1
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Bonanno SL, Sanfilippo P, Eamani A, Sampson MM, Kandagedon B, Li K, Burns GD, Makar ME, Zipursky SL, Krantz DE. Constitutive and Conditional Epitope Tagging of Endogenous G-Protein-Coupled Receptors in Drosophila. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2377232024. [PMID: 38937100 PMCID: PMC11326870 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2377-23.2024] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
To visualize the cellular and subcellular localization of neuromodulatory G-protein-coupled receptors in Drosophila, we implement a molecular strategy recently used to add epitope tags to ionotropic receptors at their endogenous loci. Leveraging evolutionary conservation to identify sites more likely to permit insertion of a tag, we generated constitutive and conditional tagged alleles for Drosophila 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, Oct β 1R, Oct β 2R, two isoforms of OAMB, and mGluR The conditional alleles allow for the restricted expression of tagged receptor in specific cell types, an option not available for any previous reagents to label these proteins. We show expression patterns for these receptors in female brains and that 5-HT1A and 5-HT2B localize to the mushroom bodies (MBs) and central complex, respectively, as predicted by their roles in sleep. By contrast, the unexpected enrichment of Octβ1R in the central complex and of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A to nerve terminals in lobular columnar cells in the visual system suggest new hypotheses about their functions at these sites. Using an additional tagged allele of the serotonin transporter, a marker of serotonergic tracts, we demonstrate diverse spatial relationships between postsynaptic 5-HT receptors and presynaptic 5-HT neurons, consistent with the importance of both synaptic and volume transmission. Finally, we use the conditional allele of 5-HT1A to show that it localizes to distinct sites within the MBs as both a postsynaptic receptor in Kenyon cells and a presynaptic autoreceptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivan L Bonanno
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Piero Sanfilippo
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Aditya Eamani
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Maureen M Sampson
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Binu Kandagedon
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Kenneth Li
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Giselle D Burns
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Marylyn E Makar
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - S Lawrence Zipursky
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - David E Krantz
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
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2
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Valencia ML, Sofela FA, Jongens TA, Sehgal A. Do metabolic deficits contribute to sleep disruption in monogenic intellectual disability syndromes? Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:583-592. [PMID: 39054162 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.06.006] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Intellectual disability is defined as limitations in cognitive and adaptive behavior that often arise during development. Disordered sleep is common in intellectual disability and, given the importance of sleep for cognitive function, it may contribute to other behavioral phenotypes. Animal models of intellectual disability, in particular of monogenic intellectual disability syndromes (MIDS), recapitulate many disease phenotypes and have been invaluable for linking some of these phenotypes to specific molecular pathways. An emerging feature of MIDS, in both animal models and humans, is the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities, which could be relevant for behavior. Focusing on specific MIDS that have been molecularly characterized, we review sleep, circadian, and metabolic phenotypes in animal models and humans and propose that altered metabolic state contributes to the abnormal sleep/circadian phenotypes in MIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariela Lopez Valencia
- Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman Medical School of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Folasade A Sofela
- Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman Medical School of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Thomas A Jongens
- Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman Medical School of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amita Sehgal
- Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman Medical School of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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3
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Sudhahar S, Ozer B, Chang J, Chadwick W, O'Donovan D, Campbell A, Tulip E, Thompson N, Roberts I. An experimentally validated approach to automated biological evidence generation in drug discovery using knowledge graphs. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5703. [PMID: 38977662 PMCID: PMC11231212 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50024-6] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Explaining predictions for drug repositioning with biological knowledge graphs is a challenging problem. Graph completion methods using symbolic reasoning predict drug treatments and associated rules to generate evidence representing the therapeutic basis of the drug. Yet the vast amounts of generated paths that are biologically irrelevant or not mechanistically meaningful within the context of disease biology can limit utility. We use a reinforcement learning based knowledge graph completion model combined with an automatic filtering approach that produces the most relevant rules and biological paths explaining the predicted drug's therapeutic connection to the disease. In this work we validate the approach against preclinical experimental data for Fragile X syndrome demonstrating strong correlation between automatically extracted paths and experimentally derived transcriptional changes of selected genes and pathways of drug predictions Sulindac and Ibudilast. Additionally, we show it reduces the number of generated paths in two case studies, 85% for Cystic fibrosis and 95% for Parkinson's disease.
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4
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Stewart RK, Nguyen P, Laederach A, Volkan PC, Sawyer JK, Fox DT. Orb2 enables rare-codon-enriched mRNA expression during Drosophila neuron differentiation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5270. [PMID: 38902233 PMCID: PMC11190236 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48344-8] [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: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulation of codon optimality is an increasingly appreciated layer of cell- and tissue-specific protein expression control. Here, we use codon-modified reporters to show that differentiation of Drosophila neural stem cells into neurons enables protein expression from rare-codon-enriched genes. From a candidate screen, we identify the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) protein Orb2 as a positive regulator of rare-codon-dependent mRNA stability in neurons. Using RNA sequencing, we reveal that Orb2-upregulated mRNAs in the brain with abundant Orb2 binding sites have a rare-codon bias. From these Orb2-regulated mRNAs, we demonstrate that rare-codon enrichment is important for mRNA stability and social behavior function of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR). Our findings reveal a molecular mechanism by which neural stem cell differentiation shifts genetic code regulation to enable critical mRNA stability and protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeccah K Stewart
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Regeneration Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Patrick Nguyen
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Jessica K Sawyer
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Regeneration Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Donald T Fox
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Duke Regeneration Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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5
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Gregor A, Zweier C. Modelling phenotypes, variants and pathomechanisms of syndromic diseases in different systems. MED GENET-BERLIN 2024; 36:121-131. [PMID: 38854643 PMCID: PMC11154186 DOI: 10.1515/medgen-2024-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
In this review we describe different model organisms and systems that are commonly used to study syndromic disorders. Different use cases in modeling diseases, underlying pathomechanisms and specific effects of certain variants are elucidated. We also highlight advantages and limitations of different systems. Models discussed include budding yeast, the nematode worm, the fruit fly, the frog, zebrafish, mice and human cell-based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Gregor
- University of BernDepartment of Human GeneticsInselspital Bern3010BernSwitzerland
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6
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Tran H, Le L, Singh BN, Kramer J, Steward R. Tet controls axon guidance in early brain development through glutamatergic signaling. iScience 2024; 27:109634. [PMID: 38655199 PMCID: PMC11035372 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins are associated with human neurodevelopmental disorders. We find a function of Tet in regulating Drosophila early brain development. The Tet DNA-binding domain (TetAXXC) is required for axon guidance in the mushroom body (MB). Glutamine synthetase 2 (Gs2), a key enzyme in glutamatergic signaling, is significantly down-regulated in the TetAXXC brains. Loss of Gs2 recapitulates the TetAXXC phenotype. Surprisingly, Tet and Gs2 act in the insulin-producing cells (IPCs) to control MB axon guidance, and overexpression of Gs2 in IPCs rescues the defects of TetAXXC. Feeding TetAXXC with metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist MPEP rescues the phenotype while glutamate enhances it. Mutants in Tet and Drosophila Fmr1, the homolog of human FMR1, have similar defects, and overexpression of Gs2 in IPCs also rescues the Fmr1 phenotype. We provide the first evidence that Tet controls the guidance of developing brain axons by modulating glutamatergic signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiep Tran
- Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Le Le
- Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Badri Nath Singh
- Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Joseph Kramer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Ruth Steward
- Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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7
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Stahl A, Tomchik SM. Modeling neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders in the Drosophila mushroom body. Learn Mem 2024; 31:a053816. [PMID: 38876485 PMCID: PMC11199955 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053816.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
