Article
Biology
Qiming Yang, Te-Wen Lo, Katjusa Brejc, Caitlin Schartner, Edward J. Ralston, Denise M. Lapidus, Barbara J. Meyer
Summary: An evolutionary perspective reveals that the genetic regulatory hierarchy controlling sex determination and X-chromosome dosage compensation is conserved but with divergent mechanisms between Caenorhabditis briggsae and Caenorhabditis elegans. While the binding of the specialized condensin dosage compensation complex (DCC) to recruitment sites in Cbr is additive, DCC binding to Cel recruitment sites is synergistic. Rapid divergence of DCC target specificity, determined by motifs, has played a crucial role in establishing reproductive isolation between nematode species.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicholas J. Fuda, Katjusa Brejc, William S. Kruesi, Edward J. Ralston, Rachel Bigley, Aram Shin, Miki Okada, Barbara J. Meyer
Summary: The study identifies critical X-sequence motifs in Caenorhabditis elegans that act synergistically in hermaphrodites to direct X-specific recruitment of the dosage compensation complex (DCC), a condensin complex. The findings reveal that synergy in DCC binding via combinatorial clustering of motifs triggers DCC assembly specifically on X chromosomes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuri Y. Shevelyov, Sergey Ulianov, Mikhail S. Gelfand, Stepan N. Belyakin, Sergey Razin
Summary: Dosage compensation ensures equal gene expression between a single male X chromosome and the pairs of autosomes and female X chromosomes. In fruit flies, canonical dosage compensation is achieved through the action of the male-specific lethal (MSL) complex in all male somatic cells. This complex contains the acetyl transferase males absent on the first (MOF), which specifically hyperacetylates H4K16 on the male X chromosome, promoting transcription of X-linked genes. Additionally, there is growing evidence for the existence of non-canonical dosage compensation mechanisms in somatic and germline cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pallavi Chauhan, Janne Swaegers, Rosa A. Sanchez-Guillen, Erik Svensson, Maren Wellenreuther, Bengt Hansson
Summary: This study reveals the conservation of sex chromosome synteny and balanced expression of X-linked genes between sexes in Ischnura elegans, as well as the presence of sex-biased gene expression in the sex-determining pathway. Furthermore, the study shows the independent evolution of dosage compensation among insect orders separated by millions of years of evolutionary history.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryoma Ota, Makoto Hayashi, Shumpei Morita, Hiroki Miura, Satoru Kobayashi
Summary: Dosage compensation equalizes sex chromosome gene expression between the sexes in Drosophila, achieved by the male-specific lethal (MSL) complex in somatic cells. However, it remains unclear whether dosage compensation occurs in germline cells. Transcriptome analysis showed higher expression of X-linked genes in female primordial germ cells (PGCs) compared to males, with absence of H4K16ac due to failure of MSL complex formation in male PGCs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Greco Hernandez, Paula Vazquez-Pianzola
Summary: The evolutionary origin of eukaryotes drove the transition from prokaryotic-like translation to a more sophisticated eukaryotic translation through successive gene duplication of a single eIF4E gene. This resulted in the diversification of eIF4E functions in RNA metabolism across eukaryotes. In metazoans, eIF4E paralogs have different roles in various processes, and their expression and biochemical properties vary. Recent advances in understanding the functional diversification of eIF4E in metazoans, particularly in humans, fruit flies, and roundworms, are discussed in this review.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hoi-Khoanh Giong, Manivannan Subramanian, Kweon Yu, Jeong-Soo Lee
Summary: Tauopathy refers to a group of progressive neurodegenerative diseases caused by the malfunction of Tau protein due to abnormal hyperphosphorylation. While rodent models dominate the study of tauopathy due to their similarity to humans, genetic animal models using Drosophila, zebrafish, and C. elegans have also contributed significantly to understanding the pathophysiology of tauopathy. These non-rodent genetic animal models offer advantages such as short lifespans, versatile genetic tools, real-time in-vivo imaging capabilities, low maintenance costs, and high-throughput screening potential in tauopathy research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thilaga Thirugnanam, Kirankumar Santhakumar
Summary: Environmental toxins can be harmful to humans, causing neurodegenerative disorders. Certain neurotoxins, when present in optimal concentrations, can mimic the clinical features of neurodegenerative diseases in animal models, aiding in understanding the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Chaweewan Sirakawin, Dongfa Lin, Ziyue Zhou, Xiaoxin Wang, Rhianne Kelleher, Shangyuan Huang, Weimiao Long, Andre Pires-daSilva, Yu Liu, Jingjing Wang, Ilya A. Vinnikov
