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Caldero-Escudero E, Romero-Sanz S, De la Fuente S. Using C. elegans as a model for neurodegenerative diseases: Methodology and evaluation. Methods Cell Biol 2024; 188:1-34. [PMID: 38880519 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2024.03.004] [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] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode that has been used as an animal model for almost 50years. It has primitive and simple tissues and organs, making it an ideal model for studying neurological pathways involved in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). C. elegans has conserved neurological pathways and is able to mimic human diseases, providing valuable insights into the human disease phenotype. This methodological review presents current approaches to generate neurodegenerative-like models of AD and PD in C. elegans, and evaluates the experiments commonly used to validate the diseases. These experimental approaches include assessing survival, fertility, mobility, electropharyngeogram assays, confocal mitochondrial imaging, RNA extraction for qRT-PCR or RT-PCR, and rate of defecation. This review also summarizes the current knowledge acquired on AD and PD using the aforementioned experimental approaches. Additionally, gaps in knowledge and future directions for research are also discussed in the review.
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2
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Zhang W, Zhu F, Zhu J, Liu K. Phospholipase D, a Novel Therapeutic Target Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative and Neuroimmune Diseases. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) 2024; 2024:6681911. [PMID: 38487684 PMCID: PMC10940030 DOI: 10.1155/2024/6681911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Phospholipase D (PLD) is an enzyme that consists of six isoforms (PLD1-PLD6) and has been discovered in different organisms including bacteria, viruses, plants, and mammals. PLD is involved in regulating a wide range of nerve cells' physiological processes, such as cytoskeleton modulation, proliferation/growth, vesicle trafficking, morphogenesis, and development. Simultaneously, PLD, which also plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and neuroimmune diseases. In this review, family members, characterizations, structure, functions and related signaling pathways, and therapeutic values of PLD was summarized, then five representative diseases including Alzheimer disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), etc. were selected as examples to tell the involvement of PLD in these neurological diseases. Notably, recent advances in the development of tools for studying PLD therapy envisaged novel therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, the limitations of PLD based therapy were also analyzed and discussed. The content of this review provided a thorough and reasonable basis for further studies to exploit the potential of PLD in the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuroimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Zhang
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Feiqi Zhu
- Cognitive Impairment Ward of Neurology Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kangding Liu
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Wu S, Liu X, Yang H, Ma W, Qin Z. The effect of lipid metabolism on age-associated cognitive decline: Lessons learned from model organisms and human. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2023; 15:165-169. [PMID: 38204577 PMCID: PMC10776322 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2023.08.2194] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Lipids are required as integral building blocks of cells to support cellular structures and functions. The intricate mechanisms underpinning lipid homeostasis are essential for the health and maintenance of the central nervous system. Here we summarize the recent advances in dissecting the effect of lipid metabolism on cognitive function and its age-associated decline by reviewing relevant studies ranging from invertebrate model organisms to mammals including human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Punan Branch of Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Haiyan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wenlin Ma
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Zhao Qin
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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4
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Li X, Zhang Y, Ding X, Jin Y, Wei C, Xu J. Mass Spectrometry Chromatography-Based Metabolomics: The Effect of Long-Term Aerobic Exercise on Learning Ability and the Metabolism of Intestinal Contents in Mice with Alzheimer's Disease. Metabolites 2023; 13:1150. [PMID: 37999246 PMCID: PMC10673277 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13111150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of long-term aerobic exercise on the metabolism of intestinal contents in APP/PS1 mice was studied using a non-targeted metabolomics technique based on high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) coupling, providing a theoretical basis for exercise to regulate the metabolism of Alzheimer's disease (AD) organisms. Three-month-old male C57BL/6JNju mice, six wild-type (NC, n = 6); 12 APP/PS1 double transgenic species in total, were randomly divided into AD model (AM, n = 6) and AD model exercise (AE, n = 6) groups. The mice in the NC group were fed naturally, the mice in the AM group were statically placed on a running platform, and the mice in the AE group received a 20-week long-term moderate intensity running platform exercise intervention. Following the exercise intervention, the cecum contents of the mice in each group were collected and analyzed using the HPLC-MS technique, with those meeting both variable important in projection (VIP)> 1.5 and p < 0.05 being screened as differential metabolites. A total of 32 different metabolites were detected between the AM and NC groups, with 19 up-regulated in the AM group such as phosphatidic acid (PA) (18:4(6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)/21:0) and 13 down-regulated in the AM group, such as 4,8-dimethylnonanoyl, compared to the NC group; 98 different metabolites were found between the AM and AE groups, 41 of which were upregulated such as Lyso phosphatidylcholine (LysoPC) and 57 of which were downregulated compared to the AM group such as Phosphatidylinositol (PI). The regulation of linoleic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, bile secretion, phenylalanine metabolism, and other pathways was predominantly regulated by nine metabolites, which were subsequently identified as indicators of exercise intervention to enhance metabolism in AD mice. The metabolomic technique can identify the metabolic problems of intestinal contents in AD mice and initially screen the biomarkers of exercise to improve the metabolic disorders in AD. These findings can help us better understand the impact of aerobic exercise on AD metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.Z.); (X.D.); (Y.J.); (C.W.); (J.X.)
