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Bugaj AM, Kunath N, Saasen VL, Fernandez-Berrocal MS, Vankova A, Sætrom P, Bjørås M, Ye J. Dissecting gene expression networks in the developing hippocampus through the lens of NEIL3 depletion. Prog Neurobiol 2024; 235:102599. [PMID: 38522610 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2024.102599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Gene regulation in the hippocampus is fundamental for its development, synaptic plasticity, memory formation, and adaptability. Comparisons of gene expression among different developmental stages, distinct cell types, and specific experimental conditions have identified differentially expressed genes contributing to the organization and functionality of hippocampal circuits. The NEIL3 DNA glycosylase, one of the DNA repair enzymes, plays an important role in hippocampal maturation and neuron functionality by shaping transcription. While differential gene expression (DGE) analysis has identified key genes involved, broader gene expression patterns crucial for high-order hippocampal functions remain uncharted. By utilizing the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we mapped gene expression networks in immature (p8-neonatal) and mature (3 m-adult) hippocampal circuits in wild-type and NEIL3-deficient mice. Our study unveiled intricate gene network structures underlying hippocampal maturation, delineated modules of co-expressed genes, and pinpointed highly interconnected hub genes specific to the maturity of hippocampal subregions. We investigated variations within distinct gene network modules following NEIL3 depletion, uncovering NEIL3-targeted hub genes that influence module connectivity and specificity. By integrating WGCNA with DGE, we delve deeper into the NEIL3-dependent molecular intricacies of hippocampal maturation. This study provides a comprehensive systems-level analysis for assessing the potential correlation between gene connectivity and functional connectivity within the hippocampal network, thus shaping hippocampal function throughout development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Bugaj
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Nicolas Kunath
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway; Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway; Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Vidar Langseth Saasen
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Marion S Fernandez-Berrocal
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Ana Vankova
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Pål Sætrom
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Magnar Bjørås
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway; Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo 0424, Norway; Centre for Embryology and Healthy Development, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway.
| | - Jing Ye
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway.
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Bordin DL, Grooms K, Montaldo NP, Fordyce Martin SL, Sætrom P, Samson LD, Bjørås M, van Loon B. Loss of alkyladenine DNA glycosylase alters gene expression in the developing mouse brain and leads to reduced anxiety and improved memory. DNA Repair (Amst) 2024; 135:103632. [PMID: 38280242 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2024.103632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Neurodevelopment is a tightly coordinated process, during which the genome is exposed to spectra of endogenous agents at different stages of differentiation. Emerging evidence indicates that DNA damage is an important feature of developing brain, tightly linked to gene expression and neuronal activity. Some of the most frequent DNA damage includes changes to DNA bases, which are recognized by DNA glycosylases and repaired through base excision repair (BER) pathway. The only mammalian DNA glycosylase able to remove frequent alkylated DNA based is alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (Aag, aka Mpg). We recently demonstrated that, besides its role in DNA repair, AAG affects expression of neurodevelopmental genes in human cells. Aag was further proposed to act as reader of epigenetic marks, including 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), in the mouse brain. Despite the potential Aag involvement in the key brain processes, the impact of Aag loss on developing brain remains unknown. Here, by using Aag knockout (Aag-/-) mice, we show that Aag absence leads to reduced DNA break levels, evident in lowered number of γH2AX foci in postnatal day 5 (P5) hippocampi. This is accompanied by changes in 5hmC signal intensity in different hippocampal regions. Transcriptome analysis of hippocampi and prefrontal cortex, at different developmental stages, indicates that lack of Aag alters gene expression, primarily of genes involved in regulation of response to stress. Across all developmental stages tested aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (Aldh2) emerged as one of the most prominent genes deregulated in Aag-dependent manner. In line with the changes in hippocampal DNA damage levels and the gene expression, adult Aag-/- mice exhibit altered behavior, evident in decreased anxiety levels determined in the Elevated Zero Maze and increased alternations in the Elevated T Maze tests. Taken together these results suggests that Aag has functions in modulation of genome dynamics during brain development, important for animal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana L Bordin
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7049 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kayla Grooms
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7049 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Nicola P Montaldo
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7049 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Sarah L Fordyce Martin
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7049 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Pål Sætrom
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7049 Trondheim, Norway; Bioinformatics core facility - BioCore; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway; K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Leona D Samson
- Department of Biological Engineering, Department of Biology, David H. Koch Institute of integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Magnar Bjørås
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7049 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Barbara van Loon
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7049 Trondheim, Norway.
