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Ishchenko Y, Jeng AT, Feng S, Nottoli T, Manriquez-Rodriguez C, Nguyen KK, Carrizales MG, Vitarelli MJ, Corcoran EE, Greer CA, Myers SA, Koleske AJ. Heterozygosity for neurodevelopmental disorder-associated TRIO variants yields distinct deficits in behavior, neuronal development, and synaptic transmission in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.05.574442. [PMID: 39131289 PMCID: PMC11312463 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.05.574442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Genetic variants in TRIO are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) including schizophrenia (SCZ), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability. TRIO uses its two guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) domains to activate GTPases (GEF1: Rac1 and RhoG; GEF2: RhoA) that control neuronal development and connectivity. It remains unclear how discrete TRIO variants differentially impact these neurodevelopmental events. Here, we investigate how heterozygosity for NDD-associated Trio variants - +/K1431M (ASD), +/K1918X (SCZ), and +/M2145T (bipolar disorder, BPD) - impact mouse behavior, brain development, and synapse structure and function. Heterozygosity for different Trio variants impacts motor, social, and cognitive behaviors in distinct ways that align with clinical phenotypes in humans. Trio variants differentially impact head and brain size with corresponding changes in dendritic arbors of motor cortex layer 5 pyramidal neurons (M1 L5 PNs). Although neuronal structure was only modestly altered in the Trio variant heterozygotes, we observe significant changes in synaptic function and plasticity. We also identified distinct changes in glutamate synaptic release in +/K1431M and +/M2145T cortico-cortical synapses. The TRIO K1431M GEF1 domain has impaired ability to promote GTP exchange on Rac1, but +/K1431M mice exhibit increased Rac1 activity, associated with increased levels of the Rac1 GEF Tiam1. Acute Rac1 inhibition with NSC23766 rescued glutamate release deficits in +/K1431M variant cortex. Our work reveals that discrete NDD-associated Trio variants yield overlapping but distinct phenotypes in mice, demonstrates an essential role for Trio in presynaptic glutamate release, and underscores the importance of studying the impact of variant heterozygosity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yevheniia Ishchenko
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Amanda T Jeng
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shufang Feng
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Gerontology, The Third Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Timothy Nottoli
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Khanh K Nguyen
- Laboratory for Immunochemical Circuits, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Melissa G Carrizales
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Matthew J Vitarelli
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ellen E Corcoran
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Charles A Greer
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Samuel A Myers
- Laboratory for Immunochemical Circuits, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anthony J Koleske
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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2
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Lancaster CL, Yalamanchili PS, Goldy JN, Leung SW, Corbett AH, Moberg KH. The RNA-binding protein Nab2 regulates levels of the RhoGEF Trio to govern axon and dendrite morphology. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar109. [PMID: 38985523 PMCID: PMC11321036 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e24-04-0150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The Drosophila RNA-binding protein (RBP) Nab2 acts in neurons to regulate neurodevelopment and is orthologous to the human intellectual disability-linked RBP, ZC3H14. Nab2 governs axon projection in mushroom body neurons and limits dendritic arborization of class IV sensory neurons in part by regulating splicing events in ∼150 mRNAs. Analysis of the Sex-lethal (Sxl) mRNA revealed that Nab2 promotes an exon-skipping event and regulates m6A methylation on Sxl pre-mRNA by the Mettl3 methyltransferase. Mettl3 heterozygosity broadly rescues Nab2null phenotypes implying that Nab2 acts through similar mechanisms on other RNAs, including unidentified targets involved in neurodevelopment. Here, we show that Nab2 and Mettl3 regulate the removal of a 5'UTR (untranslated region) intron in the trio pre-mRNA. Trio utilizes two GEF domains to balance Rac and RhoGTPase activity. Intriguingly, an isoform of Trio containing only the RhoGEF domain, GEF2, is depleted in Nab2null nervous tissue. Expression of Trio-GEF2 rescues projection defects in Nab2null axons and dendrites, while the GEF1 Rac1-regulatory domain exacerbates these defects, suggesting Nab2-mediated regulation Trio-GEF activities. Collectively, these data indicate that Nab2-regulated processing of trio is critical for balancing Trio-GEF1 and -GEF2 activity and show that Nab2, Mettl3, and Trio function in a common pathway that shapes axon and dendrite morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly L. Lancaster
- Department of Biology, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA 30322
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Pranav S. Yalamanchili
- Department of Biology, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA 30322
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Jordan N. Goldy
- Department of Biology, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA 30322
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Sara W. Leung
- Department of Biology, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Anita H. Corbett
- Department of Biology, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Kenneth H. Moberg
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
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3
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Banerjee S, Vernon S, Ruchti E, Limoni G, Jiao W, Asadzadeh J, Van Campenhoudt M, McCabe BD. Trio preserves motor synapses and prolongs motor ability during aging. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114256. [PMID: 38795343 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114256] [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: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The decline of motor ability is a hallmark feature of aging and is accompanied by degeneration of motor synaptic terminals. Consistent with this, Drosophila motor synapses undergo characteristic age-dependent structural fragmentation co-incident with diminishing motor ability. Here, we show that motor synapse levels of Trio, an evolutionarily conserved guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), decline with age. We demonstrate that increasing Trio expression in adult Drosophila can abrogate age-dependent synaptic structural fragmentation, postpone the decline of motor ability, and maintain the capacity of motor synapses to sustain high-intensity neurotransmitter release. This preservative activity is conserved in transgenic human Trio, requires Trio Rac GEF function, and can also ameliorate synapse degeneration induced by depletion of miniature neurotransmission. Our results support a paradigm where the structural dissolution of motor synapses precedes and promotes motor behavioral diminishment and where intervening in this process can postpone the decline of motor function during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Banerjee
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, VD 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Vernon
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, VD 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Evelyne Ruchti
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, VD 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Greta Limoni
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, VD 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Wei Jiao
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, VD 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jamshid Asadzadeh
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, VD 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marine Van Campenhoudt
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, VD 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Brian D McCabe
- Brain Mind Institute, EPFL - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, VD 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Verpoort B, de Wit J. Cell Adhesion Molecule Signaling at the Synapse: Beyond the Scaffold. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2024; 16:a041501. [PMID: 38316556 PMCID: PMC11065171 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Synapses are specialized intercellular junctions connecting pre- and postsynaptic neurons into functional neural circuits. Synaptic cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) constitute key players in synapse development that engage in homo- or heterophilic interactions across the synaptic cleft. Decades of research have identified numerous synaptic CAMs, mapped their trans-synaptic interactions, and determined their role in orchestrating synaptic connectivity. However, surprisingly little is known about the molecular mechanisms that translate trans-synaptic adhesion into the assembly of pre- and postsynaptic compartments. Here, we provide an overview of the intracellular signaling pathways that are engaged by synaptic CAMs and highlight outstanding issues to be addressed in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Verpoort
