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1. Extant and extinct bilby genomes combined with Indigenous knowledge improve conservation of a unique Australian marsupial

Author

Hogg, Carolyn J., Edwards, Richard J., Farquharson, Katherine A., Silver, Luke W., Brandies, Parice, Peel, Emma, Escalona, Merly, Jaya, Frederick R., Thavornkanlapachai, Rujiporn, Batley, Kimberley, Bradford, Tessa M., Chang, J. King, Chen, Zhiliang, Deshpande, Nandan, Dziminski, Martin, Ewart, Kyle M., Griffith, Oliver W., Marin Gual, Laia, Moon, Katherine L., Travouillon, Kenny J., Waters, Paul, Whittington, Camilla M., Wilkins, Marc R., Helgen, Kristofer M., Lo, Nathan, Ho, Simon Y. W., Ruiz Herrera, Aurora, Paltridge, Rachel, Marshall Graves, Jennifer A., Renfree, Marilyn, Shapiro, Beth, Ottewell, Kym, and Belov, Katherine

Published
2024
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2. Author Correction: Extant and extinct bilby genomes combined with Indigenous knowledge improve conservation of a unique Australian marsupial

Author

Hogg, Carolyn J., Edwards, Richard J., Farquharson, Katherine A., Silver, Luke W., Brandies, Parice, Peel, Emma, Escalona, Merly, Jaya, Frederick R., Thavornkanlapachai, Rujiporn, Batley, Kimberley, Bradford, Tessa M., Chang, J. King, Chen, Zhiliang, Deshpande, Nandan, Dziminski, Martin, Ewart, Kyle M., Griffith, Oliver W., Marin Gual, Laia, Moon, Katherine L., Travouillon, Kenny J., Waters, Paul, Whittington, Camilla M., Wilkins, Marc R., Helgen, Kristofer M., Lo, Nathan, Ho, Simon Y. W., Ruiz Herrera, Aurora, Paltridge, Rachel, Marshall Graves, Jennifer A., Renfree, Marilyn, Shapiro, Beth, Ottewell, Kym, and Belov, Katherine

Published
2024
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11. Marsupials have monoallelic MESTexpression with a conserved antisense lncRNA but MESTis not imprinted

Author

Ishihara, Teruhito, Suzuki, Shunsuke, Newman, Trent A., Fenelon, Jane C., Griffith, Oliver W., Shaw, Geoff, and Renfree, Marilyn B.

Abstract

The imprinted isoform of the Mestgene in mice is involved in key mammalian traits such as placental and fetal growth, maternal care and mammary gland maturation. The imprinted isoform has a distinct differentially methylated region (DMR) at its promoter in eutherian mammals but in marsupials, there are no differentially methylated CpG islands between the parental alleles. Here, we examined similarities and differences in the MESTgene locus across mammals using a marsupial, the tammar wallaby, a monotreme, the platypus, and a eutherian, the mouse, to investigate how imprinting of this gene evolved in mammals. By confirming the presence of the short isoform in all mammalian groups (which is imprinted in eutherians), this study suggests that an alternative promoter for the short isoform evolved at the MESTgene locus in the common ancestor of mammals. In the tammar, the short isoform of MESTshared the putative promoter CpG island with an antisense lncRNA previously identified in humans and an isoform of a neighbouring gene CEP41. The antisense lncRNA was expressed in tammar sperm, as seen in humans. This suggested that the conserved lncRNA might be important in the establishment of MESTimprinting in therian mammals, but it was not imprinted in the tammar. In contrast to previous studies, this study shows that MESTis not imprinted in marsupials. MESTimprinting in eutherians, therefore must have occurred after the marsupial-eutherian split with the acquisition of a key epigenetic imprinting control region, the differentially methylated CpG islands between the parental alleles.

