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Cornelis J P Grimmelikhuijzen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Global Neuropeptide Annotations From the Genomes and Transcriptomes of Cubozoa, Scyphozoa, Staurozoa (Cnidaria: Medusozoa), and Octocorallia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa).
    Frontiers in endocrinology, 2019
    Co-Authors: Thomas L. Koch, Cornelis J P Grimmelikhuijzen
    Abstract:

    During animal evolution, ancestral Cnidaria and Bilateria diverged more than 600 million years ago. The nervous systems of extant cnidarians are strongly peptidergic. Neuropeptides have been isolated and sequenced from a few model cnidarians, but a global investigation of the presence of neuropeptides in all cnidarian classes has been lacking. Here, we have used a recently developed software program to annotate neuropeptides in the publicly available genomes and transcriptomes from members of the classes Cubozoa, Scyphozoa, and Staurozoa (which all belong to the subphylum Medusozoa) and contrasted these results with neuropeptides present in the sub-class Octocorallia (belonging to the class Anthozoa). We found three to six neuropeptide Preprohormone genes in members of the above-mentioned cnidarian classes or subclasses, each coding for several (up to thirty-two) similar or identical neuropeptide copies. Two of these neuropeptide Preprohormone genes are present in all cnidarian classes/subclasses investigated, so they are good candidates for being among the first neuropeptide genes evolved in cnidarians. One of these primordial neuropeptide genes codes for neuropeptides having the C-terminal sequence GRFamide (pQGRFamide in Octocorallia; pQWLRGRFamide in Cubozoa and Scyphozoa; pQFLRGRFamide in Staurozoa). The other primordial neuropeptide gene codes for peptides having RPRSamide or closely resembling amino acid sequences. In addition to these two primordial neuropeptide sequences, cnidarians have their own class- or subclass-specific neuropeptides, which probably evolved to serve class/subclass-specific needs. When we carried out phylogenetic tree analyses of the GRFamide or RPRSamide Preprohormones from cubozoans, scyphozoans, staurozoans, and octocorallia, we found that their phylogenetic relationships perfectly agreed with current models of the phylogeny of the studied cnidarian classes and subclasses. These results support the early origins of the GRFamide and RPRSamide Preprohormone genes.

  • de novo transcriptome assembly of the cubomedusa tripedalia cystophora including the analysis of a set of genes involved in peptidergic neurotransmission
    BMC Genomics, 2019
    Co-Authors: Sofie K D Nielsen, Thomas L. Koch, A. Garm, Frank Hauser, Cornelis J P Grimmelikhuijzen
    Abstract:

    The phyla Cnidaria, Placozoa, Ctenophora, and Porifera emerged before the split of proto- and deuterostome animals, about 600 million years ago. These early metazoans are interesting, because they can give us important information on the evolution of various tissues and organs, such as eyes and the nervous system. Generally, cnidarians have simple nervous systems, which use neuropeptides for their neurotransmission, but some cnidarian medusae belonging to the class Cubozoa (box jellyfishes) have advanced image-forming eyes, probably associated with a complex innervation. Here, we describe a new transcriptome database from the cubomedusa Tripedalia cystophora. Based on the combined use of the Illumina and PacBio sequencing technologies, we produced a highly contiguous transcriptome database from T. cystophora. We then developed a software program to discover neuropeptide Preprohormones in this database. This script enabled us to annotate seven novel T. cystophora neuropeptide Preprohormone cDNAs: One coding for 19 copies of a peptide with the structure pQWLRGRFamide; one coding for six copies of a different RFamide peptide; one coding for six copies of pQPPGVWamide; one coding for eight different neuropeptide copies with the C-terminal LWamide sequence; one coding for thirteen copies of a peptide with the RPRAamide C-terminus; one coding for four copies of a peptide with the C-terminal GRYamide sequence; and one coding for seven copies of a cyclic peptide, of which the most frequent one has the sequence CTGQMCWFRamide. We could also identify orthologs of these seven Preprohormones in the cubozoans Alatina alata, Carybdea xaymacana, Chironex fleckeri, and Chiropsalmus quadrumanus. Furthermore, using TBLASTN screening, we could annotate four bursicon-like glycoprotein hormone subunits, five opsins, and 52 other family-A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which also included two leucine-rich repeats containing G protein-coupled receptors (LGRs) in T. cystophora. The two LGRs are potential receptors for the glycoprotein hormones, while the other GPCRs are candidate receptors for the above-mentioned neuropeptides. By combining Illumina and PacBio sequencing technologies, we have produced a new high-quality de novo transcriptome assembly from T. cystophora that should be a valuable resource for identifying the neuronal components that are involved in vision and other behaviors in cubomedusae.

