scholarly journals Evolutionarily conserved mechanisms of male germline development in flowering plants and animals

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia A. Pereira ◽  
Paulo Navarro-Costa ◽  
Rui Gonçalo Martinho ◽  
Jörg D. Becker
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Germline Development ◽  
Male Germline ◽  
Eukaryotic Species ◽  
Rna Pathways ◽  
Unifying Principles ◽  
Regulated Gene Expression ◽  
Molecular Bases

Sexual reproduction is the main reproductive strategy of the overwhelming majority of eukaryotes. This suggests that the last eukaryotic common ancestor was able to reproduce sexually. Sexual reproduction reflects the ability to perform meiosis, and ultimately generating gametes, which are cells that carry recombined half sets of the parental genome and are able to fertilize. These functions have been allocated to a highly specialized cell lineage: the germline. Given its significant evolutionary conservation, it is to be expected that the germline programme shares common molecular bases across extremely divergent eukaryotic species. In the present review, we aim to identify the unifying principles of male germline establishment and development by comparing two very disparate kingdoms: plants and animals. We argue that male meiosis defines two temporally regulated gene expression programmes: the first is required for meiotic commitment, and the second is required for the acquisition of fertilizing ability. Small RNA pathways are a further key communality, ultimately ensuring the epigenetic stability of the information conveyed by the male germline.

Heterozygote advantage and the evolution of a dominant diploid phase.

Genetics ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 1195-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
D B Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Genetic Factor ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Heterozygote Advantage ◽  
Seed Plants ◽  
Sexual Species ◽  
Evolutionary Forces ◽  
Eukaryotic Species ◽  
Selection For

Abstract The life cycle of eukaryotic, sexual species is divided into haploid and diploid phases. In multicellular animals and seed plants, the diploid phase is dominant, and the haploid phase is reduced to one, or a very few cells, which are dependent on the diploid form. In other eukaryotic species, however, the haploid phase may dominate or the phases may be equally developed. Even though an alternation between haploid and diploid forms is fundamental to sexual reproduction in eukaryotes, relatively little is known about the evolutionary forces that influence the dominance of haploidy or diploidy. An obvious genetic factor that might result in selection for a dominant diploid phase is heterozygote advantage, since only the diploid phase can be heterozygous. In this paper, I analyze a model designed to determine whether heterozygote advantage could lead to the evolution of a dominant diploid phase. The main result is that heterozygote advantage can lead to an increase in the dominance of the diploid phase, but only if the diploid phase is already sufficiently dominant. Because the diploid phase is unlikely to be increased in organisms that are primarily haploid, I conclude that heterozygote advantage is not a sufficient explanation of the dominance of the diploid phase in higher plants and animals.

scholarly journals Inducible molecular switches for the study of long-term potentiation

2003 ◽  
Vol 358 (1432) ◽  
pp. 797-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaël Hédou ◽  
Isabelle M. Mansuy
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Technical Developments ◽  
Term Potentiation ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
Strength And Plasticity ◽  
Regulated Gene Expression ◽  
Molecular Bases

This article reviews technical and conceptual advances in unravelling the molecular bases of long-term potentiation (LTP), learning and memory using genetic approaches. We focus on studies aimed at testing a model suggesting that protein kinases and protein phosphatases balance each other to control synaptic strength and plasticity. We describe how gene ‘knock-out’ technology was initially exploited to disrupt the Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α (CaMKII α ) gene and how refined knock-in techniques later allowed an analysis of the role of distinct phosphorylation sites in CaMKII. Further to gene recombination, regulated gene expression using the tetracycline-controlled transactivator and reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator systems, a powerful new means for modulating the activity of specific molecules, has been applied to CaMKII α and the opposing protein phosphatase calcineurin. Together with electro-physiological and behavioural evaluation of the engineered mutant animals, these genetic methodologies have helped gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of plasticity and memory. Further technical developments are, however, awaited for an even higher level of finesse.

scholarly journals Tudor Nuclease Genes and Programmed DNA Rearrangements in Tetrahymena thermophila

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 1795-1804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel A. Howard-Till ◽  
Meng-Chao Yao
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Small Rna ◽  
Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Dna Deletion ◽  
Genome Defense ◽  
Rna Pathways ◽  
A Minor

