1
|
Yoshimatsu S, Okahara J, Yoshie J, Igarashi Y, Nakajima R, Sanosaka T, Qian E, Sato T, Kobayashi H, Morimoto S, Kishi N, Pillis DM, Malik P, Noce T, Okano H. Generation of a tyrosine hydroxylase-2A-Cre knockin non-human primate model by homology-directed-repair-biased CRISPR genome editing. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100590. [PMID: 37714158 PMCID: PMC10545943 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Non-human primates (NHPs) are the closest animal model to humans; thus, gene engineering technology in these species holds great promise for the elucidation of higher brain functions and human disease models. Knockin (KI) gene targeting is a versatile approach to modify gene(s) of interest; however, it generally suffers from the low efficiency of homology-directed repair (HDR) in mammalian cells, especially in non-expressed gene loci. In the current study, we generated a tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-2A-Cre KI model of the common marmoset monkey (marmoset; Callithrix jacchus) using an HDR-biased CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing approach using Cas9-DN1S and RAD51. This model should enable labeling and modification of a specific neuronal lineage using the Cre-loxP system. Collectively, the current study paves the way for versatile gene engineering in NHPs, which may be a significant step toward further biomedical and preclinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sho Yoshimatsu
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Junko Okahara
- Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa 210-0821, Japan.
| | - Junko Yoshie
- Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yoko Igarashi
- Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Nakajima
- Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Sanosaka
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Emi Qian
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Tsukika Sato
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroya Kobayashi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Satoru Morimoto
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Kishi
- Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Devin M Pillis
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute (CBDI), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Punam Malik
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute (CBDI), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Division of Hematology, CBDI, CCHMC, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Toshiaki Noce
- Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako City, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Überbacher C, Obergasteiger J, Volta M, Venezia S, Müller S, Pesce I, Pizzi S, Lamonaca G, Picard A, Cattelan G, Malpeli G, Zoli M, Beccano-Kelly D, Flynn R, Wade-Martins R, Pramstaller PP, Hicks AA, Cowley SA, Corti C. Application of CRISPR/Cas9 editing and digital droplet PCR in human iPSCs to generate novel knock-in reporter lines to visualize dopaminergic neurons. Stem Cell Res 2019; 41:101656. [PMID: 31733438 PMCID: PMC7322529 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have become indispensable for disease modelling. They are an important resource to access patient cells harbouring disease-causing mutations. Derivation of midbrain dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons from hiPSCs of PD patients represents the only option to model physiological processes in a cell type that is not otherwise accessible from human patients. However, differentiation does not produce a homogenous population of DA neurons and contaminant cell types may interfere with the readout of the in vitro system. Here, we use CRISPR/Cas9 to generate novel knock-in reporter lines for DA neurons, engineered with an endogenous fluorescent tyrosine hydroxylase - enhanced green fluorescent protein (TH-eGFP) reporter. We present a reproducible knock-in strategy combined with a highly specific homologous directed repair (HDR) screening approach using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR). The knock-in cell lines that we created show a functioning fluorescent reporter system for DA neurons that are identifiable by flow cytometry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christa Überbacher
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Julia Obergasteiger
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Mattia Volta
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Serena Venezia
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Stefan Müller
- Institute of Human Genetics, Munich University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Isabella Pesce
- CIBIO - Centre for Integrative Biology, Università degli Studi di Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Sara Pizzi
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giulia Lamonaca
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Anne Picard
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giada Cattelan
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giorgio Malpeli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, Section of Surgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Michele Zoli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Dayne Beccano-Kelly
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rowan Flynn
- James Martin Stem Cell Facility, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Wade-Martins
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter P Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Andrew A Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Sally A Cowley
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; James Martin Stem Cell Facility, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Corrado Corti
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xia N, Fang F, Zhang P, Cui J, Tep-Cullison C, Hamerley T, Lee HJ, Palmer T, Bothner B, Lee JH, Pera RR. A Knockin Reporter Allows Purification and Characterization of mDA Neurons from Heterogeneous Populations. Cell Rep 2017; 18:2533-2546. [PMID: 28273465 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons from human pluripotent stem cells provides a platform for inquiry into basic and translational studies of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, heterogeneity in differentiation in vitro makes it difficult to identify mDA neurons in culture or in vivo following transplantation. Here, we report the generation of a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line with a tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-RFP (red fluorescent protein) reporter. We validated that RFP faithfully mimicked TH expression during differentiation. Use of this TH-RFP reporter cell line enabled purification of mDA-like neurons from heterogeneous cultures with subsequent characterization of neuron transcriptional and epigenetic programs (global binding profiles of H3K27ac, H3K4me1, and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine [5hmC]) at four different stages of development. We anticipate that the tools and data described here will contribute to the development of mDA neurons for applications in disease modeling and/or drug screening and cell replacement therapies for PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ninuo Xia
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Fang Fang
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Pengbo Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jun Cui
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Chhavy Tep-Cullison
