1
|
Kumar U, Fang CY, Roan HY, Hsu SC, Wang CH, Chen CH. Whole-body replacement of larval myofibers generates permanent adult myofibers in zebrafish. EMBO J 2024:10.1038/s44318-024-00136-y. [PMID: 38839992 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00136-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Drastic increases in myofiber number and size are essential to support vertebrate post-embryonic growth. However, the collective cellular behaviors that enable these increases have remained elusive. Here, we created the palmuscle myofiber tagging and tracking system for in toto monitoring of the growth and fates of ~5000 fast myofibers in developing zebrafish larvae. Through live tracking of individual myofibers within the same individuals over extended periods, we found that many larval myofibers readily dissolved during development, enabling the on-site addition of new and more myofibers. Remarkably, whole-body surveillance of multicolor-barcoded myofibers further unveiled a gradual yet extensive elimination of larval myofiber populations, resulting in near-total replacement by late juvenile stages. The subsequently emerging adult myofibers are not only long-lasting, but also morphologically and functionally distinct from the larval populations. Furthermore, we determined that the elimination-replacement process is dependent on and driven by the autophagy pathway. Altogether, we propose that the whole-body replacement of larval myofibers is an inherent yet previously unnoticed process driving organismic muscle growth during vertebrate post-embryonic development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uday Kumar
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
- Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yi Fang
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Yuh Roan
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Chun Hsu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Han Wang
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Hui Chen
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Foessl I, Ackert-Bicknell CL, Kague E, Laskou F, Jakob F, Karasik D, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Alonso N, Bjørnerem Å, Brandi ML, Busse B, Calado Â, Cebi AH, Christou M, Curran KM, Hald JD, Semeraro MD, Douni E, Duncan EL, Duran I, Formosa MM, Gabet Y, Ghatan S, Gkitakou A, Hassler EM, Högler W, Heino TJ, Hendrickx G, Khashayar P, Kiel DP, Koromani F, Langdahl B, Lopes P, Mäkitie O, Maurizi A, Medina-Gomez C, Ntzani E, Ohlsson C, Prijatelj V, Rabionet R, Reppe S, Rivadeneira F, Roshchupkin G, Sharma N, Søe K, Styrkarsdottir U, Szulc P, Teti A, Tobias J, Valjevac A, van de Peppel J, van der Eerden B, van Rietbergen B, Zekic T, Zillikens MC. A perspective on muscle phenotyping in musculoskeletal research. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2024; 35:478-489. [PMID: 38553405 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Musculoskeletal research should synergistically investigate bone and muscle to inform approaches for maintaining mobility and to avoid bone fractures. The relationship between sarcopenia and osteoporosis, integrated in the term 'osteosarcopenia', is underscored by the close association shown between these two conditions in many studies, whereby one entity emerges as a predictor of the other. In a recent workshop of Working Group (WG) 2 of the EU Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action 'Genomics of MusculoSkeletal traits Translational Network' (GEMSTONE) consortium (CA18139), muscle characterization was highlighted as being important, but currently under-recognized in the musculoskeletal field. Here, we summarize the opinions of the Consortium and research questions around translational and clinical musculoskeletal research, discussing muscle phenotyping in human experimental research and in two animal models: zebrafish and mouse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Foessl
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
| | - Cheryl L Ackert-Bicknell
- Colorado Program for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Orthopedics, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Erika Kague
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Franz Jakob
- Bernhard-Heine-Centrum für Bewegungsforschung und Lehrstuhl für Funktionswerkstoffe der Medizin und der Zahnheilkunde, Würzburg, Germany
| | - David Karasik
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang Y, Li S, Cheng Z, Zhang Z, Xu Y, Zhang H, Xu T, Chen J, Yin D, Yan W, Huang H. Caspase-8 dependent apoptosis contributes to dyskinesia caused by muscle defects and neurotoxicity in zebrafish exposed to zearalenone. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 186:114516. [PMID: 38382872 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.114516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Zearalenone (ZEA), one of the usual mycotoxins, has been recognized in many areas and crops, posing a significant threat to the living organisms even to human beings. However, the mechanisms of locomotive defects remain unknown. Herein, zebrafish larvae was employed to investigate ZEA effects on developmental indexes, muscle and neural toxicity, apoptosis, transcriptome and motor behaviors of zebrafish larvae. Zebrafish larvae exposed to ZEA (0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 μM) showed no change in survival rate, but the malformation rate of zebrafish larvae increased dramatically manifesting with severe body bending and accomplished with adverse effects on hatching rate and body length. Moreover, the larvae manifested with defective muscle and abnormal neural development, resulting in decreased swimming ability, which probably due to the abnormal overactivation of apoptosis. And this was confirmed by enriched caspase 8-mediated apoptosis signaling pathway in the following transcriptome analysis. Meanwhile, there was a recovery in swimming behaviors in the larvae co-exposed in ZEA and caspase 8 inhibitor. These findings provide an important evidence for risk assessment and potential treatment target of ZEA exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Box 136, No. 3 Zhongshan RD, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400014, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuaiting Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhi Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ziyuan Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Research Institute, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Box 136, No. 3 Zhongshan RD, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400014, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Xu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing College of Humanities, Science & Technology, Chongqing, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ting Xu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing College of Humanities, Science & Technology, Chongqing, China
| | - Jianqiang Chen
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Danyang Yin
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhua Yan
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Huizhe Huang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rutkove SB, Chen ZZ, Pandeya S, Callegari S, Mourey T, Nagy JA, Nath AK. Surface Electrical Impedance Myography Detects Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Aged Wildtype Zebrafish and Aged gpr27 Knockout Zebrafish. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1938. [PMID: 37509577 PMCID: PMC10377526 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout a vertebrate organism's lifespan, skeletal muscle mass and function progressively decline. This age-related condition is termed sarcopenia. In humans, sarcopenia is associated with risk of falling, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. As the world population ages, projected to reach 2 billion older adults worldwide in 2050, the economic burden on the healthcare system is also projected to increase considerably. Currently, there are no pharmacological treatments for sarcopenia, and given the long-term nature of aging studies, high-throughput chemical screens are impractical in mammalian models. Zebrafish is a promising, up-and-coming vertebrate model in the field of sarcopenia that could fill this gap. Here, we developed a surface electrical impedance myography (sEIM) platform to assess skeletal muscle health, quantitatively and noninvasively, in adult zebrafish (young, aged, and genetic mutant animals). In aged zebrafish (~85% lifespan) as compared to young zebrafish (~20% lifespan), sEIM parameters (2 kHz phase angle, 2 kHz reactance, and 2 kHz resistance) robustly detected muscle atrophy (p < 0.000001, q = 0.000002; p = 0.000004, q = 0.000006; p = 0.000867, q = 0.000683, respectively). Moreover, these same measurements exhibited strong correlations with an established morphometric parameter of muscle atrophy (myofiber cross-sectional area), as determined by histological-based morphometric analysis (r = 0.831, p = 2 × 10-12; r = 0.6959, p = 2 × 10-8; and r = 0.7220; p = 4 × 10-9, respectively). Finally, the genetic deletion of gpr27, an orphan G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), exacerbated the atrophy of skeletal muscle in aged animals, as evidenced by both sEIM and histology. In conclusion, the data here show that surface EIM techniques can effectively discriminate between healthy young and sarcopenic aged muscle as well as the advanced atrophied muscle in the gpr27 KO animals. Moreover, these studies show how EIM values correlate with cell size across the animals, making it potentially possible to utilize sEIM as a "virtual biopsy" in zebrafish to noninvasively assess myofiber atrophy, a valuable measure for muscle and gerontology research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seward B. Rutkove
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.B.R.); (J.A.N.)
| | - Zsu-Zsu Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Cardiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sarbesh Pandeya
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.B.R.); (J.A.N.)
| | - Santiago Callegari
- Department of Cardiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Tyler Mourey
- Zebrafish Core Facility, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Janice A. Nagy
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.B.R.); (J.A.N.)
