1
|
Sidisky JM, Winters A, Caratenuto R, Babcock DT. Synaptic defects in a drosophila model of muscular dystrophy. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1381112. [PMID: 38812789 PMCID: PMC11133739 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1381112] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophies are a devastating class of diseases that result in a progressive loss of muscle integrity. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the most prevalent form of Muscular Dystrophy, is due to the loss of functional Dystrophin. While much is known regarding destruction of muscle tissue in these diseases, much less is known regarding the synaptic defects that also occur in these diseases. Synaptic defects are also among the earliest hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases, including the neuromuscular disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Our current study investigates synaptic defects within adult muscle tissues as well as presynaptic motor neurons in Drosophila dystrophin mutants. Here we demonstrate that the progressive, age-dependent loss of flight ability in dystrophin mutants is accompanied by disorganization of Neuromuscular Junctions (NMJs), including impaired localization of both presynaptic and postsynaptic markers. We show that these synaptic defects, including presynaptic defects within motor neurons, are due to the loss of Dystrophin specifically within muscles. These results should help to better understand the early synaptic defects preceding cell loss in neuromuscular disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M. Sidisky
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Alex Winters
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States
| | - Russell Caratenuto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States
| | - Daniel T. Babcock
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Barboni MTS, Joachimsthaler A, Roux MJ, Nagy ZZ, Ventura DF, Rendon A, Kremers J, Vaillend C. Retinal dystrophins and the retinopathy of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022:101137. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
3
|
Modelling Neuromuscular Diseases in the Age of Precision Medicine. J Pers Med 2020; 10:jpm10040178. [PMID: 33080928 PMCID: PMC7712305 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10040178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in knowledge resulting from the sequencing of the human genome, coupled with technological developments and a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms of pathogenesis are paving the way for a growing role of precision medicine in the treatment of a number of human conditions. The goal of precision medicine is to identify and deliver effective therapeutic approaches based on patients’ genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. With the exception of cancer, neurological diseases provide the most promising opportunity to achieve treatment personalisation, mainly because of accelerated progress in gene discovery, deep clinical phenotyping, and biomarker availability. Developing reproducible, predictable and reliable disease models will be key to the rapid delivery of the anticipated benefits of precision medicine. Here we summarize the current state of the art of preclinical models for neuromuscular diseases, with particular focus on their use and limitations to predict safety and efficacy treatment outcomes in clinical trials.
Collapse
|
4
|
Yablonka-Reuveni Z, Stockdale F, Nudel U, Israeli D, Blau HM, Shainberg A, Neuman S, Kessler-Icekson G, Krull EM, Paterson B, Fuchs OS, Greenberg D, Sarig R, Halevy O, Ozawa E, Katcoff DJ. Farewell to Professor David Yaffe - A pillar of the myogenesis field. Eur J Transl Myol 2020; 30:9306. [PMID: 33117511 PMCID: PMC7582454 DOI: 10.4081/ejtm.2020.9306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is with great sadness that we have learned about the passing of Professor David Yaffe (1929-2020, Israel). Yehi Zichro Baruch - May his memory be a blessing. David was a man of family, science and nature. A native of Israel, David grew up in the historic years that preceded the birth of the State of Israel. He was a member of the group that established Kibbutz Revivim in the Negev desert, and in 1948 participated in Israel's War of Independence. David and Ruth eventually joined Kibbutz Givat Brenner by Rehovot, permitting David to be both a kibbutz member and a life-long researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science, where David received his PhD in 1959. David returned to the Institute after his postdoc at Stanford. Here, after several years of researching a number of tissues as models for studying the process of differentiation, David entered the myogenesis field and stayed with it to his last day. With his dedication to the field of myogenesis and his commitment to furthering the understanding of the People and the Land of Israel throughout the international scientific community, David organized the first ever myogenesis meeting that took place in Shoresh, Israel in 1975. This was followed by the 1980 myogenesis meeting at the same place and many more outstanding meetings, all of which brought together myogenesis, nature and scenery. Herein, through the preparation and publication of this current manuscript, we are meeting once again at a "David Yaffe myogenesis meeting". Some of us have been members of the Yaffe lab, some of us have known David as his national and international colleagues in the myology field. One of our contributors has also known (and communicates here) about David Yaffe's earlier years as a kibbutznick in the Negev. Our collective reflections are a tribute to Professor David Yaffe. We are fortunate that the European Journal of Translational Myology has provided us with tremendous input and a platform for holding this 2020 distance meeting "Farwell to Professor David Yaffe - A Pillar of the Myogenesis Field".
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zipora Yablonka-Reuveni
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Uri Nudel
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Helen M. Blau
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Clinical Sciences Research Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Asher Shainberg
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | | | - Gania Kessler-Icekson
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cardiology, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Bruce Paterson
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - David Greenberg
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Rachel Sarig
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Orna Halevy
- Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eijiro Ozawa
- National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Don J. Katcoff
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wasala NB, Chen SJ, Duan D. Duchenne muscular dystrophy animal models for high-throughput drug discovery and precision medicine. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 15:443-456. [PMID: 32000537 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2020.1718100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked handicapping disease due to the loss of an essential muscle protein dystrophin. Dystrophin-null animals have been extensively used to study disease mechanisms and to develop experimental therapeutics. Despite decades of research, however, treatment options for DMD remain very limited.Areas covered: High-throughput high-content screening and precision medicine offer exciting new opportunities. Here, the authors review animal models that are suitable for these studies.Expert opinion: Nonmammalian models (worm, fruit fly, and zebrafish) are particularly attractive for cost-effective large-scale drug screening. Several promising lead compounds have been discovered using these models. Precision medicine for DMD aims at developing mutation-specific therapies such as exon-skipping and genome editing. To meet these needs, models with patient-like mutations have been established in different species. Models that harbor hotspot mutations are very attractive because the drugs developed in these models can bring mutation-specific therapies to a large population of patients. Humanized hDMD mice carry the entire human dystrophin gene in the mouse genome. Reagents developed in the hDMD mouse-based models are directly translatable to human patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nalinda B Wasala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Shi-Jie Chen