The common fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster provides a powerful platform to investigate the genetic, molecular, cellular, and neural circuit mechanisms of behavior. Research in this model system has shed light on multiple aspects of brain physiology and behavior, from fundamental neuronal function to complex behaviors. A major anatomical region that modulates complex behaviors is the mushroom body (MB). The MB integrates multimodal sensory information and is involved in behaviors ranging from sensory processing/responses to learning and memory. Many genes that underlie brain disorders are conserved, from flies to humans, and studies in Drosophila have contributed significantly to our understanding of the mechanisms of brain disorders. Genetic mutations that mimic human diseases-such as Fragile X syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease-affect MB structure and function, altering behavior. Studies dissecting the effects of disease-causing mutations in the MB have identified key pathological mechanisms, and the development of a complete connectome promises to add a comprehensive anatomical framework for disease modeling. Here, we review Drosophila models of human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders via the effects of their underlying mutations on MB structure, function, and the resulting behavioral alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Stahl
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
| | - Seth M Tomchik
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
- Hawk-IDDRC, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
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8
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Chan ICW, Chen N, Hernandez J, Meltzer H, Park A, Stahl A. Future avenues in Drosophila mushroom body research. Learn Mem 2024; 31:a053863. [PMID: 38862172 PMCID: PMC11199946 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053863.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
How does the brain translate sensory information into complex behaviors? With relatively small neuronal numbers, readable behavioral outputs, and an unparalleled genetic toolkit, the Drosophila mushroom body (MB) offers an excellent model to address this question in the context of associative learning and memory. Recent technological breakthroughs, such as the freshly completed full-brain connectome, multiomics approaches, CRISPR-mediated gene editing, and machine learning techniques, led to major advancements in our understanding of the MB circuit at the molecular, structural, physiological, and functional levels. Despite significant progress in individual MB areas, the field still faces the fundamental challenge of resolving how these different levels combine and interact to ultimately control the behavior of an individual fly. In this review, we discuss various aspects of MB research, with a focus on the current knowledge gaps, and an outlook on the future methodological developments required to reach an overall view of the neurobiological basis of learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivy Chi Wai Chan
- Dynamics of Neuronal Circuits Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Developmental Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nannan Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - John Hernandez
- Neuroscience Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA
| | - Hagar Meltzer
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Annie Park
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Stahl
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
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9
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Fang M, Deibler SK, Krishnamurthy PM, Wang F, Rodriguez P, Banday S, Virbasius CM, Sena-Esteves M, Watts JK, Green MR. EZH2 inhibition reactivates epigenetically silenced FMR1 and normalizes molecular and electrophysiological abnormalities in fragile X syndrome neurons. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1348478. [PMID: 38449737 PMCID: PMC10915284 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1348478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a neurological disorder caused by epigenetic silencing of the FMR1 gene. Reactivation of FMR1 is a potential therapeutic approach for FXS that would correct the root cause of the disease. Here, using a candidate-based shRNA screen, we identify nine epigenetic repressors that promote silencing of FMR1 in FXS cells (called FMR1 Silencing Factors, or FMR1- SFs). Inhibition of FMR1-SFs with shRNAs or small molecules reactivates FMR1 in cultured undifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cells, neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and post-mitotic neurons derived from FXS patients. One of the FMR1-SFs is the histone methyltransferase EZH2, for which an FDA-approved small molecule inhibitor, EPZ6438 (also known as tazemetostat), is available. We show that EPZ6438 substantially corrects the characteristic molecular and electrophysiological abnormalities of cultured FXS neurons. Unfortunately, EZH2 inhibitors do not efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier, limiting their therapeutic use for FXS. Recently, antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-based approaches have been developed as effective treatment options for certain central nervous system disorders. We therefore derived efficacious ASOs targeting EZH2 and demonstrate that they reactivate FMR1 expression and correct molecular and electrophysiological abnormalities in cultured FXS neurons, and reactivate FMR1 expression in human FXS NPCs engrafted within the brains of mice. Collectively, our results establish EZH2 inhibition in general, and EZH2 ASOs in particular, as a therapeutic approach for FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minggang Fang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Sara K. Deibler
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | | | - Feng Wang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Paola Rodriguez
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Shahid Banday
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Ching-Man Virbasius
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Miguel Sena-Esteves
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Jonathan K. Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Michael R. Green
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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10
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Weisz ED, Fenton AR, Jongens TA. PGC-1α integrates insulin signaling with mitochondrial physiology and behavior in a Drosophila model of Fragile X Syndrome. NPJ METABOLIC HEALTH AND DISEASE 2024; 2:2. [PMID: 38741938 PMCID: PMC11090494 DOI: 10.1038/s44324-024-00004-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most prevalent monogenetic form of intellectual disability and autism. Recently, dysregulation of insulin signaling (IS) and aberrations in mitochondrial function have emerged as robust, evolutionarily conserved components of FXS pathophysiology. However, the mechanisms by which altered IS and mitochondrial dysfunction impact behavior in the context of FXS remain elusive. Here, we show that normalization of IS improves mitochondrial volume and function in flies that lack expression of dfmr1, the Drosophila homolog of the causal gene of FXS in humans. Further, we demonstrate that dysregulation of IS underlies diminished expression of the mitochondrial master regulator PGC-1α/Spargel in dfmr1 mutant flies. These results are behaviorally relevant, as we show that pan-neuronal augmentation of PGC-1α/Spargel improves circadian behavior in dfmr1 mutants. Notably, we also show that modulation of PGC-1α/Spargel expression in wild-type flies phenocopies the dfmr1 mutant circadian defect. Taken together, the results presented herein provide a mechanistic link between mitochondrial function and circadian behavior both in FXS pathogenesis as well as more broadly at the interface between metabolism and behavioral output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana D. Weisz
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Adam R. Fenton
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Thomas A. Jongens
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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11
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Bonanno SL, Sanfilippo P, Eamani A, Sampson MM, Binu K, Li K, Burns GD, Makar ME, Zipursky SL, Krantz DE. Constitutive and conditional epitope-tagging of endogenous G protein coupled receptors in Drosophila. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.27.573472. [PMID: 38234787 PMCID: PMC10793450 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.27.573472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
To visualize the cellular and subcellular localization of neuromodulatory G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in Drosophila , we implement a molecular strategy recently used to add epitope tags to ionotropic receptors at their endogenous loci. Leveraging evolutionary conservation to identify sites more likely to permit insertion of a tag, we generated constitutive and conditional tagged alleles for Drosophila 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, Octβ1R, Octβ2R, two isoforms of OAMB, and mGluR. The conditional alleles allow for the restricted expression of tagged receptor in specific cell types, an option not available for any previous reagents to label these proteins. We show that 5-HT1A and 5-HT2B localize to the mushroom bodies and central complex respectively, as predicted by their roles in sleep. By contrast, the unexpected enrichment of Octβ1R in the central complex and of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A to nerve terminals in lobular columnar cells in the visual system suggest new hypotheses about their function at these sites. Using an additional tagged allele of the serotonin transporter, a marker of serotonergic tracts, we demonstrate diverse spatial relationships between postsynaptic 5-HT receptors and presynaptic 5-HT neurons, consistent with the importance of both synaptic and volume transmission. Finally, we use the conditional allele of 5-HT1A to show that it localizes to distinct sites within the mushroom bodies as both a postsynaptic receptor in Kenyon cells and a presynaptic autoreceptor. Significance Statement In Drosophila , despite remarkable advances in both connectomic and genomic studies, antibodies to many aminergic GPCRs are not available. We have overcome this obstacle using evolutionary conservation to identify loci in GPCRs amenable to epitope-tagging, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to generated eight novel lines. This method also may be applied to other GPCRs and allows cell-specific expression of the tagged locus. We have used the tagged alleles we generated to address several questions that remain poorly understood. These include the relationship between pre- and post-synaptic sites that express the same receptor, and the use of relatively distant targets by pre-synaptic release sites that may employ volume transmission as well as standard synaptic signaling.
