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Cowen MH, Reddy KC, Chalasani SH, Hart MP. Conserved autism-associated genes tune social feeding behavior in C. elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.05.570116. [PMID: 38106124 PMCID: PMC10723370 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.05.570116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Animal foraging is an essential and evolutionarily conserved behavior that occurs in social and solitary contexts, but the underlying molecular pathways are not well defined. We discover that conserved autism-associated genes (NRXN1(nrx-1), NLGN3(nlg-1), GRIA1,2,3(glr-1), GRIA2(glr-2), and GLRA2,GABRA3(avr-15)) regulate aggregate feeding in C. elegans, a simple social behavior. NRX-1 functions in chemosensory neurons (ADL and ASH) independently of its postsynaptic partner NLG-1 to regulate social feeding. Glutamate from these neurons is also crucial for aggregate feeding, acting independently of NRX-1 and NLG-1. Compared to solitary counterparts, social animals show faster presynaptic release and more presynaptic release sites in ASH neurons, with only the latter requiring nrx-1. Disruption of these distinct signaling components additively converts behavior from social to solitary. Aggregation induced by circuit activation is also dependent on nrx-1. Collectively, we find that aggregate feeding is tuned by conserved autism-associated genes through complementary synaptic mechanisms, revealing molecular principles driving social feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara H. Cowen
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kirthi C. Reddy
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | | | - Michael P. Hart
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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Mizumoto K, Jin Y, Bessereau JL. Synaptogenesis: unmasking molecular mechanisms using Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2023; 223:iyac176. [PMID: 36630525 PMCID: PMC9910414 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a research model organism particularly suited to the mechanistic understanding of synapse genesis in the nervous system. Armed with powerful genetics, knowledge of complete connectomics, and modern genomics, studies using C. elegans have unveiled multiple key regulators in the formation of a functional synapse. Importantly, many signaling networks display remarkable conservation throughout animals, underscoring the contributions of C. elegans research to advance the understanding of our brain. In this chapter, we will review up-to-date information of the contribution of C. elegans to the understanding of chemical synapses, from structure to molecules and to synaptic remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kota Mizumoto
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Yishi Jin
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jean-Louis Bessereau
- Univ Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5284, INSERM U 1314, Melis, 69008 Lyon, France
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Drongitis D, Caterino M, Verrillo L, Santonicola P, Costanzo M, Poeta L, Attianese B, Barra A, Terrone G, Lioi MB, Paladino S, Di Schiavi E, Costa V, Ruoppolo M, Miano MG. Deregulation of microtubule organization and RNA metabolism in Arx models for lissencephaly and developmental epileptic encephalopathy. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:1884-1908. [PMID: 35094084 PMCID: PMC9169459 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
X-linked lissencephaly with abnormal genitalia (XLAG) and developmental epileptic encephalopathy-1 (DEE1) are caused by mutations in the Aristaless-related homeobox (ARX) gene, which encodes a transcription factor responsible for brain development. It has been unknown whether the phenotypically diverse XLAG and DEE1 phenotypes may converge on shared pathways. To address this question, a label-free quantitative proteomic approach was applied to the neonatal brain of Arx knockout (ArxKO/Y) and knock-in polyalanine (Arx(GCG)7/Y) mice that are respectively models for XLAG and DEE1. Gene ontology and protein-protein interaction analysis revealed that cytoskeleton, protein synthesis and splicing control are deregulated in an allelic-dependent manner. Decreased α-tubulin content was observed both in Arx mice and Arx/alr-1(KO) Caenorhabditis elegans ,and a disorganized neurite network in murine primary neurons was consistent with an allelic-dependent secondary tubulinopathy. As distinct features of Arx(GCG)7/Y mice, we detected eIF4A2 overexpression and translational suppression in cortex and primary neurons. Allelic-dependent differences were also established in alternative splicing (AS) regulated by PUF60 and SAM68. Abnormal AS repertoires in Neurexin-1, a gene encoding multiple pre-synaptic organizers implicated in synaptic remodelling, were detected in Arx/alr-1(KO) animals and in Arx(GCG)7/Y epileptogenic brain areas and depolarized cortical neurons. Consistent with a conserved role of ARX in modulating AS, we propose that the allelic-dependent secondary synaptopathy results from an aberrant Neurexin-1 repertoire. Overall, our data reveal alterations mirroring the overlapping and variant effects caused by null and polyalanine expanded mutations in ARX. The identification of these effects can aid in the design of pathway-guided therapy for ARX endophenotypes and NDDs with overlapping comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Drongitis
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics ``Adriano Buzzati-Traverso'', National Research Council of Italy, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Marianna Caterino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
- CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c.a.r.l., 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia Verrillo
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics ``Adriano Buzzati-Traverso'', National Research Council of Italy, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Pamela Santonicola
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, National Research Council of Italy, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Michele Costanzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
- CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c.a.r.l., 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Loredana Poeta
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics ``Adriano Buzzati-Traverso'', National Research Council of Italy, 80131, Naples, Italy
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Benedetta Attianese
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics ``Adriano Buzzati-Traverso'', National Research Council of Italy, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Adriano Barra
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics ``Adriano Buzzati-Traverso'', National Research Council of Italy, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Gaetano Terrone
- Department of Translational Medicine, Child Neurology Unit, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Simona Paladino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Elia Di Schiavi
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, National Research Council of Italy, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Valerio Costa
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics ``Adriano Buzzati-Traverso'', National Research Council of Italy, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Margherita Ruoppolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
- CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate s.c.a.r.l., 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Giuseppina Miano
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics ``Adriano Buzzati-Traverso'', National Research Council of Italy, 80131, Naples, Italy
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Boyle S, Kakouli-Duarte T. Differential gene expression in the insect pathogen Steinernema feltiae in response to chromium VI exposure in contaminated host cadavers. Comput Biol Chem 2020; 88:107331. [PMID: 32781309 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2020.107331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Boyle
- enviroCORE, Molecular Ecology and Nematode Research Group, Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, Ireland.
