1
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Venkatachalam T, Mannimala S, Pulijala Y, Soto MC. CED-5/CED-12 (DOCK/ELMO) can promote and inhibit F-actin formation via distinct motifs that may target different GTPases. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011330. [PMID: 39083711 PMCID: PMC11290852 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011330] [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: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Coordinated activation and inhibition of F-actin supports the movements of morphogenesis. Understanding the proteins that regulate F-actin is important, since these proteins are mis-regulated in diseases like cancer. Our studies of C. elegans embryonic epidermal morphogenesis identified the GTPase CED-10/Rac1 as an essential activator of F-actin. However, we need to identify the GEF, or Guanine-nucleotide Exchange Factor, that activates CED-10/Rac1 during embryonic cell migrations. The two-component GEF, CED-5/CED-12, is known to activate CED-10/Rac1 to promote cell movements that result in the engulfment of dying cells during embryogenesis, and a later cell migration of the larval Distal Tip Cell. It is believed that CED-5/CED-12 powers cellular movements of corpse engulfment and DTC migration by promoting F-actin formation. Therefore, we tested if CED-5/CED-12 was involved in embryonic migrations, and got a contradictory result. CED-5/CED-12 definitely support embryonic migrations, since their loss led to embryos that died due to failed epidermal cell migrations. However, CED-5/CED-12 inhibited F-actin in the migrating epidermis, the opposite of what was expected for a CED-10 GEF. To address how CED-12/CED-5 could have two opposing effects on F-actin, during corpse engulfment and cell migration, we investigated if CED-12 harbors GAP (GTPase Activating Protein) functions. A candidate GAP region in CED-12 faces away from the CED-5 GEF catalytic region. Mutating a candidate catalytic Arginine in the CED-12 GAP region (R537A) altered the epidermal cell migration function, and not the corpse engulfment function. We interfered with GEF function by interfering with CED-5's ability to bind Rac1/CED-10. Mutating Serine-Arginine in CED-5/DOCK predicted to bind and stabilize Rac1 for catalysis, resulted in loss of both ventral enclosure and corpse engulfment. Genetic and expression studies strongly support that the GAP function likely acts on different GTPases. Thus, we propose CED-5/CED-12 support the cycling of multiple GTPases, by using distinct domains, to both promote and inhibit F-actin nucleation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thejasvi Venkatachalam
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Sushma Mannimala
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Yeshaswi Pulijala
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Martha C. Soto
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
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2
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Wang G, Guasp R, Salam S, Chuang E, Morera A, Smart AJ, Jimenez D, Shekhar S, Friedman E, Melentijevic I, Nguyen KC, Hall DH, Grant BD, Driscoll M. Mechanical force of uterine occupation enables large vesicle extrusion from proteostressed maternal neurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.13.565361. [PMID: 38014134 PMCID: PMC10680645 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.13.565361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Large vesicle extrusion from neurons may contribute to spreading pathogenic protein aggregates and promoting inflammatory responses, two mechanisms leading to neurodegenerative disease. Factors that regulate extrusion of large vesicles, such as exophers produced by proteostressed C. elegans touch neurons, are poorly understood. Here we document that mechanical force can significantly potentiate exopher extrusion from proteostressed neurons. Exopher production from the C. elegans ALMR neuron peaks at adult day 2 or 3, coinciding with the C. elegans reproductive peak. Genetic disruption of C. elegans germline, sperm, oocytes, or egg/early embryo production can strongly suppress exopher extrusion from the ALMR neurons during the peak period. Conversely, restoring egg production at the late reproductive phase through mating with males or inducing egg retention via genetic interventions that block egg-laying can strongly increase ALMR exopher production. Overall, genetic interventions that promote ALMR exopher production are associated with expanded uterus lengths and genetic interventions that suppress ALMR exopher production are associated with shorter uterus lengths. In addition to the impact of fertilized eggs, ALMR exopher production can be enhanced by filling the uterus with oocytes, dead eggs, or even fluid, supporting that distention consequences, rather than the presence of fertilized eggs, constitute the exopher-inducing stimulus. We conclude that the mechanical force of uterine occupation potentiates exopher extrusion from proximal proteostressed maternal neurons. Our observations draw attention to the potential importance of mechanical signaling in extracellular vesicle production and in aggregate spreading mechanisms, making a case for enhanced attention to mechanobiology in neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Ryan Guasp
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Sangeena Salam
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Edward Chuang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Andrés Morera
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Anna J Smart
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - David Jimenez
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Sahana Shekhar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Emily Friedman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Ilija Melentijevic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Ken C Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA
| | - David H Hall
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA
| | - Barth D Grant
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Monica Driscoll
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Nelson Biological Laboratories, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
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3
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Su Y, Shea J, DeStephanis D, Su Z. Transcriptomic Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Axis of Oogenesis and Fertilization in C. elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.03.597235. [PMID: 38895354 PMCID: PMC11185608 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.03.597235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The oocyte germline of the C. elegans hermaphrodite presents a unique model to study the formation of oocytes. However, the size of the model animal and difficulties in retrieval of specific stages of the germline have obviated closer systematic studies of this process throughout the years. Here, we present a transcriptomic level analysis into the oogenesis of C. elegans hermaphrodites. We dissected a hermaphrodite gonad into seven sections corresponding to the mitotic distal region, the pachytene, the diplotene, the early diakinesis region and the 3 most proximal oocytes, and deeply sequenced the transcriptome of each of them along with that of the fertilized egg using a single-cell RNA-seq protocol. We identified specific gene expression events as well as gene splicing events in finer detail along the oocyte germline and provided novel insights into underlying mechanisms of the oogenesis process. Furthermore, through careful review of relevant research literature coupled with patterns observed in our analysis, we attempt to delineate transcripts that may serve functions in the interaction between the germline and cells of the somatic gonad. These results expand our knowledge of the transcriptomic space of the C. elegans germline and lay a foundation on which future studies of the germline can be based upon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangqi Su
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Jonathan Shea
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Darla DeStephanis
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Zhengchang Su
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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4
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Mignerot L, Gimond C, Bolelli L, Bouleau C, Sandjak A, Boulin T, Braendle C. Natural variation in the Caenorhabditis elegans egg-laying circuit modulates an intergenerational fitness trade-off. eLife 2024; 12:RP88253. [PMID: 38564369 PMCID: PMC10987095 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88253] [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: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary transitions from egg laying (oviparity) to live birth (viviparity) are common across various taxa. Many species also exhibit genetic variation in egg-laying mode or display an intermediate mode with laid eggs containing embryos at various stages of development. Understanding the mechanistic basis and fitness consequences of such variation remains experimentally challenging. Here, we report highly variable intra-uterine egg retention across 316 Caenorhabditis elegans wild strains, some exhibiting strong retention, followed by internal hatching. We identify multiple evolutionary origins of such phenotypic extremes and pinpoint underlying candidate loci. Behavioral analysis and genetic manipulation indicates that this variation arises from genetic differences in the neuromodulatory architecture of the egg-laying circuitry. We provide experimental evidence that while strong egg retention can decrease maternal fitness due to in utero hatching, it may enhance offspring protection and confer a competitive advantage. Therefore, natural variation in C. elegans egg-laying behaviour can alter an apparent trade-off between different fitness components across generations. Our findings highlight underappreciated diversity in C. elegans egg-laying behavior and shed light on its fitness consequences. This behavioral variation offers a promising model to elucidate the molecular changes in a simple neural circuit underlying evolutionary shifts between alternative egg-laying modes in invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Asma Sandjak
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Inserm, IBVNiceFrance
| | - Thomas Boulin
- Institut NeuroMyoGène, CNRS, Inserm, Université de LyonLyonFrance
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5
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Galvez-Llompart M, Zanni R, Vela-Corcía D, Polonio Á, Perez-Gimenez F, Martínez-Cruz J, Romero D, Fernández-Ortuño D, Pérez-García A, Galvez J. Rational Design of a Potential New Nematicide Targeting Chitin Deacetylase. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:2482-2491. [PMID: 38264997 PMCID: PMC10853968 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c05258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
In a previously published study, the authors devised a molecular topology QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationship) approach to detect novel fungicides acting as inhibitors of chitin deacetylase (CDA). Several of the chosen compounds exhibited noteworthy activity. Due to the close relationship between chitin-related proteins present in fungi and other chitin-containing plant-parasitic species, the authors decided to test these molecules against nematodes, based on their negative impact on agriculture. From an overall of 20 fungal CDA inhibitors, six showed to be active against Caenorhabditis elegans. These experimental results made it possible to develop two new molecular topology-based QSAR algorithms for the rational design of potential nematicides with CDA inhibitor activity for crop protection. Linear discriminant analysis was employed to create the two algorithms, one for identifying the chemo-mathematical pattern of commercial nematicides and the other for identifying nematicides with activity on CDA. After creating and validating the QSAR models, the authors screened several natural and synthetic compound databases, searching for alternatives to current nematicides. Finally one compound, the N2-(dimethylsulfamoyl)-N-{2-[(2-methyl-2-propanyl)sulfanyl]ethyl}-N2-phenylglycinamide or nematode chitin deacetylase inhibitor, was selected as the best candidate and was further investigated both in silico, through molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations, and in vitro, through specific experimental assays. The molecule shows favorable binding behavior on the catalytic pocket of C. elegans CDA and the experimental assays confirm potential nematicide activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Galvez-Llompart
