@article {5662, title = {Characterization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) genes from cartilaginous fish: evolutionary perspectives.}, journal = {Frontiers in Neuroscience}, volume = {12}, year = {2018}, pages = {607}, author = {Gaillard, A-L and Tay, Boon-Hui and Perez-Sirkin, Daniela and Anne-Gaelle Lafont and De Flori, C{\'e}line and Vissio, Paula G. and Mazan, Sylvie and Sylvie Dufour and Venkatesh, Byrappa and Tostivint, Herv{\'e}} } @article {5440, title = {Crustacean cardioactive peptides: Expression, localization, structure, and a possible involvement in regulation of egg-laying in the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis.}, journal = {Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.}, volume = {1}, year = {2018}, pages = {67-79}, abstract = {

The cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) is a cephalopod mollusk distributed on the western European coast, in the West African Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea. On the Normandy coast (France), cuttlefish is a target species of professional fishermen, so its reproduction strategy is of particular interest in the context of stock management. Egg-laying, which is coastal, is controlled by several types of regulators among which neuropeptides. The cuttlefish neuropeptidome was recently identified by\ Zatylny-Gaudin\ et al. (2016). Among the 38 neuropeptide families identified, some were significantly overexpressed in egg-laying females as compared to mature males. This study is focused on crustacean cardioactive peptides (CCAPs), a highly expressed neuropeptide family strongly suspected of being involved in the control of egg-laying. We investigated the functional and structural characterization and tissue mapping of CCAPs, as well as the expression patterns of their receptors. CCAPs appeared to be involved in oocyte transport through the oviduct and in mechanical secretion of capsular products. Immunocytochemistry revealed that the neuropeptides were localized throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and in the nerve endings of the glands involved in egg-capsule synthesis and secretion, i.e. the oviduct gland and the main nidamental glands. The CCAP receptor was expressed in these glands and in the subesophageal mass of the CNS. Multiple sequence alignments revealed a high level of conservation of CCAP protein precursors in Sepia officinalis and Loligo pealei, two cephalopod decapods. Primary sequences of CCAPs from the two species were fully conserved, and cryptic peptides detected in the nerve endings were also partially conserved, suggesting biological activity that remains unknown for the time being.

}, doi = {10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.12.009}, author = {Endress, Maxime and C{\'e}line Zatylny-Gaudin and Corre, Erwan and Le Corguill{\'e}, Gildas and Benoist, Louis and Leprince, J{\'e}r{\^o}me and Lefranc, Benjamin and Bernay, Beno{\^\i}t and Leduc, Alexandre and Rangama, Jimmy and Anne-Gaelle Lafont and Bondon, Arnaud and Jo{\"e}l Henry} } @article {5422, title = {Differential expression of gonadotropin and estrogen receptors and oocyte cytology during follicular maturation associated with egg viability in European eel (Anguilla anguilla)}, journal = {Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A}, volume = {221}, year = {2018}, pages = {44-54}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.03.010}, author = {da Silva, F F G and Tveiten, H and Gersende Maugars and Anne-Gaelle Lafont and Sylvie Dufour and St{\o}ttrupa, J G and Kj{\o}rsvikd, E and Tomkiewicz, J} } @article {5421, title = {Eel Kisspeptins: identification, functional activity, and inhibition on both pituitary LH and GnRH receptor expression}, journal = {Frontiers in Endocrinology}, volume = {8}, year = {2018}, pages = {353}, abstract = {