| | - Anjali K. Nath
- Department of Cardiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rutkove SB, Callegari S, Concepcion H, Mourey T, Widrick J, Nagy JA, Nath AK. Electrical impedance myography detects age-related skeletal muscle atrophy in adult zebrafish. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7191. [PMID: 37137956 PMCID: PMC10156759 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34119-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related deficits in skeletal muscle function, termed sarcopenia, are due to loss of muscle mass and changes in the intrinsic mechanisms underlying contraction. Sarcopenia is associated with falls, functional decline, and mortality. Electrical impedance myography (EIM)-a minimally invasive, rapid electrophysiological tool-can be applied to animals and humans to monitor muscle health, thereby serving as a biomarker in both preclinical and clinical studies. EIM has been successfully employed in several species; however, the application of EIM to the assessment of zebrafish-a model organism amenable to high-throughput experimentation-has not been reported. Here, we demonstrated differences in EIM measures between the skeletal muscles of young (6 months of age) and aged (33 months of age) zebrafish. For example, EIM phase angle and reactance at 2 kHz showed significantly decreased phase angle (5.3 ± 2.1 versus 10.7 ± 1.5°; p = 0.001) and reactance (89.0 ± 3.9 versus 172.2 ± 54.8 ohms; p = 0.007) in aged versus young animals. Total muscle area, in addition to other morphometric features, was also strongly correlated to EIM 2 kHz phase angle across both groups (r = 0.7133, p = 0.01). Moreover, there was a strong correlation between 2 kHz phase angle and established metrics of zebrafish swimming performance, including turn angle, angular velocity, and lateral motion (r = 0.7253, r = 0.7308, r = 0.7857, respectively, p < 0.01 for all). In addition, the technique was shown to have high reproducibility between repeated measurements with a mean percentage difference of 5.34 ± 1.17% for phase angle. These relationships were also confirmed in a separate replication cohort. Together, these findings establish EIM as a fast, sensitive method for quantifying zebrafish muscle function and quality. Moreover, identifying the abnormalities in the bioelectrical properties of sarcopenic zebrafish provides new opportunities to evaluate potential therapeutics for age-related neuromuscular disorders and to interrogate the disease mechanisms of muscle degeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seward B Rutkove
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Santiago Callegari
- Department of Cardiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Holly Concepcion
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Tyler Mourey
- Zebrafish Core Facility, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Jeffrey Widrick
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Janice A Nagy
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Anjali K Nath
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Department of Cardiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sun CC, Yang D, Chen ZL, Xiao JL, Xiao Q, Li CL, Zhou ZQ, Peng XY, Tang CF, Zheng L. Exercise intervention mitigates zebrafish age-related sarcopenia via alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction. FEBS J 2023; 290:1519-1530. [PMID: 36164851 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16637] [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: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Sarcopenia is a common disorder that leads to a progressive decrease in skeletal muscle function in elderly people. Exercise effectively prevents or delays the onset and progression of sarcopenia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying how exercise intervention improves skeletal muscle atrophy remain unclear. In this study, we found that 21-month-old zebrafish had a decreased swimming ability, reduced muscle fibre cross-sectional area, unbalanced protein synthesis, and degradation, increased oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, which suggests zebrafish are a valuable model for sarcopenia. Eight weeks of exercise intervention attenuated these pathological changes in sarcopenia zebrafish. Moreover, the effects of exercise on mitochondrial dysfunction were associated with the activation of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis and 15-PGDH downregulation. Our results reveal potential therapeutic targets and indicators to treat age-related sarcopenia using exercise intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chen Sun
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of the Hunan Province, College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Dong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of the Hunan Province, College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhang-Lin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of the Hunan Province, College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiang-Ling Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of the Hunan Province, College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Qin Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of the Hunan Province, College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
- Institute of Physical Education, Hunan First Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Cheng-Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of the Hunan Province, College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Zuo-Qiong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of the Hunan Province, College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Xi-Yang Peng
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of the Hunan Province, College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Chang Fa Tang
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of the Hunan Province, College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Lan Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of the Hunan Province, College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pu WT. Experimental models of Barth syndrome. J Inherit Metab Dis 2022; 45:72-81. [PMID: 34370877 PMCID: PMC8814986 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Mutation of the gene Tafazzin (TAZ) causes Barth syndrome, an X-linked disorder characterized by cardiomyopathy, skeletal muscle weakness, and neutropenia. TAZ is an acyltransferase that catalyzes the remodeling of cardiolipin, the signature phospholipid of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Here, we review the major model systems that have been established to study the role of cardiolipin remodeling in mitochondrial function and the pathogenesis of Barth syndrome. We summarize key features of each model and provide examples of how each has contributed to advance our understanding of TAZ function and Barth syndrome pathophysiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William T. Pu
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
- correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
TNNT1 myopathy with novel compound heterozygous mutations. Neuromuscul Disord 2021; 32:176-184. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
|
9
|
Modelling Neuromuscular Diseases in the Age of Precision Medicine. J Pers Med 2020; 10:jpm10040178. [PMID: 33080928 PMCID: PMC7712305 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10040178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in knowledge resulting from the sequencing of the human genome, coupled with technological developments and a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms of pathogenesis are paving the way for a growing role of precision medicine in the treatment of a number of human conditions. The goal of precision medicine is to identify and deliver effective therapeutic approaches based on patients’ genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. With the exception of cancer, neurological diseases provide the most promising opportunity to achieve treatment personalisation, mainly because of accelerated progress in gene discovery, deep clinical phenotyping, and biomarker availability. Developing reproducible, predictable and reliable disease models will be key to the rapid delivery of the anticipated benefits of precision medicine. Here we summarize the current state of the art of preclinical models for neuromuscular diseases, with particular focus on their use and limitations to predict safety and efficacy treatment outcomes in clinical trials.
