1
|
Wu CY, Davis S, Saudagar N, Shah S, Zhao W, Stern A, Martel J, Ojcius D, Yang HC. Caenorhabditis elegans as a Convenient Animal Model for Microbiome Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6670. [PMID: 38928375 PMCID: PMC11203780 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126670] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbes constitute the most prevalent life form on Earth, yet their remarkable diversity remains mostly unrecognized. Microbial diversity in vertebrate models presents a significant challenge for investigating host-microbiome interactions. The model organism Caenorhabditis elegans has many advantages for delineating the effects of host genetics on microbial composition. In the wild, the C. elegans gut contains various microbial species, while in the laboratory it is usually a host for a single bacterial species. There is a potential host-microbe interaction between microbial metabolites, drugs, and C. elegans phenotypes. This mini-review aims to summarize the current understanding regarding the microbiome in C. elegans. Examples using C. elegans to study host-microbe-metabolite interactions are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Yeu Wu
- Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (C.-Y.W.); (J.M.)
| | - Scott Davis
- Department of Endodontics, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA;
| | - Neekita Saudagar
- Doctor of Dental Surgery Program, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA; (N.S.); (S.S.); (W.Z.)
| | - Shrey Shah
- Doctor of Dental Surgery Program, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA; (N.S.); (S.S.); (W.Z.)
| | - William Zhao
- Doctor of Dental Surgery Program, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA; (N.S.); (S.S.); (W.Z.)
| | - Arnold Stern
- Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA;
| | - Jan Martel
- Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (C.-Y.W.); (J.M.)
| | - David Ojcius
- Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; (C.-Y.W.); (J.M.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
| | - Hung-Chi Yang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu 30041, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Shrestha B, Nieminen AI, Matilainen O. Loss of the histone chaperone UNC-85/ASF1 inhibits the epigenome-mediated longevity and modulates the activity of one-carbon metabolism. Cell Stress Chaperones 2024; 29:392-403. [PMID: 38608859 PMCID: PMC11039323 DOI: 10.1016/j.cstres.2024.04.003] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Histone H3/H4 chaperone anti-silencing function 1 (ASF1) is a conserved factor mediating nucleosomal assembly and disassembly, playing crucial roles in processes such as replication, transcription, and DNA repair. Nevertheless, its involvement in aging has remained unclear. Here, we utilized the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to demonstrate that the loss of UNC-85, the homolog of ASF1, leads to a shortened lifespan in a multicellular organism. Furthermore, we show that UNC-85 is required for epigenome-mediated longevity, as knockdown of the histone H3 lysine K4 methyltransferase ash-2 does not extend the lifespan of unc-85 mutants. In this context, we found that the longevity-promoting ash-2 RNA interference enhances UNC-85 activity by increasing its nuclear localization. Finally, our data indicate that the loss of UNC-85 increases the activity of one-carbon metabolism, and that downregulation of the one-carbon metabolism component dao-3/MTHFD2 partially rescues the short lifespan of unc-85 mutants. Together, these findings reveal UNC-85/ASF1 as a modulator of the central metabolic pathway and a factor regulating a pro-longevity response, thus shedding light on a mechanism of how nucleosomal maintenance associates with aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bideep Shrestha
- The Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anni I Nieminen
- FIMM Metabolomics Unit, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Matilainen
- The Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zimmermann J, Piecyk A, Sieber M, Petersen C, Johnke J, Moitinho-Silva L, Künzel S, Bluhm L, Traulsen A, Kaleta C, Schulenburg H. Gut-associated functions are favored during microbiome assembly across a major part of C. elegans life. mBio 2024; 15:e0001224. [PMID: 38634692 PMCID: PMC11077962 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00012-24] [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: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The microbiome expresses a variety of functions that influence host biology. The range of functions depends on the microbiome's composition, which can change during the host's lifetime due to neutral assembly processes, host-mediated selection, and environmental conditions. To date, the exact dynamics of microbiome assembly, the underlying determinants, and the effects on host-associated functions remain poorly understood. Here, we used the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and a defined community of fully sequenced, naturally associated bacteria to study microbiome dynamics and functions across a major part of the worm's lifetime of hosts under controlled experimental conditions. Bacterial community composition initially shows strongly declining levels of stochasticity, which increases during later time points, suggesting selective effects in younger animals as opposed to more random processes in older animals. The adult microbiome is enriched in genera Ochrobactrum and Enterobacter compared to the direct substrate and a host-free control environment. Using pathway analysis, metabolic, and ecological modeling, we further find that the lifetime assembly dynamics increase competitive strategies and gut-associated functions in the host-associated microbiome, indicating that the colonizing bacteria benefit the worm. Overall, our study introduces a framework for studying microbiome assembly dynamics based on stochastic, ecological, and metabolic models, yielding new insights into the processes that determine host-associated microbiome composition and function. IMPORTANCE The microbiome plays a crucial role in host biology. Its functions depend on the microbiome composition that can change during a host's lifetime. To date, the dynamics of microbiome assembly and the resulting functions still need to be better understood. This study introduces a new approach to characterize the functional consequences of microbiome assembly by modeling both the relevance of stochastic processes and metabolic characteristics of microbial community changes. The approach was applied to experimental time-series data obtained for the microbiome of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans across the major part of its lifetime. Stochastic processes played a minor role, whereas beneficial bacteria as well as gut-associated functions enriched in hosts. This indicates that the host might actively shape the composition of its microbiome. Overall, this study provides a framework for studying microbiome assembly dynamics and yields new insights into C. elegans microbiome functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Zimmermann
