scholarly journals Mating system and avpr1a promoter variation in primates

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Rosso ◽  
Laurent Keller ◽  
Henrik Kaessmann ◽  
Robert L Hammond
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Dna ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Sequence Variation ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Vasopressin Receptor ◽  
Functional Relevance ◽  
Social Behaviours

It has been suggested that primate mating and social behaviours may be influenced by variation in promoter region repetitive DNA of the vasopressin receptor 1a gene ( avpr1a ). We show that male mating behaviour does not covary in a simple way with promoter repetitive DNA in 12 Old World primates. We found that one microsatellite (−553 bp upstream) was present in all species, irrespective of their behaviour. By contrast, two microsatellites (−3956 and −3625 bp upstream) were present only in some species, yet this variation did not correlate with behaviour. These findings agree with a recent comparative analysis of voles and show that the variation in repetitive DNA in the avpr1a promoter region does not generally explain variation in male mating behaviour. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a GAGTA motif that has been independently deleted three times and involved in another larger deletion. Importantly, the presence/absence of this GAGTA motif leads to changes in predicted transcription factor-binding sites. Given the repeated loss of this motif, we speculate that it might be of functional relevance. We suggest that such non-repetitive variation, either in indels or in sequence variation, are likely to be important in explaining interspecific variation in avpr1a expression.

The Effects of the sphragis on male and female genitalia in Acraea (Nymphalidae) butterflies

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon L Summers ◽  
Akito Y Kawahara ◽  
Ana P. S. Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
Storage Organ ◽  
Mating Plug ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Comparison And Analysis ◽  
Imagej Software ◽  
Sexually Antagonistic Coevolution

Male mating plugs have been used in many species to prevent female re-mating and sperm competition. One of the most extreme examples of a mating plug is the sphragis, which is a large, complex and externalized plug found only in butterflies. This structure is found in many species in the genus Acraea (Nymphalidae) and provides an opportunity for investigation of the effects of the sphragis on the morphology of the genitalia, which is poorly understood. This study aims to understand morphological interspecific variation in the genitalia of Acraea butterflies. Using specimens from museum collections, abdomen dissections were conducted on 19 species of Acraea: 9 sphragis bearing and 10 non-sphragis bearing species. Genitalia imaging was performed for easier comparison and analysis and measurements of genitalia structures was done using ImageJ software. Some distinguishing morphological features in the females were found. The most obvious difference is the larger and more externalized copulatory opening in sphragis bearing species, with varying degrees of external projections. Females of the sphragis bearing species also tend to have a shorter ductus (the structure that connects the copulatory opening with the sperm storage organ) than those without the sphragis. These differences may be due to a sexually antagonistic coevolution between the males and females, where the females evolve larger and more difficult to plug copulatory openings and the males attempt to prevent re-mating with the sphragis.

scholarly journals Induction of the Cellular E2F-1 Promoter by the Adenovirus E4-6/7 Protein

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 2084-2093 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Schaley ◽  
Robert J. O'Connor ◽  
Laura J. Taylor ◽  
Dafna Bar-Sagi ◽  
Patrick Hearing
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Transient Expression ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Protein Accumulation ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Single Binding Site

ABSTRACT The adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) E4-6/7 protein interacts directly with different members of the E2F family and mediates the cooperative and stable binding of E2F to a unique pair of binding sites in the Ad5 E2a promoter region. This induction of E2F DNA binding activity strongly correlates with increased E2a transcription when analyzed using virus infection and transient expression assays. Here we show that while different adenovirus isolates express an E4-6/7 protein that is capable of induction of E2F dimerization and stable DNA binding to the Ad5 E2a promoter region, not all of these viruses carry the inverted E2F binding site targets in their E2a promoter regions. The Ad12 and Ad40 E2a promoter regions bind E2F via a single binding site. However, these promoters bind adenovirus-induced (dimerized) E2F very weakly. The Ad3 E2a promoter region binds E2F very poorly, even via a single binding site. A possible explanation of these results is that the Ad E4-6/7 protein evolved to induce cellular gene expression. Consistent with this notion, we show that infection with different adenovirus isolates induces the binding of E2F to an inverted configuration of binding sites present in the cellular E2F-1 promoter. Transient expression of the E4-6/7 protein alone in uninfected cells is sufficient to induce transactivation of the E2F-1 promoter linked to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase or green fluorescent protein reporter genes. Further, expression of the E4-6/7 protein in the context of adenovirus infection induces E2F-1 protein accumulation. Thus, the induction of E2F binding to the E2F-1 promoter by the E4-6/7 protein observed in vitro correlates with transactivation of E2F-1 promoter activity in vivo. These results suggest that adenovirus has evolved two distinct mechanisms to induce the expression of the E2F-1 gene. The E1A proteins displace repressors of E2F activity (the Rb family members) and thus relieve E2F-1 promoter repression; the E4-6/7 protein complements this function by stably recruiting active E2F to the E2F-1 promoter to transactivate expression.

scholarly journals Structure of the canine pancreatic colipase gene includes two protein-binding sites in the promoter region

