1
|
Singh DJ, Tuscano KM, Ortega AL, Dimri M, Tae K, Lee W, Muslim MA, Rivera Paz IM, Liu JL, Pierce LX, McClendon A, Gibson I, Livesay J, Sakaguchi TF. Forward genetics combined with unsupervised classifications identified zebrafish mutants affecting biliary system formation. Dev Biol 2024; 512:44-56. [PMID: 38729406 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Impaired formation of the biliary network can lead to congenital cholestatic liver diseases; however, the genes responsible for proper biliary system formation and maintenance have not been fully identified. Combining computational network structure analysis algorithms with a zebrafish forward genetic screen, we identified 24 new zebrafish mutants that display impaired intrahepatic biliary network formation. Complementation tests suggested these 24 mutations affect 24 different genes. We applied unsupervised clustering algorithms to unbiasedly classify the recovered mutants into three classes. Further computational analysis revealed that each of the recovered mutations in these three classes has a unique phenotype on node-subtype composition and distribution within the intrahepatic biliary network. In addition, we found most of the recovered mutations are viable. In those mutant fish, which are already good animal models to study chronic cholestatic liver diseases, the biliary network phenotypes persist into adulthood. Altogether, this study provides unique genetic and computational toolsets that advance our understanding of the molecular pathways leading to biliary system malformation and cholestatic liver diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Divya Jyoti Singh
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Kathryn M Tuscano
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Amrhen L Ortega
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Manali Dimri
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Kevin Tae
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - William Lee
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Muslim A Muslim
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Isabela M Rivera Paz
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jay L Liu
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Lain X Pierce
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Allyson McClendon
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Isabel Gibson
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jodi Livesay
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Takuya F Sakaguchi
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wang Z, Ke J, Guo Z, Wang Y, Lei K, Wang S, Chen G, Shen Z, Li W, Ou G. Transposase-assisted tagmentation: an economical and scalable strategy for single-worm whole-genome sequencing. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae094. [PMID: 38856093 PMCID: PMC11228870 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
AlphaMissense identifies 23 million human missense variants as likely pathogenic, but only 0.1% have been clinically classified. To experimentally validate these predictions, chemical mutagenesis presents a rapid, cost-effective method to produce billions of mutations in model organisms. However, the prohibitive costs and limitations in the throughput of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technologies, crucial for variant identification, constrain its widespread application. Here, we introduce a Tn5 transposase-assisted tagmentation technique for conducting WGS in Caenorhabditis elegans, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This method, demands merely 20 min of hands-on time for a single-worm or single-cell clones and incurs a cost below 10 US dollars. It effectively pinpoints causal mutations in mutants defective in cilia or neurotransmitter secretion and in mutants synthetically sterile with a variant analogous to the B-Raf Proto-oncogene, Serine/Threonine Kinase (BRAF) V600E mutation. Integrated with chemical mutagenesis, our approach can generate and identify missense variants economically and efficiently, facilitating experimental investigations of missense variants in diverse species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jingyi Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zhengyang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Kexin Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Shimin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Guanghan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zijie Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Wei Li
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Guangshuo Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences and MOE Key Laboratory for Protein Science, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100190, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhao W, Huang R, Ran D, Zhang Y, Qu Z, Zheng S. Inhibiting HSD17B8 suppresses the cell proliferation caused by PTEN failure. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12280. [PMID: 38811827 PMCID: PMC11137105 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63052-5] [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: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Loss of the tumor suppressor PTEN homolog daf-18 in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) triggers diapause cell division during L1 arrest. While prior studies have delved into established pathways, our investigation takes an innovative route. Through forward genetic screening in C. elegans, we pinpoint a new player, F12E12.11, regulated by daf-18, impacting cell proliferation independently of PTEN's typical phosphatase activity. F12E12.11 is an ortholog of human estradiol 17-beta-dehydrogenase 8 (HSD17B8), which converts estradiol to estrone through its NAD-dependent 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. We found that PTEN engages in a physical interplay with HSD17B8, introducing a distinctive suppression mechanism. The reduction in estrone levels and accumulation of estradiol may arrest tumor cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle through MAPK/ERK. Our study illuminates an unconventional protein interplay, providing insights into how PTEN modulates tumor suppression by restraining cell division through intricate molecular interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan Province, China
- Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, Henan Provincial Engineering Centre for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan Province, China
| | - Ruiting Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan Province, China
| | - Dongyang Ran
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan Province, China
| | - Yutong Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan Province, China
| | - Zhi Qu
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan Province, China.
| | - Shanqing Zheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan Province, China.
- Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, Henan Provincial Engineering Centre for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Koopman M, Güngördü L, Janssen L, Seinstra RI, Richmond JE, Okerlund N, Wardenaar R, Islam P, Hogewerf W, Brown AEX, Jorgensen EM, Nollen EAA. Rebalancing the motor circuit restores movement in a Caenorhabditis elegans model for TDP-43 toxicity. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114204. [PMID: 38748878 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114204] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis can be caused by abnormal accumulation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in the cytoplasm of neurons. Here, we use a C. elegans model for TDP-43-induced toxicity to identify the biological mechanisms that lead to disease-related phenotypes. By applying deep behavioral phenotyping and subsequent dissection of the neuromuscular circuit, we show that TDP-43 worms have profound defects in GABA neurons. Moreover, acetylcholine neurons appear functionally silenced. Enhancing functional output of repressed acetylcholine neurons at the level of, among others, G-protein-coupled receptors restores neurotransmission, but inefficiently rescues locomotion. Rebalancing the excitatory-to-inhibitory ratio in the neuromuscular system by simultaneous stimulation of the affected GABA- and acetylcholine neurons, however, not only synergizes the effects of boosting individual neurotransmitter systems, but instantaneously improves movement. Our results suggest that interventions accounting for the altered connectome may be more efficient in restoring motor function than those solely focusing on diseased neuron populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mandy Koopman
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Lale Güngördü
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Leen Janssen
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Renée I Seinstra
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Janet E Richmond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Nathan Okerlund
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and School of Biological Science, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - René Wardenaar
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Priota Islam
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Wytse Hogewerf
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Andre E X Brown
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Erik M Jorgensen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and School of Biological Science, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Ellen A A Nollen
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shi Y, Cui C, Chen S, Chen S, Wang Y, Xu Q, Yang L, Ye J, Hong Z, Hu H. Worm-Based Diagnosis Combining Microfluidics toward Early Cancer Screening. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:484. [PMID: 38675295 PMCID: PMC11052135 DOI: 10.3390/mi15040484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Early cancer diagnosis increases therapy efficiency and saves huge medical costs. Traditional blood-based cancer markers and endoscopy procedures demonstrate limited capability in the diagnosis. Reliable, non-invasive, and cost-effective methods are in high demand across the world. Worm-based diagnosis, utilizing the chemosensory neuronal system of C. elegans, emerges as a non-invasive approach for early cancer diagnosis with high sensitivity. It facilitates effectiveness in large-scale cancer screening for the foreseeable future. Here, we review the progress of a unique route of early cancer diagnosis based on the chemosensory neuronal system of C. elegans. We first introduce the basic procedures of the chemotaxis assay of C. elegans: synchronization, behavior assay, immobilization, and counting. Then, we review the progress of each procedure and the various cancer types for which this method has achieved early diagnosis. For each procedure, we list examples of microfluidics technologies that have improved the automation, throughput, and efficiency of each step or module. Finally, we envision that microfluidics technologies combined with the chemotaxis assay of C. elegans can lead to an automated, cost-effective, non-invasive early cancer screening technology, with the development of more mature microfluidic modules as well as systematic integration of functional modules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yutao Shi
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China (S.C.); (Q.X.)
| | - Chen Cui
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China (S.C.); (Q.X.)
| | - Shengzhi Chen
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China (S.C.); (Q.X.)
| | - Siyu Chen
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China (S.C.); (Q.X.)
| | - Yiheng Wang
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China (S.C.); (Q.X.)
| | - Qingyang Xu
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China (S.C.); (Q.X.)
| | - Lan Yang
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China (S.C.); (Q.X.)
| | - Jiayi Ye
- Zhejiang University-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJU-UIUC Institute), International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China
| | - Zhi Hong
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China (S.C.); (Q.X.)