  • De novo transcriptome assembly of the cubomedusa Tripedalia cystophora, including the analysis of a set of genes involved in peptidergic neurotransmission
    BMC, 2019
    Co-Authors: Sofie K D Nielsen, Thomas L. Koch, A. Garm, Frank Hauser, Cornelis J P Grimmelikhuijzen
    Abstract:

    Abstract Background The phyla Cnidaria, Placozoa, Ctenophora, and Porifera emerged before the split of proto- and deuterostome animals, about 600 million years ago. These early metazoans are interesting, because they can give us important information on the evolution of various tissues and organs, such as eyes and the nervous system. Generally, cnidarians have simple nervous systems, which use neuropeptides for their neurotransmission, but some cnidarian medusae belonging to the class Cubozoa (box jellyfishes) have advanced image-forming eyes, probably associated with a complex innervation. Here, we describe a new transcriptome database from the cubomedusa Tripedalia cystophora. Results Based on the combined use of the Illumina and PacBio sequencing technologies, we produced a highly contiguous transcriptome database from T. cystophora. We then developed a software program to discover neuropeptide Preprohormones in this database. This script enabled us to annotate seven novel T. cystophora neuropeptide Preprohormone cDNAs: One coding for 19 copies of a peptide with the structure pQWLRGRFamide; one coding for six copies of a different RFamide peptide; one coding for six copies of pQPPGVWamide; one coding for eight different neuropeptide copies with the C-terminal LWamide sequence; one coding for thirteen copies of a peptide with the RPRAamide C-terminus; one coding for four copies of a peptide with the C-terminal GRYamide sequence; and one coding for seven copies of a cyclic peptide, of which the most frequent one has the sequence CTGQMCWFRamide. We could also identify orthologs of these seven Preprohormones in the cubozoans Alatina alata, Carybdea xaymacana, Chironex fleckeri, and Chiropsalmus quadrumanus. Furthermore, using TBLASTN screening, we could annotate four bursicon-like glycoprotein hormone subunits, five opsins, and 52 other family-A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which also included two leucine-rich repeats containing G protein-coupled receptors (LGRs) in T. cystophora. The two LGRs are potential receptors for the glycoprotein hormones, while the other GPCRs are candidate receptors for the above-mentioned neuropeptides. Conclusions By combining Illumina and PacBio sequencing technologies, we have produced a new high-quality de novo transcriptome assembly from T. cystophora that should be a valuable resource for identifying the neuronal components that are involved in vision and other behaviors in cubomedusae

  • molecular cloning of a Preprohormone from hydra magnipapillata containing multiple copies of hydra lwamide leu trp nh2 neuropeptides evidence for processing at ser and asn residues
    Journal of Neurochemistry, 2002
    Co-Authors: Ilia Leviev, Michael Williamson, Cornelis J P Grimmelikhuijzen
    Abstract:

    Abstract: The simple, freshwater polyp Hydra is often used as a model to study development in cnidarians. Recently, a neuropeptide, polyp. Here, we have cloned a Preprohormone from Hydra magnipapillata containing 11 (eight different) immature neuropeptide sequences that are structurally related to the metamorphosis-inducing neuropeptide from sea anemones. During the final phase of our cloning experiments, another research team independently isolated and sequenced five of the neuropeptides originally found on the Preprohormone. Comparison of these mature neuropeptide structures with the immature neuropeptide sequences on the Preprohormone shows that most immature neuropeptide sequences are preceded by Ser or Asn residues, indicating that these residues must be novel processing sites. Thus, the structure of the Hydra prepro-hormone confirms our earlier findings that cnidarian pre-prohormones contain unusual or novel processing sites. Nearly all neuropeptide copies located on the Hydra Preprohormone will give rise to mature neuropeptides with a C-terminal Gly-Leu-Trp-NH2 sequence (the most frequent one being Gly-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Leu-Trp-NH2; Hydra-LWamide I; three copies). Based on their structural similarities with the metamorphosis-inducing neuropeptide from sea anemones, the mature peptides derived from the Hydra-LWamide Preprohormone are potential candidates for being developmentally active neurohormones in Hydra.

