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Sandeep P, Sharma P, Luhach K, Dhiman N, Kharkwal H, Sharma B. Neuron navigators: A novel frontier with physiological and pathological implications. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 127:103905. [PMID: 37972804 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuron navigators are microtubule plus-end tracking proteins containing basic and serine rich regions which are encoded by neuron navigator genes (NAVs). Neuron navigator proteins are essential for neurite outgrowth, neuronal migration, and overall neurodevelopment along with some other functions as well. The navigator proteins are substantially expressed in the developing brain and have been reported to be differentially expressed in various tissues at different ages. Over the years, the research has found neuron navigators to be implicated in a spectrum of pathological conditions such as developmental anomalies, neurodegenerative disorders, neuropathic pain, anxiety, cancers, and certain inflammatory conditions. The existing knowledge about neuron navigators remains sparse owing to their differential functions, undiscovered modulators, and unknown molecular mechanisms. Investigating the possible role of neuron navigators in various physiological processes and pathological conditions pose as a novel field that requires extensive research and might provide novel mechanistic insights and understanding of these aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parth Sandeep
- Department of Pharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Poonam Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Kanishk Luhach
- Department of Pharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Neerupma Dhiman
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Harsha Kharkwal
- Amity Natural and Herbal Product Research, Amity Institute of Phytochemistry and Phytomedicine, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Bhupesh Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India.
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Nousiainen S, Kuismin O, Reinikka S, Manninen R, Khamaiseh S, Kuivalainen M, Terho A, Koivurova S, Niinimäki M, Salokas K, Varjosalo M, Ahtikoski A, Bützow R, Lindgren O, Uimari O, Vahteristo P. Whole-exome sequencing reveals candidate high-risk susceptibility genes for endometriosis. Hum Genomics 2023; 17:88. [PMID: 37789421 PMCID: PMC10546785 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-023-00538-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometriosis is a common, chronic disease among fertile-aged women. Disease course may be highly invasive, requiring extensive surgery. The etiology of endometriosis remains elusive, though a high level of heritability is well established. Several low-penetrance predisposing loci have been identified, but high-risk susceptibility remains undetermined. Endometriosis is known to increase the risk of epithelial ovarian cancers, especially of endometrioid and clear cell types. Here, we have analyzed a Finnish family where four women have been diagnosed with surgically verified, severely symptomatic endometriosis and two of the patients also with high-grade serous carcinoma. RESULTS Whole-exome sequencing revealed three rare candidate predisposing variants segregating with endometriosis. The variants were c.1238C>T, p.(Pro413Leu) in FGFR4, c.5065C>T, p.(Arg1689Trp) in NALCN, and c.2086G>A, p.(Val696Met) in NAV2. The only variant predicted deleterious by in silico tools was the one in FGFR4. Further screening of the variants in 92 Finnish endometriosis and in 19 endometriosis-ovarian cancer patients did not reveal additional carriers. Histopathology, positive p53 immunostaining, and genetic analysis supported the high-grade serous subtype of the two tumors in the family. CONCLUSIONS Here, we provide FGFR4, NALCN, and NAV2 as novel high-risk candidate genes for familial endometriosis. Our results also support the association of endometriosis with high-grade serous carcinoma. Further studies are required to validate the findings and to reveal the exact pathogenesis mechanisms of endometriosis. Elucidating the genetic background of endometriosis defines the etiology of the disease and provides opportunities for expedited diagnostics and personalized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Nousiainen
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Kuismin
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Siiri Reinikka
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Roosa Manninen
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sara Khamaiseh
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Kuivalainen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kainuu Central Hospital, Kajaani, Finland
| | - Anna Terho
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sari Koivurova
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Maarit Niinimäki
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Kari Salokas
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markku Varjosalo
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Ahtikoski
- Department of Pathology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Ralf Bützow
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Lindgren
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Outi Uimari
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pia Vahteristo
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, Helsinki, Finland.