Published
2024
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20. Conservation status of the world's skinks (Scincidae): Taxonomic and geographic patterns in extinction risk

Author

Chapple, David G., Roll, Uri, Boehm, Monika, Aguilar, Rocio, Amey, Andrew P., Austin, Chris C., Baling, Marleen, Barley, Anthony J., Bates, Michael F., Bauer, Aaron M., Blackburn, Daniel G., Bowles, Phil, Brown, Rafe M., Chandramouli, S. R., Chirio, Laurent, Cogger, Hal, Colli, Guarino R., Conradie, Werner, Couper, Patrick J., Cowan, Mark A., Craig, Michael D., Das, Indraneil, Datta-Roy, Aniruddha, Dickman, Chris R., Ellis, Ryan J., Fenner, Aaron L., Ford, Stewart, Ganesh, S. R., Gardner, Michael G., Geissler, Peter, Gillespie, Graeme R., Glaw, Frank, Greenlees, Matthew J., Griffith, Oliver W., Grismer, L. Lee, Haines, Margaret L., Harris, D. James, Hedges, S. Blair, Hitchmough, Rod A., Hoskin, Conrad J., Hutchinson, Mark N., Ineich, Ivan, Janssen, Jordi, Johnston, Gregory R., Karin, Benjamin R., Keogh, J. Scott, Kraus, Fred, LeBreton, Matthew, Lymberakis, Petros, Masroor, Rafaqat, McDonald, Peter J., Mecke, Sven, Melville, Jane, Melzer, Sabine, Michael, Damian R., Miralles, Aurelien, Mitchell, Nicola J., Nelson, Nicola J., Nguyen, Truong Q., Nogueira, Cristiano de Campos, Ota, Hidetoshi, Pafilis, Panayiotis, Pauwels, Olivier S. G., Perera, Ana, Pincheira-Donoso, Daniel, Reed, Robert N., Ribeiro-Junior, Marco A., Riley, Julia L., Rocha, Sara, Rutherford, Pamela L., Sadlier, Ross A., Shacham, Boaz, Shea, Glenn M., Shine, Richard, Slavenko, Alex, Stow, Adam, Sumner, Joanna, Tallowin, Oliver J. S., Teale, Roy, Torres-Carvajal, Omar, Trape, Jean-Francois, Uetz, Peter, Ukuwela, Kanishka D. B., Valentine, Leonie, Dyke, James U. Van, van Winkel, Dylan, Vasconcelos, Raquel, Vences, Miguel, Wagner, Philipp, Wapstra, Erik, While, Geoffrey M., Whiting, Martin J., Whittington, Camilla M., Wilson, Steve, Ziegler, Thomas, Tingley, Reid, Meiri, Shai, Chapple, David G., Roll, Uri, Boehm, Monika, Aguilar, Rocio, Amey, Andrew P., Austin, Chris C., Baling, Marleen, Barley, Anthony J., Bates, Michael F., Bauer, Aaron M., Blackburn, Daniel G., Bowles, Phil, Brown, Rafe M., Chandramouli, S. R., Chirio, Laurent, Cogger, Hal, Colli, Guarino R., Conradie, Werner, Couper, Patrick J., Cowan, Mark A., Craig, Michael D., Das, Indraneil, Datta-Roy, Aniruddha, Dickman, Chris R., Ellis, Ryan J., Fenner, Aaron L., Ford, Stewart, Ganesh, S. R., Gardner, Michael G., Geissler, Peter, Gillespie, Graeme R., Glaw, Frank, Greenlees, Matthew J., Griffith, Oliver W., Grismer, L. Lee, Haines, Margaret L., Harris, D. James, Hedges, S. Blair, Hitchmough, Rod A., Hoskin, Conrad J., Hutchinson, Mark N., Ineich, Ivan, Janssen, Jordi, Johnston, Gregory R., Karin, Benjamin R., Keogh, J. Scott, Kraus, Fred, LeBreton, Matthew, Lymberakis, Petros, Masroor, Rafaqat, McDonald, Peter J., Mecke, Sven, Melville, Jane, Melzer, Sabine, Michael, Damian R., Miralles, Aurelien, Mitchell, Nicola J., Nelson, Nicola J., Nguyen, Truong Q., Nogueira, Cristiano de Campos, Ota, Hidetoshi, Pafilis, Panayiotis, Pauwels, Olivier S. G., Perera, Ana, Pincheira-Donoso, Daniel, Reed, Robert N., Ribeiro-Junior, Marco A., Riley, Julia L., Rocha, Sara, Rutherford, Pamela L., Sadlier, Ross A., Shacham, Boaz, Shea, Glenn M., Shine, Richard, Slavenko, Alex, Stow, Adam, Sumner, Joanna, Tallowin, Oliver J. S., Teale, Roy, Torres-Carvajal, Omar, Trape, Jean-Francois, Uetz, Peter, Ukuwela, Kanishka D. B., Valentine, Leonie, Dyke, James U. Van, van Winkel, Dylan, Vasconcelos, Raquel, Vences, Miguel, Wagner, Philipp, Wapstra, Erik, While, Geoffrey M., Whiting, Martin J., Whittington, Camilla M., Wilson, Steve, Ziegler, Thomas, Tingley, Reid, and Meiri, Shai