- Research Group Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
- Max Planck Fellow Group Antibiotic Resistance Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany
- Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Agnes Piecyk
- Research Group Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Michael Sieber
- Department for Evolutionary Theory, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany
| | - Carola Petersen
- Research Group Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Julia Johnke
- Research Group Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lucas Moitinho-Silva
- />Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sven Künzel
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany
| | - Lena Bluhm
- Research Group Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Arne Traulsen
- Department for Evolutionary Theory, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany
| | - Christoph Kaleta
- Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Hinrich Schulenburg
- Research Group Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
- Max Planck Fellow Group Antibiotic Resistance Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Balashova OA, Panoutsopoulos AA, Visina O, Selhub J, Knoepfler PS, Borodinsky LN. Noncanonical function of folate through folate receptor 1 during neural tube formation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1642. [PMID: 38388461 PMCID: PMC10883926 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45775-1] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Folate supplementation reduces the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs), birth defects consisting in the failure of the neural tube to form and close. The mechanisms underlying NTDs and their prevention by folate remain unclear. Here we show that folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) is necessary for the formation of neural tube-like structures in human-cell derived neural organoids. FOLR1 knockdown in neural organoids and in Xenopus laevis embryos leads to NTDs that are rescued by pteroate, a folate precursor that is unable to participate in metabolism. We demonstrate that FOLR1 interacts with and opposes the function of CD2-associated protein, molecule essential for apical endocytosis and turnover of C-cadherin in neural plate cells. In addition, folates increase Ca2+ transient frequency, suggesting that folate and FOLR1 signal intracellularly to regulate neural plate folding. This study identifies a mechanism of action of folate distinct from its vitamin function during neural tube formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Balashova
- Department of Physiology & Membrane Biology, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Alexios A Panoutsopoulos
- Department of Physiology & Membrane Biology, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Olesya Visina
- Department of Physiology & Membrane Biology, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Jacob Selhub
- Tufts-USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul S Knoepfler
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Laura N Borodinsky
- Department of Physiology & Membrane Biology, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shrestha B, Tallila M, Matilainen O. Folate receptor overexpression induces toxicity in a diet-dependent manner in C. elegans. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1066. [PMID: 38212621 PMCID: PMC10784478 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51700-9] [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: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Folate receptor (FR) alpha (FOLR1) and beta (FOLR2) are membrane-anchored folate transporters that are expressed at low levels in normal tissues, while their expression is strongly increased in several cancers. Intriguingly, although the function of these receptors in, for example, development and cancer has been studied intensively, their role in aging is still unknown. To address this, we utilized Caenorhabditis elegans, in which FOLR-1 is the sole ortholog of folate receptors. We found that the loss of FOLR-1 does not affect reproduction, physical condition, proteostasis or lifespan, indicating that it is not required for folate transport to maintain health. Interestingly, we found that FOLR-1 is detectably expressed only in uterine-vulval cells, and that the histone-binding protein LIN-53 inhibits its expression in other tissues. Furthermore, whereas knockdown of lin-53 is known to shorten lifespan, we found that the loss of FOLR-1 partially rescues this phenotype, suggesting that elevated folr-1 expression is detrimental for health. Indeed, our data demonstrate that overexpression of folr-1 is toxic, and that this phenotype is dependent on diet. Altogether, this work could serve as a basis for further studies to elucidate the organismal effects of abnormal FR expression in diseases such as cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bideep Shrestha
- The Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Milla Tallila
- The Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Matilainen
- The Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Balashova OA, Panoutsopoulos AA, Visina O, Selhub J, Knoepfler PS, Borodinsky LN. Non-canonical function of folate/folate receptor 1 during neural tube formation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.19.549718. [PMID: 37503108 PMCID: PMC10370062 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.19.549718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Folate supplementation reduces the occurrence of neural tube defects, one of the most common and serious birth defects, consisting in the failure of the neural tube to form and close early in pregnancy. The mechanisms underlying neural tube defects and folate action during neural tube formation remain unclear. Here we show that folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) is necessary for the formation of neural tube-like structures in human-cell derived neural organoids. Knockdown of FOLR1 in human neural organoids as well as in the Xenopus laevis in vivo model leads to neural tube defects that are rescued by pteroate, a folate precursor that binds to FOLR1 but is unable to participate in metabolic pathways. We demonstrate that FOLR1 interacts with and opposes the function of CD2-associated protein (CD2AP), a molecule that we find is essential for apical endocytosis and the spatiotemporal turnover of the cell adherens junction component C-cadherin in neural plate cells. The counteracting action of FOLR1 on these processes is mediated by regulating CD2AP protein level via a degradation-dependent mechanism. In addition, folate and pteroate increase Ca 2+ transient frequency in the neural plate in a FOLR1-dependent manner, suggesting that folate/FOLR1 signal intracellularly to regulate neural plate folding. This study identifies a mechanism of action of folate distinct from its vitamin function during neural tube formation.
