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Evolution Letters Jun 2024Whole-genome duplication is a common macromutation with extensive impacts on gene expression, cellular function, and whole-organism phenotype. As a result, it has been...
Whole-genome duplication is a common macromutation with extensive impacts on gene expression, cellular function, and whole-organism phenotype. As a result, it has been proposed that polyploids have "general-purpose" genotypes that perform better than their diploid progenitors under stressful conditions. Here, we test this hypothesis in the context of stresses presented by anthropogenic pollutants. Specifically, we tested how multiple neotetraploid genetic lineages of the mostly asexually reproducing greater duckweed () perform across a favorable control environment and 5 urban pollutants (iron, salt, manganese, copper, and aluminum). By quantifying the population growth rate of asexually reproducing duckweed over multiple generations, we found that across most pollutants, but not all, polyploidy decreased the growth rate of actively growing propagules but increased that of dormant ones. Yet, when considering total propagule production, polyploidy increased tolerance to most pollutants, and polyploids maintained population-level fitness across pollutants better than diploids. Furthermore, broad-sense genetic correlations in growth rate among pollutants were all positive in neopolyploids but not so for diploids. Our results provide a rare test and support for the hypothesis that polyploids are more tolerant of stressful conditions and can maintain fitness better than diploids across heterogeneous stresses. These results may help predict that polyploids may be likely to persist in stressful environments, such as those caused by urbanization and other human activities.
PubMed: 38818423
DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrad072 -
Genes, Brain, and Behavior Jun 2024Aquaculturists use polyploid fish to maximize production albeit with some unintended consequences including compromised behaviors and physiological function. Given...
Behavioral transcriptomic effects of triploidy and probiotic therapy (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus mixture) on juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).
Aquaculturists use polyploid fish to maximize production albeit with some unintended consequences including compromised behaviors and physiological function. Given benefits of probiotic therapies (e.g., improved immune response, growth, and metabolism), we explored probiotic supplementation (mixture of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus), to overcome drawbacks. We first examined fish gut bacterial community composition using 16S metabarcoding (via principal coordinate analyses and PERMANOVA) and determined probiotics significantly impacted gut bacteria composition (p = 0.001). Secondly, we examined how a genomic disruptor (triploidy) and diet supplements (probiotics) impact gene transcription and behavioral profiles of hatchery-reared Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Juveniles from four treatment groups (diploid-regular feed, diploid-probiotic feed, triploid-regular feed, and triploid-probiotic feed; n = 360) underwent behavioral assays to test activity, exploration, neophobia, predator evasion, aggression/sociality, behavioral sensitivity, and flexibility. In these fish, transcriptional profiles for genes associated with neural functions (neurogenesis/synaptic plasticity) and biomarkers for stress response and development (growth/appetite) were (i) examined across treatments and (ii) used to describe behavioral phenotypes via principal component analyses and general linear mixed models. Triploids exhibited a more active behavioral profile (p = 0.002), and those on a regular diet had greater Neuropeptide Y transcription (p = 0.02). A growth gene (early growth response protein 1, p = 0.02) and long-term neural development genes (neurogenic differentiation factor, p = 0.003 and synaptysomal-associated protein 25-a, p = 0.005) impacted activity and reactionary profiles, respectively. Overall, our probiotic treatment did not compensate for triploidy. Our research highlights novel applications of behavioral transcriptomics for identifying candidate genes and dynamic, mechanistic associations with complex behavioral repertoires.
Topics: Animals; Probiotics; Triploidy; Salmon; Lactococcus; Transcriptome; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Lactobacillus; Behavior, Animal
PubMed: 38817102
DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12898 -
Nature Communications May 2024In plants, small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) mediate epigenetic silencing via the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway, which is particularly prominent during...
In plants, small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) mediate epigenetic silencing via the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway, which is particularly prominent during reproduction and seed development. However, there is limited understanding of the origins and dynamics of reproductive siRNAs acting in different cellular and developmental contexts. Here, we used the RNaseIII-like protein RTL1 to suppress siRNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis pollen, and found distinct siRNA subsets produced during pollen development. We demonstrate that RTL1 expression in the late microspore and vegetative cell strongly impairs epigenetic silencing, and resembles RdDM mutants in their ability to bypass interploidy hybridization barriers in the seed. However, germline-specific RTL1 expression did not impact transgenerational inheritance of triploid seed lethality. These results reveal the existence of multiple siRNA subsets accumulated in mature pollen, and suggest that mobile siRNAs involved in the triploid block are produced in germline precursor cells after meiosis, or in the vegetative cell during pollen mitosis.
