Spermatogenesis and the structure of the testes in Isodiametra pulchra (Isodiametridae,Acoela)

Boone M., Willems M., Claeys M. and Artois, T. 2011. Spermatogenesis and the structure of the testes in Isodiametra pulchra (Isodiametridae, Acoela). —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 92 : 101–108. Spermatogenesis and the structure of the testes were studied ultrastructurally in Isodiametra pulchra (Smith and Bush, Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 1991; 110: 12; Hooge and Tyler, Journal of zoological systematics and evolutionary research 2005; 43: 100). The testes are paired, compact, non‐follicular and lie dorsally and dorso‐laterally to the paired ovaries, partially enfolding them. All stages of spermatogenesis, including spermiogenesis, are described at the ultrastructural level and their spatial organization within the testes is discussed. The cells at the early stages of spermatogenesis (spermatogonia and spermatocytes) are located on the dorsal and dorso‐lateral sides of the testes, while the late stages (spermatids and filiform spermatozoa with 9+2 axonemes) lie at the ventral and inner periphery of the testes, adjacent to ovaries. All the cell types can be found both at the anterior and the posterior end of the testes. The value of the structure of the testes as a phylogenetic marker is addressed.     

The nervous system of Isodiametra pulchra (Acoela) with a discussion on the neuroanatomy of the Xenacoelomorpha and its evolutionary implications

Introduction

Acoels are microscopic marine worms that have become the focus of renewed debate and research due to their placement at the base of the Bilateria by molecular phylogenies. To date, Isodiametra pulchra is the most promising ??model acoel?? as it can be cultured and gene knockdown can be performed with double-stranded RNA. Despite its well-known morphology data on the nervous system are scarce. Therefore we examined this organ using various microscopic techniques, including histology, conventional histochemistry, electron microscopy, and immunocytochemistry in combination with CLSM and discuss our results in light of recently established phylogenies.

Results

The nervous system of Isodiametra pulchra consists of a bilobed brain with a dorsal posterior commissure, a frontal ring and tracts, four pairs of longitudinal neurite bundles, as well as a supramuscular and submuscular plexus. Serotonin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) is displayed in parts of the brain, the longitudinal neurite bundles and a large part of the supramuscular plexus, while FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity (RFLI) is displayed in parts of the brain and a distinct set of neurons, the longitudinal neurite bundles and the submuscular plexus. Despite this overlap SLI and RFLI are never colocalized. Most remarkable though is the presence of a distinct functional neuro-muscular system consisting of the statocyst, tracts, motor neurons and inner muscles, as well as the presence of various muscles that differ with regard to their ultrastructure and innervation.

Conclusions

The nervous system of Isodiametra pulchra consists of an insunk, bilobed brain, a peripheral part for perception and innervation of the smooth body-wall musculature as well as tracts and motor neurons that together with pseudostriated inner muscles are responsible for steering and quick movements. The insunk, bilobed brains with two to three commissures found in numerous acoels are homologous and evolved from a ring-commissural brain that was present in the stem species of acoelomorphs. The acoelomorph brain is bipartite, consisting of a Six3/6-dependend animal pole nervous system that persists throughout adulthood and an axial nervous system that does not develop by exhibiting a staggered pattern of conserved regulatory genes as in other bilaterians but by a nested pattern of these genes. This indicates that acoelomorphs stem from an ancestor with a simple brain or with a biphasic life cycle.     

两猪群间繁殖相关基因表达与生殖细胞数性状相关性研究

采集三周龄杜洛克×梅山(DM,n=30)杂种母猪与PIC-长大(PLL,n=53)杂种母猪卵巢,测定其生殖细胞数目,比较2个猪群间生殖细胞数的差异,并对4个卵泡发育相关基因在2个猪群卵巢中的mRNA表达进行定量分析,研究了这些基因的表达与生殖细胞数之间的关系.结果表明DM杂种猪生殖细胞数显著高于PLL杂种母猪(P＜0.01);DM猪和PLL仔猪卵巢重没有明显差异(P=0.269),两猪群内生殖细胞数和卵巢重的相关性均不显著(分别R=0.335,P=0.07;R=0.119,P=0.398);DM杂种猪ESR和IGF1R的mRNA表达量与其生殖细胞数存在相关(分别R=0.648,P＜0.05;R=0.757,P＜0.01),FSHR和INHBAmRNA的表达与其生殖细胞数无显著相关;PLL母猪ESR、FSHR和IGFlRmRNA的表达与其生殖细胞数有相关性(分别R=0.435,P＜0.01;R=0.438,P＜0.01;R=0.292,P＜0.05),INHBA mRNA的表达与其生殖细胞数无显著相关.     

