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Perlegos AE, Shields EJ, Shen H, Liu KF, Bonini NM. Mettl3-dependent m 6A modification attenuates the brain stress response in Drosophila. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5387. [PMID: 36104353 PMCID: PMC9474545 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33085-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most prevalent internal modification on eukaryotic mRNA, plays an essential role in various stress responses. The brain is uniquely vulnerable to cellular stress, thus defining how m6A sculpts the brain's susceptibility may provide insight to brain aging and disease-related stress. Here we investigate the impact of m6A mRNA methylation in the adult Drosophila brain with stress. We show that m6A is enriched in the adult brain and increases with heat stress. Through m6A-immunoprecipitation sequencing, we show 5'UTR Mettl3-dependent m6A is enriched in transcripts of neuronal processes and signaling pathways that increase upon stress. Mettl3 knockdown results in increased levels of m6A targets and confers resilience to stress. We find loss of Mettl3 results in decreased levels of nuclear m6A reader Ythdc1, and knockdown of Ythdc1 also leads to stress resilience. Overall, our data suggest that m6A modification in Drosophila dampens the brain's biological response to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra E Perlegos
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Emily J Shields
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Urology and Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kathy Fange Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Nancy M Bonini
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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52
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Asadzadeh J, Ruchti E, Jiao W, Limoni G, MacLachlan C, Small SA, Knott G, Santa-Maria I, McCabe BD. Retromer deficiency in Tauopathy models enhances the truncation and toxicity of Tau. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5049. [PMID: 36030267 PMCID: PMC9420134 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32683-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alteration of the levels, localization or post-translational processing of the microtubule associated protein Tau is associated with many neurodegenerative disorders. Here we develop adult-onset models for human Tau (hTau) toxicity in Drosophila that enable age-dependent quantitative measurement of central nervous system synapse loss and axonal degeneration, in addition to effects upon lifespan, to facilitate evaluation of factors that may contribute to Tau-dependent neurodegeneration. Using these models, we interrogate the interaction of hTau with the retromer complex, an evolutionarily conserved cargo-sorting protein assembly, whose reduced activity has been associated with both Parkinson’s and late onset Alzheimer’s disease. We reveal that reduction of retromer activity induces a potent enhancement of hTau toxicity upon synapse loss, axon retraction and lifespan through a specific increase in the production of a C-terminal truncated isoform of hTau. Our data establish a molecular and subcellular mechanism necessary and sufficient for the depletion of retromer activity to exacerbate Tau-dependent neurodegeneration. Tau and the Retromer complex are both linked to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Using Drosophila neurodegeneration models, this study finds that low retromer activity induces a specific increase of a highly toxic truncated form of human Tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamshid Asadzadeh
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Evelyne Ruchti
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Wei Jiao
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Greta Limoni
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Catherine MacLachlan
- BioEM Facility, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Scott A Small
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Graham Knott
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,BioEM Facility, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ismael Santa-Maria
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Facultad Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Brian D McCabe
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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53
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Chemical interference with DSIF complex formation lowers synthesis of mutant huntingtin gene products and curtails mutant phenotypes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2204779119. [PMID: 35914128 PMCID: PMC9371670 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204779119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Earlier work has shown that siRNA-mediated reduction of the SUPT4H or SUPT5H proteins, which interact to form the DSIF complex and facilitate transcript elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), can decrease expression of mutant gene alleles containing nucleotide repeat expansions differentially. Using luminescence and fluorescence assays, we identified chemical compounds that interfere with the SUPT4H-SUPT5H interaction and then investigated their effects on synthesis of mRNA and protein encoded by mutant alleles containing repeat expansions in the huntingtin gene (HTT), which causes the inherited neurodegenerative disorder, Huntington's Disease (HD). Here we report that such chemical interference can differentially affect expression of HTT mutant alleles, and that a prototypical chemical, 6-azauridine (6-AZA), that targets the SUPT4H-SUPT5H interaction can modify the biological response to mutant HTT gene expression. Selective and dose-dependent effects of 6-AZA on expression of HTT alleles containing nucleotide repeat expansions were seen in multiple types of cells cultured in vitro, and in a Drosophila melanogaster animal model for HD. Lowering of mutant HD protein and mitigation of the Drosophila "rough eye" phenotype associated with degeneration of photoreceptor neurons in vivo were observed. Our findings indicate that chemical interference with DSIF complex formation can decrease biochemical and phenotypic effects of nucleotide repeat expansions.
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54
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Sanz FJ, Solana-Manrique C, Lilao-Garzón J, Brito-Casillas Y, Muñoz-Descalzo S, Paricio N. Exploring the link between Parkinson's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Drosophila. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22432. [PMID: 35766235 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202200286r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by high levels of glucose in blood. Recent epidemiological studies have highlighted the link between both diseases; it is even considered that DM might be a risk factor for PD. To further investigate the likely relation of these diseases, we have used a Drosophila PD model based on inactivation of the DJ-1β gene (ortholog of human DJ-1), and diet-induced Drosophila and mouse type 2 DM (T2DM) models, together with human neuron-like cells. T2DM models were obtained by feeding flies with a high sugar-containing medium, and mice with a high fat diet. Our results showed that both fly models exhibit common phenotypes such as alterations in carbohydrate homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction or motor defects, among others. In addition, we demonstrated that T2DM might be a risk factor of developing PD since our diet-induced fly and mouse T2DM models present DA neuron dysfunction, a hallmark of PD. We also confirmed that neurodegeneration is caused by increased glucose levels, which has detrimental effects in human neuron-like cells by triggering apoptosis and leading to cell death. Besides, the observed phenotypes were exacerbated in DJ-1β mutants cultured in the high sugar medium, indicating that DJ-1 might have a role in carbohydrate homeostasis. Finally, we have confirmed that metformin, an antidiabetic drug, is a potential candidate for PD treatment and that it could prevent PD onset in T2DM model flies. This result supports antidiabetic compounds as promising PD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco José Sanz
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad CC Biológicas, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología y Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Cristina Solana-Manrique
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad CC Biológicas, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología y Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Joaquín Lilao-Garzón
- Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Yeray Brito-Casillas
- Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Silvia Muñoz-Descalzo
- Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Nuria Paricio
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad CC Biológicas, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología y Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain
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55
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Richard M, Doubková K, Nitta Y, Kawai H, Sugie A, Tavosanis G. A Quantitative Model of Sporadic Axonal Degeneration in the Drosophila Visual System. J Neurosci 2022; 42:4937-4952. [PMID: 35534228 PMCID: PMC9188428 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2115-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In human neurodegenerative diseases, neurons undergo axonal degeneration months to years before they die. Here, we developed a system modeling early degenerative events in Drosophila adult photoreceptor cells. Thanks to the stereotypy of their axonal projections, this system delivers quantitative data on sporadic and progressive axonal degeneration of photoreceptor cells. Using this method, we show that exposure of adult female flies to a constant light stimulation for several days overcomes the intrinsic resilience of R7 photoreceptors and leads to progressive axonal degeneration. This was not associated with apoptosis. We furthermore provide evidence that loss of synaptic integrity between R7 and a postsynaptic partner preceded axonal degeneration, thus recapitulating features of human neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, our experiments uncovered a role of postsynaptic partners of R7 to initiate degeneration, suggesting that postsynaptic cells signal back to the photoreceptor to maintain axonal structure. This model can be used to dissect cellular and circuit mechanisms involved in the early events of axonal degeneration, allowing for a better understanding of how neurons cope with stress and lose their resilience capacities.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neurons can be active and functional for several years. In the course of aging and in disease conditions leading to neurodegeneration, subsets of neurons lose their resilience and start dying. What initiates this turning point at the cellular level is not clear. Here, we developed a model allowing to systematically describe this phase. The loss of synapses and axons represents an early and functionally relevant event toward degeneration. Using the ordered distribution of Drosophila photoreceptor axon terminals, we assembled a system to study sporadic initiation of axon loss and delineated a role for non-cell-autonomous activity regulation in the initiation of axon degeneration. This work will help shed light on key steps in the etiology of nonfamilial cases of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélisande Richard
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e. V., 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Karolína Doubková
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e. V., 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Yohei Nitta
- Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | | | - Atsushi Sugie
- Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Gaia Tavosanis
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e. V., 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
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56
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Chen W, Gu X, Yang YT, Batterham P, Perry T. Dual nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit gene knockouts reveal limits to functional redundancy. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 184:105118. [PMID: 35715057 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit gene family consists of ten members in Drosophila melanogaster. The mature nAChR is a pentamer assembled from these subunits. Despite recent advances in the in vitro expression of some receptor subunit combinations (nAChR subtypes), the in vivo combinations and stoichiometry of these subtypes remains poorly defined. In addition, there are many potential nAChR signalling roles for different subtypes in insect behaviour, development and physiology. Prior work has shown that nAChR subunit mutants can display altered sleep and mating behaviour, disrupted hormone signalling and reduced locomotion, climbing ability and longevity. Teasing out the specific receptor subunits that are involved in these different functions is potentially made more difficult given that the structural similarity between members of gene families often means that there is a degree of functional redundancy. In order to circumvent this, we created a dual knockout strain for the Dα1 and Dβ2 nAChR subunit genes and examined four traits including insecticide resistance. These subunits had been previously implicated in the response to a neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid. The use of the dual knockout revealed that Dα1 and Dβ2 subunits are involved in signalling that leads to the inflation of wings following adult emergence from the pupal case. The Dβ1 subunit had previously been implicated as a contributor to this function. The lack of a phenotype or low penetrance of the phenotype in the Dα1 and Dβ2 single mutants compared to the dual knockout suggests that these subunits are, to some extent, functionally redundant. We also observed stronger reductions in climbing ability and longevity in the dual knockout. Our findings demonstrate that a dual knockout approach to examining members of the nAChR subunit gene family may increase the power of genetic approaches linking individual subunits and combinations thereof to particular biological functions. This approach will be valuable as the nAChRs are so widely expressed in the insect brain that they are likely to have many functions that hereto remain undetected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Xinyue Gu
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Ying Ting Yang
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Philip Batterham
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Trent Perry
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
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57
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The Reversible Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1 Inhibitor (Teglicar) Ameliorates the Neurodegenerative Phenotype in a Drosophila Huntington’s Disease Model by Acting on the Expression of Carnitine-Related Genes. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27103125. [PMID: 35630602 PMCID: PMC9146098 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27103125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a dramatic neurodegenerative disorder caused by the abnormal expansion of a CAG triplet in the huntingtin gene, producing an abnormal protein. As it leads to the death of neurons in the cerebral cortex, the patients primarily present with neurological symptoms, but recently metabolic changes resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction have been identified as novel pathological features. The carnitine shuttle is a complex consisting of three enzymes whose function is to transport the long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria. Here, its pharmacological modification was used to test the hypothesis that shifting metabolism to lipid oxidation exacerbates the HD symptoms. Behavioural and transcriptional analyses were carried out on HD Drosophila model, to evaluate the involvement of the carnitine cycle in this pathogenesis. Pharmacological inhibition of CPT1, the rate-limiting enzyme of the carnitine cycle, ameliorates the HD symptoms in Drosophila, likely acting on the expression of carnitine-related genes.
