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Lai YT, Sasamura T, Kuroda J, Maeda R, Nakamura M, Hatori R, Ishibashi T, Taniguchi K, Ooike M, Taguchi T, Nakazawa N, Hozumi S, Okumura T, Aigaki T, Inaki M, Matsuno K. The Drosophila AWP1 ortholog Doctor No regulates JAK/STAT signaling for left-right asymmetry in the gut by promoting receptor endocytosis. Development 2023; 150:293490. [PMID: 36861793 PMCID: PMC10112927 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Many organs of Drosophila show stereotypical left-right (LR) asymmetry; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we have identified an evolutionarily conserved ubiquitin-binding protein, AWP1/Doctor No (Drn), as a factor required for LR asymmetry in the embryonic anterior gut. We found that drn is essential in the circular visceral muscle cells of the midgut for JAK/STAT signaling, which contributes to the first known cue for anterior gut lateralization via LR asymmetric nuclear rearrangement. Embryos homozygous for drn and lacking its maternal contribution showed phenotypes similar to those with depleted JAK/STAT signaling, suggesting that Drn is a general component of JAK/STAT signaling. Absence of Drn resulted in specific accumulation of Domeless (Dome), the receptor for ligands in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, in intracellular compartments, including ubiquitylated cargos. Dome colocalized with Drn in wild-type Drosophila. These results suggest that Drn is required for the endocytic trafficking of Dome, which is a crucial step for activation of JAK/STAT signaling and the subsequent degradation of Dome. The roles of AWP1/Drn in activating JAK/STAT signaling and in LR asymmetric development may be conserved in various organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ting Lai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Takeshi Sasamura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Junpei Kuroda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Reo Maeda
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Mitsutoshi Nakamura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Ryo Hatori
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Tomoki Ishibashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Kiichiro Taniguchi
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Masashi Ooike
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Taguchi
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Naotaka Nakazawa
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Shunya Hozumi
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Takashi Okumura
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Toshiro Aigaki
- Department of Biological Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Mikiko Inaki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Kenji Matsuno
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
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2
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Borkúti P, Kristó I, Szabó A, Bajusz C, Kovács Z, Réthi-Nagy Z, Lipinszki Z, Lukácsovich T, Bogdan S, Vilmos P. Parallel import mechanisms ensure the robust nuclear localization of actin in Drosophila. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:963635. [PMID: 36060241 PMCID: PMC9437273 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.963635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Actin, as an ancient and fundamental protein, participates in various cytoplasmic as well as nuclear functions in eukaryotic cells. Based on its manifold tasks in the nucleus, it is a reasonable assumption that the nuclear presence of actin is essential for the cell, and consequently, its nuclear localization is ensured by a robust system. However, today only a single nuclear import and a single nuclear export pathway is known which maintain the dynamic balance between cytoplasmic and nuclear actin pools. In our work, we tested the robustness of the nuclear import of actin, and investigated whether the perturbations of nuclear localization affect the viability of the whole organism. For this aim, we generated a genetic system in Drosophila, in which we rescued the lethal phenotype of the null mutation of the Actin5C gene with transgenes that express different derivatives of actin, including a Nuclear Export Signal (NES)-tagged isoform which ensures forced nuclear export of the protein. We also disrupted the SUMOylation site of actin, suggested earlier to be responsible for nuclear retention, and eliminated the activity of the single nuclear import factor dedicated to actin. We found that, individually, none of the above mentioned manipulations led to a notable reduction in nuclear actin levels and thus, fully rescued lethality. However, the NES tagging of actin, together with the knock out of its importin, significantly reduced the amount of nuclear actin and induced lethality, confirming that the presence of actin in the nucleus is essential, and thereby, over-secured. Supporting this, we identified novel nuclear importins specific to actin, which sheds light on the mechanism behind the robustness of nuclear localization of actin, and supports the idea of essentiality of its nuclear functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter Borkúti
- Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Science, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ildikó Kristó
- Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Anikó Szabó
- Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csaba Bajusz
- Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Kovács
- Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Science, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsánna Réthi-Nagy
- Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biochemistry, MTA SZBK Lendület Laboratory of Cell Cycle Regulation, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Lipinszki
- Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biochemistry, MTA SZBK Lendület Laboratory of Cell Cycle Regulation, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Sven Bogdan
- Department of Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Péter Vilmos
- Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
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3
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Tan H, Fulton RE, Chou WH, Birkholz DA, Mannino MP, Yamaguchi DM, Aldrich JC, Jacobsen TL, Britt SG. Drosophila R8 photoreceptor cell subtype specification requires hibris. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240451. [PMID: 33052948 PMCID: PMC7556441 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell differentiation and cell fate determination in sensory systems are essential for stimulus discrimination and coding of environmental stimuli. Color vision is based on the differential color sensitivity of retinal photoreceptors, however the developmental programs that control photoreceptor cell differentiation and specify color sensitivity are poorly understood. In Drosophila melanogaster, there is evidence that the color sensitivity of different photoreceptors in the compound eye is regulated by inductive signals between cells, but the exact nature of these signals and how they are propagated remains unknown. We conducted a genetic screen to identify additional regulators of this process and identified a novel mutation in the hibris gene, which encodes an irre cell recognition module protein (IRM). These immunoglobulin super family cell adhesion molecules include human KIRREL and nephrin (NPHS1). hibris is expressed dynamically in the developing Drosophila melanogaster eye and loss-of-function mutations give rise to a diverse range of mutant phenotypes including disruption of the specification of R8 photoreceptor cell diversity. We demonstrate that hibris is required within the retina, and that hibris over-expression is sufficient to disrupt normal photoreceptor cell patterning. These findings suggest an additional layer of complexity in the signaling process that produces paired expression of opsin genes in adjacent R7 and R8 photoreceptor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Tan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Ruth E. Fulton
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Wen-Hai Chou
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Denise A. Birkholz
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Meridee P. Mannino
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - David M. Yamaguchi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - John C. Aldrich
- Department of Neurology, Department of Ophthalmology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Thomas L. Jacobsen
- Department of Neurology, Department of Ophthalmology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Steven G. Britt
- Department of Neurology, Department of Ophthalmology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
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Matiytsiv NP, Chernyk YI. Drosophila melanogaster as a Model System for the Study of Human Neuropathy and the Testing of Neuroprotectors. CYTOL GENET+ 2020. [DOI: 10.3103/s0095452720030081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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5
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Transposon Insertion Mutagenesis in Mice for Modeling Human Cancers: Critical Insights Gained and New Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21031172. [PMID: 32050713 PMCID: PMC7036786 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposon mutagenesis has been used to model many types of human cancer in mice, leading to the discovery of novel cancer genes and insights into the mechanism of tumorigenesis. For this review, we identified over twenty types of human cancer that have been modeled in the mouse using Sleeping Beauty and piggyBac transposon insertion mutagenesis. We examine several specific biological insights that have been gained and describe opportunities for continued research. Specifically, we review studies with a focus on understanding metastasis, therapy resistance, and tumor cell of origin. Additionally, we propose further uses of transposon-based models to identify rarely mutated driver genes across many cancers, understand additional mechanisms of drug resistance and metastasis, and define personalized therapies for cancer patients with obesity as a comorbidity.
