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Li L, Bi X, Wu X, Chen Z, Cao Y, Zhao G. Improving vitrification efficiency of human in vitro matured oocytes by the addition of LEA proteins. Hum Reprod 2024; 39:1275-1290. [PMID: 38592717 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deae065] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can the addition of late embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) proteins as a cryoprotective agent during the vitrification cryopreservation of in vitro matured oocytes enhance their developmental potential after fertilization? SUMMARY ANSWER LEA proteins improve the developmental potential of human in vitro matured oocytes following cryopreservation, mostly by downregulating FOS genes, reducing oxidative stress, and inhibiting the formation of ice crystals. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Various factors in the vitrification process, including cryoprotectant toxicity, osmotic stress, and ice crystal formation during rewarming, can cause fatal damage to oocytes, thereby affecting the oocytes developmental potential and subsequent clinical outcomes. Recent studies have shown that LEA proteins possess high hydrophilicity and inherent stress tolerance, and can reduce low-temperature damage, although the molecular mechanism it exerts protective effects is still unclear. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Two LEA proteins extracted and purified by us were added to solutions for vitrification-warming of oocytes at concentrations of 10, 100, and 200 µg/mL, to determine the optimal protective concentration for each protein. Individual oocyte samples were collected for transcriptomic analysis, with each group consisting of three sample replicates. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Immature oocytes were collected from patients who were undergoing combined in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and who had met the designated inclusion and exclusion criteria. These oocytes underwent in vitro maturation (IVM) culture for experimental research. A fluorescence microscope was used to detect the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and calcium in the mitochondria of vitrified-warmed human oocytes treated with different concentrations of LEA proteins, and the protective effect of the protein on mitochondrial function was assessed. The levels of intracellular ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) in human oocytes after vitrification-warming were characterized by the cryomicroscope, to determine the LEA proteins inhibitory effect on recrystallization. By analyzing transcriptome sequencing data to investigate the potential mechanism through which LEA proteins exert their cryoprotective effects. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The secondary structures of AfrLEA2 and AfrLEA3m proteins were shown to consist of a large number of α-helices and the proteins were shown to be highly hydrophilic, in agreement with previous reports. Confocal microscopy results showed that the immunofluorescence of AfrLEA2-FITC and AfrLEA3m-FITC-labeled proteins appeared to be extracellular and did not penetrate the cell membrane compared with the fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) control group, indicating that both AfrLEA2 and AfrLEA3m proteins were extracellular. The group treated with 100 µg/mL AfrLEA2 or AfrLEA3m protein had more uniform cytoplasmic particles and fewer vacuoles compared to the 10 and 200 µg/mL groups and were closest to the fresh group. In the 100 µg/mL groups, MMPs were significantly higher while ROS and calcium levels were significantly lower than those in the control group and were closer to the levels observed in fresh oocytes. Meanwhile, 100 µg/mL of AfrLEA2 or AfrLEA3m protein caused smaller ice crystal formation in the IRI assay compared to the control group treated with dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and ethylene glycol (EG); thus, the recrystallization inhibition was superior to that with the conventional cryoprotectants DMSO and EG. Further results revealed that the proteins improved the developmental potential of human oocytes following cryopreservation, likely by downregulating FOS genes and reducing oxidative stress. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The in vitro-matured metaphase II (IVM-MII) oocytes used in the study, due to ethical constraints, may not accurately reflect the condition of MII oocytes in general. The AfrLEA2 and AfrLEA3m proteins are recombinant proteins and their synthetic stability needs to be further explored. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS LEA proteins, as a non-toxic and effective cryoprotectant, can reduce the cryoinjury of oocytes during cryopreservation. It provides a new promising method for cryopreservation of various cell types. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC2703000) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52206064). The authors declare no competing interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Children's Hospital of Shanxi and Women Health Center of Shanxi, Taiyuan, P.R. China
| | - Xingyu Bi
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Children's Hospital of Shanxi and Women Health Center of Shanxi, Taiyuan, P.R. China
| | - Xueqing Wu
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Children's Hospital of Shanxi and Women Health Center of Shanxi, Taiyuan, P.R. China
| | - Zhongrong Chen
- Department of Medical Engineering and Instrumentation, School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P. R. China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P. R. China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P. R. China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
- Department of Medical Engineering and Instrumentation, School of Biomedical Engineering, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P. R. China
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, P. R. China