Collapse
|
7
|
Sah S, Varshney U. Methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase utilizes 10-formyldihydrofolate as an alternative substrate and impacts antifolate drug action. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169. [PMID: 36745551 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase (Fmt)-mediated formylation of Met-tRNAfMet to fMet-tRNAfMet is crucial for efficient initiation of translation in bacteria and the eukaryotic organelles. Folate dehydrogenase-cyclohydrolase (FolD), a bifunctional enzyme, carries out conversion of 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate (5,10-CH2-THF) to 10-formyl-THF (10-CHO-THF), a metabolite utilized by Fmt as a formyl group donor. In this study, using in vivo and in vitro approaches, we show that 10-CHO-DHF may also be utilized by Fmt as an alternative substrate (formyl group donor) to formylate Met-tRNAfMet. Dihydrofolate (DHF) formed as a by-product in the in vitro assay was verified by LC-MS/MS analysis. FolD-deficient mutants and Fmt over-expressing strains were more sensitive to trimethoprim (TMP) than the ∆fmt strain, suggesting that the domino effect of TMP leads to inhibition of protein synthesis and strain growth. Antifolate treatment to Escherichia coli showed a decrease in the reduced folate species (THF, 5,10-CH2-THF, 5-CH3-THF, 5,10-CH+-THF and 5-CHO-THF) and increase in the oxidized folate species (folic acid and DHF). In cells, 10-CHO-DHF and 10-CHO-folic acid were enriched in the stationary phase. This suggests that 10-CHO-DHF is a bioactive metabolite in the folate pathway for generating other folate intermediates and fMet-tRNAfMet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shivjee Sah
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Umesh Varshney
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
- Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, 560064, India
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Feng M, Gao B, Garcia LR, Sun Q. Microbiota-derived metabolites in regulating the development and physiology of Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1035582. [PMID: 36925470 PMCID: PMC10011103 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1035582] [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: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbiota consist of microorganisms that provide essential health benefits and contribute to the animal's physiological homeostasis. Microbiota-derived metabolites are crucial mediators in regulating host development, system homeostasis, and overall fitness. In this review, by focusing on the animal model Caenorhabditis elegans, we summarize key microbial metabolites and their molecular mechanisms that affect animal development. We also provide, from a bacterial perspective, an overview of host-microbiota interaction networks used for maintaining host physiological homeostasis. Moreover, we discuss applicable methodologies for profiling new bacterial metabolites that modulate host developmental signaling pathways. Microbiota-derived metabolites have the potential to be diagnostic biomarkers for diseases, as well as promising targets for engineering therapeutic interventions against animal developmental or health-related defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Feng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Baizhen Gao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - L Rene Garcia
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Qing Sun
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Nawaz FZ, Kipreos ET. Emerging roles for folate receptor FOLR1 in signaling and cancer. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2022; 33:159-174. [PMID: 35094917 PMCID: PMC8923831 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Folates are B vitamins that function in one-carbon metabolism. Folate receptors are one of three major types of folate transporters. The folate receptors FOLR1 and FOLR2 are overexpressed in multiple cancers. The overexpression of FOLR1 is often associated with increased cancer progression and poor patient prognosis. There is emerging evidence that FOLR1 is involved in signaling pathways that are independent of one-carbon metabolism. Recent publications implicate a direct role of FOLR1 in three signaling pathways: JAK-STAT3, ERK1/2, and as a transcription factor. Six other signaling pathways have been proposed to include FOLR1, but these currently lack sufficient data to infer a direct signaling role for FOLR1. We discuss the data that support noncanonical roles for FOLR1, and its limitations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fathima Zahra Nawaz
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Edward T Kipreos
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Selhub J, Miller JW, Troen AM, Mason JB, Jacques PF. Perspective: The High-Folate-Low-Vitamin B-12 Interaction Is a Novel Cause of Vitamin B-12 Depletion with a Specific Etiology-A Hypothesis. Adv Nutr 2021; 13:16-33. [PMID: 34634124 PMCID: PMC8803489 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmab106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin that plays important roles in intermediary metabolism. Vitamin B-12 deficiency has many identifiable causes, including autoimmune and other gastrointestinal malabsorption disorders, dietary deficiency, and congenital defects in genes that are involved in vitamin B-12 trafficking and functions. Another putative cause of vitamin B-12 deficiency is the high-folate-low vitamin B-12 interaction, first suspected as the cause for observed relapse and exacerbation of the neurological symptoms in patients with pernicious anemia who were prescribed high oral doses of folic acid. We propose that this interaction is real and represents a novel cause of vitamin B-12 depletion with specific etiology. We hypothesize that excessive intake of folic acid depletes serum holotranscobalamin (holoTC), thereby decreasing active vitamin B-12 in the circulation and limiting its availability for tissues. This effect is specific for holoTC and does not affect holohaptocorrin, the inert form of serum vitamin B-12. Depletion of holoTC by folic acid in individuals with already low vitamin B-12 status further compromises the availability of vitamin B-12 coenzymes to their respective enzymes, and consequently a more pronounced state of biochemical deficiency. This hypothesis is drawn from evidence of observational and intervention studies of vitamin B-12-deficient patients and epidemiological cohorts. The evidence also suggests that, in a depleted state, vitamin B-12 is diverted to the hematopoietic system or the kidney. This most likely reflects a selective response of tissues expressing folate receptors with high affinity for unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA; e.g., hematopoietic progenitors and renal tubules) compared with those tissues (e.g., liver) that only express the reduced folate carrier, which is universally expressed but has poor affinity for UMFA. The biochemical and physiological mechanisms underlying this interaction require elucidation to clarify its potential public health significance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aron M Troen