| | - Huan Hu
- Zhejiang University-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJU-UIUC Institute), International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yarychkivska O, Sharmin R, Elkhalil A, Ghose P. Apoptosis and beyond: A new era for programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 154:14-22. [PMID: 36792437 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Programmed cell death (PCD) is crucial for normal development and homeostasis. Our first insights into the genetic regulation of apoptotic cell death came from in vivo studies in the powerful genetic model system of C. elegans. More recently, novel developmental cell death programs occurring both embryonically and post-embryonically, and sex-specifically, have been elucidated. Recent studies in the apoptotic setting have also shed new light on the intricacies of phagocytosis in particular. This review provides a brief historical perspective of the origins of PCD studies in C. elegans, followed by a more detailed description of non-canonical apoptotic and non-apoptotic death programs. We conclude by posing open questions and commenting on our outlook on the future of PCD studies in C. elegans, highlighting the importance of advanced imaging tools and the continued leveraging of C. elegans genetics both with classical and modern cutting-edge approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Piya Ghose
- The University of Texas at Arlington, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kamal M, Mukherjee S, Joshi B, Sindhu ZUD, Wangchuk P, Haider S, Ahmed N, Talukder MH, Geary TG, Yadav AK. Model nematodes as a practical innovation to promote high throughput screening of natural products for anthelmintics discovery in South Asia: Current challenges, proposed practical and conceptual solutions. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2023; 256:111594. [PMID: 37730126 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2023.111594] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
With the increasing prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in animals recorded globally, and the threat of resistance in human helminths, the need for novel anthelmintic drugs is greater than ever. Most research aimed at discovering novel anthelmintic leads relies on high throughput screening (HTS) of large libraries of synthetic small molecules in industrial and academic settings in developed countries, even though it is the tropical countries that are most plagued by helminth infections. Tropical countries, however, have the advantage of possessing a rich flora that may yield natural products (NP) with promising anthelmintic activity. Focusing on South Asia, which produces one of the world's highest research outputs in NP and NP-based anthelmintic discovery, we find that limited basic research and funding, a lack of awareness of the utility of model organisms, poor industry-academia partnerships and lack of technological innovations greatly limit anthelmintics research in the region. Here we propose that utilizing model organisms including the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, that can potentially allow rapid target identification of novel anthelmintics, and Oscheius tipulae, a closely related, free-living nematode which is found abundantly in soil in hotter temperatures, could be a much-needed innovation that can enable cost-effective and efficient HTS of NPs for discovering compounds with anthelmintic/antiparasitic potential in South Asia and other tropical regions that historically have devoted limited funding for such research. Additionally, increased collaborations at the national, regional and international level between parasitologists and pharmacologists/ethnobotanists, setting up government-industry-academia partnerships to fund academic research, creating a centralized, regional collection of plant extracts or purified NPs as a dereplication strategy and HTS library, and holding regional C. elegans/O. tipulae-based anthelmintics workshops and conferences to share knowledge and resources regarding model organisms may collectively promote and foster a NP-based anthelmintics landscape in South Asia and beyond.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muntasir Kamal
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Suprabhat Mukherjee
- Department of Animal Science, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol 713340, West Bengal, India
| | - Bishnu Joshi
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zia-Ud-Din Sindhu
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Phurpa Wangchuk
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, QLD 4878, Australia
| | | | - Nurnabi Ahmed
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
| | | | - Timothy G Geary
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University-Belfast, Belfast, NI, UK
| | - Arun K Yadav
- Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Han M, Perkins MH, Novaes LS, Xu T, Chang H. Advances in transposable elements: from mechanisms to applications in mammalian genomics. Front Genet 2023; 14:1290146. [PMID: 38098473 PMCID: PMC10719622 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1290146] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been 70 years since Barbara McClintock discovered transposable elements (TE), and the mechanistic studies and functional applications of transposable elements have been at the forefront of life science research. As an essential part of the genome, TEs have been discovered in most species of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and the relative proportion of the total genetic sequence they comprise gradually increases with the expansion of the genome. In humans, TEs account for about 40% of the genome and are deeply involved in gene regulation, chromosome structure maintenance, inflammatory response, and the etiology of genetic and non-genetic diseases. In-depth functional studies of TEs in mammalian cells and the human body have led to a greater understanding of these fundamental biological processes. At the same time, as a potent mutagen and efficient genome editing tool, TEs have been transformed into biological tools critical for developing new techniques. By controlling the random insertion of TEs into the genome to change the phenotype in cells and model organisms, critical proteins of many diseases have been systematically identified. Exploiting the TE's highly efficient in vitro insertion activity has driven the development of cutting-edge sequencing technologies. Recently, a new technology combining CRISPR with TEs was reported, which provides a novel targeted insertion system to both academia and industry. We suggest that interrogating biological processes that generally depend on the actions of TEs with TEs-derived genetic tools is a very efficient strategy. For example, excessive activation of TEs is an essential factor in the occurrence of cancer in humans. As potent mutagens, TEs have also been used to unravel the key regulatory elements and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Through this review, we aim to effectively combine the traditional views of TEs with recent research progress, systematically link the mechanistic discoveries of TEs with the technological developments of TE-based tools, and provide a comprehensive approach and understanding for researchers in different fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mei Han
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
| | - Matthew H. Perkins
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Leonardo Santana Novaes
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tao Xu
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Chang
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Alexander KD, Ramachandran S, Biswas K, Lambert CM, Russell J, Oliver DB, Armstrong W, Rettler M, Liu S, Doitsidou M, Bénard C, Walker AK, Francis MM. The homeodomain transcriptional regulator DVE-1 directs a program for synapse elimination during circuit remodeling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7520. [PMID: 37980357 PMCID: PMC10657367 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43281-4] [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: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The elimination of synapses during circuit remodeling is critical for brain maturation; however, the molecular mechanisms directing synapse elimination and its timing remain elusive. We show that the transcriptional regulator DVE-1, which shares homology with special AT-rich sequence-binding (SATB) family members previously implicated in human neurodevelopmental disorders, directs the elimination of juvenile synaptic inputs onto remodeling C. elegans GABAergic neurons. Juvenile acetylcholine receptor clusters and apposing presynaptic sites are eliminated during the maturation of wild-type GABAergic neurons but persist into adulthood in dve-1 mutants, producing heightened motor connectivity. DVE-1 localization to GABAergic nuclei is required for synapse elimination, consistent with DVE-1 regulation of transcription. Pathway analysis of putative DVE-1 target genes, proteasome inhibitor, and genetic experiments implicate the ubiquitin-proteasome system in synapse elimination. Together, our findings define a previously unappreciated role for a SATB family member in directing synapse elimination during circuit remodeling, likely through transcriptional regulation of protein degradation processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kellianne D Alexander
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Shankar Ramachandran
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Kasturi Biswas
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Christopher M Lambert
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Julia Russell
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Devyn B Oliver
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - William Armstrong
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Monika Rettler
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Samuel Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Maria Doitsidou
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Claire Bénard
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Amy K Walker
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Michael M Francis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ünlü B, Pons C, Ho UL, Batté A, Aloy P, van Leeuwen J. Global analysis of suppressor mutations that rescue human genetic defects. Genome Med 2023; 15:78. [PMID: 37821946 PMCID: PMC10568808 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01232-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic suppression occurs when the deleterious effects of a primary "query" mutation, such as a disease-causing mutation, are rescued by a suppressor mutation elsewhere in the genome. METHODS To capture existing knowledge on suppression relationships between human genes, we examined 2,400 published papers for potential interactions identified through either genetic modification of cultured human cells or through association studies in patients. RESULTS The resulting network encompassed 476 unique suppression interactions covering a wide spectrum of diseases and biological functions. The interactions frequently linked genes that operate in the same biological process. Suppressors were strongly enriched for genes with a role in stress response or signaling, suggesting that deleterious mutations can often be buffered by modulating signaling cascades or immune responses. Suppressor mutations tended to be deleterious when they occurred in absence of the query mutation, in apparent contrast with their protective role in the presence of the query. We formulated and quantified mechanisms of genetic suppression that could explain 71% of interactions and provided mechanistic insight into disease pathology. Finally, we used these observations to predict suppressor genes in the human genome. CONCLUSIONS The global suppression network allowed us to define principles of genetic suppression that were conserved across diseases, model systems, and species. The emerging frequency of suppression interactions among human genes and range of underlying mechanisms, together with the prevalence of suppression in model organisms, suggest that compensatory mutations may exist for most genetic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Betül Ünlü
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Génopode Building, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carles Pons
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Uyen Linh Ho
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Génopode Building, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Amandine Batté
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Génopode Building, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Aloy
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jolanda van Leeuwen
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Génopode Building, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Nonet ML. Rapid generation of Caenorhabditis elegans single-copy transgenes combining recombination-mediated cassette exchange and drug selection. Genetics 2023; 224:iyad072. [PMID: 37079426 PMCID: PMC10324946 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
I outline a streamlined method to insert large, single-copy transgenes into the Caenorhabditis elegans genome using recombination-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) that relies solely on drug selection yielding a homozygous fluorescent protein (FP) marked transgene in 3 generations (8 days) at high efficiency (>1 insertion per 2 injected P0 animals). Landing sites for this approach are available on four chromosomes in several configurations which yield lines marked in distinct cell types. An array of vectors permit creating transgenes using a variety of selection methods (HygR, NeoR, PuroR, and unc-119) that yield lines expressing different colored FPs (BFP, GFP, mNG, and Scarlet). Although these transgenes retain a plasmid backbone and a selection marker, the inclusion of these sequences typically does not alter the expression of several cell-specific promoters tested. However, in certain orientations, promoters exhibit crosstalk with adjacent transcription units. In cases where crosstalk is problematic, the loxP-flanked fluorescent marker, plasmid backbone, and hygR gene can be excised by crossing through germline Cre expressing lines also created using this technique. Finally, genetic and molecular reagents designed to facilitate customization of both targeting vectors and landing sites are also described. Together, the rapid RMCE toolbox provides a platform for developing further innovative uses of RMCE to create complex genetically engineered tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Nonet
