A conditional rescue system reveals essential functions for the ecdysone receptor (EcR) gene during molting and metamorphosis in Drosophila

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (13) ◽  
pp. 2897-2905 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Li ◽  
M. Bender

In Drosophila, pulses of the steroid hormone ecdysone trigger larval molting and metamorphosis and coordinate aspects of embryonic development and adult reproduction. At each of these developmental stages, the ecdysone signal is thought to act through a heteromeric receptor composed of the EcR and USP nuclear receptor proteins. Mutations that inactivate all EcR protein isoforms (EcR-A, EcR-B1, and EcR-B2) are embryonic lethal, hindering analysis of EcR function during later development. Using transgenes in which a heat shock promoter drives expression of an EcR cDNA, we have employed temperature-dependent rescue of EcR null mutants to determine EcR requirements at later stages of development. Our results show that EcR is required for hatching, at each larval molt, and for the initiation of metamorphosis. In EcR mutants arrested prior to metamorphosis, expression of ecdysone-responsive genes is blocked and normal ecdysone responses of both imaginal and larval tissues are blocked at an early stage. These results show that EcR mediates ecdysone signaling at multiple developmental stages and implicate EcR in the reorganization of imaginal and larval tissues at the onset of metamorphosis.

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Rezvan ◽  
H. M. Ramakrishne Gowda ◽  
Lancy D’Souza

Paternal attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that appear as family pattern or parenting styles play a key role in personality development and stabilizing the identity of adolescents. The present study assesses parenting styles and identity formation status of adolescents studying in and around Mysore city. A total of 400 adolescents (200 early and 200 late adolescents) were randomly selected covering Mysore city and nearby rural areas, of which equal number among were male and female adolescents and also equal number of them were from urban and rural areas. They were provided with Parental authority questionnaire (PAQ) developed by Buri (1991) and Aspects of Identity Questionnaire – IV (AIQ – IV) developed by Sampson (1978). PAQ measured perceived parenting styles. The AIQ scale measured personal, Relational Social and Collective areas of identity formation. The collected data were, coded and analyzed using SPSS software. The data was analyzed by Two-way ANOVA to find significant difference if any, in the developmental stages, area of living as well as gender of the participants. Results revealed that, adolescents with authoritarian Parenting styles had higher personal identity formation than adolescents with permissive and authoritarian parenting styles. Developmental stage showed significant influence on all components of identity-Personal, Relational, Social and Collective, where in early stage adolescents had higher identity than adolescents at later stage. In general, this study showed that the developmental stages had considerable effect on the collective identity formation in both early and late adolescents.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Xiong ◽  
Brajesh K. Singh ◽  
Ji-Zheng He ◽  
Yan-Lai Han ◽  
Pei-Pei Li ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundPlants live with diverse microbial communities which profoundly affect multiple facets of host performance such as nutrition acquisition, disease suppression and productivity, but if and how host development impacts the assembly, functions and microbial interactions of crop microbiomes are poorly understood. Here we examined both bacterial and fungal communities across soils (rhizosphere and bulk soil), plant epiphytic and endophytic niches (phylloplane, rhizoplane, leaf and root endosphere), and plastic leaf of fake plant (representing environment-originating microbes) at three developmental stages of maize at two contrasting sites, and further explored the potential function of phylloplane microbiomes based on metagenomics.ResultsOur results suggested that plant developmental stage had a much stronger influence on the microbial diversity, composition and interkingdom networks in plant compartment niches than in soils, with the strongest effect in the phylloplane. Air (represented by fake plants) was an important source of phylloplane microbiomes which were co-shaped by both plant development and seasonal environmental factors. Further, we demonstrated that bacterial and fungal communities in plant compartment niches exhibited contrasting response to host developmental stages, with higher alpha diversity and stronger deterministic assembly within bacterial microbiomes at the early stage but a similar pattern within mycobiomes at the late stage. Moreover, we found that bacterial taxa played a more important role in microbial interkingdom network and crop yield prediction at the early stage, while fungal taxa did so at the late stage. Metagenomic analyses further indicated that phylloplane microbiomes possessed higher functional diversity and functional genes involved in nutrient provision and disease resistance at the early stage than the late stage. ConclusionsOur results suggest that host developmental stage profoundly influences plant microbiome assembly and functions, and the bacterial and fungal microbiomes take a differentiated ecological role at different plant development stages. This study provides empirical evidence for host exerting strong effect on plant microbiomes by deterministic selection to meet the physiological requirement of plant developmental stages. These findings have implications for the development of future tools to manipulate microbiome for sustainable increase in primary productivity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (19) ◽  
pp. 3017-3024.e4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Marchetti ◽  
Gaia Tavosanis

