The aquaporin 8 (AQP8) membrane channel gene is present in the elasmobranch dogfish (Squalus acanthias) genome and is expressed in brain but not in gill, kidney or intestine.

The transport mechanisms for water, ammonia and urea in elasmobranch gill, kidney and gastrointestinal tract remain to be fully elucidated. Aquaporin 8 (AQP8) is a known water, ammonia and urea channel that is expressed in the kidney and respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of mammals and teleost fish. However, at the initiation of this study in late 2019, there was no copy of an elasmobranch aquaporin 8 gene identified in the genebank even for closely related holocephalon species such as elephant fish (Callorhinchus milii) or for the elasmobranch little skate (Leucoraja erinacea). A transcriptomic study in spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) also failed to identify a copy. Hence this study has remedied this and identified the AQP8 cDNA sequence using degenerate PCR. Agarose electrophoresis of degenerate PCR reactions from dogfish tissues showed a strong band from brain cDNA and faint bands of a similar size in gill and liver. 5' and 3' RACE was used to complete the AQP8 cDNA sequence. Primers were then designed for further PCR reactions to determine the distribution of AQP8 mRNA expression in dogfish tissues. This showed that AQP8 is only expressed in dogfish brain and AQP8 therefore clearly can play no role in water, ammonia and urea transport in the gill, kidney or gastrointestinal tract. The role of AQP8 in dogfish brain remains to be determined.

A Developmental Study of the Cerebellar Nucleus in the Catshark, a Basal Gnathostome.

The output of the cerebellar cortex is mainly released via cerebellar nuclei which vary in number and complexity among gnathostomes, extant vertebrates with a cerebellum. Cartilaginous fishes, a basal gnathostome lineage, show a conspicuous, well-organized cerebellar nucleus, unlike ray-finned fishes. To gain insight into the evolution and development of the cerebellar nucleus, we analyzed in the shark Scyliorhinus canicula (a chondrichthyan model species) the developmental expression of several genes coding for transcription factors (ScLhx5,ScLhx9,ScTbr1, and ScEn2) and the distribution of the protein calbindin, since all appear to be involved in cerebellar nuclei patterning in other gnathostomes. Three regions (subventricular, medial or central, and lateral or superficial) became recognizable in the cerebellar nucleus of this shark during development. Present genoarchitectonic and neurochemical data in embryos provide insight into the origin of the cerebellar nucleus in chondrichthyans and support a tripartite mediolateral organization of the cerebellar nucleus, as previously described in adult sharks. Furthermore, the expression pattern of ScLhx5,ScLhx9, and ScTbr1 in this shark, together with that of markers of proliferation, migration, and early differentiation of neurons, is compatible with the hypothesis that, as in mammals, different subsets of cerebellar nucleus neurons are originated from progenitors of 2 different sources: the ventricular zone of the cerebellar plate and the rhombic lip. We also present suggestive evidence that Lhx9 expression is involved in cerebellar nuclei patterning early on in gnathostome evolution, rather than representing an evolutionary innovation of the dentate nucleus in mammals, as previously hypothesized.

Genoarchitecture of the rostral hindbrain of a shark: basis for understanding the emergence of the cerebellum at the agnathan-gnathostome transition.

The cerebellum is present in all extant gnathostomes or jawed vertebrates, of which cartilaginous fishes represent the most ancient radiation. Since the isthmic organizer induces the formation of the cerebellum, comparative genoarchitectonic analysis on the meso-isthmo-cerebellar region of cartilaginous fishes with respect to that of jawless vertebrates could reveal why the isthmic organizer acquires the ability to induce the formation of the cerebellum in gnathostomes. In the present work we analyzed the expression pattern of a variety of genes related to the cerebellar formation and patterning (ScOtx2, ScGbx2, ScFgf8, ScLmx1b, ScIrx1, ScIrx3, ScEn2, ScPax6 and ScLhx9) by in situ hybridization, and the distribution of Pax6 protein in the developing hindbrain of the shark Scyliorhinus canicula. The genoarchitectonic code in this species revealed high degree of conservation with respect to that of other gnathostomes. This resemblance may reveal the features of the ancestral condition of the gene network operating for specification of the rostral hindbrain patterning. Accordingly, the main subdivisions of the rostral hindbrain of S. canicula could be recognized. Our results support the existence of a rhombomere 0, identified as the ScFgf8/ScGbx2/ScEn2-positive and mainly negative ScIrx3 domain just caudal to the midbrain ScIrx1/ScOtx2/ScLmx1b-positive domain. The differential ScEn2 and Pax6 expression in the rhombomere 1 revealed anterior and posterior subdivisions. Interestingly, dissimilarities between S. canicula and lampreys (jawless vertebrates) were noted in the expression of Irx, Lhx and Pax genes, which could be part of significant gene network changes through evolution that caused the emergence of the cerebellum.

