scholarly journals Functional characterization of a “plant-like” HYL1 homolog in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis indicates a conserved involvement in microRNA biogenesis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhinandan Mani Tripathi ◽  
Arie Fridrich ◽  
Magda Lewandowska ◽  
Yehu Moran
Keyword(s):  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Nematostella Vectensis ◽  
Mirna Biogenesis ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Rnase Iii ◽  
Microrna Biogenesis ◽  
Cnidarian Nematostella Vectensis ◽  
Partner Proteins

ABSTRACTWhile the biogenesis of microRNAs (miRNAs) in both animals and plants depends on Dicer, a conserved RNAse III enzyme, its helping partner proteins are considered distinct for each kingdom. Nevertheless, recent discovery of homologs of Hyponastic Leaves1 (HYL1), a “plant-specific” Dicer partner, in the metazoan phylum Cnidaria challenges the view that miRNAs evolved convergently in animals and plants. Here we show that the HYL1 homolog Hyl1-like a (Hyl1La) is crucial for proper development and miRNA biogenesis in the cnidarian model Nematostella vectensis. Inhibition of Hyl1La resulted in arresting of metamorphosis in Nematostella embryos. Moreover, most miRNAs are significantly downregulated in Hyl1La knockdown animals. These results support the participation of cnidarian HYL1 homologs in miRNA biogenesis and points towards the function of this pathway in cnidarian development. Further, it suggests that the last common ancestor of animals and plants carried a HYL1 homolog that took essential part in miRNA biogenesis.

scholarly journals Evolution of mechanisms controlling epithelial morphogenesis across animals: new insights from dissociation - reaggregation experiments in the sponge Oscarella lobularis.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelie Vernale ◽  
Maria Mandela Prunster ◽  
Fabio Marchiano ◽  
Henry Debost ◽  
Nicolas Brouilly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Epithelial Morphogenesis ◽  
Cell Junctions ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Cell Matrix ◽  
Cell Matrix Adhesion ◽  
Cell Cell

Background: The ancestral presence of epithelia in Metazoa is no longer debated. Even though Porifera seem to be the best candidates to be the sister group to all other Metazoa, hardly anything is known about the proteins involved in the composition of cell-cell junctions or about the mechanisms that regulate epithelial morphogenetic processes in this phylum. Results: To get insights into the early evolution of epithelial morphogenesis, we focused on morphogenic characteristics of the homoscleromorph sponge Oscarella lobularis. Homoscleromorpha are a sponge class with a typical basement membrane and adherens-like junctions unknown in other sponge classes. We took advantage of the dynamic context provided by cell dissociation-reaggregation experiments to explore morphogenetic processes in epithelial cells in an early lineage by combining fluorescent and electronic microscopy observations and RNA sequencing approaches at key time-points of the dissociation and reaggregation processes. Conclusions: Our results show that part of the molecular toolkit involved in the loss and restoration of epithelial features such as cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion is conserved between Homoscleromorpha and Bilateria, suggesting their common role in the last common ancestor of animals. In addition, Sponge-specific genes are differently expressed during the dissociation and reaggregation processes, calling for future functional characterization of these genes.

scholarly journals Evolution of mechanisms controlling epithelial morphogenesis across animals: new insights from dissociation - reaggregation experiments in the sponge Oscarella lobularis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amélie Vernale ◽  
Maria Mandela Prünster ◽  
Fabio Marchianò ◽  
Henry Debost ◽  
Nicolas Brouilly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Epithelial Morphogenesis ◽  
Cell Junctions ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Cell Matrix ◽  
Cell Matrix Adhesion ◽  
Cell Cell

Abstract Background: The ancestral presence of epithelia in Metazoa is no longer debated. Even though Porifera seem to be the best candidates to be the sister group to all other Metazoa, hardly anything is known about the proteins involved in the composition of cell-cell junctions or about the mechanisms that regulate epithelial morphogenetic processes in this phylum. Results: To get insights into the early evolution of epithelial morphogenesis, we focused on morphogenic characteristics of the homoscleromorph sponge Oscarella lobularis. Homoscleromorpha are a sponge class with a typical basement membrane and adherens-like junctions unknown in other sponge classes. We took advantage of the dynamic context provided by cell dissociation-reaggregation experiments to explore morphogenetic processes in epithelial cells in an early lineage by combining fluorescent and electronic microscopy observations and RNA sequencing approaches at key time-points of the dissociation and reaggregation processes. Conclusions: Our results show that part of the molecular toolkit involved in the loss and restoration of epithelial features such as cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion is conserved between Homoscleromorpha and Bilateria, suggesting their common role in the last common ancestor of animals. In addition, Sponge-specific genes are differently expressed during the dissociation and reaggregation processes, calling for future functional characterization of these genes.

scholarly journals The roles of rice microRNAs in rice-Magnaporthe oryzae interaction