- Department
of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Science, Toxicology
and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia 46100, Spain
- Molecular
Topology and Drug Design Unit. Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia 46100, Spain
| | - Riccardo Zanni
- Molecular
Topology and Drug Design Unit. Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia 46100, Spain
| | - David Vela-Corcía
- Department
of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Instituto de Hortofruticultura
Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, IHSM-UMA-CSIC, University of Málaga, Málaga 29071, Spain
| | - Álvaro Polonio
- Department
of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Instituto de Hortofruticultura
Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, IHSM-UMA-CSIC, University of Málaga, Málaga 29071, Spain
| | - Facundo Perez-Gimenez
- Molecular
Topology and Drug Design Unit. Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia 46100, Spain
| | - Jesús Martínez-Cruz
- Department
of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Instituto de Hortofruticultura
Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, IHSM-UMA-CSIC, University of Málaga, Málaga 29071, Spain
| | - Diego Romero
- Department
of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Instituto de Hortofruticultura
Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, IHSM-UMA-CSIC, University of Málaga, Málaga 29071, Spain
| | - Dolores Fernández-Ortuño
- Department
of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Instituto de Hortofruticultura
Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, IHSM-UMA-CSIC, University of Málaga, Málaga 29071, Spain
| | - Alejandro Pérez-García
- Department
of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Instituto de Hortofruticultura
Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, IHSM-UMA-CSIC, University of Málaga, Málaga 29071, Spain
| | - Jorge Galvez
- Molecular
Topology and Drug Design Unit. Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia 46100, Spain
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6
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Kawasaki I, Sugiura K, Sasaki T, Matsuda N, Sato M, Sato K. MARC-3, a membrane-associated ubiquitin ligase, is required for fast polyspermy block in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:792. [PMID: 38278786 PMCID: PMC10817901 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44928-6] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In many sexually reproducing organisms, oocytes are fundamentally fertilized with one sperm. In Caenorhabditis elegans, chitin layer formation after fertilization by the EGG complex is one of the mechanisms of polyspermy block, but other mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that MARC-3, a membrane-associated RING-CH-type ubiquitin ligase that localizes to the plasma membrane and cortical puncta in oocytes, is involved in fast polyspermy block. During polyspermy, the second sperm entry occurs within approximately 10 s after fertilization in MARC-3-deficient zygotes, whereas it occurs approximately 200 s after fertilization in egg-3 mutant zygotes defective in the chitin layer formation. MARC-3 also functions in the selective degradation of maternal plasma membrane proteins and the transient accumulation of endosomal lysine 63-linked polyubiquitin after fertilization. The RING-finger domain of MARC-3 is required for its in vitro ubiquitination activity and polyspermy block, suggesting that a ubiquitination-mediated mechanism sequentially regulates fast polyspermy block and maternal membrane protein degradation during the oocyte-to-embryo transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ichiro Kawasaki
- Laboratory of Molecular Traffic, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8512, Japan
| | - Kenta Sugiura
- Laboratory of Molecular Traffic, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8512, Japan
| | - Taeko Sasaki
- Laboratory of Molecular Membrane Biology, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8512, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Matsuda
- Department of Biomolecular Pathogenesis, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Miyuki Sato
- Laboratory of Molecular Membrane Biology, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8512, Japan.
| | - Ken Sato
- Laboratory of Molecular Traffic, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8512, Japan.
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7
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Bhatnagar A, Nestler M, Gross P, Kramar M, Leaver M, Voigt A, Grill SW. Axis convergence in C. elegans embryos. Curr Biol 2023; 33:5096-5108.e15. [PMID: 37979577 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Embryos develop in a surrounding that guides key aspects of their development. For example, the anteroposterior (AP) body axis is always aligned with the geometric long axis of the surrounding eggshell in fruit flies and worms. The mechanisms that ensure convergence of the AP axis with the long axis of the eggshell remain unresolved. We investigate axis convergence in early C. elegans development, where the nascent AP axis, when misaligned, actively re-aligns to converge with the long axis of the egg. We identify two physical mechanisms that underlie axis convergence. First, bulk cytoplasmic flows, driven by actomyosin cortical flows, can directly reposition the AP axis. Second, active forces generated within the pseudocleavage furrow, a transient actomyosin structure similar to a contractile ring, can drive a mechanical re-orientation such that it becomes positioned perpendicular to the long axis of the egg. This in turn ensures AP axis convergence. Numerical simulations, together with experiments that either abolish the pseudocleavage furrow or change the shape of the egg, demonstrate that the pseudocleavage-furrow-dependent mechanism is a major driver of axis convergence. We conclude that active force generation within the actomyosin cortical layer drives axis convergence in the early nematode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archit Bhatnagar
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany
| | - Michael Nestler
- Institute of Scientific Computing, Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Zellescher Weg 25, Dresden 01217, Germany
| | - Peter Gross
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany; Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Tatzberg 47/49, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Mirna Kramar
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Tatzberg 47/49, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Mark Leaver
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany
| | - Axel Voigt
- Institute of Scientific Computing, Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Zellescher Weg 25, Dresden 01217, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Arnoldstrase 18, Dresden 01307, Germany; Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany.
| | - Stephan W Grill
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Arnoldstrase 18, Dresden 01307, Germany; Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Pfotenhauerstrase 108, Dresden 01037, Germany.
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8
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Venkatachalam T, Mannimala S, Soto MC. CED-5/CED-12 (DOCK/ELMO) can promote and inhibit F-actin formation via distinct motifs that target different GTPases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.04.560868. [PMID: 37873140 PMCID: PMC10592980 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.04.560868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Coordinated activation and inhibition of F-actin supports the movements of morphogenesis. Understanding the proteins that regulate F-actin is important, since these proteins are mis-regulated in diseases like cancer. Our studies of C. elegans embryonic epidermal morphogenesis identified the GTPase CED-10/Rac1 as an essential activator of F-actin. However, we need to identify the GEF, or Guanine-nucleotide Exchange Factor, that activates CED-10/Rac1 during embryonic cell migrations. The two-component GEF, CED-5/CED-12, is known to activate CED-10/Rac1 to promote cell movements that result in the engulfment of dying cells during embryogenesis, and a later cell migration of the larval Distal Tip Cell. It is believed that CED-5/CED-12 powers cellular movements of corpse engulfment and DTC migration by promoting F-actin formation. Therefore, we tested if CED-5/CED-12 was involved in embryonic migrations, and got a contradictory result. CED-5/CED-12 definitely support embryonic migrations, since their loss led to embryos that died due to failed epidermal cell migrations. However, CED-5/CED-12 inhibited F-actin in the migrating epidermis, the opposite of what was expected for a CED-10 GEF. To address how CED-12/CED-5 could have two opposing effects on F-actin, during corpse engulfment and cell migration, we investigated if CED-12 harbors GAP (GTPase Activating Protein) functions. A candidate GAP region in CED-12 faces away from the CED-5 GEF catalytic region. Mutating a candidate catalytic Arginine in the CED-12 GAP region (R537A) altered the epidermal cell migration function, and not the corpse engulfment function. A candidate GEF region on CED-5 faces towards Rac1/CED-10. Mutating Serine-Arginine in CED-5/DOCK predicted to bind and stabilize Rac1 for catalysis, resulted in loss of both ventral enclosure and corpse engulfment. Genetic and expression studies showed the GEF and GAP functions act on different GTPases. Thus, we propose CED-5/CED-12 support the cycling of multiple GTPases, by using distinct domains, to both promote and inhibit F-actin nucleation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thejasvi Venkatachalam
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Sushma Mannimala
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Martha C. Soto
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
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9
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Quiogue AR, Sumiyoshi E, Fries A, Chuang CH, Bowerman B. Cortical microtubules oppose actomyosin-driven membrane ingression during C. elegans meiosis I polar body extrusion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.26.542508. [PMID: 37292632 PMCID: PMC10245968 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.26.542508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
During C. elegans oocyte meiosis I, cortical actomyosin is locally remodeled to assemble a contractile ring near the spindle. In contrast to mitosis, when most cortical actomyosin converges into a contractile ring, the small oocyte ring forms within and remains part of a much larger and actively contractile cortical actomyosin network. This network both mediates contractile ring dynamics and generates shallow ingressions throughout the oocyte cortex during polar body extrusion. Based on our analysis of requirements for CLS-2, a member of the CLASP family of proteins that stabilize microtubules, we recently proposed that a balance of actomyosin-mediated tension and microtubule-mediated stiffness are required for contractile ring assembly within the oocyte cortical actomyosin network. Here, using live cell imaging and fluorescent protein fusions, we show that CLS-2 is part of a complex of kinetochore proteins, including the scaffold KNL-1 and the kinase BUB-1, that also co-localize to patches distributed throughout the oocyte cortex during meiosis I. By reducing their function, we further show that KNL-1 and BUB-1, like CLS-2, are required for cortical microtubule stability, to limit membrane ingression throughout the oocyte, and for meiotic contractile ring assembly and polar body extrusion. Moreover, nocodazole or taxol treatment to destabilize or stabilize oocyte microtubules, respectively, leads to excess or decreased membrane ingression throughout the oocyte and defective polar body extrusion. Finally, genetic backgrounds that elevate cortical microtubule levels suppress the excess membrane ingression in cls-2 mutant oocytes. These results support our hypothesis that CLS-2, as part of a sub-complex of kinetochore proteins that also co-localize to patches throughout the oocyte cortex, stabilizes microtubules to stiffen the oocyte cortex and limit membrane ingression throughout the oocyte, thereby facilitating contractile ring dynamics and the successful completion of polar body extrusion during meiosis I.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adam Fries