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6
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Odenthal J, Brinkkoetter PT. Drosophila melanogaster and its nephrocytes: A versatile model for glomerular research. Methods Cell Biol 2019; 154:217-240. [PMID: 31493819 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2019.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Glomerular disorders are a predominant cause of chronic kidney diseases and end-stage renal failure. Especially podocytes, epithelial cells which represent the outermost part of the filtration barrier, are affected by disease and experience a gradual loss of function. Despite recent advances in identifying potential pathways underlying podocyte injury, treatment remains challenging. It is therefore desirable to employ suitable model organisms in order to study glomerular disease and elucidate affected pathways. Due to its diverse ways of genetic manipulation and high genomic conservation, Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model organism for biomedical research. The fly was recently used to assess podocytopathies by exploiting the nephrocyte system. Nephrocytes are spherical cells within the body cavity of the fly responsible for detoxification and clearance of unwanted substances. More importantly, they share many characteristics with mammalian podocytes. Here, we summarize how to use Drosophila as a model organism for podocyte research. We discuss examples of techniques that can be used to genetically manipulate nephrocytes and provide protocols for nephrocyte isolation and for morphological as well as functional analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Odenthal
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany; CECAD, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Paul Thomas Brinkkoetter
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany; CECAD, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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7
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Big Lessons from Tiny Flies: Drosophila melanogaster as a Model to Explore Dysfunction of Dopaminergic and Serotonergic Neurotransmitter Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19061788. [PMID: 29914172 PMCID: PMC6032372 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain of Drosophila melanogaster is comprised of some 100,000 neurons, 127 and 80 of which are dopaminergic and serotonergic, respectively. Their activity regulates behavioral functions equivalent to those in mammals, e.g., motor activity, reward and aversion, memory formation, feeding, sexual appetite, etc. Mammalian dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons are known to be heterogeneous. They differ in their projections and in their gene expression profile. A sophisticated genetic tool box is available, which allows for targeting virtually any gene with amazing precision in Drosophila melanogaster. Similarly, Drosophila genes can be replaced by their human orthologs including disease-associated alleles. Finally, genetic manipulation can be restricted to single fly neurons. This has allowed for addressing the role of individual neurons in circuits, which determine attraction and aversion, sleep and arousal, odor preference, etc. Flies harboring mutated human orthologs provide models which can be interrogated to understand the effect of the mutant protein on cell fate and neuronal connectivity. These models are also useful for proof-of-concept studies to examine the corrective action of therapeutic strategies. Finally, experiments in Drosophila can be readily scaled up to an extent, which allows for drug screening with reasonably high throughput.
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8
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Kawakami K, Largaespada DA, Ivics Z. Transposons As Tools for Functional Genomics in Vertebrate Models. Trends Genet 2017; 33:784-801. [PMID: 28888423 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Genetic tools and mutagenesis strategies based on transposable elements are currently under development with a vision to link primary DNA sequence information to gene functions in vertebrate models. By virtue of their inherent capacity to insert into DNA, transposons can be developed into powerful tools for chromosomal manipulations. Transposon-based forward mutagenesis screens have numerous advantages including high throughput, easy identification of mutated alleles, and providing insight into genetic networks and pathways based on phenotypes. For example, the Sleeping Beauty transposon has become highly instrumental to induce tumors in experimental animals in a tissue-specific manner with the aim of uncovering the genetic basis of diverse cancers. Here, we describe a battery of mutagenic cassettes that can be applied in conjunction with transposon vectors to mutagenize genes, and highlight versatile experimental strategies for the generation of engineered chromosomes for loss-of-function as well as gain-of-function mutagenesis for functional gene annotation in vertebrate models, including zebrafish, mice, and rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Kawakami
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - David A Largaespada
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, MN, USA; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Zoltán Ivics
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany; These authors contributed equally to this work..
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9
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A Short History and Description of Drosophila melanogaster Classical Genetics: Chromosome Aberrations, Forward Genetic Screens, and the Nature of Mutations. Genetics 2017; 206:665-689. [PMID: 28592503 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.199950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this chapter in FlyBook is to acquaint the reader with the Drosophila genome and the ways in which it can be altered by mutation. Much of what follows will be familiar to the experienced Fly Pusher but hopefully will be useful to those just entering the field and are thus unfamiliar with the genome, the history of how it has been and can be altered, and the consequences of those alterations. I will begin with the structure, content, and organization of the genome, followed by the kinds of structural alterations (karyotypic aberrations), how they affect the behavior of chromosomes in meiotic cell division, and how that behavior can be used. Finally, screens for mutations as they have been performed will be discussed. There are several excellent sources of detailed information on Drosophila husbandry and screening that are recommended for those interested in further expanding their familiarity with Drosophila as a research tool and model organism. These are a book by Ralph Greenspan and a review article by John Roote and Andreas Prokop, which should be required reading for any new student entering a fly lab for the first time.