The Correlation of Reproduction-Related Gene Expression with Germ Cell Number in DM and PLL Gilts

In this study, the ovarian germ cell number was counted in 3-week-old Duroc × Meishan (DM, n=30) and PIC × (Landrace × Large White) (PLL, n=53) gilts, and the mRNA expression levels of four reproduction-related genes were investigated by quantitative RT-PCR. Correlation of germ cell number with the expression level of these genes was analyzed. Results showed that the germ cell number of DM was significantly higher than that of PLL gilts (P<0.01), although there was no significant difference between the ovarian weight of DM and PLL gilts (P=0.269). No significant correlation existed between germ cell number and ovarian weight in the two gilt groups (R=0.335, P=0.07; R=0.119, P=0.398, respectively). A significant correlation was found between the germ cell number and expression level of ESR and IGF1R mRNA in DM gilts (R=0.648, P<0.05; R=0.757, P<0.01, respectively), but the correlation between the germ cell number and expression level of FSHR and INHBA mRNA did not reach statistical significance. Significant correlation was found between the germ cell number and the expression level of ESR, FSHR, and IGF1R mRNA in PLL gilts (R=0.435, P<0.01; R=0.438, P<0.01; R=0.292, P<0.05, respectively), but not with INHBA mRNA in PLL gilts.     

石斑鱼性反转相关基因 ECaM的克隆及表达特征分析

用甲睾酮片饲喂 2 ～ 4 龄赤点石斑鱼 (Epinephelus akaara) , 6 周后 90% 以上的雌鱼性逆转为功能性雄鱼 . 运用抑制性差减杂交技术 (SSH) ,结合 SMART cDNA 合成和 RACE-PCR 方法,从性反转雄鱼性腺中克隆到钙调蛋白基因 (ECaM). 该基因 cDNA 全长为 582 bp ,开放阅读框长 450 bp ,编码的蛋白质由 149 个氨基酸组成, 5 ′端非编码区 74 bp , 3 ′端非编码区 58 bp. 虚拟 RNA 印迹表明, ECaM 在性反转雄鱼性腺中表达,而在正常雌鱼性腺中表达微弱 . 各种组织的半定量 RT-PCR 显示, ECaM 在脑、心、肝、脾、肾都有转录,在精巢和下丘脑中表达水平较高,而在肌肉中表达甚弱 . 性反转不同时期性腺的半定量 RT-PCR 及蛋白质印迹表明,性逆转过程中性腺里 ECaM 的表达量逐渐增加 . 上述结果提示钙调蛋白可能在赤点石斑鱼性逆转过程中发挥着作用, ECaM 可能是促使石斑鱼由雌向雄转变的重要功能基因之一 .     

Cloning and Characterization of a Rice Field Eel vasa-Like Gene cDNA and Its Expression in Gonads During Natural Sex Transformation

The vasa (vas)-related gene encodes an RNA helicase protein member of the DEAD-box family and plays key roles in germ-cell formation in higher metazoans. Using degenerate PCR and RACE, we cloned the vasa gene of the rice field eel (Monopterus albus), which is homologous to the Drosophila vasa gene. We named it ma-vas (Monopterus albus vas). Ma-vas encodes a protein of 618 amino acids, which contains all of the known characteristics of vasa homologs. RT-PCR analysis revealed that ma-vas was exclusively expressed in the gonads of the female, intersex, and male. During gonadal natural sex reversal, ma-vas is expressed in oocytes at all stages of oogenesis, in degenerating oocytes of ovotestis, and in spermatogonia and spermatocytes at early stages. The vasa positive signal was also observed in the peripheral layer of late ovary. It was not found, however, in that layer of the testis. Alkaline phosphatase (AKP) staining on the ovary and testis also indicated that some cells had differentiational potential in the peripheral layer of the ovary, suggesting that spermatogonia might arise from cells with AKP and vasa-positive staining in the peripheral layer of the female gonad.     