- Institute of Molecular Biology
- Imaging Core, Office of the Vice President for Research, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR USA 97403
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10
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Bond AT, Huffman DG. Nematode eggshells: A new anatomical and terminological framework, with a critical review of relevant literature and suggested guidelines for the interpretation and reporting of eggshell imagery. Parasite 2023; 30:6. [PMID: 36920277 PMCID: PMC10016204 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
A literature review for a recent ultrastructural study of a trichinelloid eggshell revealed consistently occurring errors in the literature on nematode eggshell anatomy. Examples included nematodes of medical, veterinary, and agricultural importance in several orders. Previous researchers had warned of some of these errors decades ago, but a comprehensive solution was not offered until 2012 when a clarifying new anatomical and developmental interpretation of nematode eggshells was proposed by members of the Caenorhabditis elegans Research Community. However, their findings were explained using arcane acronyms and technical jargon intended for an audience of experimental molecular geneticists, and so their papers have rarely been cited outside the C. elegans community. Herein we (1) provide a critical review of nematode eggshell literature in which we correct errors and relabel imagery in important historical reports; (2) describe common reporting errors and their causes using language familiar to researchers having a basic understanding of microscopy and nematode eggs; (3) recommend a new hexalaminar anatomical and terminological framework for nematode eggshells based on the 2012 C. elegans framework; and (4) recommend new unambiguous terms appropriate for the embryonated/larvated eggs regularly encountered by practicing nematodologists to replace ambiguous or ontogenetically restricted terms in the 2012 C. elegans framework. We also (5) propose a resolution to conflicting claims made by the C. elegans team versus classical literature regarding Layer #3, (6) extend the C. elegans hexalaminar framework to include the polar plugs of trichinelloids, and (7) report new findings regarding trichinelloid eggshell structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Thomas Bond
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia 180 E. Green St. Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - David George Huffman
- Department of Biology (Wildlife Ecology and Aquatic Resources), Freeman Aquatic Biology Bldg., Texas State University San Marcos TX 78666 USA
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11
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Shifaw A, Ruhnke I, Elliott T, Sharpe B, Feyera T, Walkden-Brown SW. Ascaridia galli eggs obtained from fresh excreta, worm uteri or worms cultured in artificial media differ in embryonation capacity and infectivity. Vet Parasitol 2022; 310:109792. [PMID: 36054967 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Ascaridia galli infection models use eggs isolated from chicken excreta, worm uteri and worms cultured in artificial media. The aim of this study was to compare the infectivity of A. galli eggs isolated from these sources under two infection regimens. A 3 × 2 factorial arrangement was employed to test the infectivity of A. galli eggs from the three sources and two modes of infection (single or trickle infection). One hundred and fifty-six Isa-Brown one day-old cockerels randomly assigned to the six treatment groups (n = 26) were orally infected with embryonated A. galli eggs obtained from the three A. galli egg sources (worm uteri, excreta or eggs shed in vitro) administered either as single dose of 300 eggs at one day-old or trickle infected with 3 doses of 100 eggs over the first week of life. Twenty-two negative control birds remained uninfected. Eggs obtained from cultured worms or excreta exhibited a higher embryonation capacity (P = 0.003) than eggs obtained from worm uteri. There were higher worm establishment (infectivity) rates from embryonated eggs originating from cultured worms and worm uteri compared with eggs obtained from fresh excreta (P < 0.0001). Trickle infection resulted in a significantly higher total worm burden (P = 0.002), establishment rate (P = 0.002) and excreta egg counts (EEC, P = 0.025) than single infection. Worm length was greater in birds infected with embryonated eggs from excreta than from uteri or cultured worms (P < 0.0001). However, mode of infection did not affect worm length (P = 0.719) and weight (P = 0.945). A strong significant positive linear correlation was observed between EECs and female worm counts at 12 weeks of post infection sampling (r = 0.75; P < 0.0001). Body weight of birds was negatively correlated with both worm burden (r = - 0.21; P < 0.01) and EEC (r = - 0.20; P < 0.05) at 12 weeks post infection. In conclusion, our results show that eggs shed by cultured worms or isolated from worm uteri had greater infective capacity than eggs harvested from excreta and that trickle rather than bolus infection resulted in higher worm establishment. These factors should be taken into account when considering artificial infection protocols for A. galli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwar Shifaw
- Animal Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
| | - Isabelle Ruhnke
- Animal Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
| | - Timothy Elliott
- Animal Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
| | | | - Teka Feyera
- Animal Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia; Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jigjiga University, P. O. Box 1020, Jigjiga, Ethiopia
| | - Stephen W Walkden-Brown
- Animal Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
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12
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Characterisation of chemical damage on tissue structures by multispectral imaging and machine learning procedures: Alkaline hypochlorite effect in C. elegans. Comput Biol Med 2022; 145:105477. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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13
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Mendoza AD, Sue A, Antipova O, Vogt S, Woodruff TK, Wignall SM, O’Halloran TV. Dynamic zinc fluxes regulate meiotic progression in Caenorhabditis elegans†. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:406-418. [PMID: 35466369 PMCID: PMC9902257 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Zinc influx and efflux events are essential for meiotic progression in oocytes of several mammalian and amphibian species, but it is less clear whether this evolutionary conservation of zinc signals is also important in late-stage germline development in invertebrates. Using quantitative, single cell elemental mapping methods, we find that Caenorhabditis elegans oocytes undergo significant stage-dependent fluctuations in total zinc content, rising by over sevenfold from Prophase I through the beginning of mitotic divisions in the embryo. Live imaging of the rapid cell cycle progression in C. elegans enables us to follow changes in labile zinc pools across meiosis and mitosis in single embryo. We find a dynamic increase in labile zinc prior to fertilization that then decreases from Anaphase II through pronuclear fusion and relocalizes to the eggshell. Disruption of these zinc fluxes blocks extrusion of the second polar body, leading to a range of mitotic defects. We conclude that spatial temporal zinc fluxes are necessary for meiotic progression in C. elegans and are a conserved feature of germ cell development in a broad cross section of metazoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelita D Mendoza
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA,The Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Aaron Sue
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA,The Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Olga Antipova
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
| | - Stefan Vogt
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
| | - Teresa K Woodruff
- Correspondence: Department of Chemistry and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building Room 3022, 766 Service Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823, USA. Tel: 517-353-4090; Fax: 517-353-2446; E-mail: ; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Interdisplinary Science and Technology Building Room 3006, 766 Service Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823, USA. Tel: 517-353-4090; Fax: 517-353-2446; E-mail: and Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, 2205 Tech Drive, Hogan 2-100, Evanston, IL 60208. E-mail:
| | - Sarah M Wignall
- Correspondence: Department of Chemistry and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building Room 3022, 766 Service Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823, USA. Tel: 517-353-4090; Fax: 517-353-2446; E-mail: ; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Interdisplinary Science and Technology Building Room 3006, 766 Service Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823, USA. Tel: 517-353-4090; Fax: 517-353-2446; E-mail: and Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, 2205 Tech Drive, Hogan 2-100, Evanston, IL 60208. E-mail:
| | - Thomas V O’Halloran
- Correspondence: Department of Chemistry and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building Room 3022, 766 Service Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823, USA. Tel: 517-353-4090; Fax: 517-353-2446; E-mail: ; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Interdisplinary Science and Technology Building Room 3006, 766 Service Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823, USA. Tel: 517-353-4090; Fax: 517-353-2446; E-mail: and Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, 2205 Tech Drive, Hogan 2-100, Evanston, IL 60208. E-mail:
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14
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Cao Z, Fung CW, Mak HY. A Flexible Network of Lipid Droplet Associated Proteins Support Embryonic Integrity of C. elegans. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:856474. [PMID: 35445028 PMCID: PMC9015696 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.856474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to coordinating the storage and mobilization of neutral fat, lipid droplets (LDs) are conserved organelles that can accommodate additional cargos in order to support animal development. However, it is unclear if each type of cargo is matched with a specific subset of LDs. Here, we report that SEIP-1/seipin defines a subset of oocyte LDs that are required for proper eggshell formation in C. elegans. Using a photoconvertible fluorescent protein-based imaging assay, we found that SEIP-1 positive LDs were selectively depleted after fertilization, coincident of the formation of a lipid-rich permeability barrier of the eggshell. Loss of SEIP-1 function caused impenetrant embryonic arrest, which could be worsened by FAT-3/fatty acyl-CoA desaturase deficiency or suppressed by PLIN-1/Perilipin deficiency. The embryonic development of seip-1; plin-1 mutant in turn depended on the recruitment of RAB-18/Rab18 to LDs, which was not observed in wild type embryos. We propose that SEIP-1 dependent and independent mechanisms act in parallel to ensure the packaging and export of lipid-rich permeability barrier constituents, which involve LDs. The identity of these LDs, as defined by their associated proteins, exhibits unexpected plasticity that ultimately ensures the survival of embryos ex utero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Cao
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chun Wing Fung
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ho Yi Mak
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