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12
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Yamazaki D, Maeyama Y, Tabata T. Combinatory Actions of Co-transmitters in Dopaminergic Systems Modulate Drosophila Olfactory Memories. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8294-8305. [PMID: 37429719 PMCID: PMC10711700 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2152-22.2023] [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: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine neurons (DANs) are extensively studied in the context of associative learning, in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In the acquisition of male and female Drosophila olfactory memory, the PAM cluster of DANs provides the reward signal, and the PPL1 cluster of DANs sends the punishment signal to the Kenyon cells (KCs) of mushroom bodies, the center for memory formation. However, thermo-genetical activation of the PPL1 DANs after memory acquisition impaired aversive memory, and that of the PAM DANs impaired appetitive memory. We demonstrate that the knockdown of glutamate decarboxylase, which catalyzes glutamate conversion to GABA in PAM DANs, potentiated the appetitive memory. In addition, the knockdown of glutamate transporter in PPL1 DANs potentiated aversive memory, suggesting that GABA and glutamate co-transmitters act in an inhibitory manner in olfactory memory formation. We also found that, in γKCs, the Rdl receptor for GABA and the mGluR DmGluRA mediate the inhibition. Although multiple-spaced training is required to form long-term aversive memory, a single cycle of training was sufficient to develop long-term memory when the glutamate transporter was knocked down, in even a single subset of PPL1 DANs. Our results suggest that the mGluR signaling pathway may set a threshold for memory acquisition to allow the organisms' behaviors to adapt to changing physiological conditions and environments.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In the acquisition of olfactory memory in Drosophila, the PAM cluster of dopamine neurons (DANs) mediates the reward signal, while the PPL1 cluster of DANs conveys the punishment signal to the Kenyon cells of the mushroom bodies, which serve as the center for memory formation. We found that GABA co-transmitters in the PAM DANs and glutamate co-transmitters in the PPL1 DANs inhibit olfactory memory formation. Our findings demonstrate that long-term memory acquisition, which typically necessitates multiple-spaced training sessions to establish aversive memory, can be triggered with a single training cycle in cases where the glutamate co-transmission is inhibited, even within a single subset of PPL1 DANs, suggesting that the glutamate co-transmission may modulate the threshold for memory acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Yamazaki
- Institute of Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Yuko Maeyama
- Institute of Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tabata
- Institute of Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
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13
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Milla LA, Corral L, Rivera J, Zuñiga N, Pino G, Nunez-Parra A, Cea-Del Rio CA. Neurodevelopment and early pharmacological interventions in Fragile X Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1213410. [PMID: 37599992 PMCID: PMC10433175 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1213410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder and the leading monogenic cause of autism and intellectual disability. For years, several efforts have been made to develop an effective therapeutic approach to phenotypically rescue patients from the disorder, with some even advancing to late phases of clinical trials. Unfortunately, none of these attempts have completely succeeded, bringing urgency to further expand and refocus research on FXS therapeutics. FXS arises at early stages of postnatal development due to the mutation and transcriptional silencing of the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 gene (FMR1) and consequent loss of the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein (FMRP) expression. Importantly, FMRP expression is critical for the normal adult nervous system function, particularly during specific windows of embryogenic and early postnatal development. Cellular proliferation, migration, morphology, axonal guidance, synapse formation, and in general, neuronal network establishment and maturation are abnormally regulated in FXS, underlying the cognitive and behavioral phenotypes of the disorder. In this review, we highlight the relevance of therapeutically intervening during critical time points of development, such as early postnatal periods in infants and young children and discuss past and current clinical trials in FXS and their potential to specifically target those periods. We also discuss potential benefits, limitations, and disadvantages of these pharmacological tools based on preclinical and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A. Milla
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lucia Corral
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatologia, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jhanpool Rivera
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatologia, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nolberto Zuñiga
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatologia, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gabriela Pino
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatologia, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexia Nunez-Parra
- Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Cell Physiology Center, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian A. Cea-Del Rio
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatologia, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Stewart RK, Nguyen P, Laederach A, Volkan PC, Sawyer JK, Fox DT. Orb2 enables rare-codon-enriched mRNA expression during Drosophila neuron differentiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.26.550700. [PMID: 37546801 PMCID: PMC10402044 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.26.550700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Regulation of codon optimality is an increasingly appreciated layer of cell- and tissue-specific protein expression control. Here, we use codon-modified reporters to show that differentiation of Drosophila neural stem cells into neurons enables protein expression from rare-codon-enriched genes. From a candidate screen, we identify the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) protein Orb2 as a positive regulator of rare-codon-dependent expression in neurons. Using RNA sequencing, we reveal that Orb2-upregulated mRNAs in the brain with abundant Orb2 binding sites have a rare-codon bias. From these Orb2-regulated mRNAs, we demonstrate that rare-codon enrichment is important for expression control and social behavior function of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR). Our findings reveal a molecular mechanism by which neural stem cell differentiation shifts genetic code regulation to enable critical mRNA and protein expression.
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Tran H, Le L, Singh BN, Kramer J, Steward R. Tet Controls Axon Guidance in Early Brain Development through Glutamatergic Signaling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.02.539069. [PMID: 37398066 PMCID: PMC10312521 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.02.539069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in human TET proteins have been found in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. Here we report a new function of Tet in regulating Drosophila early brain development. We found that mutation in the Tet DNA-binding domain ( Tet AXXC ) resulted in axon guidance defects in the mushroom body (MB). Tet is required in early brain development during the outgrowth of MB β axons. Transcriptomic study shows that glutamine synthetase 2 (Gs2), a key enzyme in glutamatergic signaling, is significantly downregulated in the Tet AXXC mutant brains. CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis or RNAi knockdown of Gs2 recapitulates the Tet AXXC mutant phenotype. Surprisingly, Tet and Gs2 act in the insulin-producing cells (IPCs) to control MB axon guidance, and overexpression of Gs2 in these cells rescues the axon guidance defects of Tet AXXC . Treating Tet AXXC with the metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist MPEP can rescue while treating with glutamate enhances the phenotype confirming Tet function in regulating glutamatergic signaling. Tet AXXC and the Drosophila homolog of Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein protein mutant ( Fmr1 3 ) have similar axon guidance defects and reduction in Gs2 mRNA levels. Interestingly, overexpression of Gs2 in the IPCs also rescues the Fmr1 3 phenotype, suggesting functional overlapping of the two genes. Our studies provide the first evidence that Tet can control the guidance of axons in the developing brain by modulating glutamatergic signaling and the function is mediated by its DNA-binding domain.
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16
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Puglisi-Allegra S, Lazzeri G, Busceti CL, Giorgi FS, Biagioni F, Fornai F. Lithium engages autophagy for neuroprotection and neuroplasticity: translational evidence for therapy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 148:105148. [PMID: 36996994 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Here an overview is provided on therapeutic/neuroprotective effects of Lithium (Li+) in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders focusing on the conspicuous action of Li+ through autophagy. The effects on the autophagy machinery remain the key molecular mechanisms to explain the protective effects of Li+ for neurodegenerative diseases, offering potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and emphasizes a crossroad linking autophagy, neurodegenerative disorders, and mood stabilization. Sensitization by psychostimulants points to several mechanisms involved in psychopathology, most also crucial in neurodegenerative disorders. Evidence shows the involvement of autophagy and metabotropic Glutamate receptors-5 (mGluR5) in neurodegeneration due to methamphetamine neurotoxicity as well as in neuroprotection, both in vitro and in vivo models. More recently, Li+ was shown to modulate autophagy through its action on mGluR5, thus pointing to an additional way of autophagy engagement by Li+ and to a substantial role of mGluR5 in neuroprotection related to neural e neuropsychiatry diseases. We propose Li+ engagement of autophagy through the canonical mechanisms of autophagy machinery and through the intermediary of mGluR5.
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17
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Cabana-Domínguez J, Antón-Galindo E, Fernàndez-Castillo N, Singgih EL, O'Leary A, Norton WH, Strekalova T, Schenck A, Reif A, Lesch KP, Slattery D, Cormand B. The translational genetics of ADHD and related phenotypes in model organisms. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 144:104949. [PMID: 36368527 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104949] [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: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from the interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors. It is well known that ADHD co-occurs frequently with other psychiatric disorders due, in part, to shared genetics factors. Although many studies have contributed to delineate the genetic landscape of psychiatric disorders, their specific molecular underpinnings are still not fully understood. The use of animal models can help us to understand the role of specific genes and environmental stimuli-induced epigenetic modifications in the pathogenesis of ADHD and its comorbidities. The aim of this review is to provide an overview on the functional work performed in rodents, zebrafish and fruit fly and highlight the generated insights into the biology of ADHD, with a special focus on genetics and epigenetics. We also describe the behavioral tests that are available to study ADHD-relevant phenotypes and comorbid traits in these models. Furthermore, we have searched for new models to study ADHD and its comorbidities, which can be useful to test potential pharmacological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Cabana-Domínguez
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Ester Antón-Galindo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Noèlia Fernàndez-Castillo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Euginia L Singgih
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Aet O'Leary
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany; Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - William Hg Norton
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Tatyana Strekalova
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany, and Department of Neuropsychology and Psychiatry, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Center of Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany, and Department of Neuropsychology and Psychiatry, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - David Slattery
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Bru Cormand
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IR-SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
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18
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Johnson D, Clark C, Hagerman R. Targeted Treatments for Fragile X Syndrome. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 30:225-253. [PMID: 36928853 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-21054-9_10] [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: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