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58
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Tello JA, Williams HE, Eppler RM, Steinhilb ML, Khanna M. Animal Models of Neurodegenerative Disease: Recent Advances in Fly Highlight Innovative Approaches to Drug Discovery. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:883358. [PMID: 35514431 PMCID: PMC9063566 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.883358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases represent a formidable challenge to global health. As advances in other areas of medicine grant healthy living into later decades of life, aging diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders can diminish the quality of these additional years, owed largely to the lack of efficacious treatments and the absence of durable cures. Alzheimer's disease prevalence is predicted to more than double in the next 30 years, affecting nearly 15 million Americans, with AD-associated costs exceeding $1 billion by 2050. Delaying onset of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases is critical to improving the quality of life for patients and reducing the burden of disease on caregivers and healthcare systems. Significant progress has been made to model disease pathogenesis and identify points of therapeutic intervention. While some researchers have contributed to our understanding of the proteins and pathways that drive biological dysfunction in disease using in vitro and in vivo models, others have provided mathematical, biophysical, and computational technologies to identify potential therapeutic compounds using in silico modeling. The most exciting phase of the drug discovery process is now: by applying a target-directed approach that leverages the strengths of multiple techniques and validates lead hits using Drosophila as an animal model of disease, we are on the fast-track to identifying novel therapeutics to restore health to those impacted by neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith A. Tello
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Center of Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Haley E. Williams
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Center of Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Robert M. Eppler
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Michelle L. Steinhilb
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - May Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Center of Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
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59
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Ecovoiu AA, Ratiu AC, Micheu MM, Chifiriuc MC. Inter-Species Rescue of Mutant Phenotype-The Standard for Genetic Analysis of Human Genetic Disorders in Drosophila melanogaster Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2613. [PMID: 35269756 PMCID: PMC8909942 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly) is arguably a superstar of genetics, an astonishing versatile experimental model which fueled no less than six Nobel prizes in medicine. Nowadays, an evolving research endeavor is to simulate and investigate human genetic diseases in the powerful D. melanogaster platform. Such a translational experimental strategy is expected to allow scientists not only to understand the molecular mechanisms of the respective disorders but also to alleviate or even cure them. In this regard, functional gene orthology should be initially confirmed in vivo by transferring human or vertebrate orthologous transgenes in specific mutant backgrounds of D. melanogaster. If such a transgene rescues, at least partially, the mutant phenotype, then it qualifies as a strong candidate for modeling the respective genetic disorder in the fruit fly. Herein, we review various examples of inter-species rescue of relevant mutant phenotypes of the fruit fly and discuss how these results recommend several human genes as candidates to study and validate genetic variants associated with human diseases. We also consider that a wider implementation of this evolutionist exploratory approach as a standard for the medicine of genetic disorders would allow this particular field of human health to advance at a faster pace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Al. Ecovoiu
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 060101 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Attila Cristian Ratiu
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 060101 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Miruna Mihaela Micheu
- Department of Cardiology, Clinical Emergency Hospital of Bucharest, 014461 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc
- The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest and Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania;
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60
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Martelli F, Hernandes NH, Zuo Z, Wang J, Wong CO, Karagas NE, Roessner U, Rupasinghe T, Robin C, Venkatachalam K, Perry T, Batterham P, Bellen HJ. Low doses of the organic insecticide spinosad trigger lysosomal defects, elevated ROS, lipid dysregulation, and neurodegeneration in flies. eLife 2022; 11:e73812. [PMID: 35191376 PMCID: PMC8863376 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-scale insecticide application is a primary weapon in the control of insect pests in agriculture. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that it is contributing to the global decline in population sizes of many beneficial insect species. Spinosad emerged as an organic alternative to synthetic insecticides and is considered less harmful to beneficial insects, yet its mode of action remains unclear. Using Drosophila, we show that low doses of spinosad antagonize its neuronal target, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha 6 (nAChRα6), reducing the cholinergic response. We show that the nAChRα6 receptors are transported to lysosomes that become enlarged and increase in number upon low doses of spinosad treatment. Lysosomal dysfunction is associated with mitochondrial stress and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the central nervous system where nAChRα6 is broadly expressed. ROS disturb lipid storage in metabolic tissues in an nAChRα6-dependent manner. Spinosad toxicity is ameliorated with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine amide. Chronic exposure of adult virgin females to low doses of spinosad leads to mitochondrial defects, severe neurodegeneration, and blindness. These deleterious effects of low-dose exposures warrant rigorous investigation of its impacts on beneficial insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Martelli
- School of BioSciences, The University of MelbourneMelbourneAustralia
| | | | - Zhongyuan Zuo
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Julia Wang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Ching-On Wong
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Sciences CenterHoustonUnited States
| | - Nicholas E Karagas
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Sciences CenterHoustonUnited States
| | - Ute Roessner
- School of BioSciences, The University of MelbourneMelbourneAustralia
| | | | - Charles Robin
- School of BioSciences, The University of MelbourneMelbourneAustralia
| | - Kartik Venkatachalam
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Sciences CenterHoustonUnited States
| | - Trent Perry
- School of BioSciences, The University of MelbourneMelbourneAustralia
| | - Philip Batterham
- School of BioSciences, The University of MelbourneMelbourneAustralia
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children HospitalHoustonUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
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61
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Maitra U, Stephen C, Ciesla LM. Drug discovery from natural products - Old problems and novel solutions for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2022; 210:114553. [PMID: 34968995 PMCID: PMC8792363 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2021.114553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The use of natural products has been shown to be a fruitful approach in the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals. In fact, many currently approved drugs originated from compounds that were first identified in nature. Chemical diversity of natural compounds cannot be matched by man-made libraries of chemically synthesized molecules. Many natural compounds interact with and modulate regulatory protein targets and can be considered evolutionarily-optimized drug-like molecules. Despite this, many pharmaceutical companies have reduced or eliminated their natural product discovery programs in the last two decades. Screening natural products for pharmacologically active compounds is a challenging task that requires high resource commitment. Novel approaches at the early stage of the drug discovery pipeline are needed to allow for rapid screening and identification of the most promising molecules. Here, we review the possible evolutionary roots for drug-like characteristics of numerous natural compounds. Since many of these compounds target evolutionarily conserved cellular signaling pathways, we propose novel, early-stage drug discovery approaches to identify drug candidates that can be used for the potential prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Invertebrate in vivo animal models of neurodegenerative diseases and innovative tools used within these models are proposed here as a screening funnel to identify new drug candidates and to shuttle these hits into further stages of the drug discovery pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urmila Maitra
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Cayman Stephen
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Lukasz M Ciesla
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.
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62
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Goodman LD, Bellen HJ. Recent insights into the role of glia and oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease gained from Drosophila. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 72:32-38. [PMID: 34418791 PMCID: PMC8854453 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Here, we discuss findings made using Drosophila on Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk and progression. Recent studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying glia-mediated neuroprotection in AD. First, we discuss a novel mechanism of glial lipid droplet formation that occurs in response to elevated reactive oxygen species in neurons. The data suggest that disruptions to this process contribute to AD risk. We further discuss novel mechanistic insights into glia-mediated Aβ42-clearance made using the fly. Finally, we highlight work that provides evidence that the aberrant accumulation of reactive oxygen species in AD may not just be a consequence of disease but contribute to disease progression as well. Cumulatively, the discussed studies highlight recent, relevant discoveries in AD made using Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey D. Goodman
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA,CORRESPONDANCE
| | - Hugo J. Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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63
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Sujkowski A, Hong L, Wessells RJ, Todi SV. The protective role of exercise against age-related neurodegeneration. Ageing Res Rev 2022; 74:101543. [PMID: 34923167 PMCID: PMC8761166 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Endurance exercise is a widely accessible, low-cost intervention with a variety of benefits to multiple organ systems. Exercise improves multiple indices of physical performance and stimulates pronounced health benefits reducing a range of pathologies including metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disorders. Endurance exercise delays brain aging, preserves memory and cognition, and improves symptoms of neurodegenerative pathologies like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and various ataxias. Potential mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise include neuronal survival and plasticity, neurogenesis, epigenetic modifications, angiogenesis, autophagy, and the synthesis and release of neurotrophins and cytokines. In this review, we discuss shared benefits and molecular pathways driving the protective effects of endurance exercise on various neurodegenerative diseases in animal models and in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyson Sujkowski
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Luke Hong
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA
| | - R J Wessells
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Sokol V Todi
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA.