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Li ◽  
John Martin Jerome Jeyakumar ◽  
Qin Feng ◽  
Zhi-Xue Zhao ◽  
Jing Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Magnaporthe Oryzae ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Mature Mirnas ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Rnase Iii ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
Mirna Genes ◽  
Stem Loop Structure

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small (20–24 nucleotides (nt) long) non-coding RNAs. One mature miRNA can be transcribed from one or more gene loci known as miRNA genes (MIRs). The transcript of a MIR forms a stem-loop structure that is processed into a 20–24-nt miRNA-5p/−3p duplex by RNase III family endoribonucleases such as Dicer-like1 (DCL1). In turn, the overhang ends of the duplex are methylated by HUA ENHANCER 1 (HEN1), generating stabilized mature miRNAs. The mature miRNAs are loaded onto ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins, forming a miRNA-induced gene silencing complex (miRISC). Then, the miRISC binds to target sites with sequences complementary to the miRNAs, leading to either cleavage or translational inhibition of the target mRNAs, or methylation of the target sequences, resulting in post-transcriptional and transcriptional gene silencing, respectively. In the past decade, more than 700 miRNAs have been identified in rice, a subset of which have been found to be responsive to the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, or its elicitors. Moreover, members of 10 miRNA families have been found to positively or negatively regulate rice defense against M. oryzae, namely miR160, miR164, miR166, miR167, miR169, miR319, miR396, miR398, miR444 and miR7695. This review summarizes the identification and functional characterization of the miRNAs, which respond to M. oryzae or its elicitors and describes the current understanding of the complicated but well-organized network in the context of rice-M. oryzae interaction.

scholarly journals Genome-wide analyses across Viridiplantae reveal the origin and diversification of small RNA pathway-related genes

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibo Wang ◽  
Hongping Liang ◽  
Yan Xu ◽  
Linzhou Li ◽  
Hongli Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Rna ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Small Rnas ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Mirna Biogenesis ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Evolutionary Transitions ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Post Transcriptional Regulation

AbstractSmall RNAs play a major role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. Despite the evolutionary importance of streptophyte algae, knowledge on small RNAs in this group of green algae is almost non-existent. We used genome and transcriptome data of 34 algal and plant species, and performed genome-wide analyses of small RNA (miRNA & siRNA) biosynthetic and degradation pathways. The results suggest that Viridiplantae started to evolve plant-like miRNA biogenesis and degradation after the divergence of the Mesostigmatophyceae in the streptophyte algae. We identified two major evolutionary transitions in small RNA metabolism in streptophyte algae; during the first transition, the origin of DCL-New, DCL1, AGO1/5/10 and AGO4/6/9 in the last common ancestor of Klebsormidiophyceae and all other streptophytes could be linked to abiotic stress responses and evolution of multicellularity in streptophytes. During the second transition, the evolution of DCL 2,3,4, and AGO 2,3,7 as well as DRB1 in the last common ancestor of Zygnematophyceae and embryophytes, suggests their possible contribution to pathogen defense and antibacterial immunity. Overall, the origin and diversification of DICER and AGO along with several other small RNA pathway-related genes among streptophyte algae suggested progressive adaptations of streptophyte algae during evolution to a subaerial environment.

scholarly journals Evolution of mechanisms controlling epithelial morphogenesis across animals: new insights from dissociation-reaggregation experiments in the sponge Oscarella lobularis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amélie Vernale ◽  
Maria Mandela Prünster ◽  
Fabio Marchianò ◽  
Henry Debost ◽  
Nicolas Brouilly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Protein Composition ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Epithelial Morphogenesis ◽  
Cell Junctions ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Cell Matrix ◽  
Cell Matrix Adhesion ◽  
Cell Cell

Abstract Background The ancestral presence of epithelia in Metazoa is no longer debated. Porifera seem to be one of the best candidates to be the sister group to all other Metazoa. This makes them a key taxon to explore cell-adhesion evolution on animals. For this reason, several transcriptomic, genomic, histological, physiological and biochemical studies focused on sponge epithelia. Nevertheless, the complete and precise protein composition of cell–cell junctions and mechanisms that regulate epithelial morphogenetic processes still remain at the center of attention. Results To get insights into the early evolution of epithelial morphogenesis, we focused on morphogenic characteristics of the homoscleromorph sponge Oscarella lobularis. Homoscleromorpha are a sponge class with a typical basement membrane and adhaerens-like junctions unknown in other sponge classes. We took advantage of the dynamic context provided by cell dissociation-reaggregation experiments to explore morphogenetic processes in epithelial cells in a non-bilaterian lineage by combining fluorescent and electron microscopy observations and RNA sequencing approaches at key time-points of the dissociation and reaggregation processes. Conclusions Our results show that part of the molecular toolkit involved in the loss and restoration of epithelial features such as cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesion is conserved between Homoscleromorpha and Bilateria, suggesting their common role in the last common ancestor of animals. In addition, sponge-specific genes are differently expressed during the dissociation and reaggregation processes, calling for future functional characterization of these genes.