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Grooms NW, Fitzgerald MQ, Zuckerman B, Ureña SE, Weinberger LS, Chung SH. Expression of thioredoxin-1 in the ASJ neuron corresponds with and enhances intrinsic regenerative capacity under lesion conditioning in C. elegans. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:1880-1893. [PMID: 37300530 PMCID: PMC10526644 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14684] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A conditioning lesion of the peripheral sensory axon triggers robust central axon regeneration in mammals. We trigger conditioned regeneration in the Caenorhabditis elegans ASJ neuron by laser surgery or genetic disruption of sensory pathways. Conditioning upregulates thioredoxin-1 (trx-1) expression, as indicated by trx-1 promoter-driven expression of green fluorescent protein and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), suggesting trx-1 levels and associated fluorescence indicate regenerative capacity. The redox activity of trx-1 functionally enhances conditioned regeneration, but both redox-dependent and -independent activity inhibit non-conditioned regeneration. Six strains isolated in a forward genetic screen for reduced fluorescence, which suggests diminished regenerative potential, also show reduced axon outgrowth. We demonstrate an association between trx-1 expression and the conditioned state that we leverage to rapidly assess regenerative capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noa W.F. Grooms
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Michael Q. Fitzgerald
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Binyamin Zuckerman
- Gladstone/UCSF Center for Cell Circuitry, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Samuel E. Ureña
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Leor S. Weinberger
- Gladstone/UCSF Center for Cell Circuitry, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Samuel H. Chung
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Li Z, Fouad AD, Bowlin PD, Fan Y, He S, Chang MC, Du A, Teng C, Kassouni A, Ji H, Raizen DM, Fang-Yen C. A robotic system for automated genetic manipulation and analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad197. [PMID: 37416871 PMCID: PMC10321491 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is one of the most widely studied organisms in biology due to its small size, rapid life cycle, and manipulable genetics. Research with C. elegans depends on labor-intensive and time-consuming manual procedures, imposing a major bottleneck for many studies, especially for those involving large numbers of animals. Here, we describe a general-purpose tool, WormPicker, a robotic system capable of performing complex genetic manipulations and other tasks by imaging, phenotyping, and transferring C. elegans on standard agar media. Our system uses a motorized stage to move an imaging system and a robotic arm over an array of agar plates. Machine vision tools identify animals and assay developmental stage, morphology, sex, expression of fluorescent reporters, and other phenotypes. Based on the results of these assays, the robotic arm selectively transfers individual animals using an electrically self-sterilized wire loop, with the aid of machine vision and electrical capacitance sensing. Automated C. elegans manipulation shows reliability and throughput comparable with standard manual methods. We developed software to enable the system to autonomously carry out complex protocols. To validate the effectiveness and versatility of our methods, we used the system to perform a collection of common C. elegans procedures, including genetic crossing, genetic mapping, and genomic integration of a transgene. Our robotic system will accelerate C. elegans research and open possibilities for performing genetic and pharmacological screens that would be impractical using manual methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zihao Li
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anthony D Fouad
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Peter D Bowlin
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yuying Fan
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Siming He
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Meng-Chuan Chang
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Angelica Du
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christopher Teng
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alexander Kassouni
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hongfei Ji
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - David M Raizen
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christopher Fang-Yen
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Sun Y, Xie J, Tang L, Odiba AS, Chen Y, Fang W, Wu X, Wang B. Isolation, Identification and Molecular Mechanism Analysis of the Nematicidal Compound Spectinabilin from Newly Isolated Streptomyces sp. DT10. Molecules 2023; 28:4365. [PMID: 37298840 PMCID: PMC10254515 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114365] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are highly destructive and difficult to control, while conventional chemical nematicides are highly toxic and cause serious environmental pollution. Additionally, resistance to existing pesticides is becoming increasingly common. Biological control is the most promising method for the controlling of PPNs. Therefore, the screening of nematicidal microbial resources and the identification of natural products are of great significance and urgency for the environmentally friendly control of PPNs. In this study, the DT10 strain was isolated from wild moss samples and identified as Streptomyces sp. by morphological and molecular analysis. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model, the extract of DT10 was screened for nematicidal activity, which elicited 100% lethality. The active compound was isolated from the extracts of strain DT10 using silica gel column chromatography and semipreparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The compound was identified as spectinabilin (chemical formula C28H31O6N) using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Spectinabilin exhibited a good nematicidal activity on C. elegans L1 worms, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2.948 μg/mL at 24 h. The locomotive ability of C. elegans L4 worms was significantly reduced when treated with 40 μg/mL spectinabilin. Further analysis of spectinabilin against known nematicidal drug target genes in C. elegans showed that it acts via target(s) different from those of some currently used nematicidal drugs such as avermectin and phosphine thiazole. This is the first report on the nematicidal activity of spectinabilin on C. elegans and the southern root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. These findings may pave the way for further research and application of spectinabilin as a potential biological nematicide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Sun
- College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China (W.F.)
| | - Jin Xie
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China (W.F.)
| | - Lihua Tang
- College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China (W.F.)
| | - Arome Solomon Odiba
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China (W.F.)
| | - Yanlu Chen
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China (W.F.)
| | - Wenxia Fang
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China (W.F.)
| | - Xiaogang Wu
- College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China (W.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Maniates KA, Singson A. Where are all the egg genes? Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1107312. [PMID: 36819103 PMCID: PMC9936096 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1107312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Complementary forward and reverse genetic approaches in several model systems have resulted in a recent burst of fertilization gene discovery. The number of genetically validated gamete surface molecules have more than doubled in the last few years. All the genetically validated sperm fertilization genes encode transmembrane or secreted molecules. Curiously, the discovery of genes that encode oocyte molecules have fallen behind that of sperm genes. This review discusses potential experimental biases and inherent biological reasons that could slow egg fertilization gene discovery. Finally, we shed light on current strategies to identify genes that may result in further identification of egg fertilization genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Maniates
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Yang WH, Chen PH, Chang HH, Kwok HL, Stern A, Soo PC, Chen JH, Yang HC. Impaired immune response and barrier function in GSPD-1-deficient C. elegans infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae. CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES 2023; 4:100181. [PMID: 36798906 PMCID: PMC9926097 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2023.100181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
gspd-1-RNAi knockdown Caenorhabditis elegans was used as an immune-compromised model to investigate the role of G6PD in host-pathogen interactions. A shorted lifespan, increased bacterial burden and bacterial translocation were observed in gspd-1-knockdown C. elegans infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP). RNAseq revealed that the innate immune pathway, including clc-1 and tsp-1, was affected by gspd-1 knockdown. qPCR confirmed that tight junction (zoo-1, clc-1) and immune-associated genes (tsp-1) were down-regulated in gspd-1-knockdown C. elegans and following infection with KP. The down-regulation of antimicrobial effector lysozymes, including lys-1, lys-2, lys-7, lys-8, ilys-2 and ilys-3, was found in gspd-1-knockdown C. elegans infected with KP. Deletion of clc-1, tsp-1, lys-7, and daf-2 in gspd-1-knockdown C. elegans infected with KP abolished the shorten lifespan seen in the Mock control. GSPD-1 deficiency in C. elegans resulted in bacterial accumulation and lethality, possibly due to a defective immune response. These findings indicate that GSPD-1 has a protective role in microbial defense in C. elegans by preventing bacterial colonization through bacterial clearance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Hua Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Po-Hsiang Chen
- Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Graduate Institute of Health Industry Technology, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Hsin Chang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu 30041, Taiwan
| | - Hong Luen Kwok
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu 30041, Taiwan
| | - Arnold Stern
- Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Po-Chi Soo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Han Chen
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu 30041, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chi Yang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu 30041, Taiwan,Corresponding author.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Boelter JF, Garcia SC, Göethel G, Charão MF, de Melo LM, Brandelli A. Acute Toxicity Evaluation of Phosphatidylcholine Nanoliposomes Containing Nisin in Caenorhabditis elegans. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28020563. [PMID: 36677622 PMCID: PMC9862913 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Liposomes are among the most studied nanostructures. They are effective carriers of active substances both in the clinical field, such as delivering genes and drugs, and in the food industry, such as promoting the controlled release of bioactive substances, including food preservatives. However, toxicological screenings must be performed to ensure the safety of nanoformulations. In this study, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was used as an alternative model to investigate the potential in vivo toxicity of nanoliposomes encapsulating the antimicrobial peptide nisin. The effects of liposomes containing nisin, control liposomes, and free nisin were evaluated through the survival rate, lethal dose (LD50), nematode development rate, and oxidative stress status by performing mutant strain, TBARS, and ROS analyses. Due to its low toxicity, it was not possible to experimentally determine the LD50 of liposomes. The survival rates of control liposomes and nisin-loaded liposomes were 94.3 and 73.6%, respectively. The LD50 of free nisin was calculated as 0.239 mg mL-1. Free nisin at a concentration of 0.2 mg mL-1 significantly affected the development of C. elegans, which was 25% smaller than the control and liposome-treated samples. A significant increase in ROS levels was observed after exposure to the highest concentrations of liposomes and free nisin, coinciding with a significant increase in catalase levels. The treatments induced lipid peroxidation as evaluated by TBARS assay. Liposome encapsulation reduces the deleterious effect on C. elegans and can be considered a nontoxic delivery system for nisin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Ferreira Boelter
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Applied Microbiology, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Solange Cristina Garcia
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90610-000, Brazil
- Correspondence: (S.C.G.); (A.B.)