  • molecular cloning and functional expression of a drosophila corazonin receptor
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2002
    Co-Authors: Giuseppe Cazzamali, Nicolaj P E Saxild, Cornelis J P Grimmelikhuijzen
    Abstract:

    The insect adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) constitute a large family of neuropeptides that mobilize lipids and sugar from the insect fat body during energy-requiring activities such as flight. We have previously identified the first insect AKH receptors from the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster and the silkworm Bombyx mori (Staubli et al., PNAS 2002, 99: 3446–3451). Here, we have cloned the cDNA of a Drosophila G protein-coupled receptor that was closely related to the first Drosophila AKH receptor both with respect to amino-acid sequence and gene structure. We have subsequently expressed this orphan receptor in Chinese hamster ovary cells and identified Drosophila corazonin as the endogenous ligand for the receptor. Corazonin increases heart beat in some insects, but its function in Drosophila is unknown. These results are intriguing, because not only are the Drosophila AKH and corazonin receptors structurally and evolutionarily related, but also are their Preprohormones, which suggests a co-evolution of ligands and receptors. The Drosophila corazonin receptor is expressed in embryos, larvae, pupae, and adult flies. Furthermore, a receptor that is structurally very similar to the Drosophila corazonin receptor can be found in the genomic database from the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae.

Francois Van Herp - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • molecular biology of neurohormone precursors in the eyestalk of crustacea
    Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B, 1995
    Co-Authors: Dominique P V De Kleijn, Francois Van Herp
    Abstract:

    Abstract Our knowledge concerning the primary structures of crustacean neuropeptides has been broadened considerably during the last few years and has greatly contributed to the successful application of molecular biological techniques to crustacean neuroendocrine research. In this review, we compare and discuss the Preprohormones of the Red Pigment Concentrating Hormone (RPCH), the Pigment-Dispersing Hormone (PDH) and the different members of the Crustacean Hyperglycemic Hormone, Molt-Inhibiting and Gonad-Inhibiting Hormone family (CHH/MIH/ GIH peptide family), recently elucidated by cloning and sequencing of the respective cDNAs. Expression studies, using in situ hybridization, Northern blots and RNase protection assays, have demonstrated that the mRNAs encoding some of the aforementioned Preprohormones (for example, preproPDH and preproCHH) are not only expressed in the eyestalk but also in other parts of the central nervous system. The combination of molecular biological techniques with (bio)chemical and immunochemical methods provides elegant tools to study neuropeptides at the level of mRNA and peptide in individual animals during different physiological conditions. The fundamental knowledge obtained by such a combined approach will give detailed insight into how neuropeptides are involved in the adaptation of Crustacea to a broad spectrum of natural and aquacultural conditions.

  • cloning and expression of two mrnas encoding structurally different crustacean hyperglycemic hormone precursors in the lobster homarus americanus
    Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1995
    Co-Authors: Dominique P V De Kleijn, Gerard J M Martens, Erik P H De Leeuw, Marco C Van Den Berg, Francois Van Herp
    Abstract:

    The crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) of the X-organ sinus gland complex is a multifunctional neurohormone primarily involved in the regulation of blood sugar levels. HPLC analysis of lobster sinus glands revealed two CHH-immunoreactive groups, each consisting of two isoforms with identical amino acid sequences and molecular weights. In order to obtain more information concerning the number and sequences of preproCHHs, and to study their expression, we isolated two full-length cDNAs encoding two different CHH Preprohormones. Both Preprohormone structures consist of a signal peptide, a CHH-precursor-related peptide and a highly-conserved CHH peptide. Expression studies revealed that the X-organ is not the only source of CHH mRNA because the ventral nerve system also expresses this mRNA. Based on these findings and earlier studies on the effect of eyestalk ablation, implantation of thoracic/abdominal ganglia as well as the multifunctionality of CHH, we postulate that CHH, present in the ventral nerve system is a good candidate for a supplementary role in the control of reproduction and molting.