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64
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Margreiter MA, Witzenberger M, Wasser Y, Davydova E, Janowski R, Metz J, Habib P, Sahnoun SEM, Sobisch C, Poma B, Palomino-Hernandez O, Wagner M, Carell T, Jon Shah N, Schulz JB, Niessing D, Voigt A, Rossetti G. Small-molecule modulators of TRMT2A decrease PolyQ aggregation and PolyQ-induced cell death. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:443-458. [PMID: 35070167 PMCID: PMC8759985 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are characterized by an expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeats encoding for an uninterrupted prolonged polyQ tract. We previously identified TRMT2A as a strong modifier of polyQ-induced toxicity in an unbiased large-scale screen in Drosophila melanogaster. This work aimed at identifying and validating pharmacological TRMT2A inhibitors as treatment opportunities for polyQ diseases in humans. Computer-aided drug discovery was implemented to identify human TRMT2A inhibitors. Additionally, the crystal structure of one protein domain, the RNA recognition motif (RRM), was determined, and Biacore experiments with the RRM were performed. The identified molecules were validated for their potency to reduce polyQ aggregation and polyQ-induced cell death in human HEK293T cells and patient derived fibroblasts. Our work provides a first step towards pharmacological inhibition of this enzyme and indicates TRMT2A as a viable drug target for polyQ diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Margreiter
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany.,Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen, 52425 Aachen, Germany
| | - Monika Witzenberger
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Structural Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Yasmine Wasser
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Elena Davydova
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Structural Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Robert Janowski
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Structural Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Metz
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany
| | - Pardes Habib
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,JARA - BRAIN - Translational Medicine, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sabri E M Sahnoun
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Carina Sobisch
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Benedetta Poma
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Oscar Palomino-Hernandez
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany.,Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen, 52425 Aachen, Germany
| | - Mirko Wagner
- Department Chemie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Thomas Carell
- Department Chemie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - N Jon Shah
- JARA - BRAIN - Translational Medicine, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-11), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany
| | - Jörg B Schulz
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,JARA - BRAIN - Translational Medicine, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-11), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany
| | - Dierk Niessing
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Structural Biology, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Aaron Voigt
- Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,JARA - BRAIN - Translational Medicine, Aachen, Germany
| | - Giulia Rossetti
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany.,Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Juelich Supercomputing Center (JSC), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Germany.,Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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65
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Arjmand B, Kokabi Hamidpour S, Rabbani Z, Tayanloo-Beik A, Rahim F, Aghayan HR, Larijani B. Organ on a Chip: A Novel in vitro Biomimetic Strategy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Modeling. Front Neurol 2022; 12:788462. [PMID: 35111126 PMCID: PMC8802668 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.788462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a pernicious neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, the disruption of impulse transmission from motor neurons to muscle cells, and the development of mobility impairments. Clinically, muscle paralysis can spread to other parts of the body. Hence it may have adverse effects on swallowing, speaking, and even breathing, which serves as major problems facing these patients. According to the available evidence, no definite treatment has been found for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that results in a significant outcome, although some pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are currently applied that are accompanied by some positive effects. In other words, available therapies are only used to relieve symptoms without any significant treatment effects that highlight the importance of seeking more novel therapies. Unfortunately, the process of discovering new drugs with high therapeutic potential for ALS treatment is fraught with challenges. The lack of a broad view of the disease process from early to late-stage and insufficiency of preclinical studies for providing validated results prior to conducting clinical trials are other reasons for the ALS drug discovery failure. However, increasing the combined application of different fields of regenerative medicine, especially tissue engineering and stem cell therapy can be considered as a step forward to develop more novel technologies. For instance, organ on a chip is one of these technologies that can provide a platform to promote a comprehensive understanding of neuromuscular junction biology and screen candidate drugs for ALS in combination with pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). The structure of this technology is based on the use of essential components such as iPSC- derived motor neurons and iPSC-derived skeletal muscle cells on a single miniaturized chip for ALS modeling. Accordingly, an organ on a chip not only can mimic ALS complexities but also can be considered as a more cost-effective and time-saving disease modeling platform in comparison with others. Hence, it can be concluded that lab on a chip can make a major contribution as a biomimetic micro-physiological system in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babak Arjmand
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- *Correspondence: Babak Arjmand
| | - Shayesteh Kokabi Hamidpour
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Rabbani
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akram Tayanloo-Beik
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fakher Rahim
- Health Research Institute, Thalassemia, and Hemoglobinopathies Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Aghayan
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bagher Larijani
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Bagher Larijani
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66
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Pir MS, Bilgin HI, Sayici A, Coşkun F, Torun FM, Zhao P, Kang Y, Cevik S, Kaplan O. ConVarT: a search engine for matching human genetic variants with variants from non-human species. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:D1172-D1178. [PMID: 34718716 PMCID: PMC8728286 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The availability of genetic variants, together with phenotypic annotations from model organisms, facilitates comparing these variants with equivalent variants in humans. However, existing databases and search tools do not make it easy to scan for equivalent variants, namely 'matching variants' (MatchVars) between humans and other organisms. Therefore, we developed an integrated search engine called ConVarT (http://www.convart.org/) for matching variants between humans, mice, and Caenorhabditis elegans. ConVarT incorporates annotations (including phenotypic and pathogenic) into variants, and these previously unexploited phenotypic MatchVars from mice and C. elegans can give clues about the functional consequence of human genetic variants. Our analysis shows that many phenotypic variants in different genes from mice and C. elegans, so far, have no counterparts in humans, and thus, can be useful resources when evaluating a relationship between a new human mutation and a disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa S Pir
- Rare Disease Laboratory, School of Life and Natural Sciences, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri 38090, Turkey
| | - Halil I Bilgin
- Department of Computer Engineering, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri 38090, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Sayici
- Department of Computer Engineering, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri 38090, Turkey
| | - Fatih Coşkun
- Department of Computer Engineering, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri 38090, Turkey
| | - Furkan M Torun
- Rare Disease Laboratory, School of Life and Natural Sciences, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri 38090, Turkey
| | - Pei Zhao
- SunyBiotech Co., Ltd, Fuzhou 35000, China
| | | | - Sebiha Cevik
- Rare Disease Laboratory, School of Life and Natural Sciences, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri 38090, Turkey
| | - Oktay I Kaplan
- Rare Disease Laboratory, School of Life and Natural Sciences, Abdullah Gul University, Kayseri 38090, Turkey
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67
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Cabey K, Long DM, Law A, Gray NE, McClure C, Caruso M, Lak P, Wright KM, Stevens JF, Maier CS, Soumyanath A, Kretzschmar D. Withania somnifera and Centella asiatica Extracts Ameliorate Behavioral Deficits in an In Vivo Drosophila melanogaster Model of Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11010121. [PMID: 35052625 PMCID: PMC8773428 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11010121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to an increase in the aging population, age-related diseases and age-related changes, such as diminished cognition and sleep disturbances, are an increasing health threat. It has been suggested that an increase in oxidative stress underlies many of these changes. Current treatments for these diseases and changes either have low efficacy or have deleterious side effects preventing long-time use. Therefore, alternative treatments that promote healthy aging and provide resilience against these health threats are needed. The herbs Withania somnifera and Centella asiatica may be two such alternatives because both have been connected with reducing oxidative stress and could therefore ameliorate age-related impairments. To test the effects of these herbs on behavioral phenotypes induced by oxidative stress, we used the Drosophila melanogaster sniffer mutant which has high levels of oxidative stress due to reduced carbonyl reductase activity. Effects on cognition and mobility were assessed using phototaxis assays and both, W. somnifera and C. asiatica water extracts improved phototaxis in sniffer mutants. In addition, W. somnifera improved nighttime sleep in male and female sniffer flies and promoted a less fragmented sleep pattern in male sniffer flies. This suggests that W. somnifera and C. asiatica can ameliorate oxidative stress-related changes in behavior and that by doing so they might promote healthy aging in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kadine Cabey
- BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (K.C.); (D.M.L.); (A.L.); (N.E.G.); (C.M.); (K.M.W.); (A.S.)
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
- Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Dani M. Long
- BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (K.C.); (D.M.L.); (A.L.); (N.E.G.); (C.M.); (K.M.W.); (A.S.)
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Alexander Law
- BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (K.C.); (D.M.L.); (A.L.); (N.E.G.); (C.M.); (K.M.W.); (A.S.)
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Nora E. Gray
- BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (K.C.); (D.M.L.); (A.L.); (N.E.G.); (C.M.); (K.M.W.); (A.S.)
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Christine McClure
- BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (K.C.); (D.M.L.); (A.L.); (N.E.G.); (C.M.); (K.M.W.); (A.S.)
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Maya Caruso
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Parnian Lak
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA; (P.L.); (C.S.M.)
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Kirsten M. Wright
- BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (K.C.); (D.M.L.); (A.L.); (N.E.G.); (C.M.); (K.M.W.); (A.S.)
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Jan F. Stevens
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
- College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Claudia S. Maier
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA; (P.L.); (C.S.M.)
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Amala Soumyanath
- BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (K.C.); (D.M.L.); (A.L.); (N.E.G.); (C.M.); (K.M.W.); (A.S.)
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Doris Kretzschmar
- BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (K.C.); (D.M.L.); (A.L.); (N.E.G.); (C.M.); (K.M.W.); (A.S.)
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Correspondence:
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68
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Medioni C, Ephrussi A, Besse F. Live-Imaging of Axonal Cargoes in Drosophila Brain Explants Using Confocal Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2417:19-28. [PMID: 35099788 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1916-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Live-imaging of axonal cargoes within central nervous system has been a long-lasting interest for neurobiologists as axonal transport plays critical roles in neuronal growth, function, and survival. Many kinds of cargoes are transported within axons, including synaptic vesicles and a variety of membrane-bound and membrane-less organelles. Imaging these cargoes at high spatial and temporal resolution, and within living brains, is technically very challenging. Here, we describe a quantitative method, based on customized mounting chambers, allowing live-imaging of axonal cargoes transported within the maturing brain of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. With this method, we could visualize in real time, using confocal microscopy, cargoes transported along axons. Our protocol is simple and easy to set up, as brains are mounted in our imaging chambers and ready to be imaged in about 1 h. Another advantage of our method is that it can be combined with pharmacological treatments or super-resolution microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne Ephrussi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
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69
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De Graeve F, Formicola N, Pushpalatha KV, Nakamura A, Debreuve E, Descombes X, Besse F. Detecting Stress Granules in Drosophila Neurons. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2428:229-242. [PMID: 35171483 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1975-9_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Stress granules (SGs) are cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein condensates that dynamically and reversibly assemble in response to stress. They are thought to contribute to the adaptive stress response by storing translationally inactive mRNAs as well as signaling molecules. Recent work has shown that SG composition and properties depend on both stress and cell types, and that neurons exhibit a complex SG proteome and a strong vulnerability to mutations in SG proteins. Drosophila has emerged as a powerful genetically tractable organism where to study the physiological regulation and functions of SGs in normal and pathological contexts. In this chapter, we describe a protocol enabling quantitative analysis of SG properties in both larval and adult Drosophila CNS samples. In this protocol, fluorescently tagged SGs are induced upon acute ex vivo stress or chronic in vivo stress, imaged at high-resolution via confocal microscopy and detected automatically, using a dedicated software.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne De Graeve
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, Institut de Biologie Valrose, Nice, France
| | - Nadia Formicola
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, Institut de Biologie Valrose, Nice, France
| | | | - Akira Nakamura
- Department of Germline Development, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Eric Debreuve
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inria, Laboratoire I3S, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Xavier Descombes
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inria, CNRS, Laboratoire I3S, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Florence Besse
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, Institut de Biologie Valrose, Nice, France.