Abstract

Our knowledge of the conservation status of reptiles, the most diverse class of terrestrial vertebrates, has improved dramatically over the past decade, but still lags behind that of the other tetrapod groups. Here, we conduct the first comprehensive evaluation (similar to 92% of the world's similar to 1714 described species) of the conservation status of skinks (Scincidae), a speciose reptile family with a worldwide distribution. Using International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria, we report that similar to 20% of species are threatened with extinction, and nine species are Extinct or Extinct in the Wild. The highest levels of threat are evident in Madagascar and the Neotropics, and in the subfamilies Mabuyinae, Eugongylinae and Scincinae. The vast majority of threatened skink species were listed based primarily on their small geographic ranges (Criterion B, 83%; Criterion D2, 13%). Although the population trend of 42% of species was stable, 14% have declining populations. The key threats to skinks are habitat loss due to agriculture, invasive species, and biological resource use (e.g., hunting, timber harvesting). The distributions of 61% of species do not overlap with protected areas. Despite our improved knowledge of the conservation status of the world's skinks, 8% of species remain to be assessed, and 14% are listed as Data Deficient. The conservation status of almost a quarter of the world's skink species thus remains unknown. We use our updated knowledge of the conservation status of the group to develop and outline the priorities for the conservation assessment and management of the world's skink species.