  • cloning and expression of two crustacean hyperglycemic hormone mrnas in the eyestalk of the crayfish orconectes limosus
    FEBS Journal, 1994
    Co-Authors: Dominique P V De Kleijn, K P C Janssen, Gerard J M Martens, Francois Van Herp
    Abstract:

    Crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) is a multifunctional neurohormone produced in the eyestalk of crustaceans and is primarily involved in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. In several crustacean species, CHH isoforms with identical amino acid sequences and molecular masses, but with different chromatographic elution patterns, are synthesized. To obtain sequence information on the CHH Preprohormone in the crayfish Orconectes limosus we isolated two full-length cDNAs encoding two structurally different preproCHH species. The sequences of these precursors differ slightly in the signal peptide, the CHH-precursor-related peptide(CPRP)-coding sequences and in the non-coding regions, but are identical in the CHH peptide-coding sequence. Determination of the levels of preproCHH nRNAs and the amount of CHH peptide in the eyestalks of individual animals revealed that the ratio between the two preproCHH mRNAs varies for different individuals while the ratio between the two CHH peptide isoforms does not differ among animals. Our results suggest that the existence of two CHH isoforms in the crayfish O. limosus is due to a post-translational modification event. Northern-blot analysis showed only one band in eyestalk tissue with a size of approximately 2.4 kb, similar to the sizes of the cDNA sequences. Southern-blot analysis revealed the presence of at least two preproCHH genes in the crayfish suggesting a gene duplication event. Slight modifications in the duplicated genes could be responsible for the existence of the two preproCHH-encoding mRNAs.

  • Structure and localization of mRNA encoding a pigment dispersing hormone (PDH) in the eyestalk of the crayfish Orconectes limosus
    FEBS Letters, 1993
    Co-Authors: Dominique P V De Kleijn, Rainer Keller, Birgit Linck, J.m. Klein, Wolfgang M. Weidemann, Francois Van Herp
    Abstract:

    The pigment-dispersing hormone (PDH) is produced in the eyestalks of Crustacea where it induces light-adapting movements of pigment in the compound eye and regulates the pigment dispersion in the chromatophores. To study this hormone at the mRNA level, we cloned and sequenced cDNA encoding PDH in the crayfish Orconectes limosus. The structure of the PDH Preprohormone consists of a signal peptide, a PDH precursor-related peptide (PPRP) and the highly conserved PDH peptide at the carboxy-terminal end. In situ hybridization in combination with immunocytochemistry revealed four cell clusters expressing PDH in the optic ganglia of the eyestalk. Three clusters stained both with the PDH cRNA probe and the PDH antiserum, however, the perikarya in the lamina ganglionaris (LG) only stained with the PDH antiserum, suggesting the presence of a PDH-like peptide in the LG.

Luis A. Pérez-jurado - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Defective minor spliceosome mRNA processing results in isolated familial growth hormone deficiency.
    EMBO molecular medicine, 2014
    Co-Authors: Jesús Argente, Mikko J. Frilander, Bhupendra Verma, Raquel Flores, Armand Gutiérrez-arumí, Gabriel Á. Martos-moreno, Ivon Cuscó, Ali Oghabian, Julie A. Chowen, Luis A. Pérez-jurado
    Abstract:

    The molecular basis of a significant number of cases of isolated growth hormone deficiency remains unknown. We describe three sisters affected with severe isolated growth hormone deficiency and pituitary hypoplasia caused by biallelic mutations in the RNPC3 gene, which codes for a minor spliceosome protein required for U11/U12 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) formation and splicing of U12-type introns. We found anomalies in U11/U12 di-snRNP formation and in splicing of multiple U12-type introns in patient cells. Defective transcripts include Preprohormone convertases SPCS2 and SPCS3 and actin-related ARPC5L genes, which are candidates for the somatotroph-restricted dysfunction. The reported novel mechanism for familial growth hormone deficiency demonstrates that general mRNA processing defects of the minor spliceosome can lead to very narrow tissue-specific consequences.