| | - Gabriela Göethel
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90610-000, Brazil
| | - Mariele Feiffer Charão
- Laboratory of Toxicological Analyses, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo 93525-075, Brazil
| | - Livia Marchi de Melo
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Applied Microbiology, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Adriano Brandelli
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Applied Microbiology, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
- Correspondence: (S.C.G.); (A.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Thapliyal S, Glauser DA. Neurogenetic Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurogenetics 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-07793-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
19
|
Fazeli G, Frondoni J, Kolli S, Wehman AM. Visualizing Phagocytic Cargo In Vivo from Engulfment to Resolution in Caenorhabditis elegans. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2692:337-360. [PMID: 37365478 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3338-0_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans offers many experimental advantages to study conserved mechanisms of phagocytosis and phagocytic clearance. These include the stereotyped timing of phagocytic events in vivo for time-lapse imaging, the availability of transgenic reporters labeling molecules involved in different steps of phagocytosis, and the transparency of the animal for fluorescence imaging. Further, the ease of forward and reverse genetics in C. elegans has enabled many of the initial discoveries of proteins involved in phagocytic clearance. In this chapter, we focus on phagocytosis by the large undifferentiated blastomeres of C. elegans embryos, which engulf and eliminate diverse phagocytic cargo from the corpse of the second polar body to cytokinetic midbody remnants. We describe the use of fluorescent time-lapse imaging to observe the distinct steps of phagocytic clearance and methods to normalize this process to distinguish defects in mutant strains. These approaches have enabled us to reveal new insights from the initial signaling to induce phagocytosis up until the final resolution of phagocytic cargo in phagolysosomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gholamreza Fazeli
- Imaging Core Facility, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Julia Frondoni
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Shruti Kolli
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Ann M Wehman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Meng F, Yan T, Dahal K, Lu R. Unbiased genetic screen identifies Caenorhabditis elegans genes conserved for nodavirus genome replication. Virology 2022; 577:91-98. [PMID: 36332529 PMCID: PMC10234093 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2022.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
All RNA viruses produce and use RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) for their genome replication. Efficient viral genome replication also requires host factors which often function as co-factors of viral RdRP. To identify host factors required for nodavirus genome replication, we carried out an unbiased genetic screen in Caenorhabditis elegans mutants defective in antiviral RNA interference. This genetic screen utilized a self-replicating GFP-tagged viral replicon, derived from flock house virus, as a reporter for the loss of viral genome replication. Upon completing the screen, 16 candidate alleles were isolated and assigned to 14 candidate genes through genetic complementation. Interestingly, 4 of the candidate genes were also found to be required for the genome replication of Orsay virus, a nodavirus that naturally infects C. elegans. Our unbiased genetic screen therefore has led to the identification of a set of worm genes conserved for nodavirus genome replication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Meng
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70810, USA
| | - Teng Yan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70810, USA
| | - Krishna Dahal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70810, USA
| | - Rui Lu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70810, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Redox and Metabolic Regulation of Intestinal Barrier Function and Associated Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214463. [PMID: 36430939 PMCID: PMC9699094 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium forms a physical barrier assembled by intercellular junctions, preventing luminal pathogens and toxins from crossing it. The integrity of tight junctions is critical for maintaining intestinal health as the breakdown of tight junction proteins leads to various disorders. Redox reactions are closely associated with energy metabolism. Understanding the regulation of tight junctions by cellular metabolism and redox status in cells may lead to the identification of potential targets for therapeutic interventions. In vitro and in vivo models have been utilized in investigating intestinal barrier dysfunction and in particular the free-living soil nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, may be an important alternative to mammalian models because of its convenience of culture, transparent body for microscopy, short generation time, invariant cell lineage and tractable genetics.
Collapse
|
22
|
Midkiff DF, Huayta J, Lichty JD, Crapster JP, San-Miguel A. Identifying C. elegans lifespan mutants by screening for early-onset protein aggregation. iScience 2022; 25:105460. [PMID: 36388964 PMCID: PMC9664360 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105460] [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: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic screens are widely used to identify genes that control specific biological functions. In Caenorhabditis elegans, forward genetic screens rely on the isolation of reproductively active mutants that can self-propagate clonal populations. Screens that target post-reproductive phenotypes, such as lifespan, are thus challenging. We combine microfluidic technologies and image processing to perform high-throughput automated screening for short-lived mutants using protein aggregation as a marker for aging. We take advantage of microfluidics for maintaining a reproductively active adult mutagenized population and for performing serial high-throughput analysis and sorting of animals with increased protein aggregation, using fluorescently-labeled PAB-1 as a readout. We demonstrate that lifespan mutants can be identified by screening for accelerated protein aggregation through quantitative analysis of fluorescently labeled aggregates while avoiding conditional sterilization or manual separation of parental and progeny populations. We also show that aged wildtypes and premature aggregation mutants differ in aggregate morphology, suggesting aggregate growth is time-dependent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel F. Midkiff
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Javier Huayta
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - James D. Lichty
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Joseph P. Crapster
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Adriana San-Miguel
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Rashid A, Tevlin M, Lu Y, Shaham S. A developmental pathway for epithelial-to-motoneuron transformation in C. elegans. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111414. [PMID: 36170838 PMCID: PMC9579992 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Motoneurons and motoneuron-like pancreatic β cells arise from radial glia and ductal cells, respectively, both tube-lining progenitors that share molecular regulators. To uncover programs underlying motoneuron formation, we studied a similar, cell-division-independent transformation of the C. elegans tube-lining Y cell into the PDA motoneuron. We find that lin-12/Notch acts through ngn-1/Ngn and its regulator hlh-16/Olig to control transformation timing. lin-12 loss blocks transformation, while lin-12(gf) promotes precocious PDA formation. Early basal expression of ngn-1/Ngn and hlh-16/Olig depends on sem-4/Sall and egl-5/Hox. Later, coincident with Y cell morphological changes, ngn-1/Ngn expression is upregulated in a sem-4/Sall and egl-5/Hox-dependent but hlh-16/Olig-independent manner. Subsequently, Y cell retrograde extension forms an anchored process priming PDA axon extension. Extension requires ngn-1-dependent expression of the cytoskeleton organizers UNC-119, UNC-44/ANK, and UNC-33/CRMP, which also activate PDA terminal-gene expression. Our findings uncover cell-division-independent regulatory events leading to motoneuron generation, suggesting a conserved pathway for epithelial-to-motoneuron/motoneuron-like cell differentiation. Rashid et al. report on a conserved epithelial-to-motoneuron transformation pathway in C. elegans requiring ngn-1/Ngn and hlh-16/Olig. lin-12/Notch regulates transformation timing through these genes, while ngn-1/Ngn and hlh-16/Olig expression levels are regulated by sem-4/Sall and egl-5/Hox. Unexpectedly, the cytoskeleton organizers UNC-119, UNC-44, and UNC-33, which are ngn-1/Ngn targets, promote motoneuron terminal identity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alina Rashid
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Maya Tevlin
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yun Lu
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Shai Shaham
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Cheng KC, Burdine RD, Dickinson ME, Ekker SC, Lin AY, Lloyd KCK, Lutz CM, MacRae CA, Morrison JH, O'Connor DH, Postlethwait JH, Rogers CD, Sanchez S, Simpson JH, Talbot WS, Wallace DC, Weimer JM, Bellen HJ. Promoting validation and cross-phylogenetic integration in model organism research. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049600. [PMID: 36125045 PMCID: PMC9531892 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Model organism (MO) research provides a basic understanding of biology and disease due to the evolutionary conservation of the molecular and cellular language of life. MOs have been used to identify and understand the function of orthologous genes, proteins, cells and tissues involved in biological processes, to develop and evaluate techniques and methods, and to perform whole-organism-based chemical screens to test drug efficacy and toxicity. However, a growing richness of datasets and the rising power of computation raise an important question: How do we maximize the value of MOs? In-depth discussions in over 50 virtual presentations organized by the National Institutes of Health across more than 10 weeks yielded important suggestions for improving the rigor, validation, reproducibility and translatability of MO research. The effort clarified challenges and opportunities for developing and integrating tools and resources. Maintenance of critical existing infrastructure and the implementation of suggested improvements will play important roles in maintaining productivity and facilitating the validation of animal models of human biology and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keith C. Cheng
- Department of Pathology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
- Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Rebecca D. Burdine
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Mary E. Dickinson
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77007, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77007, USA
| | - Stephen C. Ekker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55906, USA
| | - Alex Y. Lin
- Department of Pathology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - K. C. Kent Lloyd
- Mouse Biology Program, School of Medicinel, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Cathleen M. Lutz
- The Jackson Laboratory, Genetic Resource Science, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Calum A. MacRae
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 360 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - John H. Morrison
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - David H. O'Connor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University ofWisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA
| | | | - Crystal D. Rogers
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Susan Sanchez
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Julie H. Simpson
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
| | - William S. Talbot
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Douglas C. Wallace
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jill M. Weimer
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Hugo J. Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Neurological Research Institute (TCH), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77007, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Abstract
In Darwin's and Mendel's times, researchers investigated a wealth of organisms, chosen to solve particular problems for which they seemed especially well suited. Later, a focus on a few organisms, which are accessible to systematic genetic investigations, resulted in larger repertoires of methods and applications in these few species. Genetic animal model organisms with large research communities are the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the fly Drosophila melanogaster, the zebrafish Danio rerio, and the mouse Mus musculus. Due to their specific strengths, these model organisms have their strongest impacts in rather different areas of biology. C. elegans is unbeatable in the analysis of cell-to-cell contacts by saturation mutagenesis, as worms can be grown very fast in very high numbers. In Drosophila, a rich pattern is generated in the embryo as well as in adults that is used to unravel the underlying mechanisms of morphogenesis. The transparent larvae of zebrafish are uniquely suited to study organ development in a vertebrate, and the superb versatility of reverse genetics in the mouse made it the model organism to study human physiology and diseases. The combination of these models allows the in-depth genetic analysis of many fundamental biological processes using a plethora of different methods, finally providing many specific approaches to combat human diseases. The plant model Arabidopsis thaliana provides an understanding of many aspects of plant biology that might ultimately be useful for breeding crops.