- School of Nutritional Sciences and Institute of Biochemistry Food Science and Nutrition, The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Joel B Mason
- Tufts–USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul F Jacques
- Tufts–USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Salekeen R, Siam MHB, Sharif DI, Lustgarten MS, Billah MM, Islam KMD. In silico insights into potential gut microbial modulation of NAD+ metabolism and longevity. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2021; 35:e22925. [PMID: 34580953 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.22925] [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: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence has prompted the notion of gut-microbial signatures as an indirect marker of aging and aging-associated decline in humans. However, the underlying host-symbiont molecular interactions contributing to these signatures remain poorly understood. In this study, we address this gap using cheminformatic analyses to elucidate potential gut microbial metabolites that may perturb the longevity-associated NAD+ metabolic network. In silico ADMET, KEGG interaction analysis, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and molecular mechanics calculation predict a large number of safe and bioavailable microbial metabolites to be direct and/or indirect activators of NAD+-dependent sirtuin proteins. Our simulation results suggest dihydropteroate, phenylpyruvic acid, indole-3-propionic acid, phenyllactic acid, all-trans-retinoic acid, and multiple deoxy-, methyl-, and cyclic nucleotides from intestinal microbiota as the best-performing regulators of NAD+ metabolism. Retracing these molecules to their source microorganisms also suggest commensal Escherichia, Bacteroides, Bifidobacteria, and Lactobacilli to be associated with the highest number of pro-longevity metabolites. These findings from our early-stage study, therefore, provide an informatics-based context for previous evidence in the area and grant novel insights for future clinical investigation intersecting anti-aging drug discovery, probiotics, and gut microbial signatures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rahagir Salekeen
- Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Md Hasanul Banna Siam
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Dilara Islam Sharif
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life and Earth Sciences, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Michael S Lustgarten
- Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Md Morsaline Billah
- Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Kazi Mohammed Didarul Islam
- Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Manterola M, Palominos MF, Calixto A. The Heritability of Behaviors Associated With the Host Gut Microbiota. Front Immunol 2021; 12:658551. [PMID: 34054822 PMCID: PMC8155505 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.658551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
What defines whether the interaction between environment and organism creates a genetic memory able to be transferred to subsequent generations? Bacteria and the products of their metabolism are the most ubiquitous biotic environments to which every living organism is exposed. Both microbiota and host establish a framework where environmental and genetic factors are integrated to produce adaptive life traits, some of which can be inherited. Thus, the interplay between host and microbe is a powerful model to study how phenotypic plasticity is inherited. Communication between host and microbe can occur through diverse molecules such as small RNAs (sRNAs) and the RNA interference machinery, which have emerged as mediators and carriers of heritable environmentally induced responses. Notwithstanding, it is still unclear how the organism integrates sRNA signaling between different tissues to orchestrate a systemic bacterially induced response that can be inherited. Here we discuss current evidence of heritability produced by the intestinal microbiota from several species. Neurons and gut are the sensing systems involved in transmitting changes through transcriptional and post-transcriptional modifications to the gonads. Germ cells express inflammatory receptors, and their development and function are regulated by host and bacterial metabolites and sRNAs thus suggesting that the dynamic interplay between host and microbe underlies the host's capacity to transmit heritable behaviors. We discuss how the host detects changes in the microbiota that can modulate germ cells genomic functions. We also explore the nature of the interactions that leave permanent or long-term memory in the host and propose mechanisms by which the microbiota can regulate the development and epigenetic reprogramming of germ cells, thus influencing the inheritance of the host. We highlight the vast contribution of the bacterivore nematode C. elegans and its commensal and pathogenic bacteria to the understanding on how behavioral adaptations can be inter and transgenerational inherited.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcia Manterola
- Programa de Genética Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - M. Fernanda Palominos
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias, mención Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Andrea Calixto
