Project description:In contrast to women, echinoderms have the amazing ability to keep producing functional gametes throughout their lifespan, in some cases exceeding 200 years. The histology and ultrastructure of echinoderm ovaries has been described but how these ovaries function and maintain the production of high-quality gametes is still a mystery. Here, we present the first single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) datasets of two sea urchin species (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Lytechinus variegatus) and one sea star species (Patiria miniata). We find 14 cell states in the Sp ovary, 16 cell states in the Lv ovary and 13 cell states in the ovary of the sea star. This resource is essential to understand the structure and functional biology of the ovary in echinoderms, and better informs decisions in the utilization of in situ RNA hybridization probes selective for various cell types. We link key genes with cell clusters of the feature plots in validation of this approach. This resource also aids in the identification of the stem cells for prolonged and continuous gamete production, is a foundation for testing changes in the annual reproductive cycle, and is essential for understanding the evolution of reproduction of this important phylum. Highly selective gene expression revealed by this dataset also divulges gene targets of highest priority for interrogating gene activities by Cas9-targeted gene knock-out and knock-in approaches and in dissociated ovarian cell cultures to test the function of each cell type identified.
Project description:Comparison of Foxl2-null ovaries to wildtype ovaries, ovaries lacking Wnt4 or Kit, or testes, throughout mouse development. The goal of this study was to identify early Foxl2 target genes as well as other ovarian, anti-testis genes that may act independently of Foxl2. Experiment Overall Design: We studied 43 samples over 15 conditions to cover a wide range of wiltype and pathological states showing highly divergent alterations of cell type composition. This was meant to identify the most specific, cell context-independent targets of Foxl2.
Project description:We identified cis-regulatory elements based on their dynamic chromatin accessibility during the gastrula-larva stages of sea urchin and sea star and studied their evolution in these echinoderm species
Project description:To confirm that female-to-male sexual fate reversal in Smad4flox/floxMerCreMer Stra8−/− ovaries occurs independently of somatic environment. We analyzed transcriptome of samples using RNA from control testes, ovaries, Smad4flox/floxMerCreMer Stra8+/− and Smad4flox/floxMerCreMer Stra8−/− ovaries.
Project description:Suppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)] is a multi-zinc finger DNA binding factor required for gypsy insulator function and female germline development in Drosophila. The enhancer-blocking and barrier functions of the gypsy retrotransposon involve Su(Hw) binding to twelve clustered Su(Hw) binding sites (SBSs) and recruitment of the Centrosomal Protein of 190 kD (CP190) and Modifier of mdg4 67.2 kD isoform (Mod67.2) insulator proteins. In contrast, the Su(Hw) germline function involves binding to non-clustered genomic SBSs and does not require CP190 or Mod67.2. Here, we use genome-wide expression analyses in the ovary to identify the first Su(Hw) regulated target genes. Ovaries for RNA isolation were dissected from 4-6 hour old virgin females of wild type (Canton S and BL15598) and su(Hw) null sterile mutants (su(Hw)A2663/v and su(Hw)Pb/2) Drosophila melanogaster. At this stage of development, ovaries only contain egg chamber stages 1-8. Loss of Su(Hw) causes apoptosis at stage 9. Thus, the experimental design compares transcriptional changes in the ovary prior to induction nof apoptosis in su(Hw) mutants.