Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michail Rovatsos, Lukas Kratochvil
Summary: Organisms have evolved various mechanisms to cope with differences in gene copy numbers caused by degeneration of sex chromosomes. Different gene dose regulatory mechanisms were found in reptilian lineages with independently co-opted the same ancestral genomic region for sex chromosomes. The variability in gene dose regulation is not merely a consequence of ancestral autosomal gene content.
Article
Neurosciences
Allysa Warling, Mani Yavi, Liv S. Clasen, Jonathan D. Blumenthal, Francois M. Lalonde, Armin Raznahan, Siyuan Liu
Summary: This study investigated the white matter volume changes in individuals with sex chromosome aneuploidies, finding that increased X and Y chromosome dosage is associated with widespread decreases in white matter volume, as well as increases in certain regions. These white matter changes are also correlated with measures of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, and show a coordinated coupling with gray matter volume changes driven by sex chromosome dosage.
Article
Biology
Jack G. Rayner, Thomas J. Hitchcock, Nathan W. Bailey
Summary: Recent research suggests that dosage compensation on the X chromosome scales phenotypic effects between the sexes, with incomplete dosage compensation potentially leading to female-biased effects on X-linked alleles.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elzbieta Krzywinska, Luca Ferretti, Jianwei Li, Jian-Chiuan Li, Chun-Hong Chen, Jaroslaw Krzywinski
Summary: The evolutionary puzzle of insect sex determination and dosage compensation pathways has been mostly solved in Drosophila melanogaster, with only terminal genes in the pathway being well conserved. The doublesex (dsx) gene, an ancient sex-determining gene, is present in all studied species except lepidopterans. In Anopheles gambiae, the femaleless (fle) gene controls sex determination in females by regulating splicing of dsx and fruitless (fru) and represents a novel molecular link between sex determination and dosage compensation pathways, making it a potential target for genetic control of malaria vectors.
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marwan Elkrewi, Mikhail A. Moldovan, Marion A. L. Picard, Beatriz Vicoso
Summary: This study characterizes the gene content and evolution of the W-chromosomes in Schistosoma mansoni and S. japonicum. W-linked genes show evidence of degeneration, with high rates of protein evolution and reduced expression, mainly located in young lineage-specific strata. The splicing factor u2af2 is highlighted as a potential candidate for primary sex determination.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Diana M. Bravo-Estupinan, Karol Aguilar-Guerrero, Steve Quiros, Man-Sai Acon, Christian Marin-Muller, Miguel Ibanez-Hernandez, Rodrigo A. Mora-Rodriguez
Summary: The gene dosage compensation hypothesis explains how genes are regulated to compensate for differences in gene dose when there are extra chromosomes, and is an important mechanism in cancer cells to cope with aneuploidy. In cancer, gene dosage compensation mainly occurs at the translational and post-translational levels, involving the degradation or aggregation of protein subunits and transcriptional regulation. Understanding these mechanisms can help identify targets for inhibiting gene dosage compensation in aneuploid cancers.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Mette Viuff, Anne Skakkebaek, Emma B. Johannsen, Simon Chang, Steen Bonlykke Pedersen, Katrine Meyer Lauritsen, Mette Glavind Bulow Pedersen, Christian Trolle, Jesper Just, Claus H. Gravholt
Summary: This study comprehensively analyzed the effects of the X chromosome number on the transcriptome and methylome in blood, fat, and muscle tissue of individuals with sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs). It was found that X chromosome number globally affected the transcriptome and methylome in a tissue-specific manner. The study also identified different gene expression and methylation patterns between 45,X and 47,XXY, and observed a significant effect of sex in fat and muscle tissue. Additionally, the study found regulatory functions of Y chromosomal genes on X chromosomal genes.
