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England SJ, Rusnock AK, Mujcic A, Kowalchuk A, de Jager S, Hilinski WC, Juárez-Morales JL, Smith ME, Grieb G, Banerjee S, Lewis KE. Molecular analyses of zebrafish V0v spinal interneurons and identification of transcriptional regulators downstream of Evx1 and Evx2 in these cells. Neural Dev 2023; 18:8. [PMID: 38017520 PMCID: PMC10683209 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-023-00176-w] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND V0v spinal interneurons are highly conserved, glutamatergic, commissural neurons that function in locomotor circuits. We have previously shown that Evx1 and Evx2 are required to specify the neurotransmitter phenotype of these cells. However, we still know very little about the gene regulatory networks that act downstream of these transcription factors in V0v cells. METHODS To identify candidate members of V0v gene regulatory networks, we FAC-sorted wild-type and evx1;evx2 double mutant zebrafish V0v spinal interneurons and expression-profiled them using microarrays and single cell RNA-seq. We also used in situ hybridization to compare expression of a subset of candidate genes in evx1;evx2 double mutants and wild-type siblings. RESULTS Our data reveal two molecularly distinct subtypes of zebrafish V0v spinal interneurons at 48 h and suggest that, by this stage of development, evx1;evx2 double mutant cells transfate into either inhibitory spinal interneurons, or motoneurons. Our results also identify 25 transcriptional regulator genes that require Evx1/2 for their expression in V0v interneurons, plus a further 11 transcriptional regulator genes that are repressed in V0v interneurons by Evx1/2. Two of the latter genes are hmx2 and hmx3a. Intriguingly, we show that Hmx2/3a, repress dI2 interneuron expression of skor1a and nefma, two genes that require Evx1/2 for their expression in V0v interneurons. This suggests that Evx1/2 might regulate skor1a and nefma expression in V0v interneurons by repressing Hmx2/3a expression. CONCLUSIONS This study identifies two molecularly distinct subsets of zebrafish V0v spinal interneurons, as well as multiple transcriptional regulators that are strong candidates for acting downstream of Evx1/2 to specify the essential functional characteristics of these cells. Our data further suggest that in the absence of both Evx1 and Evx2, V0v spinal interneurons initially change their neurotransmitter phenotypes from excitatory to inhibitory and then, later, start to express markers of distinct types of inhibitory spinal interneurons, or motoneurons. Taken together, our findings significantly increase our knowledge of V0v and spinal development and move us closer towards the essential goal of identifying the complete gene regulatory networks that specify this crucial cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amra Mujcic
- Biology Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | | | - Sarah de Jager
- Physiology, Development and Neuroscience Department, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - José L Juárez-Morales
- Biology Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- Programa de IxM-CONAHCYT, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. (CIBNOR), La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
| | | | - Ginny Grieb
- Biology Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Santanu Banerjee
- Biological Sciences Department, SUNY-Cortland, Cortland, NY, USA
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3
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Khan M, Shah S, Lv B, Lv Z, Ji N, Song Z, Wu P, Wang X, Mehmood A. Molecular Mechanisms of Alu and LINE-1 Interspersed Repetitive Sequences Reveal Diseases of Visual System Dysfunction. Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2023; 31:1848-1858. [PMID: 36040959 DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2022.2112238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) and long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1s) are the abundant and well-characterized repetitive elements in the human genome. METHODS For this review, all relevant original research studies were assessed by searching electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, by using relevant keywords. Accumulating evidence indicates that the disorder of gene expression regulated by these repetitive sequences is one of the causes of the diseases of visual system dysfunction, including retinal degenerations, glaucoma, retinitis punctata albescens, retinitis pigmentosa, geographic atrophy, and age-related macular degeneration, suggesting that SINEs and LINE-1s may have great potential implications in ophthalmology. RESULTS Alu elements belonging to the SINEs are present in more than one million copies, comprising 10% of the human genome. CONCLUSION This study offers recent advances in Alu and LINE-1 mechanisms in the development of eye diseases. The current study could advance our knowledge of the roles of SINEs and LINE-1s in the developing process of eye diseases, suggesting new diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic strategies, and significant points for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murad Khan
- Department of Genetics, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Lab of Laboratory Animal, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Suleman Shah
- Department of Genetics, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Lab of Laboratory Animal, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Baixue Lv
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhanjun Lv
- Department of Genetics, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Lab of Laboratory Animal, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Ning Ji
- Department of Genetics, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Lab of Laboratory Animal, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Zhixue Song
- Department of Genetics, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Lab of Laboratory Animal, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Peiyuan Wu