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5
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Lipid metabolism and ageing in Caenorhabditis elegans: a complex interplay. Biogerontology 2022; 23:541-557. [PMID: 36048312 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-022-09989-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Life expectancy in Western countries is increasing, with concomitant rise in ageing-related pathologies, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases. Consequently, the medical, psychological and economic burden to society is increasing. Thus, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the association of ageing with elevated vulnerability to disease is crucial towards promoting quality of life in old age. Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a versatile model to study ageing, due to its simplicity, fast life cycle, and the availability of a wide range of biological tools to target specific genes and cells. Indeed, recent studies in C. elegans have revealed that lipid metabolism plays a key role in controlling longevity by impinging on a plethora of molecular pathways and cell types. Here, we summarise findings relevant to the interplay between lipid metabolism and ageing in C. elegans, and discuss the implications for the pathogenesis of age-related disorders in humans.
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Miranda AM, Ashok A, Chan RB, Zhou B, Xu Y, McIntire LB, Area-Gomez E, Di Paolo G, Duff KE, Oliveira TG, Nuriel T. Effects of APOE4 allelic dosage on lipidomic signatures in the entorhinal cortex of aged mice. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:129. [PMID: 35351864 PMCID: PMC8964762 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01881-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE4) is the primary genetic risk factor for the late-onset form of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the reason for this association is not completely understood, researchers have uncovered numerous effects of APOE4 expression on AD-relevant brain processes, including amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation, lipid metabolism, endosomal-lysosomal trafficking, and bioenergetics. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of APOE4 allelic dosage on regional brain lipid composition in aged mice, as well as in cultured neurons. We performed a targeted lipidomic analysis on an AD-vulnerable brain region (entorhinal cortex; EC) and an AD-resistant brain region (primary visual cortex; PVC) from 14-15 month-old APOE3/3, APOE3/4, and APOE4/4 targeted replacement mice, as well as on neurons cultured with conditioned media from APOE3/3 or APOE4/4 astrocytes. Our results reveal that the EC possesses increased susceptibility to APOE4-associated lipid alterations compared to the PVC. In the EC, APOE4 expression showed a dominant effect in decreasing diacylglycerol (DAG) levels, and a semi-dominant, additive effect in the upregulation of multiple ceramide, glycosylated sphingolipid, and bis(monoacylglycerol)phosphate (BMP) species, lipids known to accumulate as a result of endosomal-lysosomal dysfunction. Neurons treated with conditioned media from APOE4/4 vs. APOE3/3 astrocytes showed similar alterations of DAG and BMP species to those observed in the mouse EC. Our results suggest that APOE4 expression differentially modulates regional neuronal lipid signatures, which may underlie the increased susceptibility of EC-localized neurons to AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Miguel Miranda
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Imagiology, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia/Espinho, 4434-502, Vila Nova Gaia, Portugal
| | - Archana Ashok
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Robin Barry Chan
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Bowen Zhou
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Yimeng Xu
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Laura Beth McIntire
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Estela Area-Gomez
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Gilbert Di Paolo
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Denali Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Karen E Duff
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, Cruciform Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Tiago Gil Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
- Department of Neuroradiology, Hospital de Braga, 4710-243, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Tal Nuriel
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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7
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Modeling Alzheimer's Disease in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020288. [PMID: 35203497 PMCID: PMC8869312 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia. After decades of research, we know the importance of the accumulation of protein aggregates such as β-amyloid peptide and phosphorylated tau. We also know that mutations in certain proteins generate early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD), and many other genes modulate the disease in its sporadic form. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathology are still unclear. Because of ethical limitations, we need to use animal models to investigate these processes. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has received considerable attention in the last 25 years, since the first AD models overexpressing Aβ peptide were described. We review here the main results obtained using this model to study AD. We include works studying the basic molecular mechanisms of the disease, as well as those searching for new therapeutic targets. Although this model also has important limitations, the ability of this nematode to generate knock-out or overexpression models of any gene, single or combined, and to carry out toxicity, recovery or survival studies in short timeframes with many individuals and at low cost is difficult to overcome. We can predict that its use as a model for various diseases will certainly continue to increase.