Review
Cell Biology
Monika Cechova, Karen H. Miga
Summary: This review focuses on the biology of satellite DNA on human X and Y chromosomes and its impact on sex chromosome aneuploidies. The findings provide insights into the prevalence and consequences of these aneuploidies.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Daniel E. Shaw, Michael A. White
Summary: Regulatory evolution on sex chromosomes plays a key role in the evolution of sex chromosomes and the expression of gametologs. Recent findings indicate that downregulation of ancestral alleles is widespread on Y chromosomes.
TRENDS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily C. Moore, Patrick J. Ciccotto, Erin N. Peterson, Melissa S. Lamm, R. Craig Albertson, Reade B. Roberts
Summary: For many vertebrates, a single genetic locus initiates a cascade of developmental sex differences, resulting in adults with two phenotypically distinct sexes. However, species with polygenic sex determination have multiple interacting sex determination alleles, allowing for more than two genotypic sexes. In the cichlid fish Metriaclima mbenjii, polygenic sex determination produces modular variation in morphological and behavioral traits, and the evolution or introgression of a newly acquired sex determiner creates additional axes of phenotypic variation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Pradeep Kumar Bhaskar, Sheryl Southard, Kelly Baxter, Mark Van Doren
Summary: This study reveals that JAK/STAT signaling promotes male development in germ cells by activating the chromatin reader Phf7, while this signaling pathway is blocked in XX (female) germ cells by the sex determination gene Sex lethal to maintain female development.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Qing-Ling Hu, Yu-Xuan Ye, Ji-Chong Zhuo, Hai-Jian Huang, Jun-Min Li, Chuan-Xi Zhang
Summary: This study provides a chromosome-level genome analysis of the small brown planthopper, revealing the presence of complete dosage compensation in somatic tissues but a lack of it in gonad tissue. It also highlights the enrichment of female-biased genes on the X chromosome and male-biased genes on autosomes in this insect species.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wenwen Wang, Yujia Yang, Suxu Tan, Tao Zhou, Yang Liu, Changxu Tian, Lisui Bao, De Xing, Baofeng Su, Jinhai Wang, Yu Zhang, Shikai Liu, Huitong Shi, Dongya Gao, Rex Dunham, Zhanjiang Liu
Summary: The X and Y chromosomes of channel catfish have the same gene contents. The X-borne hydin-1 gene is silenced, while the Y-borne hydin-1 gene is expressed, resulting in monoallelic expression of hydin-1 responsible for sex determination, similar to genomic imprinting. Treatment with a methylation inhibitor, 5-aza-dC, erases the epigenetic marks and causes sex reversal.
Review
Genetics & Heredity
M. Felicia Basilicata, Claudia Isabelle Keller Valsecchi
Summary: Gene dosage changes play a significant role at the intersection of evolutionary advantage and pathogenicity, providing a common ground for understanding developmental disorders caused by copy number alterations.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yao Wang, Kaikai Ma, Jiaquan Bai, Tao Xu, Wendong Han, Chen Wang, Zhenxia Chen, Kent O. Kirlikovali, Peng Li, Jisheng Xiao, Omar K. Farha
Summary: This study developed a series of solution-processable porous materials for making self-cleaning textile coatings. The coatings can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon exposure to daylight and store them in dark conditions. The ROS generation and storage abilities can be further improved through chemical engineering of the precursors.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lingtao Kong, Zhouxun Li, Han Hu, Jiaxing Zhu, Zhenxia Chen, Mingli Deng, Yun Ling, Peng Li, Yu Jia, Yaming Zhou
Summary: The issue with metal-organic frameworks as CO2-epoxide cycloaddition catalysts lies in the uncertainty of catalytic sites. This study used a Zn-phosphonocarboxylate framework to investigate the structure-property relationship and designed a series of iso-reticular frameworks to explore precise active sites.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yongyin Geng, Tianze Wu, Qiuyue Han, Yongtai Yang, Zhenxia Chen, Xuanxuan Li, Bo Yin, Yaming Zhou, Yun Ling
Summary: In this study, nonionic cyclen-based GBCAs with carboxylate groups on the DO3A-pyridine scaffold were synthesized. [Gd-DO3A-4cp] with a free carboxylate group at the 4-position of pyridine was isolated and showed a higher r1 relaxivity compared to [Gd-DOTA] used in clinics. The possible mechanisms behind the enhanced relaxivity were explored through structure-property relationship studies. In vivo studies demonstrated the good MRI performance, biodistribution, and excretion pathway of [Gd-DO3A-4cp].
