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Makhoul P, Galas S, Paniagua-Gayraud S, Deleuze-Masquefa C, Hajj HE, Bonnet PA, Richaud M. Uncovering the Molecular Pathways Implicated in the Anti-Cancer Activity of the Imidazoquinoxaline Derivative EAPB02303 Using a Caenorhabditis elegans Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7785. [PMID: 39063027 PMCID: PMC11277376 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Imiqualines are analogues of the immunomodulatory drug imiquimod. EAPB02303, the lead of the second-generation imiqualines, is characterized by significant anti-tumor effects with IC50s in the nanomolar range. We used Caenorhabditis elegans transgenic and mutant strains of two key signaling pathways (PI3K-Akt and Ras-MAPK) disrupted in human cancers to investigate the mode of action of EAPB02303. The ability of this imiqualine to inhibit the insulin/IGF1 signaling (IIS) pathway via the PI3K-Akt kinase cascade was explored through assessing the lifespan of wild-type worms. Micromolar doses of EAPB02303 significantly enhanced longevity of N2 strain and led to the nuclear translocation and subsequent activation of transcription factor DAF-16, the only forkhead box transcription factor class O (Fox O) homolog in C. elegans. Moreover, EAPB02303 significantly reduced the multivulva phenotype in let-60/Ras mutant strains MT2124 and MT4698, indicative of its mode of action through the Ras pathway. In summary, we showed that EAPB02303 potently reduced the activity of IIS and Ras-MAPK signaling in C. elegans. Our results revealed the mechanism of action of EAPB02303 against human cancers associated with hyperactivated IIS pathway and oncogenic Ras mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perla Makhoul
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, CNRS, ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; (P.M.); (S.G.); (S.P.-G.); (C.D.-M.)
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, GSBT Laboratory, Lebanese University, R. Hariri Campus, Hadath 1533, Lebanon
| | - Simon Galas
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, CNRS, ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; (P.M.); (S.G.); (S.P.-G.); (C.D.-M.)
| | - Stéphanie Paniagua-Gayraud
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, CNRS, ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; (P.M.); (S.G.); (S.P.-G.); (C.D.-M.)
| | - Carine Deleuze-Masquefa
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, CNRS, ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; (P.M.); (S.G.); (S.P.-G.); (C.D.-M.)
| | - Hiba El Hajj
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Riad El-Solh, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut 1107, Lebanon;
| | - Pierre-Antoine Bonnet
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, CNRS, ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; (P.M.); (S.G.); (S.P.-G.); (C.D.-M.)
| | - Myriam Richaud
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, CNRS, ENSCM, Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; (P.M.); (S.G.); (S.P.-G.); (C.D.-M.)
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2
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Marco A, Ashoo P, Hernández-García S, Martínez-Rodríguez P, Cutillas N, Vollrath A, Jordan D, Janiak C, Gandía-Herrero F, Ruiz J. Novel Re(I) Complexes as Potential Selective Theranostic Agents in Cancer Cells and In Vivo in Caenorhabditis elegans Tumoral Strains. J Med Chem 2024; 67:7891-7910. [PMID: 38451016 PMCID: PMC11129195 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
A series of rhenium(I) complexes of the type fac-[Re(CO)3(N^N)L]0/+, Re1-Re9, was synthesized, where N^N = benzimidazole-derived bidentate ligand with an ester functionality and L = chloride or pyridine-type ligand. The new compounds demonstrated potent activity toward ovarian A2780 cancer cells. The most active complexes, Re7-Re9, incorporating 4-NMe2py, exhibited remarkable activity in 3D HeLa spheroids. The emission in the red region of Re9, which contains an electron-deficient benzothiazole moiety, allowed its operability as a bioimaging tool for in vitro and in vivo visualization. Re9 effectivity was tested in two different C. elegans tumoral strains, JK1466 and MT2124, to broaden the oncogenic pathways studied. The results showed that Re9 was able to reduce the tumor growth in both strains by increasing the ROS production inside the cells. Moreover, the selectivity of the compound toward cancerous cells was remarkable as it did not affect neither the development nor the progeny of the nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Marco
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Universidad
de Murcia, and Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Pezhman Ashoo
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Universidad
de Murcia, and Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Samanta Hernández-García
- Departamento
de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente
de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro Martínez-Rodríguez
- Departamento
de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente
de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Natalia Cutillas
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Universidad
de Murcia, and Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Annette Vollrath
- Institut
für Anorganische Chemie und Strukturchemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dustin Jordan
- Institut
für Anorganische Chemie und Strukturchemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christoph Janiak
- Institut
für Anorganische Chemie und Strukturchemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Fernando Gandía-Herrero
- Departamento
de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente
de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - José Ruiz
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Universidad
de Murcia, and Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), E-30100 Murcia, Spain
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3
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Roy D, Subramaniam B, Chong WC, Bornhorst M, Packer RJ, Nazarian J. Zebrafish-A Suitable Model for Rapid Translation of Effective Therapies for Pediatric Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1361. [PMID: 38611039 PMCID: PMC11010887 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Pediatric cancers are the leading cause of disease-related deaths in children and adolescents. Most of these tumors are difficult to treat and have poor overall survival. Concerns have also been raised about drug toxicity and long-term detrimental side effects of therapies. In this review, we discuss the advantages and unique attributes of zebrafish as pediatric cancer models and their importance in targeted drug discovery and toxicity assays. We have also placed a special focus on zebrafish models of pediatric brain cancers-the most common and difficult solid tumor to treat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debasish Roy
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Bavani Subramaniam
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Wai Chin Chong
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Miriam Bornhorst
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Roger J. Packer
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
- DIPG/DMG Research Center Zurich, Children’s Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Zürich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
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4
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Özdemir ÖÜ, Yurt K, Pektaş AN, Berk Ş. Evaluation and normalization of a set of reliable reference genes for quantitative sgk-1 gene expression analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans-focused cancer research. NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024:1-20. [PMID: 38359339 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2024.2317413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Multiple signaling pathways have been discovered to play a role in aging and longevity, including the insulin/IGF-1 signaling system, AMPK pathway, TOR signaling, JNK pathway, and germline signaling. Mammalian serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (sgk-1), which has been associated with various disorders including hypertension, obesity, and tumor growth, limits survival in C. elegans by reducing DAF-16/FoxO activity while suppressing FoxO3 activity in human cell culture. C. elegans provides significant protection for a number of genes associated with human cancer. The best known of these are the lin-35/pRb (mammalian ortholog pRb) and CEP-1 (mammalian ortholog p53) genes. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the expression analyzes of sgk-1, which is overexpressed in many types of mammalian cancer, in mutant lin-35 and to demonstrate the validation of reference genes in wild-type N2 and mutant lin-35 for C. elegans-focused cancer research. To develop functional genomic studies in C. elegans, we evaluated the expression stability of five candidate reference genes (act-1, ama-1, cdc-42, pmp-3, iscu-1) by quantitative real-time PCR using five algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, Delta Ct method, BestKeeper, RefFinder) in N2 and lin-35 worms. According to our findings, act-1 and cdc-42 were effective in accurately normalizing the levels of gene expression in N2 and lin-35. act-1 and cdc-42 also displayed the most consistent expression patterns, therefore they were utilized to standardize expression level of sgk-1. Furthermore, our results clearly showed that sgk-1 was upregulated in lin-35 worms compared to N2 worms. Our results highlight the importance of definitive validation using mostly expressed reference genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özgür Ülkü Özdemir
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Kübra Yurt
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Ayşe Nur Pektaş
- Advanced Technology Research and Application Center (CUTAM), Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Şeyda Berk
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
- Advanced Technology Research and Application Center (CUTAM), Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
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5
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Henarejos-Escudero P, Méndez-García FF, Hernández-García S, Martínez-Rodríguez P, Gandía-Herrero F. Design, Synthesis and Gene Modulation Insights into Pigments Derived from Tryptophan-Betaxanthin, Which Act against Tumor Development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:63. [PMID: 38203234 PMCID: PMC10778952 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of betalains, which are nitrogenous plant pigments, by the food industry is widespread and reflects their safety after intake. The recent research showed outstanding results for L-tryptophan-betaxanthin, a phytochemical present in traditional Chinese medicine, as an antitumoral agent when the activity was evaluated in the animal model Caenorhabditis elegans. Thus, L-tryptophan-betaxanthin is now presented as a lead compound, from which eleven novel structurally related betaxanthins have been designed, biotechnologically produced, purified, and characterized. The antitumoral effect of the derived compounds was evaluated on the JK1466 tumoral strain of C. elegans. All the tested molecules significantly reduced the tumoral gonad sizes in a range between 31.4% and 43.0%. Among the novel compounds synthesized, tryptophan methyl ester-betaxanthin and tryptophan benzyl ester-betaxanthin, which are the first betalains to contain an ester group in their structures, caused tumor size reductions of 43.0% and 42.6%, respectively, after administration to the model animal. Since these were the two most effective molecules, their mechanism of action was investigated by microarray analysis. Differential gene expression analysis showed that tryptophan methyl ester-betaxanthin and tryptophan benzyl ester-betaxanthin were able to down-regulate the key genes of the mTOR pathway, such as daf-15 and rict-1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Fernando Gandía-Herrero
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology A, Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence, Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (P.H.-E.); (F.F.M.-G.); (S.H.-G.); (P.M.-R.)