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) presents a blockade of sexual maturation at a prepubertal stage due to a deficient production of gonadotropins. We previously initiated, in the eel, the investigation of the kisspeptin system, one of the major gatekeepers of puberty in mammals, and we predicted the sequence of two Kiss genes. In the present study, we cloned and sequenced Kiss1 and Kiss2 cDNAs from the eel brain. The tissue distributions of Kiss1 and Kiss2 transcripts, as investigated by quantitative real-time PCR, showed that both genes are primarily expressed in the eel brain and pituitary. The two 10-residue long sequences characteristic of kisspeptin, eel Kp1(10) and Kp2(10), as well as two longer sequences, predicted as mature peptides, eel Kp1(15) and Kp2(12), were synthesized and functionally analyzed. Using rat Kiss1 receptor-transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells, we found that the four synthesized eel peptides were able to induce [Ca2+]i responses, indicating their ability to bind mammalian KissR-1 and to activate second messenger pathways. In primary culture of eel pituitary cells, all four peptides were able to specifically and dose-dependently inhibit lhβ expression, without any effect on fshβ, confirming our previous data with heterologous kisspeptins. Furthermore, in this eel in vitro system, all four peptides inhibited the expression of the type 2 GnRH receptor (gnrh-r2). Our data revealed a dual inhibitory effect of homologous kisspeptins on both pituitary lhβ and gnrh-r2 expression in the European eel.

}, doi = {10.3389/fendo.2017.00353}, author = {Pasquier, J and Anne-Gaelle Lafont and Florian, D and Lefranc, B and Dubessy, C and Moreno-Herrera, A and Vaudry, H and Leprince, J and Sylvie Dufour and Karine Rousseau} } @article {5583, title = {Tachykinin-3 Genes and Peptides Characterized in a Basal Teleost, the European Eel: Evolutionary Perspective and Pituitary Role.}, journal = {Frontiers in Endocrinology}, volume = {9}, year = {2018}, pages = {304}, author = {Campo, Aurora and Anne-Gaelle Lafont and Lefranc, Benjamin and Leprince, J{\'e}r{\^o}me and Tostivint, Herv{\'e} and Kamech, Nedia and Sylvie Dufour and Karine Rousseau} } @article {5222, title = {Conservation of Three-Dimensional Helix-Loop-Helix Structure through the Vertebrate Lineage Reopens the Cold Case of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-Associated Peptide}, journal = {Frontiers in Endocrinology}, volume = {8}, year = {2017}, pages = {207}, abstract = {

GnRH associated peptide (GAP) is the C-terminal portion of the GnRH preprohormone. Although it was reported in mammals that GAP may act as a prolactin-inhibiting factor and can be co-secreted with GnRH into the hypophyseal portal blood, GAP has been practically out of the research circuit for about 20 years. Comparative studies highlighted the low conservation of GAP primary amino acid sequences among vertebrates, contributing to consider that this peptide only participates in the folding or carrying process of GnRH. Considering that the tridimensional (3D) structure of a protein may define its function, the aim of this study was to evaluate if GAP sequences and 3D structures are conserved in the vertebrate lineage. GAP sequences from various vertebrates were retrieved from databases. Analysis of primary amino acid sequence identity and similarity, molecular phylogeny, and prediction of 3D structures were performed. Amino acid sequence comparison and phylogeny analyses confirmed the large variation of GAP sequences throughout vertebrate radiation. In contrast, prediction of the 3D structure revealed a striking conservation of the 3D structure of GAP1 (GAP associated with the hypophysiotropic type 1 GnRH), despite low amino acid sequence conservation. This GAP1 peptide presented a typical helix-loop-helix (HLH) structure in all the vertebrate species analyzed. This HLH structure could also be predicted for GAP2 in some but not all vertebrate species, and in none of the GAP3 analyzed. These results allowed us to infer that selective pressures have maintained GAP1 HLH structure throughout the vertebrate lineage. The conservation of the HLH motif, known to confer biological activity to various proteins, suggests that GAP1 peptides may exert some hypophysiotropic biological functions across vertebrate radiation.