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Li L, Zhou X, Chen Z, Cao Y, Zhao G. The group 3 LEA protein of Artemia franciscana for cryopreservation. Cryobiology 2022; 106:1-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Chen B, Chu TW, Chiu K, Hong MC, Wu TM, Ma JW, Liang CM, Wang WK. Transcriptomic analysis elucidates the molecular processes associated with hydrogen peroxide-induced diapause termination in Artemia-encysted embryos. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247160. [PMID: 33606769 PMCID: PMC7894940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) raises the hatching rate through the development and diapause termination of Artemia cysts. To comprehend the upstream genetic regulation of diapause termination activated by exterior H2O2 elements, an Illumina RNA-seq analysis was performed to recognize and assess comparative transcript amounts to explore the genetic regulation of H2O2 in starting the diapause termination of cysts in Artemia salina. We examined three groupings treated with no H2O2 (control), 180 μM H2O2 (low) and 1800 μM H2O2 (high). The results showed a total of 114,057 unigenes were identified, 41.22% of which were functionally annotated in at least one particular database. When compared to control group, 34 and 98 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were upregulated in 180 μM and 1800 μM H2O2 treatments, respectively. On the other hand, 162 and 30 DEGs were downregulated in the 180 μM and 1800 μM H2O2 treatments, respectively. Cluster analysis of DEGs demonstrated significant patterns among these types of 3 groups. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed the DEGs involved in the regulation of blood coagulation (GO: 0030193; GO: 0050818), regulation of wound healing (GO:0061041), regulation of hemostasis (GO: 1900046), antigen processing and presentation (KO04612), the Hippo signaling pathway (KO04391), as well as the MAPK signaling pathway (KO04010). This research helped to define the diapause-related transcriptomes of Artemia cysts using RNA-seq technology, which might fill up a gap in the prevailing body of knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonien Chen
- Department and Graduate Institute of Aquaculture, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Tah-Wei Chu
- Department and Graduate Institute of Aquaculture, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Kuohsun Chiu
- Department and Graduate Institute of Aquaculture, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Oceanography, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chang Hong
- Department and Graduate Institute of Aquaculture, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Meng Wu
- Department of Aquaculture, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Wen Ma
- Department and Graduate Institute of Aquaculture, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ming Liang
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Kuang Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Hibshman JD, Clegg JS, Goldstein B. Mechanisms of Desiccation Tolerance: Themes and Variations in Brine Shrimp, Roundworms, and Tardigrades. Front Physiol 2020; 11:592016. [PMID: 33192606 PMCID: PMC7649794 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.592016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Water is critical for the survival of most cells and organisms. Remarkably, a small number of multicellular animals are able to survive nearly complete drying. The phenomenon of anhydrobiosis, or life without water, has been of interest to researchers for over 300 years. In this review we discuss advances in our understanding of protectants and mechanisms of desiccation tolerance that have emerged from research in three anhydrobiotic invertebrates: brine shrimp (Artemia), roundworms (nematodes), and tardigrades (water bears). Discovery of molecular protectants that allow each of these three animals to survive drying diversifies our understanding of desiccation tolerance, and convergent themes suggest mechanisms that may offer a general model for engineering desiccation tolerance in other contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D. Hibshman
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - James S. Clegg
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Bob Goldstein
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Khodajou-Masouleh H, Shahangian SS, Attar F, H Sajedi R, Rasti B. Characteristics, dynamics and mechanisms of actions of some major stress-induced biomacromolecules; addressing Artemia as an excellent biological model. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 39:5619-5637. [PMID: 32734830 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1796793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Stress tolerance is one of the most prominent and interesting topics in biology since many macro- and micro-adaptations have evolved in resistant organisms that are worth studying. When it comes to confronting various environmental stressors, the extremophile Artemia is unrivaled in the animal kingdom. In the present review, the evolved molecular and cellular basis of stress tolerance in resistant biological systems are described, focusing on Artemia cyst as an excellent biological model. The main purpose of the review is to discuss how the structure and physicochemical characteristics of protective factors such as late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEAPs), small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) and trehalose are related to their functions and by which mechanisms, they exert their functions. In addition, some metabolic depressors in Artemia encysted embryos are also mentioned, indirectly playing important roles in stress tolerance. Importantly, a great deal of attention is given to the LEAPs, exhibiting distinctive folding behaviors and mechanisms of actions. For instance, molecular shield function, chaperone-like activity, moonlighting property, sponging and snorkeling capabilities of the LEAPs are delineated here. Moreover, the molecular interplay between some of these factors is mentioned, leading to their synergistic effects. Interestingly, Artemia life cycle adapts to environmental conditions. Diapause is the defense mode of this life cycle, safeguarding Artemia encysted embryos against various environmental stressors. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S Shirin Shahangian
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Farnoosh Attar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Food Industry & Agriculture, Standard Research Institute (SRI), Karaj, Iran
| | - Reza H Sajedi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behnam Rasti
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Lahijan, Guilan, Iran