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joris de Wit
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Khan H, Harripaul R, Mikhailov A, Herzi S, Bowers S, Ayub M, Shabbir MI, Vincent JB. Biallelic variants identified in 36 Pakistani families and trios with autism spectrum disorder. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9230. [PMID: 38649688 PMCID: PMC11035605 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57942-x] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
With its high rate of consanguineous marriages and diverse ethnic population, little is currently understood about the genetic architecture of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Pakistan. Pakistan has a highly ethnically diverse population, yet with a high proportion of endogamous marriages, and is therefore anticipated to be enriched for biallelic disease-relate variants. Here, we attempt to determine the underlying genetic abnormalities causing ASD in thirty-six small simplex or multiplex families from Pakistan. Microarray genotyping followed by homozygosity mapping, copy number variation analysis, and whole exome sequencing were used to identify candidate. Given the high levels of consanguineous marriages among these families, autosomal recessively inherited variants were prioritized, however de novo/dominant and X-linked variants were also identified. The selected variants were validated using Sanger sequencing. Here we report the identification of sixteen rare or novel coding variants in fifteen genes (ARAP1, CDKL5, CSMD2, EFCAB12, EIF3H, GML, NEDD4, PDZD4, POLR3G, SLC35A2, TMEM214, TMEM232, TRANK1, TTC19, and ZNF292) in affected members in eight of the families, including ten homozygous variants in four families (nine missense, one loss of function). Three heterozygous de novo mutations were also identified (in ARAP1, CSMD2, and NEDD4), and variants in known X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder genes CDKL5 and SLC35A2. The current study offers information on the genetic variability associated with ASD in Pakistan, and demonstrates a marked enrichment for biallelic variants over that reported in outbreeding populations. This information will be useful for improving approaches for studying ASD in populations where endogamy is commonly practiced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Khan
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development (MiND) Lab, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Islamic University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Ricardo Harripaul
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development (MiND) Lab, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anna Mikhailov
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development (MiND) Lab, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Sumayah Herzi
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development (MiND) Lab, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Sonya Bowers
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development (MiND) Lab, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | | | - Muhammad Imran Shabbir
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Islamic University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - John B Vincent
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development (MiND) Lab, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada.
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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6
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Artimagnella O, Mazzon E, Salamone S, Pollastro F, Gugliandolo A, Chiricosta L. Cannabinerol (CBNR) Influences Synaptic Genes Associated with Cytoskeleton and Ion Channels in NSC-34 Cell Line: A Transcriptomic Study. Biomedicines 2024; 12:189. [PMID: 38255294 PMCID: PMC10813620 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoids are receiving great attention as a novel approach in the treatment of cognitive and motor disabilities, which characterize neurological disorders. To date, over 100 phytocannabinoids have been extracted from Cannabis sativa, and some of them have shown neuroprotective properties and the capacity to influence synaptic transmission. In this study, we investigated the effects of a less-known phytocannabinoid, cannabinerol (CBNR), on neuronal physiology. Using the NSC-34 motor-neuron-like cell line and next-generation sequencing analysis, we discovered that CBNR influences synaptic genes associated with synapse organization and specialization, including genes related to the cytoskeleton and ion channels. Specifically, the calcium, sodium, and potassium channel subunits (Cacna1b, Cacna1c, Cacnb1, Grin1, Scn8a, Kcnc1, Kcnj9) were upregulated, along with genes related to NMDAR (Agap3, Syngap1) and calcium (Cabp1, Camkv) signaling. Moreover, cytoskeletal and cytoskeleton-associated genes (Actn2, Ina, Trio, Marcks, Bsn, Rtn4, Dgkz, Htt) were also regulated by CBNR. These findings highlight the important role played by CBNR in the regulation of synaptogenesis and synaptic transmission, suggesting the need for further studies to evaluate the neuroprotective role of CBNR in the treatment of synaptic dysfunctions that characterize motor disabilities in many neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osvaldo Artimagnella
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy (E.M.)
| | - Emanuela Mazzon
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy (E.M.)
| | - Stefano Salamone
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Largo Donegani 2, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.S.); (F.P.)
| | - Federica Pollastro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Largo Donegani 2, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.S.); (F.P.)
| | - Agnese Gugliandolo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy (E.M.)
| | - Luigi Chiricosta
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy (E.M.)
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7
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Tanaka R, Yamada K. Genomic and Reverse Translational Analysis Discloses a Role for Small GTPase RhoA Signaling in the Pathogenesis of Schizophrenia: Rho-Kinase as a Novel Drug Target. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15623. [PMID: 37958606 PMCID: PMC10648424 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is one of the most serious psychiatric disorders and is characterized by reductions in both brain volume and spine density in the frontal cortex. RhoA belongs to the RAS homolog (Rho) family and plays critical roles in neuronal development and structural plasticity via Rho-kinase. RhoA activity is regulated by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Several variants in GAPs and GEFs associated with RhoA have been reported to be significantly associated with schizophrenia. Moreover, several mouse models carrying schizophrenia-associated gene variants involved in RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling have been developed. In this review, we summarize clinical evidence showing that variants in genes regulating RhoA activity are associated with schizophrenia. In the last half of the review, we discuss preclinical evidence indicating that RhoA/Rho-kinase is a potential therapeutic target of schizophrenia. In particular, Rho-kinase inhibitors exhibit anti-psychotic-like effects not only in Arhgap10 S490P/NHEJ mice, but also in pharmacologic models of schizophrenia (methamphetamine- and MK-801-treated mice). Accordingly, we propose that Rho-kinase inhibitors may have antipsychotic effects and reduce cognitive deficits in schizophrenia despite the presence or absence of genetic variants in small GTPase signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinako Tanaka
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan;
| | - Kiyofumi Yamada
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan;
- International Center for Brain Science (ICBS), Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-1192, Japan
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8