  • Defective minor spliceosome mRNA processing results in isolated familial growth hormone deficiency
    'Wiley', 2014
    Co-Authors: Argente Jesus, Flores Raquel, Gutierrez-arumi Armand, Verma Bhupendra, Martos-moreno, Gabriel A., Cusco Ivon, Oghabian Ali, Chowen, Julie A., Frilander, Mikko J., Luis A. Pérez-jurado
    Abstract:

    The molecular basis of a significant number of cases of isolated growth hormone deficiency remains unknown. We describe three sisters affected with severe isolated growth hormone deficiency and pituitary hypoplasia caused by biallelic mutations in the RNPC3 gene, which codes for a minor spliceosome protein required for U11/U12 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) formation and splicing of U12-type introns. We found anomalies in U11/U12 di-snRNP formation and in splicing of multiple U12-type introns in patient cells. Defective transcripts include Preprohormone convertases SPCS2 and SPCS3 and actin-related ARPC5L genes, which are candidates for the somatotroph-restricted dysfunction. The reported novel mechanism for familial growth hormone deficiency demonstrates that general mRNA processing defects of the minor spliceosome can lead to very narrow tissue-specific consequences.Peer reviewe

Dominique P V De Kleijn - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • molecular biology of neurohormone precursors in the eyestalk of crustacea
    Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B, 1995
    Co-Authors: Dominique P V De Kleijn, Francois Van Herp
    Abstract:

    Abstract Our knowledge concerning the primary structures of crustacean neuropeptides has been broadened considerably during the last few years and has greatly contributed to the successful application of molecular biological techniques to crustacean neuroendocrine research. In this review, we compare and discuss the Preprohormones of the Red Pigment Concentrating Hormone (RPCH), the Pigment-Dispersing Hormone (PDH) and the different members of the Crustacean Hyperglycemic Hormone, Molt-Inhibiting and Gonad-Inhibiting Hormone family (CHH/MIH/ GIH peptide family), recently elucidated by cloning and sequencing of the respective cDNAs. Expression studies, using in situ hybridization, Northern blots and RNase protection assays, have demonstrated that the mRNAs encoding some of the aforementioned Preprohormones (for example, preproPDH and preproCHH) are not only expressed in the eyestalk but also in other parts of the central nervous system. The combination of molecular biological techniques with (bio)chemical and immunochemical methods provides elegant tools to study neuropeptides at the level of mRNA and peptide in individual animals during different physiological conditions. The fundamental knowledge obtained by such a combined approach will give detailed insight into how neuropeptides are involved in the adaptation of Crustacea to a broad spectrum of natural and aquacultural conditions.

  • cloning and expression of two mrnas encoding structurally different crustacean hyperglycemic hormone precursors in the lobster homarus americanus
    Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1995
    Co-Authors: Dominique P V De Kleijn, Gerard J M Martens, Erik P H De Leeuw, Marco C Van Den Berg, Francois Van Herp
    Abstract:

    The crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) of the X-organ sinus gland complex is a multifunctional neurohormone primarily involved in the regulation of blood sugar levels. HPLC analysis of lobster sinus glands revealed two CHH-immunoreactive groups, each consisting of two isoforms with identical amino acid sequences and molecular weights. In order to obtain more information concerning the number and sequences of preproCHHs, and to study their expression, we isolated two full-length cDNAs encoding two different CHH Preprohormones. Both Preprohormone structures consist of a signal peptide, a CHH-precursor-related peptide and a highly-conserved CHH peptide. Expression studies revealed that the X-organ is not the only source of CHH mRNA because the ventral nerve system also expresses this mRNA. Based on these findings and earlier studies on the effect of eyestalk ablation, implantation of thoracic/abdominal ganglia as well as the multifunctionality of CHH, we postulate that CHH, present in the ventral nerve system is a good candidate for a supplementary role in the control of reproduction and molting.