Published
2021

21. Conservation status of the world's skinks (Scincidae): Taxonomic and geographic patterns in extinction risk

Author

Chapple, David G., primary, Roll, Uri, additional, Böhm, Monika, additional, Aguilar, Rocío, additional, Amey, Andrew P., additional, Austin, Chris C., additional, Baling, Marleen, additional, Barley, Anthony J., additional, Bates, Michael F., additional, Bauer, Aaron M., additional, Blackburn, Daniel G., additional, Bowles, Phil, additional, Brown, Rafe M., additional, Chandramouli, S.R., additional, Chirio, Laurent, additional, Cogger, Hal, additional, Colli, Guarino R., additional, Conradie, Werner, additional, Couper, Patrick J., additional, Cowan, Mark A., additional, Craig, Michael D., additional, Das, Indraneil, additional, Datta-Roy, Aniruddha, additional, Dickman, Chris R., additional, Ellis, Ryan J., additional, Fenner, Aaron L., additional, Ford, Stewart, additional, Ganesh, S.R., additional, Gardner, Michael G., additional, Geissler, Peter, additional, Gillespie, Graeme R., additional, Glaw, Frank, additional, Greenlees, Matthew J., additional, Griffith, Oliver W., additional, Grismer, L. Lee, additional, Haines, Margaret L., additional, Harris, D. James, additional, Hedges, S. Blair, additional, Hitchmough, Rod A., additional, Hoskin, Conrad J., additional, Hutchinson, Mark N., additional, Ineich, Ivan, additional, Janssen, Jordi, additional, Johnston, Gregory R., additional, Karin, Benjamin R., additional, Keogh, J. Scott, additional, Kraus, Fred, additional, LeBreton, Matthew, additional, Lymberakis, Petros, additional, Masroor, Rafaqat, additional, McDonald, Peter J., additional, Mecke, Sven, additional, Melville, Jane, additional, Melzer, Sabine, additional, Michael, Damian R., additional, Miralles, Aurélien, additional, Mitchell, Nicola J., additional, Nelson, Nicola J., additional, Nguyen, Truong Q., additional, de Campos Nogueira, Cristiano, additional, Ota, Hidetoshi, additional, Pafilis, Panayiotis, additional, Pauwels, Olivier S.G., additional, Perera, Ana, additional, Pincheira-Donoso, Daniel, additional, Reed, Robert N., additional, Ribeiro-Júnior, Marco A., additional, Riley, Julia L., additional, Rocha, Sara, additional, Rutherford, Pamela L., additional, Sadlier, Ross A., additional, Shacham, Boaz, additional, Shea, Glenn M., additional, Shine, Richard, additional, Slavenko, Alex, additional, Stow, Adam, additional, Sumner, Joanna, additional, Tallowin, Oliver J.S., additional, Teale, Roy, additional, Torres-Carvajal, Omar, additional, Trape, Jean-Francois, additional, Uetz, Peter, additional, Ukuwela, Kanishka D.B., additional, Valentine, Leonie, additional, Van Dyke, James U., additional, van Winkel, Dylan, additional, Vasconcelos, Raquel, additional, Vences, Miguel, additional, Wagner, Philipp, additional, Wapstra, Erik, additional, While, Geoffrey M., additional, Whiting, Martin J., additional, Whittington, Camilla M., additional, Wilson, Steve, additional, Ziegler, Thomas, additional, Tingley, Reid, additional, and Meiri, Shai, additional

Published
2021
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23. Soybean Yellow Stripe-like 7 is a symbiosome membrane peptide transporter important for nitrogen fixation

Author

Gavrin, Aleksandr, primary, Loughlin, Patrick C, additional, Brear, Ella, additional, Griffith, Oliver W, additional, Bedon, Frank, additional, Suter Grotemeyer, Marianne, additional, Escudero, Viviana, additional, Reguera, Maria, additional, Qu, Yihan, additional, Mohd-Noor, Siti N, additional, Chen, Chi, additional, Osorio, Marina Borges, additional, Rentsch, Doris, additional, González-Guerrero, Manuel, additional, Day, David A, additional, and Smith, Penelope Mary Collina, additional

Published
2021
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27. Supplementary Methods from Endometrial recognition of pregnancy occurs in the grey short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

Author

Griffith, Oliver W., Chavan, Arun R., Pavlicev, Mihaela, Protopapas, Stella, Callahan, Ryan, Maziarz, Jamie, and Wagner, Gunter P.

Subjects
animal structures, urogenital system, reproductive and urinary physiology
Abstract

In human pregnancy, recognition of an embryo within the uterus is essential to support the fetus through gestation. In non-macropodid marsupials, such as the opossums, pregnancy is shorter than the oestrous cycle and the steroid hormone profile during pregnancy and oestrous cycle are indistinguishable. For these reasons, it was assumed that recognition of pregnancy, as a trait, evolved in the eutherian (placental) stem lineage and independently in wallabies and kangaroos. To investigate whether uterine recognition of pregnancy occurs in species with pregnancy shorter than the oestrous cycle, we examined reproduction in the short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica), a marsupial with a plesiomorphic mode of pregnancy. We examined the morphological and gene expression changes in the uterus of females in the non-pregnant oestrous cycle and compared these to pregnancy. We found that the presence of an embryo did not alter some aspects of uterine development but increased glandular activity. Transcriptionally, we saw big differences between the uterus of pregnant and cycling animals. These differences included an upregulation of genes involved in transport, inflammation and metabolic-activity in response to the presence of a fetus. Furthermore, transcriptional differences reflected protein level differences in transporter abundance. Our results suggest that while the uterus exhibits programmed changes after ovulation, its transcriptional landscape during pregnancy responds to the presence of a fetus and upregulates genes that may be essential for fetal support. These results are consistent with endometrial recognition of pregnancy occurring in the opossum. While the effects on maternal physiology appear to differ, recognition of pregnancy has now been observed in eutherian mammals, as well as, Australian and American marsupials.

