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Muscò A, Martini D, Digregorio M, Broccoli V, Andreazzoli M. Shedding a Light on Dark Genes: A Comparative Expression Study of PRR12 Orthologues during Zebrafish Development. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:492. [PMID: 38674426 PMCID: PMC11050278 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040492] [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: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Haploinsufficiency of the PRR12 gene is implicated in a human neuro-ocular syndrome. Although identified as a nuclear protein highly expressed in the embryonic mouse brain, PRR12 molecular function remains elusive. This study explores the spatio-temporal expression of zebrafish PRR12 co-orthologs, prr12a and prr12b, as a first step to elucidate their function. In silico analysis reveals high evolutionary conservation in the DNA-interacting domains for both orthologs, with significant syntenic conservation observed for the prr12b locus. In situ hybridization and RT-qPCR analyses on zebrafish embryos and larvae reveal distinct expression patterns: prr12a is expressed early in zygotic development, mainly in the central nervous system, while prr12b expression initiates during gastrulation, localizing later to dopaminergic telencephalic and diencephalic cell clusters. Both transcripts are enriched in the ganglion cell and inner neural layers of the 72 hpf retina, with prr12b widely distributed in the ciliary marginal zone. In the adult brain, prr12a and prr12b are found in the cerebellum, amygdala and ventral telencephalon, which represent the main areas affected in autistic patients. Overall, this study suggests PRR12's potential involvement in eye and brain development, laying the groundwork for further investigations into PRR12-related neurobehavioral disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Muscò
- Cell and Developmental Biology Unit, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy (D.M.)
| | - Davide Martini
- Cell and Developmental Biology Unit, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy (D.M.)
| | - Matteo Digregorio
- Cell and Developmental Biology Unit, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy (D.M.)
| | - Vania Broccoli
- Stem Cell and Neurogenesis Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, 20132 Milan, Italy
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Ishii M, Matsumoto Y, Yamada T, Uga H, Katada T, Ohata S. TrCla4 promotes actin polymerization at the hyphal tip and mycelial growth in Trichophyton rubrum. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0292323. [PMID: 37905917 PMCID: PMC10714743 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02923-23] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Superficial fungal infections, such as athlete's foot, affect more than 10% of the world's population and have a significant impact on quality of life. Despite the fact that treatment-resistant fungi are a concern, there are just a few antifungal drug targets accessible, as opposed to the wide range of therapeutic targets found in bacterial infections. As a result, additional alternatives are sought. In this study, we generated a PAK TrCla4 deletion strain (∆Trcla4) of Trichophyton rubrum. The ∆Trcla4 strain exhibited deficiencies in mycelial growth, hyphal morphology, and polarized actin localization at the hyphal tip. IPA-3 and FRAX486, small chemical inhibitors of mammalian PAK, were discovered to limit fungal mycelial proliferation. According to our findings, fungal PAKs are interesting therapeutic targets for the development of new antifungal medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Ishii
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Nishitokyo-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Matsumoto
- Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Yamada
- Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology, Teikyo University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
- Asia International Institute of Infectious Disease Control, Teikyo University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideko Uga
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Nishitokyo-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Katada
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Nishitokyo-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinya Ohata
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Nishitokyo-shi, Tokyo, Japan
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Ishikawa K, Ishii M, Yaguchi T, Katada T, Ichinose K, Ohata S. epi-Aszonalenin B from Aspergillus novofumigatus inhibits NF-κB activity induced by ZFTA-RELA fusion protein that drives ependymoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 596:104-110. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.01.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Herranz-Pérez V, Nakatani J, Ishii M, Katada T, García-Verdugo JM, Ohata S. Ependymoma associated protein Zfta is expressed in immature ependymal cells but is not essential for ependymal development in mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1493. [PMID: 35087169 PMCID: PMC8795269 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05526-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The fusion protein of uncharacterised zinc finger translocation associated (ZFTA) and effector transcription factor of tumorigenic NF-κB signalling, RELA (ZFTA-RELA), is expressed in more than two-thirds of supratentorial ependymoma (ST-EPN-RELA), but ZFTA's expression profile and functional analysis in multiciliated ependymal (E1) cells have not been examined. Here, we showed the mRNA expression of mouse Zfta peaks on embryonic day (E) 17.5 in the wholemount of the lateral walls of the lateral ventricle. Zfta was expressed in the nuclei of FoxJ1-positive immature E1 (pre-E1) cells in E18.5 mouse embryonic brain. Interestingly, the transcription factors promoting ciliogenesis (ciliary TFs) (e.g., multicilin) and ZFTA-RELA upregulated luciferase activity using a 5' upstream sequence of ZFTA in cultured cells. Zftatm1/tm1 knock-in mice did not show developmental defects or abnormal fertility. In the Zftatm1/tm1 E1 cells, morphology, gene expression, ciliary beating frequency and ependymal flow were unaffected. These results suggest that Zfta is expressed in pre-E1 cells, possibly under the control of ciliary TFs, but is not essential for ependymal development or flow. This study sheds light on the mechanism of the ZFTA-RELA expression in the pathogenesis of ST-EPN-RELA: Ciliary TFs initiate ZFTA-RELA expression in pre-E1 cells, and ZFTA-RELA enhances its own expression using positive feedback.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente Herranz-Pérez
- Laboratory of Comparative Neurobiology, Institute Cavanilles of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBERNED, University of Valencia, 46980, Paterna, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Jin Nakatani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan
| | - Masaki Ishii
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Katada
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Jose Manuel García-Verdugo
- Laboratory of Comparative Neurobiology, Institute Cavanilles of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBERNED, University of Valencia, 46980, Paterna, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Shinya Ohata
- Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan.
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
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Rho GTPases Signaling in Zebrafish Development and Disease. Cells 2020; 9:cells9122634. [PMID: 33302361 PMCID: PMC7762611 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells encounter countless external cues and the specificity of their responses is translated through a myriad of tightly regulated intracellular signals. For this, Rho GTPases play a central role and transduce signals that contribute to fundamental cell dynamic and survival events. Here, we review our knowledge on how zebrafish helped us understand the role of some of these proteins in a multitude of in vivo cellular behaviors. Zebrafish studies offer a unique opportunity to explore the role and more specifically the spatial and temporal dynamic of Rho GTPases activities within a complex environment at a level of details unachievable in any other vertebrate organism.
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