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Zheng C, Zhang L, Huang H, Wang X, Van Schepdael A, Ye J. Raman spectroscopy: A promising analytical tool used in human reproductive medicine. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 249:116366. [PMID: 39029353 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Over the past few years, there has been growing interest in developing new methods of embryo quality assessment to improve the outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies in the medical field. Raman microscopy as an increasingly promising analytical tool has been widely used in life sciences, biomedicine and "omics" to study molecular, biochemical components, living cells and tissues due to the label-free and non-destructive nature of the imaging technique. This paper reviews the analytical capability of Raman microscopy and applications of Raman spectroscopy technology mainly in reproductive medicine. The purpose of this review is to introduce the Raman spectroscopy technology, application and underlying principles of the method, to provide an intact picture of its uses in biomedical science and reproductive medicine, to offer ideas for its future application, verification and validation. The focus is on the application of Raman spectroscopy in the reproductive medicine field, including the application in gametes, embryos and spent embryo culture media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zheng
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lumei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Hefeng Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
| | - Ann Van Schepdael
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Analysis, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Jian Ye
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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Chen WW, Tang W, Hamerton EK, Kuo PX, Lemieux GA, Ashrafi K, Cicerone MT. Identifying lipid particle sub-types in live Caenorhabditis elegans with two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging. Front Chem 2023; 11:1161775. [PMID: 37123874 PMCID: PMC10137682 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1161775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Fat metabolism is an important modifier of aging and longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Given the anatomy and hermaphroditic nature of C. elegans, a major challenge is to distinguish fats that serve the energetic needs of the parent from those that are allocated to the progeny. Broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (BCARS) microscopy has revealed that the composition and dynamics of lipid particles are heterogeneous both within and between different tissues of this organism. Using BCARS, we have previously succeeded in distinguishing lipid-rich particles that serve as energetic reservoirs of the parent from those that are destined for the progeny. While BCARS microscopy produces high-resolution images with very high information content, it is not yet a widely available platform. Here we report a new approach combining the lipophilic vital dye Nile Red and two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (2p-FLIM) for the in vivo discrimination of lipid particle sub-types. While it is widely accepted that Nile Red staining yields unreliable results for detecting lipid structures in live C. elegans due to strong interference of autofluorescence and non-specific staining signals, our results show that simple FLIM phasor analysis can effectively separate those signals and is capable of differentiating the non-polar lipid-dominant (lipid-storage), polar lipid-dominant (yolk lipoprotein) particles, and the intermediates that have been observed using BCARS microscopy. An advantage of this approach is that images can be acquired using common, commercially available 2p-FLIM systems within about 10% of the time required to generate a BCARS image. Our work provides a novel, broadly accessible approach for analyzing lipid-containing structures in a complex, live whole organism context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Wen Chen
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Wenyu Tang
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Emily K. Hamerton
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Penelope X. Kuo
- School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - George A. Lemieux
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Kaveh Ashrafi
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Marcus T. Cicerone
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Partial fads2 Gene Knockout Diverts LC-PUFA Biosynthesis via an Alternative Δ8 Pathway with an Impact on the Reproduction of Female Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13040700. [PMID: 35456508 PMCID: PMC9032720 DOI: 10.3390/genes13040700] [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: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) genome contains a single gene fads2 encoding a desaturase (FADS2) with both Δ6 and Δ5 activities, the key player in the endogenous biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), which serve essential functions as membrane components, sources of energy and signaling molecules. LC-PUFAs include the precursors of eicosanoids and are thus predicted to be indispensable molecules for reproductive health in virtually all vertebrates. In mice, an amniotic vertebrate, fads2 deletion mutants, both males and females, have been confirmed to be sterile. In anamniotic vertebrates, such as fish, there is still no information available on the reproductive (in)ability of fads2 mutants, although zebrafish have become an increasingly important model of lipid metabolism, including some aspects of the generation of germ cells and early embryonic development. In the present study, we apply the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system to induce mutations in the zebrafish genome and create crispants displaying a degree of fads2 gene editing within the range of 50–80%. Focusing on adult G0 crispant females, we investigated the LC-PUFA profiles of eggs. Our data suggest an impaired pathway of the LC-PUFA biosynthesis of the ω6 and ω3 series in the first-rate limiting steps of the conversion of linoleic acid (LA) into γ-linolenic acid (GLA), and α-linolenic acid (ALA) into stearidonic acid (SDA), respectively, finally resulting in bad-quality eggs. Our data suggest the existence of an alternative Δ8 pathway, which bypasses the first endogenous LC-PUFA biosynthetic step in zebrafish in vivo, and suggest that the zebrafish bifunctional FADS2 enzyme is actually a trifunctional Δ6/Δ5/Δ8 desaturase.