- Department of Physics, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bar L, Czosnek H, Sobol I, Ghanim M, Hariton Shalev A. Downregulation of dystrophin expression in pupae of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci inhibits the emergence of adults. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 28:662-675. [PMID: 30834620 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a major pest to agriculture. Adults are able to fly for long distances and to colonize staple crops, herbs and ornamentals, and to vector viruses belonging to several important taxonomic groups. During their early development, whiteflies mature from eggs through several nymphal stages (instars I to IV) until adults emerge from pupae. We aim at reducing whitefly populations by inhibiting the emergence of adults from nymphs. Here we targeted dystrophin, a conserved protein essential for the development of the muscle system in humans, other animals and insects. We have exploited the fact that whitefly nymphs developing on tomato leaves feed from the plant phloem via their stylets. Thus, we delivered dystrophin-silencing double-stranded RNA to nymphs developing on leaves of tomato plantlets with their roots bathing in the silencing solution. Downregulation of dystrophin expression occurred mainly in pupae. Dystrophin silencing induced also the downregulation of the dystrophin-associated protein genes actin and tropomyosin, and disrupted F-actin. Most significantly, the treatment inhibited the emergence of adults from pupae, suggesting that targeting dystrophin may help to restrain whitefly populations. This study demonstrates for the first time the important role of dystrophin in the development of a major insect pest to agriculture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Bar
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - H Czosnek
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - I Sobol
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - M Ghanim
- Department of Entomology, Volcani Center, ARO, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - A Hariton Shalev
- Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ostrovidov S, Shi X, Sadeghian RB, Salehi S, Fujie T, Bae H, Ramalingam M, Khademhosseini A. Stem Cell Differentiation Toward the Myogenic Lineage for Muscle Tissue Regeneration: A Focus on Muscular Dystrophy. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2016; 11:866-84. [PMID: 26323256 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-015-9618-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle tissue engineering is one of the important ways for regenerating functionally defective muscles. Among the myopathies, the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive disease due to mutations of the dystrophin gene leading to progressive myofiber degeneration with severe symptoms. Although current therapies in muscular dystrophy are still very challenging, important progress has been made in materials science and in cellular technologies with the use of stem cells. It is therefore useful to review these advances and the results obtained in a clinical point of view. This article focuses on the differentiation of stem cells into myoblasts, and their application in muscular dystrophy. After an overview of the different stem cells that can be induced to differentiate into the myogenic lineage, we introduce scaffolding materials used for muscular tissue engineering. We then described some widely used methods to differentiate different types of stem cell into myoblasts. We highlight recent insights obtained in therapies for muscular dystrophy. Finally, we conclude with a discussion on stem cell technology. We discussed in parallel the benefits brought by the evolution of the materials and by the expansion of cell sources which can differentiate into myoblasts. We also discussed on future challenges for clinical applications and how to accelerate the translation from the research to the clinic in the frame of DMD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Serge Ostrovidov
- WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Xuetao Shi
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction & School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Ramin Banan Sadeghian
- WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Sahar Salehi
- WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
| | - Toshinori Fujie
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan
| | - Hojae Bae
- College of Animal Bioscience and Technology, Department of Bioindustrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Hwayang-dong, Kwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Murugan Ramalingam
- WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
- Christian Medical College Bagayam Campus, Centre for Stem Cell Research, Vellore, 632002, India
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan.
- College of Animal Bioscience and Technology, Department of Bioindustrial Technologies, Konkuk University, Hwayang-dong, Kwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02139, USA.
- Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Physics, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21569, Saudi Arabia.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chakravarty D, Chakraborti S, Chakrabarti P. Flexibility in the N-terminal actin-binding domain: clues from in silico mutations and molecular dynamics. Proteins 2015; 83:696-710. [PMID: 25620004 DOI: 10.1002/prot.24767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Revised: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 01/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Dystrophin is a long, rod-shaped cytoskeleton protein implicated in muscular dystrophy (MDys). Utrophin is the closest autosomal homolog of dystrophin. Both proteins have N-terminal actin-binding domain (N-ABD), a central rod domain and C-terminal region. N-ABD, composed of two calponin homology (CH) subdomains joined by a helical linker, harbors a few disease causing missense mutations. Although the two proteins share considerable homology (>72%) in N-ABD, recent structural and biochemical studies have shown that there are significant differences (including stability, mode of actin-binding) and their functions are not completely interchangeable. In this investigation, we have used extensive molecular dynamics simulations to understand the differences and the similarities of these two proteins, along with another actin-binding protein, fimbrin. In silico mutations were performed to identify two key residues that might be responsible for the dynamical difference between the molecules. Simulation points to the inherent flexibility of the linker region, which adapts different conformations in the wild type dystrophin. Mutations T220V and G130D in dystrophin constrain the flexibility of the central helical region, while in the two known disease-causing mutants, K18N and L54R, the helicity of the region is compromised. Phylogenetic tree and sequence analysis revealed that dystrophin and utrophin genes have probably originated from the same ancestor. The investigation would provide insight into the functional diversity of two closely related proteins and fimbrin, and contribute to our understanding of the mechanism of MDys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devlina Chakravarty
- Department of Biochemistry, Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700054, India
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Mosqueira M, Zeiger U, Förderer M, Brinkmeier H, Fink RHA. Cardiac and respiratory dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the role of second messengers. Med Res Rev 2013; 33:1174-213. [PMID: 23633235 DOI: 10.1002/med.21279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) affects young boys and is characterized by the absence of dystrophin, a large cytoskeletal protein present in skeletal and cardiac muscle cells and neurons. The heart and diaphragm become necrotic in DMD patients and animal models of DMD, resulting in cardiorespiratory failure as the leading cause of death. The major consequences of the absence of dystrophin are high levels of intracellular Ca(2+) and the unbalanced production of NO that can finally trigger protein degradation and cell death. Cytoplasmic increase in Ca(2+) concentration directly and indirectly triggers different processes such as necrosis, fibrosis, and activation of macrophages. The absence of the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the overproduction of NO by the inducible isoform (iNOS) further increase the intracellular Ca(2+) via a hypernitrosylation of the ryanodine receptor. NO overproduction, which further induces the expression of iNOS but decreases the expression of the endothelial isoform (eNOS), deregulates the muscle tissue blood flow creating an ischemic situation. The high levels of Ca(2+) in dystrophic muscles and the ischemic state of the muscle tissue would culminate in a positive feedback loop. While efforts continue toward optimizing cardiac and respiratory care of DMD patients, both Ca(2+) and NO in cardiac and respiratory muscle pathways have been shown to be important to the etiology of the disease. Understanding the mechanisms behind the fine regulation of Ca(2+) -NO may be important for a noninterventional and noninvasive supportive approach to treat DMD patients, improving the quality of life and natural history of DMD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matias Mosqueira