The histories of targeted treatment trials in fragile X syndrome (FXS) are reviewed in animal studies and human trials. Advances in understanding the neurobiology of FXS have identified a number of pathways that are dysregulated in the absence of FMRP and are therefore pathways that can be targeted with new medication. The utilization of quantitative outcome measures to assess efficacy in multiple studies has improved the quality of more recent trials. Current treatment trials including the use of cannabidiol (CBD) topically and metformin orally have positive preliminary data, and both of these medications are available clinically. The use of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE4D), BPN1440, which raised the level of cAMP that is low in FXS has very promising results for improving cognition in adult males who underwent a controlled trial. There are many more targeted treatments that will undergo trials in FXS, so the future looks bright for new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon Johnson
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Courtney Clark
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Randi Hagerman
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
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19
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Trajković J, Makevic V, Pesic M, Pavković-Lučić S, Milojevic S, Cvjetkovic S, Hagerman R, Budimirovic DB, Protic D. Drosophila melanogaster as a Model to Study Fragile X-Associated Disorders. Genes (Basel) 2022; 14:genes14010087. [PMID: 36672829 PMCID: PMC9859539 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a global neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the expansion of CGG trinucleotide repeats (≥200) in the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1) gene. FXS is the hallmark of Fragile X-associated disorders (FXD) and the most common monogenic cause of inherited intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. There are several animal models used to study FXS. In the FXS model of Drosophila, the only ortholog of FMR1, dfmr1, is mutated so that its protein is missing. This model has several relevant phenotypes, including defects in the circadian output pathway, sleep problems, memory deficits in the conditioned courtship and olfactory conditioning paradigms, deficits in social interaction, and deficits in neuronal development. In addition to FXS, a model of another FXD, Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), has also been established in Drosophila. This review summarizes many years of research on FXD in Drosophila models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Trajković
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vedrana Makevic
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milica Pesic
- Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Sara Milojevic
- Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Smiljana Cvjetkovic
- Department of Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Randi Hagerman
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Dejan B. Budimirovic
- Department of Psychiatry, Fragile X Clinic, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences-Child Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Dragana Protic
- Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Correspondence:
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20
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Niescier RF, Lin YC. The Potential Role of AMPA Receptor Trafficking in Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Conditions. Neuroscience 2021; 479:180-191. [PMID: 34571086 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted condition associated with difficulties in social interaction and communication. It also shares several comorbidities with other neurodevelopmental conditions. Intensive research examining the molecular basis and characteristics of ASD has revealed an association with a large number and variety of low-penetrance genes. Many of the variants associated with ASD are in genes underlying pathways involved in long-term potentiation (LTP) or depression (LTD). These mechanisms then control the tuning of neuronal connections in response to experience by modifying and trafficking ionotropic glutamate receptors at the post-synaptic areas. Despite the high genetic heterogeneity in ASD, surface trafficking of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-Methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) receptor is a vulnerable pathway in ASD. In this review, we discuss autism-related alterations in the trafficking of AMPA receptors, whose surface density and composition at the post-synapse determine the strength of the excitatory connection between neurons. We highlight genes associated with neurodevelopmental conditions that share the autism comorbidity, including Fragile X syndrome, Rett Syndrome, and Tuberous Sclerosis, as well as the autism-risk genes NLGNs, IQSEC2, DOCK4, and STXBP5, all of which are involved in regulating AMPAR trafficking to the post-synaptic surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert F Niescier
- Program in Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Yu-Chih Lin
- Program in Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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21
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Lin R, Learman LN, Bangash MA, Melnikova T, Leyder E, Reddy SC, Naidoo N, Park JM, Savonenko A, Worley PF. Homer1a regulates Shank3 expression and underlies behavioral vulnerability to stress in a model of Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110014. [PMID: 34788607 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations of SHANK3 cause Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS), and these individuals can exhibit sensitivity to stress, resulting in behavioral deterioration. Here, we examine the interaction of stress with genotype using a mouse model with face validity to PMS. In Shank3ΔC/+ mice, swim stress produces an altered transcriptomic response in pyramidal neurons that impacts genes and pathways involved in synaptic function, signaling, and protein turnover. Homer1a, which is part of the Shank3-mGluR-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex, is super-induced and is implicated in the stress response because stress-induced social deficits in Shank3ΔC/+ mice are mitigated in Shank3ΔC/+;Homer1a-/- mice. Several lines of evidence demonstrate that Shank3 expression is regulated by Homer1a in competition with crosslinking forms of Homer, and consistent with this model, Shank3 expression and function that are reduced in Shank3ΔC/+ mice are rescued in Shank3ΔC/+;Homer1a-/- mice. Studies highlight the interaction between stress and genetics and focus attention on activity-dependent changes that may contribute to pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raozhou Lin
- Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Lisa N Learman
- Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - M Ali Bangash
- Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Molecular Nociception Group, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Tatiana Melnikova
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Erica Leyder
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Sai C Reddy
- Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Nirinjini Naidoo
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Joo Min Park
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon 34126, Republic of Korea; University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
| | - Alena Savonenko
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Paul F Worley
- Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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22
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Westmark PR, Garrone B, Ombrato R, Milanese C, Di Giorgio FP, Westmark CJ. Testing Fmr1 KO Phenotypes in Response to GSK3 Inhibitors: SB216763 versus AFC03127. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:751307. [PMID: 34690696 PMCID: PMC8529056 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.751307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is a proline-directed serine-threonine kinase that is associated with several neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and fragile X syndrome (FXS). We tested the efficacy of a novel GSK3 inhibitor AFC03127, which was developed by Angelini Pharma, in comparison to the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 inhibitor 2-Methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine hydrochloride (MPEP) and the GSK3 inhibitor SB216763 in in vivo and in vitro assays in Fmr1KO mice, a mouse model useful for the study of FXS. The in vivo assay tested susceptibility to audiogenic-induced seizures (AGS) whereas the in vitro assays assessed biomarker expression and dendritic spine length and density in cultured primary neurons as a function of drug dose. MPEP and SB216763 attenuated AGS in Fmr1KO mice, whereas AFC03127 did not. MPEP and AFC03127 significantly reduced dendritic expression of amyloid-beta protein precursor (APP). All drugs rescued spine length and the ratio of mature dendritic spines. Spine density was not statistically different between vehicle and GSK3 inhibitor-treated cells. The drugs were tested over a wide concentration range in the in vitro assays to determine dose responses. A bell-shaped dose response decrease in APP expression was observed in response to AFC03127, which was more effective than SB216763. These findings confirm previous studies demonstrating differential effects of various GSK3 inhibitors on AGS propensity in Fmr1KO mice and confirm APP as a downstream biomarker that is responsive to GSK3 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela R Westmark
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Cara J Westmark
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States.,Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
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23
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A white paper on a neurodevelopmental framework for drug discovery in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 48:49-88. [PMID: 33781629 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In the last decade there has been a revolution in terms of genetic findings in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), with many discoveries critical for understanding their aetiology and pathophysiology. Clinical trials in single-gene disorders such as fragile X syndrome highlight the challenges of investigating new drug targets in NDDs. Incorporating a developmental perspective into the process of drug development for NDDs could help to overcome some of the current difficulties in identifying and testing new treatments. This paper provides a summary of the proceedings of the 'New Frontiers Meeting' on neurodevelopmental disorders organised by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology in conjunction with the Innovative Medicines Initiative-sponsored AIMS-2-TRIALS consortium. It brought together experts in developmental genetics, autism, NDDs, and clinical trials from academia and industry, regulators, patient and family associations, and other stakeholders. The meeting sought to provide a platform for focused communication on scientific insights, challenges, and methodologies that might be applicable to the development of CNS treatments from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Multidisciplinary translational consortia to develop basic and clinical research in parallel could be pivotal to advance knowledge in the field. Although implementation of clinical trials for NDDs in paediatric populations is widely acknowledged as essential, safety concerns should guide each aspect of their design. Industry and academia should join forces to improve knowledge of the biology of brain development, identify the optimal timing of interventions, and translate these findings into new drugs, allowing for the needs of users and families, with support from regulatory agencies.
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24
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Dysregulated CRMP Mediates Circadian Deficits in a Drosophila Model of Fragile X Syndrome. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:973-984. [PMID: 33856646 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00682-z] [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: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading inherited cause of intellectual disability, resulting from the lack of functional fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an mRNA binding protein mainly serving as a translational regulator. Loss of FMRP leads to dysregulation of target mRNAs. The Drosophila model of FXS show an abnormal circadian rhythm with disruption of the output pathway downstream of the clock network. Yet the FMRP targets involved in circadian regulation have not been identified. Here, we identified collapsing response mediator protein (CRMP) mRNA as a target of FMRP. Knockdown of pan-neuronal CRMP expression ameliorated the circadian defects and abnormal axonal structures of clock neurons (ventral lateral neurons) in dfmr1 mutant flies. Furthermore, specific reduction of CRMP in the downstream output insulin-producing cells attenuated the aberrant circadian behaviors. Molecular analyses revealed that FMRP binds with CRMP mRNA and negatively regulates its translation. Our results indicate that CRMP is an FMRP target and establish an essential role for CRMP in the circadian output in FXS Drosophila.