ABSTRACT Proteins containing a Tudor domain and domains homologous to staphylococcal nucleases are found in a number of eukaryotes. These “Tudor nucleases” have been found to be associated with the RNA-induced silencing complex (A. A. Caudy, R. F. Ketting, S. M. Hammond, A. M. Denli, A. M. Bathoorn, B. B. Tops, J. M. Silva, M. M. Myers, G. J. Hannon, and R. H. Plasterk, Nature 425:411-414, 2003). We have identified two Tudor nuclease gene homologs, TTN1 and TTN2, in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, which has two distinct small-RNA pathways. Characterization of single and double KOs of TTN1 and TTN2 shows that neither of these genes is essential for growth or sexual reproduction. Progeny of TTN2 KOs and double knockouts occasionally show minor defects in the small-RNA-guided process of DNA deletion but appear to be normal in hairpin RNA-induced gene silencing, suggesting that Tudor nucleases play only a minor role in RNA interference in Tetrahymena. Previous studies of Tetrahymena have shown that inserted copies of the neo gene from Escherichia coli are often deleted from the developing macronucleus during sexual reproduction (Y. Liu, X. Song, M. A. Gorovsky, and K. M. Karrer, Eukaryot. Cell 4:421-431, 2005; M. C. Yao, P. Fuller, and X. Xi, Science 300:1581-1584, 2003). This transgene deletion phenomenon is hypothesized to be a form of genome defense. Analysis of the Tudor nuclease mutants revealed exceptionally high rates of deletion of the neo transgene at the TTN2 locus but no deletion at the TTN1 locus. When present in the same genome, however, the neo gene is deleted at high rates even at the TTN1 locus, further supporting a role for trans-acting RNA in this process. This deletion is not affected by the presence of the same sequence in the macronucleus, thus providing a counterargument for the role of the macronuclear genome in specifying all sequences for deletion.

scholarly journals Segregation of autosomes during spermatogenesis in the peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae) (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

2002 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
DINAH F. HALES ◽  
MATHEW A. SLOANE ◽  
ALEX C. C. WILSON ◽  
PAUL SUNNUCKS
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Genetic Markers ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
Myzus Persicae ◽  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Deleterious Mutations ◽  
Potato Aphid ◽  
Genetic Imprinting ◽  
Peach Potato Aphid

Most aphids are cyclic parthenogens, so are ideal models in studies of the mechanisms and consequences of sex and recombination. However, owing to a shortage of physical and genetic markers, there have been few studies of the most fundamental genetic processes in these organisms. For example, it is not known whether autosomal segregation during male spermatogenesis is in Mendelian proportions: we address that question here. The aphid Myzus persicae has a typical karyotype of 2n = 12 in females (XX), while males are XO (2n = 11). During male meiosis, only the spermatocytes with an X chromosome are viable. We hypothesized that assortment of autosomes might be non-random because chromosomal imprinting leading to elimination of the paternal autosomes is seen in the closely related coccoids. In other aphid models, we have observed segregation distortions at single microsatellite loci (Wilson, 2000). Such distortions may have nothing to do with ‘selfish’ behaviour, but may be caused by mutation accumulation causing fitness differentials. Thus single-locus distortions might be predicted to be more likely to be detected via the male lines of clones that have lost the ability to reproduce sexually (male-producing obligate parthenogenesis (androcyclic)). Using microsatellites we show that genetic imprinting or selfish autosome behaviour does not occur in male M. persicae. Generally, loci segregated in Mendelian proportions in both sexes of cyclically parthenogenetic (holocyclic) clones. However, in androcyclic clones, segregation distortions consistently involved the same two autosomes. This is consistent with linkage of markers to deleterious mutations associated with a loss of sexual reproduction.

scholarly journals Correction: GASZ Is Essential for Male Meiosis and Suppression of Retrotransposon Expression in the Male Germline

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lang Ma ◽  
Gregory M. Buchold ◽  
Michael P. Greenbaum ◽  
Angshumoy Roy ◽  
Kathleen H. Burns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Male Germline

scholarly journals Scalable Phylogenetic Profiling using MinHash Uncovers Likely Eukaryotic Sexual Reproduction Genes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Moi ◽  
Laurent Kilchoer ◽  
Pablo S. Aguilar ◽  
Christophe Dessimoz
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Biological Process ◽  
Locality Sensitive Hashing ◽  
Computational Method ◽  
Eukaryotic Species ◽  
Efficient Retrieval ◽  
Domains Of Life ◽  
Phylogenetic Profiling ◽  
Eukaryotic Genomes