Morphogenesis of the cerebellum and cerebellum-related structures in the shark Scyliorhinus canicula: insights on the ground pattern of the cerebellar ontogeny.

Because the cerebellum emerged at the agnathan-gnathostome transition and cartilaginous fishes are at the base of the gnathostome lineage, this group is crucial to determine the basic developmental pattern of the cerebellum and to gain insights into its origin. We have systematically analyzed key events in the development of cerebellum and cerebellum-related structures of the shark Scyliorhinus canicula. Three developmental periods are distinguished based on anatomical observations combined with molecular analysis. We present neurochemical and genoarchitectonic evidence on the onset of cerebellar development, the rostral and caudal cerebellar boundaries, the compartmentalization of the cerebellum, and correspondence of cerebellar domains to rhombomeric segmentation of the rostral hindbrain. Our observations, mainly based on the expression pattern of ScHoxA2, support the origin of both the upper and lower auricular leaves from r1 and exclude any cerebellar origin from r2. Correlation between subrhombomeres r1a/r1b and cerebellar domains is proposed based on the ScEn2 expression. The ScEn2 and ScOtx2 expression patterns revealed an antero-posterior cerebellar compartmentalization similar to that of mammals, and supported certain fissures (commonly used to define cerebellar domains) as reliable anatomical landmarks. At difference from mammals, the expression of ScEn2 along the cerebellar median-lateral axis does not reveal a multiple-banded pattern. The present study provides an atlas of cerebellar development in one of the most basal extant gnathostome lineages and emphasizes the importance of combining classic descriptive with modern molecular studies to gain knowledge on the ancestral condition of cerebellar developmental processes and the origins and evolution of the cerebellum.

Molecular phylogeny of Squaliformes and first occurrence of bioluminescence in sharks.

BACKGROUND: Squaliform sharks represent approximately 27 % of extant shark diversity, comprising more than 130 species with a predominantly deep-dwelling lifestyle. Many Squaliform species are highly specialized, including some that are bioluminescent, a character that is reported exclusively from Squaliform sharks within Chondrichthyes. The interfamiliar relationships within the order are still not satisfactorily resolved. Herein we estimate the phylogenetic interrelationships of a generic level sampling of "squaloid" sharks and closely related taxa using aligned sequences derived from a targeted gene capture approach. The resulting phylogenetic estimate is further used to evaluate the age of first occurrence of bioluminescence in Squaliformes. RESULTS: Our dataset comprised 172 putative ortholog exon sequences. Phylogenetic estimates result in a fully resolved tree supporting a monophyletic lineage of Squaliformes excluding Echinorhinus. Non-luminous Squalidae are inferred to be the sister to a clade comprising all remaining Squaliform families. Our results suggest that the origin of photophores is coincident with an elevated diversification rate and the splitting of families Dalatiidae, Etmopteridae, Oxynotidae and Somniosidae at the transition of the Lower to the Upper Cretaceous. The presence of luminous organs was confirmed for the Sleeper shark genus Zameus. These results indicate that bioluminescence in sharks is not restricted solely to the families Etmopteridae and Dalatiidae as previously believed. CONCLUSIONS: The sister-clade to non-luminous Squalidae comprises five families. The presence of photophores is reported for extant members of three out of these five families based on results of this study, i.e. Lantern sharks (Etmopteridae), Kitefin sharks (Dalatiidae) and Sleeper sharks (Somniosidae). Our results suggest that the origin of luminous organs arose during the rapid diversification event that gave rise to the extant Squaliform families. These inferences are consistent with the idea of diversification of Squaliform sharks being associated with the emergence of new deep-sea habitats in the Lower Cretaceous, which may have been facilitated by the evolution of bioluminescence.

Cloning and characterization of Na(+)/H(+) Exchanger isoforms NHE2 and NHE3 from the gill of Pacific dogfish Squalus suckleyi.