Collapse
|
26
|
Al-Anzi BF, Khajah M, Fakhraldeen SA. Predicting and explaining the impact of genetic disruptions and interactions on organismal viability. Bioinformatics 2022; 38:4088-4099. [PMID: 35861390 PMCID: PMC9438956 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btac519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Existing computational models can predict single- and double-mutant fitness but they do have limitations. First, they are often tested via evaluation metrics that are inappropriate for imbalanced datasets. Second, all of them only predict a binary outcome (viable or not, and negatively interacting or not). Third, most are uninterpretable black box machine learning models. RESULTS Budding yeast datasets were used to develop high-performance Multinomial Regression (MN) models capable of predicting the impact of single, double and triple genetic disruptions on viability. These models are interpretable and give realistic non-binary predictions and can predict negative genetic interactions (GIs) in triple-gene knockouts. They are based on a limited set of gene features and their predictions are influenced by the probability of target gene participating in molecular complexes or pathways. Furthermore, the MN models have utility in other organisms such as fission yeast, fruit flies and humans, with the single gene fitness MN model being able to distinguish essential genes necessary for cell-autonomous viability from those required for multicellular survival. Finally, our models exceed the performance of previous models, without sacrificing interpretability. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION All code and processed datasets used to generate results and figures in this manuscript are available at our Github repository at https://github.com/KISRDevelopment/cell_viability_paper. The repository also contains a link to the GI prediction website that lets users search for GIs using the MN models. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Saja A Fakhraldeen
- Ecosystem-based Management of Marine Resources Program, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Safat, 13109, Kuwait
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Choudhary S, Kashyap SS, Martin RJ, Robertson AP. Advances in our understanding of nematode ion channels as potential anthelmintic targets. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2022; 18:52-86. [PMID: 35149380 PMCID: PMC8841521 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Ion channels are specialized multimeric proteins that underlie cell excitability. These channels integrate with a variety of neuromuscular and biological functions. In nematodes, the physiological behaviors including locomotion, navigation, feeding and reproduction, are regulated by these protein entities. Majority of the antinematodal chemotherapeutics target the ion channels to disrupt essential biological functions. Here, we have summarized current advances in our understanding of nematode ion channel pharmacology. We review cys-loop ligand gated ion channels (LGICs), including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), acetylcholine-chloride gated ion channels (ACCs), glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls), and GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) receptors, and other ionotropic receptors (transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and potassium ion channels). We have provided an update on the pharmacological properties of these channels from various nematodes. This article catalogs the differences in ion channel composition and resulting pharmacology in the phylum Nematoda. This diversity in ion channel subunit repertoire and pharmacology emphasizes the importance of pursuing species-specific drug target research. In this review, we have provided an overview of recent advances in techniques and functional assays available for screening ion channel properties and their application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Choudhary
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Sudhanva S Kashyap
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Richard J Martin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Alan P Robertson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Aubry G, Milisavljevic M, Lu H. Automated and Dynamic Control of Chemical Content in Droplets for Scalable Screens of Small Animals. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2200319. [PMID: 35229457 PMCID: PMC9050880 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202200319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Screening functional phenotypes in small animals is important for genetics and drug discovery. Multiphase microfluidics has great potential for enhancing throughput but has been hampered by inefficient animal encapsulation and limited control over the animal's environment in droplets. Here, a highly efficient single-animal encapsulation unit, a liquid exchanger system for controlling the droplet chemical environment dynamically, and an automation scheme for the programming and robust execution of complex protocols are demonstrated. By careful use of interfacial forces, the liquid exchanger unit allows for adding and removing chemicals from a droplet and, therefore, generating chemical gradients inaccessible in previous multiphase systems. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as an example, it is demonstrated that these advances can serve to analyze dynamic phenotyping, such as behavior and neuronal activity, perform forward genetic screen, and are scalable to manipulate animals of different sizes. This platform paves the way for large-scale screens of complex dynamic phenotypes in small animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Aubry
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Marija Milisavljevic
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Hang Lu
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Hakeemi MS, Ansari S, Teuscher M, Weißkopf M, Großmann D, Kessel T, Dönitz J, Siemanowski J, Wan X, Schultheis D, Frasch M, Roth S, Schoppmeier M, Klingler M, Bucher G. Screens in fly and beetle reveal vastly divergent gene sets required for developmental processes. BMC Biol 2022; 20:38. [PMID: 35135533 PMCID: PMC8827203 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01231-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Most of the known genes required for developmental processes have been identified by genetic screens in a few well-studied model organisms, which have been considered representative of related species, and informative—to some degree—for human biology. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a prime model for insect genetics, and while conservation of many gene functions has been observed among bilaterian animals, a plethora of data show evolutionary divergence of gene function among more closely-related groups, such as within the insects. A quantification of conservation versus divergence of gene functions has been missing, without which it is unclear how representative data from model systems actually are. Results Here, we systematically compare the gene sets required for a number of homologous but divergent developmental processes between fly and beetle in order to quantify the difference of the gene sets. To that end, we expanded our RNAi screen in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum to cover more than half of the protein-coding genes. Then we compared the gene sets required for four different developmental processes between beetle and fly. We found that around 50% of the gene functions were identified in the screens of both species while for the rest, phenotypes were revealed only in fly (~ 10%) or beetle (~ 40%) reflecting both technical and biological differences. Accordingly, we were able to annotate novel developmental GO terms for 96 genes studied in this work. With this work, we publish the final dataset for the pupal injection screen of the iBeetle screen reaching a coverage of 87% (13,020 genes). Conclusions We conclude that the gene sets required for a homologous process diverge more than widely believed. Hence, the insights gained in flies may be less representative for insects or protostomes than previously thought, and work in complementary model systems is required to gain a comprehensive picture. The RNAi screening resources developed in this project, the expanding transgenic toolkit, and our large-scale functional data make T. castaneum an excellent model system in that endeavor. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01231-4.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Salim Hakeemi
- Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut, GZMB, University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Salim Ansari
- Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut, GZMB, University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Current address: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Teuscher
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias Weißkopf
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Daniela Großmann
- Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut, GZMB, University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Current address: Department of Medical Bioinformatics, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstr. 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Kessel
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.,Current address: Department of Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Dönitz
- Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut, GZMB, University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Janna Siemanowski
- Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut, GZMB, University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Current address: Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924, Cologne, Germany
| | - Xuebin Wan
- Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut, GZMB, University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dorothea Schultheis
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.,Current address: Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Manfred Frasch
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Siegfried Roth
- Institute for Zoology/Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, Biocenter, Zülpicher Straße 47b, D-50674, Köln, Germany
| | - Michael Schoppmeier
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Martin Klingler
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Gregor Bucher
- Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut, GZMB, University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Snyman M, Huynh TV, Smith MT, Xu S. The genome-wide rate and spectrum of EMS-induced heritable mutations in the microcrustacean Daphnia: on the prospect of forward genetics. Heredity (Edinb) 2021; 127:535-545. [PMID: 34667306 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-021-00478-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Forward genetic screening using the alkylating mutagen ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) is an effective method for identifying phenotypic mutants of interest, which can be further genetically dissected to pinpoint the causal genetic mutations. An accurate estimate of the rate of EMS-induced heritable mutations is fundamental for determining the mutant sample size of a screening experiment that aims to saturate all the genes in a genome with mutations. This study examines the genome-wide EMS-induced heritable base-substitutions in three species of the freshwater microcrustacean Daphnia to help guide screening experiments. Our results show that the 10 mM EMS treatment induces base substitutions at an average rate of 1.17 × 10-6/site/generation across the three species, whereas a significantly higher average mutation rate of 1.75 × 10-6 occurs at 25 mM. The mutation spectrum of EMS-induced base substitutions at both concentration is dominated by G:C to A:T transitions. Furthermore, we find that female Daphnia exposed to EMS (F0 individuals) can asexually produce unique mutant offspring (F1) for at least 3 consecutive broods, suggestive of multiple broods as F1 mutants. Lastly, we estimate that about 750 F1s are needed for all genes in the Daphnia genome to be mutated at least once with a 95% probability. We also recommend 4-5 F2s should be collected from each F1 mutant through sibling crossing so that all induced mutations could appear in the homozygous state in the F2 population at 70-80% probability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marelize Snyman
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Trung V Huynh
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Matthew T Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Sen Xu