Host Genetic Variants and Gene Expression Patterns Associated with Epstein-Barr Virus Copy Number in Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines

Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) are commonly used in molecular genetics, supplying DNA for the HapMap and 1000 Genomes Projects, used to test chemotherapeutic agents, and informing the basis of a number of population genetics studies of gene expression. The process of transforming human B cells into LCLs requires the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a double-stranded DNA virus which through B-cell immortalisation maintains an episomal virus genome in every cell of an LCL at variable copy numbers. Previous studies have reported that EBV alters host-gene expression and EBV copy number may be under host genetic control. We performed a genome-wide association study of EBV genome copy number in LCLs and found the phenotype to be highly heritable, although no individual SNPs achieved a significant association with EBV copy number. The expression of two host genes (CXCL16 and AGL) was positively correlated and expression of ADARB2 was negatively correlated with EBV copy number in a genotype-independent manner. This study shows an association between EBV copy number and the gene expression profile of LCLs, and suggests that EBV copy number should be considered as a covariate in future studies of host gene expression in LCLs.     

重要转录因子FoxO3a在斑马鱼性腺中的表达分析

FoxO蛋白作为Forkhead Box家族的重要一员,在动物的生长发育、细胞分化、代谢、免疫和凋亡等方面起重要作用,研究发现FoxO蛋白是哺乳动物卵泡发育的重要调节因子.通过检测雌雄斑马鱼性腺中foxo3a基因的表达情况,初步研究FoxO在鱼类生殖发育中的作用.PCR和蛋白免疫杂交结果都显示foxo3a基因在斑马鱼雌性性腺中的表达量要明显高于雄性.这一结果提示,foxo3a基因在斑马鱼的卵巢发育中可能发挥重要作用.     

一种新的与细胞分化相关的基因在不同组织及细胞系中表达与定位

目的　研究一种新的可能与细胞分化相关的基因在正常组织、肿瘤组织及细胞系中的表达与定位 ,初步探讨该基因的作用机制。方法　利用Northern杂交方法检测 10种人胎儿组织、6种人肿瘤细胞系、4种人的肿瘤组织及癌旁组织中该基因的表达。利用免疫荧光实验检测该基因在细胞中定位。结果　该基因在人的胎儿组织及肿瘤组织和肿瘤细胞中均有高表达 ,在正常组织及癌旁组织中表达明显减弱。癌旁组织和癌组织中的表达差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 )。该基因在K56 2 细胞中主要定位在膜上。结论　该基因可能在细胞分化及肿瘤发生中起着重要作用     

基因拷贝数与染色体位置对酵母表达乙肝病毒融合表面抗原SA-28基因的影响

应用ＦＬＰ重组酶介导的染色体定点整合技术,将带有不同拷贝数的乙肝病毒融合表面抗原ＳＡ－２８基因表达单元的质粒整合在酵母不同的染色体位点,并测定了ＳＡ－２８基因的表达情况,初步研究了基因拷贝数与染色体位置对酵母表达外源基因的影响。结果表明ＳＡ－２８基因在ＨＩＳ３位点整 合时的表达水平随基因拷贝数的增加而提高,遵循基因剂量效应;在某些染色体位点整２合时,插入方向对其表达有不同程度的影响,呈现出明显的染     

Error-reducing Structure of the Genetic Code Indicates Code Origin in Non-thermophile Organisms

During the RNA World, organisms experienced high rates of genetic errors, which implies that there was strong evolutionary pressure to reduce the errors’ phenotypical impact by suitably structuring the still-evolving genetic code. Therefore, the relative rates of the various types of genetic errors should have left characteristic imprints in the structure of the genetic code. Here, we show that, therefore, it is possible to some extent to reconstruct those error rates, as well as the nucleotide frequencies, for the time when the code was fixed. We find evidence indicating that the frequencies of G and C in the genome were not elevated. Since, for thermodynamic reasons, RNA in thermophiles tends to possess elevated G+C content, this result indicates that the fixation of the genetic code occurred in organisms which were either not thermophiles or that the code’s fixation occurred after the rise of DNA. Supplementary Materials Original data and programs are available at the author’s web site: .     