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70
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Voelzmann A, Sanchez-Soriano N. Drosophila Primary Neuronal Cultures as a Useful Cellular Model to Study and Image Axonal Transport. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2431:429-449. [PMID: 35412291 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1990-2_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The use of primary neuronal cultures generated from Drosophila tissue provides a powerful model for studies of transport mechanisms. Cultured fly neurons provide similarly detailed subcellular resolution and applicability of pharmacology or fluorescent dyes as mammalian primary neurons. As an experimental advantage for the mechanistic dissection of transport, fly primary neurons can be combined with the fast and highly efficient combinatorial genetics of Drosophila, and genetic tools for the manipulation of virtually every fly gene are readily available. This strategy can be performed in parallel to in vivo transport studies to address relevance of any findings. Here we will describe the generation of primary neuronal cultures from Drosophila embryos and larvae, the use of external fluorescent dyes and genetic tools to label cargo, and the key strategies for live imaging and subsequent analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Voelzmann
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Natalia Sanchez-Soriano
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Cell Signalling, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
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71
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Medvedev SP, Malankhanova TB, Valetdinova KR, Zakian SM. Creation and Research of Cell Models of Hereditary Neurodegenerative Diseases Using Directed Genome Editing. NEUROCHEM J+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1819712421040073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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72
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Anoar S, Woodling NS, Niccoli T. Mitochondria Dysfunction in Frontotemporal Dementia/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Lessons From Drosophila Models. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:786076. [PMID: 34899176 PMCID: PMC8652125 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.786076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by declining motor and cognitive functions. Even though these diseases present with distinct sets of symptoms, FTD and ALS are two extremes of the same disease spectrum, as they show considerable overlap in genetic, clinical and neuropathological features. Among these overlapping features, mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with both FTD and ALS. Recent studies have shown that cells derived from patients' induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)s display mitochondrial abnormalities, and similar abnormalities have been observed in a number of animal disease models. Drosophila models have been widely used to study FTD and ALS because of their rapid generation time and extensive set of genetic tools. A wide array of fly models have been developed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of toxicity for mutations associated with FTD/ALS. Fly models have been often instrumental in understanding the role of disease associated mutations in mitochondria biology. In this review, we discuss how mutations associated with FTD/ALS disrupt mitochondrial function, and we review how the use of Drosophila models has been pivotal to our current knowledge in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharifah Anoar
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nathaniel S Woodling
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa Niccoli
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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73
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Kinsey SD, Vinluan JP, Shipman GA, Verheyen EM. Expression of human HIPKs in Drosophila demonstrates their shared and unique functions in a developmental model. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2021; 11:6380948. [PMID: 34849772 PMCID: PMC8673556 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Homeodomain-interacting protein kinases (HIPKs) are a family of four conserved proteins essential for vertebrate development, as demonstrated by defects in the eye, brain, and skeleton that culminate in embryonic lethality when multiple HIPKs are lost in mice. While HIPKs are essential for development, functional redundancy between the four vertebrate HIPK paralogues has made it difficult to compare their respective functions. Because understanding the unique and shared functions of these essential proteins could directly benefit the fields of biology and medicine, we addressed the gap in knowledge of the four vertebrate HIPK paralogues by studying them in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, where reduced genetic redundancy simplifies our functional assessment. The single hipk present in the fly allowed us to perform rescue experiments with human HIPK genes that provide new insight into their individual functions not easily assessed in vertebrate models. Furthermore, the abundance of genetic tools and established methods for monitoring specific developmental pathways and gross morphological changes in the fly allowed for functional comparisons in endogenous contexts. We first performed rescue experiments to demonstrate the extent to which each of the human HIPKs can functionally replace Drosophila Hipk for survival and morphological development. We then showed the ability of each human HIPK to modulate Armadillo/β-catenin levels, JAK/STAT activity, proliferation, growth, and death, each of which have previously been described for Hipks, but never all together in comparable tissue contexts. Finally, we characterized novel developmental phenotypes induced by human HIPKs to gain insight to their unique functions. Together, these experiments provide the first direct comparison of all four vertebrate HIPKs to determine their roles in a developmental context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen D Kinsey
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Justin P Vinluan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Gerald A Shipman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Esther M Verheyen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
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74
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Escobedo SE, Shah A, Easton AN, Hall H, Weake VM. Characterizing a gene expression toolkit for eye- and photoreceptor-specific expression in Drosophila. Fly (Austin) 2021; 15:73-88. [PMID: 33899690 PMCID: PMC8078738 DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2021.1915683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Binary expression systems are a powerful tool for tissue- and cell-specific research. Many of the currently available Drosophila eye-specific drivers have not been systematically characterized for their expression level and cell-type specificity in the adult eye or during development. Here, we used a luciferase reporter to measure expression levels of different drivers in the adult Drosophila eye, and characterized the cell type-specificity of each driver using a fluorescent reporter in live 10-day-old adult males. We also further characterized the expression pattern of these drivers in various developmental stages. We compared several Gal4 drivers from the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center (BDSC) including GMR-Gal4, longGMR-Gal4 and Rh1-Gal4 with newly developed Gal4 and QF2 drivers that are specific to different cell types in the adult eye. In addition, we generated drug-inducible Rh1-GSGal4 lines and compared their induced expression with an available GMR-GSGal4 line. Although both lines had significant induction of gene expression measured by luciferase activity, Rh1-GSGal4 was expressed at levels below the detection of the fluorescent reporter by confocal microscopy, while GMR-GSGal4 showed substantial reporter expression in the absence of drug by microscopy. Overall, our study systematically characterizes and compares a large toolkit of eye- and photoreceptor-specific drivers, while also uncovering some of the limitations of currently available expression systems in the adult eye.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aashka Shah
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Alyssa N. Easton
- Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Hana Hall
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Vikki M. Weake
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
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75
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Oboh G, Busari GM, Ademosun AO, Oyeleye SI. Effect of dietary inclusion of Fireweed (
Crassocephalum crepidioides
) on behavioural patterns, memory indices, and activities of cholinergic and monoaminergic enzymes in a fruit fly (
Drosophila melanogaster
) model of Alzheimer's disease. FOOD FRONTIERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/fft2.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ganiyu Oboh
- Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit Department of Biochemistry Federal University of Technology Akure Ondo State Nigeria
| | - Gbemisola Margaret Busari
- Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit Department of Biochemistry Federal University of Technology Akure Ondo State Nigeria
| | - Ayokunle Olubode Ademosun
- Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit Department of Biochemistry Federal University of Technology Akure Ondo State Nigeria
| | - Sunday Idowu Oyeleye
- Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit Department of Biochemistry Federal University of Technology Akure Ondo State Nigeria
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76
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Bonifacino T, Zerbo RA, Balbi M, Torazza C, Frumento G, Fedele E, Bonanno G, Milanese M. Nearly 30 Years of Animal Models to Study Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Historical Overview and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212236. [PMID: 34830115 PMCID: PMC8619465 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, multigenic, multifactorial, and non-cell autonomous neurodegenerative disease characterized by upper and lower motor neuron loss. Several genetic mutations lead to ALS development and many emerging gene mutations have been discovered in recent years. Over the decades since 1990, several animal models have been generated to study ALS pathology including both vertebrates and invertebrates such as yeast, worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, rats, guinea pigs, dogs, and non-human primates. Although these models show different peculiarities, they are all useful and complementary to dissect the pathological mechanisms at the basis of motor neuron degeneration and ALS progression, thus contributing to the development of new promising therapeutics. In this review, we describe the up to date and available ALS genetic animal models, classified by the different genetic mutations and divided per species, pointing out their features in modeling, the onset and progression of the pathology, as well as their specific pathological hallmarks. Moreover, we highlight similarities, differences, advantages, and limitations, aimed at helping the researcher to select the most appropriate experimental animal model, when designing a preclinical ALS study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Bonifacino
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberta Arianna Zerbo
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Matilde Balbi
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Carola Torazza
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Giulia Frumento
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Ernesto Fedele
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Milanese
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Genoa, Italy
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77
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Arsac JN, Sedru M, Dartiguelongue M, Vulin J, Davoust N, Baron T, Mollereau B. Chronic Exposure to Paraquat Induces Alpha-Synuclein Pathogenic Modifications in Drosophila. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11613. [PMID: 34769043 PMCID: PMC8584077 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive accumulation of neuronal intracellular aggregates largely composed of alpha-Synuclein (αSyn) protein. The process of αSyn aggregation is induced during aging and enhanced by environmental stresses, such as the exposure to pesticides. Paraquat (PQ) is an herbicide which has been widely used in agriculture and associated with PD. PQ is known to cause an increased oxidative stress in exposed individuals but the consequences of such stress on αSyn conformation remains poorly understood. To study αSyn pathogenic modifications in response to PQ, we exposed Drosophila expressing human αSyn to a chronic PQ protocol. We first showed that PQ exposure and αSyn expression synergistically induced fly mortality. The exposure to PQ was also associated with increased levels of total and phosphorylated forms of αSyn in the Drosophila brain. Interestingly, PQ increased the detection of soluble αSyn in highly denaturating buffer but did not increase αSyn resistance to proteinase K digestion. These results suggest that PQ induces the accumulation of toxic soluble and misfolded forms of αSyn but that these toxic forms do not form fibrils or aggregates that are detected by the proteinase K assay. Collectively, our results demonstrate that Drosophila can be used to study the effect of PQ or other environmental neurotoxins on αSyn driven pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Noël Arsac
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) Laboratory of Lyon, Neurodegenerative Diseases Unit, University of Lyon, F-69342 Lyon, France; (J.-N.A.); (M.D.); (J.V.)