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Jorstad NL, Song JH, Exposito-Alonso D, Suresh H, Castro-Pacheco N, Krienen FM, Yanny AM, Close J, Gelfand E, Long B, Seeman SC, Travaglini KJ, Basu S, Beaudin M, Bertagnolli D, Crow M, Ding SL, Eggermont J, Glandon A, Goldy J, Kiick K, Kroes T, McMillen D, Pham T, Rimorin C, Siletti K, Somasundaram S, Tieu M, Torkelson A, Feng G, Hopkins WD, Höllt T, Keene CD, Linnarsson S, McCarroll SA, Lelieveldt BP, Sherwood CC, Smith K, Walsh CA, Dobin A, Gillis J, Lein ES, Hodge RD, Bakken TE. Comparative transcriptomics reveals human-specific cortical features. Science 2023; 382:eade9516. [PMID: 37824638 PMCID: PMC10659116 DOI: 10.1126/science.ade9516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The cognitive abilities of humans are distinctive among primates, but their molecular and cellular substrates are poorly understood. We used comparative single-nucleus transcriptomics to analyze samples of the middle temporal gyrus (MTG) from adult humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, rhesus macaques, and common marmosets to understand human-specific features of the neocortex. Human, chimpanzee, and gorilla MTG showed highly similar cell-type composition and laminar organization as well as a large shift in proportions of deep-layer intratelencephalic-projecting neurons compared with macaque and marmoset MTG. Microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes had more-divergent expression across species compared with neurons or oligodendrocyte precursor cells, and neuronal expression diverged more rapidly on the human lineage. Only a few hundred genes showed human-specific patterning, suggesting that relatively few cellular and molecular changes distinctively define adult human cortical structure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janet H.T. Song
- Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David Exposito-Alonso
- Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hamsini Suresh
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | | | - Fenna M. Krienen
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Jennie Close
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Emily Gelfand
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Brian Long
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | | | | | - Soumyadeep Basu
- LKEB, Dept of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden, The Netherlands
- Computer Graphics and Visualization Group, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Marc Beaudin
- Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Megan Crow
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
- Stanley Institute for Cognitive Genomics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Song-Lin Ding
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Jeroen Eggermont
- LKEB, Dept of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jeff Goldy
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Katelyn Kiick
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Thomas Kroes
- LKEB, Dept of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Kimberly Siletti
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Michael Tieu
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Amy Torkelson
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Guoping Feng
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - William D. Hopkins
- Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 78602, USA
| | - Thomas Höllt
- Computer Graphics and Visualization Group, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - C. Dirk Keene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 981915, USA
| | - Sten Linnarsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Steven A. McCarroll
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Boudewijn P. Lelieveldt
- LKEB, Dept of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden, The Netherlands
- Pattern Recognition and Bioinformatics group, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Chet C. Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Kimberly Smith
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Christopher A. Walsh
- Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alexander Dobin
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Jesse Gillis
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ed S. Lein
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
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9
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Yoshida Y, Oikawa M, Shimada T, Shinomiya A, Watanabe Y. Neonatal malnutrition impacts fibroblast growth factor 21-induced neuron neurite outgrowth and growth hormone-releasing hormone secretion in neonatal mouse brain. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 676:121-131. [PMID: 37506473 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.07.041] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Neonatal malnutrition is one of the most common causes of neurological disorders. However, the mechanism of action of the factors associated with neonatal nutrition in the brain remains unclear. In this study, we focused on fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 to elucidate the effects of malnutrition on the neonatal brain. FGF21 is an endocrine factor produced by the liver during lactation which is the main source of nutrition during the neonatal period. In this study, malnourishment during nursing mice induced decreased levels of Fgf21 mRNA in the liver and decreased levels of FGF21 in the serum. RNA-seq analysis of neonatal mouse brain tissue revealed that FGF21 controlled the expression of Kalrn-201 in the neonatal mouse brain. Kalrn-201 is a transcript of Kalirin, a Ras homologous guanine nucleotide exchange factor at the synapse. In mouse neurons, FGF21 induced the expression of Kalirin-7 (a Kalirin isoform) by down-regulating Kalrn-201. FGF21-induced Kalirin-7 stimulated neurite outgrowth in Neuro-2a cells. FGF21 also induced Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) expression in Neuro-2a cells. Kalirin-7 and GHRH expression induced by FGF21 was altered by inhibiting the activity of SH2-containing tyrosine phosphatase (SHP2) which is located downstream of the FGF receptor (FGFR). Additionally, malnourished nursing induced intron retention of the SHP2 gene (Ptpn11), resulting in the alteration of Kalirin-7 and GHRH expression by FGF21 signaling. Ptpn11 intron retention is suggested to be involved in regulating SHP2 activity. Taken together, these results suggest that FGF21 plays a critical role in the induction of neuronal neurite outgrowth and GHRH secretion in the neonatal brain, and this mechanism is regulated by SHP2. Thus, Ptpn11 intron retention induced by malnourished nursing may be involved in SHP2 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Yoshida
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan; Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan.
| | - Mana Oikawa
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan
| | - Taiga Shimada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan
| | - Ai Shinomiya
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Watanabe
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan; Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Musashino University, Tokyo, 202-8585, Japan
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10
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Chen L, Luo T, Cui W, Zhu M, Xu Z, Huang H. Kalirin is involved in epileptogenesis by modulating the activity of the Rac1 signaling pathway. J Chem Neuroanat 2023; 131:102289. [PMID: 37196826 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2023.102289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Epilepsy is a common chronic brain disease. Despite the availability of various anti-seizure drugs, approximately 30 % of patients do not respond to treatment. Recent research suggests that Kalirin plays a role in regulating neurological function. However, the pathogenesis of Kalirin in epileptic seizures remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of Kalirin in epileptogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS An epileptic model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Endogenous Kalirin was inhibited using shRNA. The expression of Kalirin, Rac1, and Cdc42 in the hippocampal CA1 region was measured using Western blotting. Spine and synaptic structures were examined using Golgi staining and electron microscopy. Moreover, the necrotic neurons in CA1 were examined using HE staining. RESULTS The results indicated that the epileptic score increased in epileptic animals, while inhibition of Kalirin decreased the epileptic scores and increased the latent period of the first seizure attack. Inhibition of Kalirin attenuated the increases in Rac1 expression, dendritic spine density, and synaptic vesicle number in the CA1 region induced by PTZ. However, the increase in Cdc42 expression was not affected by the inhibition of Kalirin. CONCLUSION This study suggests that Kalirin is involved in the development of seizures by modulating the activity of Rac1, providing a novel anti-epileptic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, 149 Dalian Road, Zunyi, Guizhou province 563003, China
| | - Ting Luo
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, 149 Dalian Road, Zunyi, Guizhou province 563003, China
| | - Wenxiu Cui
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, 149 Dalian Road, Zunyi, Guizhou province 563003, China
| | - ManMing Zhu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, 149 Dalian Road, Zunyi, Guizhou province 563003, China
| | - Zucai Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, 149 Dalian Road, Zunyi, Guizhou province 563003, China
| | - Hao Huang
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, 149 Dalian Road, Zunyi, Guizhou province 563003, China.
