Reproductive gene expression in a coral reef fish exposed to increasing temperature across generations

© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press and the Society for Experimental Biology. Reproduction in marine fish is generally tightly linked with water temperature. Consequently, when adults are exposed to projected future ocean temperatures, reproductive output of many species declines precipitously. Recent research has shown that in the common reef fish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, step-wise exposure to higher temperatures over two generations (parents: +1.5°C, offspring: +3.0°C) can improve reproductive output in the F2 generation compared to F2 fish that have experienced the same high temperatures over two generations (F1 parents: +3.0°C, F2 offspring: +3.0°C). To investigate how a step-wise increase in temperature between generations improved reproductive capacity, we tested the expression of well-known teleost reproductive genes in the brain and gonads of F2 fish using quantitative reverse transcription PCR and compared it among control (+0.0°C for two generations), developmental (+3.0°C in second generation only), step (+1.5°C in first generation and +3.0°C in second generation), and transgenerational (+3.0°C for two generations) treatments. We found that levels of gonadotropin receptor gene expression (Fshr and Lhcgr) in the testes were reduced in developmental and transgenerational temperature treatments, but were similar to control levels in the step treatment. This suggests Fshr and Lhcgr may be involved in regulating male reproductive capacity in A. polyacanthus. In addition, lower Fshb expression in the brain of females in all temperature treatments compared to control, suggests that Fshb expression, which is involved in vitellogenesis, is sensitive to high temperatures. Our results help elucidate key genes that facilitate successful reproduction in reef fishes when they experience a gradual increase in temperature across generations consistent with the trajectory of climate change

Moving On - Sports Science. Subject Specific Study-Pack Extension Booklet for the Collaborative Widening Participation Project

Abstract. The issue of a starburst-AGN connection in local and distant galaxies is relevant for understanding galaxy formation and evolution, the star formation and metal enrichment history of the universe, the origin of the extragalactic background at low and high energies, and the origin of nuclear activity in galaxies. Here I review some of the observational evidence recently brought forward in favor of a connection between the starburst and AGN phenomena. I conclude by raising a number of questions concerning the exact nature of this connection.

The epigenetic landscape of transgenerational acclimation to ocean warming

Epigenetic inheritance is a potential mechanism by which the environment in one generation can influence the performance of future generations1. Rapid climate change threatens the survival of many organisms; however, recent studies show that some species can adjust to climate-related stress when both parents and their offspring experience the same environmental change2,3. Whether such transgenerational acclimation could have an epigenetic basis is unknown. Here, by sequencing the liver genome, methylomes and transcriptomes of the coral reef fish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, exposed to current day (+0 °C) or future ocean temperatures (+3 °C) for one generation, two generations and incrementally across generations, we identified 2,467 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and 1,870 associated genes that respond to higher temperatures within and between generations. Of these genes, 193 were significantly correlated to the transgenerationally acclimating phenotypic trait, aerobic scope, with functions in insulin response, energy homeostasis, mitochondrial activity, oxygen consumption and angiogenesis. These genes may therefore play a key role in restoring performance across generations in fish exposed to increased temperatures associated with climate change. Our study is the first to demonstrate a possible association between DNA methylation and transgenerational acclimation to climate change in a vertebrate

Production of “super-males” of asparagus by anther culture and its detection with SSR-ESTs

Anther culture is used to develop asparagus “super-male” (di-haploids) in asparagus, which can be used to develop “all-male” varieties, by crossing them with suitable females; their progenies will be formed only by males which is advantageous for producers. This report describe a new anther culture protocol adapted to “Morado de Huétor”, a Spanish tetraploid landrace, and studied the different factors involved in callus proliferation success from anther explants such as the microspore development stage, or the type of stress used to induce the symmetric division of the microspores, to obtain a high success rate (90 %). For plantlets regenerates from anther culture (PRACs) regeneration we develop a proliferation media supplemented with a combination of pCPA and BA able to induce callus proliferation and plantlet regeneration in the same step in a 50 % of calli, simplifying the procedure. The high percentage of heterozygous male recovery, originated from somatic cells, is an important problem in the anther culture, and to elucidate the origin of PRACs we have combined different tools: ploidy analysis, characterization with the linked sex-marker Asp1-T7 and with EST-SRRs. We can establish that 50 % of PRACs obtained in this work were regenerated from diploid microspores of “Morado de Huétor”, regenerating diploid, di-diploid and tetra-diploid plantlets. The di-diploids males (MMmm) would generate a ratio male:female of 5:1 (83.3 %) and the tetra-diploid males (MMMMmmmm) a ratio male:female of 69:1 (98.6 %), so the tetra-diploid males could be considered “super-males” and be used to develop “all-male” varieties of “Morado de Huétor”.Fil: Regalado González, Jose Javier. Instituto de Horticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora; España. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; España. Universidad de Málaga; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Carmona Martín, E.. Instituto de Horticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora; España. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; España. Universidad de Málaga; EspañaFil: Madrid, E.. Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible; España. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Moreno, R.. Universidad de Córdoba; EspañaFil: Gil, J.. Universidad de Córdoba; EspañaFil: Encina, C. L.. Instituto de Horticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora; España. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; España. Universidad de Málaga; Españ