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25
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Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster males reduce courtship behaviour after mating failure. In the lab, such conditioned courtship suppression, aka 'courtship conditioning', serves as a complex learning and memory assay. Interestingly, variations in the courtship conditioning assay can establish different types of memory. Here, we review research investigating the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms that allow male flies to form memories of previous mating failures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Raun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Spencer Jones
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jamie M Kramer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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26
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Carvajal-Oliveros A, Campusano JM. Studying the Contribution of Serotonin to Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Can This Fly? Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 14:601449. [PMID: 33510625 PMCID: PMC7835640 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.601449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin is a biogenic amine that acts as neurotransmitter in different brain regions and is involved in complex behaviors, such as aggression or mood regulation. Thus, this amine is found in defined circuits and activates specific receptors in different target regions. Serotonin actions depend on extracellular levels of this amine, which are regulated by its synthetic enzymes and the plasma membrane transporter, SERT. Serotonin acts also as a neurotrophic signal in ontogeny and in the mature brain, controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, neurogenesis, and neural plasticity. Interestingly, early alterations in serotonergic signaling have been linked to a diversity of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or mental illnesses like schizophrenia or depression. It has been proposed that given the complex and numerous actions of serotonin, animal models could better serve to study the complexity of serotonin actions, while providing insights on how hindering serotonergic signaling could contribute to brain disorders. In this mini-review, it will be examined what the general properties of serotonin acting as a neurotransmitter in animals are, and furthermore, whether it is possible that Drosophila could be used to study the contribution of this amine to neurodevelopmental and mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Carvajal-Oliveros
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Jorge M Campusano
- Laboratorio Neurogenética de la Conducta, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia UC, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers Rescue Memory Defects in Drosophila-Expressing Alzheimer's Disease-Related Transgenes Independently of the Canonical Renin Angiotensin System. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0235-20.2020. [PMID: 33060184 PMCID: PMC7768280 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0235-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disorder that causes progressive memory and cognitive decline. Recently, studies have reported that inhibitors of the mammalian renin angiotensin system (RAS) result in a significant reduction in the incidence and progression of AD by unknown mechanisms. Here, we used a genetic and pharmacological approach to evaluate the beneficial effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in Drosophila expressing AD-related transgenes. Importantly, while ACE orthologs have been identified in Drosophila, other RAS components are not conserved. We show that captopril, an ACE-I, and losartan, an ARB, can suppress a rough eye phenotype and brain cell death in flies expressing a mutant human C99 transgene. Captopril also significantly rescues memory defects in these flies. Similarly, both drugs reduce cell death in Drosophila expressing human Aβ42 and losartan significantly rescues memory deficits. However, neither drug affects production, accumulation or clearance of Aβ42 Importantly, neither drug rescued brain cell death in Drosophila expressing human Tau, suggesting that RAS inhibitors specifically target the amyloid pathway. Of note, we also observed reduced cell death and a complete rescue of memory deficits when we crossed a null mutation in Drosophila Acer into each transgenic line demonstrating that the target of captopril in Drosophila is Acer. Together, these studies demonstrate that captopril and losartan are able to modulate AD related phenotypes in the absence of the canonical RAS pathway and suggest that both drugs have additional targets that can be identified in Drosophila.
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28
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Nguyen U, Tinsley B, Sen Y, Stein J, Palacios Y, Ceballos A, Welch C, Nzenkue K, Penn A, Murphy L, Leodones K, Casiquin J, Ivory I, Ghenta K, Danziger K, Widman E, Newman J, Triplehorn M, Hindi Z, Mulligan K. Exposure to bisphenol A differentially impacts neurodevelopment and behavior in Drosophila melanogaster from distinct genetic backgrounds. Neurotoxicology 2020; 82:146-157. [PMID: 33309840 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous environmental chemical that has been linked to behavioral differences in children and shown to impact critical neurodevelopmental processes in animal models. Though data is emerging, we still have an incomplete picture of how BPA disrupts neurodevelopment; in particular, how its impacts may vary across different genetic backgrounds. Given the genetic tractability of Drosophila melanogaster, they present a valuable model to address this question. Fruit flies are increasingly being used for assessment of neurotoxicants because of their relatively simple brain structure and variety of measurable behaviors. Here we investigated the neurodevelopmental impacts of BPA across two genetic strains of Drosophila-w1118 (control) and the Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) model-by examining both behavioral and neuronal phenotypes. We show that BPA induces hyperactivity in larvae, increases repetitive grooming behavior in adults, reduces courtship behavior, impairs axon guidance in the mushroom body, and disrupts neural stem cell development in the w1118 genetic strain. Remarkably, for every behavioral and neuronal phenotype examined, the impact of BPA in FXS flies was either insignificant or contrasted with the phenotypes observed in the w1118 strain. This data indicates that the neurodevelopmental impacts of BPA can vary widely depending on genetic background and suggests BPA may elicit a gene-environment interaction with Drosophila fragile X mental retardation 1 (dFmr1)-the ortholog of human FMR1, which causes Fragile X Syndrome and is associated with autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Nguyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - B Tinsley
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - Y Sen
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - J Stein
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - Y Palacios
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - A Ceballos
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - C Welch
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - K Nzenkue
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - A Penn
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - L Murphy
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - K Leodones
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - J Casiquin
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - I Ivory
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - K Ghenta
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - K Danziger
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - E Widman
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - J Newman
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - M Triplehorn
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - Z Hindi
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States
| | - K Mulligan
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, United States.
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29
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Moulin TC, Covill LE, Itskov PM, Williams MJ, Schiöth HB. Rodent and fly models in behavioral neuroscience: An evaluation of methodological advances, comparative research, and future perspectives. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 120:1-12. [PMID: 33242563 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of behavioral outcomes is a central component of neuroscientific research, which has required continuous technological innovations to produce more detailed and reliable findings. In this article, we provide an in-depth review on the progress and future implications for three model organisms (mouse, rat, and Drosophila) essential to our current understanding of behavior. By compiling a comprehensive catalog of popular assays, we are able to compare the diversity of tasks and usage of these animal models in behavioral research. This compilation also allows for the evaluation of existing state-of-the-art methods and experimental applications, including optogenetics, machine learning, and high-throughput behavioral assays. We go on to discuss novel apparatuses and inter-species analyses for centrophobism, feeding behavior, aggression and mating paradigms, with the goal of providing a unique view on comparative behavioral research. The challenges and recent advances are evaluated in terms of their translational value, ethical procedures, and trustworthiness for behavioral research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago C Moulin
- Functional Pharmacology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Laura E Covill
- Functional Pharmacology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pavel M Itskov
- Functional Pharmacology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Michael J Williams
- Functional Pharmacology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helgi B Schiöth
- Functional Pharmacology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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30
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Smolen P, Wood MA, Baxter DA, Byrne JH. Modeling suggests combined-drug treatments for disorders impairing synaptic plasticity via shared signaling pathways. J Comput Neurosci 2020; 49:37-56. [PMID: 33175283 DOI: 10.1007/s10827-020-00771-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Genetic disorders such as Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) and Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) cause lifelong cognitive disability, including deficits in learning and memory. Can pharmacological therapies be suggested that improve learning and memory in these disorders? To address this question, we simulated drug effects within a computational model describing induction of late long-term potentiation (L-LTP). Biochemical pathways impaired in these and other disorders converge on a common target, histone acetylation by acetyltransferases such as CREB binding protein (CBP), which facilitates gene induction necessary for L-LTP. We focused on four drug classes: tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) agonists, cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and ampakines. Simulations suggested each drug type alone may rescue deficits in L-LTP. A potential disadvantage, however, was the necessity of simulating strong drug effects (high doses), which could produce adverse side effects. Thus, we investigated the effects of six drug pairs among the four classes described above. These combination treatments normalized impaired L-LTP with substantially smaller individual drug 'doses'. In addition three of these combinations, a TrkB agonist paired with an ampakine and a cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor paired with a TrkB agonist or an ampakine, exhibited strong synergism in L-LTP rescue. Therefore, we suggest these drug combinations are promising candidates for further empirical studies in animal models of genetic disorders that impair histone acetylation, L-LTP, and learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Smolen
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, W.M. Keck Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, McGovern Medical School of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Marcelo A Wood
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Douglas A Baxter
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, W.M. Keck Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, McGovern Medical School of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - John H Byrne
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, W.M. Keck Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, McGovern Medical School of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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31