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Workflow for Segmentation of Caenorhabditis elegans from Fluorescence Images for the Quantitation of Lipids. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app112311420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The small and transparent nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is increasingly employed for phenotypic in vivo chemical screens. The influence of compounds on worm body fat stores can be assayed with Nile red staining and imaging. Segmentation of C. elegans from fluorescence images is hereby a primary task. In this paper, we present an image-processing workflow that includes machine-learning-based segmentation of C. elegans directly from fluorescence images and quantifies their Nile red lipid-derived fluorescence. The segmentation is based on a J48 classifier using pixel entropies and is refined by size-thresholding. The accuracy of segmentation was >90% in our external validation. Binarization with a global threshold set to the brightness of the vehicle control group worms of each experiment allows a robust and reproducible quantification of worm fluorescence. The workflow is available as a script written in the macro language of imageJ, allowing the user additional manual control of classification results and custom specification settings for binarization. Our approach can be easily adapted to the requirements of other fluorescence image-based experiments with C. elegans.
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The Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Semi-Targeted Metabolomics to Improve IVF Outcomes in Senile Patients. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:6696305. [PMID: 34804183 PMCID: PMC8598347 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6696305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective To identify the biological function and metabolic pathway of differential metabolites in follicular fluid of senile patients with kidney qi deficiency undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and observe the effect of kidney-invigorating herbs on IVF outcomes in senile patients. Methods A total of 95 women undergoing IVF treatment were recruited and divided into three groups, including 34 cases in the treatment group (the senile patients with kidney qi deficiency after the intervention of Chinese medicine), 31 cases in the experiment group (the senile patients with kidney qi deficiency of no intervention of Chinese medicine), and 30 cases in the control group (young women with infertility due to male factor). The three groups of women were treated with long protocol ovarian hyperstimulation; the treatment group was given Qi-Zi-Yu-Si decoction on the day of HCG downregulation. Their IVF clinical outcomes were observed. The metabolites changes of kidney qi deficiency syndrome were analyzed in follicular fluid metabolomics using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Results The syndrome score of kidney qi deficiency syndrome in the treatment group was significantly improved after treatment (P < 0.01). Compared with the experiment group, the available embryo rate and implantation rate were increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Progesterone, indoleacrylic acid, 2-propenyl 1-(1-propenylsulfinyl) propyl disulfide, N-acetyltryptophan, decanoylcarnitine, 20a-dihydroprogesterone, testosterone acetate, eicosatrienoic acid, 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde, choline, phosphorylcholine, and tryptophan were downregulated in the treatment group. Through pathway analysis, glycerophospholipid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis were regulated in senile patients with kidney qi deficiency after Qi-Zi-Yu-Si decoction intervention. Conclusion Qi-Zi-Yu-Si decoction can effectively improve the IVF outcome and clinical symptoms of senile patients. Follicular fluid metabolites were significantly changed in senile infertile women with kidney qi deficiency, and the mechanism by which kidney-invigorating herbs improve IVF treatment outcomes may be related to glycerophospholipid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis. This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ChiCTR1800014422).