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11
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Powis G, Meuillet EJ, Indarte M, Booher G, Kirkpatrick L. Pleckstrin Homology [PH] domain, structure, mechanism, and contribution to human disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115024. [PMID: 37399719 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The pleckstrin homology [PH] domain is a structural fold found in more than 250 proteins making it the 11th most common domain in the human proteome. 25% of family members have more than one PH domain and some PH domains are split by one, or several other, protein domains although still folding to give functioning PH domains. We review mechanisms of PH domain activity, the role PH domain mutation plays in human disease including cancer, hyperproliferation, neurodegeneration, inflammation, and infection, and discuss pharmacotherapeutic approaches to regulate PH domain activity for the treatment of human disease. Almost half PH domain family members bind phosphatidylinositols [PIs] that attach the host protein to cell membranes where they interact with other membrane proteins to give signaling complexes or cytoskeleton scaffold platforms. A PH domain in its native state may fold over other protein domains thereby preventing substrate access to a catalytic site or binding with other proteins. The resulting autoinhibition can be released by PI binding to the PH domain, or by protein phosphorylation thus providing fine tuning of the cellular control of PH domain protein activity. For many years the PH domain was thought to be undruggable until high-resolution structures of human PH domains allowed structure-based design of novel inhibitors that selectively bind the PH domain. Allosteric inhibitors of the Akt1 PH domain have already been tested in cancer patients and for proteus syndrome, with several other PH domain inhibitors in preclinical development for treatment of other human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garth Powis
- PHusis Therapeutics Inc., 6019 Folsom Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | | | - Martin Indarte
- PHusis Therapeutics Inc., 6019 Folsom Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Garrett Booher
- PHusis Therapeutics Inc., 6019 Folsom Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Lynn Kirkpatrick
- PHusis Therapeutics Inc., 6019 Folsom Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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12
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Mehrabipour M, Jasemi NSK, Dvorsky R, Ahmadian MR. A Systematic Compilation of Human SH3 Domains: A Versatile Superfamily in Cellular Signaling. Cells 2023; 12:2054. [PMID: 37626864 PMCID: PMC10453029 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
SRC homology 3 (SH3) domains are fundamental modules that enable the assembly of protein complexes through physical interactions with a pool of proline-rich/noncanonical motifs from partner proteins. They are widely studied modular building blocks across all five kingdoms of life and viruses, mediating various biological processes. The SH3 domains are also implicated in the development of human diseases, such as cancer, leukemia, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, and various infections. A database search of the human proteome reveals the existence of 298 SH3 domains in 221 SH3 domain-containing proteins (SH3DCPs), ranging from 13 to 720 kilodaltons. A phylogenetic analysis of human SH3DCPs based on their multi-domain architecture seems to be the most practical way to classify them functionally, with regard to various physiological pathways. This review further summarizes the achievements made in the classification of SH3 domain functions, their binding specificity, and their significance for various diseases when exploiting SH3 protein modular interactions as drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrnaz Mehrabipour
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (M.M.); (N.S.K.J.)
| | - Neda S. Kazemein Jasemi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (M.M.); (N.S.K.J.)
| | - Radovan Dvorsky
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (M.M.); (N.S.K.J.)
- Center for Interdisciplinary Biosciences, P. J. Šafárik University, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Mohammad R. Ahmadian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (M.M.); (N.S.K.J.)
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13
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Krivinko JM, DeChellis-Marks MR, Zeng L, Fan P, Lopez OL, Ding Y, Wang L, Kofler J, MacDonald ML, Sweet RA. Targeting the post-synaptic proteome has therapeutic potential for psychosis in Alzheimer Disease. Commun Biol 2023; 6:598. [PMID: 37268664 PMCID: PMC10238472 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04961-5] [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: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with Alzheimer Disease who develop psychotic symptoms (AD + P) experience more rapid cognitive decline and have reduced indices of synaptic integrity relative to those without psychosis (AD-P). We sought to determine whether the postsynaptic density (PSD) proteome is altered in AD + P relative to AD-P, analyzing PSDs from dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of AD + P, AD-P, and a reference group of cognitively normal elderly subjects. The PSD proteome of AD + P showed a global shift towards lower levels of all proteins relative to AD-P, enriched for kinases, proteins regulating Rho GTPases, and other regulators of the actin cytoskeleton. We computationally identified potential novel therapies predicted to reverse the PSD protein signature of AD + P. Five days of administration of one of these drugs, the C-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 5 inhibitor, maraviroc, led to a net reversal of the PSD protein signature in adult mice, nominating it as a novel potential treatment for AD + P.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Krivinko
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - M R DeChellis-Marks
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - L Zeng
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - P Fan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - O L Lopez
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Y Ding
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - L Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J Kofler
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - M L MacDonald
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - R A Sweet
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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14
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Ru Q, Wang Y, Zhou E, Chen L, Wu Y. The potential therapeutic roles of Rho GTPases in substance dependence. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1125277. [PMID: 37063367 PMCID: PMC10097952 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1125277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Rho GTPases family are considered to be molecular switches that regulate various cellular processes, including cytoskeleton remodeling, cell polarity, synaptic development and maintenance. Accumulating evidence shows that Rho GTPases are involved in neuronal development and brain diseases, including substance dependence. However, the functions of Rho GTPases in substance dependence are divergent and cerebral nuclei-dependent. Thereby, comprehensive integration of their roles and correlated mechanisms are urgently needed. In this review, the molecular functions and regulatory mechanisms of Rho GTPases and their regulators such as GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) in substance dependence have been reviewed, and this is of great significance for understanding their spatiotemporal roles in addictions induced by different addictive substances and in different stages of substance dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lin Chen
- *Correspondence: Lin Chen, ; Yuxiang Wu,
| | - Yuxiang Wu
- *Correspondence: Lin Chen, ; Yuxiang Wu,
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15
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Ma N, Xu E, Luo Q, Song G. Rac1: A Regulator of Cell Migration and A Potential Target for Cancer Therapy. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28072976. [PMID: 37049739 PMCID: PMC10096471 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28072976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell migration is crucial for physiological and pathological processes such as morphogenesis, wound repair, immune response and cancer invasion/metastasis. There are many factors affecting cell migration, and the regulatory mechanisms are complex. Rac1 is a GTP-binding protein with small molecular weight belonging to the Rac subfamily of the Rho GTPase family. As a key molecule in regulating cell migration, Rac1 participates in signal transduction from the external cell to the actin cytoskeleton and promotes the establishment of cell polarity which plays an important role in cancer cell invasion/metastasis. In this review, we firstly introduce the molecular structure and activity regulation of Rac1, and then summarize the role of Rac1 in cancer invasion/metastasis and other physiological processes. We also discuss the regulatory mechanisms of Rac1 in cell migration and highlight it as a potential target in cancer therapy. Finally, the current state as well as the future challenges in this area are considered. Understanding the role and the regulatory mechanism of Rac1 in cell migration can provide fundamental insights into Rac1-related cancer progression and further help us to develop novel intervention strategies for cancer therapy in clinic.