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Andrew DR, Moe ME, Chen D, Tello JA, Doser RL, Conner WE, Ghuman JK, Restifo LL. Spontaneous motor-behavior abnormalities in two Drosophila models of neurodevelopmental disorders. J Neurogenet 2020; 35:1-22. [PMID: 33164597 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2020.1833005] [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
Mutations in hundreds of genes cause neurodevelopmental disorders with abnormal motor behavior alongside cognitive deficits. Boys with fragile X syndrome (FXS), a leading monogenic cause of intellectual disability, often display repetitive behaviors, a core feature of autism. By direct observation and manual analysis, we characterized spontaneous-motor-behavior phenotypes of Drosophila dfmr1 mutants, an established model for FXS. We recorded individual 1-day-old adult flies, with mature nervous systems and prior to the onset of aging, in small arenas. We scored behavior using open-source video-annotation software to generate continuous activity timelines, which were represented graphically and quantitatively. Young dfmr1 mutants spent excessive time grooming, with increased bout number and duration; both were rescued by transgenic wild-type dfmr1+. By two grooming-pattern measures, dfmr1-mutant flies showed elevated repetitions consistent with perseveration, which is common in FXS. In addition, the mutant flies display a preference for grooming posterior body structures, and an increased rate of grooming transitions from one site to another. We raise the possibility that courtship and circadian rhythm defects, previously reported for dfmr1 mutants, are complicated by excessive grooming. We also observed significantly increased grooming in CASK mutants, despite their dramatically decreased walking phenotype. The mutant flies, a model for human CASK-related neurodevelopmental disorders, displayed consistently elevated grooming indices throughout the assay, but transient locomotory activation immediately after placement in the arena. Based on published data identifying FMRP-target transcripts and functional analyses of mutations causing human genetic neurodevelopmental disorders, we propose the following proteins as candidate mediators of excessive repetitive behaviors in FXS: CaMKIIα, NMDA receptor subunits 2A and 2B, NLGN3, and SHANK3. Together, these fly-mutant phenotypes and mechanistic insights provide starting points for drug discovery to identify compounds that reduce dysfunctional repetitive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Andrew
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA, USA
| | - Mariah E Moe
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Dailu Chen
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Judith A Tello
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Rachel L Doser
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - William E Conner
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Jaswinder K Ghuman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Linda L Restifo
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,BIO5 Interdisciplinary Research Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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32
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Kulkarni A, Lopez DH, Extavour CG. Shared Cell Biological Functions May Underlie Pleiotropy of Molecular Interactions in the Germ Lines and Nervous Systems of Animals. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
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33
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Lien W, Chen Y, Li Y, Wu J, Huang K, Lin J, Lin S, Hou C, Wang H, Wu C, Huang S, Chan C. Lifespan regulation in α/β posterior neurons of the fly mushroom bodies by Rab27. Aging Cell 2020; 19:e13179. [PMID: 32627932 PMCID: PMC7431830 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain function has been implicated to control the aging process and modulate lifespan. However, continuous efforts remain for the identification of the minimal sufficient brain region and the underlying mechanism for neuronal regulation of longevity. Here, we show that the Drosophila lifespan is modulated by rab27 functioning in a small subset of neurons of the mushroom bodies (MB), a brain structure that shares analogous functions with mammalian hippocampus and hypothalamus. Depleting rab27 in the α/βp neurons of the MB is sufficient to extend lifespan, enhance systemic stress responses, and alter energy homeostasis, all without trade‐offs in major life functions. Within the α/βp neurons, rab27KO causes the mislocalization of phosphorylated S6K thus attenuates TOR signaling, resulting in decreased protein synthesis and reduced neuronal activity. Consistently, expression of dominant‐negative S6K in the α/βp neurons increases lifespan. Furthermore, the expression of phospho‐mimetic S6 in α/βp neurons of rab27KO rescued local protein synthesis and reversed lifespan extension. These findings demonstrate that inhibiting TOR‐mediated protein synthesis in α/βp neurons is sufficient to promote longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen‐Yu Lien
- Graduate Institute of Physiology College of Medicine National Taiwan University Taipei Taiwan
| | - Yu‐Ting Chen
- Graduate Institute of Physiology College of Medicine National Taiwan University Taipei Taiwan
| | - Yi‐Jhan Li
- Graduate Institute of Physiology College of Medicine National Taiwan University Taipei Taiwan
| | - Jie‐Kai Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences College of Medicine Chang Gung University Taoyuan Taiwan
| | - Kuan‐Lin Huang
- Graduate Institute of Physiology College of Medicine National Taiwan University Taipei Taiwan
| | - Jian‐Rong Lin
- Graduate Institute of Physiology College of Medicine National Taiwan University Taipei Taiwan
| | - Shih‐Ching Lin
- Graduate Institute of Physiology College of Medicine National Taiwan University Taipei Taiwan
| | - Chia‐Chun Hou
- Graduate Institute of Physiology College of Medicine National Taiwan University Taipei Taiwan
| | - Horng‐Dar Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology National Tsing Hua University Hsinchu Taiwan
| | - Chia‐Lin Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences College of Medicine Chang Gung University Taoyuan Taiwan
- Department of Neurology Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Taoyuan Taiwan
| | - Shu‐Yi Huang
- Department of Medical Research National Taiwan University Hospital Taipei Taiwan
| | - Chih‐Chiang Chan
- Graduate Institute of Physiology College of Medicine National Taiwan University Taipei Taiwan
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34
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Mariano V, Achsel T, Bagni C, Kanellopoulos AK. Modelling Learning and Memory in Drosophila to Understand Intellectual Disabilities. Neuroscience 2020; 445:12-30. [PMID: 32730949 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) include a large number of conditions such as Fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorders and Down syndrome, among others. They are characterized by limitations in adaptive and social behaviors, as well as intellectual disability (ID). Whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing studies have highlighted a large number of NDD/ID risk genes. To dissect the genetic causes and underlying biological pathways, in vivo experimental validation of the effects of these mutations is needed. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is an ideal model to study NDDs, with highly tractable genetics, combined with simple behavioral and circuit assays, permitting rapid medium-throughput screening of NDD/ID risk genes. Here, we review studies where the use of well-established assays to study mechanisms of learning and memory in Drosophila has permitted insights into molecular mechanisms underlying IDs. We discuss how technologies in the fly model, combined with a high degree of molecular and physiological conservation between flies and mammals, highlight the Drosophila system as an ideal model to study neurodevelopmental disorders, from genetics to behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Mariano
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1005, Switzerland; Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Tilmann Achsel
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1005, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Bagni
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1005, Switzerland; Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy.
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35
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McCamphill PK, Stoppel LJ, Senter RK, Lewis MC, Heynen AJ, Stoppel DC, Sridhar V, Collins KA, Shi X, Pan JQ, Madison J, Cottrell JR, Huber KM, Scolnick EM, Holson EB, Wagner FF, Bear MF. Selective inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3α corrects pathophysiology in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Sci Transl Med 2020; 12:eaam8572. [PMID: 32434848 PMCID: PMC8095719 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aam8572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome is caused by FMR1 gene silencing and loss of the encoded fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), which binds to mRNA and regulates translation. Studies in the Fmr1-/y mouse model of fragile X syndrome indicate that aberrant cerebral protein synthesis downstream of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) signaling contributes to disease pathogenesis, but clinical trials using mGluR5 inhibitors were not successful. Animal studies suggested that treatment with lithium might be an alternative approach. Targets of lithium include paralogs of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), and nonselective small-molecule inhibitors of these enzymes improved disease phenotypes in a fragile X syndrome mouse model. However, the potential therapeutic use of GSK3 inhibitors has been hampered by toxicity arising from inhibition of both α and β paralogs. Recently, we developed GSK3 inhibitors with sufficient paralog selectivity to avoid a known toxic consequence of dual inhibition, that is, increased β-catenin stabilization. We show here that inhibition of GSK3α, but not GSK3β, corrected aberrant protein synthesis, audiogenic seizures, and sensory cortex hyperexcitability in Fmr1-/y mice. Although inhibiting either paralog prevented induction of NMDA receptor-dependent long-term depression (LTD) in the hippocampus, only inhibition of GSK3α impaired mGluR5-dependent and protein synthesis-dependent LTD. Inhibition of GSK3α additionally corrected deficits in learning and memory in Fmr1-/y mice; unlike mGluR5 inhibitors, there was no evidence of tachyphylaxis or enhanced psychotomimetic-induced hyperlocomotion. GSK3α selective inhibitors may have potential as a therapeutic approach for treating fragile X syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick K McCamphill
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Laura J Stoppel
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Rebecca K Senter
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Michael C Lewis
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Arnold J Heynen
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - David C Stoppel
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Vinay Sridhar
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Neuroscience, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Katie A Collins
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Xi Shi
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jen Q Pan
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jon Madison
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Cottrell
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kimberly M Huber
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Neuroscience, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Edward M Scolnick
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Edward B Holson
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Florence F Wagner
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Mark F Bear
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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36
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A standardized method for incorporation of drugs into food for use with Drosophila melanogaster. Anal Biochem 2020; 599:113740. [PMID: 32320689 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.113740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
With any in vivo model, diet plays an important role, even in an organism as simple as the fruit fly - Drosophila melanogaster. Flies serve as good surrogates to study human diseases as approximately 77% of human disease genes are orthologous in the fly. Though breeding and caring for fruit flies is simple, the use of this organism in drug discovery is wide-ranging, especially in the administration of drugs to flies, via their food. We present a standard method for preparing fly food containing drugs for administration to Drosophila melanogaster, from a chemist's perspective.