Na(+)/H(+) Exchanger (NHE) proteins mediate cellular and systemic homeostasis of sodium and acid and may be the major sodium uptake method for fishes. We cloned and sequenced NHE2 and NHE3 from the gill of the North Pacific Spiny Dogfish shark Squalus suckleyi and expressed them in functional form in NHE-deficient (AP-1) cell lines. Estimated IC50 for inhibition of NHE activity by amiloride and EIPA were 55 µmol l(-1) and 4.8 µmol l(-1), respectively, for NHE2 and 9 µmol l(-1) and 24 µmol l(-1), respectively, for NHE3. Phenamil at 100 µmol l(-1) caused less than 16% inhibition of activity for each isoform. Although the IC50 are similar for the two isoforms, dfNHE2 is less sensitive than human NHE2 to inhibition by amiloride and EIPA, while dfNHE3 is more sensitive than human NHE3. These IC50 estimates should be considered when selecting inhibitor doses for fishes and for reinterpretation of previous studies that use these pharmacological agents.

Transcriptomic analysis of the lesser spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) pancreas, liver and brain reveals molecular level conservation of vertebrate pancreas function.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the evolution of the vertebrate pancreas is key to understanding its functions. The chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish such as sharks and rays) have often been suggested to possess the most ancient example of a distinct pancreas with both hormonal (endocrine) and digestive (exocrine) roles. The lack of genetic, genomic and transcriptomic data for cartilaginous fish has hindered a more thorough understanding of the molecular-level functions of the chondrichthyan pancreas, particularly with respect to their "unusual" energy metabolism (where ketone bodies and amino acids are the main oxidative fuel source) and their paradoxical ability to both maintain stable blood glucose levels and tolerate extensive periods of hypoglycemia. In order to shed light on some of these processes, we carried out the first large-scale comparative transcriptomic survey of multiple cartilaginous fish tissues: the pancreas, brain and liver of the lesser spotted catshark, Scyliorhinus canicula. RESULTS: We generated a mutli-tissue assembly comprising 86,006 contigs, of which 44,794 were assigned to a particular tissue or combination of tissues based on mapping of sequencing reads. We have characterised transcripts encoding genes involved in insulin regulation, glucose sensing, transcriptional regulation, signaling and digestion, as well as many peptide hormone precursors and their receptors for the first time. Comparisons to mammalian pancreas transcriptomes reveals that mechanisms of glucose sensing and insulin regulation used to establish and maintain a stable internal environment are conserved across jawed vertebrates and likely pre-date the vertebrate radiation. Conservation of pancreatic hormones and genes encoding digestive proteins support the single, early evolution of a distinct pancreatic gland with endocrine and exocrine functions in jawed vertebrates. In addition, we demonstrate that chondrichthyes lack pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and that reports of PP in the literature are likely due cross-reaction with PYY and/or NPY in the pancreas. A three hormone islet organ is therefore the ancestral jawed vertebrate condition, later elaborated upon only in the tetrapod lineage. CONCLUSIONS: The cartilaginous fish are a great untapped resource for the reconstruction of patterns and processes of vertebrate evolution and new approaches such as those described in this paper will greatly facilitate their incorporation into the rank of "model organism".

Molecular cloning of the cDNAs encoding three somatostatin variants in the dogfish (Scylorhinus canicula).

It has been recently shown that the somatostatin gene family was likely composed of at least three paralogous genes in the common ancestor of all extant jawed vertebrates. These three genes, namely SS1, SS2 and SS5, are thought to have been generated through the two rounds of whole-genome duplications (2R) that took place early during the vertebrate evolution. In the present study, we report the cloning of three distinct somatostatin cDNAs from the dogfish Scylorhinus canicula, a member of the group of cartilaginous fish. We decided to call these cDNAs, at least provisionally, SSa, SSb and SSc, respectively. Two of them, SSa and SSb, encode proteins that both contain the same tetradecapeptide sequence at their C-terminal extremity (AGCKNFFWKTFTSC). This putative peptide is identical to that generated by the SS1 gene in other vertebrate species. The last cDNA, SSc, encodes a protein that contains at its C-terminal extremity the same peptide sequence as that generated by the SS2 gene in teleosts (APCKNFFWKTFTSC). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the SSa and SSc genes likely correspond to the dogfish counterparts of the SS1 and SS2 genes, respectively. In contrast, the phylogenetic status of the SSb gene is less clear. Several lines of evidence suggest that it could correspond to the SS5 gene, but this view will need to be confirmed, for example by synteny analysis. Finally, RT-PCR analysis revealed that SSa, SSb and SSc genes are differentially expressed in dogfish tissues, suggesting that the corresponding peptides may exert distinct functions.