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Powers RM, Hevner RF, Halpain S. The Neuron Navigators: Structure, function, and evolutionary history. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1099554. [PMID: 36710926 PMCID: PMC9877351 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1099554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuron navigators (Navigators) are cytoskeletal-associated proteins important for neuron migration, neurite growth, and axon guidance, but they also function more widely in other tissues. Recent studies have revealed novel cellular functions of Navigators such as macropinocytosis, and have implicated Navigators in human disorders of axon growth. Navigators are present in most or all bilaterian animals: vertebrates have three Navigators (NAV1-3), Drosophila has one (Sickie), and Caenorhabditis elegans has one (Unc-53). Structurally, Navigators have conserved N- and C-terminal regions each containing specific domains. The N-terminal region contains a calponin homology (CH) domain and one or more SxIP motifs, thought to interact with the actin cytoskeleton and mediate localization to microtubule plus-end binding proteins, respectively. The C-terminal region contains two coiled-coil domains, followed by a AAA+ family nucleoside triphosphatase domain of unknown activity. The Navigators appear to have evolved by fusion of N- and C-terminal region homologs present in simpler organisms. Overall, Navigators participate in the cytoskeletal response to extracellular cues via microtubules and actin filaments, in conjunction with membrane trafficking. We propose that uptake of fluid-phase cues and nutrients and/or downregulation of cell surface receptors could represent general mechanisms that explain Navigator functions. Future studies developing new models, such as conditional knockout mice or human cerebral organoids may reveal new insights into Navigator function. Importantly, further biochemical studies are needed to define the activities of the Navigator AAA+ domain, and to study potential interactions among different Navigators and their binding partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina M. Powers
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Robert F. Hevner
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, United States,Department of Pathology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Shelley Halpain
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Shelley Halpain, ✉
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Active forgetting requires Sickie function in a dedicated dopamine circuit in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2204229119. [PMID: 36095217 PMCID: PMC9499536 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204229119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Forgetting is an essential component of the brain's memory management system, providing a balance to memory formation processes by removing unused or unwanted memories, or by suppressing their expression. However, the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms underlying forgetting are poorly understood. Here we show that the memory suppressor gene, sickie, functions in a single dopamine neuron (DAn) by supporting the process of active forgetting in Drosophila. RNAi knockdown (KD) of sickie impairs forgetting by reducing the Ca2+ influx and DA release from the DAn that promotes forgetting. Coimmunoprecipitation/mass spectrometry analyses identified cytoskeletal and presynaptic active zone (AZ) proteins as candidates that physically interact with Sickie, and a focused RNAi screen of the candidates showed that Bruchpilot (Brp)-a presynaptic AZ protein that regulates calcium channel clustering and neurotransmitter release-impairs active forgetting like sickie KD. In addition, overexpression of brp rescued the impaired forgetting of sickie KD, providing evidence that they function in the same process. Moreover, we show that sickie KD in the DAn reduces the abundance and size of AZ markers but increases their number, suggesting that Sickie controls DAn activity for forgetting by modulating the presynaptic AZ structure. Our results identify a molecular and circuit mechanism for normal levels of active forgetting and reveal a surprising role of Sickie in maintaining presynaptic AZ structure for neurotransmitter release.
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Basak S, Mallick R, Banerjee A, Pathak S, Duttaroy AK. Cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding proteins in metabolic diseases and cancers. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2022; 132:143-174. [PMID: 36088074 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are multipurpose proteins that can modulate lipid fluxes, trafficking, signaling, and metabolism. FABPs regulate metabolic and inflammatory pathways, its inhibition can improve type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis. In addition, FABPs are involved in obesity, metabolic disease, cardiac dysfunction, and cancers. FABPs are promising tissue biomarkers in solid tumors for diagnostic and/or prognostic targets for novel therapeutic strategies. The signaling responsive elements of FABPs and determinants of FABP-mediated functions may be exploited in preventing or treating these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Basak
- Molecular Biology Division, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India
| | - Rahul Mallick
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
| | - Antara Banerjee
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chennai, India
| | - Surajit Pathak
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chennai, India
| | - Asim K Duttaroy
- Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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McKillop IH, Girardi CA, Thompson KJ. Role of fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) in cancer development and progression. Cell Signal 2019; 62:109336. [PMID: 31170472 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are small, water soluble proteins that bind long chain fatty acids and other biologically active ligands to facilitate intracellular localization. Twelve FABP family members have been identified to date, with 10 isoforms expressed in humans. Functionally, FABPs are important in fatty acid metabolism and transport, with distinct family members having the capacity to influence gene transcription. Expression of FABPs is usually cell/tissue specific to one predominant FABP family member. Dysregulation of FABP expression can occur through genetic mutation and/or environmental-lifestyle influences. In addition to intracellular function, exogenous, circulating FABP expression can occur and is associated with specific disease states such as insulin resistance. A role for FABPs is increasingly being reported in tumor biology with elevated exogenous FABP expression being associated with tumor progression and invasiveness. However, a less clear role has been appreciated for dysregulated FABP expression during cell transformation and early expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain H McKillop
- Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA
| | - Cara A Girardi
- Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA
| | - Kyle J Thompson
- Department of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA.
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