  • cloning and expression of two crustacean hyperglycemic hormone mrnas in the eyestalk of the crayfish orconectes limosus
    FEBS Journal, 1994
    Co-Authors: Dominique P V De Kleijn, K P C Janssen, Gerard J M Martens, Francois Van Herp
    Abstract:

    Crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) is a multifunctional neurohormone produced in the eyestalk of crustaceans and is primarily involved in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. In several crustacean species, CHH isoforms with identical amino acid sequences and molecular masses, but with different chromatographic elution patterns, are synthesized. To obtain sequence information on the CHH Preprohormone in the crayfish Orconectes limosus we isolated two full-length cDNAs encoding two structurally different preproCHH species. The sequences of these precursors differ slightly in the signal peptide, the CHH-precursor-related peptide(CPRP)-coding sequences and in the non-coding regions, but are identical in the CHH peptide-coding sequence. Determination of the levels of preproCHH nRNAs and the amount of CHH peptide in the eyestalks of individual animals revealed that the ratio between the two preproCHH mRNAs varies for different individuals while the ratio between the two CHH peptide isoforms does not differ among animals. Our results suggest that the existence of two CHH isoforms in the crayfish O. limosus is due to a post-translational modification event. Northern-blot analysis showed only one band in eyestalk tissue with a size of approximately 2.4 kb, similar to the sizes of the cDNA sequences. Southern-blot analysis revealed the presence of at least two preproCHH genes in the crayfish suggesting a gene duplication event. Slight modifications in the duplicated genes could be responsible for the existence of the two preproCHH-encoding mRNAs.

  • Structure and localization of mRNA encoding a pigment dispersing hormone (PDH) in the eyestalk of the crayfish Orconectes limosus
    FEBS Letters, 1993
    Co-Authors: Dominique P V De Kleijn, Rainer Keller, Birgit Linck, J.m. Klein, Wolfgang M. Weidemann, Francois Van Herp
    Abstract:

    The pigment-dispersing hormone (PDH) is produced in the eyestalks of Crustacea where it induces light-adapting movements of pigment in the compound eye and regulates the pigment dispersion in the chromatophores. To study this hormone at the mRNA level, we cloned and sequenced cDNA encoding PDH in the crayfish Orconectes limosus. The structure of the PDH Preprohormone consists of a signal peptide, a PDH precursor-related peptide (PPRP) and the highly conserved PDH peptide at the carboxy-terminal end. In situ hybridization in combination with immunocytochemistry revealed four cell clusters expressing PDH in the optic ganglia of the eyestalk. Three clusters stained both with the PDH cRNA probe and the PDH antiserum, however, the perikarya in the lamina ganglionaris (LG) only stained with the PDH antiserum, suggesting the presence of a PDH-like peptide in the LG.

Frank Hauser - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • de novo transcriptome assembly of the cubomedusa tripedalia cystophora including the analysis of a set of genes involved in peptidergic neurotransmission
    BMC Genomics, 2019
    Co-Authors: Sofie K D Nielsen, Thomas L. Koch, A. Garm, Frank Hauser, Cornelis J P Grimmelikhuijzen
    Abstract:

    The phyla Cnidaria, Placozoa, Ctenophora, and Porifera emerged before the split of proto- and deuterostome animals, about 600 million years ago. These early metazoans are interesting, because they can give us important information on the evolution of various tissues and organs, such as eyes and the nervous system. Generally, cnidarians have simple nervous systems, which use neuropeptides for their neurotransmission, but some cnidarian medusae belonging to the class Cubozoa (box jellyfishes) have advanced image-forming eyes, probably associated with a complex innervation. Here, we describe a new transcriptome database from the cubomedusa Tripedalia cystophora. Based on the combined use of the Illumina and PacBio sequencing technologies, we produced a highly contiguous transcriptome database from T. cystophora. We then developed a software program to discover neuropeptide Preprohormones in this database. This script enabled us to annotate seven novel T. cystophora neuropeptide Preprohormone cDNAs: One coding for 19 copies of a peptide with the structure pQWLRGRFamide; one coding for six copies of a different RFamide peptide; one coding for six copies of pQPPGVWamide; one coding for eight different neuropeptide copies with the C-terminal LWamide sequence; one coding for thirteen copies of a peptide with the RPRAamide C-terminus; one coding for four copies of a peptide with the C-terminal GRYamide sequence; and one coding for seven copies of a cyclic peptide, of which the most frequent one has the sequence CTGQMCWFRamide. We could also identify orthologs of these seven Preprohormones in the cubozoans Alatina alata, Carybdea xaymacana, Chironex fleckeri, and Chiropsalmus quadrumanus. Furthermore, using TBLASTN screening, we could annotate four bursicon-like glycoprotein hormone subunits, five opsins, and 52 other family-A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which also included two leucine-rich repeats containing G protein-coupled receptors (LGRs) in T. cystophora. The two LGRs are potential receptors for the glycoprotein hormones, while the other GPCRs are candidate receptors for the above-mentioned neuropeptides. By combining Illumina and PacBio sequencing technologies, we have produced a new high-quality de novo transcriptome assembly from T. cystophora that should be a valuable resource for identifying the neuronal components that are involved in vision and other behaviors in cubomedusae.

  • De novo transcriptome assembly of the cubomedusa Tripedalia cystophora, including the analysis of a set of genes involved in peptidergic neurotransmission
    BMC, 2019
    Co-Authors: Sofie K D Nielsen, Thomas L. Koch, A. Garm, Frank Hauser, Cornelis J P Grimmelikhuijzen
    Abstract:

    Abstract Background The phyla Cnidaria, Placozoa, Ctenophora, and Porifera emerged before the split of proto- and deuterostome animals, about 600 million years ago. These early metazoans are interesting, because they can give us important information on the evolution of various tissues and organs, such as eyes and the nervous system. Generally, cnidarians have simple nervous systems, which use neuropeptides for their neurotransmission, but some cnidarian medusae belonging to the class Cubozoa (box jellyfishes) have advanced image-forming eyes, probably associated with a complex innervation. Here, we describe a new transcriptome database from the cubomedusa Tripedalia cystophora. Results Based on the combined use of the Illumina and PacBio sequencing technologies, we produced a highly contiguous transcriptome database from T. cystophora. We then developed a software program to discover neuropeptide Preprohormones in this database. This script enabled us to annotate seven novel T. cystophora neuropeptide Preprohormone cDNAs: One coding for 19 copies of a peptide with the structure pQWLRGRFamide; one coding for six copies of a different RFamide peptide; one coding for six copies of pQPPGVWamide; one coding for eight different neuropeptide copies with the C-terminal LWamide sequence; one coding for thirteen copies of a peptide with the RPRAamide C-terminus; one coding for four copies of a peptide with the C-terminal GRYamide sequence; and one coding for seven copies of a cyclic peptide, of which the most frequent one has the sequence CTGQMCWFRamide. We could also identify orthologs of these seven Preprohormones in the cubozoans Alatina alata, Carybdea xaymacana, Chironex fleckeri, and Chiropsalmus quadrumanus. Furthermore, using TBLASTN screening, we could annotate four bursicon-like glycoprotein hormone subunits, five opsins, and 52 other family-A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which also included two leucine-rich repeats containing G protein-coupled receptors (LGRs) in T. cystophora. The two LGRs are potential receptors for the glycoprotein hormones, while the other GPCRs are candidate receptors for the above-mentioned neuropeptides. Conclusions By combining Illumina and PacBio sequencing technologies, we have produced a new high-quality de novo transcriptome assembly from T. cystophora that should be a valuable resource for identifying the neuronal components that are involved in vision and other behaviors in cubomedusae

  • genomics transcriptomics and peptidomics of daphnia pulex neuropeptides and protein hormones
    Journal of Proteome Research, 2011
    Co-Authors: Heinrich Dircksen, Susanne Neupert, Reinhard Predel, Peter Verleyen, Jurgen Huybrechts, Johannes Strauss, Frank Hauser, Elisabeth Stafflinger, Martina Schneider, Kevin Pauwels
    Abstract:

    We report 43 novel genes in the water flea Daphnia pulex encoding 73 predicted neuropeptide and protein hormones as partly confirmed by RT-PCR. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry identified 40 neuropeptides by mass matches and 30 neuropeptides by fragmentation sequencing. Single genes encode adipokinetic hormone, allatostatin-A, allatostatin-B, allatotropin, Ala(7)-CCAP, CCHamide, Arg(7)-corazonin, DENamides, CRF-like (DH52) and calcitonin-like (DH31) diuretic hormones, two ecdysis-triggering hormones, two FIRFamides, one insulin, two alternative splice forms of ion transport peptide (ITP), myosuppressin, neuroparsin, two neuropeptide-F splice forms, three periviscerokinins (but no pyrokinins), pigment dispersing hormone, proctolin, Met(4)-proctolin, short neuropeptide-F, three RYamides, SIFamide, two sulfakinins, and three tachykinins. There are two genes for a Preprohormone containing orcomyotropin-like peptides and orcokinins, two genes for N-terminally elongated ITPs, two genes (clustered) for eclosion hormones, two genes (clustered) for bursicons alpha, beta, and two genes (clustered) for glycoproteins GPA2, GPB5, three genes for different allatostatins-C (two of them clustered) and three genes for IGF-related peptides. Detailed comparisons of genes or their products with those from insects and decapod crustaceans revealed that the D. pulex peptides are often closer related to their insect than to their decapod crustacean homologues, confirming that branchiopods, to which Daphnia belongs, are the ancestor group of insects.

  • expression and developmental regulation of the hydra rfamide and hydra lwamide Preprohormone genes in hydra evidence for transient phases of head formation
    Developmental Biology, 1999
    Co-Authors: Christian Mitgutsch, Frank Hauser, Cornelis J P Grimmelikhuijzen
    Abstract:

    Abstract Hydra magnipapillata has three distinct genes coding for Preprohormones A, B, and C, each yielding a characteristic set of Hydra-RFamide (Arg-Phe-NH 2 ) neuropeptides, and a fourth gene coding for a Preprohormone that yields various Hydra-LWamide (Leu-Trp-NH 2 ) neuropeptides. Using a whole-mount double-labeling in situ hybridization technique, we found that each of the four genes is specifically expressed in a different subset of neurons in the ectoderm of adult Hydra. The Preprohormone A gene is expressed in neurons of the tentacles, hypostome (a region between tentacles and mouth opening), upper gastric region, and peduncle (an area just above the foot). The Preprohormone B gene is exclusively expressed in neurons of the hypostome, whereas the Preprohormone C gene is exclusively expressed in neurons of the tentacles. The Hydra-LWamide Preprohormone gene is expressed in neurons located in all parts of Hydra with maxima in tentacles, hypostome, and basal disk (foot). Studies on animals regenerating a head showed that the prepro-Hydra-LWamide gene is expressed first, followed by the Preprohormone A and subsequently the Preprohormone C and the Preprohormone B genes. This sequence of events could be explained by a model based on positional values in a morphogen gradient. Our head-regeneration experiments also give support for transient phases of head formation: first tentacle-specific Preprohormone C neurons (frequently associated with a small tentacle bud) appear at the center of the regenerating tip, which they are then replaced by hypostome-specific Preprohormone B neurons. Thus, the regenerating tip first attains a tentacle-like appearance and only later this tip develops into a hypostome. In a developing bud of Hydra, tentacle-specific Preprohormone C neurons and hypostome-specific Preprohormone B neurons appear about simultaneously in their correct positions, but during a later phase of head development, additional tentacle-specific Preprohormone C neurons appear as a ring at the center of the hypostome and then disappear again. Nerve-free Hydra consisting of only epithelial cells do not express the Preprohormone A, B, or C or the LWamide Preprohormone genes. These animals, however, have a normal phenotype, showing that the Preprohormone A, B, and C and the LWamide genes are not essential for the basic pattern formation of Hydra .