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6
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Cerón J. Caenorhabditis elegans for research on cancer hallmarks. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050079. [PMID: 37278614 PMCID: PMC10259857 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
After decades of research, our knowledge of the complexity of cancer mechanisms, elegantly summarized as 'hallmarks of cancer', is expanding, as are the therapeutic opportunities that this knowledge brings. However, cancer still needs intense research to diminish its tremendous impact. In this context, the use of simple model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans, in which the genetics of the apoptotic pathway was discovered, can facilitate the investigation of several cancer hallmarks. Amenable for genetic and drug screens, convenient for fast and efficient genome editing, and aligned with the 3Rs ('Replacement, Reduction and Refinement') principles for ethical animal research, C. elegans plays a significant role in unravelling the intricate network of cancer mechanisms and presents a promising option in clinical diagnosis and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián Cerón
- Modeling Human Diseases in C. elegans Group – Genes, Disease and Therapy Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute – IDIBELL, 08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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7
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Ortega-Forte E, Hernández-García S, Vigueras G, Henarejos-Escudero P, Cutillas N, Ruiz J, Gandía-Herrero F. Potent anticancer activity of a novel iridium metallodrug via oncosis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:510. [PMID: 36066676 PMCID: PMC9448686 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04526-5] [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: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Oncosis (from Greek ónkos, meaning "swelling") is a non-apoptotic cell death process related to energy depletion. In contrast to apoptosis, which is the main form of cell death induced by anticancer drugs, oncosis has been relatively less explored but holds potential to overcome drug resistance phenomena. In this study, we report a novel rationally designed mitochondria-targeted iridium(III) complex (OncoIr3) with advantageous properties as a bioimaging agent. OncoIr3 exhibited potent anticancer activity in vitro against cancer cells and displayed low toxicity to normal dividing cells. Flow cytometry and fluorescence-based assays confirmed an apoptosis-independent mechanism involving energy depletion, mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular swelling that matched with the oncotic process. Furthermore, a Caenorhabditis elegans tumoral model was developed to test this compound in vivo, which allowed us to prove a strong oncosis-derived antitumor activity in animals (with a 41% reduction of tumor area). Indeed, OncoIr3 was non-toxic to the nematodes and extended their mean lifespan by 18%. Altogether, these findings might shed new light on the development of anticancer metallodrugs with non-conventional modes of action such as oncosis, which could be of particular interest for the treatment of apoptosis-resistant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Ortega-Forte
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Murcia, and Murcia BioHealth Research Institute (IMIB-Arrixaca), 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Samanta Hernández-García
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Gloria Vigueras
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Murcia, and Murcia BioHealth Research Institute (IMIB-Arrixaca), 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Paula Henarejos-Escudero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Natalia Cutillas
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Murcia, and Murcia BioHealth Research Institute (IMIB-Arrixaca), 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - José Ruiz
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Murcia, and Murcia BioHealth Research Institute (IMIB-Arrixaca), 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Fernando Gandía-Herrero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30071 Murcia, Spain
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Marquardt S, Pavlopoulou A, Takan I, Dhar P, Pützer BM, Logotheti S. A Systems-Based Key Innovation-Driven Approach Infers Co-option of Jaw Developmental Programs During Cancer Progression. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:682619. [PMID: 34150777 PMCID: PMC8207138 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.682619] [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: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer acquires metastatic potential and evolves via co-opting gene regulatory networks (GRN) of embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. Such GRNs are encoded in the genome and frequently conserved among species. Considering that all metazoa have evolved from a common ancestor via major macroevolutionary events which shaped those GRNs and increased morphogenetic complexity, we sought to examine whether there are any key innovations that may be consistently and deterministically linked with metastatic potential across the metazoa clades. To address tumor evolution relative to organismal evolution, we revisited and retrospectively juxtaposed seminal laboratory and field cancer studies across taxa that lie on the evolutionary lineage from cnidaria to humans. We subsequently applied bioinformatics to integrate species-specific cancer phenotypes, multiomics data from up to 42 human cancer types, developmental phenotypes of knockout mice, and molecular phylogenetics. We found that the phenotypic manifestations of metastasis appear to coincide with agnatha-to-gnathostome transition. Genes indispensable for jaw development, a key innovation of gnathostomes, undergo mutations or methylation alterations, are aberrantly transcribed during tumor progression and are causatively associated with invasion and metastasis. There is a preference for deregulation of gnathostome-specific versus pre-gnathostome genes occupying hubs of the jaw development network. According to these data, we propose our systems-based model as an in silico tool the prediction of likely tumor evolutionary trajectories and therapeutic targets for metastasis prevention, on the rationale that the same genes which are essential for key innovations that catalyzed vertebrate evolution, such as jaws, are also important for tumor evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Marquardt
- Institute of Experimental Gene Therapy and Cancer Research, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Athanasia Pavlopoulou
- İzmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, İzmir, Turkey
- İzmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Işıl Takan
- İzmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, İzmir, Turkey
- İzmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Prabir Dhar
- Institute of Experimental Gene Therapy and Cancer Research, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Brigitte M. Pützer
- Institute of Experimental Gene Therapy and Cancer Research, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Department Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Stella Logotheti
- Institute of Experimental Gene Therapy and Cancer Research, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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9
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Kapalavavi B, Doctor N, Zhang B, Yang Y. Subcritical Water Extraction of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26061634. [PMID: 33804141 PMCID: PMC8001979 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, a green extraction technique, subcritical water extraction (SBWE), was employed to extract active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from an important Chinese medicinal herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen), at various temperatures. The APIs included tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, protocatechualdehyde, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid. Traditional herbal decoction (THD) of Salvia miltiorrhiza was also carried out for comparison purposes. Reproduction assay of herbal extracts obtained by both SBWE and THD were then conducted on Caenorhabditis elegans so that SBWE conditions could be optimized for the purpose of developing efficacious herbal medicine from Salvia miltiorrhiza. The extraction efficiency was mostly enhanced with increasing extraction temperature. The quantity of tanshinone I in the herbal extract obtained by SBWE at 150 °C was 370-fold higher than that achieved by THD extraction. Reproduction evaluation revealed that the worm reproduction rate decreased and the reproduction inhibition rate increased with elevated SBWE temperatures. Most importantly, the reproduction inhibition rate of the SBWE herbal extracts obtained at all four temperatures investigated was higher than that of traditional herbal decoction extracts. The results of this work show that there are several benefits of subcritical water extraction of medicinal herbs over other existing herbal medicine preparation techniques. Compared to THD, the thousand-year-old and yet still popular herbal preparation method used in herbal medicine, subcritical water extraction is conducted in a closed system where no loss of volatile active pharmaceutical ingredients occurs, although analyte degradation may happen at higher temperatures. Temperature optimization in SBWE makes it possible to be more efficient in extracting APIs from medicinal herbs than the THD method. Compared to other industrial processes of producing herbal medicine, subcritical water extraction eliminates toxic organic solvents. Thus, subcritical water extraction is not only environmentally friendly but also produces safer herbal medicine for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brahmam Kapalavavi
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (B.K.); (N.D.)