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10
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Koon AC, Chan HYE. Drosophila melanogaster As a Model Organism to Study RNA Toxicity of Repeat Expansion-Associated Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:70. [PMID: 28377694 PMCID: PMC5359753 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
For nearly a century, the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has proven to be a valuable tool in our understanding of fundamental biological processes, and has empowered our discoveries, particularly in the field of neuroscience. In recent years, Drosophila has emerged as a model organism for human neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders. In this review, we highlight a number of recent studies that utilized the Drosophila model to study repeat-expansion associated diseases (READs), such as polyglutamine diseases, fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2), and C9ORF72-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia (C9-ALS/FTD). Discoveries regarding the possible mechanisms of RNA toxicity will be focused here. These studies demonstrate Drosophila as an excellent in vivo model system that can reveal novel mechanistic insights into human disorders, providing the foundation for translational research and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex C Koon
- Laboratory of Drosophila ResearchHong Kong, Hong Kong; Biochemistry ProgramHong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Ho Yin Edwin Chan
- Laboratory of Drosophila ResearchHong Kong, Hong Kong; Biochemistry ProgramHong Kong, Hong Kong; Cell and Molecular Biology ProgramHong Kong, Hong Kong; Molecular Biotechnology Program, Faculty of Science, School of Life SciencesHong Kong, Hong Kong; School of Life Sciences, Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong, Hong Kong
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11
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Housden BE, Muhar M, Gemberling M, Gersbach CA, Stainier DYR, Seydoux G, Mohr SE, Zuber J, Perrimon N. Loss-of-function genetic tools for animal models: cross-species and cross-platform differences. Nat Rev Genet 2016; 18:24-40. [PMID: 27795562 DOI: 10.1038/nrg.2016.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of the genetic mechanisms that underlie biological processes has relied extensively on loss-of-function (LOF) analyses. LOF methods target DNA, RNA or protein to reduce or to ablate gene function. By analysing the phenotypes that are caused by these perturbations the wild-type function of genes can be elucidated. Although all LOF methods reduce gene activity, the choice of approach (for example, mutagenesis, CRISPR-based gene editing, RNA interference, morpholinos or pharmacological inhibition) can have a major effect on phenotypic outcomes. Interpretation of the LOF phenotype must take into account the biological process that is targeted by each method. The practicality and efficiency of LOF methods also vary considerably between model systems. We describe parameters for choosing the optimal combination of method and system, and for interpreting phenotypes within the constraints of each method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin E Housden
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Matthias Muhar
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Matthew Gemberling
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - Charles A Gersbach
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - Didier Y R Stainier
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, 43 Ludwigstrasse, Bad Nauheim 61231, Germany
| | - Geraldine Seydoux
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Stephanie E Mohr
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Johannes Zuber
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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12
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Matsumoto K, Ayukawa T, Ishio A, Sasamura T, Yamakawa T, Matsuno K. Dual Roles of O-Glucose Glycans Redundant with Monosaccharide O-Fucose on Notch in Notch Trafficking. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:13743-52. [PMID: 27129198 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.710483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Notch is a transmembrane receptor that mediates cell-cell interactions and controls various cell-fate specifications in metazoans. The extracellular domain of Notch contains multiple epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats. At least five different glycans are found in distinct sites within these EGF-like repeats. The function of these individual glycans in Notch signaling has been investigated, primarily by disrupting their individual glycosyltransferases. However, we are just beginning to understand the potential functional interactions between these glycans. Monosaccharide O-fucose and O-glucose trisaccharide (O-glucose-xylose-xylose) are added to many of the Notch EGF-like repeats. In Drosophila, Shams adds a xylose specifically to the monosaccharide O-glucose. We found that loss of the terminal dixylose of O-glucose-linked saccharides had little effect on Notch signaling. However, our analyses of double mutants of shams and other genes required for glycan modifications revealed that both the monosaccharide O-glucose and the terminal dixylose of O-glucose-linked saccharides function redundantly with the monosaccharide O-fucose in Notch activation and trafficking. The terminal dixylose of O-glucose-linked saccharides and the monosaccharide O-glucose were required in distinct Notch trafficking processes: Notch transport from the apical plasma membrane to adherens junctions, and Notch export from the endoplasmic reticulum, respectively. Therefore, the monosaccharide O-glucose and terminal dixylose of O-glucose-linked saccharides have distinct activities in Notch trafficking, although a loss of these activities is compensated for by the presence of monosaccharide O-fucose. Given that various glycans attached to a protein motif may have redundant functions, our results suggest that these potential redundancies may lead to a serious underestimation of glycan functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenjiroo Matsumoto
- From the Department of Biological Sciences, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043 and
| | - Tomonori Ayukawa
- the Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-1500, Japan
| | - Akira Ishio
- the Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-1500, Japan
| | - Takeshi Sasamura
- From the Department of Biological Sciences, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043 and
| | - Tomoko Yamakawa
- From the Department of Biological Sciences, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043 and
| | - Kenji Matsuno
- From the Department of Biological Sciences, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043 and
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13
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Poulou M, Mandalos NP, Karnavas T, Saridaki M, McKay RDG, Remboutsika E. A "Hit and Run" Approach to Inducible Direct Reprogramming of Astrocytes to Neural Stem Cells. Front Physiol 2016; 7:127. [PMID: 27148066 PMCID: PMC4828628 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporal and spatial control of gene expression can be achieved using an inducible system as a fundamental tool for regulated transcription in basic, applied and eventually in clinical research. We describe a novel “hit and run” inducible direct reprogramming approach. In a single step, 2 days post-transfection, transiently transfected Sox2FLAG under the Leu3p-αIPM inducible control (iSox2) triggers the activation of endogenous Sox2, redirecting primary astrocytes into abundant distinct nestin-positive radial glia cells. This technique introduces a unique novel tool for safe, rapid and efficient reprogramming amendable to regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Poulou
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre "Alexander Fleming," Vari-Attica, Greece
| | - Nikolaos P Mandalos
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre "Alexander Fleming,"Vari-Attica, Greece; Choremio Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, National University of Athens Medical SchoolAthens, Greece
| | - Theodoros Karnavas
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre "Alexander Fleming,"Vari-Attica, Greece; Choremio Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, National University of Athens Medical SchoolAthens, Greece
| | - Marannia Saridaki
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre "Alexander Fleming," Vari-Attica, Greece
| | - Ronald D G McKay
- Basic Sciences Division, The Lieber Institute for Brain Development Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eumorphia Remboutsika
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre "Alexander Fleming,"Vari-Attica, Greece; Choremio Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, National University of Athens Medical SchoolAthens, Greece; Basic Sciences Division, The Lieber Institute for Brain DevelopmentBaltimore, MD, USA
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14
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Meng F, Chen C, Wan H, Zhou Q. [A method for introducing mutations into large vectors]. ZHONGGUO FEI AI ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF LUNG CANCER 2015; 17:563-8. [PMID: 25034588 PMCID: PMC6000463 DOI: 10.3779/j.issn.1009-3419.2014.07.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