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16
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Fingleton E, Roche KW. Modeling human mutations to understand TRIO GEF function during development. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:411-412. [PMID: 36959051 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.03.004] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
In a recent study, Bonnet and colleagues leveraged in silico structure prediction and human genetic data to understand the molecular regulation of the Rac1-activating guanie nucleotide exchange factor (Rac1-GEF) domain of Trio. Their work sheds new light on the role of Trio during axon guidance and explores the mechanism by which Trio GEF function is regulated in health and dysregulated in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Fingleton
- Receptor Biology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Graduate Partnership Program, Neuroscience Department, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Katherine W Roche
- Receptor Biology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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17
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Santarriaga S, Gerlovin K, Layadi Y, Karmacharya R. Human stem cell-based models to study synaptic dysfunction and cognition in schizophrenia: A narrative review. Schizophr Res 2023:S0920-9964(23)00084-1. [PMID: 36925354 PMCID: PMC10500041 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is the strongest predictor of functional outcomes in schizophrenia and is hypothesized to result from synaptic dysfunction. However, targeting synaptic plasticity and cognitive deficits in patients remains a significant clinical challenge. A comprehensive understanding of synaptic plasticity and the molecular basis of learning and memory in a disease context can provide specific targets for the development of novel therapeutics targeting cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Here, we describe the role of synaptic plasticity in cognition, summarize evidence for synaptic dysfunction in schizophrenia and demonstrate the use of patient derived induced-pluripotent stem cells for studying synaptic plasticity in vitro. Lastly, we discuss current advances and future technologies for bridging basic science research of synaptic dysfunction with clinical and translational research that can be used to predict treatment response and develop novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Santarriaga
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Chemical Biology and Therapeutic Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaia Gerlovin
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Chemical Biology and Therapeutic Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yasmine Layadi
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Chimie ParisTech, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Paris, France
| | - Rakesh Karmacharya
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Chemical Biology and Therapeutic Science Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.
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18
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Bonnet M, Roche F, Fagotto-Kaufmann C, Gazdagh G, Truong I, Comunale F, Barbosa S, Bonhomme M, Nafati N, Hunt D, Rodriguez MP, Chaudhry A, Shears D, Madruga M, Vansenne F, Curie A, Kajava AV, Baralle D, Fassier C, Debant A, Schmidt S. Pathogenic TRIO variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders perturb the molecular regulation of TRIO and axon pathfinding in vivo. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:1527-1544. [PMID: 36717740 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-01963-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The RhoGEF TRIO is known to play a major role in neuronal development by controlling actin cytoskeleton remodeling, primarily through the activation of the RAC1 GTPase. Numerous de novo mutations in the TRIO gene have been identified in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). We have previously established the first phenotype/genotype correlation in TRIO-associated diseases, with striking correlation between the clinical features of the individuals and the opposite modulation of RAC1 activity by TRIO variants targeting different domains. The mutations hyperactivating RAC1 are of particular interest, as they are recurrently found in patients and are associated with a severe form of NDD and macrocephaly, indicating their importance in the etiology of the disease. Yet, it remains unknown how these pathogenic TRIO variants disrupt TRIO activity at a molecular level and how they affect neurodevelopmental processes such as axon outgrowth or guidance. Here we report an additional cohort of individuals carrying a pathogenic TRIO variant that reinforces our initial phenotype/genotype correlation. More importantly, by performing conformation predictions coupled to biochemical validation, we propose a model whereby TRIO is inhibited by an intramolecular fold and NDD-associated variants relieve this inhibition, leading to RAC1 hyperactivation. Moreover, we show that in cultured primary neurons and in the zebrafish developmental model, these gain-of-function variants differentially affect axon outgrowth and branching in vitro and in vivo, as compared to loss-of-function TRIO variants. In summary, by combining clinical, molecular, cellular and in vivo data, we provide compelling new evidence for the pathogenicity of novel genetic variants targeting the TRIO gene in NDDs. We report a novel mechanism whereby the fine-tuned regulation of TRIO activity is critical for proper neuronal development and is disrupted by pathogenic mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Bonnet
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Fiona Roche
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne University, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Christine Fagotto-Kaufmann
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Gabriella Gazdagh
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 5YA, UK.,Wessex Clinical Genetics Service, University Hospital Southampton National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 5YA, UK
| | - Iona Truong
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France.,Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Franck Comunale
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Sonia Barbosa
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Marion Bonhomme
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Nafati
- Montpellier Ressources Imagerie, BioCampus, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34293, Montpellier, France
| | - David Hunt
- Wessex Clinical Genetics Service, Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton, SO16 5YA, UK
| | | | - Ayeshah Chaudhry
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, ON, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Deborah Shears
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Marcos Madruga
- Hospital Viamed Santa Ángela De la Cruz, Sevilla, 41014, Spain
| | - Fleur Vansenne
- Department of Clinical Genetics, University Medical Center, Groningen, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Aurore Curie
- Reference Center for Intellectual Disability from rare causes, Department of Child Neurology, Woman Mother and Child Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre, CNRS UMR5292, INSERM U1028, Université de Lyon, Bron, France
| | - Andrey V Kajava
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Diana Baralle
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 5YA, UK
| | - Coralie Fassier
- Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne University, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Anne Debant
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
| | - Susanne Schmidt
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
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19
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Structure of the Sec14 domain of Kalirin reveals a distinct class of lipid-binding module in RhoGEFs. Nat Commun 2023; 14:96. [PMID: 36609407 PMCID: PMC9823006 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35678-4] [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] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Gated entry of lipophilic ligands into the enclosed hydrophobic pocket in stand-alone Sec14 domain proteins often links lipid metabolism to membrane trafficking. Similar domains occur in multidomain mammalian proteins that activate small GTPases and regulate actin dynamics. The neuronal RhoGEF Kalirin, a central regulator of cytoskeletal dynamics, contains a Sec14 domain (KalbSec14) followed by multiple spectrin-like repeats and catalytic domains. Previous studies demonstrated that Kalirin lacking its Sec14 domain fails to maintain cell morphology or dendritic spine length, yet whether and how KalbSec14 interacts with lipids remain unknown. Here, we report the structural and biochemical characterization of KalbSec14. KalbSec14 adopts a closed conformation, sealing off the canonical ligand entry site, and instead employs a surface groove to bind a limited set of lysophospholipids. The low-affinity interactions of KalbSec14 with lysolipids are expected to serve as a general model for the regulation of Rho signaling by other Sec14-containing Rho activators.