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Gems D, Kern CC, Nour J, Ezcurra M. Reproductive Suicide: Similar Mechanisms of Aging in C. elegans and Pacific Salmon. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:688788. [PMID: 34513830 PMCID: PMC8430333 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.688788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In some species of salmon, reproductive maturity triggers the development of massive pathology resulting from reproductive effort, leading to rapid post-reproductive death. Such reproductive death, which occurs in many semelparous organisms (with a single bout of reproduction), can be prevented by blocking reproductive maturation, and this can increase lifespan dramatically. Reproductive death is often viewed as distinct from senescence in iteroparous organisms (with multiple bouts of reproduction) such as humans. Here we review the evidence that reproductive death occurs in C. elegans and discuss what this means for its use as a model organism to study aging. Inhibiting insulin/IGF-1 signaling and germline removal suppresses reproductive death and greatly extends lifespan in C. elegans, but can also extend lifespan to a small extent in iteroparous organisms. We argue that mechanisms of senescence operative in reproductive death exist in a less catastrophic form in iteroparous organisms, particularly those that involve costly resource reallocation, and exhibit endocrine-regulated plasticity. Thus, mechanisms of senescence in semelparous organisms (including plants) and iteroparous ones form an etiological continuum. Therefore understanding mechanisms of reproductive death in C. elegans can teach us about some mechanisms of senescence that are operative in iteroparous organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gems
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carina C. Kern
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Nour
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marina Ezcurra
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
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Devkota R, Kaper D, Bodhicharla R, Henricsson M, Borén J, Pilon M. A genetic titration of membrane composition in Caenorhabditis elegans reveals its importance for multiple cellular and physiological traits. Genetics 2021; 219:iyab093. [PMID: 34125894 PMCID: PMC9335940 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Communicating editor: B. Grant The composition and biophysical properties of cellular membranes must be tightly regulated to maintain the proper functions of myriad processes within cells. To better understand the importance of membrane homeostasis, we assembled a panel of five Caenorhabditis elegans strains that show a wide span of membrane composition and properties, ranging from excessively rich in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and rigid to excessively rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and fluid. The genotypes of the five strain are, from most rigid to most fluid: paqr-1(tm3262); paqr-2(tm3410), paqr-2(tm3410), N2 (wild-type), mdt-15(et14); nhr-49(et8), and mdt-15(et14); nhr-49(et8); acs-13(et54). We confirmed the excess SFA/rigidity-to-excess PUFA/fluidity gradient using the methods of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and lipidomics analysis. The five strains were then studied for a variety of cellular and physiological traits and found to exhibit defects in: permeability, lipid peroxidation, growth at different temperatures, tolerance to SFA-rich diets, lifespan, brood size, vitellogenin trafficking, oogenesis, and autophagy during starvation. The excessively rigid strains often exhibited defects in opposite directions compared to the excessively fluid strains. We conclude that deviation from wild-type membrane homeostasis is pleiotropically deleterious for numerous cellular/physiological traits. The strains introduced here should prove useful to further study the cellular and physiological consequences of impaired membrane homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjan Devkota
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden
| | - Delaney Kaper
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden
| | - Rakesh Bodhicharla
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden
| | - Marcus Henricsson
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Wallenberg Laboratory, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden
| | - Jan Borén
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Wallenberg Laboratory, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden
| | - Marc Pilon
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg S-405 30, Sweden
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Perez MA, Watts JL. Worms, Fat, and Death: Caenorhabditis elegans Lipid Metabolites Regulate Cell Death. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11020125. [PMID: 33672292 PMCID: PMC7926963 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11020125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans is well-known as the model organism used to elucidate the genetic pathways underlying the first described form of regulated cell death, apoptosis. Since then, C. elegans investigations have contributed to the further understanding of lipids in apoptosis, especially the roles of phosphatidylserines and phosphatidylinositols. More recently, studies in C. elegans have shown that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids can induce the non-apoptotic, iron-dependent form of cell death, ferroptosis. In this review, we examine the roles of various lipids in specific aspects of regulated cell death, emphasizing recent work in C. elegans.
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Identification of a Novel Link between the Intermediate Filament Organizer IFO-1 and Cholesterol Metabolism in the Caenorhabditis elegans Intestine. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218219. [PMID: 33153048 PMCID: PMC7672635 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The intestine is an organ essential to organismal nutrient absorption, metabolic control, barrier function and immunoprotection. The Caenorhabditis elegans intestine consists of 20 cells harboring a dense intermediate filament network positioned below the apical plasma membrane that forms a junction-anchored sheath around the intestinal lumen. This evolutionarily conserved arrangement provides mechanical and overall stress-protection, and it serves as an important model for deciphering the role of intestinal architecture in metazoan biology. We recently reported that the loss-of-function mutation of the intestinal intermediate filament organizer IFO-1 perturbs this architecture, leading to reduced body size and reproduction. Here, we demonstrate that the IFO-1 mutation dramatically affects cholesterol metabolism. Mutants showed an increased sensitivity to cholesterol depletion, reduced cholesterol uptake, and cholesterol transfer to the gonads, which is also observed in worms completely lacking an intermediate filament network. Accordingly, we found striking similarities to transcriptome and lipidome profiles of a nuclear hormone receptor (NHR)-8 mutant. NHR-8 is homologous to mammalian LXR (liver X receptor) that serves as a sterol sensor and transcriptional regulator of lipid metabolism. Remarkably, increasing exogenous cholesterol partially rescues the developmental retardation in IFO-1 mutants. Our results uncover a novel link of the intestinal intermediate filament cytoskeleton to cholesterol metabolism that contributes to compromised growth and reproduction.
