Genes & genetic systems最新文献

{"title":"Universality and diversity of gene expression patterns in response to cold acclimation in Drosophila albomicans.","authors":"Shikha Singh, Tomohiko Kimura, Koichiro Tamura","doi":"10.1266/ggs.25-00085","DOIUrl":"10.1266/ggs.25-00085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cold acclimation, defined as gradual habituation to low temperatures by exposure to moderately cold temperatures for several days, is known to enhance an organism's cold tolerance and facilitate its adaptation to seasonal temperature changes in temperate regions. The present study focuses on the evolution of the cold acclimation response in Drosophila albomicans, which rapidly expanded its distribution from tropical Southeast Asia to the Japanese main islands in the mid-1980s. This research aims to elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying cold acclimation through gene expression changes. The gene expression changes due to cold acclimation were compared among five strains with different genetic backgrounds to identify the genes involved in these processes. High-throughput mRNA sequencing was employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in strains from China, Taiwan and Japan under cold acclimation and control conditions. The results suggest that the actin genes play a critical role in cellular functions at low temperatures. A reduction in the expression of mElo is likely to result in decreased levels of C18 fatty acids, thereby enhancing cellular cold tolerance. Furthermore, this study highlights the universality and diversity of gene expression changes in response to cold acclimation. While many DEGs shared by all five strains were genes involved in metabolic pathways, many strain-specific DEGs were genes involved in gene regulation. This suggests that genes with critical roles in fundamental cellular and physiological processes are subject to evolutionary constraints, whereas those involved in regulatory functions or responding to local environmental conditions undergo rapid evolution to exhibit significant variability. These results provide insight into the genetic mechanisms of environmental adaptation and population expansion in nature.</p>","PeriodicalId":12690,"journal":{"name":"Genes & genetic systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146164965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The 2^nd Asian Genetics Consortium Conference 2025 (AGCC 2025).","authors":"So Nakagawa, Hiroshi Iwasaki, Takehiko Kobayashi, Takuji Kakutani","doi":"10.1266/ggs.26-00026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1266/ggs.26-00026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The 2nd Asian Genetics Consortium Conference (AGCC 2025), entitled \"Genetics in Asia: Heredity, Diversity, Discovery, and Beyond,\" was held in Numazu City, Shizuoka, Japan, from November 14-16, 2025. The conference was jointly organized by the Genetics Society of Japan as the leading host, together with the Genetics Societies and related organizations of the other five Asian countries (Korea, India, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand). A total of 72 participants attended, including 19 participants from six overseas countries and regions outside Japan. Invited speakers representing each country delivered lectures on cutting-edge research in genetics, its international significance, and future perspectives, followed by active and lively discussions. In addition, there were 30 poster presentations, mainly by young researchers, which stimulated vibrant scientific exchange. From among the presenters, one researcher received the Best Poster Award, and five researchers received Outstanding Poster Awards.</p>","PeriodicalId":12690,"journal":{"name":"Genes & genetic systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147689764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phylogenetic and population genomic analysis of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) landraces via ddRAD-seq, with emphasis on Japanese germplasm.","authors":"Kenji Fukunaga, Akira Abe, Keisuke Tanaka, Masaya Tsuji, Makoto Kawase","doi":"10.1266/ggs.26-00012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1266/ggs.26-00012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We clarified the phylogeny and population structure of foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P.Beauv.) landraces using ddRAD-seq, which also enabled us to focus in detail on Japanese landraces. The results were compared with those of previous phylogenetic studies based on transposon display and genotyping of individual genes involved in domestication and diversification under natural and artificial selection. Foxtail millet landraces were found to cluster into distinct geographical groups. The comparison revealed that certain genes, such as Heading date 1 (HD1) and polyphenol oxidase (Si7PPO), began diverging soon after domestication. In contrast, genes such as Pseudo-response regulator 37 (SiPRR37) appeared to have differentiated before geographic divergence, likely in response to environmental adaptation. However, genes such as Waxy (Wx) loci diversified after geographic separation under human selection. Implication of introgression between geographically distant groups was also observed, for example, between French and East Asian landraces. In Japan, two distinct landrace groups were identified: one closely related to Korean landraces and the other showing genetic similarity to accessions from Taiwan and the Batan Islands of the Philippines. The latter group is predominantly distributed in the Nansei Islands (Okinawa Prefecture), indicating multiple introductions and complex dispersal histories