Project description:Mammals and reptiles possess a metanephric kidney as the terminal renal organ for homeostasis of solutes and waste products. The development of the metanephric kidney has primarily been studied in mammalian model systems. Little is known about the conservation of metanephric kidney formation in non-mammalian species such as reptiles. Uniquely, reptiles maintain kidney progenitor cell populations throughout life and continually develop new nephrons, the functional unit of the kidney. The red-eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans, was utilized to investigate the conservation of reptilian metanephric kidney development. The nephron progenitor cell (NPC) marker, Six2, was detected in whole-mount turtle kidneys in a similar pattern to mammals. However, there were differences in progenitor cell niche morphology where turtle NPC populations formed distinct elongated rows instead of the rosette-like morphology found in the mouse. The pattern of NPC populations in the embryonic turtle kidney was maintained in the adult turtle. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing was performed on cortical tissue containing the NPC populations from adult turtle kidneys and compared to those of adult mice. Significant conservation of gene methylation was detected in adult cortical tissue between the two species, although unique signatures were detected in turtle samples related to DNA repair and β-catenin signaling. This suggests a high level of conservation of metanephric kidney development at the genetic level.

2026-04-15 | GSE318499 | GEO

An Annotated Chromosome-Level Reference Genome of the Red-Eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans).

Project description: Not available

| S-EPMC7186784 | biostudies-literature

Navigating oxygen deprivation: liver transcriptomic responses of the red eared slider turtle to environmental anoxia.

Project description: Not available

| S-EPMC6883951 | biostudies-literature

Trained quantity discrimination in invasive red-eared slider and a comparison with the native stripe-necked turtle.

Project description: Not available

| S-EPMC10965720 | biostudies-literature

The invasive red-eared slider turtle is more successful than the native Chinese three-keeled pond turtle: evidence from the gut microbiota.

Project description: Not available