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Santa-Marinha L, Castanho I, Silva RR, Bravo FV, Miranda AM, Meira T, Morais-Ribeiro R, Marques F, Xu Y, Point du Jour K, Wenk M, Chan RB, Di Paolo G, Pinto V, Oliveira TG. Phospholipase D1 Ablation Disrupts Mouse Longitudinal Hippocampal Axis Organization and Functioning. Cell Rep 2021; 30:4197-4208.e6. [PMID: 32209478 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.02.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphatidic acid (PA) is a signaling lipid involved in the modulation of synaptic structure and functioning. Based on previous work showing a decreasing PA gradient along the longitudinal axis of the rodent hippocampus, we asked whether the dorsal hippocampus (DH) and the ventral hippocampus (VH) are differentially affected by PA modulation. Here, we show that phospholipase D1 (PLD1) is a major hippocampal PA source, compared to PLD2, and that PLD1 ablation affects predominantly the lipidome of the DH. Moreover, Pld1 knockout (KO) mice show specific deficits in novel object recognition and social interaction and disruption in the DH-VH dendritic arborization differentiation in CA1/CA3 pyramidal neurons. Also, Pld1 KO animals present reduced long-term depression (LTD) induction and reduced GluN2A and SNAP-25 protein levels in the DH. Overall, we observe that PLD1-derived PA reduction leads to differential lipid signatures along the longitudinal hippocampal axis, predominantly affecting DH organization and functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luísa Santa-Marinha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Isabel Castanho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rita Ribeiro Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Francisca Vaz Bravo
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - André Miguel Miranda
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Torcato Meira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rafaela Morais-Ribeiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Marques
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Yimeng Xu
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Kimberly Point du Jour
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Markus Wenk
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
| | - Robin Barry Chan
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Gilbert Di Paolo
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA; Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Vítor Pinto
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Tiago Gil Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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Jiang G, Song J, Hu H, Tong X, Dai F. Evaluation of the silkworm lemon mutant as an invertebrate animal model for human sepiapterin reductase deficiency. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191888. [PMID: 32269807 PMCID: PMC7137946 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Human sepiapterin reductase (SR) deficiency is an inherited disease caused by SPR gene mutations and is a monoamine neurotransmitter disorder. Here, we investigated whether the silkworm lemon mutant could serve as a model of SR deficiency. A point mutation in the BmSPR gene led to a five amino acid deletion at the carboxyl terminus in the lemon mutant. In addition, classical phenotypes seen in SR deficient patients were observed in the lemon mutant, including a normal phenylalanine level, a decreased dopamine and serotonin content, and an increased neopterin level. A recovery test showed that the replenishment of l-dopa significantly increased the dopamine level in the lemon mutant. The silkworm lemon mutant also showed negative behavioural abilities. These results suggest that the silkworm lemon mutant has an appropriate genetic basis and meets the biochemical requirements to be a model of SR deficiency. Thus, the silkworm lemon mutant can serve as a candidate animal model of SR deficiency, which may be helpful in facilitating accurate diagnosis and effective treatment options of SR deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Fangyin Dai
- Author for correspondence: Fangyin Dai e-mail:
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10
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Da Silva JD, Oliveira S, Pereira-Sousa J, Teixeira-Castro A, Costa MD, Maciel P. Loss of egli-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans Orthologue of a Downstream Target of SMN, Leads to Abnormalities in Sensorimotor Integration. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 57:1553-1569. [PMID: 31797327 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01833-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The connectome of Caenorhabditis elegans has been extensively studied and fully mapped, allowing researchers to more confidently conclude on the impact of any change in neuronal circuits based on behavioral data. One of the more complex sensorimotor circuits in nematodes is the one that regulates the integration of feeding status with the subsequent behavioral responses that allow animals to adapt to environmental conditions. Here, we have characterized a Caenorhabditis elegans knockout model of the egli-1 gene (previously known as tag-175). This is an orthologue of the stasimon/tmem41b gene, a downstream target of SMN, the depleted protein in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which partially recapitulates the SMA phenotype in fly and zebrafish models when mutated. Surprisingly, egli-1 mutants reveal no deficits in motor function. Instead, they show functional impairment of a specific neuronal circuit, leading to defects in the integration of sensorial information related to food abundance, with consequences at the level of locomotion adaptation, egg laying, and the response to aversive chemical stimuli. This work has demonstrated for the first time the relevance of egli-1 in the nervous system, as well as revealed a function for this gene, which had remained elusive so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Diogo Da Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Stéphanie Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Pereira-Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marta Daniela Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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11
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Thakur R, Naik A, Panda A, Raghu P. Regulation of Membrane Turnover by Phosphatidic Acid: Cellular Functions and Disease Implications. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:83. [PMID: 31231646 PMCID: PMC6559011 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphatidic acid (PA) is a simple glycerophospholipid with a well-established role as an intermediate in phospholipid biosynthesis. In addition to its role in lipid biosynthesis, PA has been proposed to act as a signaling molecule that modulates several aspects of cell biology including membrane transport. PA can be generated in eukaryotic cells by several enzymes whose activity is regulated in the context of signal transduction and enzymes that can metabolize PA thus terminating its signaling activity have also been described. Further, several studies have identified PA binding proteins and changes in their activity are proposed to be mediators of the signaling activity of this lipid. Together these enzymes and proteins constitute a PA signaling toolkit that mediates the signaling functions of PA in cells. Recently, a number of novel genetic models for the analysis of PA function in vivo and analytical methods to quantify PA levels in cells have been developed and promise to enhance our understanding of PA functions. Studies of several elements of the PA signaling toolkit in a single cell type have been performed and are presented to provide a perspective on our understanding of the biochemical and functional organization of pools of PA in a eukaryotic cell. Finally, we also provide a perspective on the potential role of PA in human disease, synthesizing studies from model organisms, human disease genetics and analysis using recently developed PLD inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajan Thakur
- National Centre for Biological Sciences-TIFR, Bengaluru, India
| | - Amruta Naik
- National Centre for Biological Sciences-TIFR, Bengaluru, India
| | - Aniruddha Panda
- National Centre for Biological Sciences-TIFR, Bengaluru, India
| | - Padinjat Raghu
- National Centre for Biological Sciences-TIFR, Bengaluru, India
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12
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Functional analysis of mammalian phospholipase D enzymes. Biosci Rep 2018; 38:BSR20181690. [PMID: 30369483 PMCID: PMC6435507 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20181690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphatidylcholine (PC)-specific phospholipase D (PLD) hydrolyzes the phosphodiester bond of the PC to generate phosphatidic acid (PA) and regulates several subcellular functions. Mammalian genomes contain two genes encoding distinct isoforms of PLD in contrast with invertebrate genomes that include a single PLD gene. However, the significance of two genes within a genome encoding the same biochemical activity remains unclear. Recently, loss of function in the only PLD gene in Drosophila was reported to result in reduced PA levels and a PA-dependent collapse of the photoreceptor plasma membrane due to defects in vesicular transport. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that human PLD1 (hPLD1) is evolutionarily closer to dPLD than human PLD2 (hPLD2). In the present study, we expressed hPLD1 and hPLD2 in Drosophila and found that while reconstitution of hPLD1 is able to completely rescue retinal degeneration in a loss of function dPLD mutant, hPLD2 was less effective in its ability to mediate a rescue. Using a newly developed analytical method, we determined the acyl chain composition of PA species produced by each enzyme. While dPLD was able to restore the levels of most PA species in dPLD3.1 cells, hPLD1 and hPLD2 each were unable to restore the levels of a subset of unique species of PA. Finally, we found that in contrast with hPLD2, dPLD and hPLD1 are uniquely distributed to the subplasma membrane region in photoreceptors. In summary, hPLD1 likely represents the ancestral PLD in mammalian genomes while hPLD2 represents neofunctionalization to generate PA at distinct subcellular membranes.
