Molecular ontogeny of Bemisia tabaci life stages reveals miRNA-governed development and egg-stalk support for early embryogenesis.

Spatiotemporal Profiling of the Marchantia Sporophyte Reveals Ancestral Meristem Module and Dynamic Epigenetic Reprogramming during Early Embryogenesis

Comparative genomics and adult-female transcriptomics prioritize physiological candidate pathways in the aquatic acentropine moth Paracymoriza distinctalis.

Freshwater-associated life histories are rare in Lepidoptera, and the physiological systems accompanying them remain poorly resolved. We integrated adult-female whole-body RNA-seq from Paracymoriza distinctalis (n = 3) and three terrestrial crambids (n = 3, 3, and 2) with focused comparative genomics to prioritize testable candidate pathways. Adult-female expression-biased genes were enriched for muscle contraction and myofibril assembly, carbohydrate and nucleotide-related metabolism, response to stimulus, and regulation of signal transduction. Protein-interaction analysis further identified coherent modules associated with RNA processing, carbon metabolism, the citrate cycle, and RAF/MAPK signaling. At the genome level, P. distinctalis retained broad macrosynteny with two crambid relatives, whereas putative lineage-biased genes were enriched for vitelline membrane formation, embryonic development, apoptosis, cytoskeletal organization, and transferase activity. Because the transcriptomes were obtained from whole adult females, these patterns may reflect locomotor, reproductive, metabolic, and tissue-composition differences and should not be interpreted as direct mechanisms of larval aquatic adaptation. Together, the results identify a concise set of adult-stage physiological candidates for stage-resolved, tissue-specific, and functional validation.

Transcriptomics reveals the gene expression dynamics during embryonic development of largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) at the endogenous nutrition stage.

The early developmental stages of fish exhibit the highest mortality and greatest environmental sensitivity throughout their life cycle. This period encompasses a series of crucial biological events, including morphogenesis, organ differentiation, and nutritional mode transition from fertilized eggs to newly hatched larvae. Although largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) is a commercially important fish species in China, the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing its endogenous nutritional stage remain largely unexplored. To elucidate the molecular basis of this critical period, we performed transcriptomic profiling across six consecutive developmental stages (Multicellular, Blastula, Gastrula, Neurula, Organogenesis, and 5 day post hatching larvae). Our results reveal stage-specific transcriptional programs: the multicellular-to-blastula transition is characterized by stage-specific enrichment of by cell cycle and DNA replication pathways, with MCM complex (mcm2-5) upregulation accelerating proliferation; the blastula-to-gastrula transition features activation of bmp4, fgfr2, and lft1 for germ layer induction; the neurula stage exhibits transcriptional bursts and enrichment of neural tube-related pathways; organogenesis involves simultaneous activation of focal adhesion (col1a1b, col4a5, tnc) and Wnt signaling (wnt1, wnt4, wnt3a) pathway; and 5 dph larvae show visual function maturation, with light transduction genes (gnat1, gnat2, gucy2f, pde6b) identified as hub genes. Mfuzz analysis further reveals sustained upregulation of Cluster 14 (igf2r、napin、vamp7、il1b、aco2) indicating functional maturation, while Cluster 29 (mcm10, espl1, cep152, cep44, cep295) confirms declining cell division activity. Collectively, this study provides a transcriptomic resource for understanding largemouth bass embryonic development and offers molecular insights for improving hatchery practices.

Cryometamorphosis expression patterns of fruiting body development in the mushroom-forming fungus Armillaria ostoyae

Abstract Armillaria ostoyae is an economically important forest pathogen whose reproductive development is regulated by environmental cues. Although low temperature is recognized as an important morphogenetic stimulus, the molecular mechanisms underlying the resulting developmental transition—here termed “cryometamorphosis”—remain poorly understood. Using an orthogonal experimental design, we categorized A. ostoyae as a “cold-pressed” species. Induction at 4 °C significantly accelerated primordium formation, reducing the time required for initiation from 25 to 7 days. Transcriptomic profiling across developmental and morphological stages revealed that primordium initiation was associated with the most extensive transcriptional reprograming across the reproductive trajectory. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified a core low-temperature-associated module, MEturquoise, and revealed a putative hierarchical regulatory network. Within this network, a group of fungus-specific Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factors whose promoters contained predicted low-temperature response elements were tightly co-expressed with putative SET-domain histone methyltransferases and F-box proteins. To functionally validate this regulatory model, we established an optimized genetic transformation system for A. ostoyae and overexpressed the leading candidate gene, AoZCy6_17. Overexpression of AoZCy6_17 at a constant temperature of 25 °C was associated with a pronounced morphological transition: no visible rhizomorph formation was observed in the OE strain under the conditions tested, together with increased production of dense aerial mycelia accompanied by abundant surface droplets. Biochemical assays showed that the overexpression strain exhibited enhanced basal antioxidant activity, with significantly higher catalase activity than the wild type (approximately 2,436 versus 2,001 U g-1 fresh weight; P < 0.001). This constitutive physiological reprograming was also associated with increased malondialdehyde accumulation under non-stress conditions (approximately 23.1 versus 9.6 nmol g-1 fresh weight), indicating a potential physiological cost. Notably, activation of AoZCy6_17 alone recapitulated and, for some biochemical traits, exceeded the changes induced by exposure of the wild-type strain to 4 °C. Collectively, our findings provide functional evidence that AoZCy6_17 is a key regulator linking low-temperature signaling to developmental and physiological reprograming in A. ostoyae, thereby establishing a mechanistic framework for investigating fungal cryometamorphosis.

A chromosome-level genome assembly and developmental transcriptome profiling reveal stage-specific remodeling of the molecular chaperone system in Helicoverpa armigera.

Helicoverpa armigera is one of the most destructive lepidopteran pests worldwide owing to its remarkable polyphagy, long-distance migration, and rapid adaptation to insecticides. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of H. armigera generated from a field-collected individual in southwestern China, providing a valuable resource for future population genomic and pangenome studies. Developmental transcriptome analyses of first-instar larvae, fifth-instar larvae, and adults identified 6817, 3519, and 5518 differentially expressed genes, respectively, including 797 shared among all developmental transitions. Functional enrichment and co-expression network analyses revealed extensive transcriptional reprogramming, characterized by coordinated regulation of glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and fatty acid β-oxidation, indicating dynamic metabolic remodeling during development. Genome-wide analysis identified 77 heat shock protein (HSP) genes belonging to six subfamilies. These genes were unevenly distributed across chromosomes, with HSP20 members exhibiting extensive tandem duplication. Expression profiling revealed pronounced stage specificity, suggesting progressive remodeling of molecular chaperone networks during development. Early larvae primarily relied on HSP40/HSP60/HSP70 and HSP10/HSP60 chaperone systems; fifth-instar larvae exhibited HSP20-centered proteostasis; and adults predominantly expressed HSP40 together with multiple HSP70 members, accompanied by enrichment of stress response and metamorphosis-related functions. This study provides new insights into developmental transcriptional regulation, metabolic remodeling, and stage-specific specialization of molecular chaperone networks in H. armigera, establishing a foundation for future studies of stress adaptation, population genomic variation, and developmental mechanisms.

microRNA-mediated control of cell fate specification and patterning in Marchantia polymorpha.

It is reported that MpDCL1a is required for the biogenesis of miRNAs and a central role for miR166/Homeodomain Zipper Class III-regulated auxin synthesis in the specification of cell identity, patterning, meristem function, laminar expansion, and the development of the body in the last common ancestor of the bryophytes and vascular plants is uncovered.