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
Biology
Jing Li, Jilin Zhang, Jing Liu, Yang Zhou, Cheng Cai, Luohao Xu, Xuelei Dai, Shaohong Feng, Chunxue Guo, Jinpeng Rao, Kai Wei, Erich D. Jarvis, Yu Jiang, Zhengkui Zhou, Guojie Zhang, Qi Zhou
Summary: Utilizing long-read sequencing and multiplatform scaffolding techniques, we resolved the genome assembly issues in ducks and found extensive overlap in chromosome features between ducks and chickens. The duck W chromosome shares similarities with the human Y chromosome in terms of chromosome structure and suppression of homologous recombination.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Susanna Szakats, Alice Mcatamney, Hugh Cross, Megan J. Wilson
Summary: This study focused on sex differences in gene expression and regulation, and found that some miRNAs exhibit significant sex differences in the developing brain, which may contribute to the differences in neurodevelopment between males and females. Additionally, sex-biased miRNAs were found to be located near genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding sex differences in molecular biology research and provide insights into potential genes and pathways of interest for further study.
BIOLOGY OF SEX DIFFERENCES
(2023)
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
Jason Ioannidis, Gunes Taylor, Debiao Zhao, Long Liu, Alewo Idoko-Akoh, Daoqing Gong, Robin Lovell-Badge, Silvana Guioli, Mike J. McGrew, Michael Clinton
Summary: In birds, sex determination is thought to depend on a sex chromosome gene dosage mechanism, with the gene DMRT1 playing a key role. Experiments showed that ZZ chickens lacking DMRT1 developed ovaries instead of testes, while blocking estrogen synthesis in ZW embryos led to testis development, highlighting the interconnected roles of DMRT1 and estrogen in avian sex determination.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Simin Chai, Xin Huang, Tianzhen Wu, Shixia Xu, Wenhua Ren, Guang Yang
Summary: The evolution of testicular position in mammals involves genes associated with the extracellular matrix, muscle, spermatogenesis, and sperm fertility, showing rapid evolution and positive selection in ascrotal mammals. These genes are also enriched in functions related to cancer, DNA repair, DNA replication, and autophagy. Additionally, alterations in gubernaculum development contribute to cryptorchidism and potential protective mechanisms in natural cryptorchids include cancer resistance and DNA repair. These findings have implications for health and infertility in both humans and domestic mammals.
Article
Immunology
Maud Deny, Alexandros Popotas, Laurence Hanssens, Nicolas Lefevre, Luis Alexis Arroba Nunez, Ghislaine Simo Ouafo, Francis Corazza, Georges Casimir, Mustapha Chamekh
Summary: Previous studies have shown that there is a sex disparity in cystic fibrosis (CF) disease, with females experiencing more respiratory exacerbations and infections leading to shorter survival. The underlying mechanisms are still unclear, but this study suggests that X-linked miR-221-3p may play a role in sustaining higher inflammation in CF girls. The expression of this miRNA was found to be significantly higher in CF girls compared to CF boys, and it correlated positively with IL-1 beta.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Bitao Zhong, Chunmei Cui, Qinghua Cui
Summary: Significant differences between males and females in both physiology and disease necessitate the identification and analysis of sex-biased miRNAs. Previous studies have largely focused on healthy individuals or a single disease, making it necessary to comprehensively analyze sex-biased miRNAs in diseases. This study reveals that women have a greater number of highly expressed conserved miRNAs associated with a broader spectrum of diseases. Insights from this study could impact precision medicine and disease management.