of foxtail millet in Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":12690,"journal":{"name":"Genes & genetic systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147672574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SSR marker development for Japanagromyza tokunagai (Agromyzidae, Diptera) using genome sequences obtained by nanopore sequencing.","authors":"Yumi Yamashita, Leiko Mizusawa, Yuki Ogura-Tsujita, Shingo Kaneko","doi":"10.1266/ggs.25-00074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1266/ggs.25-00074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Japanagromyza tokunagai Sasakawa 1953 (Agromyzidae, Diptera) disrupts seed reproduction of orchids by feeding on orchid fruit. This species has been feeding on orchid fruits in Japan for more than 100 years, but the recent increase in damage may be due to the spread of particularly harmful populations. In this study, we used nanopore sequencing to establish microsatellite markers for J. tokunagai to infer the cause of this fly's spreading history based on population genetic analysis of historical specimen origin and current samples. Analysis of three populations showed that all 15 loci of microsatellite markers established were polymorphic and the number of alleles ranged between 3 and 13. The markers developed in this study can be used to reveal current and past population genetic diversity and gene flow, contributing to our understanding of the population history of this parasitic fly. Further research using these markers will provide a foundation for the developing control methods for J. tokunagai and support the conservation of rare orchid plants.</p>","PeriodicalId":12690,"journal":{"name":"Genes & genetic systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147638604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"KLF5 modulates NTSR1 to facilitate fatty acid oxidation and repress anoikis in gastric cancer.","authors":"Piyao Gao, Cheng Zhang, Shibiao Zhong, Jianbao Wei, Hui Ma","doi":"10.1266/ggs.24-00196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1266/ggs.24-00196","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) is linked with poor prognosis in many tumors, including gastric cancer (GC). However, the exact mechanism by which NTSR1 affects GC anoikis in GC has not yet been clarified. Therefore, this project aimed to figure out the specific mechanism by which NTSR1 participated in GC anoikis. We herein assessed the expression of KLF5 and NTSR1 in GC tissues and the signaling pathways in which NTSR1 participated through the online bioinformatics website. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to examine the expression of KLF5 and NTSR1. The CCK-8 kit was applied to detect the viability of GC cells under different treatments. Dual luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments verified the binding relationship between KLF5 and NTSR1. The rate of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) was analyzed using a cell metabolism meter. The expression of FAO-related proteins was detected using the western blot (WB). The anoikis of cells in each group was detected using flow cytometry, anoikis apoptosis kit, and WB. We observed that knocking down NTSR1 repressed the vitality of GC cells, and elevated the anoikis rate and the expression of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase 3 in GC cells. Moreover, high expression of NTSR1 up-regulated the expression of CTP1 protein in FAO and increased FAO levels, thereby suppressing the occurrence of anoikis in GC cells. The addition of the inhibitor of FAO (Etomoxir) reversed the above trends. In addition, KLF5 was highly expressed in GC, and KLF5 is an upstream transcription factor of NTSR1. Finally, KLF5 knockdown was verified to restore the repression of the FAO pathway and facilitate anoikis in GC cells by overexpressing NTSR1. In summary, our results suggested that KLF5 affects anoikis in GC cells by targeting NTSR1 to modulate the FAO pathway. Therefore, blocking the FAO pathway regulated by the KLF5/NTSR1 axis may become a new strategy for the treatment of GC.</p>","PeriodicalId":12690,"journal":{"name":"Genes & genetic systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146219419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structure and evolution of the sequence-specific anti-silencing factor VANC21 and its target DNA.","authors":"Yusaku Tanaka, Akihisa Osakabe, Wataru Shihoya, Hisato Hirano, Yuzuru Itoh, Tetsuji Kakutani, Osamu Nureki","doi":"10.1266/ggs.25-00096","DOIUrl":"10.1266/ggs.25-00096","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>VANDAL family DNA transposons are prevalent in Arabidopsis and related plants. A notable feature of VANDALs is that they can overcome epigenetic silencing from the host, using a VANC protein encoded in each VANDAL member: VANC21 protein encoded in VANDAL21 specifically accumulates on its target DNA motifs that are concentrated in the non-coding regions of this TE and induces loss of DNA methylation, transcriptional derepression, and mobilization of the element. In this study, to elucidate the mechanism of how VANC subtypes have diverged to bind specifically to their own target motifs in their cognate VANDAL subfamilies, we determined the crystal structure of VANC21 in complex with its target DNA at 2.0 Å resolution. The VANC structure adopts a globular novel fold with a Zn ion coordinated at the DNA-binding site. Interestingly, most DNA-interacting VANC residues are located in the loops but not in the conserved regions among VANC subtypes. This observation suggests that the high variability of DNA-interacting regions of VANC proteins brought about the co-evolution of VANCs and their target sequences. This rapid differentiation by co-evolution enabled VANDAL family TEs to proliferate while avoiding deleterious effects on host fitness. Therefore, our findings help to understand the adaptive evolutionary strategy for the survival of parasitic sequences.