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Yue Y, Li S, Qian Z, Pereira RF, Lee J, Doherty JJ, Zhang Z, Peng Y, Clark JM, Timme-Laragy AR, Park Y. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) impaired reproduction and altered offspring physiological functions in Caenorhabditis elegans. Food Chem Toxicol 2020; 145:111695. [PMID: 32835727 PMCID: PMC7554236 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), a shorter chain Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) cognate of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), has been used as replacement for the toxic surfactant PFOS. However, emerging evidences suggest safety concerns for PFBS and its effect on reproductive health is still understudied. Therefore, the current work aimed to investigate the effect of PFBS, in comparison to PFOS, on reproductive health using Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo animal model. PFOS (≥10 μM) and PFBS (≥1000 μM) significantly impaired the reproduction capacity of C. elegans, represented as reduced brood size (total egg number) and progeny number (hatched offspring number), without affecting the hatchability. Additionally, the preconception exposure of PFOS and PFBS significantly altered the embryonic nutrient loading and composition, which further led to abnormalities in growth rate, body size and locomotive activity in F1 offspring. Though the effective exposure concentration of PFBS was approximately 100 times higher than PFOS, the internal concentration of PFBS was lower than that of PFOS to produce the similar effects of PFOS. In conclusion, PFOS and PFBS significantly impaired the reproductive capacities in C. elegans and the preconception exposure of these two compounds can lead to offspring physiological dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiren Yue
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - Sida Li
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - Zhuojia Qian
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | | | - Jonghwa Lee
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - Jeffery J Doherty
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - Ye Peng
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - John M Clark
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - Alicia R Timme-Laragy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States
| | - Yeonhwa Park
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States.
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Antisense Oligonucleotides Used to Identify Telomeric G-Quadruplexes in Metaphase Chromosomes and Fixed Cells by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy of o-BMVC Foci. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25184083. [PMID: 32906697 PMCID: PMC7570708 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification of the existence of G-quadruplex (G4) structure, from a specific G-rich sequence in cells, is critical to the studies of structural biology and drug development. Accumulating evidence supports the existence of G4 structure in vivo. Particularly, time-gated fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) of a G4 fluorescent probe, 3,6-bis(1-methyl-2-vinylpyridinium) carbazole diiodide (o-BMVC), was used to quantitatively measure the number of G4 foci, not only in different cell lines, but also in tissue biopsy. Here, circular dichroism spectra and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis assays show that the use of antisense oligonucleotides unfolds their G4 structures in different percentages. Using antisense oligonucleotides, quantitative measurement of the number of o-BMVC foci in time-gated FLIM images provides a method for identifying which G4 motifs form G4 structures in fixed cells. Here, the decrease of the o-BMVC foci number, upon the pretreatment of antisense sequences, (CCCTAA)3CCCTA, in fixed cells and at the end of metaphase chromosomes, allows us to identify the formation of telomeric G4 structures from TTAGGG repeats in fixed cells.
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12
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Spectroscopic coherent Raman imaging of Caenorhabditis elegans reveals lipid particle diversity. Nat Chem Biol 2020; 16:1087-1095. [PMID: 32572275 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-020-0565-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans serves as a model for understanding adiposity and its connections to aging. Current methodologies do not distinguish between fats serving the energy needs of the parent, akin to mammalian adiposity, from those that are distributed to the progeny, making it difficult to accurately interpret the physiological implications of fat content changes induced by external perturbations. Using spectroscopic coherent Raman imaging, we determine the protein content, chemical profiles and dynamics of lipid particles in live animals. We find fat particles in the adult intestine to be diverse, with most destined for the developing progeny. In contrast, the skin-like epidermis contains fats that are the least heterogeneous, the least dynamic and have high triglyceride content. These attributes are most consistent with stored somatic energy reservoirs. These results challenge the prevailing practice of assessing C. elegans adiposity by measurements that are dominated by the intestinal fat content.