Dynamic expression of Pax6 in the shark olfactory system: evidence for the presence of Pax6 cells along the olfactory nerve pathway.

Pax6 is involved in the control of neuronal specification, migration, and differentiation in the olfactory epithelium and in the generation of different interneuron subtypes in the olfactory bulb. Whether these roles are conserved during evolution is not known. Cartilaginous fish are extremely useful models for assessing the ancestral condition of brain organization because of their phylogenetic position. To shed light on the evolution of development of the olfactory system in vertebrates and on the involvement of Pax6 in this process, we analyzed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry the expression pattern of Pax6 in the developing olfactory system in a basal vertebrate, the lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula. This small shark is becoming an important fish model in studies of vertebrate development. We report Pax6 expression in cells of the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb, and present the first evidence in vertebrates of strings of Pax6-expressing cells extending along the developing olfactory nerve. The results indicate the olfactory epithelium as the origin of these cells. These data are compatible with a role for Pax6 in the development of the olfactory epithelium and fibers, and provide a basis for future investigations into the mechanisms that regulate development of the olfactory system throughout evolution.

The homology of odontodes in gnathostomes: insights from Dlx gene expression in the dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula.

BACKGROUND: Teeth and tooth-like structures, together named odontodes, are repeated organs thought to share a common evolutionary origin. These structures can be found in gnathostomes at different locations along the body: oral teeth in the jaws, teeth and denticles in the oral-pharyngeal cavity, and dermal denticles on elasmobranch skin. We, and other colleagues, had previously shown that teeth in any location were serially homologous because: i) pharyngeal and oral teeth develop through a common developmental module; and ii) the expression patterns of the Dlx genes during odontogenesis were highly divergent between species but almost identical between oral and pharyngeal dentitions within the same species. Here we examine Dlx gene expression in oral teeth and dermal denticles in order to test the hypothesis of serial homology between these odontodes. RESULTS: We present a detailed comparison of the first developing teeth and dermal denticles (caudal primary scales) of the dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) and show that both odontodes develop through identical stages that correspond to the common stages of oral and pharyngeal odontogenesis. We identified six Dlx paralogs in the dogfish and found that three showed strong transcription in teeth and dermal denticles (Dlx3, Dlx4 and Dlx5) whereas a weak expression was detected for Dlx1 in dermal denticles and teeth, and for Dlx2 in dermal denticles. Very few differences in Dlx expression patterns could be detected between tooth and dermal denticle development, except for the absence of Dlx2 expression in teeth. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our histological and expression data strongly suggest that teeth and dermal denticles develop from the same developmental module and under the control of the same set of Dlx genes. Teeth and dermal denticles should therefore be considered as serial homologs developing through the initiation of a common gene regulatory network (GRN) at several body locations. This mechanism of heterotopy supports the 'inside and out' model that has been recently proposed for odontode evolution.

Heterochronic shift in Hox-mediated activation of sonic hedgehog leads to morphological changes during fin development.

We explored the molecular mechanisms of morphological transformations of vertebrate paired fin/limb evolution by comparative gene expression profiling and functional analyses. In this study, we focused on the temporal differences of the onset of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression in paired appendages among different vertebrates. In limb buds of chick and mouse, Shh expression is activated as soon as there is a morphological bud, concomitant with Hoxd10 expression. In dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), however, we found that Shh was transcribed late in fin development, concomitant with Hoxd13 expression. We utilized zebrafish as a model to determine whether quantitative changes in hox expression alter the timing of shh expression in pectoral fins of zebrafish embryos. We found that the temporal shift of Shh activity altered the size of endoskeletal elements in paired fins of zebrafish and dogfish. Thus, a threshold level of hox expression determines the onset of shh expression, and the subsequent heterochronic shift of Shh activity can affect the size of the fin endoskeleton. This process may have facilitated major morphological changes in paired appendages during vertebrate limb evolution.

Evolution of a core gene network for skeletogenesis in chordates.

