Biology subjects

Felix, M.-A.

Publications and source records attributed to Felix, M.-A..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

Why would parthenogenetic females systematically produce males who never transmit their genes to females?

SummaryIn pseudogamous species, females use the sperm of males from another species to activate their oocytes and produce females, without using the sperm DNA. Here we report a novel reproductive strategy found in the pseudogamous nematode Mesorhabditis belari, which produces its own males at low frequency. We find that the 8% of M. belari males are necessary to fertilize all oocytes but pass on their genes only to males, and never to females. Thus, the production of males has no impact on the genetic diversity of females. Using game theory, we show that the production of males at low frequency constitutes an efficient strategy only if sons are more likely to mate with their sisters. We validate this prediction experimentally by revealing a mating preference between siblings. We uncover the remarkable reproductive strategy of parthenogenetic females that pay the cost of producing males while males do not spread their genes.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Comparative genomics of ten new Caenorhabditis species

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been central to the understanding of metazoan biology. However, C. elegans is but one species among millions and the significance of this important model organism will only be fully revealed if it is placed in a rich evolutionary context. Global sampling efforts have led to the discovery of over 50 putative species from the genus Caenorhabditis, many of which await formal species description. Here, we present species descriptions for ten new Caenorhabditis species. We also present draft genome sequences for nine of these new species, along with a transcriptome assembly for one. We exploit these whole-genome data to reconstruct the Caenorhabditis phylogeny and use this phylogenetic tree to dissect the evolution of morphology in the genus. We show unexpected complexity in the evolutionary history of key developmental pathway genes. The genomic data also permit large scale analysis of gene structure, which we find to be highly variable within the genus. These new species and the associated genomic resources will be essential in our attempts to understand the evolutionary origins of the C. elegans model.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Necessity and contingency in developmental genetic screens: LIN-3, Wnt and semaphorin pathways in vulval induction of the nematode Oscheius tipulae

AbstractGenetic screens in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans identified the EGF/Ras and Notch pathways as central for vulval precursor cell fate patterning. Schematically, the anchor cell secretes EGF, inducing the P6.p cell to a 1{degrees} vulval fate; P6.p in turn induces its neighbors to a 2{degrees} fate through Delta-Notch signaling and represses Ras signaling. In the nematode Oscheius tipulae, the anchor cell successively induces 2{degrees} then 1{degrees} vulval fates. Here we report on the molecular identification of mutations affecting vulval induction in O. tipulae. A single Induction Vulvaless mutation was found, which we identify as a cis-regulatory deletion in a tissue-specific enhancer of the O. tipulae lin-3 homolog, confirmed by CRISPR/Cas9 mutation. In contrast to this predictable Vulvaless mutation, mutations resulting in an excess of 2{degrees} fates unexpectedly correspond to the plexin/semaphorin pathway, which was not implicated in vulval fate induction in C. elegans. Hyperinduction of P4.p and P8.p in these mutants likely results from mispositioning of these cells due to a lack of contact inhibition. The third signaling pathway found by forward genetics in O. tipulae is the Wnt pathway: decrease in Wnt pathway activity results in loss of vulval precursor competence and induction, and 1{degrees} fate miscentering on P5.p. Our results suggest that the EGF and Wnt pathways have qualitatively similar activities in vulval induction in C. elegans and O. tipulae, albeit with quantitative differences in the effects of mutation. This study highlights both necessity and contingency in forward genetic screens.\n\n100-word summaryGenetic screens in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans identified EGF and Notch pathways as key for vulval precursor cell fate patterning. Here we report on the molecular identification of mutations affecting vulval induction in another nematode, Oscheius tipulae. The single mutation with reduced induction is identified as a cis-regulatory deletion in the O. tipulae lin-3 homolog, confirmed by CRISPR/Cas9 mutation. In contrast to this predictable Vulvaless mutation, mutations resulting in an excess of 2{degrees} vulval fates unexpectedly correspond to the plexin/semaphorin pathway, not implicated in vulval induction in C. elegans. This study highlights both necessity and contingency in forward genetic screens.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2018

Pristionchus nematodes occur frequently in diverse rotting vegetal substrates and are not exclusively necromenic, while Panagrellus redivivoides is found specifically in rotting fruits

The lifestyle and feeding habits of nematodes are highly diverse. Several species of Pristionchus (Nematoda: Diplogastridae), including Pristionchus pacificus, have been reported to be necromenic, i.e. to associate with beetles in their dauer diapause stage and wait until the death of their host to resume development and feed on microbes in the decomposing beetle corpse. We review the literature and suggest that the association of Pristionchus to beetles may be phoretic and not necessarily necromenic. The view that Pristionchus nematodes have a necromenic lifestyle is based on studies that have sought Pristionchus only by sampling live beetles. By surveying for nematode genera in different types of rotting vegetal matter, we found Pristionchus spp. at a similar high frequency as Caenorhabditis, often in large numbers and in feeding stages. Thus, these Pristionchus species may feed in decomposing vegetal matter. In addition, we report that one species of Panagrellus (Nematoda: Panagrolaimidae), Panagrellus redivivoides, is found in rotting fruits but not in rotting stems, with a likely association with Drosophila fruitflies. Based on our sampling and the observed distribution of feeding and dauer stages, we propose a life cycle for Pristionchus nematodes and Panagrellus redivivoides that is similar to that of C. elegans, whereby they feed on the microbial blooms on decomposing vegetal matter and are transported between food patches by coleopterans for Pristionchus spp., fruitflies for Panagrellus redivivoides and isopods and terrestrial molluscs for C. elegans.

ecology↗