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
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
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ruslan Deviatiiarov, Hiroki Nagai, Galym Ismagulov, Anastasia Stupina, Kazuhiro Wada, Shinji Ide, Noriyuki Toji, Heng Zhang, Woranop Sukparangsi, Sittipon Intarapat, Oleg Gusev, Guojun Sheng
Summary: Sex in birds is genetically determined, but the molecular mechanism behind it is not well-understood. Research shows that most genes on the avian Z sex chromosome are strictly compensated, similar to the mammalian X chromosome. Furthermore, a sex-dimorphic gene called Ribosomal Protein S6 has been identified.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel W. Bellott, David C. Page
Summary: Surviving genes on sex-specific chromosomes in snakes, birds, and mammals are enriched for dosage-sensitive developmental processes, particularly those related to neural crest-derived structures. Broad expression and dosage sensitivity independently contribute to gene survival, suggesting that pleiotropy plays a role in the evolution of dosage compensation. Maintaining viability of the heterogametic sex appears to have driven gene survival on amniote sex-specific chromosomes, with subtle modulation of survivor gene expression having disproportionate effects on development and disease.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Dan-dan Shen, Ying-peng Hua, Jin-yong Huang, Shu-ting Yu, Tai-bo Wu, Yannning Zhang, Huan-li Chen, Cai-peng Yue
Summary: This study identified key regulatory genes, metabolites, and phytohormones related to glycoalkaloid regulation in germinated potato tubers through integrated transcriptome, metabolome, and hormone analyses. The findings lay a foundation for investigating the biosynthesis and regulation of SGAs, and provide reference for the production and consumption of potato tubers.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Victorya Richardson, Nora Engel, Rob J. J. Kulathinal
Summary: Traditionally, it is believed that sex differences occur after the establishment of reproductive systems and the production of sex hormones. However, this study shows that there is abundant sex-biased gene expression from the earliest stages of embryo development. The comparison between mouse and human embryos reveals comparable function of sex-biased genes.
BIOLOGY OF SEX DIFFERENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chiara Siniscalchi, Armando Di Palo, Aniello Russo, Nicoletta Potenza
Summary: Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) make up the majority of the transcriptome and participate in regulatory networks through competitive interactions, known as competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) is an important long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) involved in X chromosome inactivation and is associated with miRNAs. Further research may reveal novel functions and gender-related mechanisms of XIST and other lncRNAs produced by the X-inactivation center.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Amir Fallahshahroudi, Pia Lotvedt, Johan Belteky, Jordi Altimiras, Per Jensen
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jeramiah J. Smith, Nataliya Timoshevskaya, Chengxi Ye, Carson Holt, Melissa C. Keinath, Hugo J. Parker, Malcolm E. Cook, Jon E. Hess, Shawn R. Narum, Francesco Lamanna, Henrik Kaessmann, Vladimir A. Timoshevskiy, Courtney K. M. Waterbury, Cody Saraceno, Leanne M. Wiedemann, Sofia M. C. Robb, Carl Baker, Evan E. Eichler, Dorit Hockman, Tatjana Sauka-Spengler, Mark Yandell, Robb Krumlauf, Greg Elgar, Chris T. Amemiya
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Amir Fallahshahroudi, Enrico Sorato, Jordi Altimiras, Per Jensen
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ioannis Sarropoulos, Ray Marin, Margarida Cardoso-Moreira, Henrik Kaessmann
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Margarida Cardoso-Moreira, Jean Halbert, Delphine Valloton, Britta Velten, Chunyan Chen, Yi Shao, Angelica Liechti, Kelly Ascencao, Coralie Rummel, Svetlana Ovchinnikova, Pavel V. Mazin, Ioannis Xenarios, Keith Harshman, Matthew Mort, David N. Cooper, Carmen Sandi, Michael J. Soares, Paula G. Ferreira, Sandra Afonso, Miguel Carneiro, James M. A. Turner, John L. VandeBerg, Amir Fallahshahroudi, Per Jensen, Ruediger Behr, Steven Lisgo, Susan Lindsay, Philipp Khaitovich, Wolfgang Huber, Julie Baker, Simon Anders, Yong E. Zhang, Henrik Kaessmann
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Daniel Sobrido-Camean, Luis Alfonso Yanez-Guerra, Francesco Lamanna, Candela Conde-Fernandez, Henrik Kaessmann, Maurice R. Elphick, Ramon Anadon, Maria Celina Rodicio, Anton Barreiro-Iglesias