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system has been one of the greatest scientific discoveries in the last decade. The highly efficient and precise editing ability of this technology is of great therapeutic value and benefits the basic sciences as an advantageous research tool. In recent years, forward genetic screens using CRISPR technology have been widely adopted, with genome-wide or pathway-focused screens leading to important and novel discoveries. CRISPR screens have been used primarily in cancer biology, virology, and basic cell biology, but they have rarely been applied to diabetes research. A potential reason for this is that diabetes-related research can be more complicated, often involving cross talk between multiple organs or cell types. Nevertheless, many questions can still be reduced to the study of a single cell type if assays are carefully designed. Here we review the application of CRISPR screen technology and provide perspective on how it can be used in diabetes research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yi
- Section for Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, and CRISPR Screen Core Laboratory, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Noelle Morrow
- Section for Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, and CRISPR Screen Core Laboratory, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Perni M, Mannini B, Xu CK, Kumita JR, Dobson CM, Chiti F, Vendruscolo M. Exogenous misfolded protein oligomers can cross the intestinal barrier and cause a disease phenotype in C. elegans. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14391. [PMID: 34257326 PMCID: PMC8277765 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93527-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Misfolded protein oligomers are increasingly recognized as highly cytotoxic agents in a wide range of human disorders associated with protein aggregation. In this study, we assessed the possible uptake and resulting toxic effects of model protein oligomers administered to C. elegans through the culture medium. We used an automated machine-vision, high-throughput screening procedure to monitor the phenotypic changes in the worms, in combination with confocal microscopy to monitor the diffusion of the oligomers, and oxidative stress assays to detect their toxic effects. Our results suggest that the oligomers can diffuse from the intestinal lumen to other tissues, resulting in a disease phenotype. We also observed that pre-incubation of the oligomers with a molecular chaperone (αB-crystallin) or a small molecule inhibitor of protein aggregation (squalamine), reduced the oligomer absorption. These results indicate that exogenous misfolded protein oligomers can be taken up by the worms from their environment and spread across tissues, giving rise to pathological effects in regions distant from their place of absorbance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Perni
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Benedetta Mannini
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Catherine K Xu
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Janet R Kumita
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Liu L, Guo P, Wang P, Zheng S, Qu Z, Liu N. The Review of Anti-aging Mechanism of Polyphenols on Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:635768. [PMID: 34327192 PMCID: PMC8314386 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.635768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Micronutrients extracted from natural plants or made by biological synthesis are widely used in anti-aging research and applications. Among more than 30 effective anti-aging substances, employing polyphenol organic compounds for modification or delaying of the aging process attracts great interest because of their distinct contribution in the prevention of degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. There is a profound potential for polyphenol extracts in the research of aging and the related diseases of the elderly. Previous studies have mainly focused on the properties of polyphenols implicated in free radical scavenging; however, the anti-oxidant effect cannot fully elaborate its biological functions, such as neuroprotection, Aβ protein production, ion channel coupling, and signal transduction pathways. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been considered as an ideal model organism for exploring the mechanism of anti-aging research and is broadly utilized in screening for natural bioactive substances. In this review, we have described the molecular mechanisms and pathways responsible for the slowdown of aging processes exerted by polyphenols. We also have discussed the possible mechanisms for their anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties in C. elegans from the perspective of different classifications of the specific polyphenols, such as flavonols, anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, hydroxybenzoic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid, and stilbenes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Limin Liu
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Institute of Chronic Disease Risks Assessment, School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Peisen Guo
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Peixi Wang
- Institute of Chronic Disease Risks Assessment, School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Shanqing Zheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Zhi Qu
- Institute of Chronic Disease Risks Assessment, School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Nan Liu
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Institute of Chronic Disease Risks Assessment, School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng, China.,Institute of Environment and Health, South China Hospital, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Shahzad U, Taccone MS, Kumar SA, Okura H, Krumholtz S, Ishida J, Mine C, Gouveia K, Edgar J, Smith C, Hayes M, Huang X, Derry WB, Taylor MD, Rutka JT. Modeling human brain tumors in flies, worms, and zebrafish: From proof of principle to novel therapeutic targets. Neuro Oncol 2021; 23:718-731. [PMID: 33378446 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, cell biologists and cancer researchers have taken advantage of non-murine species to increase our understanding of the molecular processes that drive normal cell and tissue development, and when perturbed, cause cancer. The advent of whole-genome sequencing has revealed the high genetic homology of these organisms to humans. Seminal studies in non-murine organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Danio rerio identified many of the signaling pathways involved in cancer. Studies in these organisms offer distinct advantages over mammalian cell or murine systems. Compared to murine models, these three species have shorter lifespans, are less resource intense, and are amenable to high-throughput drug and RNA interference screening to test a myriad of promising drugs against novel targets. In this review, we introduce species-specific breeding strategies, highlight the advantages of modeling brain tumors in each non-mammalian species, and underscore the successes attributed to scientific investigation using these models. We conclude with an optimistic proposal that discoveries in the fields of cancer research, and in particular neuro-oncology, may be expedited using these powerful screening tools and strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uswa Shahzad
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael S Taccone
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sachin A Kumar
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hidehiro Okura
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stacey Krumholtz
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Joji Ishida
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Coco Mine
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kyle Gouveia
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Julia Edgar
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Christian Smith
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Madeline Hayes
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xi Huang
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - W Brent Derry
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - James T Rutka
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Chen T, Yavuz A, Wang MC. Dissecting lipid droplet biology with coherent Raman scattering microscopy. J Cell Sci 2021; 135:261811. [PMID: 33975358 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.252353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid droplets (LDs) are lipid-rich organelles universally found in most cells. They serve as a key energy reservoir, actively participate in signal transduction and dynamically communicate with other organelles. LD dysfunction has been associated with a variety of diseases. The content level, composition and mobility of LDs are crucial for their physiological and pathological functions, and these different parameters of LDs are subject to regulation by genetic factors and environmental inputs. Coherent Raman scattering (CRS) microscopy utilizes optical nonlinear processes to probe the intrinsic chemical bond vibration, offering label-free, quantitative imaging of lipids in vivo with high chemical specificity and spatiotemporal resolution. In this Review, we provide an overview over the principle of CRS microscopy and its application in tracking different parameters of LDs in live cells and organisms. We also discuss the use of CRS microscopy in genetic screens to discover lipid regulatory mechanisms and in understanding disease-related lipid pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ahmet Yavuz
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Meng C Wang
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Zulazmi NA, Arulsamy A, Ali I, Zainal Abidin SA, Othman I, Shaikh MF. The utilization of small non-mammals in traumatic brain injury research: A systematic review. CNS Neurosci Ther 2021; 27:381-402. [PMID: 33539662 PMCID: PMC7941175 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide and has complicated underlying pathophysiology. Numerous TBI animal models have been developed over the past decade to effectively mimic the human TBI pathophysiology. These models are of mostly mammalian origin including rodents and non-human primates. However, the mammalian models demanded higher costs and have lower throughput often limiting the progress in TBI research. Thus, this systematic review aims to discuss the potential benefits of non-mammalian TBI models in terms of their face validity in resembling human TBI. Three databases were searched as follows: PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, for original articles relating to non-mammalian TBI models, published between January 2010 and December 2019. A total of 29 articles were selected based on PRISMA model for critical appraisal. Zebrafish, both larvae and adult, was found to be the most utilized non-mammalian TBI model in the current literature, followed by the fruit fly and roundworm. In conclusion, non-mammalian TBI models have advantages over mammalian models especially for rapid, cost-effective, and reproducible screening of effective treatment strategies and provide an opportunity to expedite the advancement of TBI research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nurul Atiqah Zulazmi
- Neuropharmacology Research LaboratoryJeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaSelangor Darul EhsanMalaysia
| | - Alina Arulsamy
- Neuropharmacology Research LaboratoryJeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaSelangor Darul EhsanMalaysia
| | - Idrish Ali
- Department of NeuroscienceCentral Clinical SchoolThe Alfred HospitalMonash UniversityMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - Syafiq Asnawi Zainal Abidin
- Neuropharmacology Research LaboratoryJeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaSelangor Darul EhsanMalaysia
- Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) PlatformJeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaSelangor Darul EhsanMalaysia
| | - Iekhsan Othman
- Neuropharmacology Research LaboratoryJeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaSelangor Darul EhsanMalaysia
- Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) PlatformJeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaSelangor Darul EhsanMalaysia
| | - Mohd. Farooq Shaikh
- Neuropharmacology Research LaboratoryJeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health SciencesMonash University MalaysiaSelangor Darul EhsanMalaysia
