scholarly journals Natural Variation and Genetic Determinants of Caenorhabditis elegans Sperm Size

Genetics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 213 (2) ◽  
pp. 615-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clotilde Gimond ◽  
Anne Vielle ◽  
Nuno Silva-Soares ◽  
Stefan Zdraljevic ◽  
Patrick T. McGrath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Genetic Determinants ◽  
Sperm Size

scholarly journals Evolution of sperm competition: Natural variation and genetic determinants of Caenorhabditis elegans sperm size

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clotilde Gimond ◽  
Anne Vielle ◽  
Nuno Silva-Soares ◽  
Stefan Zdraljevic ◽  
Patrick T. McGrath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Sperm Competition ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Genetic Determinants ◽  
Heritable Variation ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Male Sperm ◽  
Sperm Size

ABSTRACTSperm morphology is critical for sperm competition and thus for reproductive fitness. In the male-hermaphrodite nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, sperm size is a key feature of sperm competitive ability. Yet despite extensive research, the molecular mechanisms regulating C. elegans sperm size and the genetic basis underlying its natural variation remain unknown. Examining 97 genetically distinct C. elegans strains, we observe significant heritable variation in male sperm size but genome-wide association mapping did not yield any QTL (Quantitative Trait Loci). While we confirm larger male sperm to consistently outcompete smaller hermaphrodite sperm, we find natural variation in male sperm size to poorly predict male fertility and competitive ability. In addition, although hermaphrodite sperm size also shows significant natural variation, male and hermaphrodite sperm size do not correlate, implying a sex-specific genetic regulation of sperm size. To elucidate the molecular basis of intraspecific sperm size variation, we focused on recently diverged laboratory strains, which evolved extreme sperm size differences. Using mutants and quantitative complementation tests, we demonstrate that variation in the gene nurf-1 – previously shown to underlie the evolution of improved hermaphrodite reproduction – also explains the evolution of reduced male sperm size. This result illustrates how adaptive changes in C. elegans hermaphrodite function can cause the deterioration of a male-specific fitness trait due to a sexually antagonistic variant, representing an example of intralocus sexual conflict with resolution at the molecular level. Our results further provide first insights into the genetic determinants of C. elegans sperm size, pointing at an involvement of the NURF chromatin remodelling complex.

scholarly journals Natural variation in Caenorhabditis elegans responses to the anthelmintic emodepside

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janneke Wit ◽  
Steffen R. Hahnel ◽  
Briana C. Rodriguez ◽  
Erik Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Parasitic Nematodes ◽  
Anthelmintic Drug ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Hormetic Effect ◽  
Filarial Nematodes

Treatment of parasitic nematode infections depends primarily on the use of anthelmintics. However, this drug arsenal is limited, and resistance against most anthelmintics is widespread. Emodepside is a new anthelmintic drug effective against gastrointestinal and filarial nematodes. Nematodes that are resistant to other anthelmintic drug classes are susceptible to emodepside, indicating that the emodepside mode of action is distinct from previous anthelmintics. The laboratory-adapted Caenorhabditis elegans strain N2 is sensitive to emodepside, and genetic selection and in vitro experiments implicated slo-1, a BK potassium channel gene, in emodepside mode of action. In an effort to understand how natural populations will respond to emodepside, we measured brood sizes and developmental rates of wild C. elegans strains after exposure to the drug and found natural variation across the species. Some variation in emodepside responses can be explained by natural differences in slo-1. This result suggests that other genes in addition to slo-1 underlie emodepside resistance in wild C. elegans strains. Additionally, all assayed strains have higher offspring production in low concentrations of emodepside (a hormetic effect), which could impact treatment strategies. We find that natural variation affects emodepside sensitivity, supporting the suitability of C. elegans as a model system to study emodepside responses across parasitic nematodes.

scholarly journals Shifting patterns of natural variation in the nuclear genome of caenorhabditis elegans

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanne Solorzano ◽  
Kazufusa Okamoto ◽  
Pushpa Datla ◽  
Way Sung ◽  
RD Bergeron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Nuclear Genome

scholarly journals Signaling by AWC Olfactory Neurons Is Necessary for Caenorhabditis elegans’ Response to Prenol, an Odor Associated with Nematode-Infected Insects

Genetics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 216 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-157
Author(s):  
Tiffany Baiocchi ◽  
Kyle Anesko ◽  
Nathan Mercado ◽  
Heenam Park ◽  
Kassandra Kin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Behavioral Ecology ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Isoamyl Alcohol ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Ecological Differences