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LeBlanc BM, Le MT, Janis B, Menze MA, Hand SC. Structural properties and cellular expression of AfrLEA6, a group 6 late embryogenesis abundant protein from embryos of Artemia franciscana. Cell Stress Chaperones 2019; 24:979-990. [PMID: 31363993 PMCID: PMC6717223 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-019-01025-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) commonly found in anhydrobiotic organisms and are frequently correlated with desiccation tolerance. Herein we report new findings on AfrLEA6, a novel group 6 LEA protein from embryos of Artemia franciscana. Assessment of secondary structure in aqueous and dried states with circular dichroism (CD) reveals 89% random coil in the aqueous state, thus supporting classification of AfrLEA6 as an IDP. Removal of water from the protein by drying or exposure to trifluoroethanol (a chemical de-solvating agent) promotes a large gain in secondary structure of AfrLEA6, predominated by α-helix and exhibiting minimal β-sheet structure. We evaluated the impact of physiological concentrations (up to 400 mM) of the disaccharide trehalose on the folding of LEA proteins in solution. CD spectra for AfrLEA2, AfrLEA3m, and AfrLEA6 are unaffected by this organic solute noted for its ability to drive protein folding. AfrLEA6 exhibits its highest concentration in vivo during embryonic diapause, drops acutely at diapause termination, and then declines during development to undetectable values at the larval stage. Maximum cellular titer of AfrLEA6 was 10-fold lower than for AfrLEA2 or AfrLEA3, both group 3 LEA proteins. Acute termination of diapause with H2O2 (a far more effective terminator than desiccation in this Great Salt Lake, UT, population) fostered a rapid 38% decrease in AfrLEA6 content of embryos. While the ultimate mechanism of diapause termination is unknown, disruption of key macromolecules could initiate physiological signaling events necessary for resumption of development and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blase M. LeBlanc
- Division of Cellular, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
| | - Mike T. Le
- Division of Cellular, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
| | - Brett Janis
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292 USA
| | - Michael A. Menze
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292 USA
| | - Steven C. Hand
- Division of Cellular, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
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Janis B, Uversky VN, Menze MA. Potential functions of LEA proteins from the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana - anhydrobiosis meets bioinformatics. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2017; 36:3291-3309. [PMID: 28971739 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2017.1387177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are a large group of anhydrobiosis-associated intrinsically disordered proteins, which are commonly found in plants and some animals. The brine shrimp Artemia franciscana is the only known animal that expresses LEA proteins from three, and not only one, different groups in its anhydrobiotic life stage. The reason for the higher complexity in the A. franciscana LEA proteome (LEAome), compared with other anhydrobiotic animals, remains mostly unknown. To address this issue, we have employed a suite of bioinformatics tools to evaluate the disorder status of the Artemia LEAome and to analyze the roles of intrinsic disorder in functioning of brine shrimp LEA proteins. We show here that A. franciscana LEA proteins from different groups are more similar to each other than one originally expected, while functional differences among members of group three are possibly larger than commonly anticipated. Our data show that although these proteins are characterized by a large variety of forms and possible functions, as a general strategy, A. franciscana utilizes glassy matrix forming LEAs concurrently with proteins that more readily interact with binding partners. It is likely that the function(s) of both types, the matrix-forming and partner-binding LEA proteins, are regulated by changing water availability during desiccation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Janis
- a Department of Biology , University of Louisville , Louisville 40292 , KY , USA
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- b Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine , University of South Florida , Tampa 33612 , FL , USA.,c Institute for Biological Instrumentation , Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow Region, Pushchino 142290 , Russia
| | - Michael A Menze
- a Department of Biology , University of Louisville , Louisville 40292 , KY , USA
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8
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Towards water-free biobanks: long-term dry-preservation at room temperature of desiccation-sensitive enzyme luciferase in air-dried insect cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6540. [PMID: 28747745 PMCID: PMC5529557 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06945-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Desiccation-tolerant cultured cells Pv11 derived from the anhydrobiotic midge embryo endure complete desiccation in an ametabolic state and resume their metabolism after rehydration. These features led us to develop a novel dry preservation technology for enzymes as it was still unclear whether Pv11 cells could preserve an exogenous enzyme in the dry state. This study shows that Pv11 cells protect an exogenous desiccation-sensitive enzyme, luciferase (Luc), preserving the enzymatic activity even after dry storage for 372 days at room temperature. A process including preincubation with trehalose, dehydration, storage, and rehydration allowed Pv11 (Pv11-Luc) cells stably expressing luciferase to survive desiccation and still emit luminescence caused by luciferase after rehydration. Luminescence produced by luciferase in Pv11-Luc cells after rehydration did not significantly decrease in presence of a translation inhibitor, showing that the activity did not derive from de novo enzyme synthesis following the resumption of cell metabolism. These findings indicate that the surviving Pv11 cells almost completely protect luciferase during desiccation. Lacking of the preincubation step resulted in the loss of luciferase activity after rehydration. We showed that preincubation with trehalose associated to induction of desiccation tolerance-related genes in Pv11 cells allowed effective in vivo preservation of enzymes in the dry state.