1993 ◽  
Vol 268 (15) ◽  
pp. 11312-11320
Author(s):  
S. Fukuoka ◽  
D.E. Zhang ◽  
Y. Taniguchi ◽  
G.A. Scheele
Keyword(s):  
Protein Binding ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Protein Binding Sites

Global regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: ABF1 and CPF1 play opposite roles in regulating expression of the QCR8 gene, which encodes subunit VIII of the mitochondrial ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2872-2883
Author(s):  
J H de Winde ◽  
L A Grivell
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Mitochondrial Biogenesis ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
S Phase ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Global Regulation ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Efficient Induction

The multifunctional DNA-binding proteins ABF1 and CPF1 bind in a mutually exclusive manner to the promoter region of the QCR8 gene, which encodes 11-kDa subunit VIII of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase (QCR). We investigated the roles that the two factors play in transcriptional regulation of this gene. To this end, the overlapping binding sites for ABF1 and CPF1 were mutated and placed in the chromosomal context of the QCR8 promoter. The effects on transcription of the QCR8 gene were analyzed both under steady-state conditions and during nutritional shifts. We found that ABF1 is required for repressed and derepressed transcription levels and for efficient induction of transcription upon escape from catabolite repression, independently of DNA replication. CPF1 acts as a negative regulator, modulating the overall induction response. Alleviation of repression through CPF1 requires passage through the S phase. Implications of these findings for the roles played by ABF1 and CPF1 in global regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis are discussed.

scholarly journals Alternative phenotypes of male mating behaviour in the two-spotted spider mite

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukie Sato ◽  
Maurice W. Sabelis ◽  
Martijn Egas ◽  
Farid Faraji
Keyword(s):  
Spider Mite ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Alternative Phenotypes ◽  
Two Spotted Spider Mite

scholarly journals Two Mutations in the Promoter Region of the Human Protein C Gene Both Cause Type I Protein C Deficiency by Disruption of Two HNF-3 Binding Sites

1995 ◽  
Vol 270 (41) ◽  
pp. 24216-24221 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Arnold Spek ◽  
Judith S. Greengard ◽  
John H. Griffin ◽  
Rogier M. Bertina ◽  
Pieter H. Reitsma
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Protein C ◽  
Human Protein ◽  
Type I ◽  
Protein C Deficiency

scholarly journals Context-dependent behavioral plasticity compromises disruptive selection on sperm traits in squid

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noritaka Hirohashi ◽  
Noriyosi Sato ◽  
Yoko Iwata ◽  
Satoshi Tomano ◽  
Md Nur E Alam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Plasticity ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Disruptive Selection ◽  
Behavioural Plasticity ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Reproductive Tactics ◽  
Developmentally Regulated ◽  
Mating Opportunities ◽  
Sperm Traits

Male animals are not given equal mating opportunities under competitive circumstances. Small males often exhibit alternative mating behaviours and produce spermatozoa of higher quality to compensate for their lower chances of winning physical contests against larger competitors [1]. Because the reproductive benefits of these phenotypes depend on social status/agonistic ranks that can change during growth or aging [2], sperm traits should be developed/switched into fitness optima according to their prospects. However, reproductive success largely relies upon social contexts arising instantaneously from intra- and inter-sexual interactions, which deter males from developing extreme traits and instead favour behavioural plasticity. Nevertheless, the extent to which such plasticity influences developmentally regulated alternative sperm traits remains unexplored. Squids of the family Loliginidae are excellent models to investigate this, because they show sophisticated alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) by which small males, known as “sneakers”, produce longer spermatozoa and perform extra-pair copulation to attach their sperm packages near the female seminal receptacle (SR). In contrast, large “consort” males have shorter spermatozoa and copulate via pair-bonding to insert their sperm packages near the internal female oviduct [3]. In addition, plasticity in male mating behaviour is common in some species while it is either rare or absent in others. Thus, squid ARTs display a broad spectrum of adaptive traits with a complex repertoire in behaviour, morphology and physiology [3].

The snail repressor establishes a muscle/notochord boundary in the Ciona embryo

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (13) ◽  
pp. 2511-2520 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Fujiwara ◽  
J.C. Corbo ◽  
M. Levine
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Specific Pattern ◽  
Binding Assays ◽  
Heterologous Promoter ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Tail Muscle

Previous studies have identified a minimal 434 bp enhancer from the promoter region of the Ciona Brachyury gene (Ci-Bra), which is sufficient to direct a notochord-specific pattern of gene expression. Here we present evidence that a Ciona homolog of snail (Ci-sna) encodes a repressor of the Ci-Bra enhancer in the tail muscles. DNA-binding assays identified four Ci-Sna-binding sites in the Ci-Bra enhancer, and mutations in these sites cause otherwise normal Ci-Bra/lacZ transgenes to be misexpressed in ectopic tissues, particularly the tail muscles. Selective misexpression of Ci-sna using a heterologous promoter results in the repression of Ci-Bra/lacZ transgenes in the notochord. Moreover, the conversion of the Ci-Sna repressor into an activator results in the ectopic induction of Ci-Bra/lacZ transgenes in the muscles, and also causes an intermixing of notochord and muscle cells during tail morphogenesis. These results suggest that Ci-Sna functions as a boundary repressor, which subdivides the mesoderm into separate notochord and tail muscle lineages.

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