AbstractPhylogenetic profiling is a computational method to predict genes involved in the same biological process by identifying protein families which tend to be jointly lost or retained across the tree of life. Phylogenetic profiling has customarily been more widely used with prokaryotes than eukaryotes, because the method is thought to require many diverse genomes. There are now many eukaryotic genomes available, but these are considerably larger, and typical phylogenetic profiling methods require quadratic time or worse in the number of genes. We introduce a fast, scalable phylogenetic profiling approach entitled HogProf, which leverages hierarchical orthologous groups for the construction of large profiles and locality-sensitive hashing for efficient retrieval of similar profiles. We show that the approach outperforms Enhanced Phylogenetic Tree, a phylogeny-based method, and use the tool to reconstruct networks and query for interactors of the kinetochore complex as well as conserved proteins involved in sexual reproduction: Hap2, Spo11 and Gex1. HogProf enables large-scale phylogenetic profiling across the three domains of life, and will be useful to predict biological pathways among the hundreds of thousands of eukaryotic species that will become available in the coming few years. HogProf is available at https://github.com/DessimozLab/HogProf.

scholarly journals A Burst of Genetic Innovation in Drosophila Actin-Related Proteins for Testis-Specific Function

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 757-772
Author(s):  
Courtney M Schroeder ◽  
John R Valenzuela ◽  
Isabel Mejia Natividad ◽  
Glen M Hocky ◽  
Harmit S Malik
Keyword(s):  
Positive Selection ◽  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Cytoskeletal Proteins ◽  
Gene Duplications ◽  
Actin Networks ◽  
Male Germline ◽  
Phylogenomic Analyses ◽  
Sperm Heteromorphism ◽  
Related Proteins ◽  
Obscura Group

Abstract Many cytoskeletal proteins perform fundamental biological processes and are evolutionarily ancient. For example, the superfamily of actin-related proteins (Arps) specialized early in eukaryotic evolution for diverse cellular roles in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Despite its strict conservation across eukaryotes, we find that the Arp superfamily has undergone dramatic lineage-specific diversification in Drosophila. Our phylogenomic analyses reveal four independent Arp gene duplications that occurred in the common ancestor of the obscura group of Drosophila and have been mostly preserved in this lineage. All four obscura-specific Arp paralogs are predominantly expressed in the male germline and have evolved under positive selection. We focus our analyses on the divergent Arp2D paralog, which arose via a retroduplication event from Arp2, a component of the Arp2/3 complex that polymerizes branched actin networks. Computational modeling analyses suggest that Arp2D can replace Arp2 in the Arp2/3 complex and bind actin monomers. Together with the signature of positive selection, our findings suggest that Arp2D may augment Arp2’s functions in the male germline. Indeed, we find that Arp2D is expressed during and following male meiosis, where it localizes to distinct locations such as actin cones—specialized cytoskeletal structures that separate bundled spermatids into individual mature sperm. We hypothesize that this unprecedented burst of genetic innovation in cytoskeletal proteins may have been driven by the evolution of sperm heteromorphism in the obscura group of Drosophila.

scholarly journals Human Asunder promotes dynein recruitment and centrosomal tethering to the nucleus at mitotic entry

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (24) ◽  
pp. 4713-4724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne N. Jodoin ◽  
Mohammad Shboul ◽  
Poojitha Sitaram ◽  
Hala Zein-Sabatto ◽  
Bruno Reversade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Nuclear Pore Complexes ◽  
Nuclear Surface ◽  
Mitotic Entry ◽  
Male Germline ◽  
Germline Expression ◽  
Cultured Human Cells ◽  
Pore Complexes

Recruitment of dynein motors to the nuclear surface is an essential step for nucleus–centrosome coupling in prophase. In cultured human cells, this dynein pool is anchored to nuclear pore complexes through RanBP2–Bicaudal D2 (BICD2) and Nup133– centromere protein F (CENP-F) networks. We previously reported that the asunder (asun) gene is required in Drosophila spermatocytes for perinuclear dynein localization and nucleus–centrosome coupling at G2/M of male meiosis. We show here that male germline expression of mammalian Asunder (ASUN) protein rescues asun flies, demonstrating evolutionary conservation of function. In cultured human cells, we find that ASUN down-regulation causes reduction of perinuclear dynein in prophase of mitosis. Additional defects after loss of ASUN include nucleus–centrosome uncoupling, abnormal spindles, and multinucleation. Coimmunoprecipitation and overlapping localization patterns of ASUN and lissencephaly 1 (LIS1), a dynein adaptor, suggest that ASUN interacts with dynein in the cytoplasm via LIS1. Our data indicate that ASUN controls dynein localization via a mechanism distinct from that of either BICD2 or CENP-F. We present a model in which ASUN promotes perinuclear enrichment of dynein at G2/M that facilitates BICD2- and CENP-F-mediated anchoring of dynein to nuclear pore complexes.

TGF-β superfamily signaling in testis formation and early male germline development

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 94-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia C. Young ◽  
Shoichi Wakitani ◽  
Kate L. Loveland
Keyword(s):  
Germline Development ◽  
Male Germline
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document