| | - Marianne Sedru
- Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, UMR5239 CNRS/ENS de Lyon, INSERM U1210, UMS 3444 Biosciences Lyon Gerland, University of Lyon, F-69342 Lyon, France; (M.S.); (N.D.)
| | - Mireille Dartiguelongue
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) Laboratory of Lyon, Neurodegenerative Diseases Unit, University of Lyon, F-69342 Lyon, France; (J.-N.A.); (M.D.); (J.V.)
| | - Johann Vulin
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) Laboratory of Lyon, Neurodegenerative Diseases Unit, University of Lyon, F-69342 Lyon, France; (J.-N.A.); (M.D.); (J.V.)
| | - Nathalie Davoust
- Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, UMR5239 CNRS/ENS de Lyon, INSERM U1210, UMS 3444 Biosciences Lyon Gerland, University of Lyon, F-69342 Lyon, France; (M.S.); (N.D.)
| | - Thierry Baron
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) Laboratory of Lyon, Neurodegenerative Diseases Unit, University of Lyon, F-69342 Lyon, France; (J.-N.A.); (M.D.); (J.V.)
| | - Bertrand Mollereau
- Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, UMR5239 CNRS/ENS de Lyon, INSERM U1210, UMS 3444 Biosciences Lyon Gerland, University of Lyon, F-69342 Lyon, France; (M.S.); (N.D.)
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78
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Sanz FJ, Solana-Manrique C, Torres J, Masiá E, Vicent MJ, Paricio N. A High-Throughput Chemical Screen in DJ-1β Mutant Flies Identifies Zaprinast as a Potential Parkinson's Disease Treatment. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:2565-2578. [PMID: 34697772 PMCID: PMC8804136 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-021-01134-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine replacement represents the standard therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD), a common, chronic, and incurable neurological disorder; however, this approach only treats the symptoms of this devastating disease. In the search for novel disease-modifying therapies that target other relevant molecular and cellular mechanisms, Drosophila has emerged as a valuable tool to study neurodegenerative diseases due to the presence of a complex central nervous system, the blood-brain barrier, and a similar neurotransmitter profile to humans. Human PD-related genes also display conservation in flies; DJ-1β is the fly ortholog of DJ-1, a gene for which mutations prompt early-onset recessive PD. Interestingly, flies mutant for DJ-1β exhibit PD-related phenotypes, including motor defects, high oxidative stress (OS) levels and metabolic alterations. To identify novel therapies for PD, we performed an in vivo high-throughput screening assay using DJ-1β mutant flies and compounds from the Prestwick® chemical library. Drugs that improved motor performance in DJ-1ß mutant flies were validated in DJ-1-deficient human neural-like cells, revealing that zaprinast displayed the most significant ability to suppress OS-induced cell death. Zaprinast inhibits phosphodiesterases and activates GPR35, an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor not previously associated with PD. We found that zaprinast exerts its beneficial effect in both fly and human PD models through several disease-modifying mechanisms, including reduced OS levels, attenuated apoptosis, increased mitochondrial viability, and enhanced glycolysis. Therefore, our results support zaprinast as a potential therapeutic for PD in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco José Sanz
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad CC Biológicas, Universidad de Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología Y Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Cristina Solana-Manrique
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad CC Biológicas, Universidad de Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología Y Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Josema Torres
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Biología Funcional Y Antropología Física, Facultad CC Biológicas, Universidad de Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Esther Masiá
- Polymer Therapeutics Lab and Screening Platform, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - María J Vicent
- Polymer Therapeutics Lab and Screening Platform, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nuria Paricio
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad CC Biológicas, Universidad de Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain.
- Instituto Universitario de Biotecnología Y Biomedicina (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain.
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79
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Liguori F, Amadio S, Volonté C. Fly for ALS: Drosophila modeling on the route to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis modifiers. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:6143-6160. [PMID: 34322715 PMCID: PMC11072332 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03905-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare, devastating disease, causing movement impairment, respiratory failure and ultimate death. A plethora of genetic, cellular and molecular mechanisms are involved in ALS signature, although the initiating causes and progressive pathological events are far from being understood. Drosophila research has produced seminal discoveries for more than a century and has been successfully used in the past 25 years to untangle the process of ALS pathogenesis, and recognize potential markers and novel strategies for therapeutic solutions. This review will provide an updated view of several ALS modifiers validated in C9ORF72, SOD1, FUS, TDP-43 and Ataxin-2 Drosophila models. We will discuss basic and preclinical findings, illustrating recent developments and novel breakthroughs, also depicting unsettled challenges and limitations in the Drosophila-ALS field. We intend to stimulate a renewed debate on Drosophila as a screening route to identify more successful disease modifiers and neuroprotective agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Liguori
- Preclinical Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Susanna Amadio
- Preclinical Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Volonté
- Preclinical Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143, Rome, Italy.
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "A. Ruberti", National Research Council (IASI-CNR), Via dei Taurini 19, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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80
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D Lipshitz H. The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Fruit Flies. Genetics 2021; 219:iyab110. [PMID: 34849915 PMCID: PMC8633119 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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81
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Shadrina M, Slominsky P. Modeling Parkinson's Disease: Not Only Rodents? Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:695718. [PMID: 34421573 PMCID: PMC8377290 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.695718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common chronic progressive multifactorial neurodegenerative disease. In most cases, PD develops as a sporadic idiopathic disease. However, in 10%–15% of all patients, Mendelian inheritance of the disease is observed in an autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive manner. To date, mutations in seven genes have been convincingly confirmed as causative in typical familial forms of PD, i.e., SNCA, LRRK2, VPS35, PRKN, PINK1, GBA, and DJ-1. Family and genome-wide association studies have also identified a number of candidate disease genes and a common genetic variability at 90 loci has been linked to risk for PD. The analysis of the biological function of both proven and candidate genes made it possible to conclude that mitochondrial dysfunction, lysosomal dysfunction, impaired exosomal transport, and immunological processes can play important roles in the development of the pathological process of PD. The mechanisms of initiation of the pathological process and its earliest stages remain unclear. The study of the early stages of the disease (before the first motor symptoms appear) is extremely complicated by the long preclinical period. In addition, at present, the possibility of performing complex biochemical and molecular biological studies familial forms of PD is limited. However, in this case, the analysis of the state of the central nervous system can only be assessed by indirect signs, such as the level of metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid, peripheral blood, and other biological fluids. One of the potential solutions to this problem is the analysis of disease models, in which it is possible to conduct a detailed in-depth study of all aspects of the pathological process, starting from its earliest stages. Many modeling options are available currently. An analysis of studies published in the 2000s suggests that toxic models in rodents are used in the vast majority of cases. However, interesting and important data for understanding the pathogenesis of PD can be obtained from other in vivo models. Within the framework of this review, we will consider various models of PD that were created using various living organisms, from unicellular yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and invertebrate (Nematode and Drosophila) forms to various mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Shadrina
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia
| | - Petr Slominsky
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia
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82
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Kong Y, Wang L, Jiang B. The Role of Gut Microbiota in Aging and Aging Related Neurodegenerative Disorders: Insights from Drosophila Model. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11080855. [PMID: 34440599 PMCID: PMC8399269 DOI: 10.3390/life11080855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is characterized by a time dependent impairment of physiological function and increased susceptibility to death. It is the major risk factor for neurodegeneration. Neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the main causes of dementia in the old population. Gut microbiota is a community of microorganisms colonized in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The alteration of gut microbiota has been proved to be associated with aging and aging related neurodegeneration. Drosophila is a powerful tool to study microbiota-mediated physiological and pathological functions. Here, we summarize the recent advances using Drosophila as model organisms to clarify the molecular mechanisms and develop a therapeutic method targeting microbiota in aging and aging-related neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China;
- Correspondence:
| | - Liyuan Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China;
| | - Baichun Jiang
- The Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China;
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83
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Sakamoto M, Sasaki K, Sugie A, Nitta Y, Kimura T, Gürsoy S, Cinleti T, Iai M, Sengoku T, Ogata K, Suzuki A, Okamoto N, Iwama K, Tsuchida N, Uchiyama Y, Koshimizu E, Fujita A, Hamanaka K, Miyatake S, Mizuguchi T, Taguri M, Ito S, Takahashi H, Miyake N, Matsumoto N. De novo ARF3 variants cause neurodevelopmental disorder with brain abnormality. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 31:69-81. [PMID: 34346499 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An optimal Golgi transport system is important for mammalian cells. The adenosine diphosphate (ADP) ribosylation factors (ARF) are key proteins for regulating cargo sorting at the Golgi network. In this family, ARF3 mainly works at the trans-Golgi network (TGN), and no ARF3-related phenotypes have yet been described in humans. We here report the clinical and genetic evaluations of two unrelated children with de novo pathogenic variants in the ARF3 gene: c.200A > T (p.Asp67Val) and c.296G > T (p.Arg99Leu). Although the affected individuals presented commonly with developmental delay, epilepsy, and brain abnormalities, there were differences in severity, clinical course, and brain lesions. In vitro subcellular localization assays revealed that the p.Arg99Leu mutant localized to Golgi apparatus, similar to the wild-type, whereas the p.Asp67Val mutant tended to show a disperse cytosolic pattern together with abnormally dispersed Golgi localization, similar to that observed in a known dominant negative variant (p.Thr31Asn). Pull-down assays revealed that the p.Asp67Val had a loss-of-function effect and the p.Arg99Leu variant had increased binding of the adaptor protein, Golgi-localized, γ-adaptin ear-containing, ARF-binding protein 1 (GGA1), supporting the gain of function. Furthermore, in vivo studies revealed that p.Asp67Val transfection led to lethality in flies. In contrast, flies expressing p.Arg99Leu had abnormal rough eye, as observed in the gain-of-function variant p.Gln71Leu. These data indicate that two ARF3 variants, the possibly loss-of-function p.Asp67Val and the gain-of-function p.Arg99Leu, both impair the Golgi transport system. Therefore, it may not be unreasonable that they showed different clinical features like diffuse brain atrophy (p.Asp67Val) and cerebellar hypoplasia (p.Arg99Leu).