The skeleton is one of the most important features for the reconstruction of vertebrate phylogeny but few data are available to understand its molecular origin. In mammals the Runt genes are central regulators of skeletogenesis. Runx2 was shown to be essential for osteoblast differentiation, tooth development, and bone formation. Both Runx2 and Runx3 are essential for chondrocyte maturation. Furthermore, Runx2 directly regulates Indian hedgehog expression, a master coordinator of skeletal development. To clarify the correlation of Runt gene evolution and the emergence of cartilage and bone in vertebrates, we cloned the Runt genes from hagfish as representative of jawless fish (MgRunxA, MgRunxB) and from dogfish as representative of jawed cartilaginous fish (ScRunx1-3). According to our phylogenetic reconstruction the stem species of chordates harboured a single Runt gene and thereafter Runt locus duplications occurred during early vertebrate evolution. All newly isolated Runt genes were expressed in cartilage according to quantitative PCR. In situ hybridisation confirmed high MgRunxA expression in hard cartilage of hagfish. In dogfish ScRunx2 and ScRunx3 were expressed in embryonal cartilage whereas all three Runt genes were detected in teeth and placoid scales. In cephalochordates (lancelets) Runt, Hedgehog and SoxE were strongly expressed in the gill bars and expression of Runt and Hedgehog was found in endo- as well as ectodermal cells. Furthermore we demonstrate that the lancelet Runt protein binds to Runt binding sites in the lancelet Hedgehog promoter and regulates its activity. Together, these results suggest that Runt and Hedgehog were part of a core gene network for cartilage formation, which was already active in the gill bars of the common ancestor of cephalochordates and vertebrates and diversified after Runt duplications had occurred during vertebrate evolution. The similarities in expression patterns of Runt genes support the view that teeth and placoid scales evolved from a homologous developmental module.

Molecular cloning and preliminary expression analysis of banded dogfish (Triakis scyllia) TNF decoy receptor 3 (TNFRSF6B).

Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), a member of TNF receptor superfamily, is a soluble receptor without death domain and cytoplasmic domain, and secreted by cells and binds with FasL, LIGHT and TL1A. The principal function of DcR3 is the inhibition of apoptosis by the binding cytotoxic ligands. Expression of DcR3 has been reported in a wide array of normal human tissues as well as tumors and tumor cell lines. Recently, DcR3 was reported to modulate a variety of immune responses in mammals. TNFR or DcR3 has been identified in some teleost fishes. However, DcR3 is not reported in cartilaginous fish which is the lowest vertebrate possessing the adaptive immune system. Here we identified DcR3 cDNA in shark (Trsc-DcR3) from an SSH library prepared from peripheral white blood cells stimulated with PMA. Four cysteine-rich domains (CRDs) in common with TNF receptor family members are present in the Trsc-DcR3 sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence of Trsc-DcR3 showed highest identity with the chicken (50.4%), followed by human (46.8%) and rainbow trout (36.5%) DcR3. In a phylogenetic tree of known TNFRSF sequences, the Trsc-DcR3 grouped with the chicken and human DcR3. Trsc-DcR3 mRNA was detected strongly in the gill, moderately in the brain, and weakly in the kidney, thymus and leydig. These data strongly suggest that the gene encoding Trsc-DcR3 in banded dogfish is a homolog of the human gene. mRNA expression of Trsc-DcR3 in the thymus and leydig suggests that DcR3 may act as a modulator in the immune system even at the phylogenetic level of cartilaginous fish.

Evolution of axis specification mechanisms in jawed vertebrates: insights from a chondrichthyan.

The genetic mechanisms that control the establishment of early polarities and their link with embryonic axis specification and patterning seem to substantially diverge across vertebrates. In amphibians and teleosts, the establishment of an early dorso-ventral polarity determines both the site of axis formation and its rostro-caudal orientation. In contrast, amniotes retain a considerable plasticity for their site of axis formation until blastula stages and rely on signals secreted by extraembryonic tissues, which have no clear equivalents in the former, for the establishment of their rostro-caudal pattern. The rationale for these differences remains unknown. Through detailed expression analyses of key development genes in a chondrichthyan, the dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula, we have reconstructed the ancestral pattern of axis specification in jawed vertebrates. We show that the dogfish displays compelling similarities with amniotes at blastula and early gastrula stages, including the presence of clear homologs of the hypoblast and extraembryonic ectoderm. In the ancestral state, these territories are specified at opposite poles of an early axis of bilateral symmetry, homologous to the dorso-ventral axis of amphibians or teleosts, and aligned with the later forming embryonic axis, from head to tail. Comparisons with amniotes suggest that a dorsal expansion of extraembryonic ectoderm, resulting in an apparently radial symmetry at late blastula stages, has taken place in their lineage. The synthesis of these results with those of functional analyses in model organisms supports an evolutionary link between the dorso-ventral polarity of amphibians and teleosts and the embryonic-extraembryonic organisation of amniotes. It leads to a general model of axis specification in gnathostomes, which provides a comparative framework for a reassessment of conservations both among vertebrates and with more distant metazoans.