| | - Ninad Doctor
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (B.K.); (N.D.)
| | - Baohong Zhang
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA;
| | - Yu Yang
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (B.K.); (N.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Fax: +1-252-328-6210
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10
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Elmore LW, Greer SF, Daniels EC, Saxe CC, Melner MH, Krawiec GM, Cance WG, Phelps WC. Blueprint for cancer research: Critical gaps and opportunities. CA Cancer J Clin 2021; 71:107-139. [PMID: 33326126 DOI: 10.3322/caac.21652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We are experiencing a revolution in cancer. Advances in screening, targeted and immune therapies, big data, computational methodologies, and significant new knowledge of cancer biology are transforming the ways in which we prevent, detect, diagnose, treat, and survive cancer. These advances are enabling durable progress in the goal to achieve personalized cancer care. Despite these gains, more work is needed to develop better tools and strategies to limit cancer as a major health concern. One persistent gap is the inconsistent coordination among researchers and caregivers to implement evidence-based programs that rely on a fuller understanding of the molecular, cellular, and systems biology mechanisms underpinning different types of cancer. Here, the authors integrate conversations with over 90 leading cancer experts to highlight current challenges, encourage a robust and diverse national research portfolio, and capture timely opportunities to advance evidence-based approaches for all patients with cancer and for all communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynne W Elmore
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Susanna F Greer
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Elvan C Daniels
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Charles C Saxe
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Michael H Melner
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ginger M Krawiec
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - William G Cance
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - William C Phelps
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
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11
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Harman RM, Das SP, Bartlett AP, Rauner G, Donahue LR, Van de Walle GR. Beyond tradition and convention: benefits of non-traditional model organisms in cancer research. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2020; 40:47-69. [PMID: 33111160 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-020-09930-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Traditional laboratory model organisms are indispensable for cancer research and have provided insight into numerous mechanisms that contribute to cancer development and progression in humans. However, these models do have some limitations, most notably related to successful drug translation, because traditional model organisms are often short-lived, small-bodied, genetically homogeneous, often immunocompromised, are not exposed to natural environments shared with humans, and usually do not develop cancer spontaneously. We propose that assimilating information from a variety of long-lived, large, genetically diverse, and immunocompetent species that live in natural environments and do develop cancer spontaneously (or do not develop cancer at all) will lead to a more comprehensive understanding of human cancers. These non-traditional model organisms can also serve as sentinels for environmental risk factors that contribute to human cancers. Ultimately, expanding the range of animal models that can be used to study cancer will lead to improved insights into cancer development, progression and metastasis, tumor microenvironment, as well as improved therapies and diagnostics, and will consequently reduce the negative impacts of the wide variety of cancers afflicting humans overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Harman
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Sanjna P Das
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Arianna P Bartlett
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Gat Rauner
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Leanne R Donahue
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Gerlinde R Van de Walle
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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12
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Bulterijs S, Braeckman BP. Phenotypic Screening in C. elegans as a Tool for the Discovery of New Geroprotective Drugs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:E164. [PMID: 32722365 PMCID: PMC7463874 DOI: 10.3390/ph13080164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Population aging is one of the largest challenges of the 21st century. As more people live to advanced ages, the prevalence of age-related diseases and disabilities will increase placing an ever larger burden on our healthcare system. A potential solution to this conundrum is to develop treatments that prevent, delay or reduce the severity of age-related diseases by decreasing the rate of the aging process. This ambition has been accomplished in model organisms through dietary, genetic and pharmacological interventions. The pharmacological approaches hold the greatest opportunity for successful translation to the clinic. The discovery of such pharmacological interventions in aging requires high-throughput screening strategies. However, the majority of screens performed for geroprotective drugs in C. elegans so far are rather low throughput. Therefore, the development of high-throughput screening strategies is of utmost importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Bulterijs
- Laboratory of Aging Physiology and Molecular Evolution, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart P. Braeckman
- Laboratory of Aging Physiology and Molecular Evolution, Department of Biology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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13
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Henarejos-Escudero P, Hernández-García S, Guerrero-Rubio MA, García-Carmona F, Gandía-Herrero F. Antitumoral Drug Potential of Tryptophan-Betaxanthin and Related Plant Betalains in the Caenorhabditis elegans Tumoral Model. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9080646. [PMID: 32707947 PMCID: PMC7465535 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9080646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Betalains are plants pigments identified as potent antioxidant molecules, naturally present in foods like beetroot and prickly pears. Although activities described for betalain-containing formulations include cancer prevention and treatment, the use of extracts instead of purified pigments has avoided the investigation of the real chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic potential of these phytochemicals. Three betalain-rich extracts and six individual pure betalains were used in this work to characterize the activity and to explore possible molecular mechanisms. The animal model Caenorhabditis elegans (tumoral strain JK1466) was used to evaluate the effect of betalains as chemotherapeutics drugs. An objective evaluation method of tumor growth in C. elegans has been developed to assess the possible antitumoral activity of the different treatments. This protocol allowed a fast and reliable screening of possible antitumoral drugs. Among the betalains tested, tryptophan-betaxanthin reduced tumor size by 56.4% and prolonged the animal’s lifespan by 9.3%, indicating high effectiveness and low toxicity. Structure–activity relationships are considered. Assays with mutant strains of C. elegans showed that the mechanism underlying these effects was the modulation of the DAF-16 transcription factor and the insulin signaling pathway. Our results indicate that tryptophan-betaxanthin and related betalains are strong candidates as antitumoral molecules in cancer treatment.