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9
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The total and mitochondrial lipidome of Artemia franciscana encysted embryos. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2016; 1861:1727-1735. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Hand SC, Denlinger DL, Podrabsky JE, Roy R. Mechanisms of animal diapause: recent developments from nematodes, crustaceans, insects, and fish. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2016; 310:R1193-211. [PMID: 27053646 PMCID: PMC4935499 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00250.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Life cycle delays are beneficial for opportunistic species encountering suboptimal environments. Many animals display a programmed arrest of development (diapause) at some stage(s) of their development, and the diapause state may or may not be associated with some degree of metabolic depression. In this review, we will evaluate current advancements in our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the remarkable phenotype, as well as environmental cues that signal entry and termination of the state. The developmental stage at which diapause occurs dictates and constrains the mechanisms governing diapause. Considerable progress has been made in clarifying proximal mechanisms of metabolic arrest and the signaling pathways like insulin/Foxo that control gene expression patterns. Overlapping themes are also seen in mechanisms that control cell cycle arrest. Evidence is emerging for epigenetic contributions to diapause regulation via small RNAs in nematodes, crustaceans, insects, and fish. Knockdown of circadian clock genes in selected insect species supports the importance of clock genes in the photoperiodic response that cues diapause. A large suite of chaperone-like proteins, expressed during diapause, protects biological structures during long periods of energy-limited stasis. More information is needed to paint a complete picture of how environmental cues are coupled to the signal transduction that initiates the complex diapause phenotype, as well as molecular explanations for how the state is terminated. Excellent examples of molecular memory in post-dauer animals have been documented in Caenorhabditis elegans It is clear that a single suite of mechanisms does not regulate diapause across all species and developmental stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven C Hand
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana;
| | - David L Denlinger
- Departments of Entomology and Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jason E Podrabsky
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon; and
| | - Richard Roy
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Warner AH, Guo ZH, Moshi S, Hudson JW, Kozarova A. Study of model systems to test the potential function of Artemia group 1 late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins. Cell Stress Chaperones 2016; 21:139-154. [PMID: 26462928 PMCID: PMC4679747 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-015-0647-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Revised: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryos of the brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana, are genetically programmed to develop either ovoviparously or oviparously depending on environmental conditions. Shortly upon their release from the female, oviparous embryos enter diapause during which time they undergo major metabolic rate depression while simultaneously synthesize proteins that permit them to tolerate a wide range of stressful environmental events including prolonged periods of desiccation, freezing, and anoxia. Among the known stress-related proteins that accumulate in embryos entering diapause are the late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins. This large group of intrinsically disordered proteins has been proposed to act as molecular shields or chaperones of macromolecules which are otherwise intolerant to harsh conditions associated with diapause. In this research, we used two model systems to study the potential function of the group 1 LEA proteins from Artemia. Expression of the Artemia group 1 gene (AfrLEA-1) in Escherichia coli inhibited growth in proportion to the number of 20-mer amino acid motifs expressed. As well, clones of E. coli, transformed with the AfrLEA-1 gene, expressed multiple bands of LEA proteins, either intrinsically or upon induction with isopropyl-β-thiogalactoside (IPTG), in a vector-specific manner. Expression of AfrLEA-1 in E. coli did not overcome the inhibitory effects of high concentrations of NaCl and KCl but modulated growth inhibition resulting from high concentrations of sorbitol in the growth medium. In contrast, expression of the AfrLEA-1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae did not alter the growth kinetics or permit yeast to tolerate high concentrations of NaCl, KCl, or sorbitol. However, expression of AfrLEA-1 in yeast improved its tolerance to drying (desiccation) and freezing. Under our experimental conditions, both E. coli and S. cerevisiae appear to be potentially suitable hosts to study the function of Artemia group 1 LEA proteins under environmentally stressful conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alden H Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Zhi-Hao Guo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Sandra Moshi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - John W Hudson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Anna Kozarova