背景与目的 体外基因定点突变是分子生物学实验的常用方法。然而,虽然目前已经报道了多种基因突变的方法,但对于在长的载体序列中引入突变,一般的方法并不太容易实现。 方法 本研究在我们前期报告的基因突变方法的基础上,描述了一种简单易操作的可在长序列中引入定点突变的方法。这个方法的基本实验程序是:①确定待突变区域,合成一对均含有Type IIs类限制性内切酶位点载体引物,并合成一对互补的突变单链;②在突变区域之外的合适位置上,选择一个桥点,并合成一对均含有Type IIs类的限制性内切酶位点的桥点引物;③利用载体引物序列和桥点引物序列做PCR反应,以扩增载体序列中突变区域外的序列;④利用相应的Type IIs类的限制性内切酶,对以上扩增产物进行酶切;⑤将酶切产物和两个突变单链复性成的突变双链连接,形成突变载体,并转化进受体菌作克隆鉴定。 结果 为证明我们所报告的方法的有效性,我们在长的载体中进行了测试,结果显示,不但实验操作简单易行,而且突变效率可达到90%以上。 结论 我们提供了一种有效的在长载体中进行定点突变的方法。
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanrong Meng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenviroment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute,
Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenviroment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute,
Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Haisu Wan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenviroment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute,
Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Qinghua Zhou
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenviroment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute,
Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
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15
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A Multifunctional Mutagenesis System for Analysis of Gene Function in Zebrafish. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2015; 5:1283-99. [PMID: 25840430 PMCID: PMC4478556 DOI: 10.1534/g3.114.015842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Since the sequencing of the human reference genome, many human disease-related genes have been discovered. However, understanding the functions of all the genes in the genome remains a challenge. The biological activities of these genes are usually investigated in model organisms such as mice and zebrafish. Large-scale mutagenesis screens to generate disruptive mutations are useful for identifying and understanding the activities of genes. Here, we report a multifunctional mutagenesis system in zebrafish using the maize Ds transposon. Integration of the Ds transposable element containing an mCherry reporter for protein trap events and an EGFP reporter for enhancer trap events produced a collection of transgenic lines marking distinct cell and tissue types, and mutagenized genes in the zebrafish genome by trapping and prematurely terminating endogenous protein coding sequences. We obtained 642 zebrafish lines with dynamic reporter gene expression. The characterized fish lines with specific expression patterns will be made available through the European Zebrafish Resource Center (EZRC), and a database of reporter expression is available online (http://fishtrap.warwick.ac.uk/). Our approach complements other efforts using zebrafish to facilitate functional genomic studies in this model of human development and disease.
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16
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Majumdar S, Rio DC. P Transposable Elements in Drosophila and other Eukaryotic Organisms. Microbiol Spectr 2015; 3:MDNA3-0004-2014. [PMID: 26104714 PMCID: PMC4399808 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.mdna3-0004-2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
P transposable elements were discovered in Drosophila as the causative agents of a syndrome of genetic traits called hybrid dysgenesis. Hybrid dysgenesis exhibits a unique pattern of maternal inheritance linked to the germline-specific small RNA piwi-interacting (piRNA) pathway. The use of P transposable elements as vectors for gene transfer and as genetic tools revolutionized the field of Drosophila molecular genetics. P element transposons have served as a useful model to investigate mechanisms of cut-and-paste transposition in eukaryotes. Biochemical studies have revealed new and unexpected insights into how eukaryotic DNA-based transposons are mobilized. For example, the P element transposase makes unusual 17nt-3' extended double-strand DNA breaks at the transposon termini and uses guanosine triphosphate (GTP) as a cofactor to promote synapsis of the two transposon ends early in the transposition pathway. The N-terminal DNA binding domain of the P element transposase, called a THAP domain, contains a C2CH zinc-coordinating motif and is the founding member of a large family of animal-specific site-specific DNA binding proteins. Over the past decade genome sequencing efforts have revealed the presence of P element-like transposable elements or P element transposase-like genes (called THAP9) in many eukaryotic genomes, including vertebrates, such as primates including humans, zebrafish and Xenopus, as well as the human parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, the sea squirt Ciona, sea urchin and hydra. Surprisingly, the human and zebrafish P element transposase-related THAP9 genes promote transposition of the Drosophila P element transposon DNA in human and Drosophila cells, indicating that the THAP9 genes encode active P element "transposase" proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Donald C. Rio
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA 94720-3204
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17
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Frickenhaus M, Wagner M, Mallik M, Catinozzi M, Storkebaum E. Highly efficient cell-type-specific gene inactivation reveals a key function for the Drosophila FUS homolog cabeza in neurons. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9107. [PMID: 25772687 PMCID: PMC5390904 DOI: 10.1038/srep09107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To expand the rich genetic toolkit of Drosophila melanogaster, we evaluated whether introducing FRT or LoxP sites in endogenous genes could allow for cell-type-specific gene inactivation in both dividing and postmitotic cells by GAL4-driven expression of FLP or Cre recombinase. For proof of principle, conditional alleles were generated for cabeza (caz), the Drosophila homolog of human FUS, a gene implicated in the neurodegenerative disorders amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Upon selective expression in neurons or muscle, both FLP and Cre mediated caz inactivation in all neurons or muscle cells, respectively. Neuron-selective caz inactivation resulted in failure of pharate adult flies to eclose from the pupal case, and adult escapers displayed motor performance defects and reduced life span. Due to Cre-toxicity, FLP/FRT is the preferred system for cell-type-specific gene inactivation, and this strategy outperforms RNAi-mediated knock-down. Furthermore, the GAL80 target system allowed for temporal control over gene inactivation, as induction of FLP expression from the adult stage onwards still inactivated caz in >99% of neurons. Remarkably, selective caz inactivation in adult neurons did not affect motor performance and life span, indicating that neuronal caz is required during development, but not for maintenance of adult neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Frickenhaus
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Marina Wagner
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Moushami Mallik
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Marica Catinozzi
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Erik Storkebaum
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
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18
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Freeman AA, Dai H, Sanyal S. Use of Drosophila to Study Restless Legs Syndrome. Mov Disord 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-405195-9.00078-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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19
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Tethering of SUUR and HP1 proteins results in delayed replication of euchromatic regions in Drosophila melanogaster polytene chromosomes. Chromosoma 2014; 124:209-20. [PMID: 25398563 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-014-0491-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We analyze how artificial targeting of Suppressor of Under-Replication (SUUR) and HP1 proteins affects DNA replication in the "open," euchromatic regions. Normally these regions replicate early in the S phase and display no binding of either SUUR or HP1. These proteins were expressed as fusions with DNA-binding domain of GAL4 and recruited to multimerized UAS integrated in three euchromatic sites of the polytene X chromosome: 3B, 8D, and 18B. Using PCNA staining as a marker of ongoing replication, we showed that targeting of SUUR(GAL4DBD) and HP1(GAL4DBD) results in delayed replication of appropriate euchromatic regions. Specifically, replication at these regions starts early, much like in the absence of the fusion proteins; however, replication completion is significantly delayed. Notably, delayed replication was insufficient to induce underreplication. Recruitment of SUUR(GAL4DBD) and HP1(GAL4DBD) had distinct effects on expression of a mini-white reporter, found near UAS. Whereas SUUR(GAL4DBD) had no measurable influence on mini-white expression, HP1(GAL4DBD) targeting silenced mini-white, even in the absence of functional SU(VAR)3-9. Furthermore, recruitment of SUUR(GAL4DBD) and HP1(GAL4DBD) had distinct effects on the protein composition of target regions. HP1(GAL4DBD) but not SUUR(GAL4DBD) could displace an open chromatin marker, CHRIZ, from the tethering sites.