| | - Thomais Kakouli-Duarte
- enviroCORE, Molecular Ecology and Nematode Research Group, Department of Science and Health, Institute of Technology Carlow, Kilkenny Road, Carlow, Ireland
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Zhou X, Bessereau JL. Molecular Architecture of Genetically-Tractable GABA Synapses in C. elegans. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:304. [PMID: 31920535 PMCID: PMC6920096 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitory synapses represent a minority of the total chemical synapses in the mammalian brain, yet proper tuning of inhibition is fundamental to shape neuronal network properties. The neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) mediates rapid synaptic inhibition by the activation of the type A GABA receptor (GABAAR), a pentameric chloride channel that governs major inhibitory neuronal transduction in the nervous system. Impaired GABA transmission leads to a variety of neuropsychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy or anxiety. From an evolutionary perspective, GABAAR shows remarkable conservations, and are found in all eukaryotic clades and even in bacteria and archaea. Specifically, bona fide GABAARs are found in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Because of the anatomical simplicity of the nervous system and its amenability to genetic manipulations, C. elegans provide a powerful system to investigate the molecular and cellular biology of GABA synapses. In this mini review article, we will introduce the structure of the C. elegans GABAergic system and describe recent advances that have identified novel proteins controlling the localization of GABAARs at synapses. In particular, Ce-Punctin/MADD-4 is an evolutionarily-conserved extracellular matrix protein that behaves as an anterograde synaptic organizer to instruct the excitatory or inhibitory identity of postsynaptic domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhou
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5310, INSERM U 1217, Institut NeuroMyoGène, Lyon, France
| | - Jean-Louis Bessereau
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5310, INSERM U 1217, Institut NeuroMyoGène, Lyon, France
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Calahorro F, Keefe F, Dillon J, Holden-Dye L, O'Connor V. Neuroligin tuning of pharyngeal pumping reveals extrapharyngeal modulation of feeding in Caenorhabditis elegans. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:jeb.189423. [PMID: 30559302 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.189423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The integration of distinct sensory modalities is essential for behavioural decision making. In C aenorhabditis elegans, this process is coordinated by neural circuits that integrate sensory cues from the environment to generate an appropriate behaviour at the appropriate output muscles. Food is a multimodal cue that impacts the microcircuits to modulate feeding and foraging drivers at the level of the pharyngeal and body wall muscle, respectively. When food triggers an upregulation in pharyngeal pumping, it allows the effective ingestion of food. Here, we show that a C elegans mutant in the single gene orthologous to human neuroligins, nlg-1, is defective in food-induced pumping. This was not due to an inability to sense food, as nlg-1 mutants were not defective in chemotaxis towards bacteria. In addition, we found that neuroligin is widely expressed in the nervous system, including AIY, ADE, ALA, URX and HSN neurons. Interestingly, despite the deficit in pharyngeal pumping, neuroligin was not expressed within the pharyngeal neuromuscular network, which suggests an extrapharyngeal regulation of this circuit. We resolved electrophysiologically the neuroligin contribution to the pharyngeal circuit by mimicking food-dependent pumping and found that the nlg-1 phenotype is similar to mutants impaired in GABAergic and/or glutamatergic signalling. We suggest that neuroligin organizes extrapharyngeal circuits that regulate the pharynx. These observations based on the molecular and cellular determinants of feeding are consistent with the emerging role of neuroligin in discretely impacting functional circuits underpinning complex behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Calahorro
- Biological Sciences, Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Francesca Keefe
- Biological Sciences, Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - James Dillon
- Biological Sciences, Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Lindy Holden-Dye
- Biological Sciences, Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Vincent O'Connor
- Biological Sciences, Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
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Holden-Dye L, Walker RJ. Invertebrate models of behavioural plasticity and human disease. Brain Neurosci Adv 2018; 2:2398212818818068. [PMID: 32166171 PMCID: PMC7058240 DOI: 10.1177/2398212818818068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The fundamental processes of neural communication have been largely conserved through evolution. Throughout the last century, researchers have taken advantage of this, and the experimental tractability of invertebrate animals, to advance understanding of the nervous system that translates to mammalian brain. This started with the inspired analysis of the ionic basis of neuronal excitability and neurotransmission using squid during the 1940s and 1950s and has progressed to detailed insight into the molecular architecture of the synapse facilitated by the genetic tractability of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Throughout this time, invertebrate preparations have provided a means to link neural mechanisms to behavioural plasticity and thus key insight into fundamental aspects of control systems, learning, and memory. This article captures key highlights that exemplify the historical and continuing invertebrate contribution to neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert J Walker