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Affiliation(s)
- Masamune Sakamoto
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Kazunori Sasaki
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sugie
- Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, 951-8585, Japan
| | - Yohei Nitta
- Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, 951-8585, Japan
| | - Tetsuaki Kimura
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Integrated Genetics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, 411-8540, Japan
| | - Semra Gürsoy
- Department of Pediatric Genetics, S.B.Ü. Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, 35210, Turkey
| | - Tayfun Cinleti
- Department of Pediatric Genetics, Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Izumir, 35340, Turkey
| | - Mizue Iai
- Department of Neurology, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, 232-8555, Japan
| | - Toru Sengoku
- Department of Biochemistry, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Ogata
- Department of Biochemistry, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Atsushi Suzuki
- Molecular Cellular Biology Laboratory, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Okamoto
- Department of Medical Genetics, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Iwama
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Naomi Tsuchida
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.,Department of Rare Disease Genomics, Yokohama City University Hospital, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Yuri Uchiyama
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.,Department of Rare Disease Genomics, Yokohama City University Hospital, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Eriko Koshimizu
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Atsushi Fujita
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Kohei Hamanaka
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Satoko Miyatake
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.,Clinical Genetics Department, Yokohama City University Hospital, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Takeshi Mizuguchi
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Masataka Taguri
- Department of Data Science, Yokohama City University School of Data Science, Yokohama, 236-0027, Japan
| | - Shuuichi Ito
- Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Hidehisa Takahashi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
| | - Noriko Miyake
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.,Department of Human Genetics, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan
| | - Naomichi Matsumoto
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan
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84
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Nutraceutical Strategy to Counteract Eye Neurodegeneration and Oxidative Stress in Drosophila melanogaster Fed with High-Sugar Diet. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10081197. [PMID: 34439445 PMCID: PMC8388935 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10081197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a common feature of damaged retinal neurons in diabetic retinopathy, and antioxidants may exert both preventive and therapeutic action. To evaluate the beneficial and antioxidant properties of food supplementation with Lisosan G, a powder of bran and germ of grain (Triticum aestivum) obtained by fermentation with selected lactobacillus and natural yeast strains, we used an in vivo model of hyperglycemia-induced retinal damage, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster fed with high-sucrose diet. Lisosan G positively affected the visual system of hyperglycemic flies at structural/functional level, decreased apoptosis, and reactivated protective autophagy at the retina internal network. Also, in high sucrose-fed Drosophila, Lisosan G reduced the levels of brain ROS and retina peroxynitrite. The analysis of oxidative stress-related metabolites suggested 7,8-dihydrofolate, uric acid, dihydroorotate, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine, allantoin, cysteinyl-glycine, and quinolate as key mediators of Lisosan G-induced inhibition of neuronal ROS, along with the upregulation of glutathione system. Of note, Lisosan G may impact oxidative stress and the ensuing retinal cell death, also independently from autophagy, although the autophagy-ROS cross-talk is critical. This study demonstrated that the continuous supplementation with the alimentary integrator Lisosan G exerts a robust and multifaceted antioxidant effect on retinal neurons, thus providing efficacious neuroprotection of hyperglycemic eye.
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85
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Erhardt B, Marcora MS, Frenkel L, Bochicchio PA, Bodin DH, Silva BA, Farías MI, Allo MÁ, Höcht C, Ferrari CC, Pitossi FJ, Leal MC. Plasma membrane calcium ATPase downregulation in dopaminergic neurons alters cellular physiology and motor behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:5915-5931. [PMID: 34312939 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The accumulation of Ca2+ and its subsequent increase in oxidative stress is proposed to be involved in selective dysfunctionality of dopaminergic neurons, the main cell type affected in Parkinson's disease. To test the in vivo impact of Ca2+ increment in dopaminergic neurons physiology, we downregulated the plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase (PMCA), a pump that extrudes cytosolic Ca2+ , by expressing PMCARNAi in Drosophila melanogaster dopaminergic neurons. In these animals, we observed major locomotor alterations paralleled to higher cytosolic Ca2+ and increased levels of oxidative stress in mitochondria. Interestingly, although no overt degeneration of dopaminergic neurons was observed, evidences of neuronal dysfunctionality were detected such as increases in presynaptic vesicles in dopaminergic neurons and in the levels of dopamine in the brain, as well as presence of toxic effects when PMCA was downregulated in the eye. Moreover, reduced PMCA levels were found in a Drosophila model of Parkinson's disease, Parkin knock-out, expanding the functional relevance of PMCA reduction to other Parkinson's disease-related models. In all, we have generated a new model to study motor abnormalities caused by increments in Ca2+ that lead to augmented oxidative stress in a dopaminergic environment, added to a rise in synaptic vesicles and dopamine levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Erhardt
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Fundación Instituto Leloir, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Silvina Marcora
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas (IQUIFIB)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lía Frenkel
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Fundación Instituto Leloir, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Alejandro Bochicchio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Fundación Instituto Leloir, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego Hernán Bodin
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Berenice Anabel Silva
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica (IMTIB)-CONICET, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Isabel Farías
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Fundación Instituto Leloir, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Miguel Ángel Allo
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Christian Höcht
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carina Cintia Ferrari
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Medicina Traslacional e Ingeniería Biomédica (IMTIB)-CONICET, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Juan Pitossi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Fundación Instituto Leloir, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Celeste Leal
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Fundación Instituto Leloir, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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86
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Costa-Rodrigues C, Couceiro J, Moreno E. Cell competition from development to neurodegeneration. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:269331. [PMID: 34190316 PMCID: PMC8277968 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.048926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell competition is a process by which suboptimal cells are eliminated to the benefit of cells with higher fitness. It is a surveillance mechanism that senses differences in the fitness status by several modes, such as expression of fitness fingerprints, survival factor uptake rate and resistance to mechanical stress. Fitness fingerprints-mediated cell competition recognizes isoforms of the transmembrane protein Flower, and translates the relative fitness of cells into distinct fates through the Flower code. Impairments in cell competition potentiate the development of diseases like cancer and ageing-related pathologies. In cancer, malignant cells acquire a supercompetitor behaviour, killing the neighbouring cells and overtaking the tissue, thus avoiding elimination. Neurodegenerative disorders affect millions of people and are characterized by cognitive decline and locomotor deficits. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, and one of the largely studied diseases. However, the cellular processes taking place remain unclear. Drosophila melanogaster is an emerging neurodegeneration model due to its versatility as a tool for genetic studies. Research in a Drosophila Alzheimer's disease model detected fitness markers in the suboptimal and hyperactive neurons, thus establishing a link between cell competition and Alzheimer's disease. In this Review, we overview cell competition and the new insights related to neurodegenerative disorders, and discuss how research in the field might contribute to the development of new therapeutic targets for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joana Couceiro
- Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Eduardo Moreno
- Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
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87
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Himalian R, Singh SK, Singh MP. Ameliorative Role of Nutraceuticals on Neurodegenerative Diseases Using the Drosophila melanogaster as a Discovery Model to Define Bioefficacy. J Am Coll Nutr 2021; 41:511-539. [PMID: 34125661 DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2021.1904305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegeneration is the destruction of neurons, and once the neurons degenerate they can't revive. This is one of the most concerned health conditions among aged population, more than ∼70% of the elderly people are suffering from neurodegeneration. Among all of the neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Poly-glutamine disease (Poly-Q) are the major one and affecting most of the people around the world and posing excessive burden on the society. In order to understand this disease in non-human animal models it is pertinent to examine in model organism and various animal model are being used for such diseases like rat, mice and non-vertebrate model like Drosophila. Drosophila melanogaster is one of the best animal proven by several eminent scientist and had received several Nobel prizes for uncovering mechanism of human related genes and highly efficient model for studying neurodegenerative diseases due to its great affinity with human disease-related genes. Another factor is also employed to act as therapeutic or preventive method that is nutraceuticals. Nutraceuticals are functional natural compounds with antioxidant properties and had extensively showed the neuroprotective effect in different organisms. These nutraceuticals having antioxidant properties act through scavenging free radicals or by increasing endogenous cellular antioxidant defense molecules. For the best benefit, we are trying to utilize these nutraceuticals, which will have no or negligible side effects. In this review, we are dealing with various types of such nutraceuticals which have potent value in the prevention and curing of the diseases related to neurodegeneration.HighlightsNeurodegeneration is the silently progressing disease which shows its symptoms when it is well rooted.Many chemical drugs (almost all) have only symptomatic relief with side effects.Potent mechanism of neurodegeneration and improvement effect by nutraceuticals is proposed.Based on the Indian Cuisine scientists are trying to find the medicine from the food or food components having antioxidant properties.The best model to study the neurodegenerative diseases is Drosophila melanogaster.Many nutraceuticals having antioxidant properties have been studied and attenuated various diseases are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjana Himalian
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Sandeep Kumar Singh
- Indian Scientific Education and Technology (ISET) Foundation, Lucknow, India
| | - Mahendra Pratap Singh
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
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88
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Batista LL, Malta SM, Guerra Silva HC, Borges LDF, Rocha LO, da Silva JR, Rodrigues TS, Venturini G, Padilha K, da Costa Pereira A, Espindola FS, Ueira-Vieira C. Kefir metabolites in a fly model for Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11262. [PMID: 34045626 PMCID: PMC8160324 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90749-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia among elderly individuals worldwide, leading to a strong motor-cognitive decline and consequent emotional distress and codependence. It is traditionally characterized by amyloidogenic pathway formation of senile plaques, and recent studies indicate that dysbiosis is also an important factor in AD's pathology. To overcome dysbiosis, probiotics-as kefir-have shown to be a great therapeutic alternative for Alzheimer's disease. In this present work, we explored kefir as a probiotic and a metabolite source as a modulator of microbiome and amyloidogenic pathway, using a Drosophila melanogaster model for AD (AD-like flies). Kefir microbiota composition was determined through 16S rRNA sequencing, and the metabolome of each fraction (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol) was investigated. After treatment, flies had their survival, climbing ability, and vacuolar lesions accessed. Kefir and fraction treated flies improved their climbing ability survival rate and neurodegeneration index. In conclusion, we show that kefir in natura, as well as its fractions may be promising therapeutic source against AD, modulating amyloidogenic related pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Serena Mares Malta
- Institute of Biotechnology, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | | | | | - Lays Oliveira Rocha
- Institute of Biotechnology, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Kallyandra Padilha
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Carlos Ueira-Vieira
- Institute of Biotechnology, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil.