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20
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Liu J, Gong Z, Liu L. γ-glutamyl transpeptidase 1 specifically suppresses green-light avoidance via GABAA receptors in Drosophila. J Neurochem 2014; 130:408-18. [PMID: 24702462 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Revised: 03/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Drosophila larvae innately show light avoidance behavior. Compared with robust blue-light avoidance, larvae exhibit relatively weaker green-light responses. In our previous screening for genes involved in larval light avoidance, compared with control w(1118) larvae, larvae with γ-glutamyl transpeptidase 1 (Ggt-1) knockdown or Ggt-1 mutation were found to exhibit higher percentage of green-light avoidance which was mediated by Rhodopsin6 (Rh6) photoreceptors. However, their responses to blue light did not change significantly. By adjusting the expression level of Ggt-1 in different tissues, we found that Ggt-1 in malpighian tubules was both necessary and sufficient for green-light avoidance. Our results showed that glutamate levels were lower in Ggt-1 null mutants compared with controls. Feeding Ggt-1 null mutants glutamate can normalize green-light avoidance, indicating that high glutamate concentrations suppressed larval green-light avoidance. However, rather than directly, glutamate affected green-light avoidance indirectly through GABA, the level of which was also lower in Ggt-1 mutants compared with controls. Mutants in glutamate decarboxylase 1, which encodes GABA synthase, and knockdown lines of the GABAA receptor, both exhibit elevated levels of green-light avoidance. Thus, our results elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms mediating green-light avoidance, which was inhibited in wild-type larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangqu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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21
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Neyen C, Bretscher AJ, Binggeli O, Lemaitre B. Methods to study Drosophila immunity. Methods 2014; 68:116-28. [PMID: 24631888 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2014.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Revised: 02/15/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Innate immune mechanisms are well conserved throughout evolution, and many theoretical concepts, molecular pathways and gene networks are applicable to invertebrate model organisms as much as vertebrate ones. Drosophila immunity research benefits from an easily manipulated genome, a fantastic international resource of transgenic tools and over a quarter century of accumulated techniques and approaches to study innate immunity. Here we present a short collection of ways to challenge the fruit fly immune system with various pathogens and parasites, as well as read-outs to assess its functions, including cellular and humoral immune responses. Our review covers techniques for assessing the kinetics and efficiency of immune responses quantitatively and qualitatively, such as survival analysis, bacterial persistence, antimicrobial peptide gene expression, phagocytosis and melanisation assays. Finally, we offer a toolkit of Drosophila strains available to the research community for current and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudine Neyen
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Andrew J Bretscher
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Binggeli
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Lemaitre
- Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 19, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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22
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Venken KJT, Bellen HJ. Chemical mutagens, transposons, and transgenes to interrogate gene function in Drosophila melanogaster. Methods 2014; 68:15-28. [PMID: 24583113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2014.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Revised: 02/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of genetics, genes, and chromosomal inheritance was initiated by Thomas Morgan in 1910, when the first visible mutations were identified in fruit flies. The field expanded upon the work initiated by Herman Muller in 1926 when he used X-rays to develop the first balancer chromosomes. Today, balancers are still invaluable to maintain mutations and transgenes but the arsenal of tools has expanded vastly and numerous new methods have been developed, many relying on the availability of the genome sequence and transposable elements. Forward genetic screens based on chemical mutagenesis or transposable elements have resulted in the unbiased identification of many novel players involved in processes probed by specific phenotypic assays. Reverse genetic approaches have relied on the availability of a carefully selected set of transposon insertions spread throughout the genome to allow the manipulation of the region in the vicinity of each insertion. Lastly, the ability to transform Drosophila with single copy transgenes using transposons or site-specific integration using the ΦC31 integrase has allowed numerous manipulations, including the ability to create and integrate genomic rescue constructs, generate duplications, RNAi knock-out technology, binary expression systems like the GAL4/UAS system as well as other methods. Here, we will discuss the most useful methodologies to interrogate the fruit fly genome in vivo focusing on chemical mutagenesis, transposons and transgenes. Genome engineering approaches based on nucleases and RNAi technology are discussed in following chapters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen J T Venken
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, TX 77030, United States.
