genetic research and crop breeding. The haploid bio-induction principle is an important topic that remains largely unexplored. In...
Haploidization is invaluable for basic genetic research and crop breeding. The haploid bio-induction principle is an important topic that remains largely unexplored. In this study, both CenH3 RNAi and in vitro inhibition were used to simulate and induce haploids in allopolyploid crop. Notably, in vitro CenH3 inhibition showed that the results were much the same to that of RNAi in phenotype, chromosome behavior, microspore production, and haploid induction. Cytological analyses of RNAi and inhibitor-treated progenies revealed elimination of chromosomes, defective microspores with empty nuclei, thereby giving rise to pseudo male gametes, and haploid parthenogenesis induction. We found distinct defective empty microspores that were positively correlated with the decrease of CenH3 during RNAi manipulation. Investigation through both in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that haploidization was induced through the pseudo male gamete-mediated mock sexual reproduction. The present results provide insights for the haploid parthenogenesis induction process.
PubMed: 32619703
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101279 -
BMC Research Notes Nov 2022This study is performed in the frame of a bigger study dedicated to genomics and transcriptomics of parthenogenesis in vertebrates. Among vertebrates, obligate...
OBJECTIVES
This study is performed in the frame of a bigger study dedicated to genomics and transcriptomics of parthenogenesis in vertebrates. Among vertebrates, obligate parthenogenesis was first described in the lizards of the genus Darevskia. In this genus, all found parthenogenetic species originated via interspecific hybridization. It remains unknown which genetic or genomic factors play a key role in the generation of parthenogenetic organisms. Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analysis of parthenogens and their parental species may elucidate this problem. Darevskia valentini is a paternal species for four (of seven) parthenogens of this genus, which we promote as a particularly important species for the generation of parthenogenetic forms.
DATA DESCRIPTION
Total cellular RNA was isolated from kidney and liver tissues using the standard Trizol Tissue RNA Extraction protocol. Sequencing of transcriptome libraries prepared by random fragmentation of cDNA samples was performed on an Illumina HiSeq2500. Obtained raw sequences contained 117,6 million reads with the GC content of 47%. After preprocessing, raw data was assembled by Trinity and produced 491,482 contigs.
Topics: Animals; Lizards; Transcriptome; Parthenogenesis; Kidney; Liver; RNA
PubMed: 36348468
DOI: 10.1186/s13104-022-06228-4