Topics: Pollen; Arabidopsis; RNA, Small Interfering; Arabidopsis Proteins; Seeds; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Triploidy; DNA Methylation; Meiosis; Ribonuclease III; Epigenesis, Genetic
PubMed: 38816386
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48950-6 -
The role of PALLD-STAT3 interaction in megakaryocyte differentiation and thrombocytopenia treatment.Haematologica May 2024Impaired differentiation of megakaryocytes constitutes the principal etiology of thrombocytopenia. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a...
Impaired differentiation of megakaryocytes constitutes the principal etiology of thrombocytopenia. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a crucial transcription factor in regulating megakaryocyte differentiation, yet the precise mechanism of its activation remains unclear. PALLD, an actin-associated protein, has been increasingly recognized for its essential functions in multiple biological processes. This study revealed that megakaryocyte/plateletspecific knockout of PALLD in mice exhibited thrombocytopenia due to diminished platelet biogenesis. In megakaryocytes, PALLD deficiency led to impaired proplatelet formation and polyploidization, ultimately weakening their differentiation for platelet production. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that PALLD bound to STAT3 and interacted with its DNA-binding domain (DBD) and Src homology 2 (SH2) domain via Immunoglobulin domain 3 (Ig3). Moreover, the absence of PALLD attenuated STAT3 Y705 phosphorylation and impeded STAT3 nuclear translocation. Based on the PALLD-STAT3 binding sequence, we designed a peptide C-P3, which can facilitate megakaryocyte differentiation and accelerate platelet production in vivo. In conclusion, this study highlights the pivotal role of PALLD in megakaryocyte differentiation and proposes a novel approach for treating thrombocytopenia by targeting the PALLD-STAT3 interaction.
PubMed: 38813732
DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2024.285242 -
Trends in Plant Science May 2024Plants can program and reprogram their genomes to create genetic variation and epigenetic modifications, leading to phenotypic plasticity. Although consequences of... (Review)
Review
Plants can program and reprogram their genomes to create genetic variation and epigenetic modifications, leading to phenotypic plasticity. Although consequences of genetic changes are comprehensible, the basis for transgenerational inheritance of epigenetic variation is elusive. This review addresses contributions of external (environmental) and internal (genomic) factors to the establishment and maintenance of epigenetic memory during plant evolution, crop domestication, and modern breeding. Dynamic and pervasive changes in DNA methylation and chromatin modifications provide a diverse repertoire of epigenetic variation potentially for transgenerational inheritance. Elucidating and harnessing epigenetic inheritance will help us develop innovative breeding strategies and biotechnological tools to improve crop yield and resilience in the face of environmental challenges. Beyond plants, epigenetic principles are shared across sexually reproducing organisms including humans with relevance to medicine and public health.
PubMed: 38806375
DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.04.007 -
Animal Reproduction 2024Reproductive control is one of the biggest challenges in tilapia production and triploidy was developed as an alternative to sterilization. In general, polyploids...
Reproductive control is one of the biggest challenges in tilapia production and triploidy was developed as an alternative to sterilization. In general, polyploids present chromosomal instability but for triploid Nile tilapia it has yet to be reported. This study evaluated the chromosomal instability from juveniles to adulthood, growth performance and gonadal status of tilapia hatched from eggs submitted or not to heat shock for triploid induction. Nile tilapia oocytes were fertilized (1,476 oocytes), half of the eggs were subjected to a four-minute shock in 41 °C water four minutes after fertilization and the other half were not (Control group). The eggs were incubated (at 27°C) and 160 larvae from the treated group hatched and survived after yolk sac absorption. The determination of ploidy was performed by flow cytometry at 85 (juveniles) and 301 (adults) days of age post yolk sac absorption. At the time of the first cytometry analysis there were 73 surviving juveniles from the treated group, and only 14 were confirmed triploid. However, at the analysis of adult ploidy, one out of 8 surviving adult tilapias from the 14 confirmed triploid juveniles remained triploid. Gonadal histology showed that the non-remaining triploids continued to produce gametes. The growth performance of triploid tilapia was initially superior to that of diploid tilapia during the juvenile phase, but similar in adults. Once the chromosome sets are lost and the tilapias become diploid again, at least in tissues with a high proliferation rate, such as the hematopoietic tissue that was analyzed (and possibly in gonads), all possible advantages of triploids are probably lost. Thus, our results suggest that, due to genomic instabilities, the triploid generation of tilapia has low efficiency.