Author(s):  
A. U. Larkman ◽  
M. A. Carter

Actinia equina var. mesembryanthemum, the beadlet anemone (Stephenson, 1935), is a very common and widely distributed littoral anthozoan, whose sexual reproduction shows several interesting characteristics. Adult sea anemones of both sexes brood planulae and more advanced developmental stages within the gastrovascular cavity, although earlier embryonic stages are rarely found brooded in this way. Chia & Rostron (1970) suggest that embryos are expelled from the parent female anemone at an early stage and pass through a free-living phase before re-entering anemones of either sex for brooding. However, recent work (Cain, 1974) suggests that juvenile anemones are genetically related to the adult anemones in which they are brooded, and also the distribution of genetic material during sexual reproduction appears to be abnormal (Carter & Thorp, 1979). In an attempt to achieve a better understanding of the unusual sexual reproduction of this species, an ultrastructural investigation of gametogenesis was undertaken. This paper describes the fine structure of the spermatozoon within the testis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Guo ◽  
Tongli Wang ◽  
Fang-Fang Fu ◽  
Yousry A. El-Kassaby ◽  
Guibin Wang

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) is a high-value medicinal tree species characterized by its flavonoids beneficial effects that are abundant in leaves. We performed a temporospatial comprehensive transcriptome and metabolome dynamics analyses of clonally propagated Ginkgo plants at four developmental stages (time: May to August) across three different environments (space) to unravel leaves flavonoids biosynthesis variation. Principal component analysis revealed clear gene expression separation across samples from different environments and leaf-developmental stages. We found that flavonoid-related metabolism was more active in the early stage of leaf development, and the content of total flavonoid glycosides and the expression of some genes in flavonoid biosynthesis pathway peaked in May. We also constructed a co-expression regulation network and identified eight GbMYBs and combining with other TF genes (3 GbERFs, 1 GbbHLH, and 1 GbTrihelix) positively regulated the expression of multiple structural genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. We found that part of these GbTFs (Gb_11316, Gb_32143, and Gb_00128) expressions was negatively correlated with mean minimum temperature and mean relative humidity, while positively correlated with sunshine duration. This study increased our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of flavonoids biosynthesis in Ginkgo leaves and provided insight into the proper production and management of Ginkgo commercial plantations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lian Chee Foong ◽  
Jian Yi Chai ◽  
Anthony Siong Hock Ho ◽  
Brandon Pei Hui Yeo ◽  
Yang Mooi Lim ◽  
...  

Abstract Impatiens balsamina L. is a tropical ornamental and traditional medicinal herb rich in natural compounds, especially 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (MNQ) which is a bioactive compound with tested anticancer activities. Characterization of key genes involved in the shikimate and 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoate (DHNA) pathways responsible for MNQ biosynthesis and their expression profiles in I. balsamina will facilitate adoption of genetic/metabolic engineering or synthetic biology approaches to further increase production for pre-commercialization. In this study, HPLC analysis showed that MNQ was present in significantly higher quantities in the capsule pericarps throughout three developmental stages (early-, mature- and postbreaker stages) whilst its immediate precursor, 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (lawsone) was mainly detected in mature leaves. Transcriptomes of I. balsamina derived from leaf, flower, and three capsule developmental stages were generated, totalling 59.643 Gb of raw reads that were assembled into 94,659 unigenes (595,828 transcripts). A total of 73.96% of unigenes were functionally annotated against seven public databases and 50,786 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Expression profiles of 20 selected genes from four major secondary metabolism pathways were studied and validated using qRT-PCR method. Majority of the DHNA pathway genes were found to be significantly upregulated in early stage capsule compared to flower and leaf, suggesting tissue-specific synthesis of MNQ. Correlation analysis identified 11 candidate unigenes related to three enzymes (NADH-quinone oxidoreductase, UDP-glycosyltransferases and S-adenosylmethionine-dependent O-methyltransferase) important in the final steps of MNQ biosynthesis based on genes expression profiles consistent with MNQ content. This study provides the first molecular insight into the dynamics of MNQ biosynthesis and accumulation across different tissues of I. balsamina and serves as a valuable resource to facilitate further manipulation to increase production of MNQ.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 1758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine M. Carnevale ◽  
Elizabeth S. Metcalf