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Instituto de Neurociencia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zellag RM, Zhao Y, Poupart V, Singh R, Labbé JC, Gerhold AR. CentTracker: a trainable, machine-learning-based tool for large-scale analyses of Caenorhabditis elegans germline stem cell mitosis. Mol Biol Cell 2021; 32:915-930. [PMID: 33502892 PMCID: PMC8108535 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e20-11-0716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigating the complex interactions between stem cells and their native environment requires an efficient means to image them in situ. Caenorhabditis elegans germline stem cells (GSCs) are distinctly accessible for intravital imaging; however, long-term image acquisition and analysis of dividing GSCs can be technically challenging. Here we present a systematic investigation into the technical factors impacting GSC physiology during live imaging and provide an optimized method for monitoring GSC mitosis under minimally disruptive conditions. We describe CentTracker, an automated and generalizable image analysis tool that uses machine learning to pair mitotic centrosomes and that can extract a variety of mitotic parameters rapidly from large-scale data sets. We employ CentTracker to assess a range of mitotic features in a large GSC data set. We observe spatial clustering of mitoses within the germline tissue but no evidence that subpopulations with distinct mitotic profiles exist within the stem cell pool. We further find biases in GSC spindle orientation relative to the germline’s distal–proximal axis and thus the niche. The technical and analytical tools provided herein pave the way for large-scale screening studies of multiple mitotic processes in GSCs dividing in situ, in an intact tissue, in a living animal, under seemingly physiological conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Réda M Zellag
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada.,Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Yifan Zhao
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada.,Present address: Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Vincent Poupart
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Ramya Singh
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada.,Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jean-Claude Labbé
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Abigail R Gerhold
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Yang H, Qin D, Xu S, He C, Sun J, Hua J, Peng S. Folic acid promotes proliferation and differentiation of porcine pancreatic stem cells into insulin-secreting cells through canonical Wnt and ERK signaling pathway. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 205:105772. [PMID: 33091596 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2020.105772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Porcine pancreatic stem cells (pPSCs) can be induced to differentiate into insulin-producing cells in vitro and thus serve as a major cells source for β-cell regeneration. However, this application is limited by the weak cell proliferation ability and low insulin induction efficiency. In this study, we explored the role of folic acid in the proliferation of pPSCs and the formation of insulin-secreting cells. We found that FA-treated pPSCs cells had a high EDU positive rate, and the proliferation marker molecules PCNA, CyclinD1 and c-Myc were up-regulated, while the expression of folate receptor α (FOLRα) was up-regulated. In further research, interference FOLRα or adding canonical Wnt signaling pathway or ERK signaling pathway inhibitors could significantly inhibit the effect of FA on pPSCs proliferation. Meanwhile, during the differentiation of pPSCs into insulin-secreting cells, we found that the maturation marker genes Insulin, NKX6.1, MafA, and NeuroD1 was upregulated in insulin-secreting cell masses differentiationed from pPSCs after FA treatment, and the functional molecules Insulin and C-peptide were increased, the ability to secrete insulin in response to high glucose was also increased. With the addition of Wnt and ERK signaling pathway inhibitors, the pro-differentiation effect of FA was weakened. In conclusion, FA promotes the proliferation of pPSCs by binding to folate receptor α (FOLRα) and increase the efficiency of directed differentiation of pPSCs into insulin-producing cells by regulating canonical Wnt and ERK signaling pathway. This study lays theoretical foundation for solving the bottleneck in the treatment of diabetes with stem cell transplantation in future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Dezhe Qin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Shuanshuan Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Chen He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Jing Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Jinlian Hua
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Sha Peng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Maruvada P, Stover PJ, Mason JB, Bailey RL, Davis CD, Field MS, Finnell RH, Garza C, Green R, Gueant JL, Jacques PF, Klurfeld DM, Lamers Y, MacFarlane AJ, Miller JW, Molloy AM, O'Connor DL, Pfeiffer CM, Potischman NA, Rodricks JV, Rosenberg IH, Ross SA, Shane B, Selhub J, Stabler SP, Trasler J, Yamini S, Zappalà G. Knowledge gaps in understanding the metabolic and clinical effects of excess folates/folic acid: a summary, and perspectives, from an NIH workshop. Am J Clin Nutr 2020; 112:1390-1403. [PMID: 33022704 PMCID: PMC7657327 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Folate, an essential nutrient found naturally in foods in a reduced form, is present in dietary supplements and fortified foods in an oxidized synthetic form (folic acid). There is widespread agreement that maintaining adequate folate status is critical to prevent diseases due to folate inadequacy (e.g., anemia, birth defects, and cancer). However, there are concerns of potential adverse effects of excess folic acid intake and/or elevated folate status, with the original concern focused on exacerbation of clinical effects of vitamin B-12 deficiency and its role in neurocognitive health. More recently, animal and observational studies have suggested potential adverse effects on cancer risk, birth outcomes, and other diseases. Observations indicating adverse effects from excess folic acid intake, elevated folate status, and unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) remain inconclusive; the data do not provide the evidence needed to affect public health recommendations. Moreover, strong biological and mechanistic premises connecting elevated folic acid intake, UMFA, and/or high folate status to adverse health outcomes are lacking. However, the body of evidence on potential adverse health outcomes indicates the need for comprehensive research to clarify these issues and bridge knowledge gaps. Three key research questions encompass the additional research needed to establish whether high folic acid or total folate intake contributes to disease risk. 1) Does UMFA affect biological pathways leading to adverse health effects? 2) Does elevated folate status resulting from any form of folate intake affect vitamin B-12 function and its roles in sustaining health? 3) Does elevated folate intake, regardless of form, affect biological pathways leading to adverse health effects other than those linked to vitamin B-12 function? This article summarizes the proceedings of an August 2019 NIH expert workshop focused on addressing these research areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Padma Maruvada
