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RNA Seq analysis following RNAi perturbation of Hox genes in flatworm

ABSTRACT: Hox genes are highly conserved transcription factors renowned for their roles in the segmental patterning of the embryonic anterior-posterior (A/P) axis1. Emerging evidence for Hox gene expression and function in postnatally derived structures has fueled interest in their additional roles beyond embryogenesis2,3. We report novel functions for Hox genes in A/P directed adult tissue segmentation and transverse fission behavior underlying asexual reproduction in the planaria, Schmidtea mediterranea. Silencing of each of the 13 planarian Hox family members revealed 5 Hox genes required for asexual reproduction. Amongst these, silencing of hox3 genes resulted in supernumerary segments, while silencing of post2b eliminated segmentation altogether. The opposing roles of hox3 and post2b in segmentation are paralleled in the regulation of fission behavior. Silencing of hox3 increases the frequency of fission behavior initiation, while silencing of post2b eliminates fission behavior entirely. Furthermore, we identified a network of downstream effector genes mediating Hox gene regulation of asexual reproduction, thereby providing insight into their respective mechanisms of action. In summation, our study identifies roles for planarian Hox genes as mediators of adult tissue segmentation and behavior, as well as providing the first lines of evidence that Hox genes function post-embryonically to regulate asexual reproduction.

ORGANISM(S): Schmidtea mediterranea

PROVIDER: GSE159876 | GEO | 2021/08/13

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) is a cyprinid fish that originated in eastern Eurasia and is considered as invasive in European freshwater ecosystems. The populations of gibel carp in Europe are mostly composed of asexually reproducing triploid females (i.e., reproducing by gynogenesis) and sexually reproducing diploid females and males. Although some cases of coexisting sexual and asexual reproductive forms are known in vertebrates, the molecular mechanisms maintaining such coexistence are still in question. Both reproduction modes are supposed to exhibit evolutionary and ecological advantages and disadvantages. To better understand the coexistence of these two reproduction strategies, we performed transcriptome profile analysis of gonad tissues (ovaries), and studied the differentially expressed reproduction-associated genes in sexual and asexual females. We used high-throughput RNA sequencing to generate transcriptomic profiles of gonadal tissues of triploid asexual females and males, diploid sexual males and females of gibel carp, as well as diploid individuals from two closely-related species, C. auratus and Cyprinus carpio. Using SNP clustering, we showed the close similarity of C. gibelio and C. auratus with a basal position of C. carpio to both Carassius species. Using transcriptome profile analyses, we showed that many genes and pathways are involved in both gynogenetic and sexual reproduction in C. gibelio; however, we also found that 1500 genes, including 100 genes involved in cell cycle control, meiosis, oogenesis, embryogenesis, fertilization, steroid hormone signaling and biosynthesis were differently expressed in the ovaries of asexual and sexual females. We suggest that the overall downregulation of reproduction-associated pathways in asexual females, and their maintenance in sexual ones, allow for their stable coexistence, integrating the evolutionary and ecological advantages and disadvantages of the two reproductive forms. However, we showed that many sexual-reproduction-related genes are maintained and expressed in asexual females, suggesting that gynogenetic gibel carp retains the genetic toolkits for meiosis and sexual reproduction. These findings shed new light on the evolution of this asexual and sexual complex.

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RNA Seq analysis following RNAi perturbation of Hox genes in flatworm

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