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Giunti S, Andersen N, Rayes D, De Rosa MJ. Drug discovery: Insights from the invertebrate Caenorhabditis elegans. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00721. [PMID: 33641258 PMCID: PMC7916527 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic drug development is a long, expensive, and complex process that usually takes 12-15 years. In the early phases of drug discovery, in particular, there is a growing need for animal models that ensure the reduction in both cost and time. Caenorhabditis elegans has been traditionally used to address fundamental aspects of key biological processes, such as apoptosis, aging, and gene expression regulation. During the last decade, with the advent of large-scale platforms for screenings, this invertebrate has also emerged as an essential tool in the pharmaceutical research industry to identify novel drugs and drug targets. In this review, we discuss the reasons why C. elegans has been positioned as an outstanding cost-effective option for drug discovery, highlighting both the advantages and drawbacks of this model. Particular attention is paid to the suitability of this nematode in large-scale genetic and pharmacological screenings. High-throughput screenings in C. elegans have indeed contributed to the breakthrough of a wide variety of candidate compounds involved in extensive fields including neurodegeneration, pathogen infections and metabolic disorders. The versatility of this nematode, which enables its instrumentation as a model of human diseases, is another attribute also herein underscored. As illustrative examples, we discuss the utility of C. elegans models of both human neurodegenerative diseases and parasitic nematodes in the drug discovery industry. Summing up, this review aims to demonstrate the impact of C. elegans models on the drug discovery pipeline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Giunti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - Natalia Andersen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - Diego Rayes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - María José De Rosa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Ma CIJ, Burgess J, Brill JA. Maturing secretory granules: Where secretory and endocytic pathways converge. Adv Biol Regul 2021; 80:100807. [PMID: 33866198 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2021.100807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Secretory granules (SGs) are specialized organelles responsible for the storage and regulated release of various biologically active molecules from the endocrine and exocrine systems. Thus, proper SG biogenesis is critical to normal animal physiology. Biogenesis of SGs starts at the trans-Golgi network (TGN), where immature SGs (iSGs) bud off and undergo maturation before fusing with the plasma membrane (PM). How iSGs mature is unclear, but emerging studies have suggested an important role for the endocytic pathway. The requirement for endocytic machinery in SG maturation blurs the line between SGs and another class of secretory organelles called lysosome-related organelles (LROs). Therefore, it is important to re-evaluate the differences and similarities between SGs and LROs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-I Jonathan Ma
- Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, PGCRL Building, Room 15.9716, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 0A4, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, Room 2374, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jason Burgess
- Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, PGCRL Building, Room 15.9716, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, Room 4396, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Julie A Brill
- Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, PGCRL Building, Room 15.9716, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 0A4, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, Room 2374, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, Room 4396, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Perni M, van der Goot A, Limbocker R, van Ham TJ, Aprile FA, Xu CK, Flagmeier P, Thijssen K, Sormanni P, Fusco G, Chen SW, Challa PK, Kirkegaard JB, Laine RF, Ma KY, Müller MBD, Sinnige T, Kumita JR, Cohen SIA, Seinstra R, Kaminski Schierle GS, Kaminski CF, Barbut D, De Simone A, Knowles TPJ, Zasloff M, Nollen EAA, Vendruscolo M, Dobson CM. Comparative Studies in the A30P and A53T α-Synuclein C. elegans Strains to Investigate the Molecular Origins of Parkinson's Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:552549. [PMID: 33829010 PMCID: PMC8019828 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.552549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of α-synuclein is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and a variety of related neurological disorders. A number of mutations in this protein, including A30P and A53T, are associated with familial forms of the disease. Patients carrying the A30P mutation typically exhibit a similar age of onset and symptoms as sporadic PD, while those carrying the A53T mutation generally have an earlier age of onset and an accelerated progression. We report two C. elegans models of PD (PDA30P and PDA53T), which express these mutational variants in the muscle cells, and probed their behavior relative to animals expressing the wild-type protein (PDWT). PDA30P worms showed a reduced speed of movement and an increased paralysis rate, control worms, but no change in the frequency of body bends. By contrast, in PDA53T worms both speed and frequency of body bends were significantly decreased, and paralysis rate was increased. α-Synuclein was also observed to be less well localized into aggregates in PDA30P worms compared to PDA53T and PDWT worms, and amyloid-like features were evident later in the life of the animals, despite comparable levels of expression of α-synuclein. Furthermore, squalamine, a natural product currently in clinical trials for treating symptomatic aspects of PD, was found to reduce significantly the aggregation of α-synuclein and its associated toxicity in PDA53T and PDWT worms, but had less marked effects in PDA30P. In addition, using an antibody that targets the N-terminal region of α-synuclein, we observed a suppression of toxicity in PDA30P, PDA53T and PDWT worms. These results illustrate the use of these two C. elegans models in fundamental and applied PD research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Perni
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Annemieke van der Goot
- University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Ryan Limbocker
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, United States
| | - Tjakko J. van Ham
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Francesco A. Aprile
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine K. Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Flagmeier
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Thijssen
- University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Pietro Sormanni
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Giuliana Fusco
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Serene W. Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Pavan K. Challa
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Julius B. Kirkegaard
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Romain F. Laine
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology (LMCB) University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kai Yu Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Martin B. D. Müller
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Tessa Sinnige
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Janet R. Kumita
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel I. A. Cohen
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Renée Seinstra
- University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Clemens F. Kaminski
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Denise Barbut
- MedStar-Georgetown Transplant Institute, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Zasloff
- MedStar-Georgetown Transplant Institute, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Ellen A. A. Nollen
- University Medical Centre Groningen, European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Ellen A. A. Nollen
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom,Michele Vendruscolo
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Devkota R, Henricsson M, Borén J, Pilon M. The C. elegans PAQR-2 and IGLR-2 membrane homeostasis proteins are uniquely essential for tolerating dietary saturated fats. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2021; 1866:158883. [PMID: 33444761 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2021.158883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
How cells maintain vital membrane lipid homeostasis while obtaining most of their constituent fatty acids from a varied diet remains largely unknown. Here, we report the first whole-organism (Caenorhabditis elegans) forward genetic screen to identify genes essential for tolerance to dietary saturated fatty acids (SFAs). We found that only the PAQR-2/IGLR-2 pathway, homologous to the human adiponectin receptor 2 (AdipoR2) pathway, is uniquely essential to prevent SFA-mediated toxicity. When provided a SFA-rich diet, worms lacking either protein accumulate an excess of SFAs in their membrane phospholipids, which is accompanied by membrane rigidification. Additionally, we used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to show that the interaction between PAQR-2 and IGLR-2 is regulated by membrane fluidity, suggesting a mechanism by which this protein complex senses membrane properties. We also created versions of PAQR-2 that lacked parts of the cytoplasmic N-terminal domain and showed that these were still functional, though still dependent on the interaction with IGLR-2. We conclude that membrane homeostasis via the PAQR-2/IGLR-2 fluidity sensor is the only pathway specifically essential for the non-toxic uptake of dietary SFAs in C. elegans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ranjan Devkota
- Dept. Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Univ. Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marcus Henricsson
- Dept. Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Wallenberg Laboratory, Institute of Medicine, Univ. of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jan Borén
- Dept. Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Wallenberg Laboratory, Institute of Medicine, Univ. of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marc Pilon
- Dept. Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Univ. Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Whole-Seedling-Based Chemical Genetic Screens in Arabidopsis. Methods Mol Biol 2020. [PMID: 33270190 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0954-5_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Forward genetics has been extremely powerful for dissecting biological pathways in various model organisms. However, it is limited by the fact that redundant gene families and essential genes cannot be readily uncovered through such methods. Chemical genetics, on the other hand, provides a valuable complementary approach to probe biological processes and is suitable for not only genetic model organisms but also genetically less tractable species. We describe here a high-throughput chemical genetic screening method simply based on plant growth and developmental phenotypes in Arabidopsis. It was successfully utilized to study plant immunity and can be easily adapted for dissecting other plant signal transduction pathways.
Collapse
|
42
|
RNaseH-mediated simultaneous piggyback knockdown of multiple genes in adult zebrafish. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20187. [PMID: 33214638 PMCID: PMC7677540 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76655-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently developed a piggyback knockdown method that was used to knockdown genes in adult zebrafish. In this method, a vivo morpholino (VMO) piggybacks an antisense deoxyoligonucleotide (dO) into the somatic cells and reduces the cognate mRNA levels. In this paper, we tested whether we can piggyback more than one dO with one VMO. We designed various hybrids that had more than one dO that could be piggybacked with one VMO. We chose f7, f8, and αIIb genes and tested their knockdown by the appropriate assays. The knockdown with piggybacking either two or three dOs by one VMO yielded > 85% knockdown efficiency. We also performed knockdown of argonautes and rnaseh separately along with f7. We found the knockdown of f7 occurs when knockdown of argonautes happens and not when rnaseh knockdown was performed, suggesting that RNaseH is involved in mRNA degradation. In conclusion, we developed a method where we could knockdown three genes at one time, and by increasing the concentration of VMO by twofold, we could knockdown six genes simultaneously. These multiple gene knockdowns will not only increase the efficiency of the method in whole genome-wide knockdowns but will also be useful to study multifactorial disorders.