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Sarasija S, Laboy JT, Ashkavand Z, Bonner J, Tang Y, Norman KR. Presenilin mutations deregulate mitochondrial Ca 2+ homeostasis and metabolic activity causing neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. eLife 2018; 7:33052. [PMID: 29989545 PMCID: PMC6075864 DOI: 10.7554/elife.33052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent metabolic deregulation is observed in neurodegenerative diseases and aging. Mutations in the presenilin (PSEN) encoding genes (PSEN1 and PSEN2) cause most cases of familial Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, the underlying mechanism of pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we show that mutations in the C. elegans gene encoding a PSEN homolog, sel-12 result in mitochondrial metabolic defects that promote neurodegeneration as a result of oxidative stress. In sel-12 mutants, elevated endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling leads to an increase in mitochondrial Ca2+ content which stimulates mitochondrial respiration resulting in an increase in mitochondrial superoxide production. By reducing ER Ca2+ release, mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake or mitochondrial superoxides in sel-12 mutants, we demonstrate rescue of the mitochondrial metabolic defects and prevent neurodegeneration. These data suggest that mutations in PSEN alter mitochondrial metabolic function via ER to mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling and provide insight for alternative targets for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. A hallmark of this condition is progressive loss of memory, accompanied by a buildup of hard clumps of protein between the brain cells. These protein clumps, known as amyloid plaques, are a key focus of research into Alzheimer's disease. They are likely to be toxic to brain cells, but their role in the development and progression of the disease is not yet known. Though the cause of Alzheimer's disease remains unclear, an inherited form of the disease may hold some clues. Mutations in genes for proteins called presenilins cause an earlier onset form of Alzheimer's disease, in which symptoms can develop in people who are in their 40s or 50s. The presenilin proteins appear in a cell structure called the endoplasmic reticulum, which plays many roles in the normal activities of a cell. Among other things, this structure stores and releases calcium ions, and cells use these ions to send and process many signals. The cell's energy-producing powerhouses, the mitochondria, use calcium to boost their metabolic activity. This allows them to make more energy for the cell, but in the process they also make damaging byproducts. These byproducts include oxygen-containing chemicals, known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), which react strongly with other molecules. While low levels of ROS are a normal part of cell activity, if the levels get too high, these chemicals can attack and damage structures within the cell. Untangling the effects of amyloid plaques and presenilins on brain cells in humans is challenging. But, a nematode worm called Caenorhabditis elegans does not form plaques, making it possible to look at presenilins on their own. Previous work in these worms has shown that presenilin mutations affect the endoplasmic reticulum and change the appearance of mitochondria. Here, Sarasija et al. extend this work to find out more about the effects presenilin mutations have on living cells. Presenilin mutations in young adult worms increased the amount of calcium released by the endoplasmic reticulum. This increased the activity of the mitochondria and caused ROS levels to rise to damaging levels. This caused stress inside the cells, and the worms started to show early signs damage to their nervous systems. Mutations that decreased the movement of calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum to the mitochondria helped to prevent the damage. Treating the mitochondria with antioxidants to mop up the extra ROS also protected the cells. This kind of damage to brain cells did not depend on amyloid plaques. Whilst the plaques are likely to be toxic, these new findings highlights the role that other chemical and biological processes might play in Alzheimer's disease. Further work to reveal the underlying cause of Alzheimer's disease may lead to new therapies to treat this condition in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaarika Sarasija
- Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical College, Albany, United States
| | - Jocelyn T Laboy
- Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical College, Albany, United States
| | - Zahra Ashkavand
- Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical College, Albany, United States
| | - Jennifer Bonner
- Department of Biology, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, United States
| | - Yi Tang
- Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical College, Albany, United States
| | - Kenneth R Norman
- Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical College, Albany, United States
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