}, issn = {1664-2392}, doi = {10.3389/fendo.2017.00207}, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fendo.2017.00207}, author = {P{\'e}rez Sirkin, Daniela I. and Anne-Gaelle Lafont and Kamech, Nedia and Somoza, Gustavo M. and Vissio, Paula G. and Sylvie Dufour} } @article {4755, title = {The expression of nuclear and membrane estradiol receptors in the European eel throughout spermatogenesis.}, journal = {Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A}, volume = {203}, year = {2017}, pages = {91-99}, author = {Morini, Marina and Penaranda, David S and V{\'\i}lchez, M C and Tveiten, Helge and Anne-Gaelle Lafont and Sylvie Dufour and P{\'e}rez, L and Asturiano, J F} } @article {4756, title = {Nuclear and membrane progestin receptors in the European eel: characterization and expression in vivo through spermatogenesis}, journal = {Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A}, volume = {207}, year = {2017}, pages = {79-92}, author = {Morini, Marina and Penaranda, David S and V{\'\i}lchez, M C and Nourizadeh-Lillabadi, R and Anne-Gaelle Lafont and Sylvie Dufour and Asturiano, J F and Weltzien, Finn-Arne and Perez, Luz} } @article {4757, title = {Recurrent DCC gene losses during bird evolution}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {7}, year = {2017}, pages = {37569}, author = {Friocourt, Fran{\c c}ois and Anne-Gaelle Lafont and Kress, Cl{\'e}mence and Pain, Bertrand and Manceau, Marie and Sylvie Dufour and Chedotal, Alain} } @article {4508, title = {Three nuclear and two membrane estrogen receptors in basal teleosts, Anguilla sp.: Identification, evolutionary history and differential expression regulation.}, journal = {Gen Comp Endocrinol}, volume = {235}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Sep 1}, pages = {177-91}, abstract = {

Estrogens interact with classical intracellular nuclear receptors (ESR), and with G-coupled membrane receptors (GPER). In the eel, we identified three nuclear (ESR1, ESR2a, ESR2b) and two membrane (GPERa, GPERb) estrogen receptors. Duplicated ESR2 and GPER were also retrieved in most extant teleosts. Phylogeny and synteny analyses suggest that they result from teleost whole genome duplication (3R). In contrast to conserved 3R-duplicated ESR2 and GPER, one of 3R-duplicated ESR1 has been lost shortly after teleost emergence. Quantitative PCRs revealed that the five receptors are all widely expressed in the eel, but with differential patterns of tissue expression and regulation. ESR1 only is consistently up-regulated in vivo in female eel BPG-liver axis during induced sexual maturation, and also up-regulated in vitro by estradiol in eel hepatocyte primary cultures. This first comparative study of the five teleost estradiol receptors provides bases for future investigations on differential roles that may have contributed to the conservation of multiple estrogen receptors.

}, issn = {1095-6840}, doi = {10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.11.021}, author = {Anne-Gaelle Lafont and Karine Rousseau and Tomkiewicz, Jonna and Sylvie Dufour} } @article {3774, title = {Duplicated leptin receptors in two species of eel bring new insights into the evolution of the leptin system in vertebrates.}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {10}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {e0126008}, abstract = {

Since its discovery in mammals as a key-hormone in reproduction and metabolism, leptin has been identified in an increasing number of tetrapods and teleosts. Tetrapods possess only one leptin gene, while most teleosts possess two leptin genes, as a result of the teleost third whole genome duplication event (3R). Leptin acts through a specific receptor (LEPR). In the European and Japanese eels, we identified two leptin genes, and for the first time in vertebrates, two LEPR genes. Synteny analyses indicated that eel LEPRa and LEPRb result from teleost 3R. LEPRb seems to have been lost in the teleost lineage shortly after the elopomorph divergence. Quantitative PCRs revealed a wide distribution of leptins and LEPRs in the European eel, including tissues involved in metabolism and reproduction. Noticeably, leptin1 was expressed in fat tissue, while leptin2 in the liver, reflecting subfunctionalization. Four-month fasting had no impact on the expression of leptins and LEPRs in control European eels. This might be related to the remarkable adaptation of silver eel metabolism to long-term fasting throughout the reproductive oceanic migration. In contrast, sexual maturation induced differential increases in the expression of leptins and LEPRs in the BPG-liver axis. Leptin2 was strikingly upregulated in the liver, the central organ of the reproductive metabolic challenge in teleosts. LEPRs were differentially regulated during sexual maturation, which may have contributed to the conservation of the duplicated LEPRs in this species. This suggests an ancient and positive role of the leptin system in the vertebrate reproductive function. This study brings new insights on the evolutionary history of the leptin system in vertebrates. Among extant vertebrates, the eel represents a unique case of duplicated leptins and leptin receptors as a result of 3R.