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Program in Developmental Biology, Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Department of Neuroscience, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
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23
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Aoyama N, Yamakawa T, Sasamura T, Yoshida Y, Ohori M, Okubo H, Iida E, Sasaki N, Ueda R, Matsuno K. Loss- and gain-of-function analyses of vacuolar protein sorting 2 in Notch signaling of Drosophila melanogaster. Genes Genet Syst 2014; 88:45-57. [PMID: 23676709 DOI: 10.1266/ggs.88.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that controls many cell-fate specifications through local cell-cell interactions. The core mechanisms of Notch activation and its subsequent intracellular signaling are well understood. Various cellular functions are required for the activation and regulation of Notch signaling. Among them, the endocytosis of Notch and its ligands is important for the activation and suppression of Notch signaling. The endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) proteins are required to sort ubiquitinated membrane proteins, such as Notch, into early endosomes. A loss-of-function allele of vacuolar protein sorting 2 (vps2), which encodes a component of ESCRT-III, has been reported. However, this vps2 mutant still produces the N-terminal half of the protein, and its phenotypes were studied in only a few organs. Here, we generated the first null mutant allele of Drosophila vps2, designated vps2², to better understand the function of this gene. In Drosophila wing imaginal discs homozygous for the vps2² allele, early endosomes and multivesicular bodies (MVBs) were enlarged, and Notch and Delta accumulated inside them. As reported for the previous vps2 mutant, the epithelium grew excessively under this condition. We further studied the roles of vps2 by RNA interference-knockdown. These experiments revealed that a partial reduction of vps2 attenuated Notch signaling; in contrast, the loss-of-function vps2 mutant is reported to up-regulate the Notch signaling in eye imaginal disc cells. These results suggest that Notch signaling can be up- or down-regulated, depending on the level of vps2 expression. Finally, we found that vps2 overexpression also resulted in early-endosome enlargement and the accumulation of Notch and Delta. In these cells, a portion of the Vps2 protein was detected in MVBs and colocalized with Notch. These data indicate that the expression of vps2 must be precisely regulated to maintain the normal structure of early endosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Aoyama
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki,Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
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24
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Chen L, Dumelie JG, Li X, Cheng MH, Yang Z, Laver JD, Siddiqui NU, Westwood JT, Morris Q, Lipshitz HD, Smibert CA. Global regulation of mRNA translation and stability in the early Drosophila embryo by the Smaug RNA-binding protein. Genome Biol 2014; 15:R4. [PMID: 24393533 PMCID: PMC4053848 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2014-15-1-r4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Smaug is an RNA-binding protein that induces the degradation and represses the translation of mRNAs in the early Drosophila embryo. Smaug has two identified direct target mRNAs that it differentially regulates: nanos and Hsp83. Smaug represses the translation of nanos mRNA but has only a modest effect on its stability, whereas it destabilizes Hsp83 mRNA but has no detectable effect on Hsp83 translation. Smaug is required to destabilize more than one thousand mRNAs in the early embryo, but whether these transcripts represent direct targets of Smaug is unclear and the extent of Smaug-mediated translational repression is unknown. Results To gain a panoramic view of Smaug function in the early embryo, we identified mRNAs that are bound to Smaug using RNA co-immunoprecipitation followed by hybridization to DNA microarrays. We also identified mRNAs that are translationally repressed by Smaug using polysome gradients and microarrays. Comparison of the bound mRNAs to those that are translationally repressed by Smaug and those that require Smaug for their degradation suggests that a large fraction of Smaug’s target mRNAs are both translationally repressed and degraded by Smaug. Smaug directly regulates components of the TRiC/CCT chaperonin, the proteasome regulatory particle and lipid droplets, as well as many metabolic enzymes, including several glycolytic enzymes. Conclusions Smaug plays a direct and global role in regulating the translation and stability of a large fraction of the mRNAs in the early Drosophila embryo, and has unanticipated functions in control of protein folding and degradation, lipid droplet function and metabolism.
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25
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O'Neill RS, Clark DV. The Drosophila melanogaster septin gene Sep2 has a redundant function with the retrogene Sep5 in imaginal cell proliferation but is essential for oogenesis. Genome 2013; 56:753-8. [PMID: 24433211 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2013-0210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Septins are cytoskeletal proteins that form hetero-oligomeric complexes and function in many biological processes, including cytokinesis. Drosophila melanogaster has five septin genes. Sep5, which is the most recently evolved septin gene in Drosophila, is a retrogene copy of Sep2. Sep5 mutants appear wild type, whereas Sep2 mutant females are semisterile. Their ovaries have egg chambers containing abnormal numbers of nurse cells. The egg chamber phenotype is rescued to wild type by expressing a Sep2 cDNA, but it is only partially rescued by expressing a Sep5 cDNA, showing that these paralogs have diverged in function at the protein level. Sep2 Sep5 double mutants have an early pupal lethal phenotype and lack imaginal discs, suggesting that these genes have redundant functions during imaginal cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S O'Neill
- Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, 10 Bailey Drive, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
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26
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Konsolaki M. Fruitful research: drug target discovery for neurodegenerative diseases in Drosophila. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2013; 8:1503-13. [PMID: 24151920 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2013.849691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although vertebrate model systems have obvious advantages in the study of human disease, invertebrate organisms have contributed enormously to this field as well. The conservation of genome structure and physiology among organisms poses unexpected peculiarities, and the redundancy in certain gene families or the presence of polymorphisms that can slightly alter gene expression can, in certain instances, bring invertebrate systems, such as Drosophila, closer to humans than mice and vice versa. This necessitates the analysis of disease pathways in multiple model organisms. AREAS COVERED The author highlights findings from Drosophila models of neurodegenerative diseases that have occurred in the past few years. She also highlights and discusses various molecular, genetic and genomic tools used in flies, as well as methods for generating disease models. Finally, the author describes Drosophila models of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's tri-nucleotide repeat diseases, and Fragile X syndrome and summarizes insights in disease mechanisms that have been discovered directly in fly models. EXPERT OPINION Full genome genetic screens in Drosophila can lead to the rapid identification of drug target candidates that can be subsequently validated in a vertebrate system. In addition, the Drosophila models of neurodegeneration may often show disease phenotypes that are absent in equivalent mouse models. The author believes that the extensive contribution of Drosophila to both new disease drug target discovery, in addition to target validation, makes them indispensible to drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Konsolaki
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Department of Genetics, Nelson Biological Laboratories , Room AB422, Piscataway, NJ 08854 , USA +1 732 445 2813 ; +1 732 445 6920 ;