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Ling Wang, Ke-Chun Yu, Yun-qing Hou, Min Guo, Fan Yao, Zhen-Xia Chen
Summary: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common malignant tumor in the digestive system, and the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in its development and treatment. This review discusses the effects of gut microbiome dysbiosis on CRC and explores the mechanisms behind it. The modulation of gut microbiome is a novel strategy for preventing and treating CRC. Probiotics can protect the intestinal barrier, inhibit cancer cell growth, resist oxidative stress, and enhance the host's immune system to antagonize CRC tumorigenesis. Clinical applications of the gut microbiome, such as biomarker screening and prediction, as well as microbe modulation for CRC prevention, treatment enhancement, and reduction of side effects, are also highlighted.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Yang Xiong, Dan-Yang Wang, Wenjie Guo, Gaorui Gong, Zhen-Xia Chen, Qin Tang, Jie Mei
Summary: This study investigated the influence of paternal inheritance on sex determination and sexual dimorphism in yellow catfish. By performing sex-control breeding, purified X and Y spermatozoa were obtained for paternal genetic research. Analysis of gene expression and DNA methylation of spermatozoa revealed upregulated genes in Y sperm with lower DNA methylation levels. Combined analysis of SNP and transcriptomic dynamics identified the low-blastocyst stage as a critical time point for zygotic and paternal activation. The study concluded that paternal factors play a role in embryonic morphogenesis and contribute to sexual dimorphism in development.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sheng Hu Qian, Meng-Wei Shi, Dan-Yang Wang, Justin M. Fear, Lu Chen, Yi-Xuan Tu, Hong-Shan Liu, Yuan Zhang, Shuai-Jie Zhang, Shan-Shan Yu, Brian Oliver, Zhen-Xia Chen
Summary: We developed MassiveQC, an unsupervised machine learning-based approach, to automatically download and filter large-scale high-throughput data. Applying MassiveQC to Drosophila RNA-seq data, we generated a comprehensive transcriptome atlas and identified genes with high expression dynamics. We also discovered strong positive correlations in gene expression between human and Drosophila, highlighting the potential of the Drosophila system for studying human development and disease.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mengmeng Zhang, Mingzhu Lu, Tianze Qiu, Qiao Wang, Zhenxia Chen, Mingli Deng, Yongtai Yang, Yannan Yang, Wei Li, Yun Ling, Yaming Zhou
Summary: Developing a novel synthetic strategy named gelothermal synthesis, the researchers successfully downsized metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) from polydisperse crystals to monodisperse nanoparticles, which is of great importance for their potential bioapplications. This strategy led to the isolation of MIL-88, CufumDMF, and ZIF-8 nanoparticles. Through extensive studies on gelothermal condition, a possible mechanism was proposed. The monodisperse MIL-88A nanoparticles demonstrated unique advantages over polydisperse ones in terms of in vitro magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cellular uptake, and drug-carrying properties.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sheng Hu Qian, Meng-Wei Shi, Yu-Li Xiong, Yuan Zhang, Ze-Hao Zhang, Xue-Mei Song, Xin-Yin Deng, Zhen-Xia Chen
Summary: EndoQuad is a comprehensive database for eG4 research, providing genome-wide annotation and systematic characterization based on high-throughput experimental data. The database includes validated DNA eG4s and offers easy access and download, serving as an important resource for the study of eG4s.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tianze Qiu, Tianze Wu, Mingzhu Lu, Yuxi Xie, Mengmeng Zhang, Dan Luo, Zhenxia Chen, Bo Yin, Yaming Zhou, Yun Ling
Summary: In this study, a reticular chemistry approach was used to explore the application of a Zr(IV)-nanoMOF material in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). By replacing Zr(IV) with Gd(III) and introducing water molecules, the material exhibited relaxation transfer in both the inner and outer spheres, leading to enhanced MRI performance. These findings demonstrate the potential of MOFs for T-1-weighted MRI through reticular chemistry.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ze-Hao Zhang, Sheng Hu Qian, Dengguo Wei, Zhen-Xia Chen
Summary: G-quadruplex (G4) is a four-stranded helical DNA secondary structure formed by folding guanine-rich sequences. Evidence has shown the existence of endogenous G4 (eG4) in living cells and its role in regulating gene expression and disease biology. This review discusses the methods for predicting potential G4 sequences, detecting eG4s, and the future applications of eG4 dynamics in disease therapy.
