PLoS ONE,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
16(9), P. e0254308 - e0254308
Published: Sept. 24, 2021
Tissue/organ-specific
genes
(TSGs)
are
important
not
only
for
understanding
organ
development
and
function,
but
also
investigating
the
evolutionary
lineages
of
organs
in
animals.
Here,
we
investigate
TSGs
9
adult
tissues
an
ascidian,
Ciona
intestinalis
Type
A
(Ciona
robusta),
which
lies
position
being
sister
group
vertebrates.
RNA-seq
qRT-PCR
identified
each
tissue,
BLAST
searches
their
homologs
zebrafish
mice.
Tissue
distributions
vertebrate
were
analyzed
clustered
using
public
data
12
30
mouse
tissues.
Among
neural
complex,
48%
63%
showed
high
expression
brain,
respectively,
suggesting
that
central
nervous
system
is
evolutionarily
conserved
chordates.
In
contrast,
ovary,
pharynx,
intestine
consistently
highly
expressed
corresponding
vertebrates,
these
have
evolved
Ciona-specific
lineages.
Intriguingly,
more
TSG
stomach
liver
(17-29%)
(22-33%)
than
(5%).
Expression
profiles
suggest
biological
roles
distinct
from
those
counterparts.
Collectively,
categorized
into
3
groups:
i)
similarity
to
(neural
complex
heart),
ii)
low
(ovary,
intestine),
iii)
tissues,
other
(stomach,
endostyle,
siphons).
The
present
study
provides
transcriptomic
catalogs
ascidian
significant
insights
heart,
digestive
tract
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
9
Published: June 10, 2021
Nuclear
receptors
(NRs)
fulfill
key
roles
in
the
coordination
of
postembryonal
developmental
transitions
animal
species.
They
control
metamorphosis
and
sexual
maturation
virtually
all
animals
by
that
two
main
environmental-dependent
decision
points.
Sexual
are
controlled
steroid
thyroid
receptors,
respectively
vertebrates,
while
both
processes
orchestrated
ecdysone
receptor
(EcR)
insects.
The
regulation
these
depends
on
environmental
factors
like
nutrition,
temperature,
or
photoperiods
NRs
form
evolutionary
conserved
mediators
phenotypic
plasticity.
While
mechanism
action
for
well
studied
model
organisms,
evolution
systems
is
not
entirely
understood
requires
further
investigation.
We
here
review
current
knowledge
NR
involvement
across
tree
life
with
special
attention
to
integration
signaling
mechanism.
Furthermore,
we
compare
commonalities
differences
different
systems.
Finally,
identify
gaps
our
evolution,
which,
if
sufficiently
investigated,
would
lead
an
importantly
improved
understanding
complex
systems,
history
points,
and,
ultimately,
speciation
events
metazoan
kingdom.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
10
Published: June 24, 2022
Cell
lipids
are
differentially
distributed
in
distinct
organelles
and
within
the
leaflets
of
bilayer.
They
can
further
form
laterally
defined
sub-domains
membranes
with
important
signaling
functions.
This
molecular
spatial
complexity
offers
optimal
platforms
for
associated
challenge
dissecting
these
pathways
especially
that
lipid
metabolism
tends
to
be
highly
interconnected.
Lipid
has
historically
been
implicated
gamete
function,
however
detailed
involved
remain
obscure.
In
this
review
we
focus
on
oocyte
sperm
maturation
an
effort
consolidate
current
knowledge
role
set
stage
future
directions.
Biomolecules,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
13(5), P. 781 - 781
Published: April 30, 2023
Starfish
relaxin-like
gonad-stimulating
peptide
(RGP)
is
the
first
identified
hormone
with
gonadotropin-like
activity
in
invertebrates.
RGP
a
heterodimeric
peptide,
comprising
A
and
B
chains
disulfide
cross-linkages.
Although
had
been
named
substance
(GSS),
purified
member
of
relaxin-type
family.