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20
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Xu L, Yang L, Wu Y, Wan X, Tang X, Xu Y, Chen Q, Liu Y, Liu S. Rac1/PAK1 signaling contributes to bone cancer pain by Regulation dendritic spine remodeling in rats. Mol Pain 2023; 19:17448069231161031. [PMID: 36938611 PMCID: PMC10028669 DOI: 10.1177/17448069231161031] [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] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone cancer pain (BCP) is severe chronic pain caused by tumor metastasis to the bones, often resulting in significant skeletal remodeling and fractures. Currently, there is no curative treatment. Therefore, insight into the underlying mechanisms could guide the development of mechanism-based therapeutic strategies for BCP. We speculated that Rac1/PAK1 signaling plays a critical role in the development of BCP. Tumor cells implantation (TCI) into the tibial cavity resulted in bone cancer-associated mechanical allodynia. Golgi staining revealed changes in the excitatory synaptic structure of WDR (Wide-dynamic range) neurons in the spinal cord, including increased postsynaptic density (PSD) length and thickness, and width of the cleft. Behavioral and western blotting test revealed that the development and persistence of pain correlated with Rac1/PAK1 signaling activation in primary sensory neurons. Intrathecal injection of NSC23766, a Rac1 inhibitor, reduced the persistence of BCP as well as reversed the remodeling of dendrites. Therefore, we concluded that activation of the Rac1/PAK1 signaling pathway in the spinal cord plays an important role in the development of BCP through remodeling of dendritic spines. Modulation of the Rac1/PAK1 pathway may be a potential strategy for BCP treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingfei Xu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of
Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia
Application Technology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of
Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical
University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Long Yang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of
Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia
Application Technology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of
Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical
University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Wu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of
Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia
Application Technology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of
Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical
University, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou
Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinxin Wan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower
Hospital, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xihui Tang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of
Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia
Application Technology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of
Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical
University, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou
Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuqing Xu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of
Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia
Application Technology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of
Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical
University, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou
Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qingsong Chen
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of
Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia
Application Technology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of
Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical
University, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou
Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuepeng Liu
- Institute of Xuzhou Medical
Science, Jiangsu, China
| | - Su Liu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of
Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia
Application Technology, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of
Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical
University, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou
Medical University, Jiangsu, China
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21
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Liu S, Qi R, Zhang J, Zhang C, Chen L, Yao Z, Niu W. Kalirin mediates Rac1 activation downstream of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II to stimulate glucose uptake during muscle contraction. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:3159-3175. [PMID: 35716086 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the role of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in contraction-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. C2C12 myotubes were contracted by electrical pulse stimulation (EPS), and treadmill running was used to exercise mice. The activities of CaMKII, the small G protein Rac1, and the Rac1 effector kinase PAK1 were elevated in muscle by running exercise or EPS, while they were lowered by the CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 and/or small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown. EPS induced the mRNA and protein expression of the Rac1-GEF Kalirin in a CaMKII-dependent manner. EPS-induced Rac1 activation was lowered by the Kalirin inhibitor ITX3 or siRNA-mediated Kalirin knockdown. KN-93, ITX3, and siRNA-mediated Kalirin knockdown reduced EPS-induced glucose uptake. These findings define a CaMKII-Kalirin-Rac1 signaling pathway that contributes to contraction-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle myotubes and tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasa Liu
- School of Medical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Rui Qi
- School of Medical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- School of Medical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Chang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Liming Chen
- School of Medical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Zhi Yao
- School of Medical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Wenyan Niu
- School of Medical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Medical University, China
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22
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Dienel SJ, Schoonover KE, Lewis DA. Cognitive Dysfunction and Prefrontal Cortical Circuit Alterations in Schizophrenia: Developmental Trajectories. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:450-459. [PMID: 35568522 PMCID: PMC9420748 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) exhibit cognitive performance below expected levels based on familial cognitive aptitude. One such cognitive process, working memory (WM), is robustly impaired in SZ. These WM impairments, which emerge over development during the premorbid and prodromal stages of SZ, appear to reflect alterations in the neural circuitry of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a microcircuit formed by reciprocal connections between excitatory layer 3 pyramidal neurons and inhibitory parvalbumin basket cells (PVBCs) appears to be a key neural substrate for WM. Postmortem human studies indicate that both layer 3 pyramidal neurons and PVBCs are altered in SZ, suggesting that levels of excitation and inhibition are lower in the microcircuit. Studies in monkeys indicate that features of both cell types exhibit distinctive postnatal developmental trajectories. Together, the results of these studies suggest a model in which 1) genetic and/or early environmental insults to excitatory signaling in layer 3 pyramidal neurons give rise to cognitive impairments during the prodromal phase of SZ and evoke compensatory changes in inhibition that alter the developmental trajectories of PVBCs, and 2) synaptic pruning during adolescence further lowers excitatory activity to a level that exceeds the compensatory capacity of PVBC inhibition, leading to a failure of the normal maturational improvements in WM during the prodromal and early clinical stages of SZ. Findings that support as well as challenge this model are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Dienel
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Neuroscience, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kirsten E Schoonover
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - David A Lewis
- Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Neuroscience, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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23
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Bircher JE, Corcoran EE, Lam TT, Trnka MJ, Koleske AJ. Autoinhibition of the GEF activity of cytoskeletal regulatory protein Trio is disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorder-related genetic variants. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102361. [PMID: 35963430 PMCID: PMC9467883 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
TRIO encodes a cytoskeletal regulatory protein with three catalytic domains-two guanine exchange factor (GEF) domains, GEF1 and GEF2, and a kinase domain-as well as several accessory domains that have not been extensively studied. Function-damaging variants in the TRIO gene are known to be enriched in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Disease variants in the GEF1 domain or the nine adjacent spectrin repeats (SRs) are enriched in NDDs, suggesting that dysregulated GEF1 activity is linked to these disorders. We provide evidence here that the Trio SRs interact intramolecularly with the GEF1 domain to inhibit its enzymatic activity. We demonstrate that SRs 6-9 decrease GEF1 catalytic activity both in vitro and in cells and show that NDD-associated variants in the SR8 and GEF1 domains relieve this autoinhibitory constraint. Our results from chemical cross-linking and bio-layer interferometry indicate that the SRs primarily contact the pleckstrin homology region of the GEF1 domain, reducing GEF1 binding to the small GTPase Rac1. Together, our findings reveal a key regulatory mechanism that is commonly disrupted in multiple NDDs and may offer a new target for therapeutic intervention for TRIO-associated NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie E. Bircher
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Ellen E. Corcoran
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - TuKiet T. Lam
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA,Keck MS & Proteomics Resource, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Michael J. Trnka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Anthony J. Koleske
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA,For correspondence: Anthony J. Koleske
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24