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Lenz S, Karsten P, Schulz JB, Voigt A. Drosophila as a screening tool to study human neurodegenerative diseases. J Neurochem 2013; 127:453-60. [PMID: 24028575 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Revised: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 09/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In an aging society, research involving neurodegenerative disorders is of paramount importance. Over the past few years, research on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases has made tremendous progress. Experimental studies, however, rely mostly on transgenic animal models, preferentially using mice. Although experiments on mice have enormous advantages, they also have some inherent limitations, some of which can be overcome by the use of Drosophila melanogaster as an experimental animal. Among the major advantages of using the fly is its small genome, which can also be modified very easily. The fact that its genome lends itself to diverse alterations (e. g. mutagenesis, transposons) has made the fly a useful organism to perform large-scale and genome-wide screening approaches. This has opened up an entirely new field of experimental research aiming to elucidate genetic interactions and screen for modifiers of disease processes in vivo. Here, we provide a brief overview of how flies can be used to analyze molecular mechanisms underlying human neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Lenz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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28
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Efficient disruption of Zebrafish genes using a Gal4-containing gene trap. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:619. [PMID: 24034702 PMCID: PMC3848861 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background External development and optical transparency of embryos make zebrafish exceptionally suitable for in vivo insertional mutagenesis using fluorescent proteins to visualize expression patterns of mutated genes. Recently developed Gene Breaking Transposon (GBT) vectors greatly improve the fidelity and mutagenicity of transposon-based gene trap vectors. Results We constructed and tested a bipartite GBT vector with Gal4-VP16 as the primary gene trap reporter. Our vector also contains a UAS:eGFP cassette for direct detection of gene trap events by fluorescence. To confirm gene trap events, we generated a UAS:mRFP tester line. We screened 270 potential founders and established 41 gene trap lines. Three of our gene trap alleles display homozygous lethal phenotypes ranging from embryonic to late larval: nsf tpl6, atp1a3atpl10 and flrtpl19. Our gene trap cassette is flanked by direct loxP sites, which enabled us to successfully revert nsf tpl6, atp1a3atpl10 and flrtpl19 gene trap alleles by injection of Cre mRNA. The UAS:eGFP cassette is flanked by direct FRT sites. It can be readily removed by injection of Flp mRNA for use of our gene trap alleles with other tissue-specific GFP-marked lines. The Gal4-VP16 component of our vector provides two important advantages over other GBT vectors. The first is increased sensitivity, which enabled us to detect previously unnoticed expression of nsf in the pancreas. The second advantage is that all our gene trap lines, including integrations into non-essential genes, can be used as highly specific Gal4 drivers for expression of other transgenes under the control of Gal4 UAS. Conclusions The Gal4-containing bipartite Gene Breaking Transposon vector presented here retains high specificity for integrations into genes, high mutagenicity and revertibility by Cre. These features, together with utility as highly specific Gal4 drivers, make gene trap mutants presented here especially useful to the research community.
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Luan S, Ilvarsonn AM, Eissenberg JC. The unique GGA clathrin adaptor of Drosophila melanogaster is not essential. PLoS One 2012; 7:e45163. [PMID: 23028818 PMCID: PMC3447878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045163] [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: 05/26/2012] [Accepted: 08/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Golgi-localized, γ-ear-containing, ARF binding proteins (GGAs) are a highly conserved family of monomeric clathrin adaptor proteins implicated in clathrin-mediated protein sorting between the trans-Golgi network and endosomes. GGA RNAi knockdowns in Drosophila have resulted in conflicting data concerning whether the Drosophila GGA (dGGA) is essential. The goal of this study was to define the null phenotype for the unique Drosophila GGA. We describe two independently derived dGGA mutations. Neither allele expresses detectable dGGA protein. Homozygous and hemizygous flies with each allele are viable and fertile. In contrast to a previous report using RNAi knockdown, GGA mutant flies show no evidence of age-dependent retinal degeneration or cathepsin missorting. Our results demonstrate that several of the previous RNAi knockdown phenotypes were the result of off-target effects. However, GGA null flies are hypersensitive to dietary chloroquine and to starvation, implicating GGA in lysosomal function and autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Luan
- Department of Biology, Macelwane Hall, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Anne M. Ilvarsonn
- Department of Biology, Macelwane Hall, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Joel C. Eissenberg
- Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis, University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Zhou W, Hong Y. Drosophila Patj plays a supporting role in apical-basal polarity but is essential for viability. Development 2012; 139:2891-6. [PMID: 22791898 DOI: 10.1242/dev.083162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Patj has been characterized as one of the so-called polarity proteins that play essential and conserved roles in regulating cell polarity in many different cell types. Studies of Drosophila and mammalian cells suggest that Patj is required for the apical polarity protein complex Crumbs-Stardust (Pals1 or Mpp5 in mammalian cells) to establish apical-basal polarity. However, owing to the lack of suitable genetic mutants, the exact in vivo function of Patj in regulating apical-basal polarity and development remains to be elucidated. Here, we generated molecularly defined null mutants of Drosophila Patj (dPatj). Our data show conclusively that dPatj only plays supporting and non-essential roles in regulating apical-basal polarity, although such a supporting role may become crucial in cells such as photoreceptors that undergo complex cellular morphogenesis. In addition, our results confirm that dPatj possesses an as yet unidentified function that is essential for pupal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenke Zhou
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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Abstract
The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has been used to study genetics, development, and signaling for nearly a century, but only over the past few decades has this tremendous resource been the focus of cardiovascular research. Fly genetics offers sophisticated transgenic systems, molecularly defined genomic deficiencies, genome-wide transgenic RNAi lines, and numerous curated mutants to perform genetic screens. As a genetically tractable model, the fly facilitates gene discovery and can complement mammalian models of disease. The circulatory system in the fly comprises well-defined sets of cardiomyocytes, and methodological advances have permitted accurate characterization of cardiac morphology and function. Thus, fly genetics and genomics offer new approaches for gene discovery of adult cardiac phenotypes to identify evolutionarily conserved molecular signals that drive cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Wolf