Thus,
GSS
was
renamed
as
RGP.
The
cDNA
encodes
not
only
chains,
but
also
signal
C-peptides.
After
International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
24(18), P. 14358 - 14358
Published: Sept. 20, 2023
Vasopressin/oxytocin
(VP/OT)-type
neuropeptide
is
an
ancient
neurophysin-associated
and
has
been
intensively
studied
to
be
involved
in
multiple
physiological
processes
protostomian
deuterostome
vertebrates.
However,
little
known
about
the
functions
of
VP/OT-type
invertebrates
especially
echinoderms.
Here,
we
firstly
report
signaling
important
economic
species,
Apostichopus
japonicus,
which
widely
cultured
Asia,
with
high
nutritional
medicinal
values.
Molecular
characterization
analysis
holotocin
its
precursor
revealed
highly
conserved
features
VP/OT
family.
The
candidate
receptor
for
(AjHOR)
was
confirmed
able
activate
via
cAMP-PKA
possible
Ca2+-PKC
pathway,
further
activated
downstream
ERK1/2
cascade.
Holotocin
expression
profile
showed
that
they
were
mainly
concentrated
circumoral
nerve
ring.
Furthermore,
vitro
pharmacological
experiments
demonstrated
caused
contractile
responses
preparations
from
A.
japonicus.
And
vivo
functional
studies
indicated
short-term
injection
resulted
body
bloat
long-term
reduced
mass,
suggesting
potential
roles
osmoregulation
feeding
co-inhibition
holotocin-CCK.
Our
findings
provided
a
comprehensive
description
AjHOR-holotocin
signaling,
inhibition
by
controlling
muscle
contractions.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
23(14), P. 7494 - 7494
Published: July 6, 2022
As
one
of
the
critical
abiotic
factors,
temperature
controls
fish
development
and
reproduction.
However,
effects
low
on
transcriptional
regulation
zebrafish
reproduction
remain
largely
unclear.
In
this
study,
fecundity
was
examined
after
exposure
to
cold
temperatures
at
19.5
°C,
19
18.5
or
18
°C.
The
°C
showed
no
significant
influence
zebrafish,
but
significantly
blocked
spawning
females,
suggesting
existence
a
point
for
females.
Based
these
observations,
brains
anesthetized
under
stress
different
were
collected
high-throughput
RNA-seq
assays.
Key
genes,
hub
pathways
important
biological
processes
responding
during
identified
through
bioinformatic
analysis.
number
down-regulated
up-regulated
genes
reduction
from
egg-spawning
non-spawning
2588
2527
(fold
change
≥
1.5
p-value
≤
0.01),
respectively.
Venn
analysis
performed
identify
up-
key
genes.
KEGG
enrichment
indicated
that
overrepresented
among
included
GnRH
signaling
pathway,
vascular
smooth
muscle
contraction,
C-type
lectin
receptor
phosphatidylinositol
system
insulin
pathway.
GO
revealed
most
inhibited
photoreceptor
cell
outer
segment
organization,
circadian
gene
expression
maintenance.
Furthermore,
99
hormone-related
found
in
brain
tissues
groups,
pathway
enriched
related
hormones
Thus,
findings
uncovered
crucial
controlling
female
stress.
Frontiers in Endocrinology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
13
Published: March 7, 2022
Omics
studies
contribute
to
the
elucidation
of
genomes
and
profiles
gene
expression.
In
ascidian
Ciona
intestinalis
Type
A
(
robusta
),
mass
spectrometry
(MS)-based
peptidomic
have
detected
numerous
-specific
(nonhomologous)
neuropeptides
as
well
homologs
typical
vertebrate
hypothalamic
peptide
hormones.
Candidates
for
cognate
G
protein-coupled
receptors
(GPCRs)
these
peptides
been
found
in
transcriptome
by
two
ways.