- Department of Genetics, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Lab of Laboratory Animal, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xiufang Wang
- Department of Genetics, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Lab of Laboratory Animal, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Arshad Mehmood
- Department of Neurology, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, City Shijiazhuang, P.R. China
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5
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Skowronek D, Pilz RA, Bonde L, Schamuhn OJ, Feldmann JL, Hoffjan S, Much CD, Felbor U, Rath M. Cas9-Mediated Nanopore Sequencing Enables Precise Characterization of Structural Variants in CCM Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415639. [PMID: 36555281 PMCID: PMC9779250 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Deletions in the CCM1, CCM2, and CCM3 genes are a common cause of familial cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs). In current molecular genetic laboratories, targeted next-generation sequencing or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification are mostly used to identify copy number variants (CNVs). However, both techniques are limited in their ability to specify the breakpoints of CNVs and identify complex structural variants (SVs). To overcome these constraints, we established a targeted Cas9-mediated nanopore sequencing approach for CNV detection with single nucleotide resolution. Using a MinION device, we achieved complete coverage for the CCM genes and determined the exact size of CNVs in positive controls. Long-read sequencing for a CCM1 and CCM2 CNV revealed that the adjacent ANKIB1 and NACAD genes were also partially or completely deleted. In addition, an interchromosomal insertion and an inversion in CCM2 were reliably re-identified by long-read sequencing. The refinement of CNV breakpoints by long-read sequencing enabled fast and inexpensive PCR-based variant confirmation, which is highly desirable to reduce costs in subsequent family analyses. In conclusion, Cas9-mediated nanopore sequencing is a cost-effective and flexible tool for molecular genetic diagnostics which can be easily adapted to various target regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariush Skowronek
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald and Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Robin A. Pilz
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald and Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Loisa Bonde
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald and Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ole J. Schamuhn
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald and Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Janne L. Feldmann
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald and Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sabine Hoffjan
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Christiane D. Much
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald and Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ute Felbor
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald and Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Matthias Rath
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald and Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Human Medicine and Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, 20457 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
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6
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Dilliott AA, Zhang KK, Wang J, Abrahao A, Binns MA, Black SE, Borrie M, Dowlatshahi D, Finger E, Fischer CE, Frank A, Freedman M, Grimes D, Hassan A, Jog M, Kumar S, Lang AE, Mandzia J, Masellis M, Pasternak SH, Pollock BG, Rajji TK, Rogaeva E, Sahlas DJ, Saposnik G, Sato C, Seitz D, Shoesmith C, Steeves TDL, Swartz RH, Tan B, Tang-Wai DF, Tartaglia MC, Turnbull J, Zinman L, Hegele RA. Targeted copy number variant identification across the neurodegenerative disease spectrum. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2022; 10:e1986. [PMID: 35666053 PMCID: PMC9356547 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although genetic factors are known to contribute to neurodegenerative disease susceptibility, there remains a large amount of heritability unaccounted for across the diagnoses. Copy number variants (CNVs) contribute to these phenotypes, but their presence and influence on disease state remains relatively understudied. Methods Here, we applied a depth of coverage approach to detect CNVs in 80 genes previously associated with neurodegenerative disease within participants of the Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (n = 519). Results In total, we identified and validated four CNVs in the cohort, including: (1) a heterozygous deletion of exon 5 in OPTN in an Alzheimer's disease participant; (2) a duplication of exons 1–5 in PARK7 in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis participant; (3) a duplication of >3 Mb, which encompassed ABCC6, in a cerebrovascular disease (CVD) participant; and (4) a duplication of exons 7–11 in SAMHD1 in a mild cognitive impairment participant. We also identified 43 additional CNVs that may be candidates for future replication studies. Conclusion The identification of the CNVs suggests a portion of the apparent missing heritability of the phenotypes may be due to these structural variants, and their assessment is imperative for a thorough understanding of the genetic spectrum of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison A Dilliott
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kristina K Zhang
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jian Wang
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Agessandro Abrahao
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Malcolm A Binns