Summary: This study found that vitamin A can extend lifespan, reduce fat accumulation and lipofuscin production, and increase resistance to heat and oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans. This resistance is attributed to the high levels of detoxifying enzymes induced by vitamin A. Additionally, the study found that vitamin A can upregulate the expression of related genes in human cells and mouse liver tissues.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Aimei Dai, Yushuai Wang, Anthony Greenberg, Zhongqi Liufu, Tian Tang
Summary: The study reveals a significant expansion of MSL binding sites in Drosophila, particularly on autosomes, with most of the newly-bound regions likely unrelated to dosage compensation, leading to increased expression divergence between D. melanogaster and its close relative. While sites related to dosage compensation show clear signs of adaptive evolution, these signs are even more pronounced among autosomal regions.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Irene Talon, Adrian Janiszewski, Bart Theeuwes, Thomas Lefevre, Juan Song, Greet Bervoets, Lotte Vanheer, Natalie De Geest, Suresh Poovathingal, Ryan Allsop, Jean-Christophe Marine, Florian Rambow, Thierry Voet, Vincent Pasque
Summary: Our study reveals that intrinsic compensatory mechanisms exist in mammalian cells, involving modulation of chromatin accessibility to counteract imbalances in gene dosage between the X chromosome and autosomes caused by evolutionary changes or X chromosome inactivation in vitro. Through genome-wide approaches, allele-specific ATAC-seq, and single-cell RNA-seq, we demonstrate increased chromatin accessibility on the upregulated active X chromosome compared to autosomes in female embryonic fibroblasts and during reprogramming to pluripotency. Additionally, our data show that ZFP42/REX1, a gene associated with pluripotency that evolved specifically in placental mammals, targets multiple X-linked genes, suggesting an evolutionary link between ZFP42/REX1, X chromosome reactivation, and pluripotency.
Article
Cell Biology
Rola S. Zeidan, Sung Min Han, Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, Rui Xiao
Summary: Iron plays crucial roles in physiological processes and its homeostasis involves a complex network of regulators at systemic, cellular, and molecular levels. Dysregulation of iron homeostasis is often linked to age-related pathologies, highlighting the importance of understanding the interplay between iron balance and aging in order to develop therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guangsheng Li, Jingyue (Ellie) Duan
Summary: Dosage balance between sex chromosomes and autosomes is crucial for development and health. A recent study reveals the involvement of a key player in X chromosome upregulation during early mouse development, and its association with the pathogenesis of human bile duct cancer.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ryan J. Weaver, Samantha Rabinowitz, Kiley Thueson, Justin C. Havird
Summary: Mitonuclear coevolution is strongly supported across mammalian evolution, although nuclear compensation is not the major mode of mitonuclear coevolution.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel C. C. Quesnelle, William G. G. Bendena, Ian D. D. Chin-Sang
Summary: MicroRNAs play a critical role in regulating post-transcriptional gene expression in various taxa. Their presence has been identified in almost all aspects of development since their discovery in the nematode C. elegans. Invertebrate model organisms, especially C. elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, are ideal for studying miRNA function, and this review compiles the functions of miRNAs in the development of these invertebrate species. The regulation of gene expression by miRNAs shapes both embryonic and larval development, and several trends can be observed in their regulatory nature.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Damien Marchese, Florent Guislain, Tamara Pringels, Laure Bridoux
Summary: Homopolymeric amino acid repeats are common in human proteins, particularly in transcription factors and kinases. This study focuses on homopolymeric histidine repeats (polyH) and their role in regulating embryonic development. Through bioinformatic analysis, the study identifies that polyH-containing proteins interact with cysteine-rich proteins and proteins containing cysteine repeats. The study further investigates the HOXA1 protein, a transcription factor with a long polyH motif, and finds that the polyH motif is necessary for its interaction with cysteine-rich proteins. Additionally, the study discovers that metal ions are required for the HOXA1-MDFI interaction and identifies three polyH interactors that down-regulate the transcriptional activity of HOXA1.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS
(2024)