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14
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Ke T, Sidoryk-Wegrzynowicz M, Pajarillo E, Rizor A, Soares FAA, Lee E, Aschner M. Role of Astrocytes in Manganese Neurotoxicity Revisited. Neurochem Res 2019; 44:2449-2459. [PMID: 31571097 PMCID: PMC7757856 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02881-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) overexposure is a public health concern due to its widespread industrial usage and the risk for environmental contamination. The clinical symptoms of Mn neurotoxicity, or manganism, share several pathological features of Parkinson's disease (PD). Biologically, Mn is an essential trace element, and Mn in the brain is preferentially localized in astrocytes. This review summarizes the role of astrocytes in Mn-induced neurotoxicity, specifically on the role of neurotransmitter recycling, neuroinflammation, and genetics. Mn overexposure can dysregulate astrocytic cycling of glutamine (Gln) and glutamate (Glu), which is the basis for Mn-induced excitotoxic neuronal injury. In addition, reactive astrocytes are important mediators of Mn-induced neuronal damage by potentiating neuroinflammation. Genetic studies, including those with Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) have uncovered several genes associated with Mn neurotoxicity. Though we have yet to fully understand the role of astrocytes in the pathologic changes characteristic of manganism, significant strides have been made over the last two decades in deciphering the role of astrocytes in Mn-induced neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ke
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Marta Sidoryk-Wegrzynowicz
- Laboratory of Pathoneurochemistry, Department of Neurochemistry, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawinskiego Street, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Edward Pajarillo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32307, USA
| | - Asha Rizor
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32307, USA
| | - Félix Alexandre Antunes Soares
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Eunsook Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32307, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA. .,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Forchheimer Building, Room 209, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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15
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Delaney K, Strobino M, Wenda JM, Pankowski A, Steiner FA. H3.3K27M-induced chromatin changes drive ectopic replication through misregulation of the JNK pathway in C. elegans. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2529. [PMID: 31175278 PMCID: PMC6555832 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10404-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Substitution of lysine 27 with methionine in histone H3.3 is a recently discovered driver mutation of pediatric high-grade gliomas. Mutant cells show decreased levels and altered distribution of H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3). How these chromatin changes are established genome-wide and lead to tumorigenesis remains unclear. Here we show that H3.3K27M-mediated alterations in H3K27me3 distribution result in ectopic DNA replication and cell cycle progression of germ cells in Caenorhabditis elegans. By genetically inducing changes in the H3.3 distribution, we demonstrate that both H3.3K27M and pre-existing H3K27me3 act locally and antagonistically on Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) in a concentration-dependent manner. The heterochromatin changes result in extensive gene misregulation, and genetic screening identified upregulation of JNK as an underlying cause of the germcell aberrations. Moreover, JNK inhibition suppresses the replicative fate in human tumor-derived H3.3K27M cells, thus establishing C. elegans as a powerful model for the identification of potential drug targets for treatment of H3.3K27M tumors. Substitution of lysine 27 with methionine in histone H3.3 (H3.3K27M) is a driver mutation of pediatric high-grade gliomas. Here the authors show that H3.3K27M-mediated alterations in H3K27me3 distribution result in ectopic DNA replication and cell cycle progression of germ cells in Caenorhabditis elegans, through JNK pathway misregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Delaney
- Department of Molecular Biology and Institute for Genetics and Genomics in Geneva, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maude Strobino
- Department of Molecular Biology and Institute for Genetics and Genomics in Geneva, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joanna M Wenda
- Department of Molecular Biology and Institute for Genetics and Genomics in Geneva, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andrzej Pankowski
- Team of Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Mechanics and Petrochemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, 09-400, Płock, Poland
| | - Florian A Steiner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Institute for Genetics and Genomics in Geneva, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
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16
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Turcotte CA, Sloat SA, Rigothi JA, Rosenkranse E, Northrup AL, Andrews NP, Checchi PM. Maintenance of Genome Integrity by Mi2 Homologs CHD-3 and LET-418 in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2018; 208:991-1007. [PMID: 29339410 PMCID: PMC5844346 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.300686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiotic recombination depends upon the tightly coordinated regulation of chromosome dynamics and is essential for the production of haploid gametes. Central to this process is the formation and repair of meiotic double-stranded breaks (DSBs), which must take place within the constraints of a specialized chromatin architecture. Here, we demonstrate a role for the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex in orchestrating meiotic chromosome dynamics in Caenorhabditis elegans Our data reveal that the conserved Mi2 homologs Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein (CHD-3) and its paralog LET-418 facilitate meiotic progression by ensuring faithful repair of DSBs through homologous recombination. We discovered that loss of either CHD-3 or LET-418 results in elevated p53-dependent germ line apoptosis, which relies on the activation of the conserved checkpoint kinase CHK-1 Consistent with these findings, chd-3 and let-418 mutants produce a reduced number of offspring, indicating a role for Mi2 in forming viable gametes. When Mi2 function is compromised, persisting recombination intermediates are detected in late pachytene nuclei, indicating a failure in the timely repair of DSBs. Intriguingly, our data indicate that in Mi2 mutant germ lines, a subset of DSBs are repaired by nonhomologous end joining, which manifests as chromosomal fusions. We find that meiotic defects are exacerbated in Mi2 mutants lacking CKU-80, as evidenced by increased recombination intermediates, corpses, and defects in chromosomal integrity. Taken together, our findings support a model wherein the C. elegans Mi2 complex maintains genomic integrity through reinforcement of a chromatin landscape suitable for homology-driven repair mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Solomon A Sloat
- Department of Biology, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
| | - Julia A Rigothi
- Department of Biology, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
| | | | | | | | - Paula M Checchi
- Department of Biology, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
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17
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Golden A. From phenologs to silent suppressors: Identifying potential therapeutic targets for human disease. Mol Reprod Dev 2017; 84:1118-1132. [PMID: 28834577 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Orthologous phenotypes, or phenologs, are seemingly unrelated phenotypes generated by mutations in a conserved set of genes. Phenologs have been widely observed and accepted by those who study model organisms, and allow one to study a set of genes in a model organism to learn more about the function of those genes in other organisms, including humans. At the cellular and molecular level, these conserved genes likely function in a very similar mode, but are doing so in different tissues or cell types and can result in different phenotypic effects. For example, the RAS-RAF-MEK-MAPK pathway in animals is a highly conserved signaling pathway that animals adopted for numerous biological processes, such as vulval induction in Caenorhabditis elegans and cell proliferation in mammalian cells; but this same gene set has been co-opted to function in a variety of cellular contexts. In this review, I give a few examples of how suppressor screens in model organisms (with a emphasis on C. elegans) can identify new genes that function in a conserved pathway in many other organisms. I also demonstrate how the identification of such genes can lead to important insights into mammalian biology. From such screens, an occasional silent suppressor that does not cause a phenotype on its own is found; such suppressors thus make for good candidates as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy Golden
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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18
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Sturm Á, Perczel A, Ivics Z, Vellai T. The Piwi-piRNA pathway: road to immortality. Aging Cell 2017; 16:906-911. [PMID: 28653810 PMCID: PMC5595689 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite its medical, social, and economic significance, understanding what primarily causes aging, that is, the mechanisms of the aging process, remains a fundamental and fascinating problem in biology. Accumulating evidence indicates that a small RNA-based gene regulatory machinery, the Piwi-piRNA pathway, represents a shared feature of nonaging (potentially immortal) biological systems, including the germline, somatic cancer stem cells, and certain 'lower' eukaryotic organisms like the planarian flatworm and freshwater hydra. The pathway primarily functions to repress the activity of mobile genetic elements, also called transposable elements (TEs) or 'jumping genes', which are capable of moving from one genomic locus to another, thereby causing insertional mutations. TEs become increasingly active and multiply in the genomes of somatic cells as the organism ages. These characteristics of TEs highlight their decisive mutagenic role in the progressive disintegration of genetic information, a molecular hallmark associated with aging. Hence, TE-mediated genomic instability may substantially contribute to the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ádám Sturm
- Department of Genetics; Eötvös Loránd University; Budapest Hungary
| | - András Perczel
- MTA-ELTE Protein Modelling Research Group; Institute of Chemistry; Eötvös Loránd University; Budapest Hungary
| | - Zoltán Ivics
- Division of Medical Biotechnology; Paul Ehrlich Institute; 63225 Langen Germany
| | - Tibor Vellai
- Department of Genetics; Eötvös Loránd University; Budapest Hungary
- MTA-ELTE Genetics Research Group; Budapest Hungary
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19
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Abstract
The discovery of the microRNAs, lin-4 and let-7 as critical mediators of normal development in Caenorhabditis elegans and their conservation throughout evolution has spearheaded research toward identifying novel roles of microRNAs in other cellular processes. To accurately elucidate these fundamental functions, especially in the context of an intact organism, various microRNA transgenic models have been generated and evaluated. Transgenic C. elegans (worms), Drosophila melanogaster (flies), Danio rerio (zebrafish), and Mus musculus (mouse) have contributed immensely toward uncovering the roles of multiple microRNAs in cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, pathways that are severely altered in human diseases such as cancer. The simple model organisms, C. elegans, D. melanogaster, and D. rerio, do not develop cancers but have proved to be convenient systesm in microRNA research, especially in characterizing the microRNA biogenesis machinery which is often dysregulated during human tumorigenesis. The microRNA-dependent events delineated via these simple in vivo systems have been further verified in vitro, and in more complex models of cancers, such as M. musculus. The focus of this review is to provide an overview of the important contributions made in the microRNA field using model organisms. The simple model systems provided the basis for the importance of microRNAs in normal cellular physiology, while the more complex animal systems provided evidence for the role of microRNAs dysregulation in cancers. Highlights include an overview of the various strategies used to generate transgenic organisms and a review of the use of transgenic mice for evaluating preclinical efficacy of microRNA-based cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita S Pal
- PULSe Graduate Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Andrea L Kasinski
- Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.