Collapse
|
10
|
Mead AF, Kennedy GG, Palmer BM, Ebert AM, Warshaw DM. Mechanical Characteristics of Ultrafast Zebrafish Larval Swimming Muscles. Biophys J 2020; 119:806-820. [PMID: 32755560 PMCID: PMC7451861 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) swim within days of fertilization, powered by muscles of the axial myotomes. Forces generated by these muscles can be measured rapidly in whole, intact larval tails by adapting protocols developed for ex vivo muscle mechanics. But it is not known how well these measurements reflect the function of the underlying muscle fibers and sarcomeres. Here, we consider the anatomy of the 5-day-old, wild-type larval tail, and implement technical modifications to measuring muscle physiology in intact tails. Specifically, we quantify fundamental relationships between force, length, and shortening velocity, and capture the extreme contractile speeds required to swim with tail-beat frequencies of 80-100 Hz. Therefore, we analyze 1000 frames/s videos to track the movement of structures, visible in the transparent tail, which correlate with sarcomere length. We also characterize the passive viscoelastic properties of the preparation to isolate forces contributed by nonmuscle structures within the tail. Myotomal muscles generate more than 95% of their maximal isometric stress (76 ± 3 mN/mm2) over the range of muscle lengths used in vivo. They have rapid twitch kinetics (full width at half-maximal stress: 11 ± 1 ms) and a high twitch/tetanus ratio (0.91 ± 0.05), indicating adaptations for fast excitation-contraction coupling. Although contractile stress is relatively low, myotomal muscles develop high net power (134 ± 20 W/kg at 80 Hz) in cyclical work loop experiments designed to simulate the in vivo dynamics of muscle fibers during swimming. When shortening at a constant speed of 7 ± 1 muscle lengths/s, muscles develop 86 ± 2% of isometric stress, whereas peak instantaneous power during 100 Hz work loops occurs at 18 ± 2 muscle lengths/s. These approaches can improve the usefulness of zebrafish as a model system for muscle research by providing a rapid and sensitive functional readout for experimental interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Mead
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont; Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Guy G Kennedy
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont; Instrumentation and Model Facility, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Bradley M Palmer
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Alicia M Ebert
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
| | - David M Warshaw
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Chong JX, Talbot JC, Teets EM, Previs S, Martin BL, Shively KM, Marvin CT, Aylsworth AS, Saadeh-Haddad R, Schatz UA, Inzana F, Ben-Omran T, Almusafri F, Al-Mulla M, Buckingham KJ, Harel T, Mor-Shaked H, Radhakrishnan P, Girisha KM, Nayak SS, Shukla A, Dieterich K, Faure J, Rendu J, Capri Y, Latypova X, Nickerson DA, Warshaw DM, Janssen PM, Amacher SL, Bamshad MJ, Bamshad MJ. Mutations in MYLPF Cause a Novel Segmental Amyoplasia that Manifests as Distal Arthrogryposis. Am J Hum Genet 2020; 107:293-310. [PMID: 32707087 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We identified ten persons in six consanguineous families with distal arthrogryposis (DA) who had congenital contractures, scoliosis, and short stature. Exome sequencing revealed that each affected person was homozygous for one of two different rare variants (c.470G>T [p.Cys157Phe] or c.469T>C [p.Cys157Arg]) affecting the same residue of myosin light chain, phosphorylatable, fast skeletal muscle (MYLPF). In a seventh family, a c.487G>A (p.Gly163Ser) variant in MYLPF arose de novo in a father, who transmitted it to his son. In an eighth family comprised of seven individuals with dominantly inherited DA, a c.98C>T (p.Ala33Val) variant segregated in all four persons tested. Variants in MYLPF underlie both dominant and recessively inherited DA. Mylpf protein models suggest that the residues associated with dominant DA interact with myosin whereas the residues altered in families with recessive DA only indirectly impair this interaction. Pathological and histological exam of a foot amputated from an affected child revealed complete absence of skeletal muscle (i.e., segmental amyoplasia). To investigate the mechanism for this finding, we generated an animal model for partial MYLPF impairment by knocking out zebrafish mylpfa. The mylpfa mutant had reduced trunk contractile force and complete pectoral fin paralysis, demonstrating that mylpf impairment most severely affects limb movement. mylpfa mutant muscle weakness was most pronounced in an appendicular muscle and was explained by reduced myosin activity and fiber degeneration. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that partial loss of MYLPF function can lead to congenital contractures, likely as a result of degeneration of skeletal muscle in the distal limb.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael J Bamshad