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89
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Ishiguro T, Nagai Y, Ishikawa K. Insight Into Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 31 (SCA31) From Drosophila Model. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:648133. [PMID: 34113230 PMCID: PMC8185138 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.648133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 31 (SCA31) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by degeneration of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. Its genetic cause is a 2.5- to 3.8-kb-long complex pentanucleotide repeat insertion containing (TGGAA)n, (TAGAA)n, (TAAAA)n, and (TAAAATAGAA)n located in an intron shared by two different genes: brain expressed associated with NEDD4-1 (BEAN1) and thymidine kinase 2 (TK2). Among these repeat sequences, (TGGAA)n repeat was the only sequence segregating with SCA31, which strongly suggests its pathogenicity. In SCA31 patient brains, the mutant BEAN1 transcript containing expanded UGGAA repeats (UGGAAexp) was found to form abnormal RNA structures called RNA foci in cerebellar Purkinje cell nuclei. In addition, the deposition of pentapeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, poly(Trp-Asn-Gly-Met-Glu), translated from UGGAAexp RNA, was detected in the cytoplasm of Purkinje cells. To uncover the pathogenesis of UGGAAexp in SCA31, we generated Drosophila models of SCA31 expressing UGGAAexp RNA. The toxicity of UGGAAexp depended on its length and expression level, which was accompanied by the accumulation of RNA foci and translation of repeat-associated PPR proteins in Drosophila, consistent with the observation in SCA31 patient brains. We also revealed that TDP-43, FUS, and hnRNPA2B1, motor neuron disease–linked RNA-binding proteins bound to UGGAAexp RNA, act as RNA chaperones to regulate the formation of RNA foci and repeat-associated translation. Further research on the role of RNA-binding proteins as RNA chaperones may also provide a novel therapeutic strategy for other microsatellite repeat expansion diseases besides SCA31.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taro Ishiguro
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo City, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Nagai
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Kinya Ishikawa
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo City, Japan.,Department of Personalized Genomic Medicine for Health, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo City, Japan
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90
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Raji JI, Potter CJ. The number of neurons in Drosophila and mosquito brains. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250381. [PMID: 33989293 PMCID: PMC8121336 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Various insect species serve as valuable model systems for investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which a brain controls sophisticated behaviors. In particular, the nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster has been extensively studied, yet experiments aimed at determining the number of neurons in the Drosophila brain are surprisingly lacking. Using isotropic fractionator coupled with immunohistochemistry, we counted the total number of neuronal and non-neuronal cells in the whole brain, central brain, and optic lobe of Drosophila melanogaster. For comparison, we also counted neuronal populations in three divergent mosquito species: Aedes aegypti, Anopheles coluzzii and Culex quinquefasciatus. The average number of neurons in a whole adult brain was determined to be 199,380 ±3,400 cells in D. melanogaster, 217,910 ±6,180 cells in Ae. aegypti, 223,020 ± 4,650 cells in An. coluzzii and 225,911±7,220 cells in C. quinquefasciatus. The mean neuronal cell count in the central brain vs. optic lobes for D. melanogaster (101,140 ±3,650 vs. 107,270 ± 2,720), Ae. aegypti (109,140 ± 3,550 vs. 112,000 ± 4,280), An. coluzzii (105,130 ± 3,670 vs. 107,140 ± 3,090), and C. quinquefasciatus (108,530 ±7,990 vs. 110,670 ± 3,950) was also estimated. Each insect brain was comprised of 89% ± 2% neurons out of its total cell population. Isotropic fractionation analyses did not identify obvious sexual dimorphism in the neuronal and non-neuronal cell population of these insects. Our study provides experimental evidence for the total number of neurons in Drosophila and mosquito brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua I. Raji
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Center for Sensory Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Christopher J. Potter
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Center for Sensory Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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91
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Martín-Vega D, Wicklein M, Simonsen TJ, Garbout A, Ahmed F, Hall MJ. Anatomical reconfiguration of the optic lobe during metamorphosis in the blow fly Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) revealed by X-ray micro-computed tomography. ZOOL ANZ 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2021.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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92
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Quigley TP, Amdam GV. Social modulation of ageing: mechanisms, ecology, evolution. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20190738. [PMID: 33678020 PMCID: PMC7938163 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human life expectancy increases, but the disease-free part of lifespan (healthspan) and the quality of life in old people may not show the same development. The situation poses considerable challenges to healthcare systems and economies, and calls for new strategies to increase healthspan and for sustainable future approaches to elder care. This call has motivated innovative research on the role of social relationships during ageing. Correlative data from clinical surveys indicate that social contact promotes healthy ageing, and it is time to reveal the causal mechanisms through experimental research. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a prolific model animal, but insects with more developed social behaviour can be equally instrumental for this research. Here, we discuss the role of social contact in ageing, and identify lines of study where diverse insect models can help uncover the mechanisms that are involved. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ageing and sociality: why, when and how does sociality change ageing patterns?'
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler P. Quigley
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Gro V. Amdam
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 5002, N-1432 Aas, Norway
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93
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Yakubu UM, Morano KA. Suppression of aggregate and amyloid formation by a novel intrinsically disordered region in metazoan Hsp110 chaperones. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100567. [PMID: 33753171 PMCID: PMC8063735 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular chaperones maintain proteostasis by ensuring the proper folding of polypeptides. Loss of proteostasis has been linked to numerous neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease. Hsp110 is related to the canonical Hsp70 class of protein-folding molecular chaperones and interacts with Hsp70 as a nucleotide exchange factor (NEF). In addition to its NEF activity, Hsp110 possesses an Hsp70-like substrate-binding domain (SBD) whose biological roles remain undefined. Previous work in Drosophila melanogaster has implicated the sole Hsp110 gene (Hsc70cb) in proteinopathic neurodegeneration. We hypothesize that in addition to its role as an Hsp70 NEF, Drosophila Hsp110 may function as a protective protein "holdase," preventing the aggregation of unfolded polypeptides via the SBD-β subdomain. We demonstrate for the first time that Drosophila Hsp110 effectively prevents aggregation of the model substrate citrate synthase. We also report the discovery of a redundant and heretofore unknown potent holdase capacity in a 138-amino-acid region of Hsp110 carboxyl terminal to both SBD-β and SBD-α (henceforth called the C-terminal extension). This sequence is highly conserved in metazoan Hsp110 genes, completely absent from fungal representatives, and is computationally predicted to contain an intrinsically disordered region (IDR). We demonstrate that this IDR sequence within the human Hsp110s, Apg-1 and Hsp105α, inhibits the formation of amyloid Aβ-42 and α-synuclein fibrils in vitro but cannot mediate fibril disassembly. Together these findings establish capacity for metazoan Hsp110 chaperones to suppress both general protein aggregation and amyloidogenesis, raising the possibility of exploitation of this IDR for therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unekwu M Yakubu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas, USA; MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kevin A Morano
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas, USA.
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94
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Harnish JM, Link N, Yamamoto S. Drosophila as a Model for Infectious Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2724. [PMID: 33800390 PMCID: PMC7962867 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has been used to understand fundamental principles of genetics and biology for over a century. Drosophila is now also considered an essential tool to study mechanisms underlying numerous human genetic diseases. In this review, we will discuss how flies can be used to deepen our knowledge of infectious disease mechanisms in vivo. Flies make effective and applicable models for studying host-pathogen interactions thanks to their highly conserved innate immune systems and cellular processes commonly hijacked by pathogens. Drosophila researchers also possess the most powerful, rapid, and versatile tools for genetic manipulation in multicellular organisms. This allows for robust experiments in which specific pathogenic proteins can be expressed either one at a time or in conjunction with each other to dissect the molecular functions of each virulent factor in a cell-type-specific manner. Well documented phenotypes allow large genetic and pharmacological screens to be performed with relative ease using huge collections of mutant and transgenic strains that are publicly available. These factors combine to make Drosophila a powerful tool for dissecting out host-pathogen interactions as well as a tool to better understand how we can treat infectious diseases that pose risks to public health, including COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Michael Harnish
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; (J.M.H.); (N.L.)
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nichole Link
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; (J.M.H.); (N.L.)
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, TX 77030, USA; (J.M.H.); (N.L.)
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Development, Disease Models and Therapeutics Graduate Program, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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95
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Koch SC, Nelson A, Hartenstein V. Structural aspects of the aging invertebrate brain. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:931-947. [PMID: 33409654 PMCID: PMC7965346 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03314-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Aging is characterized by a decline in neuronal function in all animal species investigated so far. Functional changes are accompanied by and may be in part caused by, structurally visible degenerative changes in neurons. In the mammalian brain, normal aging shows abnormalities in dendrites and axons, as well as ultrastructural changes in synapses, rather than global neuron loss. The analysis of the structural features of aging neurons, as well as their causal link to molecular mechanisms on the one hand, and the functional decline on the other hand is crucial in order to understand the aging process in the brain. Invertebrate model organisms like Drosophila and C. elegans offer the opportunity to apply a forward genetic approach to the analysis of aging. In the present review, we aim to summarize findings concerning abnormalities in morphology and ultrastructure in invertebrate brains during normal aging and compare them to what is known for the mammalian brain. It becomes clear that despite of their considerably shorter life span, invertebrates display several age-related changes very similar to the mammalian condition, including the retraction of dendritic and axonal branches at specific locations, changes in synaptic density and increased accumulation of presynaptic protein complexes. We anticipate that continued research efforts in invertebrate systems will significantly contribute to reveal (and possibly manipulate) the molecular/cellular pathways leading to neuronal aging in the mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra C Koch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Annie Nelson
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Volker Hartenstein
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA.