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37
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The Ubiquitin System: a Regulatory Hub for Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:2179-2193. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-01881-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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38
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Serway CN, Dunkelberger BS, Del Padre D, Nolan NWC, Georges S, Freer S, Andres AJ, de Belle JS. Importin-α2 mediates brain development, learning and memory consolidation in Drosophila. J Neurogenet 2020; 34:69-82. [PMID: 31965871 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2019.1709184] [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: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal development and memory consolidation are conserved processes that rely on nuclear-cytoplasmic transport of signaling molecules to regulate gene activity and initiate cascades of downstream cellular events. Surprisingly, few reports address and validate this widely accepted perspective. Here we show that Importin-α2 (Imp-α2), a soluble nuclear transporter that shuttles cargoes between the cytoplasm and nucleus, is vital for brain development, learning and persistent memory in Drosophila melanogaster. Mutations in importin-α2 (imp-α2, known as Pendulin or Pen and homologous with human KPNA2) are alleles of mushroom body miniature B (mbmB), a gene known to regulate aspects of brain development and influence adult behavior in flies. Mushroom bodies (MBs), paired associative centers in the brain, are smaller than normal due to defective proliferation of specific intrinsic Kenyon cell (KC) neurons in mbmB mutants. Extant KCs projecting to the MB β-lobe terminate abnormally on the contralateral side of the brain. mbmB adults have impaired olfactory learning but normal memory decay in most respects, except that protein synthesis-dependent long-term memory (LTM) is abolished. This observation supports an alternative mechanism of persistent memory in which mutually exclusive protein-synthesis-dependent and -independent forms rely on opposing cellular mechanisms or circuits. We propose a testable model of Imp-α2 and nuclear transport roles in brain development and conditioned behavior. Based on our molecular characterization, we suggest that mbmB is hereafter referred to as imp-α2mbmB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine N Serway
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Brian S Dunkelberger
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA.,Las Vegas High School, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Denise Del Padre
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Nicole W C Nolan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA.,Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Stephanie Georges
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Stephanie Freer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA.,Research Square Inc, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Andrew J Andres
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - J Steven de Belle
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA.,Department of Psychological Sciences, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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39
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Medishetti R, Rani R, Kavati S, Mahilkar A, Akella V, Saxena U, Kulkarni P, Sevilimedu A. A DNAzyme based knockdown model for Fragile-X syndrome in zebrafish reveals a critical window for therapeutic intervention. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2019; 101:106656. [PMID: 31734279 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2019.106656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION FXS is the leading cause of intellectual disabilities in males and a major monogenic cause of ASD (Autism spectrum disorders). It occurs due to the loss of FMRP, whose role in early development is not well understood. In this study, we have used a novel DNAzyme based approach to create a larval model of FXS in zebrafish with specific focus on the early developmental window. METHODS Fmr1specific DNAzymes were electroporated into embryos to create the knockdown. Changes in RNA and protein levels of FMRP and relevant biomarkers were measured in the 0-7dpf window. Behavioral tests to measure anxiety, cognitive impairments and irritability in the larvae were conducted at the 7dpf stage. Drug treatment was carried out at various time points in the 0-7dpf window to identify the critical window for pharmacological intervention. RESULTS The DNAzyme based knockdown approach led to a significant knockdown of FMRP in the zebrafish embryos, accompanied by increased anxiety, irritability and cognitive impairments at 7dpf, thus creating a robust larval model of FXS. Treatment with the Mavoglurant was able to rescue the behavioral phenotypes in the FXS larvae, and found to be more efficacious in the 0-3dpf window. DISCUSSION The results from this study have revealed that a) a DNAzyme based knockdown approach can be used to create robust larval zebrafish model of disease, in a high-throughput manner and b) optimal window for therapeutic intervention for FXS as well as other pediatric diseases with a monogenic cause can be identified using such a model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavender Medishetti
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India
| | - Rita Rani
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India
| | - Srinivas Kavati
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India
| | - Anjali Mahilkar
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India
| | - Venkateswarlu Akella
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India
| | - Uday Saxena
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India
| | - Pushkar Kulkarni
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India.
| | - Aarti Sevilimedu
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India.
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Shim KH, Kim SH, Hur J, Kim DH, Demirev AV, Yoon SY. Small-molecule drug screening identifies drug Ro 31-8220 that reduces toxic phosphorylated tau in Drosophila melanogaster. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 130:104519. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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Fenckova M, Blok LER, Asztalos L, Goodman DP, Cizek P, Singgih EL, Glennon JC, IntHout J, Zweier C, Eichler EE, von Reyn CR, Bernier RA, Asztalos Z, Schenck A. Habituation Learning Is a Widely Affected Mechanism in Drosophila Models of Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 86:294-305. [PMID: 31272685 PMCID: PMC7053436 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although habituation is one of the most ancient and fundamental forms of learning, its regulators and its relevance for human disease are poorly understood. METHODS We manipulated the orthologs of 286 genes implicated in intellectual disability (ID) with or without comorbid autism spectrum disorder (ASD) specifically in Drosophila neurons, and we tested these models in light-off jump habituation. We dissected neuronal substrates underlying the identified habituation deficits and integrated genotype-phenotype annotations, gene ontologies, and interaction networks to determine the clinical features and molecular processes that are associated with habituation deficits. RESULTS We identified >100 genes required for habituation learning. For 93 of these genes, a role in habituation learning was previously unknown. These genes characterize ID disorders with macrocephaly and/or overgrowth and comorbid ASD. Moreover, individuals with ASD from the Simons Simplex Collection carrying damaging de novo mutations in these genes exhibit increased aberrant behaviors associated with inappropriate, stereotypic speech. At the molecular level, ID genes required for normal habituation are enriched in synaptic function and converge on Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (Ras/MAPK) signaling. Both increased Ras/MAPK signaling in gamma-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) neurons and decreased Ras/MAPK signaling in cholinergic neurons specifically inhibit the adaptive habituation response. CONCLUSIONS Our work supports the relevance of habituation learning to ASD, identifies an unprecedented number of novel habituation players, supports an emerging role for inhibitory neurons in habituation, and reveals an opposing, circuit-level-based mechanism for Ras/MAPK signaling. These findings establish habituation as a possible, widely applicable functional readout and target for pharmacologic intervention in ID/ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Fenckova
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Laura E R Blok
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lenke Asztalos
- Aktogen Limited, Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Aktogen Hungary Limited, Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Limited for Applied Research, Institute for Biotechnology, Szeged, Hungary
| | - David P Goodman
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Pavel Cizek
- Centre for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Euginia L Singgih
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joanna IntHout
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Christiane Zweier
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Evan E Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Catherine R von Reyn
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Zoltan Asztalos
- Aktogen Limited, Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Aktogen Hungary Limited, Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Limited for Applied Research, Institute for Biotechnology, Szeged, Hungary; Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Bellosta P, Soldano A. Dissecting the Genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Drosophila Perspective. Front Physiol 2019; 10:987. [PMID: 31481894 PMCID: PMC6709880 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex group of multi-factorial developmental disorders that leads to communication and behavioral defects. Genetic alterations have been identified in around 20% of ASD patients and the use of genetic models, such as Drosophila melanogaster, has been of paramount importance in deciphering the significance of these alterations. In fact, many of the ASD associated genes, such as FMR1, Neurexin, Neuroligins and SHANK encode for proteins that have conserved functions in neurons and during synapse development, both in humans and in the fruit fly. Drosophila is a prominent model in neuroscience due to the conserved genetic networks that control neurodevelopmental processes and to the ease of manipulating its genetics. In the present review we will describe recent advances in the field of ASD with a particular focus on the characterization of genes where the use of Drosophila has been fundamental to better understand their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Bellosta
- Laboratory of Metabolism of Cell Growth and Neuronal Survival, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBio), University of Trento, Trento, Italy.,Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alessia Soldano
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBio), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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Bodaleo F, Tapia-Monsalves C, Cea-Del Rio C, Gonzalez-Billault C, Nunez-Parra A. Structural and Functional Abnormalities in the Olfactory System of Fragile X Syndrome Models. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:135. [PMID: 31191246 PMCID: PMC6548058 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited form of intellectual disability. It is produced by mutation of the Fmr1 gene that encodes for the Fragile Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), an important RNA-binding protein that regulates the expression of multiple proteins located in neuronal synapses. Individuals with FXS exhibit abnormal sensory information processing frequently leading to hypersensitivity across sensory modalities and consequently a wide array of behavioral symptoms. Insects and mammals engage primarily their sense of smell to create proper representations of the external world and guide adequate decision-making processes. This feature in combination with the exquisitely organized neuronal circuits found throughout the olfactory system (OS) and the wide expression of FMRP in brain regions that process olfactory information makes it an ideal model to study sensory alterations in FXS models. In the last decade several groups have taken advantage of these features and have used the OS of fruit fly and rodents to understand neuronal alteration giving rise to sensory perception issues. In this review article, we will discuss molecular, morphological and physiological aspects of the olfactory information processing in FXS models. We will highlight the decreased inhibitory/excitatory synaptic balance and the diminished synaptic plasticity found in this system resulting in behavioral alteration of individuals in the presence of odorant stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Bodaleo
- Laboratory of Cellular and Neuronal Dynamics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Christian Cea-Del Rio
- Laboratory of Neurophysiopathology, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica y Aplicada (CIBAP), School of Medicine, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Gonzalez-Billault
- Laboratory of Cellular and Neuronal Dynamics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), Santiago, Chile.,The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, United States
| | - Alexia Nunez-Parra
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Cell Physiology Center, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Kang H, Zhao J, Jiang X, Li G, Huang W, Cheng H, Duan R. Drosophila Netrin-B controls mushroom body axon extension and regulates courtship-associated learning and memory of a Drosophila fragile X syndrome model. Mol Brain 2019; 12:52. [PMID: 31138234 PMCID: PMC6540430 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-019-0472-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mushroom body (MB) is a prominent structure essential for olfactory learning and memory in the Drosophila brain. The development of the MB involves the appropriate guidance of axon lobes and sister axon branches. Appropriate guidance that accurately shapes MB development requires the integration of various guidance cues provided by a series of cell types, which guide axons to reach their final positions within the MB neuropils. Netrins are axonal guidance molecules that are conserved regulators of embryonic nerve cord patterning. However, whether they contribute to MB morphogenesis has not yet been evaluated. Here, we find that Netrin-B (NetB) is highly expressed in the MB lobes, regulating lobe length through genetic interactions with the receptors Frazzled and Uncoordinated-5 from 24 h after pupal formation onwards. We observe that overexpression of NetB causes severe β lobe fusion in the MB, which is similar to the MB defects seen in the Drosophila model of fragile X syndrome (FXS). Our results further show that fragile-X mental retardation protein FMRP inhibits the translational activity of human ortholog Netrin-1 (NTN1). Knock-down of NetB significantly rescues the MB defects and ameliorates deficits in the learning and memory in FXS model Drosophila. These results indicate a critical role for NetB in MB lobe extension and identify NetB as a novel target of FMRP which contributes to learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaixing Kang
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Juan Zhao
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Xuan Jiang
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Guangxu Li
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Wen Huang
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Huili Cheng
- Changchun Children' Hospital, Changchun, 130000, Jilin, China.
| | - Ranhui Duan
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China.