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
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Boswell LC, Moore DS, Hand SC. Quantification of cellular protein expression and molecular features of group 3 LEA proteins from embryos of Artemia franciscana. Cell Stress Chaperones 2014; 19:329-41. [PMID: 24061850 PMCID: PMC3982030 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-013-0458-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Revised: 08/15/2013] [Accepted: 08/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are highly hydrophilic, low complexity proteins whose expression has been correlated with desiccation tolerance in anhydrobiotic organisms. Here, we report the identification of three new mitochondrial LEA proteins in anhydrobiotic embryos of Artemia franciscana, AfrLEA3m_47, AfrLEA3m_43, and AfrLEA3m_29. These new isoforms are recognized by antibody raised against recombinant AfrLEA3m, the original mitochondrial-targeted LEA protein previously reported from these embryos; mass spectrometry confirms all four proteins share sequence similarity. The corresponding messenger RNA (mRNA) species for the four proteins are readily amplified from total complementary DNA (cDNA) prepared from embryos. cDNA sequences of the four mRNAs are quite similar, but each has a stretch of sequence that is absent in at least one of the others, plus multiple single base pair differences. We conclude that all four mitochondrial LEA proteins are products of independent genes. Each possesses a mitochondrial targeting sequence, and indeed Western blots performed on extracts of isolated mitochondria clearly detect all four isoforms. Based on mass spectrometry and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis migration, the cytoplasmic-localized AfrLEA2 exists primarily as a homodimer in A. franciscana. Quantification of protein expression for AfrLEA2, AfrLEA3m, AfrLEA3m_43, and AfrLEA3m_29 as a function of development shows that cellular concentrations are highest in diapause embryos and decrease during development to low levels in desiccation-intolerant nauplius larvae. When adjustment is made for mitochondria matrix volume, the effective concentrations of cytoplasmic versus mitochondrial group 3 LEA proteins are similar in vivo, and the values provide guidance for the design of in vitro functional studies with these proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leaf C Boswell
- Division of Cellular, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA,
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Li S, Chakraborty N, Borcar A, Menze MA, Toner M, Hand SC. Late embryogenesis abundant proteins protect human hepatoma cells during acute desiccation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:20859-64. [PMID: 23185012 PMCID: PMC3529014 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1214893109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins is highly correlated with desiccation tolerance in anhydrobiotic animals, selected land plants, and bacteria. Genes encoding two LEA proteins, one localized to the cytoplasm/nucleus (AfrLEA2) and one targeted to mitochondria (AfrLEA3m), were stably transfected into human HepG2 cells. A trehalose transporter was used for intracellular loading of this disaccharide. Cells were rapidly and uniformly desiccated to low water content (<0.12 g H(2)O/g dry weight) with a recently developed spin-drying technique. Immediately on rehydration, control cells without LEA proteins or trehalose exhibited 0% membrane integrity, compared with 98% in cells loaded with trehalose and expressing AfrLEA2 or AfrLEA3m; surprisingly, AfrLEA3m without trehalose conferred 94% protection. Cell proliferation across 7 d showed an 18-fold increase for cells dried with AfrLEA3m and trehalose, compared with 27-fold for nondried controls. LEA proteins dramatically enhance desiccation tolerance in mammalian cells and offer the opportunity for engineering biostability in the dried state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumin Li
- Division of Cellular, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
| | - Nilay Chakraborty
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Shriners Hospitals for Children and Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114; and
| | - Apurva Borcar
- Division of Cellular, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
| | - Michael A. Menze
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL 61920
| | - Mehmet Toner
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Shriners Hospitals for Children and Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114; and
| | - Steven C. Hand
- Division of Cellular, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
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