First,
homologous
GPCRs
counterparts
sequence
homology
searches
transcriptomes.
Second,
transcriptome-derived
GPCR
candidates
used
machine
learning-based
systematic
prediction
interactions
not
only
between
but
also
novel
GPCRs.
These
data
ultimately
led
experimental
evidence
various
peptide-GPCR
interactions.
Comparative
transcriptomics
wildtype
vasopressin
(CiVP)
gene-edited
provide
clues
biological
functions
CiVP
ovarian
follicular
development
whole
body
growth.
Furthermore,
transcriptomes
follicles
treated
with
peptides,
such
tachykinin
cionin
(a
cholecystokinin
homolog),
revealed
key
regulatory
genes
follicle
growth,
maturation,
ovulation,
eventually
leading
verification
essential
molecular
mechanisms
underlying
events.
findings
indicate
that
omics
studies,
combined
artificial
intelligence
single-cell
technologies,
pave
way
investigating
greater
details
nervous,
neuroendocrine,
endocrine
systems
ascidians
functional
evolution
diversity
peptidergic
networks
throughout
chordates.
Marine Environmental Research,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
191, P. 106170 - 106170
Published: Sept. 10, 2023
In
context
of
testing,
screening
and
monitoring
endocrine-disrupting
(ED)
type
environmental
pollutants,
tunicates
could
possibly
represent
a
particularly
interesting
group
bioindicator
organisms.
These
primitive
chordates
are
already
important
model
organisms
within
developmental
genomics
research
due
to
their
central
position
in
evolution
close
relationship
vertebrates.
The
solitary
ascidians,
such
as
the
genus
Ciona
spp.
(vase
tunicates),
be
extra
feasible
ED
bioindicators.
They
have
free-swimming,
tadpole-like
larval
stage
that
develops
extremely
quickly
(<20
h
under
favorable
conditions),
has
short
life
cycle
(typically
2–3
months),
relatively
easy
maintain
laboratory
culture,
fully
sequenced
genomes,
transgenic
embryos
with
3D
course
data
embryo
ontogeny
available.
this
article,
we
discuss
possible
roles
(and
other
ascidians)
ecotoxicological
general
but
perhaps
especially
for
effect
studies
contaminants
presumed
endocrine
disrupting
modes
action.
Scientific Reports,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
11(1)
Published: May 25, 2021
Abstract
Cionin
is
a
homolog
of
vertebrate
cholecystokinin/gastrin
that
has
been
identified
in
the
ascidian
Ciona
intestinalis
type
A.
The
phylogenetic
position
ascidians
as
closest
living
relatives
vertebrates
suggests
cionin
can
provide
clues
to
evolution
endocrine/neuroendocrine
systems
throughout
chordates.
Here,
we
show
biological
role
regulation
ovulation.
In
situ
hybridization
demonstrated
mRNA
receptor,
Cior2
,
was
expressed
specifically
inner
follicular
cells
pre-ovulatory
follicles
ovary.
found
significantly
stimulate
ovulation
after
24-h
incubation.
Transcriptome
and
subsequent
Real-time
PCR
analyses
confirmed
expression
levels
receptor
tyrosine
kinase
(RTK)
signaling
genes
matrix
metalloproteinase
(MMP)
gene
were
elevated
cionin-treated
follicles.
Of
particular
interest
an
RTK
inhibitor
MMP
markedly
suppressed
stimulatory
effect
on
Furthermore,
inhibition
reduced
These
results
evidence
induces
by
stimulating
via
pathway.
This
first
report
endogenous
roles
induction
family
peptides
organism.
Frontiers in Endocrinology,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
12
Published: May 6, 2021
Oxytocin
(OT)
and
vasopressin
(VP)
superfamily
neuropeptides
are
distributed
in
not
only
vertebrates
but
also
diverse
invertebrates.
However,
no
VPergic
innervation
of
invertebrates
has
ever
been
documented.
In
the
ascidian,