Project description:Drosophila melanogaster undergoes a complete metamorphosis, during which time the larval male and female forms transition into sexually dimorphic, reproductive adult forms. To understand this complex morphogenetic process at a molecular-genetic level, we performed whole genome microarray analyses. Genes were identified that were expressed during metamorphosis in both somatic and germline tissues of males and females. Additionally, genes were identified that display sex-specific differences in abundance in both of these tissues at discrete times during metamorphosis. Keywords: time course; wild type; genetic modification;
Project description:Drosophila melanogaster undergoes a complete metamorphosis, during which time the larval male and female forms transition into sexually dimorphic, reproductive adult forms. To understand this complex morphogenetic process at a molecular-genetic level, we performed whole genome microarray analyses. Genes were identified that were expressed during metamorphosis in both somatic and germline tissues of males and females. Additionally, genes were identified that display sex-specific differences in abundance in both of these tissues at discrete times during metamorphosis. Keywords: time course; wild type; genetic modification; Gene expression was examined at five time points during metamorphosis: 0, 24, 48, 71, and 96 hr After Puparium Formation (APF). Gene expression was examined separately in males and females for both wild type pupae and tudor (tud) progeny. tud progeny have genetically ablated germline tissues. All samples were labeled with Cy5 and compared against a common reference sample labeled with Cy3. The reference sample contained male and female wild type pupae from all stages of metamorphosis. All experiments were conducted in triplicate.
Project description:Tunicates, including ascidians, are recognized as the true “sister group” of vertebrates and are emerging as models to study the development and degeneration of central nervous system (CNS). Ascidian larvae have the typical chordate body plan that includes a dorsal neural tube. During their metamorphosis, a deep tissue reorganization takes place, with some tissues that degenerate while others develop to become functional during the adult life. The larval CNS also degenerates and most neurons disappear, making room to the formation of adult CNS. The genome of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis has been sequenced and annotated, with several CNS specific genes that have been characterized, revealing specification mechanisms shared with humans. These features make ascidian metamorphosis a good model to study the mechanisms underlying physiological CNS degeneration and to compare them to the pathological condition typical of neurodegenerative diseases. In order to shed light on the molecular determinants of C. intestinalis metamorphosis and neurodegeneration, we analyzed its transcriptome at three stages of development: swimming larva (SwL, Hotta stage 28), settled larva (SetL, Hotta stage 32) and metamorphosing larva (MetL, Hotta stage 34). Supported by SoE-SEED-2020 Grant, University of Milan.
Project description:The veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) is widely consumed in China but is also a predator that is reducing bivalves resources in oceans worldwide. Larval metamorphosis of this species, a pelagic to benthic transition that involves considerable structural and physiological changes, plays a pivotal role in its commercial breeding and natural populations. Thus, the endogenous microRNA that drive this transition attract considerable interest. This study is the first to investigate alterations of miRNA expression during metamorphosis in a marine gastropod by using high-throughput sequencing. A total of 195 differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained, including 65 miRNAs differentially expressed during the transition from pre-competent larva to competent larva (33 up-regulated and 32 down regulated) and 123 miRNAs differentially expressed during competent to post larva transition (96 up-regulated and 27 down regulated). Our data improve understanding of the microRNA function into R. venosa metamorphosis and provide a solid basis for further study.
Project description:Bacteria assume distinct lifestyles during the planktonic and biofilm modes of growth. In biofilms, they are more tolerant to antibiotics and can evade the immune system response more effectively. However, little is known regarding the molecular determinants involved in biofilm formation by Gardnerella vaginali, the predominant species found in bacterial vaginosis (BV). Hence, to gain insight into the pathogenesis of G. vaginalis, we carried out a comparative transcriptomic analysis between planktonic and biofilm phenotypes, using RNA-sequencing. The major alterations observed were related with the transcription of genes involved in cell wall biogenesis and typical stress factors, in which was found significantly up-regulated in biofilms, resulting in a protected mode of bacterial growth. In addition, biofilm phenotype was characterized by low metabolic activity, which is appropriate to guarantee long term survival during BV recurrence.
Project description:Many known miRNAs in fish come from zebrafish and fugu whose genome sequence data are available. The Japanese flounder undergoes typical metamorphosis which is characterized by major morphological, functional, and behavioral changes during growth due to this metamorphosis from larva to juvenile. Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation. Here, the high-throughput sequencing was adopted to identify the miRNAs during metamorphosis in the Japanese flounder. We found abundant microRNAs during metamorphosis in the Japanese flounder. Small RNAs were sequenced from metamorphosis stages of Japanese flounder
Project description:Many known miRNAs in fish come from zebrafish and fugu whose genome sequence data are available. The Japanese flounder undergoes typical metamorphosis which is characterized by major morphological, functional, and behavioral changes during growth due to this metamorphosis from larva to juvenile. Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation. Here, the high-throughput sequencing was adopted to identify the miRNAs during metamorphosis in the Japanese flounder. We found abundant microRNAs during metamorphosis in the Japanese flounder.
Project description:Why is metamorphosis so pervasive? Does it facilitate the independent (micro)evolution of quantitative traits in distinct life-stages, like it does for discrete characters such as limbs and organs? We tested this hypothesis by measuring the expression of 6400 genes in 41 Drosophila melanogaster inbred lines at larval and adult stages. Only 32% of the genes showed significant genetic correlations between larval and adult expression. By contrast, 44% of the traits showed some level of independence between stages. Gene ontology terms enrichment of the functions most and least constrained among stages revealed that traits related to immunity emerged as largely correlated between larvae and adults. Direct comparisons with other datasets showed that inter-stage constraints were lower than inter-sexual or cross-environment genetic constraints. These results show that metamorphosis enables a large part of the transcriptome to evolve independently at different life-stages and identify biological functions under high and low genetic constraints.
Project description:The 987 probes (Japanese flounder conserved miRNAs and candidates, fish conserved miRNAs, and contro) were hybridized with two stages during Japanese flounder metamorphosis by miRNA microarray. We validated 92 miRNAs using miRNA microarray in the 17 dph and 29 dph of Japanese flounder development, and obtained 66 differertially expressed miRNAs by comparison miRNA expression patterns of the two stages. These results indicate that miRNAs might play key roles in regulating gene expression during Japanese flounder metamorphosis. Using miRNA microarray, the flounder conserved miRNAs and candidates were identified, and 92 conserved miRNAs were detected in the 17 dph and 29 dph during metamorphosis. Meanwhile, 66 conserved miRNAs were differertially expressed by comparison miRNA expression patterns of the two stages. We further identified flounder miRNAs during metamorphosis.