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0126008}, author = {Morini, Marina and Pasquier, J{\'e}r{\'e}my and Dirks, Ron and van den Thillart, Guido and Tomkiewicz, Jonna and Karine Rousseau and Sylvie Dufour and Anne-Gaelle Lafont} } @article {3631, title = {Looking for the bird Kiss: evolutionary scenario in sauropsids.}, journal = {BMC Evol Biol}, volume = {14}, year = {2014}, month = {2014}, pages = {30}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The neuropeptide Kiss and its receptor KissR are key-actors in the brain control of reproduction in mammals, where they are responsible for the stimulation of the activity of GnRH neurones. Investigation in other vertebrates revealed up to 3 Kiss and 4 KissR paralogs, originating from the two rounds of whole genome duplication in early vertebrates. In contrast, the absence of Kiss and KissR has been suggested in birds, as no homologs of these genes could be found in current genomic databases. This study aims at addressing the question of the existence, from an evolutionary perspective, of the Kisspeptin system in birds. It provides the first large-scale investigation of the Kisspeptin system in the sauropsid lineage, including ophidian, chelonian, crocodilian, and avian lineages.

RESULTS: Sauropsid Kiss and KissR genes were predicted from multiple genome and transcriptome databases by TBLASTN. Phylogenetic and syntenic analyses were performed to classify predicted sauropsid Kiss and KissR genes and to re-construct the evolutionary scenarios of both gene families across the sauropsid radiation.Genome search, phylogenetic and synteny analyses, demonstrated the presence of two Kiss genes (Kiss1 and Kiss2 types) and of two KissR genes (KissR1 and KissR4 types) in the sauropsid lineage. These four genes, also present in the mammalian lineage, would have been inherited from their common amniote ancestor. In contrast, synteny analyses supported that the other Kiss and KissR paralogs are missing in sauropsids as in mammals, indicating their absence in the amniote lineage. Among sauropsids, in the avian lineage, we demonstrated the existence of a Kiss2-like gene in three bird genomes. The divergence of these avian Kiss2-like sequences from those of other vertebrates, as well as their absence in the genomes of some other birds, revealed the processes of Kiss2 gene degeneration and loss in the avian lineage.

CONCLUSION: These findings contribute to trace back the evolutionary history of the Kisspeptin system in amniotes and sauropsids, and provide the first molecular evidence of the existence and fate of a Kiss gene in birds.

}, keywords = {Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Avian Proteins, Biological Evolution, Birds, Humans, Kisspeptins, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled, Reptiles, Sequence Alignment, Synteny}, issn = {1471-2148}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2148-14-30}, author = {Pasquier, J{\'e}r{\'e}my and Anne-Gaelle Lafont and Karine Rousseau and Qu{\'e}rat, Bruno and Chemineau, Philippe and Sylvie Dufour} } @article {3211, title = {Molecular evolution of GPCRs: Kisspeptin/kisspeptin receptors.}, journal = {J. Mol. Endocrinol.}, volume = {52}, year = {2014}, pages = {101-117}, author = {Pasquier, J and Kamech, Nedia and Anne-Gaelle Lafont and H Vaudry and Karine Rousseau and Sylvie Dufour} }