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13
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Mokoena NZ, Sebolai OM, Albertyn J, Pohl CH. Synthesis and function of fatty acids and oxylipins, with a focus on Caenorhabditis elegans. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2020; 148:106426. [PMID: 32032704 DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2020.106426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exhibit a diverse range of important biological functions in most biological systems. These PUFAs can be oxygenated via enzymatic or free radical-mediated reactions to form bioactive oxygenated lipid mediators termed oxylipins. Eicosanoids are broad class of oxylipins that are transient and locally synthesized signalling molecules, including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, lipoxins and thromboxanes, which mediate various physiological responses, such as inflammation. In addition to arachidonic acid-derived eicosanoids, current developments in lipidomic methodologies have brought attention to vast number of oxylipins produced from other PUFAs, including omega-3. Although, the molecular mechanisms of how PUFAs and oxylipins contribute to majority of the fundamental biological processes are largely unclear, a model organism Caenorhabditis elegans remains a powerful model for exploring lipid metabolism and functions of PUFAs and oxylipins. For instance, the ability of C. elegans to modify fatty acid composition with dietary supplementation and genetic manipulation enables the dissection of the roles of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs in many biological processes that include aging, reproduction, and neurobiology. However, much remains to be elucidated concerning the roles of oxylipins, but thus far, C. elegans is well-known for the synthesis of vast set of cytochrome (CYP) eicosanoids. These CYP eicosanoids are extremely susceptible to changes in the relative bioavailability of the different PUFAs, thus providing a better insight into complex mechanisms connecting essential dietary fatty acids to various biological processes. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the synthesis and function of PUFAs and oxylipins in mammals. It also focusses on what is known regarding the production of PUFAs and oxylipins in C. elegans and their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Z Mokoena
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - O M Sebolai
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - J Albertyn
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - C H Pohl
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
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14
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Fueser H, Majdi N, Haegerbaeumer A, Pilger C, Hachmeister H, Greife P, Huser T, Traunspurger W. Analyzing life-history traits and lipid storage using CARS microscopy for assessing effects of copper on the fitness of Caenorhabditis elegans. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 156:255-262. [PMID: 29554610 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Lipid storage provides energy for cell survival, growth, and reproduction and is closely related to the organismal response to stress imposed by toxic chemicals. However, the effects of toxicants on energy storage as it impacts certain life-history traits have rarely been investigated. Here, we used the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a test species for a chronic exposure to copper (Cu) at EC20 (0.50 mg Cu/l). Effects on the fatty acid distribution in C. elegans body were determined using coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) to link population fitness responses with individual ecophysiological responses. Cu inhibited nematode reproductive capacity and offspring growth in addition to shortening the lifespan of exposed individuals. In adult nematodes, Cu exposure led to significant reduction of lipid storage compared to the Cu-free control: Under Cu, lipids filled only 0.5% of the nematode body volume vs. 7.5% in control nematodes, lipid droplets were on average 74% smaller and the number of tiny lipids (0-10 µm2) was increased. These results suggest that (1) Cu has an important effect on the life-history traits of nematodes; (2) the quantification of lipid storage can provide important information on the response of organisms to toxic stress; and (3) CARS microscopy is a promising tool for non-invasive quantitative and qualitative analyses of lipids as a measure of nematode fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Fueser
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Nabil Majdi
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Arne Haegerbaeumer
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Christian Pilger
- Bielefeld University, Biomolecular Photonics, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Henning Hachmeister
- Bielefeld University, Biomolecular Photonics, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Paul Greife
- Bielefeld University, Biomolecular Photonics, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Thomas Huser
- Bielefeld University, Biomolecular Photonics, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Walter Traunspurger
- Bielefeld University, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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15
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Membrane Fluidity Is Regulated Cell Nonautonomously by Caenorhabditis elegans PAQR-2 and Its Mammalian Homolog AdipoR2. Genetics 2018; 210:189-201. [PMID: 29997234 PMCID: PMC6116961 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The properties of cell membranes are determined mostly by the types of fatty acids that they contain. Bodhicharla et al. report that a key regulator of membrane fluidity, the PAQR-2/IGLR-2 protein complex... Maintenance of membrane properties is an essential aspect of cellular homeostasis of which the regulatory mechanisms remain mostly uncharacterized. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the PAQR-2 and IGLR-2 proteins act together as a plasma membrane sensor that responds to decreased fluidity by promoting fatty acid desaturation, hence restoring membrane fluidity. Here, we used mosaic analysis for paqr-2 and iglr-2, and tissue-specific paqr-2 expression, to show that membrane homeostasis is achieved cell nonautonomously. Specifically, we found that expression of paqr-2 in the hypodermis, gonad sheath cells, or intestine is sufficient to suppress systemic paqr-2 mutant phenotypes, including tail tip morphology, membrane fluidity in intestinal cells, cold and glucose intolerance, vitellogenin transport to the germline, germ cell development, and brood size. Finally, we show that the cell nonautonomous regulation of membrane homeostasis is conserved in human cells: HEK293 cells that express AdipoR2, a homolog of paqr-2, are able to normalize membrane fluidity in distant cells where AdipoR2 has been silenced. Finally, using C. elegans mutants and small interfering RNA against Δ9 stearoyl-CoA desaturase in HEK293 cells, we show that Δ9 desaturases are essential for the cell nonautonomous maintenance of membrane fluidity. We conclude that cells are able to share membrane components even when they are not in direct contact with each other, and that this contributes to the maintenance of membrane homeostasis in C. elegans and human cells.