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Schmeisser K, Fardghassemi Y, Parker JA. A rapid chemical-genetic screen utilizing impaired movement phenotypes in C. elegans: Input into genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders. Exp Neurol 2017; 293:101-114. [PMID: 28373024 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder with a constantly increasing prevalence. Model organisms may be tools to identify underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, as well as aid the discovery and development of novel therapeutic approaches. A simple animal such as the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans may provide insights into the extreme complexity of ASD genetics. Despite its potential, using C. elegans in ASD research is a controversial approach and has not yet been used extensively in this context. In this study, we present a screening approach of potential C. elegans mutants as potential ASD models. We screened these mutants for motor-deficiency phenotypes, which can be exploited to study underlying mechanisms of the disorder. Selected motor-deficient mutants were then used in a comprehensive drug screen of over 3900 compounds, including many FDA-approved and natural molecules, that were analyzed for their ability to suppress motility defects caused by ASD-associated gene orthologues. This genetic-chemical approach, i.e. establishing C. elegans models for ASD and screening of a well-characterized compound library, might be a promising first step to understand the mechanisms of how gene variations cause neuronal dysfunction, leading to ASD and other neurological disorders. Positively acting compounds could also be promising candidates for preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Schmeisser
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montreál (CRCHUM), 900 St-Denis Street, Montreál, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Yasmin Fardghassemi
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montreál (CRCHUM), 900 St-Denis Street, Montreál, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montreál, 2960 Chemin de la Tour, Montreál, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - J Alex Parker
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montreál (CRCHUM), 900 St-Denis Street, Montreál, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montreál, 2960 Chemin de la Tour, Montreál, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada.
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Calahorro F, Holden-Dye L, O'Connor V. Analysis of splice variants for the C. elegans orthologue of human neuroligin reveals a developmentally regulated transcript. Gene Expr Patterns 2015; 17:69-78. [PMID: 25726726 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2015.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2014] [Revised: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Neuroligins are synaptic adhesion molecules and important determinants of synaptic function. They are expressed at postsynaptic sites and involved in synaptic organization through key extracellular and intracellular protein interactions. They undergo trans-synaptic interaction with presynaptic neurexins. Distinct neuroligins use differences in their intracellular domains to selectively recruit synaptic scaffolds and this plays an important role in how they encode specialization of synaptic function. Several levels of regulation including gene expression, splicing, protein translation and processing regulate the expression of neuroligin function. We have used in silico and cDNA analyses to investigate the mRNA splicing of the Caenorhabditis elegans orthologue nlg-1. Transcript analysis highlights the potential for gene regulation with respect to both temporal expression and splicing. We found nlg-1 splice variants with all the predicted exons are a minor species relative to major splice variants lacking exons 13 and 14, or 14 alone. These major alternatively spliced variants change the intracellular domain of the gene product NLG-1. Interestingly, exon 14 encodes a cassette with two distinct potential functional domains. One is a polyproline SH3 binding domain and the other has homology to a region encoding the binding site for the scaffolding protein gephyrin in mammalian neuroligins. This suggests differential splicing impacts on NLG-1 competence to recruit intracellular binding partners. This may have developmental relevance as nlg-1 exon 14 containing transcripts are selectively expressed in L2-L3 larvae. These results highlight a developmental regulation of C. elegans nlg-1 that could play a key role in the assembly of synaptic protein complexes during the early stages of nervous system development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Calahorro
- Centre for Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
| | - Lindy Holden-Dye
- Centre for Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Vincent O'Connor
- Centre for Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
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