Reproductive Strategies in Planarians: Insights Gained from the Bioassay System for Sexual Induction in Asexual Dugesia ryukyuensis Worms

Maezawa, Takanobu; Sekii, Kiyono; Ishikawa, M.; Okamoto, Hikaru; Kobayashi, Kazuya

doi:10.1007/978-4-431-56609-0_9

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Asexual Dugesia ryukyuensis worms of the OH strain were stimulated to develop reproductive organs by feeding them with sexually mature Bdellocephala brunnea worms34353637. We reported that the sex-inducing substance is a heat-stable and hydrophilic compound with an apparent molecular weight of less than 5003839.…”

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confidence: 99%

The identification of d-tryptophan as a bioactive substance for postembryonic ovarian development in the planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis

Kobayashi

Maezawa

Tanaka

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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Many metazoans start germ cell development during embryogenesis, while some metazoans possessing pluripotent stem cells undergo postembryonic germ cell development. The latter reproduce asexually but develop germ cells from pluripotent stem cells or dormant primordial germ cells when they reproduce sexually. Sexual induction of the planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis is an important model for postembryonic germ cell development. In this experimental system, hermaphroditic reproductive organs are differentiated in presumptive gonadal regions by the administration of a crude extract from sexual planarians to asexual ones. However, the substances involved in the first event during postembryonic germ cell development, i.e., ovarian development, remain unknown. Here, we aimed to identify a bioactive compound associated with postembryonic ovarian development. Bioassay-guided fractionation identified ʟ-tryptophan (Trp) on the basis of electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry, circular dichroism, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Originally masked by a large amount of ʟ-Trp, ᴅ-Trp was detected by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The ovary-inducing activity of ᴅ-Trp was 500 times more potent than that of ʟ-Trp. This is the first report describing a role for an intrinsic ᴅ-amino acid in postembryonic germ cell development. Our findings provide a novel insight into the mechanisms of germ cell development regulated by low-molecular weight bioactive compounds.

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The identification of d-tryptophan as a bioactive substance for postembryonic ovarian development in the planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis

Kobayashi

Maezawa

Tanaka

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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“…Certain planarians will develop hermaphroditic sexual reproductive organs. The sexual planarians are divided into two groups asexual animals that may, under certain conditions, develop sexual reproductive organs; these are acquired sexuality worms and native sexual worms, which will reproduce only via sperm exchange [ 65 ]. Sexual planarians will also regenerate; for example, Schmidtea mediterranea regenerates just as well in sexual compared to asexual.…”

Section: Sex and Regenerationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex and Regeneration

Reuveni

2021

Biology

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Regeneration is usually regarded as a unique plant or some animal species process. In reality, regeneration is a ubiquitous process in all multicellular organisms. It ranges from response to wounding by healing the wounded tissue to whole body neoforming (remaking of the new body). In a larger context, regeneration is one facet of two reproduction schemes that dominate the evolution of life. Multicellular organisms can propagate their genes asexually or sexually. Here I present the view that the ability to regenerate tissue or whole-body regeneration is also determined by the sexual state of the multicellular organisms (from simple animals such as hydra and planaria to plants and complex animals). The above idea is manifested here by showing evidence that many organisms, organs, or tissues show inhibited or diminished regeneration capacity when in reproductive status compared to organs or tissues in nonreproductive conditions or by exposure to sex hormones.

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Identification of novel yolk ferritins unique to planarians: planarians supply aluminum rather than iron to vitellaria in egg capsules

et al. 2021

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Reproductive Strategies in Planarians: Insights Gained from the Bioassay System for Sexual Induction in Asexual Dugesia ryukyuensis Worms

Cited by 4 publications

References 69 publications

The identification of d-tryptophan as a bioactive substance for postembryonic ovarian development in the planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis

The identification of d-tryptophan as a bioactive substance for postembryonic ovarian development in the planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis

Sex and Regeneration

Identification of novel yolk ferritins unique to planarians: planarians supply aluminum rather than iron to vitellaria in egg capsules

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