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Grubisha MJ, DeGiosio RA, Wills ZP, Sweet RA. Trio and Kalirin as unique enactors of Rho/Rac spatiotemporal precision. Cell Signal 2022; 98:110416. [PMID: 35872089 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Rac1 and RhoA are among the most widely studied small GTPases. The classic dogma surrounding their biology has largely focused on their activity as an "on/off switch" of sorts. However, the advent of more sophisticated techniques, such as genetically-encoded FRET-based sensors, has afforded the ability to delineate the spatiotemporal regulation of Rac1 and RhoA. As a result, there has been a shift from this simplistic global view to one incorporating the precision of spatiotemporal modularity. This review summarizes emerging data surrounding the roles of Rac1 and RhoA as cytoskeletal regulators and examines how these new data have led to a revision of the traditional dogma which placed Rac1 and RhoA in antagonistic pathways. This more recent evidence suggests that rather than absolute activity levels, it is the tight spatiotemporal regulation of Rac1 and RhoA across multiple roles, from oppositional to complementary, that is necessary to execute coordinated cytoskeletal processes affecting cell structure, function, and migration. We focus on how Kalirin and Trio, as dual GEFs that target Rac1 and RhoA, are uniquely designed to provide the spatiotemporally-precise shifts in Rac/Rho balance which mediate changes in neuronal structure and function, particularly by way of cytoskeletal rearrangements. Finally, we review how alterations in Trio and/or Kalirin function are associated with cellular abnormalities and neuropsychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Grubisha
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - R A DeGiosio
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Z P Wills
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - R A Sweet
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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25
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Lehman NL, Spassky N, Sak M, Webb A, Zumbar CT, Usubalieva A, Alkhateeb KJ, McElroy JP, Maclean KH, Fadda P, Liu T, Gangalapudi V, Carver J, Abdullaev Z, Timmers C, Parker JR, Pierson CR, Mobley BC, Gokden M, Hattab EM, Parrett T, Cooke RX, Lehman TD, Costinean S, Parwani A, Williams BJ, Jensen RL, Aldape K, Mistry AM. Astroblastomas exhibit radial glia stem cell lineages and differential expression of imprinted and X-inactivation escape genes. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2083. [PMID: 35440587 PMCID: PMC9018799 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29302-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Astroblastomas (ABs) are rare brain tumors of unknown origin. We performed an integrative genetic and epigenetic analysis of AB-like tumors. Here, we show that tumors traceable to neural stem/progenitor cells (radial glia) that emerge during early to later brain development occur in children and young adults, respectively. Tumors with MN1-BEND2 fusion appear to present exclusively in females and exhibit overexpression of genes expressed prior to 25 post-conception weeks (pcw), including genes enriched in early ventricular zone radial glia and ependymal tumors. Other, histologically classic ABs overexpress or harbor mutations of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway genes, outer and truncated radial glia genes, and genes expressed after 25 pcw, including neuronal and astrocyte markers. Findings support that AB-like tumors arise in the context of epigenetic and genetic changes in neural progenitors. Selective gene fusion, variable imprinting and/or chromosome X-inactivation escape resulting in biallelic overexpression may contribute to female predominance of AB molecular subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman L Lehman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- The Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Nathalie Spassky
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Inserm, CNRS, École Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Müge Sak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Amy Webb
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Cory T Zumbar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Aisulu Usubalieva
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Khaled J Alkhateeb
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Joseph P McElroy
- Center for Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | | | - Paolo Fadda
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Tom Liu
- Solid Tumor Translational Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Vineela Gangalapudi
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jamie Carver
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Zied Abdullaev
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Cynthia Timmers
- Solid Tumor Translational Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - John R Parker
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Christopher R Pierson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Bret C Mobley
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Murat Gokden
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Services, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Eyas M Hattab
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Timothy Parrett
- Department of Pathology and Anatomic Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
| | - Ralph X Cooke
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Trang D Lehman
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Contra Costa County Health System, Martinez, CA, 94553, USA
| | - Stefan Costinean
- Department of Pathology, Banner Gateway Medical Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Tempe, AZ, 85284, USA
| | - Anil Parwani
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Brian J Williams
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Randy L Jensen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Kenneth Aldape
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Akshitkumar M Mistry
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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26
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Abstract
The cognitive dysfunction experienced by patients with schizophrenia represents a major unmet clinical need. We believe that enhancing synaptic function and plasticity by targeting kalirin may provide a novel means to remediate these symptoms. Karilin (a protein encoded by the KALRN gene) has multiple functional domains, including two Dbl homology (DH) guanine exchange factor (GEF) domains, which act to enhance the activity of the Rho family guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-ases. Here, we provide an overview of kalirin's roles in brain function and its therapeutic potential in schizophrenia. We outline how it mediates diverse effects via a suite of distinct isoforms that couple to members of the Rho GTPase family to regulate synapse formation and stabilisation, and how genomic and post-mortem data implicate it in schizophrenia. We then review the current state of knowledge about the influence of kalirin on brain function at a systems level, based largely on evidence from transgenic mouse models, which support its proposed role in regulating dendritic spine function and plasticity. We demonstrate that, whilst the GTPases are classically considered to be 'undruggable', targeting kalirin and other Rho GEFs provides a means to indirectly modulate their activity. Finally, we integrate across the information presented to assess the therapeutic potential of kalirin for schizophrenia and highlight the key outstanding questions required to advance it in this capacity; namely, the need for more information about the diversity and function of its isoforms, how these change across neurodevelopment, and how they affect brain function in vivo.
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27
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Mould AW, Hall NA, Milosevic I, Tunbridge EM. Targeting synaptic plasticity in schizophrenia: insights from genomic studies. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:1022-1032. [PMID: 34419330 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Patients with schizophrenia experience cognitive dysfunction and negative symptoms that do not respond to current drug treatments. Historical evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that these deficits are due, at least in part, to altered cortical synaptic plasticity (the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken their activity), making this an attractive pathway for therapeutic intervention. However, while synaptic transmission and plasticity is well understood in model systems, it has been challenging to identify specific therapeutic targets for schizophrenia. New information is emerging from genomic findings, which converge on synaptic plasticity and provide a new window on the neurobiology of schizophrenia. Translating this information into therapeutic advances will require a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne W Mould
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicola A Hall
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Ira Milosevic
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Tunbridge
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
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28
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Machin PA, Tsonou E, Hornigold DC, Welch HCE. Rho Family GTPases and Rho GEFs in Glucose Homeostasis. Cells 2021; 10:cells10040915. [PMID: 33923452 PMCID: PMC8074089 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of glucose homeostasis leading to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes is the cause of an increasing world health crisis. New intriguing roles have emerged for Rho family GTPases and their Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activators in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. This review summates the current knowledge, focusing in particular on the roles of Rho GEFs in the processes of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by pancreatic β cells and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake into skeletal muscle and adipose tissues. We discuss the ten Rho GEFs that are known so far to regulate glucose homeostasis, nine of which are in mammals, and one is in yeast. Among the mammalian Rho GEFs, P-Rex1, Vav2, Vav3, Tiam1, Kalirin and Plekhg4 were shown to mediate the insulin-stimulated translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 to the plasma membrane and/or insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle or adipose tissue. The Rho GEFs P-Rex1, Vav2, Tiam1 and β-PIX were found to control the glucose-stimulated release of insulin by pancreatic β cells. In vivo studies demonstrated the involvement of the Rho GEFs P-Rex2, Vav2, Vav3 and PDZ-RhoGEF in glucose tolerance and/or insulin sensitivity, with deletion of these GEFs either contributing to the development of metabolic syndrome or protecting from it. This research is in its infancy. Considering that over 80 Rho GEFs exist, it is likely that future research will identify more roles for Rho GEFs in glucose homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polly A. Machin
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; (P.A.M.); (E.T.)
| | - Elpida Tsonou
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; (P.A.M.); (E.T.)
