Predetermined sex revealed by a female transient gut in non-feeding larvae of Osedax (Siboglinidae, Annelida).

IF 3.6 2区生物学 Q1 DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

Evodevo Pub Date : 2025-08-26 DOI:10.1186/s13227-025-00251-9

Alice Rouan, Norio Miyamoto, Katrine Worsaae

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Within the symbiont-hosting Siboglinidae (Annelida), Osedax stands out as the sole genus capable of degrading bones and displaying pronounced sexual dimorphism (except O. priapus). While macroscopic, gutless females feed on whale falls with their symbiont-housing "roots", males are microscopic and non-feeding. Yet, embryos and larvae look identical, and sex is suggested to be environmentally determined, i.e., larvae metamorphose into females on bare bone or into males when finding an adult female.

Results: However, we here describe a transient gut present in half of the late larvae and in juvenile females of O. japonicus. We confirm the gut-carrying larvae as being females from sex-specific in situ gene expression. Moreover, morphological evidence coupled with differential gene expression indicate that the 'non-feeding' transient gut may pattern the vascular system and/or act as a gas-exchange surface in juvenile females, before their branchial appendages develop.

Conclusions: The transient gut of O. japonicus females reveals a genetic sex determination. Proposedly homologous across siboglinids, this vestigial gut is suggested to function in organ patterning and/or for gas-exchange during development of the gutless adult.

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由雌性瞬态肠道在非摄食的奥斯达克斯幼虫中揭示了预先确定的性别。

背景：在共生寄主的Siboglinidae（节肢动物）中，Osedax作为唯一能够降解骨骼并表现出明显的两性二态性的属（除了O. priapus）而脱颖而出。肉眼可见的、没有胆量的雌性以它们共生的“根”为食，而雄性则是微观的、不进食的。然而，胚胎和幼虫看起来是一样的，性别被认为是由环境决定的，也就是说，幼虫在裸露的骨头上变成雌性，或者在找到成年雌性时变成雄性。结果：然而，我们在这里描述了一个短暂的肠道存在于一半的晚期幼虫和稚雌日本稻。我们从性别特异性原位基因表达证实携带肠道的幼虫为雌性。此外，形态学证据和差异基因表达表明，“非摄食”的短暂肠道可能在雌性幼鱼的鳃裂附属物发育之前就已经形成血管系统和/或充当气体交换表面。结论：日本血吸虫雌性瞬态肠道具有遗传性别决定。据推测，这一退化肠道在无肠成虫发育过程中具有器官形成和/或气体交换的功能。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Evodevo EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

CiteScore

7.50

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： EvoDevo publishes articles on a broad range of topics associated with the translation of genotype to phenotype in a phylogenetic context. Understanding the history of life, the evolution of novelty and the generation of form, whether through embryogenesis, budding, or regeneration are amongst the greatest challenges in biology. We support the understanding of these processes through the many complementary approaches that characterize the field of evo-devo. The focus of the journal is on research that promotes understanding of the pattern and process of morphological evolution. All articles that fulfill this aim will be welcome, in particular: evolution of pattern; formation comparative gene function/expression; life history evolution; homology and character evolution; comparative genomics; phylogenetics and palaeontology