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Brotman-Baty Institute, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Widrick JJ, Kawahara G, Alexander MS, Beggs AH, Kunkel LM. Discovery of Novel Therapeutics for Muscular Dystrophies using Zebrafish Phenotypic Screens. J Neuromuscul Dis 2020; 6:271-287. [PMID: 31282429 PMCID: PMC6961982 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-190389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The recent availability and development of mutant and transgenic zebrafish strains that model human muscular dystrophies has created new research opportunities for therapeutic development. Not only do these models mimic many pathological aspects of human dystrophies, but their small size, large clutch sizes, rapid ex utero development, body transparency, and genetic tractability enable research approaches that would be inconceivable with mammalian model systems. Here we discuss the use of zebrafish models of muscular dystrophy to rapidly screen hundreds to thousands of bioactive compounds in order to identify novel therapeutic candidates that modulate pathologic phenotypes. We review the justification and rationale behind this unbiased approach, including how zebrafish screens have identified FDA-approved drugs that are candidates for treating Duchenne and limb girdle muscular dystrophies. Not only can these drugs be re-purposed for treating dystrophies in a fraction of the time and cost of new drug development, but their identification has revealed novel, unexpected directions for future therapy development. Phenotype-driven zebrafish drug screens are an important compliment to the more established mammalian, target-based approaches for rapidly developing and validating therapeutics for muscular dystrophies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J Widrick
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Genri Kawahara
- Department of Pathophysiology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Matthew S Alexander
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama; University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Exercise Medicine; University of Alabama at Birmingham Civitan International Research Center; University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Genetics; Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Alan H Beggs
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Louis M Kunkel
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
Skeletal muscle fibres are multinucleated cells that contain postmitotic nuclei (i.e. they are no longer able to divide) and perform muscle contraction. They are formed by fusion of muscle precursor cells, and grow into elongating myofibres by the addition of further precursor cells, called satellite cells, which are also responsible for regeneration following injury. Skeletal muscle regeneration occurs in most muscular dystrophies in response to necrosis of muscle fibres. However, the complex environment within dystrophic skeletal muscle, which includes inflammatory cells, fibroblasts and fibro-adipogenic cells, together with the genetic background of the in vivo model and the muscle being studied, complicates the interpretation of laboratory studies on muscular dystrophies. Many genes are expressed in satellite cells and in other tissues, which makes it difficult to determine the molecular cause of various types of muscular dystrophies. Here, and in the accompanying poster, we discuss our current knowledge of the cellular mechanisms that govern the growth and regeneration of skeletal muscle, and highlight the defects in satellite cell function that give rise to muscular dystrophies. Summary: The mechanisms of skeletal muscle development, growth and regeneration are described. We discuss whether these processes are dysregulated in inherited muscle diseases and identify pathways that may represent therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Morgan
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK .,National Institute for Health Research, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Terence Partridge
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.,National Institute for Health Research, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK.,Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Matchett EF, Wang S, Crawford BD. Paralogues of Mmp11 and Timp4 Interact during the Development of the Myotendinous Junction in the Zebrafish Embryo. J Dev Biol 2019; 7:jdb7040022. [PMID: 31816958 PMCID: PMC6955687 DOI: 10.3390/jdb7040022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) of the myotendinous junction (MTJ) undergoes dramatic physical and biochemical remodeling during the first 48 h of development in zebrafish, transforming from a rectangular fibronectin-dominated somite boundary to a chevron-shaped laminin-dominated MTJ. Matrix metalloproteinase 11 (Mmp11, a.k.a. Stromelysin-3) is both necessary and sufficient for the removal of fibronectin at the MTJ, but whether this protease acts directly on fibronectin and how its activity is regulated remain unknown. Using immunofluorescence, we show that both paralogues of Mmp11 accumulate at the MTJ during this time period, but with Mmp11a present early and later replaced by Mmp11b. Moreover, Mmp11a also accumulates intracellularly, associated with the Z-discs of sarcomeres within skeletal muscle cells. Using the epitope-mediated MMP activation (EMMA) assay, we show that despite having a weaker paired basic amino acid motif in its propeptide than Mmp11b, Mmp11a is activated by furin, but may also be activated by other mechanisms intracellularly. One or both paralogues of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-4 (Timp4) are also present at the MTJ throughout this process, and yeast two-hybrid assays reveal distinct and specific interactions between various domains of these proteins. We propose a model in which Mmp11a activity is modulated (but not inhibited) by Timp4 during early MTJ remodeling, followed by a phase in which Mmp11b activity is both inhibited and spatially constrained by Timp4 in order to maintain the structural integrity of the mature MTJ.
