58 research outputs found
Current Biology 2018 - Edsinger and Dölen
No full textSupporting data for the Current Biology publication - A conserved role for serotonergic neurotransmission in mediating social behavior in octopus - by Edsinger and Dölen
Serotonin: Octopus love potion?
No full textWhen you think about human social behaviour, what animals do you immediately think of as most similar to us? Apes, dolphins, wolves? Sure, these animals display incredibly complex social interactions, just like us. But Eric Edsinger from the Marine Biological Laboratory, USA, and Gül Dölen from Johns Hopkins University, USA, teach us in their latest study that we aren't actually all that different from our more distant cousin: the octopus. While octopuses typically hang out by themselves and fight when they come across each other, they let bygones be bygones during the mating season. Until now, we had no idea why octopuses suddenly set aside their aggressive tendencies during this ‘special’ time. Using a unique combination of molecular and behavioural studies, Edsinger and Dölen delved into the brain of the octopus to uncover the neurological mechanisms that regulate their social behaviour.<br/
000generic/GIGANTIC_Aplysia2024: GIGANTIC_Aplysia
No full text<p>Release in support of Leonid Moroz 2024 NIH Report for work on the Aplysia genome project.</p>
000generic/GIGANTIC-Projects-FHL2022: GIGANTIC_FHL2022
No full text<p>GIGANTIC pipeline version for in support of FHL-based Aplysia genome bioinformatic research projects and courses.</p>
The Pacific sand dollar Dendraster excentricus: A New Model to Explore Novelty in Neural Circuits
No full textDecoding how neural circuitry functions and evolved is no small task, but studying how disparate nervous systems produce similar behaviors may offer unexpected insights. Cephalopods possess complex hierarchical nervous systems with a centralized brain adjacent to their decentralized nerve ring, cords, and ganglia of their arms, whereas echinoderms lack a centralized brain but have an independently evolved nerve ring with ganglia and radial nerves. Both groups possess numerous specialized appendages on “multi-arm” axes that serve analogous locomotor and sensory functions. This study focuses on how Dendraster excentricus, the Pacific sand dollar, can be used as a novel research model to investigate neural circuit evolution, given its unique secondary bilateral symmetry that is superimposed on the ancestral pentaradial structure observed in sea urchins. We used time-lapse videography in lab and field settings to generate behavioral ethograms of D. excentricus and initiated work using deep learning tools to analyze locomotion. These approaches, along with microCT and confocal imaging, will enable us to compare body movements and coordination of tube feet and spines across individuals. Initial findings are reported here. Specifically, our findings revealed distinct locomotor behaviors in D. excentricus that suggest directional control and spatial awareness, despite its decentralized neural anatomy. This research contributes to the understanding of how morphological and ecological divergence shape neural circuit functionality and provides a comparative framework for studying the evolution and function of nervous systems in marine invertebrates
<i>SLC6A4</i> binding site and acute prosocial effects of (+/-)-3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) are evolutionarily conserved in <i>Octopus bimaculoides</i>
No full textABSTRACT:Human and octopus lineages are separated by over 500 million years of evolution, and show divergent anatomical patterns of brain organization. Moreover, while humans exhibit highly complex social behaviors, octopuses are thought to be largely asocial and solitary. Despite these differences, growing evidence suggests that ancient neurotransmitter systems are shared across vertebrate and invertebrate species, and in many cases enable overlapping functions. Here we provide evidence that, as in humans, the atypical amphetamine derivative (+/-)-3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) enhances acute prosocial behaviors in Octopus bimaculoides. This finding is paralleled by the evolutionary conservation of the serotonin transporter (SERT, encoded by the Slc6A4 gene) binding site of MDMA in the O. bimaculoides genome. Taken together, these data provide evidence that the neural mechanisms subserving social behaviors exist in O. bimaculoides, and indicate that the role of serotonergic neurotransmission in regulating social behaviors is evolutionarily conserved.ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:Here we provide evidence that the atypical amphetamine derivative (+/-)-3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) increases acute social approach behaviors in Octopus bimaculoides, a finding that is paralleled by the evolutionary conservation of the SLC6A4 binding site of MDMA.</jats:sec
The Lottia gigantea shell matrix proteome: re-analysis including MaxQuant iBAQ quantitation and phosphoproteome analysis
No full textBackground: Although the importance of proteins of the biomineral organic matrix and their posttranslational modifications for biomineralization is generally recognized, the number of published matrix proteomes is still small. This is mostly due to the lack of comprehensive sequence databases, usually derived from genomic sequencing projects. However, in-depth mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis, which critically depends on high-quality sequence databases, is a very fast tool to identify candidates for functional biomineral matrix proteins and their posttranslational modifications. Identification of such candidate proteins is facilitated by at least approximate quantitation of the identified proteins, because the most abundant ones may also be the most interesting candidates for further functional analysis. Results: Re-quantification of previously identified Lottia shell matrix proteins using the intensity-based absolute quantification (iBAQ) method as implemented in the MaxQuant identification and quantitation software showed that only 57 of the 382 accepted identifications constituted 98% of the total identified matrix proteome. This group of proteins did not contain obvious intracellular proteins, such as cytoskeletal components or ribosomal proteins, invariably identified as minor components of high throughput biomineral matrix proteomes. Fourteen of these major proteins were phosphorylated to a variable extent. All together we identified 52 phospho sites in 20 of the 382 accepted proteins with high confidence. Conclusions: We show that iBAQ quantitation may be a useful tool to narrow down the group of functional biomineral matrix protein candidates for further research in cell biology, genetics or materials research. Knowledge of posttranslational modifications in these major proteins could be a valuable addition to previously published proteomes. This is true especially for phosphorylation, because this modification was already shown to modify mineralization processes in some instances