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandra E Black
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,LCCampbell Cognitive Neurology Research Unit, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program Sunnybrook Health Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Borrie
- St. Joseph's Health Care Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.,Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dar Dowlatshahi
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Corinne E Fischer
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew Frank
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Morris Freedman
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Baycrest Health Sciences, Mt. Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Grimes
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ayman Hassan
- Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mandar Jog
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer Mandzia
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mario Masellis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Cognitive & Movement Disorders Clinic, L.C. Campbell Cognitive Neurology Research Unit, Hurvitz Brain ScienceProgram, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen H Pasternak
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Research Centre, Parkwood Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bruce G Pollock
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tarek K Rajji
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Toronto Dementia Research Alliance, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ekaterina Rogaeva
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Gustavo Saposnik
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Clinical Outcomes and Decision Neuroscience Unit, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christine Sato
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dallas Seitz
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Thomas D L Steeves
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Neurology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard H Swartz
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,LCCampbell Cognitive Neurology Research Unit, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program Sunnybrook Health Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian Tan
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David F Tang-Wai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,University Health Network Memory Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maria C Tartaglia
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John Turnbull
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Robert A Hegele
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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9
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Happ H, Weh E, Costakos D, Reis LM, Semina EV. Case report of homozygous deletion involving the first coding exons of GCNT2 isoforms A and B and part of the upstream region of TFAP2A in congenital cataract. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2016; 17:64. [PMID: 27609212 PMCID: PMC5016880 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-016-0316-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital cataracts affect 3-6 per 10,000 live births and represent one of the leading causes of blindness in children. Congenital cataracts have a strong genetic component with high heterogeneity and variability. CASE PRESENTATION Analysis of whole exome sequencing data in a patient affected with congenital cataracts identified a pathogenic deletion which was further defined by other techniques. A ~98-kb homozygous deletion of 6p24.3 involving the first three exons (two non-coding and one coding) of GCNT2 isoform A, the first exon (coding) of GCNT2 isoform B, and part of the intergenic region between GCNT2 and TFAP2A was identified in the patient and her brother while both parents were found to be heterozygous carriers of the deletion. The exact breakpoints were identified and revealed the presence of Alu elements at both sides of the deletion, thus indicating Alu-mediated non-homologous end-joining as the most plausible mechanism for this rearrangement. Recessive mutations in GCNT2 are known to cause an adult i blood group phenotype with congenital cataracts in some cases. The GCNT2 gene has three differentially expressed transcripts, with GCNT2B being the only isoform associated with lens function and GCNT2C being the only isoform expressed in red blood cells based on earlier studies; previously reported mutations/deletions have either affected all three isoforms (causing blood group and cataract phenotype) or the C isoform only (causing blood group phenotype only). Dominant mutations in TFAP2A are associated with syndromic anophthalmia/microphthalmia and other ocular phenotypes as part of Branchio-Ocular-Facial-Syndrome (BOFS). While the patients do not fit a diagnosis of BOFS, one sibling demonstrates mild overlap with the phenotypic spectrum, and therefore an effect of this deletion on the function of TFAP2A cannot be ruled out. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in which disruption of the GCNT2 gene does not involve the C isoform. The congenital cataracts phenotype in the affected patients is consistent with the previously defined isoform-specific roles of this gene. The GCNT2-TFAP2A region may be prone to rearrangements through Alu-mediated non-homologous end-joining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Happ
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Eric Weh
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Deborah Costakos
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Linda M Reis
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Elena V Semina
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Research Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. .,Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
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