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45
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The Drosophila Chromodomain Protein Kismet Activates Steroid Hormone Receptor Transcription to Govern Axon Pruning and Memory In Vivo. iScience 2019; 16:79-93. [PMID: 31153043 PMCID: PMC6543131 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Axon pruning is critical for sculpting precise neural circuits. Although axon pruning has been described in the literature for decades, relatively little is known about the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern axon pruning in vivo. Here, we show that the epigenetic reader Kismet (Kis) is required for developmental axon pruning in Drosophila mushroom bodies. Kis binds to cis-regulatory elements of the steroid hormone receptor ecdysone receptor (ecr) gene and is necessary for activating expression of EcR-B1. Kis promotes the active H3K36 di- and tri-methylation and H4K16 acetylation histone marks at the ecr locus. We show that transgenic EcR-B1 can rescue axon pruning and memory defects associated with loss of Kis and that the histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA also rescues these phenotypes. EcR protein abundance is the cell-autonomous, rate-limiting step required to initiate axon pruning in Drosophila, and our data suggest this step is under the epigenetic control of Kis.
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46
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Coll-Tané M, Krebbers A, Castells-Nobau A, Zweier C, Schenck A. Intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders 'on the fly': insights from Drosophila. Dis Model Mech 2019; 12:dmm039180. [PMID: 31088981 PMCID: PMC6550041 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.039180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are frequently co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders and affect 2-3% of the population. Rapid advances in exome and genome sequencing have increased the number of known implicated genes by threefold, to more than a thousand. The main challenges in the field are now to understand the various pathomechanisms associated with this bewildering number of genetic disorders, to identify new genes and to establish causality of variants in still-undiagnosed cases, and to work towards causal treatment options that so far are available only for a few metabolic conditions. To meet these challenges, the research community needs highly efficient model systems. With an increasing number of relevant assays and rapidly developing novel methodologies, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is ideally positioned to change gear in ID and ASD research. The aim of this Review is to summarize some of the exciting work that already has drawn attention to Drosophila as a model for these disorders. We highlight well-established ID- and ASD-relevant fly phenotypes at the (sub)cellular, brain and behavioral levels, and discuss strategies of how this extraordinarily efficient and versatile model can contribute to 'next generation' medical genomics and to a better understanding of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Coll-Tané
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alina Krebbers
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Castells-Nobau
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Christiane Zweier
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Zafarullah M, Tassone F. Molecular Biomarkers in Fragile X Syndrome. Brain Sci 2019; 9:E96. [PMID: 31035599 PMCID: PMC6562871 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9050096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited form of intellectual disability (ID) and a known monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is a trinucleotide repeat disorder, in which more than 200 CGG repeats in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene causes methylation of the promoter with consequent silencing of the gene, ultimately leading to the loss of the encoded fragile X mental retardation 1 protein, FMRP. FMRP is an RNA binding protein that plays a primary role as a repressor of translation of various mRNAs, many of which are involved in the maintenance and development of neuronal synaptic function and plasticity. In addition to intellectual disability, patients with FXS face several behavioral challenges, including anxiety, hyperactivity, seizures, repetitive behavior, and problems with executive and language performance. Currently, there is no cure or approved medication for the treatment of the underlying causes of FXS, but in the past few years, our knowledge about the proteins and pathways that are dysregulated by the loss of FMRP has increased, leading to clinical trials and to the path of developing molecular biomarkers for identifying potential targets for therapies. In this paper, we review candidate molecular biomarkers that have been identified in preclinical studies in the FXS mouse animal model and are now under validation for human applications or have already made their way to clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Zafarullah
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, 95817 CA, USA.
| | - Flora Tassone
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, 95817 CA, USA.
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, 95817 CA, USA.
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Pal R, Bhattacharya A. Modelling Protein Synthesis as A Biomarker in Fragile X Syndrome Patient-Derived Cells. Brain Sci 2019; 9:E59. [PMID: 30862080 PMCID: PMC6468675 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9030059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The most conserved molecular phenotype of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is aberrant protein synthesis. This has been validated in a variety of experimental model systems from zebrafish to rats, patient-derived lymphoblasts and fibroblasts. With the advent of personalized medicine paradigms, patient-derived cells and their derivatives are gaining more translational importance, not only to model disease in a dish, but also for biomarker discovery. Here we review past and current practices of measuring protein synthesis in FXS, studies in patient derived cells and the inherent challenges in measuring protein synthesis in them to offer usable avenues of modeling this important metabolic metric for further biomarker development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakhi Pal
- Centre for Brain Development and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, GKVK Post, Bellary Road, Bengaluru 560065, India.
| | - Aditi Bhattacharya
- Centre for Brain Development and Repair, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, GKVK Post, Bellary Road, Bengaluru 560065, India.
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49
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Cusumano P, Damulewicz M, Carbognin E, Caccin L, Puricella A, Specchia V, Bozzetti MP, Costa R, Mazzotta GM. The RNA Helicase BELLE Is Involved in Circadian Rhythmicity and in Transposons Regulation in Drosophila melanogaster. Front Physiol 2019; 10:133. [PMID: 30842743 PMCID: PMC6392097 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Circadian clocks control and synchronize biological rhythms of several behavioral and physiological phenomena in most, if not all, organisms. Rhythm generation relies on molecular auto-regulatory oscillations of interlocked transcriptional-translational feedback loops. Rhythmic clock-gene expression is at the base of rhythmic protein accumulation, though post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms have evolved to adjust and consolidate the proper pace of the clock. In Drosophila, BELLE, a conserved DEAD-box RNA helicase playing important roles in reproductive capacity, is involved in the small RNA-mediated regulation associated to the piRNA pathway. Here, we report that BELLE is implicated in the circadian rhythmicity and in the regulation of endogenous transposable elements (TEs) in both nervous system and gonads. We suggest that BELLE acts as important element in the piRNA-mediated regulation of the TEs and raise the hypothesis that this specific regulation could represent another level of post-transcriptional control adopted by the clock to ensure the proper rhythmicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Cusumano
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Milena Damulewicz
- Department of Cell Biology and Imaging, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Laura Caccin
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Antonietta Puricella
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Valeria Specchia
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Bozzetti
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Costa
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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50
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Specchia V, Puricella A, D'Attis S, Massari S, Giangrande A, Bozzetti MP. Drosophila melanogaster as a Model to Study the Multiple Phenotypes, Related to Genome Stability of the Fragile-X Syndrome. Front Genet 2019; 10:10. [PMID: 30815010 PMCID: PMC6381874 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragile-X syndrome is one of the most common forms of inherited mental retardation and autistic behaviors. The reduction/absence of the functional FMRP protein, coded by the X-linked Fmr1 gene in humans, is responsible for the syndrome. Patients exhibit a variety of symptoms predominantly linked to the function of FMRP protein in the nervous system like autistic behavior and mild-to-severe intellectual disability. Fragile-X (FraX) individuals also display cellular and morphological traits including branched dendritic spines, large ears, and macroorchidism. The dFmr1 gene is the Drosophila ortholog of the human Fmr1 gene. dFmr1 mutant flies exhibit synaptic abnormalities, behavioral defects as well as an altered germline development, resembling the phenotypes observed in FraX patients. Therefore, Drosophila melanogaster is considered a good model to study the physiopathological mechanisms underlying the Fragile-X syndrome. In this review, we explore how the multifaceted roles of the FMRP protein have been addressed in the Drosophila model and how the gained knowledge may open novel perspectives for understanding the molecular defects causing the disease and for identifying novel therapeutical targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Specchia
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, DiSTeBA, Università del Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Antonietta Puricella
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, DiSTeBA, Università del Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Simona D'Attis
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, DiSTeBA, Università del Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Serafina Massari
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, DiSTeBA, Università del Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Angela Giangrande
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Maria Pia Bozzetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, DiSTeBA, Università del Salento, Lecce, Italy
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