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Song Y, Lee D, Choi J, Lee JW, Hong K. Genome-wide association and replication studies for handedness in a Korean community-based cohort. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3121. [PMID: 37337823 PMCID: PMC10498080 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Handedness is a conspicuous characteristic in human behavior, with a worldwide proportion of approximately 90% of people preferring to use the right hand for many tasks. In the Korean population, the proportion of left-handedness is relatively low at approximately 7%-10%, similar to that in other East-Asian cultures in which the use of the left hand for writing and other public activities has historically been oppressed. METHODS In this study, we conducted two genome-wide association studies (GWASs) between right-handedness and left-handedness, and between right-handedness and ambidexterity using logistic regression analyses using a Korean community-based cohort. We also performed association analyses with previously reported variants and our findings. RESULTS A total of 8806 participants were included for analysis, and the results identified 28 left-handedness-associated and 15 ambidexterity-associated loci; of these, two left-handedness loci (NEIL3 [rs11726465] and SVOPL [rs117495448]) and one ambidexterity locus (PDE8B/WDR41 [rs118077080]) showed near genome-wide significance. Association analyses with previously reported variants replicated ANKS1B (rs7132513) in left-handedness and ANKIB1 (rs2040498) in ambidexterity. CONCLUSION The variants and positional candidate genes identified and replicated in this study were largely associated with brain development, cerebral asymmetry, neurological processes, and neuropsychiatric diseases in line with previous findings. As the first East-Asian GWAS related to handedness, these results may provide an intriguing reference for further human neurologic research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youhyun Song
- Department of Family MedicineGangnam Severance HospitalYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulSouth Korea
- Healthcare Research Team, Health Promotion CenterGangnam Severance HospitalYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulSouth Korea
| | - Dasom Lee
- Theragen Bio Co. Ltd.Gyeonggi‐doSouth Korea
| | | | - Ji Won Lee
- Department of Family MedicineSeverance HospitalYonsei University College of MedicineSeoulSouth Korea
- Institute for Innovation in Digital HealthcareYonsei UniversitySeoulSouth Korea
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Biological Functions of the DNA Glycosylase NEIL3 and Its Role in Disease Progression Including Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235722. [PMID: 36497204 PMCID: PMC9737245 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of oxidative DNA base damage can severely disrupt the integrity of the genome and is strongly associated with the development of cancer. DNA glycosylase is the critical enzyme that initiates the base excision repair (BER) pathway, recognizing and excising damaged bases. The Nei endonuclease VIII-like 3 (NEIL3) is an emerging DNA glycosylase essential in maintaining genome stability. With an in-depth study of the structure and function of NEIL3, we found that it has properties related to the process of base damage repair. For example, it not only prefers the base damage of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), G-quadruplex and DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs), but also participates in the maintenance of replication fork stability and telomere integrity. In addition, NEIL3 is strongly associated with the progression of cancers and cardiovascular and neurological diseases, is incredibly significantly overexpressed in cancers, and may become an independent prognostic marker for cancer patients. Interestingly, circNEIL3, a circular RNA of exon-encoded origin by NEIL3, also promotes the development of multiple cancers. In this review, we have summarized the structure and the characteristics of NEIL3 to repair base damage. We have focused on NEIL3 and circNEIL3 in cancer development, progression and prognosis.
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de Sousa MML, Ye J, Luna L, Hildrestrand G, Bjørås K, Scheffler K, Bjørås M. Impact of Oxidative DNA Damage and the Role of DNA Glycosylases in Neurological Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12924. [PMID: 34884729 PMCID: PMC8657561 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The human brain requires a high rate of oxygen consumption to perform intense metabolic activities, accounting for 20% of total body oxygen consumption. This high oxygen uptake results in the generation of free radicals, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), which, at physiological levels, are beneficial to the proper functioning of fundamental cellular processes. At supraphysiological levels, however, ROS and associated lesions cause detrimental effects in brain cells, commonly observed in several neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we focus on the impact of oxidative DNA base lesions and the role of DNA glycosylase enzymes repairing these lesions on brain function and disease. Furthermore, we discuss the role of DNA base oxidation as an epigenetic mechanism involved in brain diseases, as well as potential roles of DNA glycosylases in different epigenetic contexts. We provide a detailed overview of the impact of DNA glycosylases on brain metabolism, cognition, inflammation, tissue loss and regeneration, and age-related neurodegenerative diseases based on evidence collected from animal and human models lacking these enzymes, as well as post-mortem studies on patients with neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirta Mittelstedt Leal de Sousa
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7028 Trondheim, Norway; (J.Y.); (K.B.)
| | - Jing Ye
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7028 Trondheim, Norway; (J.Y.); (K.B.)
| | - Luisa Luna
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet, 0424 Oslo, Norway; (L.L.); (G.H.)
| | - Gunn Hildrestrand
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet, 0424 Oslo, Norway; (L.L.); (G.H.)
| | - Karine Bjørås
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7028 Trondheim, Norway; (J.Y.); (K.B.)
| | - Katja Scheffler
- Department of Neurology, St. Olavs Hospital, 7006 Trondheim, Norway;
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, 7006 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Magnar Bjørås
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7028 Trondheim, Norway; (J.Y.); (K.B.)
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet, 0424 Oslo, Norway; (L.L.); (G.H.)
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