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15
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Mkandawire TT, Grencis RK, Berriman M, Duque-Correa MA. Hatching of parasitic nematode eggs: a crucial step determining infection. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:174-187. [PMID: 34538735 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Although hatching from eggs is fundamental for nematode biology it remains poorly understood. For animal-parasitic nematodes in particular, advancement has been slow since the 1980s. Understanding such a crucial life-cycle process would greatly improve the tractability of parasitic nematodes as experimental systems, advance fundamental knowledge, and enable translational research. Here, we review the role of eggs in the nematode life cycle and the current knowledge on the hatching cascade, including the different inducing and contributing factors, and highlight specific areas of the field that remain unknown. We examine how these knowledge gaps could be addressed and discuss their potential impact and application in nematode parasite research, treatment, and control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard K Grencis
- The Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research and Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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16
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The Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Semi-Targeted Metabolomics to Improve IVF Outcomes in Senile Patients. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:6696305. [PMID: 34804183 PMCID: PMC8598347 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6696305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective To identify the biological function and metabolic pathway of differential metabolites in follicular fluid of senile patients with kidney qi deficiency undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and observe the effect of kidney-invigorating herbs on IVF outcomes in senile patients. Methods A total of 95 women undergoing IVF treatment were recruited and divided into three groups, including 34 cases in the treatment group (the senile patients with kidney qi deficiency after the intervention of Chinese medicine), 31 cases in the experiment group (the senile patients with kidney qi deficiency of no intervention of Chinese medicine), and 30 cases in the control group (young women with infertility due to male factor). The three groups of women were treated with long protocol ovarian hyperstimulation; the treatment group was given Qi-Zi-Yu-Si decoction on the day of HCG downregulation. Their IVF clinical outcomes were observed. The metabolites changes of kidney qi deficiency syndrome were analyzed in follicular fluid metabolomics using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Results The syndrome score of kidney qi deficiency syndrome in the treatment group was significantly improved after treatment (P < 0.01). Compared with the experiment group, the available embryo rate and implantation rate were increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Progesterone, indoleacrylic acid, 2-propenyl 1-(1-propenylsulfinyl) propyl disulfide, N-acetyltryptophan, decanoylcarnitine, 20a-dihydroprogesterone, testosterone acetate, eicosatrienoic acid, 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde, choline, phosphorylcholine, and tryptophan were downregulated in the treatment group. Through pathway analysis, glycerophospholipid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis were regulated in senile patients with kidney qi deficiency after Qi-Zi-Yu-Si decoction intervention. Conclusion Qi-Zi-Yu-Si decoction can effectively improve the IVF outcome and clinical symptoms of senile patients. Follicular fluid metabolites were significantly changed in senile infertile women with kidney qi deficiency, and the mechanism by which kidney-invigorating herbs improve IVF treatment outcomes may be related to glycerophospholipid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis. This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ChiCTR1800014422).
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17
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Mishra N, Mallick S, Negi VD. Salmonella Typhimurium infection causes defects and fastening of Caenorhabditis elegans developmental stages. Microbes Infect 2021; 24:104894. [PMID: 34756991 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2021.104894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Neha Mishra
- Laboratory of Infection Immunology, Department of Life Science National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India.
| | - Swarupa Mallick
- Laboratory of Infection Immunology, Department of Life Science National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India.
| | - Vidya Devi Negi
- Laboratory of Infection Immunology, Department of Life Science National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India.
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18
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Hartman JH, Widmayer SJ, Bergemann CM, King DE, Morton KS, Romersi RF, Jameson LE, Leung MCK, Andersen EC, Taubert S, Meyer JN. Xenobiotic metabolism and transport in Caenorhabditis elegans. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2021; 24:51-94. [PMID: 33616007 PMCID: PMC7958427 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2021.1884921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a major model in biomedical and environmental toxicology. Numerous papers on toxicology and pharmacology in C. elegans have been published, and this species has now been adopted by investigators in academic toxicology, pharmacology, and drug discovery labs. C. elegans has also attracted the interest of governmental regulatory agencies charged with evaluating the safety of chemicals. However, a major, fundamental aspect of toxicological science remains underdeveloped in C. elegans: xenobiotic metabolism and transport processes that are critical to understanding toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics, and extrapolation to other species. The aim of this review was to initially briefly describe the history and trajectory of the use of C. elegans in toxicological and pharmacological studies. Subsequently, physical barriers to chemical uptake and the role of the worm microbiome in xenobiotic transformation were described. Then a review of what is and is not known regarding the classic Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III processes was performed. In addition, the following were discussed (1) regulation of xenobiotic metabolism; (2) review of published toxicokinetics for specific chemicals; and (3) genetic diversity of these processes in C. elegans. Finally, worm xenobiotic transport and metabolism was placed in an evolutionary context; key areas for future research highlighted; and implications for extrapolating C. elegans toxicity results to other species discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica H Hartman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Samuel J Widmayer
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States
| | | | - Dillon E King
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Katherine S Morton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Riccardo F Romersi
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Laura E Jameson
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University - West Campus, Glendale, Arizona, United States
| | - Maxwell C K Leung
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University - West Campus, Glendale, Arizona, United States
| | - Erik C Andersen
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States
| | - Stefan Taubert
- Dept. Of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, the University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Joel N Meyer
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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19
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Suarez-Fernandez M, Sambles C, Lopez-Moya F, Nueda MJ, Studholme DJ, Lopez-Llorca LV. Chitosan modulates Pochonia chlamydosporia gene expression during nematode egg parasitism. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:4980-4997. [PMID: 33496078 PMCID: PMC8518118 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Climate change makes plant‐parasitic nematodes (PPN) an increasing threat to commercial crops. PPN can be managed sustainably by the biocontrol fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia (Pc). Chitosan generated from chitin deacetylation enhances PPN parasitism by Pc. In this work, we investigate the molecular mechanisms of Pc for chitosan resistance and root‐knot nematode (RKN) parasitism, using transcriptomics. Chitosan and RKN modify the expression of Pc genes, mainly those involved in oxidation–reduction processes. Both agents significantly modify the expression of genes associated to 113 GO terms and 180 Pc genes. Genes encoding putative glycoproteins (Pc adhesives) to nematode eggshell, as well as genes involved in redox, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism trigger the response to chitosan. We identify genes expressed in both the parasitic and endophytic phases of the Pc lifecycle; these include proteases, chitosanases and transcription factors. Using the Pathogen—Host Interaction database (PHI‐base), our previous RNA‐seq data and RT‐PCR of Pc colonizing banana we have investigated genes expressed both in the parasitic and endophytic phases of Pc lifecycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Suarez-Fernandez
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain.,Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES) Ramon Margalef, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain
| | | | - Federico Lopez-Moya
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain
| | - María J Nueda
- Mathematics Department, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain
| | | | - Luis Vicente Lopez-Llorca
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain.,Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES) Ramon Margalef, University of Alicante, Alicante, 03080, Spain
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20
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Bai X, Huang LJ, Chen SW, Nebenfuehr B, Wysolmerski B, Wu JC, Olson SK, Golden A, Wang CW. Loss of the seipin gene perturbs eggshell formation in Caenorhabditiselegans. Development 2020; 147:dev192997. [PMID: 32820022 PMCID: PMC7578359 DOI: 10.1242/dev.192997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Seipin, an evolutionary conserved protein, plays pivotal roles during lipid droplet (LD) biogenesis and is associated with various human diseases with unclear mechanisms. Here, we analyzed Caenorhabditis elegans mutants deleted of the sole SEIPIN gene, seip-1 Homozygous seip-1 mutants displayed penetrant embryonic lethality, which is caused by the disruption of the lipid-rich permeability barrier, the innermost layer of the C. elegans embryonic eggshell. In C. elegans oocytes and embryos, SEIP-1 is associated with LDs and is crucial for controlling LD size and lipid homeostasis. The seip-1 deletion mutants reduced the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in their embryonic fatty acid pool. Interestingly, dietary supplementation of selected n-6 PUFAs rescued the embryonic lethality and defective permeability barrier. Accordingly, we propose that SEIP-1 may maternally regulate LD biogenesis and lipid homeostasis to orchestrate the formation of the permeability barrier for eggshell synthesis during embryogenesis. A lipodystrophy allele of seip-1 resulted in embryonic lethality as well and could be rescued by PUFA supplementation. These experiments support a great potential for using C. elegans to model SEIPIN-associated human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Bai
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Leng-Jie Huang
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Wen Chen
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Benjamin Nebenfuehr
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brian Wysolmerski
- Department of Biology and Program in Molecular Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Jui-Ching Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10048, Taiwan
| | - Sara K Olson
- Department of Biology and Program in Molecular Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Andy Golden