- Medical Biophysics Unit, Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, INF326, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Alison B, Elizabeth G, Steve L, Andrew B, Guy M, Volker S. Animal Models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, with Special Reference to the mdx Mouse. Biocybern Biomed Eng 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s0208-5216(12)70045-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
11
|
Telonis-Scott M, Gane M, DeGaris S, Sgrò CM, Hoffmann AA. High resolution mapping of candidate alleles for desiccation resistance in Drosophila melanogaster under selection. Mol Biol Evol 2011; 29:1335-51. [PMID: 22130970 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msr294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to counter periods of low humidity is an important determinant of distribution range in Drosophila. Climate specialists with low physiological tolerance to desiccation stress are restricted to the tropics and may lack the ability to further increase resistance through evolution. Although the physiological adaptations to desiccation stress are well studied in Drosophila and other ectotherms, factors underlying evolutionary responses remain unknown because of a paucity of genetic data. We address this issue by mapping evolutionary shifts in D. melanogaster under selection for desiccation resistance. Genomic DNA from five independent replicate selected, and control lines were hybridized to high density Affymetrix Drosophila tiling arrays resulting in the detection of 691 single feature polymorphisms (SFPs) differing between the treatments. While randomly distributed throughout the genome, the SFPs formed specific clusters according to gene ontology. These included genes involved in ion transport and respiratory system development that provide candidates for evolutionary changes involving excretory and respiratory water balance. Changes to genes related to neuronal control of cell signaling, development, and gene regulation provide candidates to explore novel biological processes in stress resistance. Sequencing revealed the nucleotide shifts in a subset of the SFPs and highlighted larger regions of genomic diversity surrounding SFPs. The association between natural desiccation resistance and a 463-bp region of the 5' promoter region of the Dys gene undergoing allele frequency changes in response to selection in the experimental evolution lines was tested in an independent population from Coffs Harbour, Australia. The allele frequencies of 23 SNPs common to the two populations were inferred from the parents of the 10% most and 10% least resistant Coffs Harbour flies. The frequencies of the selected alleles were higher at all sites, with three sites significantly associated with the resistant Coffs Harbour flies. This study illustrates how rapid mapping can be used for discovering natural molecular variants associated with survival to low humidity and provides a wealth of candidate alleles to explore the genetic basis of physiological differences among resistant and susceptible Drosophila populations and species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Telonis-Scott
- Department of Genetics, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Altered presynaptic ultrastructure in excitatory hippocampal synapses of mice lacking dystrophins Dp427 or Dp71. Neurobiol Dis 2011; 43:134-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2011.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2010] [Revised: 01/20/2011] [Accepted: 02/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
13
|
Wang Q, Cao DH, Jin CL, Lin CK, Ma HW, Wu YY. A Method of Utrophin Up-Regulation through RNAi-Mediated Knockdown of the Transcription Factor EN1. J Int Med Res 2011; 39:161-71. [PMID: 21672318 DOI: 10.1177/147323001103900117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to induce up-regulation of the dystrophin-related gene UTRN that encodes the protein utrophin, to determine whether this could compensate for the lack of dystrophin function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The human UTRN promoter, which contains two putative binding sites for homeobox protein engrailed-1 (EN1), was analysed. It was found that EN1 binding site 2 in the UTRN gene promoter directly interacted with transcription factor EN1 in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays of the EN1– UTRN promoter complex from rhabdomyosarcoma and HeLa cell lines confirmed that endogenous EN1 interacted with this region in vivo. The findings suggest that EN1 directly interacts with the UTRN promoter. Small interfering RNA was used to inhibit EN1 gene expression. Higher utrophin mRNA levels were observed in EN1-inhibited cells compared with controls. The increase in utrophin mRNA in rhabdomyosarcoma cells and HeLa cells may have resulted from inhibition of EN1 expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Q Wang
- Senior Profession College, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - D-H Cao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, No. 202 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Shenyang, China
| | - C-L Jin
- Department of Medical Genetics, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - C-K Lin
- Department of Medical Genetics, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - H-W Ma
- Department of Paediatrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Y-Y Wu
- Department of Paediatrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Mosqueira M, Willmann G, Ruohola-Baker H, Khurana TS. Chronic hypoxia impairs muscle function in the Drosophila model of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD). PLoS One 2010; 5:e13450. [PMID: 20975992 PMCID: PMC2958114 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2010] [Accepted: 09/24/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe progressive myopathy caused by mutations in the DMD gene leading to a deficiency of the dystrophin protein. Due to ongoing muscle necrosis in respiratory muscles late-stage DMD is associated with respiratory insufficiency and chronic hypoxia (CH). To understand the effects of CH on dystrophin-deficient muscle in vivo, we exposed the Drosophila model for DMD (dmDys) to CH during a 16-day ascent to the summit of Mount Denali/McKinley (6194 meters above sea level). Additionally, dmDys and wild type (WT) flies were also exposed to CH in laboratory simulations of high altitude hypoxia. Expression profiling was performed using Affymetrix GeneChips® and validated using qPCR. Hypoxic dmDys differentially expressed 1281 genes, whereas the hypoxic WT flies differentially expressed 56 genes. Interestingly, a number of genes (e.g. heat shock proteins) were discordantly regulated in response to CH between dmDys and WT. We tested the possibility that the disparate molecular responses of dystrophin-deficient tissues to CH could adversely affect muscle by performing functional assays in vivo. Normoxic and CH WT and dmDys flies were challenged with acute hypoxia and time-to-recover determined as well as subjected to climbing tests. Impaired performance was noted for CH-dmDys compared to normoxic dmDys or WT flies (rank order: Normoxic-WT ≈ CH-WT> Normoxic-dmDys> CH-dmDys). These data suggest that dystrophin-deficiency is associated with a disparate, pathological hypoxic stress response(s) and is more sensitive to hypoxia induced muscle dysfunction in vivo. We hypothesize that targeting/correcting the disparate molecular response(s) to hypoxia may offer a novel therapeutic strategy in DMD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matias Mosqueira
- Department of Physiology and Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Gabriel Willmann
- Department of Physiology and Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Hannele Ruohola-Baker
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Tejvir S. Khurana