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20
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Abstract
A synthetic lethal interaction occurs between two genes when the perturbation of either gene alone is viable but the perturbation of both genes simultaneously results in the loss of viability. Key to exploiting synthetic lethality in cancer treatment are the identification and the mechanistic characterization of robust synthetic lethal genetic interactions. Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies are enabling the identification of hundreds of tumour-specific mutations and alterations in gene expression that could be targeted by a synthetic lethality approach. The translation of synthetic lethality to therapy will be assisted by the synthesis of genetic interaction data from model organisms, tumour genomes and human cell lines.
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21
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Miranda-Vizuete A, Veal EA. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for understanding ROS function in physiology and disease. Redox Biol 2016; 11:708-714. [PMID: 28193593 PMCID: PMC5304259 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2016.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
ROS (reactive oxygen species) are potentially damaging by-products of aerobic metabolism which, unchecked, can have detrimental effects on cell function. However, it is now widely accepted that, at physiological levels, certain ROS play important roles in cell signaling, acting as second messengers to regulate cell choices that contribute to the development, adaptation and survival of plants and animals. Despite important recent advances in the biochemical tools available to study redox-signaling, the molecular mechanisms underlying most of these responses remain poorly understood, particularly in multicellular organisms. As we will review here, C. elegans has emerged as a powerful animal model to elucidate these and other aspects of redox biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Miranda-Vizuete
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Elizabeth A Veal
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK; Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
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22
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Jung J, Nakajima M, Takeuchi M, Najdovski Z, Huang Q, Fukuda T. Microfluidic Device to Measure the Speed of C. elegans Using the Resistance Change of the Flexible Electrode. MICROMACHINES 2016; 7:E50. [PMID: 30407423 PMCID: PMC6190434 DOI: 10.3390/mi7030050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
This work presents a novel method to assess the condition of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) through a resistance measurement of its undulatory locomotion speed inside a micro channel. As the worm moves over the electrode inside the micro channel, the length of the electrode changes, consequently behaving like a strain gauge. In this paper, the electrotaxis was applied for controlling the direction of motion of C. elegans as an external stimulus, resulting in the worm moving towards the cathode of the circuit. To confirm the proposed measurement method, a microfluidic device was developed that employs a sinusoidal channel and a thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer with an electrode. The PDMS layer maintains a porous structure to enable the flexibility of the electrode. In this study, 6 measurements were performed to obtain the speed of an early adult stage C. elegans, where the measured average speed was 0.35 (±0.05) mm/s. The results of this work demonstrate the application of our method to measure the speed of C. elegans undulatory locomotion. This novel approach can be applied to make such measurements without an imaging system, and more importantly, allows directly to detect the locomotion of C. elegans using an electrical signal (i.e., the change in resistance).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaehoon Jung
- Department of Micro-Nano Systems Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
- Medical Device Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), 80 Cheombok-Ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 41061, Korea.
| | - Masahiro Nakajima
- Center for Micro-Nano Mechatronics, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
| | - Masaru Takeuchi
- Department of Micro-Nano Systems Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
| | - Zoran Najdovski
- Center for Intelligent Systems Research, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong 3216, Australia.
| | - Qiang Huang
- Intelligent Robotics Institute, School of Mechatronic Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Toshio Fukuda
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
- Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Meijo University, Shiogamaguchi, Tenpa-ku, Nagoya 468-0073, Japan.
- Intelligent Robotics Institute, School of Mechatronic Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing 100081, China.