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Wang B, Harrison W, Overbeek PA, Zheng H. Transposon mutagenesis with coat color genotyping identifies an essential role for Skor2 in sonic hedgehog signaling and cerebellum development. Development 2011; 138:4487-97. [PMID: 21937600 PMCID: PMC3177318 DOI: 10.1242/dev.067264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Correct development of the cerebellum requires coordinated sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling from Purkinje to granule cells. How Shh expression is regulated in Purkinje cells is poorly understood. Using a novel tyrosinase minigene-tagged Sleeping Beauty transposon-mediated mutagenesis, which allows for coat color-based genotyping, we created mice in which the Ski/Sno family transcriptional co-repressor 2 (Skor2) gene is deleted. Loss of Skor2 leads to defective Purkinje cell development, a severe reduction of granule cell proliferation and a malformed cerebellum. Skor2 is specifically expressed in Purkinje cells in the brain, where it is required for proper expression of Shh. Skor2 overexpression suppresses BMP signaling in an HDAC-dependent manner and stimulates Shh promoter activity, suggesting that Skor2 represses BMP signaling to activate Shh expression. Our study identifies an essential function for Skor2 as a novel transcriptional regulator in Purkinje cells that acts upstream of Shh during cerebellum development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiping Wang
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Wilbur Harrison
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Paul A. Overbeek
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hui Zheng
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Brody T, Yavatkar AS, Kuzin A, Kundu M, Tyson LJ, Ross J, Lin TY, Lee CH, Awasaki T, Lee T, Odenwald WF. Use of a Drosophila genome-wide conserved sequence database to identify functionally related cis-regulatory enhancers. Dev Dyn 2011; 241:169-89. [PMID: 22174086 PMCID: PMC3243966 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Phylogenetic footprinting has revealed that cis-regulatory enhancers consist of conserved DNA sequence clusters (CSCs). Currently, there is no systematic approach for enhancer discovery and analysis that takes full-advantage of the sequence information within enhancer CSCs. Results: We have generated a Drosophila genome-wide database of conserved DNA consisting of >100,000 CSCs derived from EvoPrints spanning over 90% of the genome. cis-Decoder database search and alignment algorithms enable the discovery of functionally related enhancers. The program first identifies conserved repeat elements within an input enhancer and then searches the database for CSCs that score highly against the input CSC. Scoring is based on shared repeats as well as uniquely shared matches, and includes measures of the balance of shared elements, a diagnostic that has proven to be useful in predicting cis-regulatory function. To demonstrate the utility of these tools, a temporally-restricted CNS neuroblast enhancer was used to identify other functionally related enhancers and analyze their structural organization. Conclusions:cis-Decoder reveals that co-regulating enhancers consist of combinations of overlapping shared sequence elements, providing insights into the mode of integration of multiple regulating transcription factors. The database and accompanying algorithms should prove useful in the discovery and analysis of enhancers involved in any developmental process. Developmental Dynamics 241:169–189, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Brody
- Neural Cell-Fate Determinants Section, NINDS, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
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Jacobs JS, Hong X, Eberl DF. A "mesmer"izing new approach to site-directed mutagenesis in large transformation-ready constructs: Mutagenesis via Serial Small Mismatch Recombineering. Fly (Austin) 2011; 5:162-9. [PMID: 21339708 DOI: 10.4161/fly.5.2.15092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Creating designer mutations in large genes is a challenge. Size limitations imposed by site-directed mutagenesis (SDM), coupled with the paucity of unique restriction enzyme sites, make subsequent cloning of these constructs extremely difficult. "Mutagenesis via Serial Small Mismatch Recombineering" (MSSMR) combines sequential recombineering steps with SDM to create seamless, pre-specified mutations as small as a single base pair. We demonstrate the simultaneous cloning of wild type and mutant constructs of a > 30 kb gene directly into attB transformation vectors. No post-transformation manipulations are required, and because the technique relies on recombineering methods, addition of undesired mutations via PCR is minimized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie S Jacobs
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Poulou M, Bell D, Bozonelos K, Alexiou M, Gavalas A, Lovell-Badge R, Remboutsika E. Development of a Chromosomally Integrated Metabolite-Inducible Leu3p-α-IPM “Off-On” Gene Switch. PLoS One 2010; 5:e12488. [PMID: 20824215 PMCID: PMC2930855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2010] [Accepted: 08/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Poulou
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming,” Attica, Greece
| | - Donald Bell
- Division of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kostas Bozonelos
- Transgenics Unit, Institute of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming,” Attica, Greece
| | - Maria Alexiou
- Transgenics Unit, Institute of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming,” Attica, Greece
| | - Anthony Gavalas
- Division of Developmental Neurobiology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Lovell-Badge
- Division of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eumorphia Remboutsika
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming,” Attica, Greece
- Division of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Generation and Characterization of Blood Vessel Specific EGFP Transgenic Zebrafish via Tol2 Transposon Mediated Enhancer Trap Screen*. PROG BIOCHEM BIOPHYS 2010. [DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1206.2010.00301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Removal of the bloom syndrome DNA helicase extends the utility of imprecise transposon excision for making null mutations in Drosophila. Genetics 2009; 183:1187-93. [PMID: 19687136 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.109.108472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements are frequently used in Drosophila melanogaster for imprecise excision screens to delete genes of interest. However, these screens are highly variable in the number and size of deletions that are recovered. Here, we show that conducting excision screens in mus309 mutant flies that lack DmBlm, the Drosophila ortholog of the Bloom syndrome protein, increases the percentage and overall size of flanking deletions recovered after excision of either P or Minos elements.
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Park JM, Evertts AG, Levin HL. The Hermes transposon of Musca domestica and its use as a mutagen of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Methods 2009; 49:243-7. [PMID: 19450689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2009.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2009] [Revised: 05/06/2009] [Accepted: 05/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposon mutagenesis allows for the discovery and characterization of genes by creating mutations that can be easily mapped and sequenced. Moreover, this method allows for a relatively unbiased approach to isolating genes of interest. Recently, a system of transposon based mutagenesis for Schizosaccharomyces pombe became available. This mutagenesis relies on Hermes, a DNA transposon from the house fly that readily integrates into the chromosomes of S. pombe. The Hermes system is distinct from the retrotransposons of S. pombe because it efficiently integrates into open reading frames. To mutagenize S. pombe, cells are transformed with a plasmid that contains a drug resistance marker flanked by the terminal inverted repeats of Hermes. The Hermes transposase expressed from a second plasmid excises the resistance marker with the inverted repeats and inserts this DNA into chromosomal sites. After S. pombe with these two plasmids grow 25 generations, approximately 2% of the cells contain insertions. Of the cells with insertions, 68% contain single integration events. The protocols listed here provide the detailed information necessary to mutagenize a strain of interest, screen for specific phenotypes, and sequence the positions of insertion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung M Park
- Section on Eukaryotic Transposable Elements, Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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