Collapse
|
15
|
Intracellular Localization in Zebrafish Muscle and Conserved Sequence Features Suggest Roles for Gelatinase A Moonlighting in Sarcomere Maintenance. Biomedicines 2019; 7:biomedicines7040093. [PMID: 31795436 PMCID: PMC6966518 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines7040093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Gelatinase A (Mmp2 in zebrafish) is a well-characterized effector of extracellular matrix remodeling, extracellular signaling, and along with other matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and extracellular proteases, it plays important roles in the establishment and maintenance of tissue architecture. Gelatinase A is also found moonlighting inside mammalian striated muscle cells, where it has been implicated in the pathology of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Gelatinase A has no known physiological function in muscle cells, and its localization within mammalian cells appears to be due to inefficient recognition of its N-terminal secretory signal. Here we show that Mmp2 is abundant within the skeletal muscle cells of zebrafish, where it localizes to the M-line of sarcomeres and degrades muscle myosin. The N-terminal secretory signal of zebrafish Mmp2 is also challenging to identify, and this is a conserved characteristic of gelatinase A orthologues, suggesting a selective pressure acting to prevent the efficient secretion of this protease. Furthermore, there are several strongly conserved phosphorylation sites within the catalytic domain of gelatinase A orthologues, some of which are phosphorylated in vivo, and which are known to regulate the activity of this protease. We conclude that gelatinase A likely participates in uncharacterized physiological functions within the striated muscle, possibly in the maintenance of sarcomere proteostasis, that are likely regulated by kinases and phosphatases present in the sarcomere.
Collapse
|
16
|
Vissing J, Johnson K, Töpf A, Nafissi S, Díaz-Manera J, French VM, Schindler RF, Sarathchandra P, Løkken N, Rinné S, Freund M, Decher N, Müller T, Duno M, Krag T, Brand T, Straub V. POPDC3 Gene Variants Associate with a New Form of Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. Ann Neurol 2019; 86:832-843. [PMID: 31610034 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The Popeye domain containing 3 (POPDC3) gene encodes a membrane protein involved in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling. Besides gastric cancer, no disease association has been described. We describe a new muscular dystrophy associated with this gene. METHODS We screened 1,500 patients with unclassified limb girdle weakness or hyperCKemia for pathogenic POPDC3 variants. Five patients carrying POPDC3 variants were examined by muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), muscle biopsy, and cardiac examination. We performed functional analyses in a zebrafish popdc3 knockdown model and heterologous expression of the mutant proteins in Xenopus laevis oocytes to measure TREK-1 current. RESULTS We identified homozygous POPDC3 missense variants (p.Leu155His, p.Leu217Phe, and p.Arg261Gln) in 5 patients from 3 ethnically distinct families. Variants affected highly conserved residues in the Popeye (p.Leu155 and p.Leu217) and carboxy-terminal (p.Arg261) domains. The variants were almost absent from control populations. Probands' muscle biopsies were dystrophic, and serum creatine kinase levels were 1,050 to 9,200U/l. Muscle weakness was proximal with adulthood onset in most patients and affected lower earlier than upper limbs. Muscle MRI revealed fat replacement of paraspinal and proximal leg muscles; cardiac investigations were unremarkable. Knockdown of popdc3 in zebrafish, using 2 different splice-site blocking morpholinos, resulted in larvae with tail curling and dystrophic muscle features. All 3 mutants cloned in Xenopus oocytes caused an aberrant modulation of the mechano-gated potassium channel, TREK-1. INTERPRETATION Our findings point to an important role of POPDC3 for skeletal muscle function and suggest that pathogenic variants in POPDC3 are responsible for a novel type of autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:832-843.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Vissing
- Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katherine Johnson
- John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Töpf
- John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Shahriar Nafissi
- Department of Neurology, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jordi Díaz-Manera
- Unitat de Malalties Neuromusculars, Servei de Neurologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau de Barcelona and CIBERER, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vanessa M French
- Developmental Dynamics, Myocardial Function, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roland F Schindler
- Developmental Dynamics, Myocardial Function, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Padmini Sarathchandra
- Heart Science Centre, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicoline Løkken
- Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susanne Rinné
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, AG Vegetative Physiology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Max Freund
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, AG Vegetative Physiology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Niels Decher
- Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, AG Vegetative Physiology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Müller
- Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 2, 97082, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Morten Duno
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Krag
- Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Brand
- Developmental Dynamics, Myocardial Function, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Volker Straub
- John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Verweij FJ, Hyenne V, Van Niel G, Goetz JG. Extracellular Vesicles: Catching the Light in Zebrafish. Trends Cell Biol 2019; 29:770-776. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2019.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
18
|
Hu CK, Brunet A. The African turquoise killifish: A research organism to study vertebrate aging and diapause. Aging Cell 2018; 17:e12757. [PMID: 29573324 PMCID: PMC5946070 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The African turquoise killifish has recently gained significant traction as a new research organism in the aging field. Our understanding of aging has strongly benefited from canonical research organisms—yeast, C. elegans, Drosophila, zebrafish, and mice. Many characteristics that are essential to understand aging—for example, the adaptive immune system or the hypothalamo‐pituitary axis—are only present in vertebrates (zebrafish and mice). However, zebrafish and mice live more than 3 years and their relatively long lifespans are not compatible with high‐throughput studies. Therefore, the turquoise killifish, a vertebrate with a naturally compressed lifespan of only 4–6 months, fills an essential gap to understand aging. With a recently developed genomic and genetic toolkit, the turquoise killifish not only provides practical advantages for lifespan and longitudinal experiments, but also allows more systematic characterizations of the interplay between genetics and environment during vertebrate aging. Interestingly, the turquoise killifish can also enter a long‐term dormant state during development called diapause. Killifish embryos in diapause already have some organs and tissues, and they can last in this state for years, exhibiting exceptional resistance to stress and to damages due to the passage of time. Understanding the diapause state could give new insights into strategies to prevent the damage caused by aging and to better preserve organs, tissues, and cells. Thus, the African turquoise killifish brings two interesting aspects to the aging field—a compressed lifespan and a long‐term resistant diapause state, both of which should spark new discoveries in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Kuo Hu
- Department of Genetics; Stanford University; Stanford CA USA
| | - Anne Brunet
- Department of Genetics; Stanford University; Stanford CA USA
- Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging; Stanford CA USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Cai M, Si Y, Zhang J, Tian Z, Du S. Zebrafish Embryonic Slow Muscle Is a Rapid System for Genetic Analysis of Sarcomere Organization by CRISPR/Cas9, but Not NgAgo. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2018; 20:168-181. [PMID: 29374849 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-018-9794-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish embryonic slow muscle cells, with their superficial localization and clear sarcomere organization, provide a useful model system for genetic analysis of muscle cell differentiation and sarcomere assembly. To develop a quick assay for testing CRISPR-mediated gene editing in slow muscles of zebrafish embryos, we targeted a red fluorescence protein (RFP) reporter gene specifically expressed in slow muscles of myomesin-3-RFP (Myom3-RFP) zebrafish embryos. We demonstrated that microinjection of RFP-sgRNA with Cas9 protein or Cas9 mRNA resulted in a mosaic pattern in loss of RFP expression in slow muscle fibers of the injected zebrafish embryos. To uncover gene functions in sarcomere organization, we targeted two endogenous genes, slow myosin heavy chain-1 (smyhc1) and heat shock protein 90 α1 (hsp90α1), which are specifically expressed in zebrafish muscle cells. We demonstrated that injection of Cas9 protein or mRNA with respective sgRNAs targeted to smyhc1 or hsp90a1 resulted in a mosaic pattern of myosin thick filament disruption in slow myofibers of the injected zebrafish embryos. Moreover, Myom3-RFP expression and M-line localization were also abolished in these defective myofibers. Given that zebrafish embryonic slow muscles are a rapid in vivo system for testing genome editing and uncovering gene functions in muscle cell differentiation, we investigated whether microinjection of Natronobacterium gregoryi Argonaute (NgAgo) system could induce genetic mutations and muscle defects in zebrafish embryos. Single-strand guide DNAs targeted to RFP, Smyhc1, or Hsp90α1 were injected with NgAgo mRNA into Myom3-RFP zebrafish embryos. Myom3-RFP expression was analyzed in the injected embryos. The results showed that, in contrast to the CRISPR/Cas9 system, injection of the NgAgo-gDNA system did not affect Myom3-RFP expression and sarcomere organization in myofibers of the injected embryos. Sequence analysis failed to detect genetic mutations at the target genes. Together, our studies demonstrate that zebrafish embryonic slow muscle is a rapid model for testing gene editing technologies in vivo and uncovering gene functions in muscle cell differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengxin Cai
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 701 E. Pratt St, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA
- Institute of Sports and Exercise Biology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yufeng Si
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 701 E. Pratt St, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA
| | - Jianshe Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering and Environmental Science, Changsha University, Hunan, 250014, China.