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23
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Sánchez-Blanco A, Rodríguez-Matellán AG, Reis-Sobreiro M, Sáenz-Narciso B, Cabello J, Mohler WA, Mollinedo F. Caenorhabditis elegans as a platform to study the mechanism of action of synthetic antitumor lipids. Cell Cycle 2015; 13:3375-89. [PMID: 25485582 DOI: 10.4161/15384101.2014.952183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Drugs capable of specifically recognizing and killing cancer cells while sparing healthy cells are of great interest in anti-cancer therapy. An example of such a drug is edelfosine, the prototype molecule of a family of synthetic lipids collectively known as antitumor lipids (ATLs). A better understanding of the selectivity and the mechanism of action of these compounds would lead to better anticancer treatments. Using Caenorhabditis elegans, we modeled key features of the ATL selectivity against cancer cells. Edelfosine induced a selective and direct killing action on C. elegans embryos, which was dependent on cholesterol, without affecting adult worms and larvae. Distinct ATLs ranked differently in their embryonic lethal effect with edelfosine > perifosine > erucylphosphocholine >> miltefosine. Following a biased screening of 57 C. elegans mutants we found that inactivation of components of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway led to resistance against the ATL edelfosine in both C. elegans and human tumor cells. This paper shows that C. elegans can be used as a rapid platform to facilitate ATL research and to further understand the mechanism of action of edelfosine and other synthetic ATLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adolfo Sánchez-Blanco
- a Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer ; Centro de Investigación del Cáncer ; CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca ; Campus Miguel de Unamuno ; Salamanca , Spain
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24
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Kyriakakis E, Markaki M, Tavernarakis N. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for cancer research. Mol Cell Oncol 2015; 2:e975027. [PMID: 27308424 PMCID: PMC4905018 DOI: 10.4161/23723556.2014.975027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Revised: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
The term cancer describes a group of multifaceted diseases characterized by an intricate pathophysiology. Despite significant advances in the fight against cancer, it remains a key public health concern and burden on societies worldwide. Elucidation of key molecular and cellular mechanisms of oncogenic diseases will facilitate the development of better intervention strategies to counter or prevent tumor development. In vivo and in vitro models have long been used to delineate distinct biological processes involved in cancer such as apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, genome instability, and metabolism. In this review, we introduce Caenorhabditis elegans as an emerging animal model for systematic dissection of the molecular basis of tumorigenesis, focusing on the well-established processes of apoptosis and autophagy. Additionally, we propose that C. elegans can be used to advance our understanding of cancer progression, such as deregulation of energy metabolism, stem cell reprogramming, and host-microflora interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouil Kyriakakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas
| | - Maria Markaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas
| | - Nektarios Tavernarakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas
- Department of Basic Sciences; Faculty of Medicine; University of Crete Heraklion; Crete, Greece
- Correspondence to: N. Tavernarakis;
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25
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Yilmaz LS, Walhout AJM. Worms, bacteria, and micronutrients: an elegant model of our diet. Trends Genet 2014; 30:496-503. [PMID: 25172020 PMCID: PMC4399232 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2014.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Revised: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Micronutrients are required in small proportions in a diet to carry out key metabolic roles for biomass and energy production. Humans receive micronutrients either directly from their diet or from gut microbiota that metabolize other nutrients. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and its bacterial diet provide a relatively simple and genetically tractable model to study both direct and microbe-mediated effects of micronutrients. Recently, this model has been used to gain insight into the relationship between micronutrients, physiology, and metabolism. In particular, two B-type vitamins, vitamin B12 and folate, have been studied in detail. Here we review how C. elegans and its bacterial diet provide a powerful interspecies systems biology model that facilitates the precise delineation of micronutrient effects and the mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutfu Safak Yilmaz
- Program in Systems Biology, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Albertha J M Walhout
- Program in Systems Biology, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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Ting JJ, Woodruff GC, Leung G, Shin NR, Cutter AD, Haag ES. Intense sperm-mediated sexual conflict promotes reproductive isolation in Caenorhabditis nematodes. PLoS Biol 2014; 12:e1001915. [PMID: 25072732 PMCID: PMC4114750 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm from other species invade female tissues to cause sterility and death, helping to keep nematode species boundaries intact. Conflict between the sexes over reproductive interests can drive rapid evolution of reproductive traits and promote speciation. Here we show that inter-species mating between Caenorhabditis nematodes sterilizes maternal individuals. The principal effectors of male-induced harm are sperm cells, which induce sterility and shorten lifespan by displacing conspecific sperm, invading the ovary, and sometimes breaching the gonad to infiltrate other tissues. This sperm-mediated harm is pervasive across species, but idiosyncrasies in its magnitude implicate both independent histories of sexually antagonistic coevolution within species and differences in reproductive mode (self-fertilizing hermaphrodites versus females) in determining its severity. Consistent with this conclusion, in androdioecious species the hermaphrodites are more vulnerable, the males more benign, or both. Patterns of assortative mating and a low incidence of invasive sperm occurring with conspecific mating are indicative of ongoing intra-specific sexual conflict that results in inter-species reproductive incompatibility. The sexes have divergent reproductive interests, and conflict arising from this disparity can drive the rapid evolution of reproductive traits and promote speciation. Here we describe a unique reproductive barrier in Caenorhabditis nematodes that is induced by sperm. We found that mating between species can sterilize maternal worms and even cause premature death, and we were able to attribute this phenomenon directly to the sperm themselves. Sperm from other species can displace sperm from the same species and, in some cases, can invade inappropriate parts of the maternal reproductive system and even their non-reproductive tissues. We find that mating to males of another species harms females far more than does within-species mating. Overall, our observations are consistent with ongoing sexual conflict between the sexes within species, arising as a byproduct of sperm competition among the gametes of different males. Finally, patterns of assortative mating indicate that mating behaviours that reduce the likelihood of costly inter-species mating have evolved in this group of animals. These findings support an important role of sexual selection and gametic interactions contributing to reproductive boundaries between species, as predicted by evolutionary theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice J. Ting
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gavin C. Woodruff
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gemma Leung
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Na-Ra Shin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Asher D. Cutter
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail: (ADC); (ESH)
| | - Eric S. Haag
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ADC); (ESH)
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27
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Squiban B, Frazer JK. Danio rerio: Small Fish Making a Big Splash in Leukemia. CURRENT PATHOBIOLOGY REPORTS 2014; 2:61-73. [PMID: 26269780 DOI: 10.1007/s40139-014-0041-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are widely used for developmental biology studies. In the past decade, D. rerio have become an important oncology model as well. Leukemia is one type of cancer where zebrafish are particularly valuable. As vertebrates, fish have great anatomic and biologic similarity to humans, including their hematopoietic and immune systems. As an experimental platform, D. rerio offer many advantages that mammalian models lack. These include their ease of genetic manipulation, capacity for imaging, and suitability for large-scale phenotypic and drug screens. In this review, we present examples of these strategies and others to illustrate how zebrafish have been and can be used to study leukemia. Besides appraising the techniques researchers apply and introducing the leukemia models they have created, we also highlight recent and exciting discoveries made using D. rerio with an eye to where the field is likely headed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Squiban
- Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 941 Stanton L. Young Blvd., BSEB 229, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - J Kimble Frazer
- Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 941 Stanton L. Young Blvd., BSEB 224, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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Roy SH, Tobin DV, Memar N, Beltz E, Holmen J, Clayton JE, Chiu DJ, Young LD, Green TH, Lubin I, Liu Y, Conradt B, Saito RM. A complex regulatory network coordinating cell cycles during C. elegans development is revealed by a genome-wide RNAi screen. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2014; 4:795-804. [PMID: 24584095 PMCID: PMC4025478 DOI: 10.1534/g3.114.010546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The development and homeostasis of multicellular animals requires precise coordination of cell division and differentiation. We performed a genome-wide RNA interference screen in Caenorhabditis elegans to reveal the components of a regulatory network that promotes developmentally programmed cell-cycle quiescence. The 107 identified genes are predicted to constitute regulatory networks that are conserved among higher animals because almost half of the genes are represented by clear human orthologs. Using a series of mutant backgrounds to assess their genetic activities, the RNA interference clones displaying similar properties were clustered to establish potential regulatory relationships within the network. This approach uncovered four distinct genetic pathways controlling cell-cycle entry during intestinal organogenesis. The enhanced phenotypes observed for animals carrying compound mutations attest to the collaboration between distinct mechanisms to ensure strict developmental regulation of cell cycles. Moreover, we characterized ubc-25, a gene encoding an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme whose human ortholog, UBE2Q2, is deregulated in several cancers. Our genetic analyses suggested that ubc-25 acts in a linear pathway with cul-1/Cul1, in parallel to pathways employing cki-1/p27 and lin-35/pRb to promote cell-cycle quiescence. Further investigation of the potential regulatory mechanism demonstrated that ubc-25 activity negatively regulates CYE-1/cyclin E protein abundance in vivo. Together, our results show that the ubc-25-mediated pathway acts within a complex network that integrates the actions of multiple molecular mechanisms to control cell cycles during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Roy
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - David V Tobin
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Nadin Memar
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CiPSM), Biocenter, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Eleanor Beltz
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Jenna Holmen