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16
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Tay SS, Kuah MK, Shu-Chien AC. Transcriptional activation of zebrafish fads2 promoter and its transient transgene expression in yolk syncytial layer of zebrafish embryos. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3874. [PMID: 29497119 PMCID: PMC5832746 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22157-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The front-end desaturases (Fads) are rate-limiting enzymes responsible for production of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). The full spectrum of the transcriptional regulation of fads is still incomplete, as cloning of fads promoter is limited to a few species. Here, we described the cloning and characterisation of the zebrafish fads2 promoter. Using 5'-deletion and mutation analysis on this promoter, we identified a specific region containing the sterol regulatory element (SRE) which is responsible for the activation of the fads2 promoter. In tandem, two conserved CCAAT boxes were also present adjacent to the SRE and mutation of either of these binding sites attenuates the transcriptional activation of the fads2 promoter. An in vivo analysis employing GFP reporter gene in transiently transfected zebrafish embryos showed that this 1754 bp upstream region of the fads2 gene specifically directs GFP expression in the yolk syncytial layer (YSL) region. This indicates a role for LC-PUFA in the transport of yolk lipids through this tissue layer. In conclusion, besides identifying novel core elements for transcriptional activation in zebrafish fads2 promoter, we also reveal a potential role for fads2 or LC-PUFA in YSL during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Shen Tay
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Meng-Kiat Kuah
- Centre for Chemical Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Sains@USM, Block B No. 10, Persiaran Bukit Jambul, 11900, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Alexander Chong Shu-Chien
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Penang, Malaysia. .,Centre for Chemical Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Sains@USM, Block B No. 10, Persiaran Bukit Jambul, 11900, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
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17
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Vireque AA, Tata A, Belaz KRA, Grázia JGV, Santos FN, Arnold DR, Basso AC, Eberlin MN, Silva-de-Sá MF, Ferriani RA, Sá Rosa-E-Silva ACJ. MALDI mass spectrometry reveals that cumulus cells modulate the lipid profile of in vitro-matured bovine oocytes. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2017; 63:86-99. [PMID: 28301258 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2017.1289279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The influence of cumulus cells (CC) on the lipid profile of bovine oocytes matured in two different lipid sources was investigated. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) or denuded oocytes (DO) were matured in tissue culture medium (TCM) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) or serum substitute supplement (SSS). Lipid profiles of TCM, serum supplements, immature CC and oocyte (IO), and in vitro-matured oocytes from COC and DO were then analyzed by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and submitted to partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The developmental competence of such oocytes was also assessed. Differences in lipid composition were observed between two types of sera and distinctly influenced the lipid profile of CC. As revealed by PLS-DA, the abundance of specific ions corresponding to triacylglycerols (TAG) or phospholipids (PL) were higher in COC compared to DO both supplemented with FBS or SSS and to some extent affected the subsequent DO in vitro embryo development. DO exposed to SSS had however a marked diminished ability to develop to the blastocyst stage. These results indicate a modulation by CC of the oocyte TAG and PL profiles associated with a specific cell response to the serum supplement used for in vitro maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra A Vireque
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto , University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , SP , Brazil
| | - Alessandra Tata
- b ThoMSon Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry , University of Campinas , Campinas , SP , Brazil
| | - Katia Roberta A Belaz
- b ThoMSon Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry , University of Campinas , Campinas , SP , Brazil
| | | | - Fábio N Santos
- b ThoMSon Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry , University of Campinas , Campinas , SP , Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcos N Eberlin
- b ThoMSon Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry , University of Campinas , Campinas , SP , Brazil
| | - Marcos Felipe Silva-de-Sá
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto , University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , SP , Brazil
| | - Rui A Ferriani
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto , University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , SP , Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina J Sá Rosa-E-Silva
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto , University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , SP , Brazil
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