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chao-Wen Wang
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
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21
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Cohen JD, Sundaram MV. C. elegans Apical Extracellular Matrices Shape Epithelia. J Dev Biol 2020; 8:E23. [PMID: 33036165 PMCID: PMC7712855 DOI: 10.3390/jdb8040023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Apical extracellular matrices (aECMs) coat exposed surfaces of epithelia to shape developing tissues and protect them from environmental insults. Despite their widespread importance for human health, aECMs are poorly understood compared to basal and stromal ECMs. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains a variety of distinct aECMs, some of which share many of the same types of components (lipids, lipoproteins, collagens, zona pellucida domain proteins, chondroitin glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans) with mammalian aECMs. These aECMs include the eggshell, a glycocalyx-like pre-cuticle, both collagenous and chitin-based cuticles, and other understudied aECMs of internal epithelia. C. elegans allows rapid genetic manipulations and live imaging of fluorescently-tagged aECM components, and is therefore providing new insights into aECM structure, trafficking, assembly, and functions in tissue shaping.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Meera V. Sundaram
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine 415 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6145, USA;
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22
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Min H, Youn E, Shim YH. Maternal Caffeine Intake Disrupts Eggshell Integrity and Retards Larval Development by Reducing Yolk Production in a Caenorhabditis elegans Model. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12051334. [PMID: 32392893 PMCID: PMC7284833 DOI: 10.3390/nu12051334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy, most women are exposed to caffeine, which is a widely consumed psychoactive substance. However, the consequences of maternal caffeine intake on the child remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the intergenerational effects of maternal caffeine intake on offspring in a Caenorhabditis elegans model. We treated a young mother (P0) with 10 mM of caffeine equivalent to 2–5 cans of commercial energy drinks and examined its reproduction and growth rate from P0 to F2 generation. The fertility decreased and embryonic lethality increased by defective oocytes and eggshell integrity in caffeine-ingested mothers, and F1 larval development severely retarded. These results were due to decreased production of vitellogenin protein (yolk) in caffeine-ingested mothers. Furthermore, effects of RNA interference of vitellogenin (vit) genes, vit-1 to vit-6, in P0 mothers can mimic those by caffeine-ingested mothers. In addition, RNA interference (RNAi) depletion of unc-62 (human Meis homeobox), a transcriptional activator for vit genes, also showed similar effects induced by caffeine intake. Taken together, maternal caffeine intake reduced yolk production mediated by the UNC-62 transcription factor, thereby disrupting oocyte and eggshell integrity and retarding larval development. Our study suggests the clinical significance of caffeine intake for prospective mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yhong-Hee Shim
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-450-4059; Fax: +82-2-455-9956
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23
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Krenger R, Burri JT, Lehnert T, Nelson BJ, Gijs MAM. Force microscopy of the Caenorhabditis elegans embryonic eggshell. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2020; 6:29. [PMID: 32382445 PMCID: PMC7196560 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-020-0137-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Assays focusing on emerging biological phenomena in an animal's life can be performed during embryogenesis. While the embryo of Caenorhabditis elegans has been extensively studied, its biomechanical properties are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that cellular force microscopy (CFM), a recently developed technique that combines micro-indentation with high resolution force sensing approaching that of atomic force microscopy, can be successfully applied to C. elegans embryos. We performed, for the first time, a quantitative study of the mechanical properties of the eggshell of living C. elegans embryos and demonstrate the capability of the system to detect alterations of its mechanical parameters and shell defects upon chemical treatments. In addition to investigating natural eggshells, we applied different eggshell treatments, i.e., exposure to sodium hypochlorite and chitinase solutions, respectively, that selectively modified the multilayer eggshell structure, in order to evaluate the impact of the different layers on the mechanical integrity of the embryo. Finite element method simulations based on a simple embryo model were used to extract characteristic eggshell parameters from the experimental micro-indentation force-displacement curves. We found a strong correlation between the severity of the chemical treatment and the rigidity of the shell. Furthermore, our results showed, in contrast to previous assumptions, that short bleach treatments not only selectively remove the outermost vitelline layer of the eggshell, but also significantly degenerate the underlying chitin layer, which is primarily responsible for the mechanical stability of the egg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Krenger
- Laboratory of Microsystems, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan T. Burri
- Multi-Scale Robotics Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zürich, 8092 Switzerland
| | - Thomas Lehnert
- Laboratory of Microsystems, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bradley J. Nelson
- Multi-Scale Robotics Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zürich, 8092 Switzerland
| | - Martin A. M. Gijs
- Laboratory of Microsystems, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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24
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Kanaki N, Matsuda A, Dejima K, Murata D, Nomura KH, Ohkura T, Gengyo-Ando K, Yoshina S, Mitani S, Nomura K. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-dolichyl-phosphate N-acetylglucosaminephosphotransferase is indispensable for oogenesis, oocyte-to-embryo transition, and larval development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Glycobiology 2019; 29:163-178. [PMID: 30445613 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwy104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
N-linked glycosylation of proteins is the most common post-translational modification of proteins. The enzyme UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-dolichyl-phosphate N-acetylglucosaminephosphotransferase (DPAGT1) catalyses the first step of N-glycosylation, and DPAGT1 knockout is embryonic lethal in mice. In this study, we identified the sole orthologue (algn-7) of the human DPAGT1 in the nematode C. elegans. The gene activity was disrupted by RNAi and deletion mutagenesis, which resulted in larval lethality, defects in oogenesis and oocyte-to-embryo transition. Endomitotic oocytes, abnormal fusion of pronuclei, abnormal AB cell rotation, disruption of permeation barriers of eggs, and abnormal expression of chitin and chitin synthase in oocytes and eggs were the typical phenotypes observed. The results indicate that N-glycosylation is indispensable for these processes. We further screened an N-glycosylated protein database of C. elegans, and identified 456 germline-expressed genes coding N-glycosylated proteins. By examining RNAi phenotypes, we identified five germline-expressed genes showing similar phenotypes to the algn-7 (RNAi) animals. They were ribo-1, stt-3, ptc-1, ptc-2, and vha-19. We identified known congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) genes (ribo-1 and stt-3) and a recently found CDG gene (vha-19). The results show that phenotype analyses using the nematode could be a powerful tool to detect new CDG candidate genes and their associated gene networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanako Kanaki
- Department of Systems Life Sciences, Kyushu University Graduate School, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ayako Matsuda
- Department of Systems Life Sciences, Kyushu University Graduate School, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Katsufumi Dejima
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Murata
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kazuko H Nomura
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takashi Ohkura
- Department of Reproductive Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiko Gengyo-Ando
- Department of Physiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sawako Yoshina
- Department of Physiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shohei Mitani
- Department of Physiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuya Nomura
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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25
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González DP, Lamb HV, Partida D, Wilson ZT, Harrison MC, Prieto JA, Moresco JJ, Diedrich JK, Yates JR, Olson SK. CBD-1 organizes two independent complexes required for eggshell vitelline layer formation and egg activation in C. elegans. Dev Biol 2018; 442:288-300. [PMID: 30120927 PMCID: PMC6143425 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 08/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Metazoan eggs have a specialized coat of extracellular matrix that aids in sperm-egg recognition. The coat is rapidly remodeled after fertilization to prevent polyspermy and establish a more permanent barrier to protect the developing embryo. In nematodes, this coat is called the vitelline layer, which is remodeled into the outermost layer of a rigid and impermeable eggshell. We have identified three key components of the vitelline layer structural scaffold - PERM-2, PERM-4 and CBD-1, the first such proteins to be described in the nematode C. elegans. CBD-1 tethered PERM-2 and PERM-4 to the nascent vitelline layer via two N-terminal chitin-binding domains. After fertilization, all three proteins redistributed from the zygote surface to the outer eggshell. Depletion of PERM-2 and PERM-4 from the scaffold led to a porous vitelline layer that permitted soluble factors to leak through the eggshell and resulted in embryonic death. In addition to its role in vitelline layer assembly, CBD-1 is also known to anchor a protein complex required for fertilization and egg activation (EGG-1-5/CHS-1/MBK-2). We found the PERM complex and EGG complex to be functionally independent, and structurally organized through distinct domains of CBD-1. CBD-1 is thus a multifaceted regulator that promotes distinct aspects of vitelline layer assembly and egg activation. In sum, our findings characterize the first vitelline layer components in nematodes, and provide a foundation through which to explore both conserved and species-specific strategies used by animals to build protective barriers following fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delfina P González
- Department of Biology and Program in Molecular Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Helen V Lamb
- Department of Biology and Program in Molecular Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Diana Partida
- Department of Biology and Program in Molecular Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Zachary T Wilson
- Department of Biology and Program in Molecular Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Marie-Claire Harrison
- Department of Biology and Program in Molecular Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Julián A Prieto
- Department of Biology and Program in Molecular Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - James J Moresco
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jolene K Diedrich
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - John R Yates
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sara K Olson
- Department of Biology and Program in Molecular Biology, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA.