- Department of Physiology and Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ueyama M, Akimoto Y, Ichimiya T, Ueda R, Kawakami H, Aigaki T, Nishihara S. Increased apoptosis of myoblasts in Drosophila model for the Walker-Warburg syndrome. PLoS One 2010; 5:e11557. [PMID: 20644630 PMCID: PMC2903483 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2009] [Accepted: 06/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Walker-Warburg syndrome, a progressive muscular dystrophy, is a severe disease with various kinds of symptoms such as muscle weakness and occasional seizures. The genes of protein O-mannosyltransferases 1 and 2 (POMT1 and POMT2), fukutin, and fukutin-related protein are responsible for this syndrome. In our previous study, we cloned Drosophila orthologs of human POMT1 and POMT2 and identified their activity. However, the mechanism of onset of this syndrome is not well understood. Furthermore, little is known about the behavioral properties of the Drosophila POMT1 and POMT2 mutants, which are called rotated abdomen (rt) and twisted (tw), respectively. First, we performed various kinds of behavioral tests and described in detail the muscle structures by using these mutants. The mutant flies exhibited abnormalities in heavy exercises such as climbing or flight but not in light movements such as locomotion. Defective motor function in mutants appeared immediately after eclosion and was exaggerated with aging. Along with motor function, muscle ultrastructure in the tw mutant was altered, as seen in human patients. We demonstrated that expression of RNA interference (RNAi) for the rt gene and the tw mutant was almost completely lethal and semi-lethal, respectively. Flies expressing RNAi had reduced lifespans. These findings clearly demonstrate that Drosophila POMT mutants are models for human muscular dystrophy. We then observed a high density of myoblasts with an enhanced degree of apoptosis in the tw mutant, which completely lost enzymatic activity. In this paper, we propose a novel mechanism for the development of muscular dystrophy: POMT mutation causes high myoblast density and position derangement, which result in apoptosis, muscle disorganization, and muscle cell defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morio Ueyama
- Department of Bioinformatics, Soka University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Akimoto
- Department of Anatomy, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomomi Ichimiya
- Department of Bioinformatics, Soka University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryu Ueda
- Invertebrate Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hayato Kawakami
- Department of Anatomy, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiro Aigaki
- Department of Biological Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoko Nishihara
- Department of Bioinformatics, Soka University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
It has been proposed that the apoptosis is an essential requirement for the evolution of all animals, in fact the apoptotic program is highly conserved from nematodes to mammals. Throughout development, apoptosis is employed by multicellular organisms to eliminate damaged or unnecessary cells. Here, we will discuss both developmental programmed cell death (PCD) under normal conditions and stress induced apoptosis, in sea urchin embryos. Sea urchin represent an excellent model system for studying embryogenesis and cellular processes involved in metamorphosis. PCD plays an essential role in sculpting and remodelling the embryos and larvae undergoing metamorphosis. Moreover, this marine organism directly interacts with its environment, and is susceptible to effects of several aquatic contaminants. Apoptosis can be adopted as a defence mechanism against any environmental chemical, physical and mechanical stress, for removing irreversibly damaged cells. This review, while not comprehensive in its reporting, aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on mechanisms to regulate physiological and the induced apoptotic program in sea urchin embryos.
Collapse
|
17
|
Pilgram GSK, Potikanond S, Baines RA, Fradkin LG, Noordermeer JN. The roles of the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex at the synapse. Mol Neurobiol 2009; 41:1-21. [PMID: 19899002 PMCID: PMC2840664 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-009-8089-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2009] [Accepted: 10/15/2009] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene and is characterized by progressive muscle wasting. A number of Duchenne patients also present with mental retardation. The dystrophin protein is part of the highly conserved dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (DGC) which accumulates at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and at a variety of synapses in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Many years of research into the roles of the DGC in muscle have revealed its structural function in stabilizing the sarcolemma. In addition, the DGC also acts as a scaffold for various signaling pathways. Here, we discuss recent advances in understanding DGC roles in the nervous system, gained from studies in both vertebrate and invertebrate model systems. From these studies, it has become clear that the DGC is important for the maturation of neurotransmitter receptor complexes and for the regulation of neurotransmitter release at the NMJ and central synapses. Furthermore, roles for the DGC have been established in consolidation of long-term spatial and recognition memory. The challenges ahead include the integration of the behavioral and mechanistic studies and the use of this information to identify therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gonneke S K Pilgram
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Peron S, Zordan MA, Magnabosco A, Reggiani C, Megighian A. From action potential to contraction: neural control and excitation-contraction coupling in larval muscles of Drosophila. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2009; 154:173-83. [PMID: 19427393 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.04.626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2009] [Revised: 04/16/2009] [Accepted: 04/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The neuromuscular system of Drosophila melanogaster has been studied for many years for its relative simplicity and because of the genetic and molecular versatilities. Three main types of striated muscles are present in this dipteran: fibrillar muscles, tubular muscles and supercontractile muscles. The visceral muscles in adult flies and the body wall segmental muscles in embryos and larvae belong to the group of supercontractile muscles. Larval body wall muscles have been the object of detailed studies as a model for neuromuscular junction function but have received much less attention with respect to their mechanical properties and to the control of contraction. In this review we wish to assess available information on the physiology of the Drosophila larval muscular system. Our aim is to establish whether this system has the requisites to be considered a good model in which to perform a functional characterization of Drosophila genes, with a known muscular expression, as well as Drosophila homologs of human genes, the dysfunction of which, is known to be associated with human hereditary muscle pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Peron
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Padua, Italy
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
The dystrophin Dp186 isoform regulates neurotransmitter release at a central synapse in Drosophila. J Neurosci 2008; 28:5105-14. [PMID: 18463264 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4950-07.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Dystrophin protein is encoded by a gene that, when mutated in humans, can cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease characterized by progressive muscle wasting. A number of Duchenne patients also exhibit poorly understood mental retardation, likely associated with loss of a brain-specific isoform. Furthermore, although Dystrophin isoforms and the related Utrophin protein have long been known to localize at synapses, their functions remain essentially unknown. In Drosophila, we find that the CNS-specific Dp186 isoform localizes to the embryonic and larval neuropiles, regions rich in synaptic contacts. In the absence of Dp186, evoked but not spontaneous presynaptic release is significantly enhanced. Increased presynaptic release can be fully rescued to wild-type levels by expression of a Dp186 transgene in the postsynaptic motoneuron, indicating that Dp186 likely regulates a retrograde signaling pathway. Potentiation of synaptic currents in the mutant also occurs when cholinergic transmission is inhibited or in the absence of Glass Bottom Boat (Gbb) or Wishful Thinking (Wit), a TGF-beta ligand and receptor, respectively, both previously implicated in synaptic retrograde signaling. These results are consistent with the possibility that Dp186 modulates other non-Gbb/Wit-dependent retrograde signaling pathways required to maintain normal synaptic physiology.