Published
2019
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28. Figure S1. Haematoxylin and eosing stained endometrium from pregnant (A-C) and females in the estrous cycle (D-E).; Figure S2. Gene ontology analysis of significant differences between late estrous (ELG) and late pregnancy (LG).; Figure S3. Gene ontology analysis of significant differences between mid estrous (EMG) and non-pregnant samples (NP). from Endometrial recognition of pregnancy occurs in the grey short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

Author

Griffith, Oliver W., Chavan, Arun R., Pavlicev, Mihaela, Protopapas, Stella, Callahan, Ryan, Maziarz, Jamie, and Wagner, Gunter P.

Abstract

Figure S1. In late pregnancy (A) and the equivalent time in the estrous cycle (D), the uterus becomes highly folded with few endometrial glands within these folds. In post-attachment pregnancy the endometrial glands are open, and glandular epithelial cells appear secretory in form (B), while in the equivalent stage of the estrous cycle, the glands are shrunken, compact, and glandular epithelial cells have shrunk in size (E). Towards the end of pregnancy the sub-epithelial stromal cell population is displaced and replaced by a network of sub-epithelial capillaries (C), however, in the estrous cycle, this epithelial cell population remains compact (F) which may prevent the formation of the sub-epithelial capillary network.; Figure S2.(A) Significantly over-represented gene ontology terms from the list of significantly down-regulated genes in estrous cycle (13 dpe) compared to non-reproductive uterus. (B) Significantly over-represented gene ontology terms from the list of significantly down-regulated genes in late gestation uterus compared to the estrous cycle.; Figure S3. (A) Significantly over-represented gene ontology in genes up-regulated in EMG compared to NR. (B) Significantly over-represented gene ontology in genes down-regulated in EMG compared to NR.

Published
2019
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29. Evolution of Embryo Implantation Was Enabled by the Origin of Decidual Stromal Cells in Eutherian Mammals.

Author

Chavan, Arun R, Griffith, Oliver W, Stadtmauer, Daniel J, Maziarz, Jamie, Pavlicev, Mihaela, Fishman, Ruth, Koren, Lee, Romero, Roberto, and Wagner, Günter P

Subjects
MARSUPIALS, STROMAL cells, INFLAMMATION, IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY, NINE-banded armadillo, T cells
Abstract

Mammalian pregnancy evolved in the therian stem lineage, that is, before the common ancestor of marsupials and eutherian (placental) mammals. Ancestral therian pregnancy likely involved a brief phase of attachment between the fetal and maternal tissues followed by parturition—similar to the situation in most marsupials including the opossum. In all eutherians, however, embryo attachment is followed by implantation, allowing for a stable fetal–maternal interface and an extended gestation. Embryo attachment induces an attachment reaction in the uterus that is homologous to an inflammatory response. Here, we elucidate the evolutionary mechanism by which the ancestral inflammatory response was transformed into embryo implantation in the eutherian lineage. We performed a comparative uterine transcriptomic and immunohistochemical study of three eutherians, armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), hyrax (Procavia capensis), and rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus); and one marsupial, opossum (Monodelphis domestica). Our results suggest that in the eutherian lineage, the ancestral inflammatory response was domesticated by suppressing one of its modules detrimental to pregnancy, namely, neutrophil recruitment by cytokine IL17A. Further, we propose that this suppression was mediated by decidual stromal cells, a novel cell type in eutherian mammals. We tested a prediction of this model in vitro and showed that decidual stromal cells can suppress the production of IL17A from helper T cells. Together, these results provide a mechanistic understanding of early stages in the evolution of eutherian pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2021
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30. Seahorse Brood Pouch Transcriptome Reveals Common Genes Associated with Vertebrate Pregnancy