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26
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Abstract
In all animals, oocytes are surrounded by an extracellular matrix upon fertilization. This matrix serves similar purposes in each animal. It functions to mediate sperm binding, to prevent polyspermy, to control the chemical environment of the embryo, and to provide physical protection to the embryo as it developes. The synthesis of the C. elegans matrix, or eggshell, begins when the oocyte enters the spermatheca and is fertilized by a single sperm. The process of eggshell synthesis is thought to take place during the completion of the maternal meiotic divisions such that the multi-layered eggshell is completed by anaphase II. The synthesis of the eggshell occurs in a hierarchical pattern in which the outermost layers are synthesized first in order to capture and retain the innermost layers as they form. Recent studies have revealed that the lipid-rich permeability barrier is distinct from the outer trilaminar eggshell. These new findings alter our previous understanding of the eggshell. This chapter aims to define each of the eggshell layers and the molecules that are known to play significant roles in their formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn K Stein
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Andy Golden
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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27
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Fueser H, Majdi N, Haegerbaeumer A, Pilger C, Hachmeister H, Greife P, Huser T, Traunspurger W. Analyzing life-history traits and lipid storage using CARS microscopy for assessing effects of copper on the fitness of Caenorhabditis elegans. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 156:255-262. [PMID: 29554610 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Lipid storage provides energy for cell survival, growth, and reproduction and is closely related to the organismal response to stress imposed by toxic chemicals. However, the effects of toxicants on energy storage as it impacts certain life-history traits have rarely been investigated. Here, we used the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a test species for a chronic exposure to copper (Cu) at EC20 (0.50 mg Cu/l). Effects on the fatty acid distribution in C. elegans body were determined using coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) to link population fitness responses with individual ecophysiological responses. Cu inhibited nematode reproductive capacity and offspring growth in addition to shortening the lifespan of exposed individuals. In adult nematodes, Cu exposure led to significant reduction of lipid storage compared to the Cu-free control: Under Cu, lipids filled only 0.5% of the nematode body volume vs. 7.5% in control nematodes, lipid droplets were on average 74% smaller and the number of tiny lipids (0-10 µm2) was increased. These results suggest that (1) Cu has an important effect on the life-history traits of nematodes; (2) the quantification of lipid storage can provide important information on the response of organisms to toxic stress; and (3) CARS microscopy is a promising tool for non-invasive quantitative and qualitative analyses of lipids as a measure of nematode fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Fueser
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Nabil Majdi
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Arne Haegerbaeumer
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Christian Pilger
- Bielefeld University, Biomolecular Photonics, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Henning Hachmeister
- Bielefeld University, Biomolecular Photonics, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Paul Greife
- Bielefeld University, Biomolecular Photonics, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Thomas Huser
- Bielefeld University, Biomolecular Photonics, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Walter Traunspurger
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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28
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Aras BS, Zhou YC, Dawes A, Chou CS. The importance of mechanical constraints for proper polarization and psuedo-cleavage furrow generation in the early Caenorhabditis elegans embryo. PLoS Comput Biol 2018; 14:e1006294. [PMID: 29985915 PMCID: PMC6053242 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular polarization, where a cell specifies a spatial axis by segregation of specific factors, is a fundamental biological process. In the early embryo of the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), polarization is often accompanied by deformations of the cortex, a highly contractile structure consisting of actin filaments cross-linked by the motor protein myosin (actomyosin). It has been suggested that the eggshell surrounding the early embryo plays a role in polarization although its function is not understood. Here we develop a mathematical model which couples a reaction-diffusion model of actomyosin dynamics with a phase field model of the cell cortex to implicitly track cell shape changes in the early C. elegans embryo. We investigate the potential rigidity effect of the geometric constraint imposed by the presence and size of the eggshell on polarization dynamics. Our model suggests that the geometric constraint of the eggshell is essential for proper polarization and the size of the eggshell also affects the dynamics of polarization. Therefore, we conclude that geometric constraint on a cell might affect the dynamics of a biochemical process. Polarization, whereby molecules and proteins are asymmetrically distributed throughout the cell, is a vital process for many cellular functions. In the early C. elegans embryo the asymmetric distribution of cell cytoskeleton during the initiation of polarization leads to asymmetric contractions which are higher in the anterior and lower in the posterior of a cell. The C. elegans embryo is surrounded by a rigid body, the eggshell, which functions in numerous cell processes. We investigate the structural support of eggshell during the establishment phase by tracking the moving cell surface. We incorporate protein dynamics involved in polarization into the membrane evolution. We conclude that eggshell might have a role in cell polarization by preventing the distortion of cell surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betül Senay Aras
- Department of Mathematics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Y C Zhou
- Department of Mathematics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Adriana Dawes
- Department of Mathematics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.,Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Ching-Shan Chou
- Department of Mathematics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
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29
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Reymann AC, Staniscia F, Erzberger A, Salbreux G, Grill SW. Cortical flow aligns actin filaments to form a furrow. eLife 2016; 5:e17807. [PMID: 27719759 PMCID: PMC5117871 DOI: 10.7554/elife.17807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokinesis in eukaryotic cells is often accompanied by actomyosin cortical flow. Over 30 years ago, Borisy and White proposed that cortical flow converging upon the cell equator compresses the actomyosin network to mechanically align actin filaments. However, actin filaments also align via search-and-capture, and to what extent compression by flow or active alignment drive furrow formation remains unclear. Here, we quantify the dynamical organization of actin filaments at the onset of ring assembly in the C. elegans zygote, and provide a framework for determining emergent actomyosin material parameters by the use of active nematic gel theory. We characterize flow-alignment coupling, and verify at a quantitative level that compression by flow drives ring formation. Finally, we find that active alignment enhances but is not required for ring formation. Our work characterizes the physical mechanisms of actomyosin ring formation and highlights the role of flow as a central organizer of actomyosin network architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Cecile Reymann
- Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Fabio Staniscia
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anna Erzberger
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
| | - Guillaume Salbreux
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephan W Grill
- Biotechnology Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
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30
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Izumikawa T, Dejima K, Watamoto Y, Nomura KH, Kanaki N, Rikitake M, Tou M, Murata D, Yanagita E, Kano A, Mitani S, Nomura K, Kitagawa H. Chondroitin 4-O-Sulfotransferase Is Indispensable for Sulfation of Chondroitin and Plays an Important Role in Maintaining Normal Life Span and Oxidative Stress Responses in Nematodes. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:23294-23304. [PMID: 27645998 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.757328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Chondroitin sulfate (CS)/chondroitin (Chn) chains are indispensable for embryonic cell division and cytokinesis in the early developmental stages in Caenorhabditis elegans and mice, whereas heparan sulfate (HS) is essential for axon guidance during nervous system development. These data indicate that the fundamental functions of CS and HS are conserved from worms to mammals and that the function of CS/Chn differs from that of HS. Although previous studies have shown that C. elegans produces HS and non-sulfated Chn, whether the organism produces CS remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that C. elegans produces a small amount of 4-O-sulfated Chn and report the identification of C41C4.1, an orthologue of the human chondroitin 4-O-sulfotransferase gene. Loss of C41C4.1 in C. elegans resulted in a decline in 4-O-sulfation of CS and an increase in the number of sulfated units in HS. C41C4.1 deletion mutants exhibited reduced survival rates after synchronization with sodium hypochlorite. Collectively, these results show for the first time that CS glycans are present in C. elegans and that the Chn 4-O-sulfotransferase responsible for the sulfation plays an important role in protecting nematodes from oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomomi Izumikawa
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
