A Developmental Switch Generating Phenotypic Plasticity Is Part of a Conserved Multi-gene Locus
Bogdan Sieriebriennikov1, Neel Prabh1, Mohannad Dardiry1
1Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Max-Planck-Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Cell Reports
|June 7, 2018
Summary
Phenotypic plasticity in Pristionchus pacificus involves a multi-gene locus controlling mouth-form development. This locus contains sulfatase and alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase genes that regulate developmental switches.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to develop alternative complex phenotypes in response to environmental cues, distinct from genetic polymorphisms.
- Supergenes, or clusters of linked genes, are known regulators of complex phenotypes, exemplified by butterfly mimicry.
- The nematode Pristionchus pacificus exhibits plasticity in mouth-form development, switching between predatory and non-predatory forms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and functionally characterize the genes responsible for regulating mouth-form plasticity in Pristionchus pacificus.
- To investigate the genetic architecture and evolutionary conservation of the developmental switch locus.
- To elucidate the regulatory relationships between genes within the identified locus.
Main Methods:
- CRISPR-Cas9-based reverse genetics was employed for functional characterization of candidate genes.
- Neuronal expression patterns and epistatic relationships of locus members were analyzed.
- Phylogenetic analysis and genotyping of mutants were used to infer gene conversion and locus conservation.
Main Results:
- A multi-gene locus containing two sulfatase genes (including eud-1) and two alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase (nag) genes was identified as the regulator of mouth-form plasticity.
- nag genes and the eud-1/sulfatase gene exhibit opposing regulatory influences on mouth-form development.
- Genes within the locus display non-overlapping neuronal expression and epistatic interactions, with conserved architecture across the Pristionchus genus.
- Gene conversion counteracts divergence between paralogs, maintaining locus integrity.
Conclusions:
- Physical linkage of genes within the multi-gene locus is directly associated with their regulatory linkage in controlling phenotypic plasticity.
- The identified locus provides a model for understanding the genetic basis of environmentally induced developmental switches.
- The conserved nature and regulatory mechanisms of this locus offer insights into the evolution of phenotypic plasticity.
Keywords:
Pristionchus pacificusdevelopmental plasticitygene clustersulfatasesupergeneα-N-acetylglucosaminidaseMore Related Videos
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