| | - Zhenjun Tian
- Institute of Sports and Exercise Biology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Shaojun Du
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 701 E. Pratt St, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering and Environmental Science, Changsha University, Hunan, 250014, China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bennett AH, O’Donohue MF, Gundry SR, Chan AT, Widrick J, Draper I, Chakraborty A, Zhou Y, Zon LI, Gleizes PE, Beggs AH, Gupta VA. RNA helicase, DDX27 regulates skeletal muscle growth and regeneration by modulation of translational processes. PLoS Genet 2018. [PMID: 29518074 PMCID: PMC5843160 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene expression in a tissue-specific context depends on the combined efforts of epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes that lead to the production of specific proteins that are important determinants of cellular identity. Ribosomes are a central component of the protein biosynthesis machinery in cells; however, their regulatory roles in the translational control of gene expression in skeletal muscle remain to be defined. In a genetic screen to identify critical regulators of myogenesis, we identified a DEAD-Box RNA helicase, DDX27, that is required for skeletal muscle growth and regeneration. We demonstrate that DDX27 regulates ribosomal RNA (rRNA) maturation, and thereby the ribosome biogenesis and the translation of specific transcripts during myogenesis. These findings provide insight into the translational regulation of gene expression in myogenesis and suggest novel functions for ribosomes in regulating gene expression in skeletal muscles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis H. Bennett
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Marie-Francoise O’Donohue
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, UPS, CNRS, France
| | - Stacey R. Gundry
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Aye T. Chan
- Stem Cell Program and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Widrick
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Isabelle Draper
- Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Anirban Chakraborty
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, UPS, CNRS, France
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Cancer, NU Centre for Science Education and Research, Nitte University, Mangalore, India
| | - Yi Zhou
- Stem Cell Program and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Leonard I. Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Pierre-Emmanuel Gleizes
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, UPS, CNRS, France
| | - Alan H. Beggs
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Vandana A. Gupta
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Expression and characterization of the zebrafish orthologue of the human FOLR1 gene during embryogenesis. Gene Expr Patterns 2017; 25-26:159-166. [PMID: 28826993 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It has been well established that many types of rapidly dividing normal and diseased cells require an increased amount of folate for DNA replication and repair as well as cellular metabolism. Thus one of folate's cognate receptors, Folate Receptor 1 (FOLR1) is usually up-regulated in rapidly dividing cells, including many types of cancerous tumors. Because zebrafish have become a model organism for understanding conserved vertebrate cellular pathways and human disease, there has been an increased need to identify and elucidate orthologous zebrafish genes that are central to known human maladies. The cells of all early animal embryos go through a phase of rapid division (cleavage) where particular cell cycle checkpoints are skipped until a specification event occurs directing these embryonic stem cells to their fated germ layer cell type. Interestingly, this rapid cell division that ignores cell cycle checkpoints is also observed in many cancers. Developing blastula and tumor cells both require folr1 expression to obtain folate. In this report we have identified the expression pattern of the zebrafish gene zgc:165502, located on chromosome 15. Using computational and comparative methods and molecular biology techniques such as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and whole mount in situ hybridization (WISH) during embryogenesis, we demonstrate that zgc:165502 is the zebrafish orthologue of the human FOLR1 gene. Understanding when and where FOLR1 orthologues are expressed in different biomedical model organisms such as the zebrafish will help researchers design better experiments to study the endogenous FOLR1 activity.
Collapse
|