PubMed: 38803328
DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-AR2023-0147 -
Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics &... May 2024
Detection of digynic triploidy in a second-trimester fetus presenting syndactyly, relative macrocephaly, intrauterine growth restriction, cardiomegaly, pericardial effusion, Dandy-Walker malformation, double bubble sign and single umbilical artery on prenatal ultrasound and a false negative...
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Dandy-Walker Syndrome; Adult; Cardiomegaly; Fetal Growth Retardation; Pericardial Effusion; Megalencephaly; Single Umbilical Artery; Triploidy; Abnormalities, Multiple; False Negative Reactions; Noninvasive Prenatal Testing
PubMed: 38802216
DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2024.03.014 -
Journal of Genetics and Genomics = Yi... May 2024
PubMed: 38801944
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.05.006 -
Horticulture Research May 2024Recent study has evidenced that traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) plant-derived schaftoside shows promise as a potential drug candidate for COVID-19 treatment....
Recent study has evidenced that traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) plant-derived schaftoside shows promise as a potential drug candidate for COVID-19 treatment. However, the biosynthetic pathway of schaftoside in TCM plants remains unknown. In this study, the genome of the TCM herb (Osbeck) H.Ohashi & K.Ohashi (GSO), which is rich in schaftoside, was sequenced, and a high-quality assembly of GSO genome was obtained. Our findings revealed that GSO did not undergo recent whole genome duplication (WGD) but shared an ancestral papilionoid polyploidy event, leading to the gene expansion of chalcone synthase () and isoflavone 2'-hydroxylase (). Furthermore, GSO-specific tandem gene duplication resulted in the gene expansion of C-glucosyltransferase (). Integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome identified 13 and eight involved in the biosynthetic pathway of schaftoside. Functional studies indicated that and identified here are responsible for the biosynthesis of schaftoside in GSO, as confirmed through hairy root transgenic system and enzyme activity assay. Taken together, the ancestral papilionoid polyploidy event expanding and , along with the GSO-specific tandem duplication of CGT, contributes, partially if not completely, to the robust biosynthesis of schaftoside in GSO. These findings provide insights into the genomic mechanisms underlying the abundant biosynthesis of schaftoside in GSO, highlighting the potential of GSO as a source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical development.
PubMed: 38799125
DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae089 -
The New Phytologist Jul 2024Hybridization, the process of crossing individuals from diverse genetic backgrounds, plays a pivotal role in evolution, biological invasiveness, and crop breeding. At... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Hybridization, the process of crossing individuals from diverse genetic backgrounds, plays a pivotal role in evolution, biological invasiveness, and crop breeding. At the transcriptional level, hybridization often leads to complex nonadditive effects, presenting challenges for understanding its consequences. Although standard transcriptomic analyses exist to compare hybrids to their progenitors, such analyses have not been implemented in a software package, hindering reproducibility. We introduce hybridexpress, an R/Bioconductor package designed to facilitate the analysis, visualization, and comparison of gene expression patterns in hybrid triplets (hybrids and their progenitors). hybridexpress provides users with a user-friendly and comprehensive workflow that includes all standard comparative analyses steps, including data normalization, calculation of midparent expression values, sample clustering, expression-based gene classification into categories and classes, and overrepresentation analysis for functional terms. We illustrate the utility of hybridexpress through comparative transcriptomic analyses of cotton allopolyploidization and rice root trait heterosis. hybridexpress is designed to streamline comparative transcriptomic studies of hybrid triplets, advancing our understanding of evolutionary dynamics in allopolyploids, and enhancing plant breeding strategies. hybridexpress is freely accessible from Bioconductor (https://bioconductor.org/packages/HybridExpress) and its source code is available on GitHub (https://github.com/almeidasilvaf/HybridExpress).
Topics: Software; Hybridization, Genetic; Gene Expression Profiling; Oryza; Transcriptome; Gossypium; Hybrid Vigor; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Roots; Polyploidy
PubMed: 38798271
DOI: 10.1111/nph.19862