Selection of cholera toxin specific IgNAR single-domain antibodies from a naïve shark library.

Shark immunoglobulin new antigen receptor (IgNAR, also referred to as NAR) variable domains (Vs) are single-domain antibody (sdAb) fragments containing only two hypervariable loop structures forming 3D topologies for a wide range of antigen recognition and binding. Their small size ( approximately 12kDa) and high solubility, thermostability and binding specificity make IgNARs an exceptional alternative source of engineered antibodies for sensor applications. Here, two new shark NAR V display libraries containing >10(7) unique clones from non-immunized (naïve) adult spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis) sharks were constructed. The most conserved consensus sequences derived from random clone sequence were compared with published nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) sequences. Cholera toxin (CT) was chosen for panning one of the naïve display libraries due to its severe pathogenicity and commercial availability. Three very similar CT binders were selected and purified soluble monomeric anti-CT sdAbs were characterized using Luminex(100) and traditional ELISA assays. These novel anti-CT sdAbs selected from our newly constructed shark NAR V sdAb library specifically bound to soluble antigen, without cross reacting with other irrelevant antigens. They also showed superior heat stability, exhibiting slow loss of activity over the course of one hour at high temperature (95 degrees C), while conventional antibodies lost all activity in the first 5-10min. The successful isolation of target specific sdAbs from one of our non-biased NAR libraries, demonstrate their ability to provide binders against an unacquainted antigen of interest.

Comparative analysis of gnathostome Otx gene expression patterns in the developing eye: implications for the functional evolution of the multigene family.

We have performed a detailed analysis of the expression pattern of the three gnathostome Otx classes in order to gain new insights into their functional evolution. Expression patterns were examined in the developing eye of a chondrichthyan, the dogfish, and an amniote, the chick, and compared with the capacity of paralogous proteins to induce a pigmented phenotype in cultured retina cells in cooperation with the bHLH-leucine zipper protein Mitf. This analysis indicates that each Otx class is characterized by highly specific and conserved expression features in the presumptive RPE, where Otx1 and Otx2, but not Otx5, are transcribed at optic vesicle stages, in the differentiating neural retina, where Otx2 and Otx5 show a conserved dynamic expression pattern, and in the forming ciliary process, a major site of Otx1 expression. Furthermore, the paralogous proteins of the dogfish and the mouse do not display any significant difference in their capacity to induce a pigmented phenotype, suggesting a functional equivalency in the specification and differentiation of the RPE. These data indicate that specific functions selectively involving each Otx orthology class were fixed prior to the gnathostome radiation and highlight the prominent role of regulatory changes in the functional diversification of the multigene family.

Molecular cloning and preliminary expression analysis of banded dogfish (Triakis scyllia) CC chemokine cDNAs by use of suppression subtractive hybridization.

Suppression subtractive hybridization was carried out by using cDNAs of peripheral white blood cells (PWBCs) of banded dogfish (Triakis scyllia) after phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation. The Trsc-SCYA107, MIP3alpha1 and MIP3alpha2 clones contained an open reading frame encoding 97, 99 and 97 amino acids, respectively. Comparison of the deduced amino acids showed that the banded dogfish MIP3alpha1 and MIP3alpha2 sequences shared 42.3% and 40.0% identity with human SCYA20, respectively, while the Trsc-SCYA107 sequence shared 50.6, 44.2 and 42.0% identity with the catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) Scca-SCYA107, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) CK4A and CK4B, respectively. The genomic sequences of banded dogfish Trsc-SCYA107, MIP3alpha1 and MIP3alpha2 contain four exons and three introns, and MIP3alpha1 and MIP3alpha2 shared the same intron/exon organization with that of human. The MIP3alpha1 and MIP3alpha2 genes of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-unstimulated banded dogfish were expressed in gill, kidney and liver, while Trsc-SCYA107 mRNA was detected in various tissues except for brain. However, the constitutive expression of MIP3alpha2 gene was much lower than the Trsc-SCYA107 and MIP3alpha1 genes. RT-PCR analysis of the Trsc-SCYA107 expression in tissues of LPS-stimulated fish showed enhanced expression at 24 h poststimulation in the gill, heart, leydig, spleen and testes, while the expression of MIP3alpha1 and MIP3alpha2 was not influenced by LPS-stimulation in vivo. Furthermore, a relative increase in the expression of the Trsc-SCYA107 and MIP3alpha2 genes in PWBCs was observed at 1-12 h poststimulation with PMA and LPS, with maximal expression observed at 3 h, while MIP3alpha1 expression was observed at 3-12 h poststimulation only with PMA.