Collapse
|
20
|
Taghli-Lamallem O, Akasaka T, Hogg G, Nudel U, Yaffe D, Chamberlain JS, Ocorr K, Bodmer R. Dystrophin deficiency in Drosophila reduces lifespan and causes a dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype. Aging Cell 2008; 7:237-49. [PMID: 18221418 DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-9726.2008.00367.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of studies have been conducted recently on the model organism Drosophila to determine the function of genes involved in human disease, including those implicated in neurological disorders, cancer and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. The simple structure and physiology of the Drosophila heart tube together with the available genetics provide a suitable in vivo assay system for studying cardiac gene functions. In our study, we focus on analysis of the role of dystrophin (Dys) in heart physiology. As in humans, the Drosophila dys gene encodes multiple isoforms, of which the large isoforms (DLPs) and a truncated form (Dp117) are expressed in the adult heart. Here, we show that the loss of dys function in the heart leads to an age-dependent disruption of the myofibrillar organization within the myocardium as well as to alterations in cardiac performance. dys RNAi-mediated knockdown in the mesoderm also shortens lifespan. Knockdown of all or deletion of the large isoforms increases the heart rate by shortening the diastolic intervals (relaxation phase) of the cardiac cycle. Morphologically, loss of the large DLPs isoforms causes a widening of the cardiac tube and a lower fractional shortening, a phenotype reminiscent of dilated cardiomyopathy. The dilated dys mutant phenotype was reversed by expressing a truncated mammalian form of dys (Dp116). Our results illustrate the utility of Drosophila as a model system to study dilated cardiomyopathy and other muscular-dystrophy-associated phenotypes.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/genetics
- Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/mortality
- Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/physiopathology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drosophila/embryology
- Drosophila/genetics
- Drosophila/metabolism
- Drosophila Proteins/analysis
- Drosophila Proteins/genetics
- Drosophila Proteins/metabolism
- Dystrophin/deficiency
- Dystrophin/genetics
- Heart Defects, Congenital/mortality
- Heart Defects, Congenital/pathology
- Heart Defects, Congenital/physiopathology
- Heart Rate
- Longevity/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/congenital
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/physiopathology
- Myocardial Contraction
- Myocytes, Cardiac/pathology
- Myofibrils/genetics
- Myofibrils/pathology
- Phenotype
- Protein Isoforms
- Sequence Deletion
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ouarda Taghli-Lamallem
- Development and Aging Program, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, 10901 North Torrey Pines Rd, Building 7, Room 7125, La Jolla, Ca 92037, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Ervasti JM, Sonnemann KJ. Biology of the striated muscle dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CYTOLOGY 2008; 265:191-225. [PMID: 18275889 DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7696(07)65005-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Since its first description in 1990, the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex has emerged as a critical nexus for human muscular dystrophies arising from defects in a variety of distinct genes. Studies in mammals widely support a primary role for the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex in mechanical stabilization of the plasma membrane in striated muscle and provide hints for secondary functions in organizing molecules involved in cellular signaling. Studies in model organisms confirm the importance of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex for muscle cell viability and have provided new leads toward a full understanding of its secondary roles in muscle biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James M Ervasti
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Sparrow J, Hughes SM, Segalat L. Other model organisms for sarcomeric muscle diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2008; 642:192-206. [PMID: 19181102 PMCID: PMC3360967 DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-84847-1_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Model organisms are vital to our understanding of human muscle biology and disease. The potential of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster and the zebrafish, Danio rerio, as model genetic organisms for the study of human muscle disease is discussed by examining their muscle biology, muscle genetics and development. The powerful genetic tools available with each organism are outlined. It is concluded that these organisms have already demonstrated potential in facilitating the study of muscle disease and in screening for therapeutic agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Sparrow
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO1 5DD, UK. Tel: 44-1904-328675; Fax: 44-1904-328825;
| | - Simon M. Hughes
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics and MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, New Hunt’s House, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London, SE1 1UL. Tel: 44-20 7848 6445; Fax: 44-7848 6435;
| | - Laurent Segalat
- CNRS-CGMC, Universite Lyon-1 Claude Bernard, Batiment Mendel, 43 bld du 11 Novembre, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France. Tel: 33-4-72-43-29-51; Fax: 33-4-72-43-29-51;
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Haines N, Seabrooke S, Stewart BA. Dystroglycan and protein O-mannosyltransferases 1 and 2 are required to maintain integrity of Drosophila larval muscles. Mol Biol Cell 2007; 18:4721-30. [PMID: 17881734 PMCID: PMC2096576 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e07-01-0047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2007] [Accepted: 09/11/2007] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In vertebrates, mutations in Protein O-mannosyltransferase1 (POMT1) or POMT2 are associated with muscular dystrophy due to a requirement for O-linked mannose glycans on the Dystroglycan (Dg) protein. In this study we examine larval body wall muscles of Drosophila mutant for Dg, or RNA interference knockdown for Dg and find defects in muscle attachment, altered muscle contraction, and a change in muscle membrane resistance. To determine if POMTs are required for Dg function in Drosophila, we examine larvae mutant for genes encoding POMT1 or POMT2. Larvae mutant for either POMT, or doubly mutant for both, show muscle attachment and muscle contraction phenotypes identical to those associated with reduced Dg function, consistent with a requirement for O-linked mannose on Drosophila Dg. Together these data establish a central role for Dg in maintaining integrity in Drosophila larval muscles and demonstrate the importance of glycosylation to Dg function in Drosophila. This study opens the possibility of using Drosophila to investigate muscular dystrophy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Haines
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L 1C6.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
van der Plas MC, Pilgram GSK, de Jong AWM, Bansraj MRKS, Fradkin LG, Noordermeer JN. Drosophila Dystrophin is required for integrity of the musculature. Mech Dev 2007; 124:617-30. [PMID: 17543506 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2007.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2006] [Revised: 03/17/2007] [Accepted: 04/16/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene and is characterized by progressive muscle wasting. The highly conserved dystrophin gene encodes a number of protein isoforms. The Dystrophin protein is part of a large protein assembly, the Dystrophin glycoprotein complex, which stabilizes the muscle membrane during contraction and acts as a scaffold for signaling molecules. How the absence of Dystrophin results in the onset of muscular dystrophy remains unclear. Here, we have used transgenic RNA interference to examine the roles of the Drosophila Dystrophin isoforms in muscle. We previously reported that one of the Drosophila Dystrophin orthologs, the DLP2 isoform, is not required to maintain muscle integrity, but plays a role in neuromuscular homeostasis by regulating neurotransmitter release. In this report, we show that reduction of all Dystrophin isoform expression levels in the musculature does not apparently affect myogenesis or muscle attachment, but results in progressive muscle degeneration in larvae and adult flies. We find that a recently identified Dystrophin isoform, Dp117, is expressed in the musculature and is required for muscle integrity. Muscle fibers with reduced levels of Dp117 display disorganized actin-myosin filaments and the cellular hallmarks of necrosis. Our results indicate the existence of at least two possibly separate roles of dystrophin in muscle, maintaining synaptic homeostasis and preserving the structural stability of the muscle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariska C van der Plas