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Patrick J Stover
- Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University AgriLife, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Joel B Mason
- Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Regan L Bailey
- Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Cindy D Davis
- Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Martha S Field
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cutberto Garza
- Professor Emeritus, Division of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ralph Green
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jean-Louis Gueant
- University of Lorraine and University Regional Hospital Centre of Nancy, Nancy, France
| | - Paul F Jacques
- Tufts University Friedman School of Nutritional Science and Policy and the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David M Klurfeld
- Department of Nutrition, Food Safety, and Quality, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Yvonne Lamers
- Food, Nutrition and Health Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | - Anne M Molloy
- School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Deborah L O'Connor
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Irwin H Rosenberg
- Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Barry Shane
- Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jacob Selhub
- Tufts University Friedman School of Nutritional Science and Policy and the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Sedigheh Yamini
- Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US FDA, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Giovanna Zappalà
- Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Maynard C, Weinkove D. Bacteria increase host micronutrient availability: mechanisms revealed by studies in C. elegans. GENES AND NUTRITION 2020; 15:4. [PMID: 32138646 PMCID: PMC7057599 DOI: 10.1186/s12263-020-00662-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Micronutrients cannot be synthesized by humans and are obtained from three different sources: diet, gut microbiota, and oral supplements. The microbiota generates significant quantities of micronutrients, but the contribution of these compounds to total uptake is unclear. The role of bacteria in the synthesis and uptake of micronutrients and supplements is widely unexplored and may have important implications for human health. The efficacy and safety of several micronutrient supplements, including folic acid, have been questioned due to some evidence of adverse effects on health. The use of the simplified animal-microbe model, Caenorhabditis elegans, and its bacterial food source, Escherichia coli, provides a controllable system to explore the underlying mechanisms by which bacterial metabolism impacts host micronutrient status. These studies have revealed mechanisms by which bacteria may increase the bioavailability of folic acid, B12, and iron. These routes of uptake interact with bacterial metabolism, with the potential to increase bacterial pathogenesis, and thus may be both beneficial and detrimental to host health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Maynard
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - David Weinkove
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Hubbard EJA, Schedl T. Biology of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline Stem Cell System. Genetics 2019; 213:1145-1188. [PMID: 31796552 PMCID: PMC6893382 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.300238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell systems regulate tissue development and maintenance. The germline stem cell system is essential for animal reproduction, controlling both the timing and number of progeny through its influence on gamete production. In this review, we first draw general comparisons to stem cell systems in other organisms, and then present our current understanding of the germline stem cell system in Caenorhabditis elegans In contrast to stereotypic somatic development and cell number stasis of adult somatic cells in C. elegans, the germline stem cell system has a variable division pattern, and the system differs between larval development, early adult peak reproduction and age-related decline. We discuss the cell and developmental biology of the stem cell system and the Notch regulated genetic network that controls the key decision between the stem cell fate and meiotic development, as it occurs under optimal laboratory conditions in adult and larval stages. We then discuss alterations of the stem cell system in response to environmental perturbations and aging. A recurring distinction is between processes that control stem cell fate and those that control cell cycle regulation. C. elegans is a powerful model for understanding germline stem cells and stem cell biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Jane Albert Hubbard
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016
| | - Tim Schedl
- and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Zimmermann J, Obeng N, Yang W, Pees B, Petersen C, Waschina S, Kissoyan KA, Aidley J, Hoeppner MP, Bunk B, Spröer C, Leippe M, Dierking K, Kaleta C, Schulenburg H. The functional repertoire contained within the native microbiota of the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. ISME JOURNAL 2019; 14:26-38. [PMID: 31484996 PMCID: PMC6908608 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-019-0504-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The microbiota is generally assumed to have a substantial influence on the biology of multicellular organisms. The exact functional contributions of the microbes are often unclear and cannot be inferred easily from 16S rRNA genotyping, which is commonly used for taxonomic characterization of bacterial associates. In order to bridge this knowledge gap, we here analyzed the metabolic competences of the native microbiota of the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We integrated whole-genome sequences of 77 bacterial microbiota members with metabolic modeling and experimental characterization of bacterial physiology. We found that, as a community, the microbiota can synthesize all essential nutrients for C. elegans. Both metabolic models and experimental analyses revealed that nutrient context can influence how bacteria interact within the microbiota. We identified key bacterial traits that are likely to influence the microbe’s ability to colonize C. elegans (i.e., the ability of bacteria for pyruvate fermentation to acetoin) and affect nematode fitness (i.e., bacterial competence for hydroxyproline degradation). Considering that the microbiota is usually neglected in C. elegans research, the resource presented here will help our understanding of this nematode’s biology in a more natural context. Our integrative approach moreover provides a novel, general framework to characterize microbiota-mediated functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Zimmermann
- Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Nancy Obeng
- Research Group of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Wentao Yang
- Research Group of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Barbara Pees
- Research Group of Comparative Immunobiology, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Carola Petersen
- Research Group of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.,Research Group of Comparative Immunobiology, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Silvio Waschina
- Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Kohar A Kissoyan
- Research Group of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jack Aidley
- Research Group of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Marc P Hoeppner
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Boyke Bunk
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Cathrin Spröer
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Matthias Leippe
- Research Group of Comparative Immunobiology, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Katja Dierking
- Research Group of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christoph Kaleta
- Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Hinrich Schulenburg
- Research Group of Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany. .,Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Folate can promote the methionine-dependent reprogramming of glioblastoma cells towards pluripotency. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:596. [PMID: 31395852 PMCID: PMC6687714 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1836-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Methionine dependency of tumor growth, although not well-understood, is detectable by 11C-methionine positron emission tomography and may contribute to the aggressivity of glioblastomas (GBM) and meningiomas. Cytosolic folate cycle is required for methionine synthesis. Its dysregulation may influence cell reprogramming towards pluripotency. We evaluated methionine-dependent growth of monolayer (ML) cells and stem cell-like tumor spheres (TS) derived from 4 GBM (U251, U87, LN299, T98G) and 1 meningioma (IOMM-LEE) cell lines. Our data showed that for all cell lines studied, exogenous methionine is required for TS formation but not for ML cells proliferation. Furthermore, for GBM cell lines, regardless of the addition of folate cycle substrates (folic acid and formate), the level of 3 folate isoforms, 5-methytetrahydrofolate, 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate, and 10-formyltetrahydrofolate, were all downregulated in TS relative to ML cells. Unlike GBM cell lines, in IOMM-LEE cells, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate was actually more elevated in TS than ML, and only 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate and 10-formyltetrahydrofolate were downregulated. The functional significance of this variation in folate cycle repression was revealed by the finding that Folic Acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate promote the growth of U251 TS but not IOMM-LEE TS. Transcriptome-wide sequencing of U251 cells revealed that DHFR, SHMT1, and MTHFD1 were downregulated in TS vs ML, in concordance with the low activity cytosolic folate cycle observed in U251 TS. In conclusion, we found that a repressed cytosolic folate cycle underlies the methionine dependency of GBM and meningioma cell lines and that 5-methyltetrahydrofolate is a key metabolic switch for glioblastoma TS formation. The finding that folic acid facilitates TS formation, although requiring further validation in diseased human tissues, incites to investigate whether excessive folate intake could promote cancer stem cells formation in GBM patients.
Collapse
|
20
|
Developmental Control of the Cell Cycle: Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2019; 211:797-829. [PMID: 30846544 PMCID: PMC6404260 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During animal development, a single fertilized egg forms a complete organism with tens to trillions of cells that encompass a large variety of cell types. Cell cycle regulation is therefore at the center of development and needs to be carried out in close coordination with cell differentiation, migration, and death, as well as tissue formation, morphogenesis, and homeostasis. The timing and frequency of cell divisions are controlled by complex combinations of external and cell-intrinsic signals that vary throughout development. Insight into how such controls determine in vivo cell division patterns has come from studies in various genetic model systems. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has only about 1000 somatic cells and approximately twice as many germ cells in the adult hermaphrodite. Despite the relatively small number of cells, C. elegans has diverse tissues, including intestine, nerves, striated and smooth muscle, and skin. C. elegans is unique as a model organism for studies of the cell cycle because the somatic cell lineage is invariant. Somatic cells divide at set times during development to produce daughter cells that adopt reproducible developmental fates. Studies in C. elegans have allowed the identification of conserved cell cycle regulators and provided insights into how cell cycle regulation varies between tissues. In this review, we focus on the regulation of the cell cycle in the context of C. elegans development, with reference to other systems, with the goal of better understanding how cell cycle regulation is linked to animal development in general.