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Tim Hamerley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Hyun Joo Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Theo Palmer
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Brian Bothner
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Jin Hyung Lee
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Renee Reijo Pera
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Runegaard AH, Jensen KL, Fitzpatrick CM, Dencker D, Weikop P, Gether U, Rickhag M. Preserved dopaminergic homeostasis and dopamine-related behaviour in hemizygous TH-Cre mice. Eur J Neurosci 2016; 45:121-128. [PMID: 27453291 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Revised: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cre-driver mouse lines have been extensively used as genetic tools to target and manipulate genetically defined neuronal populations by expression of Cre recombinase under selected gene promoters. This approach has greatly advanced neuroscience but interpretations are hampered by the fact that most Cre-driver lines have not been thoroughly characterized. Thus, a phenotypic characterization is of major importance to reveal potential aberrant phenotypes prior to implementation and usage to selectively inactivate or induce transgene expression. Here, we present a biochemical and behavioural assessment of the dopaminergic system in hemizygous tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-Cre mice in comparison to wild-type (WT) controls. Our data show that TH-Cre mice display preserved dopaminergic homeostasis with unaltered levels of TH and dopamine as well as unaffected dopamine turnover in striatum. TH-Cre mice also show preserved dopamine transporter expression and function supporting sustained dopaminergic transmission. In addition, TH-Cre mice demonstrate normal responses in basic behavioural paradigms related to dopaminergic signalling including locomotor activity, reward preference and anxiolytic behaviour. Our results suggest that TH-Cre mice represent a valid tool to study the dopamine system, though careful characterization must always be performed to prevent false interpretations following Cre-dependent transgene expression and manipulation of selected neuronal pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annika H Runegaard
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kathrine L Jensen
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ciarán M Fitzpatrick
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ditte Dencker
- Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry, Psychiatric Center Copenhagen and Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pia Weikop
- Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry, Psychiatric Center Copenhagen and Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Gether
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mattias Rickhag
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Apuschkin M, Stilling S, Rahbek-Clemmensen T, Sørensen G, Fortin G, Herborg Hansen F, Eriksen J, Trudeau LE, Egerod K, Gether U, Rickhag M. A novel dopamine transporter transgenic mouse line for identification and purification of midbrain dopaminergic neurons reveals midbrain heterogeneity. Eur J Neurosci 2015; 42:2438-54. [PMID: 26286107 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Revised: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Midbrain dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons are a heterogeneous cell group, composed of functionally distinct cell populations projecting to the basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex and limbic system. Despite their functional significance, the midbrain population of DAergic neurons is sparse, constituting only 20 000-30 000 neurons in mice, and development of novel tools to identify these cells is warranted. Here, a bacterial artificial chromosome mouse line [Dat1-enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)] from the Gene Expression Nervous System Atlas (GENSAT) that expresses eGFP under control of the dopamine transporter (DAT) promoter was characterized. Confocal microscopy analysis of brain sections showed strong eGFP signal reporter in midbrain regions and striatal terminals that co-localized with the DAergic markers DAT and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Thorough quantification of co-localization of the eGFP reporter signal with DAT and TH in the ventral midbrain showed that a vast majority of eGFP-expressing neurons are DAergic. Importantly, expression profiles also revealed DAergic heterogeneity when comparing substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. Dat1-eGFP mice showed neither change in synaptosomal DA uptake nor altered levels of DAT and TH in both striatum and midbrain. No behavioural difference between Dat1-eGFP and wild-type was found, suggesting that the strain is not aberrant. Finally, cell populations highly enriched in DAergic neurons can be obtained from postnatal mice by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and the sorted neurons can be cultured in vitro. The current investigation demonstrates that eGFP expression in this mouse line is selective for DAergic neurons, suggesting that the Dat1-eGFP mouse strain constitutes a promising tool for delineating new aspects of DA biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mia Apuschkin
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sara Stilling
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Troels Rahbek-Clemmensen
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gunnar Sørensen
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Guillaume Fortin
- Department of Pharmacology and Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Freja Herborg Hansen
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacob Eriksen
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Louis-Eric Trudeau
- Department of Pharmacology and Groupe de Recherche sur le Système Nerveux Central, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Kristoffer Egerod
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Section for Metabolic Receptology and Enteroendocrinology, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Gether
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mattias Rickhag
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Lundbeck Foundation Center for Biomembranes in Nanomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Complex molecular regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2014; 121:1451-81. [PMID: 24866693 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-014-1238-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine biosynthesis, is strictly controlled by several interrelated regulatory mechanisms. Enzyme synthesis is controlled by epigenetic factors, transcription factors, and mRNA levels. Enzyme activity is regulated by end-product feedback inhibition. Phosphorylation of the enzyme is catalyzed by several protein kinases and dephosphorylation is mediated by two protein phosphatases that establish a sensitive process for regulating enzyme activity on a minute-to-minute basis. Interactions between tyrosine hydroxylase and other proteins introduce additional layers to the already tightly controlled production of catecholamines. Tyrosine hydroxylase degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome coupled pathway represents yet another mechanism of regulation. Here, we revisit the myriad mechanisms that regulate tyrosine hydroxylase expression and activity and highlight their physiological importance in the control of catecholamine biosynthesis.