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Shcherbata HR, Yatsenko AS, Patterson L, Sood VD, Nudel U, Yaffe D, Baker D, Ruohola-Baker H. Dissecting muscle and neuronal disorders in a Drosophila model of muscular dystrophy. EMBO J 2007; 26:481-93. [PMID: 17215867 PMCID: PMC1783456 DOI: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2006] [Accepted: 11/22/2006] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Perturbation in the Dystroglycan (Dg)-Dystrophin (Dys) complex results in muscular dystrophies and brain abnormalities in human. Here we report that Drosophila is an excellent genetically tractable model to study muscular dystrophies and neuronal abnormalities caused by defects in this complex. Using a fluorescence polarization assay, we show a high conservation in Dg-Dys interaction between human and Drosophila. Genetic and RNAi-induced perturbations of Dg and Dys in Drosophila cause cell polarity and muscular dystrophy phenotypes: decreased mobility, age-dependent muscle degeneration and defective photoreceptor path-finding. Dg and Dys are required in targeting glial cells and neurons for correct neuronal migration. Importantly, we now report that Dg interacts with insulin receptor and Nck/Dock SH2/SH3-adaptor molecule in photoreceptor path-finding. This is the first demonstration of a genetic interaction between Dg and InR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Halyna R Shcherbata
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andriy S Yatsenko
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Ivan Franko National University in Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Larissa Patterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Vanita D Sood
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Uri Nudel
- Molecular Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - David Yaffe
- Molecular Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - David Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hannele Ruohola-Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Box 357350, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Tel.: +1 206 543 1710; Fax: +1 206 685 1792; E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
van der Plas MC, Pilgram GSK, Plomp JJ, de Jong A, Fradkin LG, Noordermeer JN. Dystrophin is required for appropriate retrograde control of neurotransmitter release at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. J Neurosci 2006; 26:333-44. [PMID: 16399704 PMCID: PMC6674336 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4069-05.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the human dystrophin gene cause the Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies. The Dystrophin protein provides a structural link between the muscle cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix to maintain muscle integrity. Recently, Dystrophin has also been found to act as a scaffold for several signaling molecules, but the roles of dystrophin-mediated signaling pathways remain unknown. To further our understanding of this aspect of the function of dystrophin, we have generated Drosophila mutants that lack the large dystrophin isoforms and analyzed their role in synapse function at the neuromuscular junction. In expression and rescue studies, we show that lack of the large dystrophin isoforms in the postsynaptic muscle cell leads to elevated evoked neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic apparatus. Overall synapse size, the size of the readily releasable vesicle pool as assessed with hypertonic shock, and the number of presynaptic neurotransmitter release sites (active zones) are not changed in the mutants. Short-term synaptic facilitation of evoked transmitter release is decreased in the mutants, suggesting that the absence of dystrophin results in increased probability of release. Absence of the large dystrophin isoforms does not lead to changes in muscle cell morphology or alterations in the postsynaptic electrical response to spontaneously released neurotransmitter. Therefore, postsynaptic glutamate receptor function does not appear to be affected. Our results indicate that the postsynaptically localized scaffolding protein Dystrophin is required for appropriate control of neuromuscular synaptic homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariska C van der Plas
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Neuman S, Kovalio M, Yaffe D, Nudel U. The Drosophila homologue of the dystrophin gene - introns containing promoters are the major contributors to the large size of the gene. FEBS Lett 2005; 579:5365-71. [PMID: 16198353 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.08.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2005] [Revised: 08/25/2005] [Accepted: 08/29/2005] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We show that the drosophila gene encoding the dystrophin-like protein (DLP) is as complex as the mammalian dystrophin gene. Three 5' promoters and three internal promoters regulate the expression of three full-length and three truncated products, respectively. The existence of this complex gene structure in such evolutionary remote organisms suggests that both types of products have diverse important functions. The promoters of both the DLP gene and the mammalian dystrophin gene are located in very large introns. These introns contribute significantly to the large size of the genes. The possible relevance of the conservation of the large size of introns containing promoters to the regulation of promoter activity is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Neuman
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Abstract
This is the first of a projected series of canonic reviews covering all invertebrate muscle literature prior to 2005 and covers muscle genes and proteins except those involved in excitation-contraction coupling (e.g., the ryanodine receptor) and those forming ligand- and voltage-dependent channels. Two themes are of primary importance. The first is the evolutionary antiquity of muscle proteins. Actin, myosin, and tropomyosin (at least, the presence of other muscle proteins in these organisms has not been examined) exist in muscle-like cells in Radiata, and almost all muscle proteins are present across Bilateria, implying that the first Bilaterian had a complete, or near-complete, complement of present-day muscle proteins. The second is the extraordinary diversity of protein isoforms and genetic mechanisms for producing them. This rich diversity suggests that studying invertebrate muscle proteins and genes can be usefully applied to resolve phylogenetic relationships and to understand protein assembly coevolution. Fully achieving these goals, however, will require examination of a much broader range of species than has been heretofore performed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott L Hooper
- Neuroscience Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Irvine Hall, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Soustelle L, Jacques C, Altenhein B, Technau GM, Volk T, Giangrande A. Terminal tendon cell differentiation requires the glide/gcm complex. Development 2004; 131:4521-32. [PMID: 15342477 DOI: 10.1242/dev.01290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Locomotion relies on stable attachment of muscle fibres to their target sites, a process that allows for muscle contraction to generate movement. Here, we show that glide/gcm and glide2/gcm2, the fly glial cell determinants, are expressed in a subpopulation of embryonic tendon cells and required for their terminal differentiation. By using loss-of-function approaches, we show that in the absence of both genes, muscle attachment to tendon cells is altered, even though the molecular cascade induced by stripe, the tendon cell determinant, is normal. Moreover, we show that glide/gcm activates a new tendon cell gene independently of stripe. Finally, we show that segment polarity genes control the epidermal expression of glide/gcm and determine, within the segment,whether it induces glial or tendon cell-specific markers. Thus, under the control of positional cues, glide/gcm triggers a new molecular pathway involved in terminal tendon cell differentiation, which allows the establishment of functional muscle attachment sites and locomotion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Soustelle