Characterisation and Gene Expression Profiling of a Stable Cell Line Expressing a Cell Cycle GFP Sensor

The use of stable cell lines expressing fusions with green fluorescent protein(GFP) has increased significantly in recent years. In this study we have useda range of complimentary analytical techniques to examine the characteristicsof a cell line stably expressing a EGFP cell cycle sensor relative to parentalU2OS cells. Analysis of cell cycle duration and cell cycle phase distribution bycell growth assays and flow cytometry revealed that the two cell lines hadidentical doubling times and cell cycle distributions. Measurement of EGFPfusion protein mRNA by quantitative RT-PCR indicated a EGFP sensorexpression level equivalent to endogenous Cyclin B1 (7000 copies/cell in G2).Microarray analysis showed a 0.9% (>2 fold at p     

Origin of Germ Cells and Early Differentiation of Gonads in the Starfish, Asterina pectinifera

The origin of the germ cells and the development of the genital system in the annually spawning starfish, Asterina pectinifera , were studied by light and electron microscopy. Characteristic germ cells were first characterized in gonads after spawning: the gonia are larger than somatic cells, have large nuclei (with electron-lucent nucleoplasm), and show mitochondrial aggregation associated with nuage (electron-dense bodies). In young starfish without gonads similar cells were detected in the haemal sinus, where they were termed primordial germ cells (PGCs). Brachiolariae and metamorphosed juveniles had a cellular cluster in the coelomic epithelium, near the hydroporic canal. The cluster was comprised of cells endowed with the above-mentioned characteristics of the germ cells. The germ cell counts indicated that PGCs migrate from the aboral haemal sinus near the hydroporic canal, through the haemal sinus to the gonads, where they settle, proliferate, and differentiate into gonia.     

Cellular Localization and Expression of Template-Activating Factor I in Different Cell Types

Template-activating factors I (TAF-I) α and β have been identified as chromatin remodeling factors from human HeLa cells. TAF-Iβ corresponds to the protein encoded by thesetgene, which was found in an acute undifferentiated leukemia as a fusion version with thecangene via chromosomal translocation. To determine the localization of TAF-I, we raised both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against TAF-I. The proteins that react to the antibodies are present not only in human cells but also in mouse, frog, insect, and yeast cells. The mouse TAF-I homologue is ubiquitous in a variety of tissue cells, including liver, kidney, spleen, lung, heart, and brain. It is of interest that the amounts of TAF-Iα and β vary among hemopoietic cells and some specific cell types do not contain TAF-Iα. The level of the TAF-I proteins does not change significantly during the cell cycle progression in either HeLa cells synchronized with an excess concentration of thymidine or NIH 3T3 cells released from the serum-depleted state. TAF-I is predominantly located in nuclei, while TAF-I that is devoid of its acidic region, the region which is essential for the TAF-I activity, shows both nuclear and cytoplasmic localization. The localization of TAF-I in conjunction with the regulation of its activity is discussed.     

Kif3a Controls Murine Nephron Number Via GLI3 Repressor,Cell Survival,and Gene Expression in a Lineage-Specific Manner

The primary cilium is required during early embryo patterning, epithelial tubulogenesis, and growth factor-dependent signal transduction. The requirement for primary cilia during renal epithelial-mesenchymal tissue interactions that give rise to nephrons is undefined. Here, we used Cre-mediated recombination to generate mice with Kif3a deficiency targeted to the ureteric and/or metanephric mesenchyme cell lineages in the embryonic kidney. Gradual loss of primary cilia in either lineage leads to a phenotype of reduced nephron number. Remarkably, in addition to cyst formation, loss of primary cilia in the ureteric epithelial cell leads to decreased expression of Wnt11 and Ret and reduced ureteric branching. Constitutive expression of GLI3 repressor (Gli3^Δ699/+) rescues these abnormalities. In embryonic metanephric mesenchyme cells, Kif3a deficiency limits survival of nephrogenic progenitor cells and expression of genes required for nephron formation. Together, our data demonstrate that Kif3a controls nephron number via distinct cell lineage-specific mechanisms.