Author

Whittington, Camilla M., Griffith, Oliver W., Qi, Weihong, Thompson, Michael B., Wilson, Anthony B., University of Zurich, and Whittington, Camilla M

Subjects
Reproduction, Brood pouch, Evolution gestation, Hippocampus abdominalis, Live birth, Male pregnancy, RNA-seq, Syngnathidae, 610 Medicine & health, 10071 Functional Genomics Center Zurich, 1105 Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, 1311 Genetics, 1312 Molecular Biology, 570 Life sciences, biology, FOS: Medical biotechnology
Abstract

Molecular Biology and Evolution, 32 (12), ISSN:0737-4038, ISSN:1537-1719

Published
2017

41. Seahorse brood pouch transcriptome reveals common genes associated with vertebrate pregnancy

Author

Whittington, Camilla M, Griffith, Oliver W, Qi, Weihong, Thompson, Michael B, Wilson, Anthony B, Whittington, Camilla M, Griffith, Oliver W, Qi, Weihong, Thompson, Michael B, and Wilson, Anthony B

Abstract

Viviparity (live birth) has evolved more than 150 times in vertebrates, and represents an excellent model system for studying the evolution of complex traits. There are at least 23 independent origins of viviparity in fishes, with syngnathid fishes (seahorses and pipefish) unique in exhibiting male pregnancy. Male seahorses and pipefish have evolved specialized brooding pouches that provide protection, gas exchange, osmoregulation, and limited nutrient provisioning to developing embryos. Pouch structures differ widely across the Syngnathidae, offering an ideal opportunity to study the evolution of reproductive complexity. However, the physiological and genetic changes facilitating male pregnancy are largely unknown. We used transcriptome profiling to examine pouch gene expression at successive gestational stages in a syngnathid with the most complex brood pouch morphology, the seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis. Using a unique time-calibrated RNA-seq data set including brood pouch at key stages of embryonic development, we identified transcriptional changes associated with brood pouch remodeling, nutrient and waste transport, gas exchange, osmoregulation, and immunological protection of developing embryos at conception, development and parturition. Key seahorse transcripts share homology with genes of reproductive function in pregnant mammals, reptiles, and other live-bearing fish, suggesting a common toolkit of genes regulating pregnancy in divergent evolutionary lineages.

Published
2015

42. Candidate genes involved in the evolution of viviparity: a RAD sequencing experiment in the lizard <italic>Zootoca vivipara</italic> (Squamata: Lacertidae).

Author

Cornetti, Luca, Griffith, Oliver W, Benazzo, Andrea, Panziera, Alex, Whittington, Camilla M, Thompson, Michael B, Vernesi, Cristiano, and Bertorelle, Giorgio

Subjects
*VIVIPARITY, *REPTILE evolution, *NUCLEOTIDE sequencing, *VIVIPAROUS lizard, *REPTILE reproduction, *GENE expression, *REPTILES
Abstract

Viviparity has evolved from oviparity at least 150 independent times in vertebrates. More than 80% of these transitions have occurred in squamate reptiles, where both reproductive modes are rarely seen in different populations of the same species. This condition (bimodal reproduction) is ideal for studying the physiological and morphological changes underpinning the evolution of reproductive mode, and their genetic determinants. Here we analysed the genomes of Zootoca vivipara populations with either oviparous or viviparous reproduction using a RAD sequencing approach. No signature of interbreeding between oviparous and viviparous individuals was found. We conservatively identified 22 annotated coding sequences in genes potentially associated with parity mode differences. Six of these genes are transcription regulators that are also expressed in reproductive tissues of mammals and reptiles, suggesting that changes in gene expression are important for the evolution of viviparity. Using a more inclusive approach based on contigs mapping in either coding or non-coding regions, 45 genes were identified. Twelve of these candidate genes are transcription regulators and four encode protease enzymes. We propose that the evolution of proteases may support morphological changes to the uterus during pregnancy. This study provides the foundation for further experimental studies of the genetic basis of parity mode in Z. vivipara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2018
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45. Seahorse Brood Pouch Transcriptome Reveals Common Genes Associated with Vertebrate Pregnancy