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/ULP, BP 10142, 67404 Illkirch Cedex, C.U. de Strasbourg, France
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Bassett DI, Currie PD. The zebrafish as a model for muscular dystrophy and congenital myopathy. Hum Mol Genet 2004; 12 Spec No 2:R265-70. [PMID: 14504264 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddg279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The muscular dystrophies and congenital myopathies are inherited diseases of the skeletal muscle, which lead to a loss of muscle function and are often fatal. While many of the loci involved are already known, these conditions remain incurable, and genetic models are being developed in an effort to understand the pathological mechanisms involved. Recently several papers have shown that the zebrafish, which is now widely used in developmental genetic studies, will provide a useful addition to our toolkit in this regard. Here we describe these studies, including a zebrafish model of what is potentially the novel pathological mechanism of muscle attachment failure in Duchenne and other muscular dystrophies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David I Bassett
- Comparative and Developmental Genetics Section, Western General Hospital, Edingburgh, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Dekkers LC, van der Plas MC, van Loenen PB, den Dunnen JT, van Ommen GJB, Fradkin LG, Noordermeer JN. Embryonic expression patterns of the Drosophila dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex orthologs. Gene Expr Patterns 2004; 4:153-9. [PMID: 15161095 DOI: 10.1016/j.modgep.2003.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2003] [Revised: 09/15/2003] [Accepted: 09/15/2003] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in genes encoding proteins of the human dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (DGC) cause the Duchenne, Becker and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies. Subsets of the DGC proteins form tissue-specific complexes which are thought to play structural and signaling roles in the muscle and at the neuromuscular junction. Furthermore, mutations in the dystrophin gene that lead to Duchenne muscular dystrophy are frequently associated with cognitive and behavioral deficits, suggesting a role for dystrophin in the nervous system. Despite significant progress over the past decade, many fundamental questions about the roles played by dystrophin and the other DGC proteins in the muscle and peripheral and central nervous systems remain to be answered. Mammalian models of DGC gene function are complicated by the existence of fully or partially redundant genes whose functions can mask effects of the inactivation of a given DGC gene. The genome of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster encodes a single ortholog of the majority of the mammalian DGC protein subclasses, thus potentially simplifying their functional analysis. We report here the embryonic mRNA expression patterns of the individual DGC orthologs. We find that they are predominantly expressed in the nervous system and in muscle. Dystrophin, dystrobrevin-like, dystroglycan-like, syntrophin-like 1, and all three sarcoglycan orthologs are found in the brain and the ventral nerve cord, while dystrophin, dystrobrevin-like, dystroglycan-like, syntrophin-like 2, sarcoglycan alpha and sarcoglycan delta are expressed in distinct and sometimes overlapping domains of mesoderm-derived tissues, i.e. muscles of the body wall and around the gut.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linda C Dekkers
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Wassenaarseweg 72, 2333 AL Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Collins CA, Morgan JE. Duchenne's muscular dystrophy: animal models used to investigate pathogenesis and develop therapeutic strategies. Int J Exp Pathol 2003; 84:165-72. [PMID: 14632630 PMCID: PMC2517561 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2613.2003.00354.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal childhood disease caused by mutations of the dystrophin gene, the protein product of which, dystrophin, has a vital role in maintaining muscle structure and function. Homologues of DMD have been identified in several animals including dogs, cats, mice, fish and invertebrates. The most notable of these are the extensively studied mdx mouse, a genetic and biochemical model of the human disease, and the muscular dystrophic Golden Retriever dog, which is the nearest pathological counterpart of DMD. These models have been used to explore potential therapeutic approaches along a number of avenues including gene replacement and cell transplantation strategies. High-throughput screening of pharmacological and genetic therapies could potentially be carried out in recently available smaller models such as zebrafish and Caenorhabditis elegans. It is possible that a successful treatment will eventually be identified through the integration of studies in multiple species differentially suited to addressing particular questions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C A Collins
- Muscle Cell Biology Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Pozzoli U, Elgar G, Cagliani R, Riva L, Comi GP, Bresolin N, Bardoni A, Sironi M. Comparative analysis of vertebrate dystrophin loci indicate intron gigantism as a common feature. Genome Res 2003; 13:764-72. [PMID: 12727896 PMCID: PMC430921 DOI: 10.1101/gr.776503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The human DMD gene is the largest known to date, spanning > 2000 kb on the X chromosome. The gene size is mainly accounted for by huge intronic regions. We sequenced 190 kb of Fugu rubripes (pufferfish) genomic DNA corresponding to the complete dystrophin gene (FrDMD) and provide the first report of gene structure and sequence comparison among dystrophin genomic sequences from different vertebrate organisms. Almost all intron positions and phases are conserved between FrDMD and its mammalian counterparts, and the predicted protein product of the Fugu gene displays 55% identity and 71% similarity to human dystrophin. In analogy to the human gene, FrDMD presents several-fold longer than average intronic regions. Analysis of intron sequences of the human and murine genes revealed that they are extremely conserved in size and that a similar fraction of total intron length is represented by repetitive elements; moreover, our data indicate that intron expansion through repeat accumulation in the two orthologs is the result of independent insertional events. The hypothesis that intron length might be functionally relevant to the DMD gene regulation is proposed and substantiated by the finding that dystrophin intron gigantism is common to the three vertebrate genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uberto Pozzoli
- IRCCS E. Medea, Associazione La Nostra Famiglia, 23842 Bosisio Parini (LC), Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Cerletti M, Negri T, Cozzi F, Colpo R, Andreetta F, Croci D, Davies KE, Cornelio F, Pozza O, Karpati G, Gilbert R, Mora M. Dystrophic phenotype of canine X-linked muscular dystrophy is mitigated by adenovirus-mediated utrophin gene transfer. Gene Ther 2003; 10:750-7. [PMID: 12704413 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Utrophin is highly homologous and structurally similar to dystrophin, and in gene delivery experiments in mdx mice was able to functionally replace dystrophin. We performed mini-utrophin gene transfer in Golden Retriever dogs with canine muscular dystrophy (CXMD). Unlike the mouse model, the clinicopathological phenotype of CXMD is similar to that of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We injected an adenoviral vector expressing a synthetic utrophin into tibialis anterior muscles of newborn dogs affected with CXMD and examined transgene expression by RNA and protein analysis at 10, 30 and 60 days postinjection in cyclosporin-treated and -untreated animals. Immunosuppression by cyclosporin was required to mitigate the immune response to viral and transgene antigens. RT-PCR analysis showed the presence of the exogenous transcript in the muscle of cyclosporin-treated and -untreated animals. The transgenic utrophin was efficiently expressed at the extrajunctional membrane in immunosuppressed dogs and this expression was stable for at least 60 days. We found reduced fibrosis and increased expression of dystrophin-associated proteins (DAPs) in association with muscle areas expressing the utrophin minigene, indicating that mini-utrophin can functionally compensate for lack of dystrophin in injected muscles. For this reason, utrophin transfer to dystrophin-deficient muscle appears as a promising therapeutic approach to DMD.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Adenoviridae/genetics