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Joseph E Clayton
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Daniel J Chiu
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Laura D Young
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Travis H Green
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Isabella Lubin
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Yuying Liu
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Barbara Conradt
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CiPSM), Biocenter, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - R Mako Saito
- Department of Genetics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756
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Sterken MG, Snoek LB, Bosman KJ, Daamen J, Riksen JAG, Bakker J, Pijlman GP, Kammenga JE. A heritable antiviral RNAi response limits Orsay virus infection in Caenorhabditis elegans N2. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89760. [PMID: 24587016 PMCID: PMC3933659 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Orsay virus (OrV) is the first virus known to be able to complete a full infection cycle in the model nematode species Caenorhabditis elegans. OrV is transmitted horizontally and its infection is limited by antiviral RNA interference (RNAi). However, we have no insight into the kinetics of OrV replication in C. elegans. We developed an assay that infects worms in liquid, allowing precise monitoring of the infection. The assay revealed a dual role for the RNAi response in limiting Orsay virus infection in C. elegans. Firstly, it limits the progression of the initial infection at the step of recognition of dsRNA. Secondly, it provides an inherited protection against infection in the offspring. This establishes the heritable RNAi response as anti-viral mechanism during OrV infections in C. elegans. Our results further illustrate that the inheritance of the anti-viral response is important in controlling the infection in the canonical wild type Bristol N2. The OrV replication kinetics were established throughout the worm life-cycle, setting a standard for further quantitative assays with the OrV-C. elegans infection model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark G. Sterken
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - L. Basten Snoek
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kobus J. Bosman
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jikke Daamen
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joost A. G. Riksen
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap Bakker
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gorben P. Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan E. Kammenga
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Taki FA, Zhang B. Determination of reliable reference genes for multi-generational gene expression analysis on C. elegans exposed to abused drug nicotine. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2013; 230:77-88. [PMID: 23681163 PMCID: PMC3795882 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-013-3139-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
RATIONAL More research has recently been focused on multigenerational toxicogenomics impacts. Such studies rely on behavioral as well as genetic and epigenetic analyses using various biotechniques. Of these technologies, quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR is considered as a mature discovery and validation tool. Nevertheless, the interpretation of the resulting gene expression necessitates the establishment of reliable internal controls for normalization. No study has been performed to identify reliable reference genes in multigenerational settings. OBJECTIVES The primary aim was to evaluate the stability of 16 reference gene candidates in Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to nicotine and their two subsequent generations for determining the most reliable reference genes for multigenerational study. METHODS We exposed C. elegans to nicotine in the F0 generation and investigated the relative stabilities of 16 housekeeping genes in L4 larvae across three generations (F0, F1, and F2) using five statistical approaches (geNorm, ∆Ct method, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder). RESULTS geNorm shows that CDC-42 and Y45F10D.4 were the most stable reference genes. Based on NormFinder, TBA-1, EIF3.C, ARP-6, CDC-42, and MDH2 may serve as the top reliable reference genes. Comparative ∆Ct method ranked TBA-1, CDC-42, EIF3.C, ARP-6, and Y45F10D.4 as the most stable reference genes. BestKeeper shows that Y45F10D.4, F35G12.2, TBA-1, CDC-42, and CSQ-1were better reference genes. Overall, TBA-1, CDC-42, EIF3.C, ARP-6, and Y45F10D.4 were the most reliable reference genes for mutigenerational nicotine-exposed study. CONCLUSIONS Of the 16 tested gene candidates, TBA-1 and CDC-42 were the two most stable reference genes for performing reliable gene expression normalization in the multigenerational impact of nicotine exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Baohong Zhang
- Corresponding Author: Dr. Baohong Zhang, Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC27858, Phone: 252-328-2021, Fax: 252-328-4178,
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31
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Yan B, Memar N, Gallinger J, Conradt B. Coordination of cell proliferation and cell fate determination by CES-1 snail. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003884. [PMID: 24204299 PMCID: PMC3814331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2012] [Accepted: 09/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The coordination of cell proliferation and cell fate determination is critical during development but the mechanisms through which this is accomplished are unclear. We present evidence that the Snail-related transcription factor CES-1 of Caenorhabditis elegans coordinates these processes in a specific cell lineage. CES-1 can cause loss of cell polarity in the NSM neuroblast. By repressing the transcription of the BH3-only gene egl-1, CES-1 can also suppress apoptosis in the daughters of the NSM neuroblasts. We now demonstrate that CES-1 also affects cell cycle progression in this lineage. Specifically, we found that CES-1 can repress the transcription of the cdc-25.2 gene, which encodes a Cdc25-like phosphatase, thereby enhancing the block in NSM neuroblast division caused by the partial loss of cya-1, which encodes Cyclin A. Our results indicate that CDC-25.2 and CYA-1 control specific cell divisions and that the over-expression of the ces-1 gene leads to incorrect regulation of this functional ‘module’. Finally, we provide evidence that dnj-11 MIDA1 not only regulate CES-1 activity in the context of cell polarity and apoptosis but also in the context of cell cycle progression. In mammals, the over-expression of Snail-related genes has been implicated in tumorigenesis. Our findings support the notion that the oncogenic potential of Snail-related transcription factors lies in their capability to, simultaneously, affect cell cycle progression, cell polarity and apoptosis and, hence, the coordination of cell proliferation and cell fate determination. Animal development is a complex process and requires the coordination in space and time of various processes. These processes include the controlled production of cells, also referred to as ‘cell proliferation’, and the adoption by cells of specific fates, also referred to as ‘cell fate determination’. The observation that uncontrolled cell proliferation and cell fate determination contribute to conditions such as cancer, demonstrates that a precise coordination of these processes is not only important for development but for the prevention of disease throughout life. Snail-related transcription factors have previously been shown to be involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and cell fate determination. For example, the Caenorhabditis elegans Snail-related protein CES-1 affects cell fate determination in a specific cell lineage, the NSM (neurosecretory motorneuron) lineage. We now present evidence that CES-1 also controls cell proliferation in this lineage. Within a short period of time, CES-1 therefore coordinates cell proliferation and cell fate determination in one and the same lineage. Based on this finding, we propose that CES-1 is an important coordinator that is involved in the precise control - in space (NSM lineage) and time (<150 min) - of processes that are critical for animal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yan
- Center for Integrated Protein Science, Department of Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Department of Genetics, MCB Graduate Program, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Nadin Memar
- Center for Integrated Protein Science, Department of Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Julia Gallinger
- Department of Genetics, MCB Graduate Program, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Barbara Conradt
- Center for Integrated Protein Science, Department of Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- * E-mail:
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32
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Fay DS. Cancer metabolism: feeding a worm to starve a tumor. Curr Biol 2013; 23:R557-9. [PMID: 23845240 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The tumor suppressor Rb is known to have its hand in many pots. New findings have added another pot to the mix - cell metabolism. This may lead to a better understanding of Rb mutant phenotypes and Rb's roles in oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Fay
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
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33
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Tobin DV, Saito RM. Developmental decisions: balancing genetics and the environment by C. elegans. Cell Cycle 2012; 11:1666-71. [PMID: 22510569 DOI: 10.4161/cc.19443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The small nematode C. elegans is characterized by developing through a highly coordinated, reproducible cell lineage that serves as the basis of many studies focusing on the development of multi-lineage organisms. Indeed, the reproducible cell lineage enables discovery of developmental defects that occur in even a single cell. Only recently has attention been focused on how these animals modify their genetically programmed cell lineages to adapt to altered environments. Here, we summarize the current understanding of how C. elegans responds to food deprivation by adapting their developmental program in order to conserve energy. In particular, we highlight the AMPK-mediated and insulin-like growth factor signaling pathways that are the principal regulators of induced cell cycle quiescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- David V Tobin
- Department of Genetics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA
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Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans pRb ortholog, LIN-35, functions in a wide range of cellular and developmental processes. This includes a role of LIN-35 in nutrient utilization by the intestine, which it carries out redundantly with SLR-2, a zinc-finger protein. This and other redundant functions of LIN-35 were identified in genetic screens for mutations that display synthetic phenotypes in conjunction with loss of lin-35. To explore the intestinal role of LIN-35, we conducted a genome-wide RNA-interference-feeding screen for suppressors of lin-35; slr-2 early larval arrest. Of the 26 suppressors identified, 17 fall into three functional classes: (1) ribosome biogenesis genes, (2) mitochondrial prohibitins, and (3) chromatin regulators. Further characterization indicates that different categories of suppressors act through distinct molecular mechanisms. We also tested lin-35; slr-2 suppressors, as well as suppressors of the synthetic multivulval phenotype, to determine the spectrum of lin-35-synthetic phenotypes that could be suppressed following inhibition of these genes. We identified 19 genes, most of which are evolutionarily conserved, that can suppress multiple unrelated lin-35-synthetic phenotypes. Our study reveals a network of genes broadly antagonistic to LIN-35 as well as genes specific to the role of LIN-35 in intestinal and vulval development. Suppressors of multiple lin-35 phenotypes may be candidate targets for anticancer therapies. Moreover, screening for suppressors of phenotypically distinct synthetic interactions, which share a common altered gene, may prove to be a novel and effective approach for identifying genes whose activities are most directly relevant to the core functions of the shared gene.