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is used to produce equine embryos invitro. The speed of embryo development invitro is roughly equivalent to what has been described for embryos produced invivo. Morphological evaluations of ICSI-produced embryos are complicated by the presence of debris and the dark nature of equine embryo cytoplasm. Morulas and early blastocysts produced invitro appear similar to those produced invivo. However, with expansion of the blastocyst, distinct differences are observed compared with uterine embryos. In culture, embryos do not undergo full expansion and thinning of the zona pellucida (ZP) or capsule formation. Cells of the inner cell mass (ICM) are dispersed, in contrast with the differentiated trophoblast and ICM observed in embryos collected from uteri. As blastocysts expand invitro, embryo cells often escape the ZP as organised or disorganised extrusions of cells, probably through the hole incurred during ICSI. Quality assessment of invitro-produced early stage equine embryos is in its infancy, because limited information is available regarding the relationship between morphology and developmental competence. Early embryo development invivo is reviewed in this paper, with comparisons made to embryo development invitro and clinical assessments from a laboratory performing commercial ICSI for >15 years.


2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabil M. Ahmad ◽  
Peter M. Martin ◽  
John M. Vella

Inflorescence and spikelet development in Poa labillardieri Steud. were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Thirteen developmental stages were described in detail, starting with the vegetative shoot apex which was shown to be of the short type (stage zero), followed by a conversion from vegetative to floral meristem at Stage 1 and ending at Stage 12, with a mature panicle consisting of a variable number of florets at anthesis within each spikelet. The occurrence of short-type vegetative apices in this perennial grass adds further support to the view that there is no correlation between life span and the apex type. The branches of the P. labillardieri panicle are formed in acropetal succession; however, it is the upper branches that first bear rudiments of the spikelets, starting at the tip of the branches. In contrast differentiation of florets within each spikelet occurs in acropetal succession, so that the basal floret is farthest advanced and each successively upper floret less advanced. P. labillardieri occasionally produces inflorescences containing spikelets in which some or all of the florets are replaced by a plantlet that is structurally similar to a vegetative tiller. Proliferous development ranged from a situation where all florets were converted to vegetative propagules that can be detached and rooted readily in soil, to cases where proliferation extended only as far as an enlargement of the lemma, with either functional or non-functional sexual organs in its axil. Under greenhouse conditions, there was a shift from occasional cases of partially proliferating spikelets that occur in the wild to complete vigorous proliferation stimulated by unknown factor(s). Departure from the normal sexual pattern took place from early Stage 5 (initiation of spikelet primordial) to late Stage 6 (differentiation of florets).


2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 130-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Świderski

AbstractUltrastructural features of juvenile cestodes (metacestodes) can provide useful characters for phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses. Until now, however, they have been relatively little utilised (Beveridge 2001, Chervy 2002). The postembryonic development and structure of fully formed metacestodes were examined in two cyclophyllideans: Taenia parva Baer, 1926 (Taeniidae); and Sobolevitaenia verulamii (Mettrick, 1958) Korniushin, 1972 (Dilepididae). In T. parva, three developmental stages were recognized: (1) an early stage of exogenous budding at the surface of the central vesicle; (2) a stage of polycephalic cyst development accompanied by segmentation of the growing metacestode strobila and an obvious decrease in the size of the central vesicle; (3) a fully formed metacestode of the strobilocercus type with 14–24 invaginated scoleces. The tegument, scolex, subtegumental musculature of the strobilar segments, protonephridial system, calcareous corpuscles and medullary parenchyma of larvae exhibit general similarity to the same structures in adults at both LM and TEM levels. The morphogenesis of the metacestode of T. parva is compared with that of polycephalic metacestodes of other Taenia spp. (T. krepkogorski, T. twitchelli and T. endothoracica) and with other asexually multiplying metacestodes (Mesocestoides vogae, hymenolepidids and dilepidids). In S. verulamii, the body of the cysticercoid with invaginated scolex armed with a double crown of rostellar hooks was completely surrounded by the cercomer, which appears to be separated from the cyst and scolex. The surface of the suckers is covered with a thick layer of glycocalyx. Five cell types were distinguished in the sections: (1) perikarya of metacestode tegument; (2) glycolgen-storing parenchymal cells; (3) glandular-type cells with large, electron-dense secretory-like granules; (4) flame cells; and (5) calcareous corpuscle-forming cells. The surface of the cercomer is covered by elongated microvilli, which evidently differ from characteristic microtriches covering all other parts of the metacestode surface. The ultrastructure of S. verulamii evidently differs from that of the other dilepidid cestode examined to date, Lateriporus geographicus, the cyst wall of which more resembles cysticercoids of Hymenolepididae than those of Dilepididae. Concluding remarks: Ultrastructural studies on metacestodes have considerable promise for providing important new characters for phylogenetic analysis. New TEM data on a great variety of cestode species are urgently needed. Until now, this field has not been exploited in a systematic fashion. Until more comprehensive studies become available, the current data are not yet amenable to analysis.


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