The origin of the parathyroid gland.

It has long been held that the parathyroid glands and parathyroid hormone evolved with the emergence of the tetrapods, reflecting a need for new controls on calcium homeostasis in terrestrial, rather than aquatic, environments. Developmentally, the parathyroid gland is derived from the pharyngeal pouch endoderm, and studies in mice have shown that its formation is under the control of a key regulatory gene, Gcm-2. We have used a phylogenetic analysis of Gcm-2 to probe the evolutionary origins of the parathyroid gland. We show that in chicks, as in mice, Gcm-2 is expressed in the pharyngeal pouches and the forming parathyroid gland. We find that Gcm-2 is present not only in tetrapods but also in teleosts and chondrichthyans, and that in these species, Gcm-2 is expressed within the pharyngeal pouches and internal gill buds that derive from them in zebrafish (Danio rerio), a teleost, and dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), a chondrichthyan. We further demonstrate that Gcm-2 is required for the formation of the internal gill buds in zebrafish. We also have identified parathyroid hormone 1/2-encoding genes in fish and show that these genes are expressed by the gills. We further show that the gills express the calcium-sensing receptor, which is used in tetrapods to monitor serum calcium levels. These results indicate that the tetrapod parathyroid gland and the gills of fish are evolutionarily related structures, and that the parathyroid likely came into being as a result of the transformation of the gills during tetrapod evolution.

Three neuropeptide Y receptor genes in the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, support en bloc duplications in early vertebrate evolution.

It has been debated whether the increase in gene number during early vertebrate evolution was due to multiple independent gene duplications or synchronous duplications of many genes. We describe here the cloning of three neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor genes belonging to the Y1 subfamily in the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, a cartilaginous fish. The three genes are orthologs of the mammalian subtypes Y1, Y4, and Y6, which are located in paralogous gene regions on different chromosomes in mammals. Thus, these genes arose by duplications of a chromosome region before the radiation of gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates). Estimates of duplication times from linearized trees together with evidence from other gene families supports two rounds of chromosome duplications or tetraploidizations early in vertebrate evolution. The anatomical distribution of mRNA was determined by reverse-transcriptase PCR and was found to differ from mammals, suggesting differential functional diversification of the new gene copies during the radiation of the vertebrate classes.

Characterization of a divergent non-classical MHC class I gene in sharks.

Sharks are the most ancient group of vertebrates known to possess members of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene family. For this reason, sharks provide a unique opportunity to gain insight into the evolution of the vertebrate immune system through comparative analysis. Two genes encoding proteins related to the MHC class I gene family were isolated from splenic cDNA derived from spiny dogfish shark ( Squalus acanthias). The genes have been designated MhcSqac-UAA*01 and MhcSqac-UAA*NC1. Comparative analysis demonstrates that the Sqac-UAA*01 protein sequence clusters with classical MHC class I of several shark species and has structural elements common to most classical MHC class I molecules. In contrast, Sqac-UAA*NC1 is highly divergent from all vertebrate classical MHC class I proteins, including the Sqac-UAA *01 sequence and those of other shark species. Although Sqac-UAA*NC1 is clearly related to the MHC class I gene family, no orthologous genes from other species were identified due to the high degree of sequence divergence. In fact, the Sqac NC1 protein sequence is the most divergent MHC class-I-like protein identified thus far in any shark species. This high degree of divergence is similar in magnitude to some of the MHC class-I-related genes found in mammals, such as MICA or CD1. These data support the existence of a class of highly divergent non-classical MHC class I genes in the most primitive vertebrates known to possess homologues of the MHC and other components of the adaptive immune system.