CELL AND BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ling Wang, Yi-Xuan Tu, Lu Chen, Yuan Zhang, Xue-Ling Pan, Shu-Qiao Yang, Shuai-Jie Zhang, Sheng-Hui Li, Ke-Chun Yu, Shuo Song, Hong-Li Xu, Zhu-Cheng Yin, Jun-Qiu Yue, Qian-Lin Ni, Tang Tang, Jiu-Liang Zhang, Min Guo, Shuai Zhang, Fan Yao, Xin-Jun Liang, Zhen-Xia Chen
Summary: Men have higher incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) than women. This study explains the sexual dimorphism in CRC by examining sex-biased gut microbiota and metabolites. The results show that male mice and pseudo-germ mice receiving fecal samples from males have larger tumors and impaired gut barrier function. Changes in gut microbiota composition, including increased pathogenic bacteria and decreased probiotic bacteria, were observed in male mice and pseudo-germ mice. Sex-biased gut metabolites contribute to the sex dimorphism in CRC through glycerophospholipids metabolism pathway. Modulating sex-biased gut microbiota and metabolites could be a potential therapeutic strategy for CRC.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lingliang Guan, Yunlong Ma, Fulai Yu, Xue Jiang, Pan Jiang, Yajiao Zhang, Chao Yuan, Mei Huang, Zhenxia Chen, Lei Liu
Summary: This paper discusses the extraction, functional characteristics, and applications of basil seed gum (BSG). BSG is a hydrophilic colloid with excellent properties in terms of emulsification, rheology, gelation, stability, and adsorption. It has been widely used in various industries and has physiological functions such as weight reduction and blood sugar control. The paper provides theoretical references for the high-value processing and utilization of BSG.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Dan Luo, Hongjie He, Huiru Jing, Yun Ling, Yu Jia, Yongtai Yang, Xiaofeng Liu, Zhenxia Chen, Mingli Deng
Summary: This study reports the synthesis, structural characterization, exfoliation, and photophysical properties of two-dimensional lanthanide phosphonates based on the phosphonocarboxylate ligand. The nanosheets exhibit lateral dimensions from nano- to micro-meter scales, and thicknesses down to several layers. The materials show enhanced photoluminescence with the incorporation of Y(iii) ions, and are effective for labelling latent fingerprints.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sheng Hu Qian, Lu Chen, Yu-Li Xiong, Zhen-Xia Chen
Summary: This study systematically characterized pseudogenes and discovered an unexpectedly high abundance of transcribed and translated pseudogenes in mammals, suggesting their novel regulatory roles. Developmentally dynamic pseudogenes with functional enrichment were prioritized, and a hybrid sequencing dataset was provided for further investigation of their biological mechanisms.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Zhang Xin, Chen Zhen-Xia, Yang Yong-Tai, Deng Ming-Li, Weng Lin-Hong
Summary: Three zinc(II) metal-organic frameworks with different fluorination degree carboxylate ligands were synthesized, and it was found that the fluorine atoms can regulate the structure, increasing both the torsion angle of the carboxylate ligands and the space group. The gas adsorption capacity was enhanced by fluorination. This study also provided a potential approach to study the effect of ligand pre-functionalization on the structures and properties of MOFs analogues.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)