Genomic hotspots: localized chromosome gene expansions identify lineage-specific innovations as targets for functional biodiversity and predictions of stress resilience
No full textFunctional and biodiversity genomics is essential for assessment and monitoring of planetary health and species-specific management in changing ecosystems. However, experimental knowledge of gene functions is limited to a few species, and dependencies on distantly related models. Combined with unrecognized degrees of lineage-specific gene family expansion, this means that traditional comparative methods are insufficient. Here, we introduce the concept of a hotspot, defined as innovations underlying the evolution of lineage-specific biology. We illustrate hotspots using molluscs having chromosome-scale genome assemblies and focus on heat-sensing TRPM channels and species living in environments of extreme heat stress (e.g., high intertidal and hydrothermal vent gastropods and bivalves). Integrating gene family, orthogroup, and domain-based methods with genomic hotspots (local homolog expansions on chromosomes), we show that conventional approaches overlook substantial amounts of species-specific gene family diversity due to limitations of distant homology detection. In contrast, local segmental duplications are often recent, lineage-specific genetic innovations reflecting emerging adaptions and can be identified for any genome. Revealed TRPM gene family diversification highlights unique neural and behavioral mechanisms that could be beneficial in predicting species’ resilience to heat stress. In summary, the identification of hotspots and their integration with other types of analyses illuminate evolutionary (neuro)genomic strategies that do not depend on knowledge from model organisms and unbiasedly reveal evolutionarily recent lineage-specific adaptations. This strategy enables discoveries of biological innovations across species as prospective targets for modeling, management, and biodiversity conservation
In-depth proteomic analysis of a mollusc shell: acid-soluble and acid-insoluble matrix of the limpet <it>Lottia gigantea</it>
No full textAbstract Background Invertebrate biominerals are characterized by their extraordinary functionality and physical properties, such as strength, stiffness and toughness that by far exceed those of the pure mineral component of such composites. This is attributed to the organic matrix, secreted by specialized cells, which pervades and envelops the mineral crystals. Despite the obvious importance of the protein fraction of the organic matrix, only few in-depth proteomic studies have been performed due to the lack of comprehensive protein sequence databases. The recent public release of the gastropod Lottia gigantea genome sequence and the associated protein sequence database provides for the first time the opportunity to do a state-of-the-art proteomic in-depth analysis of the organic matrix of a mollusc shell. Results Using three different sodium hypochlorite washing protocols before shell demineralization, a total of 569 proteins were identified in Lottia gigantea shell matrix. Of these, 311 were assembled in a consensus proteome comprising identifications contained in all proteomes irrespective of shell cleaning procedure. Some of these proteins were similar in amino acid sequence, amino acid composition, or domain structure to proteins identified previously in different bivalve or gastropod shells, such as BMSP, dermatopontin, nacrein, perlustrin, perlucin, or Pif. In addition there were dozens of previously uncharacterized proteins, many containing repeated short linear motifs or homorepeats. Such proteins may play a role in shell matrix construction or control of mineralization processes. Conclusions The organic matrix of Lottia gigantea shells is a complex mixture of proteins comprising possible homologs of some previously characterized mollusc shell proteins, but also many novel proteins with a possible function in biomineralization as framework building blocks or as regulatory components. We hope that this data set, the most comprehensive available at present, will provide a platform for the further exploration of biomineralization processes in molluscs.</p
Els pops se socialitzen (quasi) com les persones
No full textA la natura hi ha molts animals que mantenen relacions socials. Normalment pensem en els mamífers i en els ocells, o en insectes com les abelles i les formigues. També els pops tenen relacions socials, malgrat la imatge d'animals solitaris que transmeten. Eric Edsinger i Gül Dölen, del Laboratori de Biologia Marina de Woods Hole (Massachusetts) i de l'Institut Kavli de Neurociència de la Universitat Johns Hopkins de Baltimore (Maryland), als Estats Units, han estudiat els mecanismes neuroquímics que estimulen la sociabilitat en els pops. Segons han descrit a Current Biology, aquests mecanismes són virtualment idèntics als que utilitzem les persones. A més, experimentalment han aconseguit incrementar la capacitat socialitzadora dels pops amb un fàrmac que s'utilitza per millorar l'estat d'ànim i incrementar l'empatia i l'extraversió, algunes de les característiques que són importants en les nostres relacions socials
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