Sex-inducing effects toward planarians widely present among parasitic flatworms

• Published in: iScience Vol. 26; no. 1; p. 105776
• Main Authors: Sekii, Kiyono, Miyashita, Soichiro, Yamaguchi, Kentaro, Saito, Ikuma, Saito, Yuria, Manta, Sayaka, Ishikawa, Masaki, Narita, Miyu, Watanabe, Taro, Ito, Riku, Taguchi, Mizuki, Furukawa, Ryohei, Ikeuchi, Aoi, Matsuo, Kayoko, Kurita, Goro, Kumagai, Takashi, Shirakashi, Sho, Ogawa, Kazuo, Sakamoto, Kimitoshi, Koyanagi, Ryo, Satoh, Noriyuki, Sasaki, Mizuki, Maezawa, Takanobu, Ichikawa-Seki, Madoka, Kobayashi, Kazuya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 20.01.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Developmental genetics; Parasitology; Parasitology; Developmental genetics
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105776

Various parasitic flatworms infect vertebrates for sexual reproduction, often causing devastating diseases in their hosts. Consequently, flatworms are of great socioeconomic and biomedical importance. Although the cessation of parasitic flatworm sexual reproduction is a major target of anti-parasitic drug design, little is known regarding bioactive compounds controlling flatworm sexual maturation. Using the planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis, we observed that sex-inducing substances found in planarians are also widespread in parasitic flatworms, such as monogeneans and flukes (but not in tapeworms). Reverse-phase HPLC analysis revealed the sex-inducing substance(s) eluting around the tryptophan retention time in the fluke Calicophoron calicophorum, consistent with previous studies on the planarian Bipalium nobile, suggesting that the substance(s) is likely conserved among flatworms. Moreover, six of the 18 ovary-inducing substances identified via transcriptome and metabolome analyses are involved in purine metabolism. Our findings provide a basis for understanding and modifying the life cycles of various parasitic flatworms. [Display omitted] •Substances that can fully sexualize planarians are widespread in parasitic flatworms•The sex-inducing substance is likely common among planarians and parasitic flatworms•Eighteen ovary-inducers were identified, 6 of which are involved in purine metabolism•Metabolome and transcriptome analyses support the importance of purine metabolism Parasitology; Developmental genetics