- Bioscience Metabolism, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK;
| | - David C. Hornigold
- Bioscience Metabolism, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK;
| | - Heidi C. E. Welch
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK; (P.A.M.); (E.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-(0)1223-496-596
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29
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Fingleton E, Li Y, Roche KW. Advances in Proteomics Allow Insights Into Neuronal Proteomes. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:647451. [PMID: 33935646 PMCID: PMC8084103 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.647451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein–protein interaction networks and signaling complexes are essential for normal brain function and are often dysregulated in neurological disorders. Nevertheless, unraveling neuron- and synapse-specific proteins interaction networks has remained a technical challenge. New techniques, however, have allowed for high-resolution and high-throughput analyses, enabling quantification and characterization of various neuronal protein populations. Over the last decade, mass spectrometry (MS) has surfaced as the primary method for analyzing multiple protein samples in tandem, allowing for the precise quantification of proteomic data. Moreover, the development of sophisticated protein-labeling techniques has given MS a high temporal and spatial resolution, facilitating the analysis of various neuronal substructures, cell types, and subcellular compartments. Recent studies have leveraged these novel techniques to reveal the proteomic underpinnings of well-characterized neuronal processes, such as axon guidance, long-term potentiation, and homeostatic plasticity. Translational MS studies have facilitated a better understanding of complex neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Schizophrenia (SCZ), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Proteomic investigation of these diseases has not only given researchers new insight into disease mechanisms but has also been used to validate disease models and identify new targets for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Fingleton
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yan Li
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Katherine W Roche
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Bethesda, MD, United States
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30
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Johnstone EKM, Abhayawardana RS, See HB, Seeber RM, O'Brien SL, Thomas WG, Pfleger KDG. Complex interactions between the angiotensin II type 1 receptor, the epidermal growth factor receptor and TRIO-dependent signaling partners. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 188:114521. [PMID: 33741329 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by the angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 (AT1) receptor is involved in AT1 receptor-dependent growth effects and cardiovascular pathologies, however the mechanisms underpinning this transactivation are yet to be fully elucidated. Recently, a potential intermediate of this process was identified following the discovery that a kinase called TRIO was involved in AngII/AT1 receptor-mediated transactivation of EGFR. To investigate the mechanisms by which TRIO acts as an intermediate in AngII/AT1 receptor-mediated EGFR transactivation we used bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assays to investigate proximity between the AT1 receptor, EGFR, TRIO and other proteins of interest. We found that AngII/AT1 receptor activation caused a Gαq-dependent increase in proximity of TRIO with Gγ2 and the AT1-EGFR heteromer, as well as trafficking of TRIO towards the Kras plasma membrane marker and into early, late and recycling endosomes. In contrast, we found that AngII/AT1 receptor activation caused a Gαq-independent increase in proximity of TRIO with Grb2, GRK2 and PKCζ, as well as trafficking of TRIO up to the plasma membrane from the Golgi. Furthermore, we confirmed the proximity between the AT1 receptor and the EGFR using the Receptor-Heteromer Investigation Technology, which showed AngII-induced recruitment of Grb2, GRK2, PKCζ, Gγ2 and TRIO to the EGFR upon AT1 coexpression. In summary, our results provide further evidence for the existence of the AT1-EGFR heteromer and reveal potential mechanisms by which TRIO contributes to the transactivation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth K M Johnstone
- Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Australia.
| | - Rekhati S Abhayawardana
- Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Australia
| | - Heng B See
- Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Australia
| | - Ruth M Seeber
- Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Australia
| | - Shannon L O'Brien
- Receptor Biology Group, The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia; Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR) and Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Walter G Thomas
- Receptor Biology Group, The School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kevin D G Pfleger
- Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Australia; Dimerix Limited, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
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31
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Bircher JE, Koleske AJ. Trio family proteins as regulators of cell migration and morphogenesis in development and disease - mechanisms and cellular contexts. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:jcs248393. [PMID: 33568469 PMCID: PMC7888718 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.248393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The well-studied members of the Trio family of proteins are Trio and kalirin in vertebrates, UNC-73 in Caenorhabditis elegans and Trio in Drosophila Trio proteins are key regulators of cell morphogenesis and migration, tissue organization, and secretion and protein trafficking in many biological contexts. Recent discoveries have linked Trio and kalirin to human disease, including neurological disorders and cancer. The genes for Trio family proteins encode a series of large multidomain proteins with up to three catalytic activities and multiple scaffolding and protein-protein interaction domains. As such, Trio family proteins engage a wide array of cell surface receptors, substrates and interaction partners to coordinate changes in cytoskeletal regulatory and protein trafficking pathways. We provide a comprehensive review of the specific mechanisms by which Trio family proteins carry out their functions in cells, highlight the biological and cellular contexts in which they occur, and relate how alterations in these functions contribute to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie E Bircher
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511 USA
| | - Anthony J Koleske
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511 USA
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32
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Sculpting Dendritic Spines during Initiation and Maintenance of Neuropathic Pain. J Neurosci 2021; 40:7578-7589. [PMID: 32998955 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1664-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has established a firm role for synaptic plasticity in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Recent advances have highlighted the importance of dendritic spine remodeling in driving synaptic plasticity within the CNS. Identifying the molecular players underlying neuropathic pain induced structural and functional maladaptation is therefore critical to understanding its pathophysiology. This process of dynamic reorganization happens in unique phases that have diverse pathologic underpinnings in the initiation and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Recent evidence suggests that pharmacological targeting of specific proteins during distinct phases of neuropathic pain development produces enhanced antinociception. These findings outline a potential new paradigm for targeted treatment and the development of novel therapies for neuropathic pain. We present a concise review of the role of dendritic spines in neuropathic pain and outline the potential for modulation of spine dynamics by targeting two proteins, srGAP3 and Rac1, critically involved in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.
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Nguyen TA, Lehr AW, Roche KW. Neuroligins and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: X-Linked Genetics. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2020; 12:33. [PMID: 32848696 PMCID: PMC7431521 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2020.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results in social-communication impairments, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors. Moreover, ASD is more prevalent in males, with a male to female ratio of 4 to 1. Although the underlying etiology of ASD is generally unknown, recent advances in genome sequencing have facilitated the identification of a host of associated genes. Among these, synaptic proteins such as cell adhesion molecules have been strongly linked with ASD. Interestingly, many large genome sequencing studies exclude sex chromosomes, which leads to a shift in focus toward autosomal genes as targets for ASD research. However, there are many genes on the X chromosome that encode synaptic proteins, including strong candidate genes. Here, we review findings regarding two members of the neuroligin (NLGN) family of postsynaptic adhesion molecules, NLGN3 and NLGN4. Neuroligins have multiple isoforms (NLGN1-4), which are both autosomal and sex-linked. The sex-linked genes, NLGN3 and NLGN4, are both on the X chromosome and were among the first few genes to be linked with ASD and intellectual disability (ID). In addition, there is a less studied human neuroligin on the Y chromosome, NLGN4Y, which forms an X-Y pair with NLGN4X. We will discuss recent findings of these neuroligin isoforms regarding function at the synapse in both rodent models and human-derived differentiated neurons, and highlight the exciting challenges moving forward to a better understanding of ASD/ID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thien A. Nguyen
- Receptor Biology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Alexander W. Lehr
- Receptor Biology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Katherine W. Roche
- Receptor Biology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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