Collapse
|
7
|
Baron O, Förthmann B, Lee YW, Terranova C, Ratzka A, Stachowiak EK, Grothe C, Claus P, Stachowiak MK. Cooperation of nuclear fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 and Nurr1 offers new interactive mechanism in postmitotic development of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:19827-40. [PMID: 22514272 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.347831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Experiments in mice deficient for Nurr1 or expressing the dominant-negative FGF receptor (FGFR) identified orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 and FGFR1 as essential factors in development of mesencephalic dopaminergic (mDA) neurons. FGFR1 affects brain cell development by two distinct mechanisms. Activation of cell surface FGFR1 by secreted FGFs stimulates proliferation of neural progenitor cells, whereas direct integrative nuclear FGFR1 signaling (INFS) is associated with an exit from the cell cycle and neuronal differentiation. Both Nurr1 and INFS activate expression of neuronal genes, such as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis. Here, we show that nuclear FGFR1 and Nurr1 are expressed in the nuclei of developing TH-positive cells in the embryonic ventral midbrain. Both nuclear receptors were effectively co-immunoprecipitated from the ventral midbrain of FGF-2-deficient embryonic mice, which previously showed an increase of mDA neurons and enhanced nuclear FGFR1 accumulation. Immunoprecipitation and co-localization experiments showed the presence of Nurr1 and FGFR1 in common nuclear protein complexes. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated the Nurr1-mediated shift of nuclear FGFR1-EGFP mobility toward a transcriptionally active population and that both Nurr1 and FGFR1 bind to a common region in the TH gene promoter. Furthermore, nuclear FGFR1 or its 23-kDa FGF-2 ligand (FGF-2(23)) enhances Nurr1-dependent activation of the TH gene promoter. Transcriptional cooperation of FGFR1 with Nurr1 was confirmed on isolated Nurr1-binding elements. The proposed INFS/Nurr1 nuclear partnership provides a novel mechanism for TH gene regulation in mDA neurons and a potential therapeutic target in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga Baron
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lenartowski R, Goc A. Epigenetic, transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene. Int J Dev Neurosci 2011; 29:873-83. [PMID: 21803145 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2011.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2011] [Accepted: 07/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, EC 1.14.16.2) gene and protein determines the catecholamine level, which, in turn, is crucial for the organism homeostasis. The TH gene expression is regulated by near all possible regulatory mechanisms on epigenetic, transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Ongoing molecular characteristic of the TH gene reveals some of the cis and trans elements necessary for its proper expression but most of them especially these responsible for tissue specific expression remain still obscure. This review will focus on some aspects of TH regulation including spatial chromatin organization of the TH locus and TH gene, regulatory elements mediating basal, induced and cell-specific activity, transcriptional elongation, alternative TH RNA processing, and the regulation of TH RNA stability in the cell.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Lenartowski
- Nicolaus Copernicus University, Institute of General and Molecular Biology, Department of Genetics, Gagarina 9, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Molecular and cellular determinants for generating ES-cell derived dopamine neurons for cell therapy. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2009; 651:112-23. [PMID: 19731556 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-0322-8_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem (ES) cells can generate midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neuronal phenotypes in vitro and have been successfully applied to restore function in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD). How can we best integrate our growinginsight into the regulatory cascade of transcription factors guiding midbrain specification to further improve the in vitro differentiation of midbrain DA neurons for cell therapy of PD? To characterize the differentiation of authentic DA neurons in vitro, expression patterns of the numerous midbrain-characteristic markers need to be investigated. When using forced gene expression, such factors have to be closely monitored to avoid generation of nonphysiological cell types. Fluorescent markers such as Pitx3-GFP, TH-GFP, Sox1-GFP or surface antigens have proven useful for elimination of unwanted cell types by cell sorting, thereby averting tumors and increasing the DA fraction for transplantation studies. The importance of appropriate timing during application of extrinsic factors and the influence of cell-cell interactions in the dish has to be taken into account. This conceptual synopsis outlines current objectives, progress, but also challenges, in deriving midbrain DA neurons from pluripotent stem cells for clinical and scientific applications.