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Asier Ullate-Agote, Ingrid Burgelin, Adrien Debry, Carine Langrez, Florent Montange, Rodrigue Peraldi, Jean Daraspe, Henrik Kaessmann, Michel C. Milinkovitch, Athanasia C. Tzika
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yang Zhou, Linda Shearwin-Whyatt, Jing Li, Zhenzhen Song, Takashi Hayakawa, David Stevens, Jane C. Fenelon, Emma Peel, Yuanyuan Cheng, Filip Pajpach, Natasha Bradley, Hikoyu Suzuki, Masato Nikaido, Joana Damas, Tasman Daish, Tahlia Perry, Zexian Zhu, Yuncong Geng, Arang Rhie, Ying Sims, Jonathan Wood, Bettina Haase, Jacquelyn Mountcastle, Olivier Fedrigo, Qiye Li, Huanming Yang, Jian Wang, Stephen D. Johnston, Adam M. Phillippy, Kerstin Howe, Erich D. Jarvis, Oliver A. Ryder, Henrik Kaessmann, Peter Donnelly, Jonas Korlach, Harris A. Lewin, Jennifer Graves, Katherine Belov, Marilyn B. Renfree, Frank Grutzner, Qi Zhou, Guojie Zhang
Summary: The study of egg-laying mammals' genomes offers insights into mammalian evolution, highlighting ancestral and lineage-specific genomic changes in monotremes and mammals. Unique chromosome complex in monotremes may have originated from ancestral chromosome configuration, and differences in specific genes underlie ecological adaptations of monotremes compared to therians.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Amir Fallahshahroudi, Martin Johnsson, Enrico Sorato, S. J. Kumari A. Ubhayasekera, Jonas Bergquist, Jordi Altimiras, Per Jensen
Summary: The genetic variation in TSHR between red junglefowl and domestic chicken is reflected in differences in abundance, gene expression levels, hormone levels, sexual maturity, and behavior.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Pavel V. Mazin, Philipp Khaitovich, Margarida Cardoso-Moreira, Henrik Kaessmann
Summary: The study reveals that developmentally dynamic AS events, especially in the brain, are more conserved and regulated than non-dynamic events. Newly emerged cassette exons are typically incorporated late in testis development, while those retained during evolution are predominantly brain specific.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ioannis Sarropoulos, Mari Sepp, Robert Fromel, Kevin Leiss, Nils Trost, Evgeny Leushkin, Konstantin Okonechnikov, Piyush Joshi, Peter Giere, Lena M. Kutscher, Margarida Cardoso-Moreira, Stefan M. Pfister, Henrik Kaessmann
Summary: This study investigated the regulatory basis of mouse cerebellum development from early neurogenesis to adulthood using snATAC-seq profiles. The research revealed spatiotemporal heterogeneity among progenitor cells and gradual divergence in the regulatory programs of cerebellar neurons during differentiation. Comparison to vertebrate genomes showed a shared decrease in CRE conservation during development and differentiation, as well as differences in constraint between cell types. The study provides insights into mammalian organ development dynamics and evolutionary gene regulation in cerebellar cells.
Article
Biology
Franziska Gruhl, Peggy Janich, Henrik Kaessmann, David Gatfield
Summary: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are widespread in eukaryotes and play a role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. However, studies across multiple species show that there are few orthologous circRNAs, suggesting that their emergence may have occurred independently rather than through conserved evolution. This challenges the idea of widespread functional conservation of circRNAs.
Article
Neurosciences
Hanke Gwendolyn Bauersachs, Ursula Weiss, Andrea Hellwig, Celia Garcia-Vilela, Bastienne Zaremba, Henrik Kaessmann, Priit Pruunsild, Hilmar Bading
Summary: Studies in rodent models have shown that glutamate-induced excitotoxic cell death is primarily mediated by extrasynaptic NMDARs. Rodent neurons can develop a protective shield against excitotoxicity in an activity-dependent manner. This study established a human iPSC-derived forebrain organoid model and found that both toxic and protective actions of NMDARs are preserved in human neurons. The experimental platform described here is valuable for validating neuroprotective gene products and drugs in human neurons.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhong-Yi Wang, Evgeny Leushkin, Angelica Liechti, Svetlana Ovchinnikova, Katharina Moessinger, Thoomke Bruening, Coralie Rummel, Frank Grutzner, Margarida Cardoso-Moreira, Peggy Janich, David Gatfield, Boubou Diagouraga, Bernard de Massy, Mark E. Gill, Antoine H. F. M. Peters, Simon Anders, Henrik Kaessmann