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Clark AC, Edison R, Esvelt K, Kamau S, Dutoit L, Champer J, Champer SE, Messer PW, Alexander A, Gemmell NJ. A framework for identifying fertility gene targets for mammalian pest control. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13901. [PMID: 38009398 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13901] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Fertility-targeted gene drives have been proposed as an ethical genetic approach for managing wild populations of vertebrate pests for public health and conservation benefit. This manuscript introduces a framework to identify and evaluate target gene suitability based on biological gene function, gene expression and results from mouse knockout models. This framework identified 16 genes essential for male fertility and 12 genes important for female fertility that may be feasible targets for mammalian gene drives and other non-drive genetic pest control technology. Further, a comparative genomics analysis demonstrates the conservation of the identified genes across several globally significant invasive mammals. In addition to providing important considerations for identifying candidate genes, our framework and the genes identified in this study may have utility in developing additional pest control tools such as wildlife contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Clark
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Rey Edison
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kevin Esvelt
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sebastian Kamau
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ludovic Dutoit
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jackson Champer
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Samuel E Champer
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Philipp W Messer
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Alana Alexander
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Cheng S, Altmeppen G, So C, Welp LM, Penir S, Ruhwedel T, Menelaou K, Harasimov K, Stützer A, Blayney M, Elder K, Möbius W, Urlaub H, Schuh M. Mammalian oocytes store mRNAs in a mitochondria-associated membraneless compartment. Science 2022; 378:eabq4835. [PMID: 36264786 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq4835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Full-grown oocytes are transcriptionally silent and must stably maintain the messenger RNAs (mRNAs) needed for oocyte meiotic maturation and early embryonic development. However, where and how mammalian oocytes store maternal mRNAs is unclear. Here, we report that mammalian oocytes accumulate mRNAs in a mitochondria-associated ribonucleoprotein domain (MARDO). MARDO assembly around mitochondria was promoted by the RNA-binding protein ZAR1 and directed by an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential during oocyte growth. MARDO foci coalesced into hydrogel-like matrices that clustered mitochondria. Maternal mRNAs stored in the MARDO were translationally repressed. Loss of ZAR1 disrupted the MARDO, dispersed mitochondria, and caused a premature loss of MARDO-localized mRNAs. Thus, a mitochondria-associated membraneless compartment controls mitochondrial distribution and regulates maternal mRNA storage, translation, and decay to ensure fertility in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiya Cheng
- Department of Meiosis, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerrit Altmeppen
- Department of Meiosis, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Chun So
- Department of Meiosis, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Luisa M Welp
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Penir
- Department of Meiosis, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Torben Ruhwedel
- Electron Microscopy City Campus, Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katerina Menelaou
- Department of Meiosis, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.,Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridge, UK
| | - Katarina Harasimov
- Department of Meiosis, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexandra Stützer
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Wiebke Möbius
- Electron Microscopy City Campus, Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.,Bioanalytics Group, Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Melina Schuh
- Department of Meiosis, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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3
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Zhang W, Cao H, Yang J, Zhao J, Liang Z, Kang X, Wang R. The identification and validation of EphA7 hypermethylation, a novel biomarker, in cervical cancer. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:636. [PMID: 35681118 PMCID: PMC9185921 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09653-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant methylation of EphA7 has been reported in the process of carcinogenesis but not in cervical cancer. Therefore, an integration study was performed to explore the association between EphA7 hypermethylation and cervical cancer and validate the potential value of EphA7 hypermethylation in the diagnosis of cervical cancer. METHODS We performed an integration study to identify and validate the association between EphA7 methylation and cervical cancer. First, data on EphA7 methylation and expression in cervical cancer were extracted and analyzed via bioinformatics tools. Subsequently, CRISPR-based methylation perturbation tools (dCas9-Tet1/DNMT3a) were constructed to further demonstrate the association between DNA methylation and EphA7 expression. Ultimately, the clinical value of EphA7 methylation in cervical cancer was validated in cervical tissues and Thinprep cytologic test (TCT) samples by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and quantitative methylation-specific PCR (QMSP), respectively. RESULTS Pooled analysis showed that EphA7 promoter methylation levels were significantly increased in cervical cancer compared to normal tissues (P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with EphA7 expression. These prediction results were subsequently confirmed in cell lines; moreover, CRISPR-based methylation perturbation tools (dCas9-Tet1/DNMT3a) demonstrated that DNA methylation participates in the regulation of EphA7 expression directly. Consistent with these findings, the methylation level and the positive rate of EphA7 gradually increased with severity from normal to cancer stages in TCT samples (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS EphA7 hypermethylation is present in cervical cancer and is a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfan Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Huiling Cao
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jinhao Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zheng Liang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaodong Kang
- Department of Medical Image, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
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Huo XX, Wang SJ, Song H, Li MD, Yu H, Wang M, Gong HX, Qiu XT, Zhu YF, Zhang JY. Roles of Major RNA Adenosine Modifications in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:779779. [PMID: 34899345 PMCID: PMC8657411 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.779779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer malignancy worldwide and is known to have poor prognosis. The pathogenesis behind the development of HNSCC is not fully understood. Modifications on RNA are involved in many pathophysiological processes, such as tumor development and inflammation. Adenosine-related RNA modifications have shown to be linked to cancer and may play a role in cancer occurrence and development. To date, there are at least 170 different chemical RNA modifications that modify coding and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). These modifications affect RNA stability and transcription efficiency. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of the four major RNA adenosine modifications (N6-Methyladenosine, N1-Methyladenosine, Alternative Polyadenylation Modification and A-to-I RNA editing) and their potential molecular mechanisms related to HNSCC development and progression. We also touch on how these RNA modifications affect treatment of HNSCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Xing Huo
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, Scientific Research Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Shu-Jie Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Hang Song
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Ming-de Li
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, Scientific Research Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Hua Yu
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Hong-Xiao Gong
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, Scientific Research Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Xiao-Ting Qiu
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, Scientific Research Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yong-Fu Zhu
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, Scientific Research Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Jian-Ye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target and Clinical Pharmacology and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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