Collapse
|
10
|
Romano G, Macaluso M, Lucchetti C, Iacovitti L. Transcription and epigenetic profile of the promoter, first exon and first intron of the human tyrosine hydroxylase gene. J Cell Physiol 2007; 211:431-8. [PMID: 17195153 PMCID: PMC1976183 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.20949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The transcriptional and chromatin profile of the promoter, first exon and first intron of the human TH gene were analyzed in human neuroblastoma BE(2)-C-16 and human renal carcinoma 293FT cell lines. The latter is a cell culture system that is not permissive for TH gene expression, whereas the former has a 50% cell fraction that tests positive for TH. The engineering of a 6.3 kb recombinant human TH promoter revealed the presence of repressors of transcription between positions (-6,244/-194). The addition of a 1.2 kb fragment of the first intron of the human TH gene (+730/+1,653) enhanced transcriptional activity of the recombinant promoter. However, both constructs were not specific for TH-positive BE(2)-C-16 cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (Chip) analysis was carried out on BE(2)-C-16 and 293FT cells to probe sequences of promoter, first exon and first intron of the human TH gene from position (-448/+1,204). The presence of nucleosomes was observed approximately from position (-20/+473) in both cell lines. Chip analysis was then conducted to determine the acetylation of various lysine residues of H3 and H4 in both cell lines. All analyzed lysine residues of H3 and H4 were acetylated in BE(2)-C-16 cells, whereas 293FT cells tested positive for acetylation only in the external lysine residues of the histone tail. Our data are compatible with an active TH gene expression in a 50% cell fraction of BE(2)-C-16 cells. Further analysis of epigenetic programming might lead to the identification of the factors that determine TH gene expression specifically in dopaminergic neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Romano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hedlund E, Pruszak J, Ferree A, Viñuela A, Hong S, Isacson O, Kim KS. Selection of embryonic stem cell-derived enhanced green fluorescent protein-positive dopamine neurons using the tyrosine hydroxylase promoter is confounded by reporter gene expression in immature cell populations. Stem Cells 2007; 25:1126-35. [PMID: 17234989 PMCID: PMC2614084 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2006-0540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Transplantation of mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells can restore function in Parkinson disease models, but can generate teratomas. Purification of dopamine neurons derived from embryonic stem cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) could provide a functional cell population for transplantation while eliminating the risk of teratoma formation. Here we used the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) promoter to drive enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) expression in mES cells. First, we evaluated 2.5-kilobase (kb) and 9-kb TH promoter fragments and showed that clones generated using the 9-kb fragment produced significantly more eGFP+/TH+ neurons. We selected the 9-kb TH clone with the highest eGFP/TH overlap for further differentiation, FACS, and transplantation experiments. Grafts contained large numbers of eGFP+ dopamine neurons of an appropriate phenotype. However, there were also numerous eGFP+ cells that did not express TH and did not have a neuronal morphology. In addition, we found cells in the grafts representing all three germ layers. Based on these findings, we examined the expression of stem cell markers in our eGFP+ population. We found that a majority of eGFP+ cells were stage-specific embryonic antigen-positive (SSEA-1+) and that the genetically engineered clones contained more SSEA-1+ cells after differentiation than the original D3 mES cells. By negative selection of SSEA-1, we could isolate a neuronal eGFP+ population of high purity. These results illustrate the complexity of using genetic selection to purify mES cell-derived dopamine neurons and provide a comprehensive analysis of cell selection strategies based on tyrosine hydroxylase expression. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Hedlund
- Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center for Excellence, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratories, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
- Neuroregeneration Laboratories, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jan Pruszak
- Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center for Excellence, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
- Neuroregeneration Laboratories, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew Ferree
- Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center for Excellence, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
- Neuroregeneration Laboratories, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Angel Viñuela
- Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center for Excellence, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
- Neuroregeneration Laboratories, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sunghoi Hong
- Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center for Excellence, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
- Neuroregeneration Laboratories, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ole Isacson
- Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center for Excellence, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
- Neuroregeneration Laboratories, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kwang-Soo Kim
- Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center for Excellence, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratories, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|