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35
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McLellan JL, O'Neil NJ, Barrett I, Ferree E, van Pel DM, Ushey K, Sipahimalani P, Bryan J, Rose AM, Hieter P. Synthetic lethality of cohesins with PARPs and replication fork mediators. PLoS Genet 2012; 8:e1002574. [PMID: 22412391 PMCID: PMC3297586 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Accepted: 01/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic lethality has been proposed as a way to leverage the genetic differences found in tumor cells to affect their selective killing. Cohesins, which tether sister chromatids together until anaphase onset, are mutated in a variety of tumor types. The elucidation of synthetic lethal interactions with cohesin mutants therefore identifies potential therapeutic targets. We used a cross-species approach to identify robust negative genetic interactions with cohesin mutants. Utilizing essential and non-essential mutant synthetic genetic arrays in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we screened genome-wide for genetic interactions with hypomorphic mutations in cohesin genes. A somatic cell proliferation assay in Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrated that the majority of interactions were conserved. Analysis of the interactions found that cohesin mutants require the function of genes that mediate replication fork progression. Conservation of these interactions between replication fork mediators and cohesin in both yeast and C. elegans prompted us to test whether other replication fork mediators not found in the yeast were required for viability in cohesin mutants. PARP1 has roles in the DNA damage response but also in the restart of stalled replication forks. We found that a hypomorphic allele of the C. elegans SMC1 orthologue, him-1(e879), genetically interacted with mutations in the orthologues of PAR metabolism genes resulting in a reduced brood size and somatic cell defects. We then demonstrated that this interaction is conserved in human cells by showing that PARP inhibitors reduce the viability of cultured human cells depleted for cohesin components. This work demonstrates that large-scale genetic interaction screening in yeast can identify clinically relevant genetic interactions and suggests that PARP inhibitors, which are currently undergoing clinical trials as a treatment of homologous recombination-deficient cancers, may be effective in treating cancers that harbor cohesin mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. McLellan
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Nigel J. O'Neil
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Irene Barrett
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Ferree
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Derek M. van Pel
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Kevin Ushey
- Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Payal Sipahimalani
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jennifer Bryan
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ann M. Rose
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Philip Hieter
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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36
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Roy SH, Clayton JE, Holmen J, Beltz E, Saito RM. Control of Cdc14 activity coordinates cell cycle and development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mech Dev 2011; 128:317-26. [PMID: 21723944 PMCID: PMC3199030 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2011.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2011] [Revised: 06/15/2011] [Accepted: 06/16/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Much of our understanding of the function and regulation of the Cdc14 family of dual-specificity phosphatases originates from studies in yeasts. In these unicellular organisms Cdc14 is an important regulator of M-phase events. In contrast, the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog, cdc-14, is not necessary for mitosis, rather it is crucial for G(1)/S regulation to establish developmental cell-cycle quiescence. Despite the importance of integrating cdc-14 regulation with development, the mechanisms by which this coordination occurs are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that several processes conspire to focus the activity of cdc-14. First, the cdc-14 locus can produce at least six protein variants through alternative splicing. We find that a single form, CDC-14C, is the key variant acting during vulva development. Second, CDC-14C expression is limited to a subset of cells, including vulva precursors, through post-transcriptional regulation. Lastly, the CDC-14C subcellular location, and thus its potential interactions with other regulatory proteins, is regulated by nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. We find that the active export of CDC-14C from the nucleus during interphase is dependent on members of the Cyclin D and Crm1 families. We propose that these mechanisms collaborate to restrict the activity of cdc-14 as central components of an evolutionarily conserved regulatory network to coordinate cell-cycle progression with development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jenna Holmen
- Department of Genetics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - Eleanor Beltz
- Department of Genetics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03755
| | - R. Mako Saito
- Corresponding author. Tel.: (603) 650-1110; fax: (603) 650-1188, (R.M. Saito)
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Zhang Y. Biology of the Mi-2/NuRD Complex in SLAC (Stemness, Longevity/Ageing, and Cancer). GENE REGULATION AND SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2011; 5:1-26. [PMID: 21523247 PMCID: PMC3080740 DOI: 10.4137/grsb.s6510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The dynamic chromatin activities of Mi-2/Nucleosome Remodeling and Histone deacetylation (Mi-2/NuRD) complexes in mammals are at the basis of current research on stemness, longevity/ageing, and cancer (4-2-1/SLAC), and have been widely studied over the past decade in mammals and the elegant model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Interestingly, a common emergent theme from these studies is that of distinct coregulator-recruited Mi-2/NuRD complexes largely orchestrating the 4-2-1/SLAC within a unique paradigm by maintaining genome stability via DNA repair and controlling three types of transcriptional programs in concert in a number of cellular, tissue, and organism contexts. Thus, the core Mi-2/NuRD complex plays a central role in 4-2-1/SLAC. The plasticity and robustness of 4-2-1/SLAC can be interpreted as modulation of specific coregulator(s) within cell-specific, tissue-specific, stage-specific, or organism-specific niches during stress induction, ie, a functional module and its networking, thereby conferring differential responses to different environmental cues. According to “Occam’s razor”, a simple theory is preferable to a complex one, so this simplified notion might be useful for exploring 4-2-1/SLAC with a holistic view. This thought could also be valuable in forming strategies for future research, and could open up avenues for cancer prevention and antiageing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 99 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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38
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Abstract
With unique genetic and cell biological strengths, C. elegans has emerged as a powerful model system for studying many biological processes. These processes are typically regulated by complex genetic networks consisting of genes. Identifying those genes and organizing them into genetic pathways are two major steps toward understanding the mechanisms that regulate biological events. Forward genetic screens with various designs are a traditional approach for identifying candidate genes. The completion of the genome sequencing in C. elegans and the advent of high-throughput experimental techniques have led to the development of two additional powerful approaches: functional genomics and systems biology. Genes that are discovered by these approaches can be ordered into interacting pathways through a variety of strategies, involving genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, and functional genomics, to gain a more complete understanding of how gene regulatory networks control a particular biological process. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the approaches available to identify and construct the genetic pathways using C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Dept. of Biology, Duke University, Durham NC
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