Collapse
|
43
|
Abboud C, Duveau A, Bouali-Benazzouz R, Massé K, Mattar J, Brochoire L, Fossat P, Boué-Grabot E, Hleihel W, Landry M. Animal models of pain: Diversity and benefits. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 348:108997. [PMID: 33188801 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a maladaptive neurological disease that remains a major health problem. A deepening of our knowledge on mechanisms that cause pain is a prerequisite to developing novel treatments. A large variety of animal models of pain has been developed that recapitulate the diverse symptoms of different pain pathologies. These models reproduce different pain phenotypes and remain necessary to examine the multidimensional aspects of pain and understand the cellular and molecular basis underlying pain conditions. In this review, we propose an overview of animal models, from simple organisms to rodents and non-human primates and the specific traits of pain pathologies they model. We present the main behavioral tests for assessing pain and investing the underpinning mechanisms of chronic pathological pain. The validity of animal models is analysed based on their ability to mimic human clinical diseases and to predict treatment outcomes. Refine characterization of pathological phenotypes also requires to consider pain globally using specific procedures dedicated to study emotional comorbidities of pain. We discuss the limitations of pain models when research findings fail to be translated from animal models to human clinics. But we also point to some recent successes in analgesic drug development that highlight strategies for improving the predictive validity of animal models of pain. Finally, we emphasize the importance of using assortments of preclinical pain models to identify pain subtype mechanisms, and to foster the development of better analgesics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Abboud
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Lebanon
| | - Alexia Duveau
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Rabia Bouali-Benazzouz
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Karine Massé
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Joseph Mattar
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Lebanon
| | - Louison Brochoire
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Pascal Fossat
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Eric Boué-Grabot
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Walid Hleihel
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Lebanon; Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Lebanon
| | - Marc Landry
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Mei X, Singson AW. The molecular underpinnings of fertility: Genetic approaches in Caenorhabditis elegans. ADVANCED GENETICS (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2020; 2:e10034. [PMID: 34322672 PMCID: PMC8315475 DOI: 10.1002/ggn2.10034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The study of mutations that impact fertility has a catch-22. Fertility mutants are often lost since they cannot simply be propagated and maintained. This has hindered progress in understanding the genetics of fertility. In mice, several molecules are found to be required for the interactions between the sperm and egg, with JUNO and IZUMO1 being the only known receptor pair on the egg and sperm surface, respectively. In Caenorhabditis elegans, a total of 12 proteins on the sperm or oocyte have been identified to mediate gamete interactions. Majority of these genes were identified through mutants isolated from genetic screens. In this review, we summarize the several key screening strategies that led to the identification of fertility mutants in C. elegans and provide a perspective about future research using genetic approaches. Recently, advancements in new technologies such as high-throughput sequencing and Crispr-based genome editing tools have accelerated the molecular, cell biological, and mechanistic analysis of fertility genes. We review how these valuable tools advance our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of fertilization. We draw parallels of the molecular mechanisms of fertilization between worms and mammals and argue that our work in C. elegans complements fertility research in humans and other species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue Mei
- Department of GeneticsWaksman Institute, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| | - Andrew W. Singson
- Department of GeneticsWaksman Institute, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyPiscatawayNew JerseyUSA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
PhenoMIP: High-Throughput Phenotyping of Diverse Caenorhabditis elegans Populations via Molecular Inversion Probes. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:3977-3990. [PMID: 32868407 PMCID: PMC7642933 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Whether generated within a lab setting or isolated from the wild, variant alleles continue to be an important resource for decoding gene function in model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans. With advances in massively parallel sequencing, multiple whole-genome sequenced (WGS) strain collections are now available to the research community. The Million Mutation Project (MMP) for instance, analyzed 2007 N2-derived, mutagenized strains. Individually, each strain averages ∼400 single nucleotide variants amounting to ∼80 protein-coding variants. The effects of these variants, however, remain largely uncharacterized and querying the breadth of these strains for phenotypic changes requires a method amenable to rapid and sensitive high-throughput analysis. Here we present a pooled competitive fitness approach to quantitatively phenotype subpopulations of sequenced collections via molecular inversion probes (PhenoMIP). We phenotyped the relative fitness of 217 mutant strains on multiple food sources and classified these into five categories. We also demonstrate on a subset of these strains, that their fitness defects can be genetically mapped. Overall, our results suggest that approximately 80% of MMP mutant strains may have a decreased fitness relative to the lab reference, N2. The costs of generating this form of analysis through WGS methods would be prohibitive while PhenoMIP analysis in this manner is accomplished at less than one-tenth of projected WGS costs. We propose methods for applying PhenoMIP to a broad range of population selection experiments in a cost-efficient manner that would be useful to the community at large.
Collapse
|
46
|
Hiesinger PR. Brain wiring with composite instructions. Bioessays 2020; 43:e2000166. [PMID: 33145823 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The quest for molecular mechanisms that guide axons or specify synaptic contacts has largely focused on molecules that intuitively relate to the idea of an "instruction." By contrast, "permissive" factors are traditionally considered background machinery without contribution to the information content of a molecularly executed instruction. In this essay, I recast this dichotomy as a continuum from permissive to instructive actions of single factors that provide relative contributions to a necessarily collaborative effort. Individual molecules or other factors do not constitute absolute instructions by themselves; they provide necessary context for each other, thereby creating a composite that defines the overall instruction. The idea of composite instructions leads to two main conclusions: first, a composite of many seemingly permissive factors can define a specific instruction even in the absence of a single dominant contributor; second, individual factors are not necessarily related intuitively to the overall instruction or phenotypic outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Robin Hiesinger
- Division of Neurobiology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Giese GE, Walker MD, Ponomarova O, Zhang H, Li X, Minevich G, Walhout AJ. Caenorhabditis elegans methionine/S-adenosylmethionine cycle activity is sensed and adjusted by a nuclear hormone receptor. eLife 2020; 9:60259. [PMID: 33016879 PMCID: PMC7561351 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient that functions in two metabolic pathways: the canonical propionate breakdown pathway and the methionine/S-adenosylmethionine (Met/SAM) cycle. In Caenorhabditis elegans, low vitamin B12, or genetic perturbation of the canonical propionate breakdown pathway results in propionate accumulation and the transcriptional activation of a propionate shunt pathway. This propionate-dependent mechanism requires nhr-10 and is referred to as ‘B12-mechanism-I’. Here, we report that vitamin B12 represses the expression of Met/SAM cycle genes by a propionate-independent mechanism we refer to as ‘B12-mechanism-II’. This mechanism is activated by perturbations in the Met/SAM cycle, genetically or due to low dietary vitamin B12. B12-mechanism-II requires nhr-114 to activate Met/SAM cycle gene expression, the vitamin B12 transporter, pmp-5, and adjust influx and efflux of the cycle by activating msra-1 and repressing cbs-1, respectively. Taken together, Met/SAM cycle activity is sensed and transcriptionally adjusted to be in a tight metabolic regime.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle E Giese
- Program in Systems Biology and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Melissa D Walker
- Program in Systems Biology and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Olga Ponomarova
- Program in Systems Biology and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Hefei Zhang
- Program in Systems Biology and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Xuhang Li
- Program in Systems Biology and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Gregory Minevich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - Albertha Jm Walhout
- Program in Systems Biology and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Stevenson ZC, Moerdyk-Schauwecker MJ, Jamison B, Phillips PC. Rapid Self-Selecting and Clone-Free Integration of Transgenes into Engineered CRISPR Safe Harbor Locations in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2020; 10:3775-3782. [PMID: 32816924 PMCID: PMC7534419 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Precision genome editing for model organisms has revolutionized functional analysis and validation of a wide variety of molecular systems. To date, the capacity to insert single-copy transgenes into the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has focused on utilizing either transposable elements or CRISPR-based safe harbor strategies. These methods require plate-level screening processes to avoid selecting heritable extrachromosomal arrays or rely on co-CRISPR markers to identify knock-in events. As a result, verification of transgene insertion requires anti-array selection screening methods and PCR genotyping. These approaches also rely on cloning plasmids for the addition of transgenes. Here, we present a novel safe harbor CRISPR-based integration strategy that utilizes engineered insertion locations containing a synthetic guide RNA target and a split-selection system to eliminate false positives from array formation, thereby providing integration-specific selection. This approach allows the experimenter to confirm an integration event has taken place without molecular validation or anti-array screening methods and is capable of producing integrated transgenic lines in as little as five days post-injection. To further increase the speed of generating transgenic lines, we also utilized the C. elegans native microhomology-based recombination, to assemble transgenes in-situ, removing the cloning step. We show that complete transgenes can be made and inserted into our split-selection safe harbor locations starting from PCR products, providing a clone-free and molecular-validation-free strategy for single-copy transgene integration. Overall, this combination of approaches provides an economical and rapid system for generating highly reproducible complex transgenics in C. elegans.
Collapse
|
49
|
Weber J, Braun CJ, Saur D, Rad R. In vivo functional screening for systems-level integrative cancer genomics. Nat Rev Cancer 2020; 20:573-593. [PMID: 32636489 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-020-0275-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
With the genetic portraits of all major human malignancies now available, we next face the challenge of characterizing the function of mutated genes, their downstream targets, interactions and molecular networks. Moreover, poorly understood at the functional level are also non-mutated but dysregulated genomes, epigenomes or transcriptomes. Breakthroughs in manipulative mouse genetics offer new opportunities to probe the interplay of molecules, cells and systemic signals underlying disease pathogenesis in higher organisms. Herein, we review functional screening strategies in mice using genetic perturbation and chemical mutagenesis. We outline the spectrum of genetic tools that exist, such as transposons, CRISPR and RNAi and describe discoveries emerging from their use. Genome-wide or targeted screens are being used to uncover genomic and regulatory landscapes in oncogenesis, metastasis or drug resistance. Versatile screening systems support experimentation in diverse genetic and spatio-temporal settings to integrate molecular, cellular or environmental context-dependencies. We also review the combination of in vivo screening and barcoding strategies to study genetic interactions and quantitative cancer dynamics during tumour evolution. These scalable functional genomics approaches are transforming our ability to interrogate complex biological systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Weber
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian J Braun
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dieter Saur
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Translational Cancer Research and Experimental Cancer Therapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Harnessing the power of genetics: fast forward genetics in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol Genet Genomics 2020; 296:1-20. [PMID: 32888055 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-020-01721-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Forward genetics is a powerful tool to unravel molecular mechanisms of diverse biological processes. The success of genetic screens primarily relies on the ease of genetic manipulation of an organism and the availability of a plethora of genetic tools. The roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans has been one of the favorite models for genetic studies due to its hermaphroditic lifestyle, ease of maintenance, and availability of various genetic manipulation tools. The strength of C. elegans genetics is highlighted by the leading role of this organism in the discovery of several conserved biological processes. In this review, the principles and strategies for forward genetics in C. elegans are discussed. Further, the recent advancements that have drastically accelerated the otherwise time-consuming process of mutation identification, making forward genetic screens a method of choice for understanding biological functions, are discussed. The emphasis of the review has been on providing practical and conceptual pointers for designing genetic screens that will identify mutations, specifically disrupting the biological processes of interest.
Collapse
|