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Branigan GL, Olsen KS, Burda I, Haemmerle MW, Ho J, Venuto A, D’Antonio ND, Briggs IE, DiBenedetto AJ. Zebrafish Paralogs brd2a and brd2b Are Needed for Proper Circulatory, Excretory and Central Nervous System Formation and Act as Genetic Antagonists during Development. J Dev Biol 2021; 9:jdb9040046. [PMID: 34842711 PMCID: PMC8629005 DOI: 10.3390/jdb9040046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Brd2 belongs to the BET family of epigenetic transcriptional co-regulators that act as adaptor-scaffolds for the assembly of chromatin-modifying complexes and other factors at target gene promoters. Brd2 is a protooncogene and candidate gene for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in humans, a homeobox gene regulator in Drosophila, and a maternal-zygotic factor and cell death modulator that is necessary for normal development of the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). As two copies of Brd2 exist in zebrafish, we use antisense morpholino knockdown to probe the role of paralog Brd2b, as a comparative study to Brd2a, the ortholog of human Brd2. A deficiency in either paralog results in excess cell death and dysmorphology of the CNS, whereas only Brd2b deficiency leads to loss of circulation and occlusion of the pronephric duct. Co-knockdown of both paralogs suppresses single morphant defects, while co-injection of morpholinos with paralogous RNA enhances them, suggesting novel genetic interaction with functional antagonism. Brd2 diversification includes paralog-specific RNA variants, a distinct localization of maternal factors, and shared and unique spatiotemporal expression, providing unique insight into the evolution and potential functions of this gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory L. Branigan
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, 1501 N Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724, USA;
| | - Kelly S. Olsen
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine-Chapel Hill, 321 S Columbia St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA;
| | - Isabella Burda
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Weill Institute for Cell & Molecular Biology, Cornell University, 239 Weill Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA;
| | - Matthew W. Haemmerle
- Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Smilow Center for Translational Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Room 12-124, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Jason Ho
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Clinical Academic Building (CAB), 125 Paterson St., New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA;
| | - Alexandra Venuto
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA;
| | - Nicholas D. D’Antonio
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 1025 Walnut St. #100, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA;
| | - Ian E. Briggs
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Ave., Villanova, PA 19085, USA;
| | - Angela J. DiBenedetto
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Ave., Villanova, PA 19085, USA;
- Correspondence:
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Balasubramanian S, Raghunath A, Perumal E. Role of epigenetics in zebrafish development. Gene 2019; 718:144049. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.144049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Ireri NW, White SW, Mbwayo AW. Treating Anxiety and Social Deficits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Two Schools in Nairobi, Kenya. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:3309-3315. [PMID: 31093801 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04045-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) contributes to their functional impairment. We evaluated a cognitive-behavioral program for anxiety and social deficits in children with ASD in two schools in Nairobi City, Kenya. Parents and teachers of 40 children and adolescents with ASD (5-21 years) participated, randomized by school. The two schools were randomly assigned to either intervention (n = 20) or control (n = 20). There was a significant improvement in ASD severity as well as anxiety within the treatment group, which was not seen in the control group. These findings support the expansion of treatments for ASD core deficits and secondary problems in youth with ASD in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niceta W Ireri
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Africa International University, Nairobi, 18437-00100, Kenya.
| | - Susan W White
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA
| | - Anne W Mbwayo
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
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