Chemosensation plays a role in the behaviors and life cycles of numerous organisms, including nematodes. Many guilds of nematodes exist, ranging from the free-living Caenorhabditis elegans to various parasitic species such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), which are parasites of insects. Despite ecological differences, previous research has shown that both EPNs and C. elegans respond to prenol (3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol), an odor associated with EPN infections. However, it is unclear how C. elegans responds to prenol. By utilizing natural variation and genetic neuron ablation to investigate the response of C. elegans to prenol, we found that the AWC neurons are involved in the detection of prenol and that several genes (including dcap-1, dcap-2, and clec-39) influence response to this odorant. Furthermore, we identified that the response to prenol is mediated by the canonically proposed pathway required for other AWC-sensed attractants. However, upon testing genetically diverse isolates, we found that the response of some strains to prenol differed from their response to isoamyl alcohol, suggesting that the pathways mediating response to these two odorants may be genetically distinct. Further, evaluations leveraging natural variation and genome wide association revealed specific genes that influence nematode behavior and provide a foundation for future studies to better understand the role of prenol in nematode behavioral ecology.

scholarly journals Genetic Determinants Associated With in Vivo Survival of Burkholderia cenocepacia in the Caenorhabditis elegans Model

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yee-Chin Wong ◽  
Moataz Abd El Ghany ◽  
Raeece N. M. Ghazzali ◽  
Soon-Joo Yap ◽  
Chee-Choong Hoh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Burkholderia Cenocepacia ◽  
Genetic Determinants

Common Genetic Determinants of Halothane and Isoflurane Potencies in Caenorhabditis elegans 

1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 1509-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno van Swinderen ◽  
Alex Galifianakis ◽  
Michael C. Crowder
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Recombinant Inbred ◽  
Recombinant Inbred Strain ◽  
Volatile Anesthetic ◽  
Inbred Strains ◽  
Volatile Anesthetics ◽  
Recombinant Inbred Strains ◽  
Genetic Determinants ◽  
Genetic Loci ◽  
C Elegans

Background Genetics provides a way to evaluate anesthetic action simultaneously at the molecular and behavioral levels. Results from strains that differ in anesthetic sensitivity have been mixed in their support of unitary theories of anesthesia. Here the authors use the previously demonstrated large variation of halothane sensitivities in Caenorhabditis elegans recombinant inbred strains to assess the similarities of the determinants of halothane action with those of another volatile anesthetic, isoflurane. Methods The recombinant inbred strains, constructed from two evolutionarily distinct C. elegans lineages, were phenotyped. A coordination assay on agar quantified the sensitivity to the volatile anesthetics; median effective concentrations (EC50s) were calculated by nonlinear regression of concentration-response data and were correlated between the drugs for those strains tested in common. Genetic loci were identified by statistical association between EC50s and chromosomal markers. Results The recombinant inbred strains varied dramatically in sensitivity to halothane and isoflurane, with a 10-fold range in EC50s. Heritability estimates for each drug were imprecise but altogether high (49-80%). Halothane and isoflurane EC50s were significantly correlated (r=0.71, P < 10(-9)). Genetic loci controlling sensitivity were found for both volatile anesthetics; the most significant determinant colocalized on chromosome V. A smaller recombinant inbred strain study of ethanol-induced immobility segregated different genetic effects that did not correlate with sensitivity to either halothane or isoflurane. Conclusions The genetic determinants driving the large variation in anesthetic sensitivity in these C. elegans recombinant inbred strains are very similar for halothane and isoflurane sensitivity.

scholarly journals The genetic basis of natural variation in C. elegans telomere length

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.C. Cook ◽  
S. Zdraljevic ◽  
R.E. Tanny ◽  
B. Seo ◽  
D.D. Riccardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Genome Instability ◽  
Length Variation ◽  
Genetic Determinants ◽  
Telomeric Dna ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Offspring Production ◽  
Telomere Capping ◽  
Organismal Fitness

AbstractTelomeres are involved in the maintenance of chromosomes and the prevention of genome instability. Despite this central importance, significant variation in telomere length has been observed in a variety of organisms. The genetic determinants of telomere-length variation and their effects on organismal fitness are largely unexplored. Here, we describe natural variation in telomere length across the Caenorhabditis elegans species. We identify a large-effect variant that contributes to differences in telomere length. The variant alters the conserved oligosaccharide/oligonucleotide-binding fold of POT-2, a homolog of a human telomere-capping shelterin complex subunit. Mutations within this domain likely reduce the ability of POT-2 to bind telomeric DNA, thereby increasing telomere length. We find that telomere-length variation does not correlate with offspring production or longevity in C. elegans wild isolates, suggesting that naturally long telomeres play a limited role in modifying fitness phenotypes in C. elegans.

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