Collapse
|
21
|
Maynard C, Cummins I, Green J, Weinkove D. A bacterial route for folic acid supplementation. BMC Biol 2018; 16:67. [PMID: 29903004 PMCID: PMC6002978 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-018-0534-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To prevent folate deficiencies, many countries supplement various foodstuffs with folic acid. This compound is a synthetic oxidised folate that differs from naturally occurring reduced folates in its metabolism and uptake. Notably, safety reviews of folic acid supplementation have not considered interactions with gut bacteria. Here, we use the Caenorhabditis elegans – Escherichia coli animal– microbe model to examine a possible bacterial route for folic acid uptake. It has been assumed that supplements are taken up directly by the worm, especially because E. coli is unable to take up folates. However, E. coli, like many other bacteria, can transport the folate breakdown product, para-aminobenzoate-glutamate (PABA-glu), via AbgT and use it for bacterial folate synthesis. This pathway may impact host health because inhibition of bacterial folate synthesis increases C. elegans lifespan. Results Folic acid supplementation was found to rescue a C. elegans developmental folate-deficient mutant; however, a much higher concentration was required compared to folinic acid, a reduced folate. Unlike folinic acid, the effectiveness of folic acid supplementation was dependent on the E. coli gene, abgT, suggesting a bacterial route with PABA-glu uptake by E. coli as a first step. Surprisingly, we found up to 4% PABA-glu in folic acid preparations, including in a commercial supplement. Via breakdown to PABA-glu, folic acid increases E. coli folate synthesis. This pathway restores folate synthesis in a bacterial mutant defective in PABA synthesis, reversing the ability of this mutant to increase C. elegans lifespan. Conclusions Folic acid supplementation in C. elegans occurs chiefly indirectly via bacterial uptake of breakdown products via E. coli AbgT, and can impact C. elegans development and longevity. Examining how folic acid supplementation affects bacterial folate synthesis in the human gut may help us to better understand the safety of folic acid supplementation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12915-018-0534-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Maynard
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Ian Cummins
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Jacalyn Green
- Midwestern University, Illinois, Downers Grove, IL, 60515, USA
| | - David Weinkove
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK. .,Biophysical Sciences Institute, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
GERBABA TEKLUK, GREEN-HARRISON LUKE, BURET ANDREG. Modeling Host-Microbiome Interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Nematol 2018. [DOI: 10.21307/jofnem-2017-082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
|
23
|
Gerbaba TK, Green-Harrison L, Buret AG. Modeling Host-Microbiome Interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Nematol 2017; 49:348-356. [PMID: 29353922 PMCID: PMC5770281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The microbiome influences host processes including nutritional availability, development, immunity, and behavioral responses. Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful model to study molecular mechanisms of host-microbial interactions. Recent efforts have been made to profile the natural microbiome of C. elegans, laying a foundation for mechanistic studies of host-microbiome interactions in this genetically tractable model system. Studies using single-species microbes, multi-microbial systems, and humanized worm-microbiome interaction studies reveal metabolic and microbial-microbial interactions relevant in higher organisms. This article discusses recent developments in modeling the effects of host-microbiome interactions in C. elegans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teklu K Gerbaba
- Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Luke Green-Harrison
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Andre G Buret
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Radiosynthesis and biodistribution of 99mTc-Sulfamethoxazole: a novel molecule for in-vivo infection imaging. Med Chem Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-017-2009-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
25
|
Dafachronic acid inhibits C. elegans germ cell proliferation in a DAF-12-dependent manner. Dev Biol 2017; 432:215-221. [PMID: 29066181 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Dafachronic acid (DA) is a bile acid-like steroid hormone that regulates dauer formation, heterochrony, and lifespan in C. elegans. Here, we describe that DA is an inhibitor of C. elegans germ stem cell proliferation in adult hermaphrodites. Using a C. elegans germ cell primary culture system, we show that DA inhibits the proliferation of germ cells in vitro. Exogenous DA reduces the frequency of large tumors in adult tumorous germline mutants and decreases the proliferation of wild-type germ stem cells in adult hermaphrodites. In contrast, DA has no appreciable effect on the proliferation of larval-stage germ cells in wild type. The inhibition of adult germ cell proliferation by DA requires its canonical receptor DAF-12. Blocking DA production by inactivating the cytochrome P450 DAF-9 increases germ cell proliferation in wild-type adult hermaphrodites and the frequency of large tumors in germline tumorous mutants, suggesting that DA inhibits the rate of germ cell proliferation under normal growth conditions.
Collapse
|
26
|
Shapira M. Host–microbiota interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans and their significance. Curr Opin Microbiol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2017.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
27
|
Abstract
In this issue of Developmental Cell, Chaudhari and colleagues (2016) use a novel method to create an in vitro proliferative cell line from tumorous C. elegans germ cells, and in the process discover that bacterial folates act as signals for proliferation, independent of their roles as vitamins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy K Walker
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street, Room 319, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Vagasi AS, Rahman MM, Chaudhari SN, Kipreos ET. Primary Culture System for Germ Cells from Caenorhabditis elegans Tumorous Germline Mutants. Bio Protoc 2017; 7:e2424. [PMID: 28868332 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.2424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans germ line is an important model system for the study of germ stem cells. Wild-type C. elegans germ cells are syncytial and therefore cannot be isolated in in vitro cultures. In contrast, the germ cells from tumorous mutants can be fully cellularized and isolated intact from the mutant animals. Here we describe a detailed protocol for the isolation of germ cells from tumorous mutants that allows the germ cells to be maintained for extended periods in an in vitro primary culture. This protocol has been adapted from Chaudhari et al., 2016.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Edward T Kipreos
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|