Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35272610›Full record

ArticleBMC ecology and evolution2022

Expression variations in ectodysplasin-A gene (eda) may contribute to morphological divergence of scales in haplochromine cichlids.

Maximilian Wagner, Sandra Bračun, Anna Duenser, Christian Sturmbauer, Wolfgang Gessl, Ehsan Pashay Ahi

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC ecology and evolution, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
3.4field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Maximilian Wagner *Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
Sandra Bračun *Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
Anna DuenserInstitute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
Christian SturmbauerInstitute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria. christian.sturmbauer@uni-graz.at.
Wolfgang GesslInstitute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
Ehsan Pashay AhiInstitute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria. ehsan.pashayahi@helsinki.fi.
University of Graz · ATUniversity of Antwerp · BE

Funding

Austrian Science Fund FWF P 29838
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundElasmoid scales are one of the most common dermal appendages and can be found in almost all species of bony fish differing greatly in their shape. Whilst the genetic underpinnings behind elasmoid scale development have been investigated, not much is known about the mechanisms involved in moulding of scales. To investigate the links between gene expression differences and morphological divergence, we inferred shape variation of scales from two different areas of the body (anterior and posterior) stemming from ten haplochromine cichlid species from different origins (Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, Lake Victoria and riverine). Additionally, we investigated transcriptional differences of a set of genes known to be involved in scale development and morphogenesis in fish.

resultsWe found that scales from the anterior and posterior part of the body strongly differ in their overall shape, and a separate look on scales from each body part revealed similar trajectories of shape differences considering the lake origin of single investigated species. Above all, nine as well as 11 out of 16 target genes showed expression differences between the lakes for the anterior and posterior dataset, respectively. Whereas in posterior scales four genes (dlx5, eda, rankl and shh) revealed significant correlations between expression and morphological differentiation, in anterior scales only one gene (eda) showed such a correlation. Furthermore, eda displayed the most significant expression difference between species of Lake Tanganyika and species of the other two younger lakes. Finally, we found genetic differences in downstream regions of eda gene (e.g., in the eda-tnfsf13b inter-genic region) that are associated with observed expression differences. This is reminiscent of a genetic difference in the eda-tnfsf13b inter-genic region which leads to gain or loss of armour plates in stickleback.

conclusionThese findings provide evidence for cross-species transcriptional differences of an important morphogenetic factor, eda, which is involved in formation of ectodermal appendages. These expression differences appeared to be associated with morphological differences observed in the scales of haplochromine cichlids indicating potential role of eda mediated signal in divergent scale morphogenesis in fish.

Indexed as

CichlidsAnimalsEctodysplasinsLakesPhylogenyTanzaniaEctodysplasinsAdaptive radiationAfrican cichlidsEast African lakesGene expressionLake MalawiLake TanganyikaLake VictoriaScale morphology

Identifiers

PMID35272610
PMCPMC8908630
OpenAlexW4225664323

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.