</p>","PeriodicalId":12690,"journal":{"name":"Genes & genetic systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145556688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A milestone for GGS.","authors":"Tetsuji Kakutani","doi":"10.1266/ggs.vol.100-milestone_2026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1266/ggs.vol.100-milestone_2026","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12690,"journal":{"name":"Genes & genetic systems","volume":"101 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146118797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The one hundred volumes of Genes & Genetic Systems: An outline of their evolution.","authors":"Takashi Endo","doi":"10.1266/ggs.vol.100-commemoration_2026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1266/ggs.vol.100-commemoration_2026","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12690,"journal":{"name":"Genes & genetic systems","volume":"101 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146118751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Species composition and mtDNA diversity of small mammals in the northern and central parts of Japan shaped by Quaternary environmental fluctuations.","authors":"Hitoshi Suzuki, Satoshi D Ohdachi","doi":"10.1266/ggs.25-00041","DOIUrl":"10.1266/ggs.25-00041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ancient dispersal events from the Korean Peninsula to the Japanese main islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu (HSK), and from the Eurasian continent to Hokkaido via Sakhalin, have played a critical role in shaping the mammalian diversity of the Japanese archipelago. However, the timing and dynamics of these events remain incompletely understood across different taxa. In addition, the 100,000-year climatic cycles of glacial and interglacial periods during the Middle and Late Quaternary likely influenced intraspecific genetic diversity, although the mechanisms driving these changes remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences from Japanese shrews (Sorex and Crocidura) and other small mammals from HSK and Hokkaido. Using an evolutionary rate of 0.029 substitutions/site/million years, we inferred that ancestral lineages of HSK species diverged during critical periods in the early Quaternary, such as around 2.4 and 1.7 million years ago (Ma), potentially in response to major climatic transitions. Notably, dispersal events of the Laxmann's shrew (S. caecutiens) and dark red-backed vole (Myodes rex) into Hokkaido around 1.7 Ma were also suggested. Regarding intraspecific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages, species with broad distributions in HSK typically exhibit a north-south structure, characterized by two major lineages, as well as additional ancient lineages in surrounding offshore islands. Comparative analysis revealed that divergence among these lineages occurred at approximate intervals of 100,000 years. Our results indicate that the mtDNA genetic structure of HSK small mammals reflects geographic substructures shaped by climate-driven dispersal. Regions that facilitated rapid expansion during favorable climatic periods likely acted as centers of dispersal, from which haplotypes spread toward peripheral areas. As haplotypes radiated outward from these core regions, distinct mtDNA lineages became established across different geographic zones, giving rise to the spatial distribution patterns observed today.</p>","PeriodicalId":12690,"journal":{"name":"Genes & genetic systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145345009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of genome-wide microsatellites from Primula tibetica (Primulaceae) and their utility in congeneric species.","authors":"Hua-Ying Sun, Qian-Nan Zhao, Lan-Ping Zheng, Wei Zhou, Zhi-Kun Wu","doi":"10.1266/ggs.25-00093","DOIUrl":"10.1266/ggs.25-00093","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Primula tibetica is an insect-pollinated, herbaceous, perennial plant belonging to the section Aleuritia (Primulaceae). The species exhibits the typical characteristics of heterostyly, with predominantly outcrossing populations comprising long-styled and short-styled floral morphs. Furthermore, significant variation occurs in floral morphology, categorised as homostyly, a phenomenon commonly associated with elevated selfing rates. Utilising next-generation sequencing, 25 microsatellite markers for P. tibetica were developed, with the objective of facilitating future investigations into the population genetics and mating patterns of the species. These markers were characterised by measuring polymorphism and genetic diversity in a sample of 36 individuals from three natural populations. The markers displayed relatively high polymorphism, with the number of observed alleles per locus ranging from two to 15 (mean = 7.26). The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.056 to 0.917 and 0.105 to 0.825, respectively. Furthermore, nineteen of these loci were also successfully amplified in P. pulchella. These microsatellite markers should serve as effective tools for investigating patterns of population genetic diversity and elucidating the evolutionary relationship between distyly and homostyly in P. tibetica.</p>","PeriodicalId":12690,"journal":{"name":"Genes & genetic systems","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145400553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}