Author

Whittington, Camilla M., Griffith, Oliver W., Qi, Weihong, Thompson, Michael B., Wilson, Anthony B., Whittington, Camilla M., Griffith, Oliver W., Qi, Weihong, Thompson, Michael B., and Wilson, Anthony B.

Abstract

Viviparity (live birth) has evolved more than 150 times in vertebrates, and represents an excellent model system for studying the evolution of complex traits. There are at least 23 independent origins of viviparity in fishes, with syngnathid fishes (seahorses and pipefish) unique in exhibiting male pregnancy. Male seahorses and pipefish have evolved specialized brooding pouches that provide protection, gas exchange, osmoregulation, and limited nutrient provisioning to developing embryos. Pouch structures differ widely across the Syngnathidae, offering an ideal opportunity to study the evolution of reproductive complexity. However, the physiological and genetic changes facilitating male pregnancy are largely unknown. We used transcriptome profiling to examine pouch gene expression at successive gestational stages in a syngnathid with the most complex brood pouch morphology, the seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis. Using a unique time-calibrated RNA-seq data set including brood pouch at key stages of embryonic development, we identified transcriptional changes associated with brood pouch remodeling, nutrient and waste transport, gas exchange, osmoregulation, and immunological protection of developing embryos at conception, development and parturition. Key seahorse transcripts share homology with genes of reproductive function in pregnant mammals, reptiles, and other live-bearing fish, suggesting a common toolkit of genes regulating pregnancy in divergent evolutionary lineages

46. The extension of mammalian pregnancy required taming inflammation: Independent evolution of extended placentation in the tammar wallaby.

Author

Dudley JS, Renfree MB, Wagner GP, and Griffith OW

Subjects
Animals, Female, Pregnancy, Placenta metabolism, Embryo Implantation genetics, Opossums, Macropodidae genetics, Placentation, Inflammation genetics, Biological Evolution
Abstract

In the first live-bearing mammals, pregnancy was likely short and ended with a brief period of inflammatory maternal-fetal interaction. This mode of reproduction has been retained in many marsupials. While inflammation is key to successful implantation in eutherians, a key innovation in eutherians is the ability to switch off this inflammation after it has been initiated. This extended period, in which inflammation is suppressed, likely allowed for an extended period of placentation. Extended placentation has evolved independently in one lineage of marsupials, the macropodids (wallabies and kangaroos), with placentation lasting beyond the 2 to 4 d seen in other marsupial taxa, which allows us to investigate the role of inflammation response after attachment in the extension of placentation in mammals. By comparing gene expression changes at attachment in three marsupial species, the tammar wallaby, opossum, and fat-tailed dunnart, we show that inflammatory attachment is an ancestral feature of marsupial implantation. In contrast to eutherians, where attachment-related (quasi-) inflammatory reaction is even involved in epitheliochorial placentation (e.g., pig), this study found no evidence of a distinct attachment-related reaction in wallabies. Instead, only a small number of inflammatory genes are expressed at distinct points of gestation, including IL6 before attachment, LIF throughout placentation, and prostaglandins before birth. During parturition, a more distinct inflammatory reaction is detectable, likely involved in precipitating the parturition cascade similar to eutherians. We suggest that in wallaby, extended gestation became possible by avoiding an inflammatory attachment reaction, which is a different strategy than seen in eutherians., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

Published
2024
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