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Beckett LJ, Williams PM, Toh LS, Hessel V, Gerstweiler L, Fisk I, Toronjo-Urquiza L, Chauhan VM. Advancing insights into microgravity induced muscle changes using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:79. [PMID: 39060303 PMCID: PMC11282318 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00418-z] [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: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Spaceflight presents significant challenges to the physiological state of living organisms. This can be due to the microgravity environment experienced during long-term space missions, resulting in alterations in muscle structure and function, such as atrophy. However, a comprehensive understanding of the adaptive mechanisms of biological systems is required to devise potential solutions and therapeutic approaches for adapting to spaceflight conditions. This review examines the current understanding of the challenges posed by spaceflight on physiological changes, alterations in metabolism, dysregulation of pathways and the suitability and advantages of using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes to study the effects of spaceflight. Research has shown that changes in the gene and protein composition of nematodes significantly occur across various larval stages and rearing environments, including both microgravity and Earth gravity settings, often mirroring changes observed in astronauts. Additionally, the review explores significant insights into the fundamental metabolic changes associated with muscle atrophy and growth, which could lead to the development of diagnostic biomarkers and innovative techniques to prevent and counteract muscle atrophy. These insights not only advance our understanding of microgravity-induced muscle atrophy but also lay the groundwork for the development of targeted interventions to mitigate its effects in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Beckett
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- School of Chemical Engineering, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | | | - Li Shean Toh
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Volker Hessel
- School of Chemical Engineering, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Lukas Gerstweiler
- School of Chemical Engineering, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Ian Fisk
- International Flavour Research Centre, Division of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK
- International Flavour Research Centre (Adelaide), School of Agriculture, Food and Wine and Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Luis Toronjo-Urquiza
- School of Chemical Engineering, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Gregory EF, Ragle JM, Ward JD, Starr DA. Split-GFP lamin as a tool for studying C. elegans LMN-1 dynamics in vivo. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.001022. [PMID: 38152058 PMCID: PMC10751582 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
We engineered a fluorescent fusion protein of C. elegans lamin, by fusing the eleventh beta strand of GFP to the N-terminus of LMN-1 at the endogenous lmn-1 locus. When co-expressed with GFP1-10, GFP11::LMN-1 was observed at the nuclear periphery of a wide variety of somatic cells. Homozygous gfp11::lmn-1 animals had normal numbers of viable embryos. However, the gfp11::lmn-1 animals had a mild swimming defect. While not completely functional, the GFP11::LMN-1 strain is more healthy than other published fluorescent LMN-1 lines, making it a valuable reagent for studying lamins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen F. Gregory
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States
| | - James Matthew Ragle
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States
| | - Jordan D. Ward
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States
| | - Daniel A. Starr
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States
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Sawh AN, Mango SE. Chromosome organization in 4D: insights from C. elegans development. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 75:101939. [PMID: 35759905 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic genome organization is ordered and multilayered, from the nucleosome to chromosomal scales. These layers are not static during development, but are remodeled over time and between tissues. Thus, animal model studies with high spatiotemporal resolution are necessary to understand the various forms and functions of genome organization in vivo. In C. elegans, sequencing- and imaging-based advances have provided insight on how histone modifications, regulatory elements, and large-scale chromosome conformations are established and changed. Recent observations include unexpected physiological roles for topologically associating domains, different roles for the nuclear lamina at different chromatin scales, cell-type-specific enhancer and promoter regulatory grammars, and prevalent compartment variability in early development. Here, we summarize these and other recent findings in C. elegans, and suggest future avenues of research to enrich our in vivo knowledge of the forms and functions of nuclear organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahilya N Sawh
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056 Basel-Stadt, Switzerland.
| | - Susan E Mango
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056 Basel-Stadt, Switzerland.
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