scholarly journals Molecular and functional characterization of cionin receptors in the ascidian, Ciona intestinalis: the evolutionary origin of the vertebrate cholecystokinin/gastrin family

2012 ◽  
Vol 213 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshio Sekiguchi ◽  
Michio Ogasawara ◽  
Honoo Satake
Keyword(s):  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Ciona Intestinalis ◽  
Gut Peptides ◽  
Cck Receptors ◽  
Vertebrate Brain ◽  
Intracellular Calcium Mobilization

Cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin are vertebrate brain–gut peptides featured by a sulfated tyrosine residue and a C-terminally amidated tetrapeptide consensus sequence. Cionin, identified in the ascidian, Ciona intestinalis, the closest species to vertebrates, harbors two sulfated tyrosines and the CCK/gastrin consensus tetrapeptide sequence. While a putative cionin receptor, cior, was cloned, the ligand–receptor relationship between cionin and CioR remains unidentified. Here, we identify two cionin receptors, CioR1 and CioR2, which are the aforementioned putative cionin receptor and its novel paralog respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that CioRs are homologous to vertebrate CCK receptors (CCKRs) and diverged from a common ancestor in the Ciona-specific lineage. Cionin activates intracellular calcium mobilization in cultured cells expressing CioR1 or CioR2. Monosulfated and nonsulfated cionin exhibited less potent or no activity, indicating that CioRs possess pharmacological features similar to the vertebrate CCK-specific receptor CCK1R, rather than its subtype CCK2R, given that a sulfated tyrosine in CCK is required for binding to CCK1R, but not to CCK2R. Collectively, the present data reveal that CioRs share a common ancestor with vertebrate CCKRs and indicate that CCK and CCK1R form the ancestral ligand–receptor pair in the vertebrate CCK/gastrin system. Cionin is expressed in the neural complex, digestive organs, oral siphon and atrial siphons, whereas the expression of ciors was detected mainly in these tissues and the ovary. Furthermore, cioninergic neurons innervate both of the siphons. These results suggest that cionin is involved in the regulation of siphonal functions.

scholarly journals Localization and Functional Characterization of the Alternative Oxidase in Naegleria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Cantoni ◽  
Ashley Osborne ◽  
Najwa Taib ◽  
Gary Thompson ◽  
Eleanna Kazana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Biology ◽  
Structure Prediction ◽  
Alternative Oxidase ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Krebs Cycle ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Free Living ◽  
And Function ◽  
Potential Pathogenicity

ABSTRACTThe Alternative oxidase (AOX) is a protein involved in maintaining the Krebs cycle in instances where the respiratory chain has been inhibited, while allowing for the maintenance of cell growth and necessary metabolic processes for survival. Among eukaryotes, alternative oxidases have disperse distribution and are found in plants, fungi and a few protists, including Naegleria ssp. Naegleria species are free-living unicellular amoeboflagellates, and include the pathogenic species of N. fowleri, the so-called brain eating amoeba. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we aimed to understand the evolution, localization and function of AOX and the role that plays in Naegleria’s biology. Our analyses suggest that the protein was present in last common ancestor of the genus and structure prediction showed that all functional residues are also present in Naegleria species. Using a combination of cellular and biochemical techniques, we also functionally characterize N. gruberi’s AOX in its mitochondria and we demonstrate that its inactivation affects its proliferation. Consequently, we discuss the benefits of the presence of this protein in Naegleria species, along with its potential pathogenicity role in N. fowleri. We predict that our findings will spearhead new explorations to understand the cell biology, metabolism and evolution of Naegleria and other free-living relatives.

Functional characterization of human brown adipose tissue metabolism

2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (7) ◽  
pp. 1261-1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Anne Richard ◽  
Hannah Pallubinsky ◽  
Denis P. Blondin
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Human Infants ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Treatment Of Obesity ◽  
And Function

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has long been described according to its histological features as a multilocular, lipid-containing tissue, light brown in color, that is also responsive to the cold and found especially in hibernating mammals and human infants. Its presence in both hibernators and human infants, combined with its function as a heat-generating organ, raised many questions about its role in humans. Early characterizations of the tissue in humans focused on its progressive atrophy with age and its apparent importance for cold-exposed workers. However, the use of positron emission tomography (PET) with the glucose tracer [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) made it possible to begin characterizing the possible function of BAT in adult humans, and whether it could play a role in the prevention or treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). This review focuses on the in vivo functional characterization of human BAT, the methodological approaches applied to examine these features and addresses critical gaps that remain in moving the field forward. Specifically, we describe the anatomical and biomolecular features of human BAT, the modalities and applications of non-invasive tools such as PET and magnetic resonance imaging coupled with spectroscopy (MRI/MRS) to study BAT morphology and function in vivo, and finally describe the functional characteristics of human BAT that have only been possible through the development and application of such tools.

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