| | - Katsufumi Dejima
- the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Yukiko Watamoto
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan
| | - Kazuko H Nomura
- the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Nanako Kanaki
- the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Marika Rikitake
- the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Mai Tou
- the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Daisuke Murata
- the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Eri Yanagita
- the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Ai Kano
- the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Shohei Mitani
- the Department of Physiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan, and
| | - Kazuya Nomura
- the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kitagawa
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan,
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31
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Chen WW, Yi YH, Chien CH, Hsiung KC, Ma TH, Lin YC, Lo SJ, Chang TC. Specific polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate lipid delivery and oocyte development in C. elegans revealed by molecular-selective label-free imaging. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32021. [PMID: 27535493 PMCID: PMC4989181 DOI: 10.1038/srep32021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exhibit critical functions in biological systems and their importance during animal oocyte maturation has been increasingly recognized. However, the detailed mechanism of lipid transportation for oocyte development remains largely unknown. In this study, the transportation of yolk lipoprotein (lipid carrier) and the rate of lipid delivery into oocytes in live C. elegans were examined for the first time by using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. The accumulation of secreted yolk lipoprotein in the pseudocoelom of live C. elegans can be detected by CARS microscopy at both protein (~1665 cm−1) and lipid (~2845 cm−1) Raman bands. In addition, an image analysis protocol was established to quantitatively measure the levels of secreted yolk lipoprotein aberrantly accumulated in PUFA-deficient fat mutants (fat-1, fat-2, fat-3, fat-4) and PUFA-supplemented fat-2 worms (the PUFA add-back experiments). Our results revealed that the omega-6 PUFAs, not omega-3 PUFAs, play a critical role in modulating lipid/yolk level in the oocytes and regulating reproductive efficiency of C. elegans. This work demonstrates the value of using CARS microscopy as a molecular-selective label-free imaging technique for the study of PUFA regulation and oocyte development in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Wen Chen
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan.,Molecular Science and Technology Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan.,Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Hsiang Yi
- Center of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hao Chien
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Kuei-Ching Hsiung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Tian-Hsiang Ma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Lin
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Szecheng J Lo
- Center of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Ta-Chau Chang
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan.,Molecular Science and Technology Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan
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32
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Weicksel SE, Mahadav A, Moyle M, Cipriani PG, Kudron M, Pincus Z, Bahmanyar S, Abriola L, Merkel J, Gutwein M, Fernandez AG, Piano F, Gunsalus KC, Reinke V. A novel small molecule that disrupts a key event during the oocyte-to-embryo transition in C. elegans. Development 2016; 143:3540-3548. [PMID: 27510972 DOI: 10.1242/dev.140046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The complex cellular events that occur in response to fertilization are essential for mediating the oocyte-to-embryo transition. Here, we describe a comprehensive small-molecule screen focused on identifying compounds that affect early embryonic events in Caenorhabditis elegans We identify a single novel compound that disrupts early embryogenesis with remarkable stage and species specificity. The compound, named C22, primarily impairs eggshell integrity, leading to osmotic sensitivity and embryonic lethality. The C22-induced phenotype is dependent upon the upregulation of the LET-607/CREBH transcription factor and its candidate target genes, which primarily encode factors involved in diverse aspects of protein trafficking. Together, our data suggest that in the presence of C22, one or more key components of the eggshell are inappropriately processed, leading to permeable, inviable embryos. The remarkable specificity and reversibility of this compound will facilitate further investigation into the role and regulation of protein trafficking in the early embryo, as well as serve as a tool for manipulating the life cycle for other studies such as those involving aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven E Weicksel
- Dept. of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Assaf Mahadav
- Dept. of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Dept. of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Mark Moyle
- Dept. of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Patricia G Cipriani
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Dept. of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Michelle Kudron
- Dept. of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Zachary Pincus
- Dept. of Developmental Biology and Dept. of Genetics, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shirin Bahmanyar
- Dept. of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Laura Abriola
- Yale Center for Molecular Discovery, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Janie Merkel
- Yale Center for Molecular Discovery, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Michelle Gutwein
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Dept. of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | | | - Fabio Piano
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Dept. of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA Division of Biological Sciences, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Kristin C Gunsalus
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Dept. of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA Division of Biological Sciences, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Valerie Reinke
- Dept. of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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33
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McVey KA, Snapp IB, Johnson MB, Negga R, Pressley AS, Fitsanakis VA. Exposure of C. elegans eggs to a glyphosate-containing herbicide leads to abnormal neuronal morphology. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2016; 55:23-31. [PMID: 27019975 PMCID: PMC4884470 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2016.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Revised: 03/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent data demonstrate that chronic exposure of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to a high-use glyphosate-containing herbicide, Touchdown (TD), potentially damages the adult nervous system. It is unknown, however, whether unhatched worms exposed to TD during the egg stage show abnormal neurodevelopment post-hatching. Therefore, we investigated whether early treatment with TD leads to aberrant neuronal or neurite development in C. elegans. Studies were completed in three different worm strains with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged neurons to facilitate visual neuronal assessment. Initially, eggs from C. elegans with all neurons tagged with GFP were chronically exposed to TD. Visual inspection suggested decreased neurite projections associated with ventral nerve cord neurons. Data analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in overall green pixel numbers at the fourth larval (L4) stage (*p<0.05). We further investigated whether specific neuronal populations were preferentially vulnerable to TD by treating eggs from worms that had all dopaminergic (DAergic) or γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) neurons tagged with GFP. As before, green pixel number associated with these discrete neuronal populations was analyzed at multiple larval stages. Data analysis indicated statistically significant decreases in pixel number associated with DAergic, but not GABAergic, neurons (***p<0.001) at all larval stages. Finally, statistically significant decreases (at the first larval stage, L1) or increases (at the fourth larval stage, L4) in superoxide levels, a developmental signaling molecule, were detected (*p<0.05). These data suggest that early exposure to TD may impair neuronal development, perhaps through superoxide perturbation. Since toxic insults during development may late render individuals more vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases in adulthood, these studies provide some of the first evidence in this model organism that early exposure to TD may adversely affect the developing nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A McVey
- King University, Department of Biology, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, TN 37620, USA; Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, 306 Liberty View Lane, Lynchburg, VA 24502, USA.
| | - Isaac B Snapp
- King University, Department of Biology, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, TN 37620, USA; Medical University of South Carolina, Physician Assistant Studies, 151B Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Megan B Johnson
- King University, Department of Biology, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, TN 37620, USA; Lincoln Memorial University, Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752, USA.
| | - Rekek Negga
- King University, Department of Biology, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, TN 37620, USA; The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, 366 Brehm Animal Science Building, 2506 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
| | - Aireal S Pressley
- King University, Department of Biology, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, TN 37620, USA.
| | - Vanessa A Fitsanakis
- King University, Department of Biology, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, TN 37620, USA.