- Animals
- CD4 Lymphocyte Count
- Cyclosporine/therapeutic use
- Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics
- Dog Diseases/immunology
- Dog Diseases/pathology
- Dog Diseases/therapy
- Dogs
- Dystrophin/metabolism
- Female
- Fibrosis
- Gene Expression
- Genetic Therapy/methods
- Genetic Vectors/administration & dosage
- Genetic Vectors/genetics
- Immunohistochemistry/methods
- Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use
- Male
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Models, Animal
- Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/immunology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/therapy
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/immunology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/therapy
- Transduction, Genetic/methods
- Transgenes
- Utrophin
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Cerletti
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Istituto Nazionale Neurologico 'C. Besta' Milano, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Chambers SP, Anderson LVB, Maguire GM, Dodd A, Love DR. Sarcoglycans of the zebrafish: orthology and localization to the sarcolemma and myosepta of muscle. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003; 303:488-95. [PMID: 12659844 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-291x(03)00355-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The zebrafish is an established model of vertebrate development and is also receiving increasing attention in terms of human disease modelling. In order to provide experimental support to realize this modelling potential, we report here the identification of apparent orthologues of many critical members of the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (DGC) that have been implicated in a diverse range of neuromuscular disorders. In addition, immunohistochemical studies show the localization of the DGC to the sarcolemma of adult zebrafish muscle and in particular the myosepta. Together, these data suggest that the DGC in adult zebrafish may play a highly conserved functional role in muscle architecture that, when disrupted, could offer insight into human neuromuscular disease processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Chambers
- Molecular Genetics and Development Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Lasko P. Diabetic flies? Using Drosophila melanogaster to understand the causes of monogenic and genetically complex diseases. Clin Genet 2002; 62:358-67. [PMID: 12431248 DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-0004.2002.620502.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Approximately three-quarters of human disease loci have counterparts in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. This model organism is therefore extremely valuable for using to understand the role of these loci in normal development, and for unravelling genetic pathways in which these loci take part. Important advantages for Drosophila in such studies are its completed genome, the unparalleled collection of mutations already in existence, the relative ease in which new mutations can be generated, the existence of convenient techniques for inactivating or overexpressing genes in dispensable tissues that are easily observed and measured, and the ability to readily carry out second-site modifier genetics. Recent work in Drosophila on the insulin-signaling pathway, a pathway of profound clinical importance, is reviewed as an illustration of how such research can provide fundamental insights into the functions of this pathway in regulating growth and development. Moreover, Drosophila research is now identifying heretofore unknown regulators of insulin signaling, as well as indicating novel functions for this pathway in suppressing benign tumor formation and regulating life span.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Lasko
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Rybakova IN, Patel JR, Davies KE, Yurchenco PD, Ervasti JM. Utrophin binds laterally along actin filaments and can couple costameric actin with sarcolemma when overexpressed in dystrophin-deficient muscle. Mol Biol Cell 2002; 13:1512-21. [PMID: 12006649 PMCID: PMC111123 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.01-09-0446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2001] [Revised: 12/21/2001] [Accepted: 01/28/2002] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Dystrophin is widely thought to mechanically link the cortical cytoskeleton with the muscle sarcolemma. Although the dystrophin homolog utrophin can functionally compensate for dystrophin in mice, recent studies question whether utrophin can bind laterally along actin filaments and anchor filaments to the sarcolemma. Herein, we have expressed full-length recombinant utrophin and show that the purified protein is fully soluble with a native molecular weight and molecular dimensions indicative of monomers. We demonstrate that like dystrophin, utrophin can form an extensive lateral association with actin filaments and protect actin filaments from depolymerization in vitro. However, utrophin binds laterally along actin filaments through contribution of acidic spectrin-like repeats rather than the cluster of basic repeats used by dystrophin. We also show that the defective linkage between costameric actin filaments and the sarcolemma in dystrophin-deficient mdx muscle is rescued by overexpression of utrophin. Our results demonstrate that utrophin and dystrophin are functionally interchangeable actin binding proteins, but that the molecular epitopes important for filament binding differ between the two proteins. More generally, our results raise the possibility that spectrin-like repeats may enable some members of the plakin family of cytolinkers to laterally bind and stabilize actin filaments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inna N Rybakova
- Department of Physiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison 53706, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Pozzoli U, Sironi M, Cagliani R, Comi GP, Bardoni A, Bresolin N. Comparative analysis of the human dystrophin and utrophin gene structures. Genetics 2002; 160:793-8. [PMID: 11861579 PMCID: PMC1461978 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/160.2.793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We present analysis of intronic sequences in the human DMD and UTRN genes. In both genes accumulation of repeated elements could account for intron expansion. Out-of-frame rod-domain exons have stronger splice sites and are separated by significantly longer introns as compared to in-frame exons. These features are unique for the two homologs and not shared by other spectrin superfamily genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uberto Pozzoli
- IRCCS E. Medea, Associazione La Nostra Famiglia, 23842 Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Chambers SP, Dodd A, Overall R, Sirey T, Lam LT, Morris GE, Love DR. Dystrophin in adult zebrafish muscle. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001; 286:478-83. [PMID: 11511083 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.5424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the human dystrophin gene are implicated in the fatal muscle wasting disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). This gene expresses a sarcolemmal-associated protein that is evolutionarily conserved, underpinning its important role in the architecture of muscle. In terms of DMD modelling, the mouse has served as a suitable vertebrate species but the pathophysiology of the disease in the mouse does not entirely mimic human DMD. We have examined the zebrafish in order to expand the repertoire of vertebrate species for muscle disease modelling, and to dissect further the functional interactions of dystrophin. We report here the identification of an apparent zebrafish orthologue of the human dystrophin gene that expresses a 400-kDa protein that is localised to the muscle membrane surface. These data suggest that the zebrafish may prove to be a beneficial vertebrate model to examine the role and functional interactions of dystrophin in disease and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S P Chambers
- Molecular Genetics and Development Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|