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96
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Catalani E, Silvestri F, Bongiorni S, Taddei AR, Fanelli G, Rinalducci S, De Palma C, Perrotta C, Prantera G, Cervia D. Retinal damage in a new model of hyperglycemia induced by high-sucrose diets. Pharmacol Res 2021; 166:105488. [PMID: 33582248 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Loss of retinal neurons may precede clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR). We studied for the first time the effects of hyperglycemia on the visual system of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to characterize a model for glucose-induced retinal neurodegeneration, thus complementing more traditional vertebrate systems. Adult flies were fed with increased high-sucrose regimens which did not modify the locomotion ability, muscle phenotype and mobility after 10 days. The increased availability of dietary sucrose induced hyperglycemia and phosphorylation of Akt in fat tissue, without significant effects on adult growth and viability, consistent with the early phase of insulin signaling and a low impact on the overall metabolic profile of flies at short term. Noteworthy, high-sucrose diets significantly decreased Drosophila responsiveness to the light as a consequence of vision defects. Hyperglycemia did not alter the gross anatomical architecture of the external eye phenotype although a progressive damage of photosensitive units was observed. Appreciable levels of cleaved caspase 3 and nitrotyrosine were detected in the internal retina network as well as punctate staining of Light-Chain 3 and p62, and accumulated autophagosomes, indicating apoptotic features, peroxynitrite formation and autophagy turnover defects. In summary, our results in Drosophila support the view that hyperglycemia induced by high-sucrose diets lead to eye defects, apoptosis/autophagy dysregulation, oxidative stress, and visual dysfunctions which are evolutionarily conserved, thus offering a meaningful opportunity of using a simple in vivo model to study the pathophysiology of neuroretinal alterations that develop in patients at the early stages of DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Catalani
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Federica Silvestri
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Silvia Bongiorni
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Taddei
- Section of Electron Microscopy, Great Equipment Center, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Fanelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Sara Rinalducci
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Clara De Palma
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine (BioMeTra), Università degli Studi di Milano, via L. Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milano, Italy
| | - Cristiana Perrotta
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco" (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
| | - Giorgio Prantera
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Davide Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
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97
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Layalle S, They L, Ourghani S, Raoul C, Soustelle L. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Genes in Drosophila melanogaster. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020904. [PMID: 33477509 PMCID: PMC7831090 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating adult-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of upper and lower motoneurons. Most ALS cases are sporadic but approximately 10% of ALS cases are due to inherited mutations in identified genes. ALS-causing mutations were identified in over 30 genes with superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1), chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72), fused in sarcoma (FUS), and TAR DNA-binding protein (TARDBP, encoding TDP-43) being the most frequent. In the last few decades, Drosophila melanogaster emerged as a versatile model for studying neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS. In this review, we describe the different Drosophila ALS models that have been successfully used to decipher the cellular and molecular pathways associated with SOD1, C9orf72, FUS, and TDP-43. The study of the known fruit fly orthologs of these ALS-related genes yielded significant insights into cellular mechanisms and physiological functions. Moreover, genetic screening in tissue-specific gain-of-function mutants that mimic ALS-associated phenotypes identified disease-modifying genes. Here, we propose a comprehensive review on the Drosophila research focused on four ALS-linked genes that has revealed novel pathogenic mechanisms and identified potential therapeutic targets for future therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Layalle
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier, INSERM, University of Montpellier, 34091 Montpellier, France; (S.L.); (L.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Laetitia They
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier, INSERM, University of Montpellier, 34091 Montpellier, France; (S.L.); (L.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Sarah Ourghani
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier, INSERM, University of Montpellier, 34091 Montpellier, France; (S.L.); (L.T.); (S.O.)
| | - Cédric Raoul
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier, INSERM, University of Montpellier, 34091 Montpellier, France; (S.L.); (L.T.); (S.O.)
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
- Correspondence: (C.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Laurent Soustelle
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier, INSERM, University of Montpellier, 34091 Montpellier, France; (S.L.); (L.T.); (S.O.)
- Correspondence: (C.R.); (L.S.)
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98
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Gogia N, Chimata AV, Deshpande P, Singh A, Singh A. Hippo signaling: bridging the gap between cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:643-652. [PMID: 33063715 PMCID: PMC8067938 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.295273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, regulation of organ size requires a balance between cell proliferation, growth and cell death. Dysregulation of these fundamental processes can cause a variety of diseases. Excessive cell proliferation results in cancer whereas excessive cell death results in neurodegenerative disorders. Many signaling pathways known-to-date have a role in growth regulation. Among them, evolutionarily conserved Hippo signaling pathway is unique as it controls both cell proliferation and cell death by a variety of mechanisms during organ sculpture and development. Neurodegeneration, a complex process of progressive death of neuronal population, results in fatal disorders with no available cure to date. During normal development, cell death is required for sculpting of an organ. However, aberrant cell death in neuronal cell population can result in neurodegenerative disorders. Hippo pathway has gathered major attention for its role in growth regulation and cancer, however, other functions like its role in neurodegeneration are also emerging rapidly. This review highlights the role of Hippo signaling in cell death and neurodegenerative diseases and provide the information on the chemical inhibitors employed to block Hippo pathway. Understanding Hippo mediated cell death mechanisms will aid in development of reliable and effective therapeutic strategies in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Gogia
- Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA
| | | | | | - Aditi Singh
- Medical Candidate, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Amit Singh
- Department of Biology; Premedical Program; Center for Tissue Regeneration and Engineering at Dayton (TREND); The Integrative Science and Engineering Center, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH; Center for Genomic Advocacy (TCGA), Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, USA
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99
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Niccoli T, Kerr F, Snoeren I, Fabian D, Aleyakpo B, Ivanov D, Sofola-Adesakin O, Cryar A, Adcott J, Thornton J, Partridge L. Activating transcription factor 4-dependent lactate dehydrogenase activation as a protective response to amyloid beta toxicity. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab053. [PMID: 33977265 PMCID: PMC8093921 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of amyloid beta peptides is thought to initiate the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. However, the precise mechanisms mediating their neurotoxicity are unclear. Our microarray analyses show that, in Drosophila models of amyloid beta 42 toxicity, genes involved in the unfolded protein response and metabolic processes are upregulated in brain. Comparison with the brain transcriptome of early-stage Alzheimer's patients revealed a common transcriptional signature, but with generally opposing directions of gene expression changes between flies and humans. Among these differentially regulated genes, lactate dehydrogenase (Ldh) was up-regulated by the greatest degree in amyloid beta 42 flies and the human orthologues (LDHA and LDHB) were down-regulated in patients. Functional analyses revealed that either over-expression or inhibition of Ldh by RNA interference (RNAi) slightly exacerbated climbing defects in both healthy and amyloid beta 42-induced Drosophila. This suggests that metabolic responses to lactate dehydrogenase must be finely-tuned, and that its observed upregulation following amyloid beta 42 production could potentially represent a compensatory protection to maintain pathway homeostasis in this model, with further manipulation leading to detrimental effects. The increased Ldh expression in amyloid beta 42 flies was regulated partially by unfolded protein response signalling, as ATF4 RNAi diminished the transcriptional response and enhanced amyloid beta 42-induced climbing phenotypes. Further functional studies are required to determine whether Ldh upregulation provides compensatory neuroprotection against amyloid beta 42-induced loss of activating transcription factor 4 activity and endoplasmatic reticulum stress. Our study thus reveals dysregulation of lactate dehydrogenase signalling in Drosophila models and patients with Alzheimer's disease, which may lead to a detrimental loss of metabolic homeostasis. Importantly, we observed that down-regulation of ATF4-dependent endoplasmic reticulum-stress signalling in this context appears to prevent Ldh compensation and to exacerbate amyloid beta 42-dependent neuronal toxicity. Our findings, therefore, suggest caution in the use of therapeutic strategies focussed on down-regulation of this pathway for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, since its natural response to the toxic peptide may induce beneficial neuroprotective effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Niccoli
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Correspondence may also be addressed to: Teresa Niccoli E-mail:
| | - Fiona Kerr
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, School of Health & Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, UK
- Correspondence may also be addressed to: Fiona Kerr Department of Life Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus Edinburgh EH11 4BN, UK E-mail:
| | - Inge Snoeren
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Daniel Fabian
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Benjamin Aleyakpo
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Dobril Ivanov
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute (UKDRI), Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Oyinkan Sofola-Adesakin
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Adam Cryar
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jennifer Adcott
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Janet Thornton
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Linda Partridge
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Correspondence to: Linda Partridge Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK E-mail:
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100
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Li J, Lee YK, Fu W, Whalen AM, Estable MC, Raftery LA, White K, Weiner L, Brissette JL. Modeling by disruption and a selected-for partner for the nude locus. EMBO Rep 2020; 22:e49804. [PMID: 33369874 PMCID: PMC7926259 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201949804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A long‐standing problem in biology is how to dissect traits for which no tractable model exists. Here, we screen for genes like the nude locus (Foxn1)—genes central to mammalian hair and thymus development—using animals that never evolved hair, thymi, or Foxn1. Fruit flies are morphologically disrupted by the FOXN1 transcription factor and rescued by weak reductions in fly gene function, revealing molecules that potently synergize with FOXN1 to effect dramatic, chaotic change. Strong synergy/effectivity in flies is expected to reflect strong selection/functionality (purpose) in mammals; the more disruptive a molecular interaction is in alien contexts (flies), the more beneficial it will be in its natural, formative contexts (mammals). The approach identifies Aff4 as the first nude‐like locus, as murine AFF4 and FOXN1 cooperatively induce similar cutaneous/thymic phenotypes, similar gene expression programs, and the same step of transcription, pre‐initiation complex formation. These AFF4 functions are unexpected, as AFF4 also serves as a scaffold in common transcriptional‐elongation complexes. Most likely, the approach works because an interaction's power to disrupt is the inevitable consequence of its selected‐for power to benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Li
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA.,Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Yun-Kyoung Lee
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Wenyu Fu
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA.,Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Anne M Whalen
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Mario C Estable
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Laurel A Raftery
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Kristin White
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Lorin Weiner
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA.,Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Janice L Brissette
- Department of Cell Biology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA.,Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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