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Rahimian S, Gauly M, Daş G. Embryonation ability of Ascaridia galli eggs isolated from worm uteri or host faeces. Vet Parasitol 2015; 215:29-34. [PMID: 26790734 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Experimental infection models for Ascaridia galli rely on the use of eggs isolated either directly from worm uteri or from host faeces. We investigated whether A. galli eggs isolated from the two sources differ in their embryonation ability. A. galli eggs originating from 12 worm infrapopulations were isolated both from faeces of the living host (faecal eggs) and directly from worm uteri after host necropsy (uterine eggs). The isolated eggs from each infrapopulation and source were incubated in Petri dishes (n=24) containing a potassium-dichromate (0.1%) medium for 28 days (d) at room temperature. Starting from the day of egg isolation (d0), in ovo larval development was evaluated every second day by examining morphological characteristics of 200 eggs/petri dish. A total of 72,000 eggs were classified into undeveloped, early development, vermiform or fully embryonated stages. Isolation procedures caused similar damage to uterine and faecal eggs (2.2% and 0.5%, respectively; P=0.180). The first sign of in ovo embryonic development in faecal eggs (7%) was observed during the 24-h period when faeces were collected. On d28, a higher percentage of uterine eggs remained undeveloped when compared with faecal eggs (58.6% vs 11.0%; P<0.001). Although a higher (P<0.001) percentage of faecal eggs entered both the early developmental and vermiform stages, which took place primarily within the first two weeks of incubation, there was no time-shift between the development of faecal and uterine eggs. Starting from day 10, higher (P<0.05) percentages of faecal eggs completed embryonation compared with uterine equivalents. Eggs from both sources reached a plateau of embryonation by the end of 2nd week of incubation, with faecal eggs having a greater than two-fold higher embryonation ability. Cumulative mortality was higher in uterine eggs (14.3%) than in faecal eggs (0.2%). We conclude that faecal eggs have a higher embryonation ability than uterine eggs possibly due to maturation differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan Rahimian
- University of Gottingen, Department of Animal Sciences, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Gottingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Gauly
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitätsplatz 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Gürbüz Daş
- Institute of Nutritional Physiology 'Oskar Kellner', Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
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Abstract
A new study reports that the RhoGAP SPV-1 senses membrane curvature and cell stretch in the Caenorhabditis elegans spermatheca. Without SPV-1, the cells of the spermatheca are hypercontractile, leading to deformation and rapid ejection of the fertilized eggs. The spermatheca may provide a paradigm for understanding how cells detect mechanical stimuli in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin J Cram
- 134Mugar Life Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Sato M, Konuma R, Sato K, Tomura K, Sato K. Fertilization-induced K63-linked ubiquitylation mediates clearance of maternal membrane proteins. Development 2014; 141:1324-31. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.103044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In Caenorhabditis elegans, fertilization triggers endocytosis and rapid turnover of maternal surface membrane proteins in lysosomes, although the precise mechanism of this inducible endocytosis is unknown. We found that high levels of K63-linked ubiquitin chains transiently accumulated on endosomes upon fertilization. Endocytosis and the endosomal accumulation of ubiquitin were both regulated downstream of the anaphase-promoting complex, which drives the oocyte’s meiotic cell cycle after fertilization. The clearance of maternal membrane proteins and the accumulation of K63-linked ubiquitin on endosomes depended on UBC-13 and UEV-1, which function as an E2 complex that specifically mediates chain elongation of K63-linked polyubiquitin. CAV-1-GFP, an endocytic cargo protein, was modified with K63-linked polyubiquitin in a UBC-13/UEV-1-dependent manner. In ubc-13 or uev-1 mutants, CAV-1-GFP and other membrane proteins were internalized from the plasma membrane normally after fertilization. However, they were not efficiently targeted to the multivesicular body (MVB) pathway but recycled to the cell surface. Our results suggest that UBC-13-dependent K63-linked ubiquitylation is required for proper MVB sorting rather than for internalization. These results also demonstrate a developmentally controlled function of K63-linked ubiquitylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyuki Sato
- Laboratory of Molecular Traffic, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8512, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular Membrane Biology, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8512, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Konuma
- Laboratory of Molecular Traffic, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8512, Japan
| | - Katsuya Sato
- Laboratory of Molecular Traffic, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8512, Japan
| | - Kotone Tomura
- Laboratory of Molecular Traffic, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8512, Japan
| | - Ken Sato
- Laboratory of Molecular Traffic, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8512, Japan
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Brennan LD, Roland T, Morton DG, Fellman SM, Chung S, Soltani M, Kevek JW, McEuen PM, Kemphues KJ, Wang MD. Small molecule injection into single-cell C. elegans embryos via carbon-reinforced nanopipettes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75712. [PMID: 24086620 PMCID: PMC3784451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The introduction of chemical inhibitors into living cells at specific times in development is a useful method for investigating the roles of specific proteins or cytoskeletal components in developmental processes. Some embryos, such as those of Caenorhabditis elegans, however, possess a tough eggshell that makes introducing drugs and other molecules into embryonic cells challenging. We have developed a procedure using carbon-reinforced nanopipettes (CRNPs) to deliver molecules into C. elegans embryos with high temporal control. The use of CRNPs allows for cellular manipulation to occur just subsequent to meiosis II with minimal damage to the embryo. We have used our technique to replicate classical experiments using latrunculin A to inhibit microfilaments and assess its effects on early polarity establishment. Our injections of latrunculin A confirm the necessity of microfilaments in establishing anterior-posterior polarity at this early stage, even when microtubules remain intact. Further, we find that latrunculin A treatment does not prevent association of PAR-2 or PAR-6 with the cell cortex. Our experiments demonstrate the application of carbon-reinforced nanopipettes to the study of one temporally-confined developmental event. The use of CRNPs to introduce molecules into the embryo should be applicable to investigations at later developmental stages as well as other cells with tough outer coverings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy D. Brennan
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Thibault Roland
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Diane G. Morton
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Shanna M. Fellman
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - SueYeon Chung
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Mohammad Soltani
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Joshua W. Kevek
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Paul M. McEuen
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Kenneth J. Kemphues
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MDW); (KJK)
| | - Michelle D. Wang
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MDW); (KJK)
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Evidence for a structural role for acid-fast lipids in oocyst walls of Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, and Eimeria. mBio 2013; 4:e00387-13. [PMID: 24003177 PMCID: PMC3760245 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00387-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Coccidia are protozoan parasites that cause significant human disease and are of major agricultural importance. Cryptosporidium spp. cause diarrhea in humans and animals, while Toxoplasma causes disseminated infections in fetuses and untreated AIDS patients. Eimeria is a major pathogen of commercial chickens. Oocysts, which are the infectious form of Cryptosporidium and Eimeria and one of two infectious forms of Toxoplasma (the other is tissue cysts in undercooked meat), have a multilayered wall. Recently we showed that the inner layer of the oocyst walls of Toxoplasma and Eimeria is a porous scaffold of fibers of β-1,3-glucan, which are also present in fungal walls but are absent from Cryptosporidium oocyst walls. Here we present evidence for a structural role for lipids in the oocyst walls of Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, and Eimeria. Briefly, oocyst walls of each organism label with acid-fast stains that bind to lipids in the walls of mycobacteria. Polyketide synthases similar to those that make mycobacterial wall lipids are abundant in oocysts of Toxoplasma and Eimeria and are predicted in Cryptosporidium. The outer layer of oocyst wall of Eimeria and the entire oocyst wall of Cryptosporidium are dissolved by organic solvents. Oocyst wall lipids are complex mixtures of triglycerides, some of which contain polyhydroxy fatty acyl chains like those present in plant cutin or elongated fatty acyl chains like mycolic acids. We propose a two-layered model of the oocyst wall (glucan and acid-fast lipids) that resembles the two-layered walls of mycobacteria (peptidoglycan and acid-fast lipids) and plants (cellulose and cutin). Oocysts, which are essential for the fecal-oral spread of coccidia, have a wall that is thought responsible for their survival in the environment and for their transit through the stomach and small intestine. While oocyst walls of Toxoplasma and Eimeria are strengthened by a porous scaffold of fibrils of β-1,3-glucan and by proteins cross-linked by dityrosines, both are absent from walls of Cryptosporidium. We show here that all oocyst walls are acid fast, have a rigid bilayer, dissolve in organic solvents, and contain a complex set of triglycerides rich in polyhydroxy and long fatty acyl chains that might be synthesized by an abundant polyketide synthase. These results suggest the possibility that coccidia build a waxy coat of acid-fast lipids in the oocyst wall that makes them resistant to environmental stress.
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Hanna M, Wang L, Audhya A. Worming our way in and out of the Caenorhabditis elegans germline and developing embryo. Traffic 2013; 14:471-8. [PMID: 23331906 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Revised: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The germline and embryo of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have emerged as powerful model systems to study membrane dynamics in an intact, developing animal. In large part, this is due to the architecture of the reproductive system, which necessitates de novo membrane and organelle biogenesis within the stem cell niche to drive compartmentalization throughout the gonad syncytium. Additionally, membrane reorganization events during oocyte maturation and fertilization have been demonstrated to be highly stereotypic, facilitating the development of quantitative assays to measure the impact of perturbations on protein transport. This review will focus on regulatory mechanisms that govern protein trafficking, which have been elucidated using a combination of C. elegans genetics, biochemistry and high-resolution microscopy. Collectively, studies using the simple worm highlight an important niche that the organism holds to define new pathways that regulate vesicle transport, many of which appear to be absent in unicellular systems but remain highly conserved in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hanna
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, 440 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Knight AJ, Johnson NM, Behm CA. VHA-19 is essential in Caenorhabditis elegans oocytes for embryogenesis and is involved in trafficking in oocytes. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40317. [PMID: 22768351 PMCID: PMC3388054 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2012] [Accepted: 06/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop new drugs against parasitic nematodes, which are a significant burden on human health and agriculture. Information about the function of essential nematode-specific genes provides insight to key nematode-specific processes that could be targeted with drugs. We have characterized the function of a novel, nematode-specific Caenorhabditis elegans protein, VHA-19, and show that VHA-19 is essential in the germline and, specifically, the oocytes, for the completion of embryogenesis. VHA-19 is also involved in trafficking the oocyte receptor RME-2 to the oocyte plasma membrane and is essential for osmoregulation in the embryo, probably because VHA-19 is required for proper eggshell formation via exocytosis of cortical granules or other essential components of the eggshell. VHA-19 may also have a role in cytokinesis, either directly or as an indirect effect of its role in osmoregulation. Critically, VHA-19 is expressed in the excretory cell in both larvae and adults, suggesting that it may have a role in osmoregulation in C. elegans more generally, probably in trafficking or secretion pathways. This is the first time a role for VHA-19 has been described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison J. Knight
- Research School of Biology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Nicholas M. Johnson
- Research School of Biology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Carolyn A. Behm
- Research School of Biology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- * E-mail:
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