1
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Anderton E, Chamoli M, Bhaumik D, King CD, Xie X, Foulger A, Andersen JK, Schilling B, Lithgow GJ. Amyloid β accelerates age-related proteome-wide protein insolubility. GeroScience 2024; 46:4585-4602. [PMID: 38753231 PMCID: PMC11335993 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01169-1] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Loss of proteostasis is a highly conserved feature of aging across model organisms and results in the accumulation of insoluble protein aggregates. Protein insolubility is also a unifying feature of major age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease (AD), in which hundreds of insoluble proteins associate with aggregated amyloid beta (Aβ) in senile plaques. Despite the connection between aging and AD risk, therapeutic approaches to date have overlooked aging-driven generalized protein insolubility as a contributing factor. However, proteins that become insoluble during aging in model organisms are capable of accelerating Aβ aggregation in vitro and lifespan in vivo. Here, using an unbiased proteomics approach, we questioned the relationship between Aβ and age-related protein insolubility. Specifically, we uncovered that Aβ expression drives proteome-wide protein insolubility in C. elegans, even in young animals, and this insoluble proteome is highly similar to the insoluble proteome driven by normal aging, this vulnerable sub-proteome we term the core insoluble proteome (CIP). We show that the CIP is enriched with proteins that modify Aβ toxicity in vivo, suggesting the possibility of a vicious feedforward cycle in the context of AD. Importantly, using human genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we show that the CIP is replete with biological processes implicated not only in neurodegenerative diseases but also across a broad array of chronic, age-related diseases (CARDs). This provides suggestive evidence that age-related loss of proteostasis could play a role in general CARD risk. Finally, we show that the geroprotective, gut-derived metabolite, Urolithin A, relieves Aβ toxicity, supporting its use in clinical trials for dementia and age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Anderton
- The Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, USA.
- USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90191, USA.
| | - Manish Chamoli
- The Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, USA.
| | - Dipa Bhaumik
- The Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Christina D King
- The Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Xueshu Xie
- The Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Anna Foulger
- The Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Julie K Andersen
- The Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, USA
| | - Birgit Schilling
- The Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, USA.
| | - Gordon J Lithgow
- The Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94945, USA.
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2
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Tiwari V, Buvarp E, Borbolis F, Puligilla C, Croteau DL, Palikaras K, Bohr VA. Loss of DNA glycosylases improves health and cognitive function in a C. elegans model of human tauopathy. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae705. [PMID: 39149885 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder representing a major burden on families and society. Some of the main pathological hallmarks of AD are the accumulation of amyloid plaques (Aβ) and tau neurofibrillary tangles. However, it is still unclear how Aβ and tau aggregates promote specific phenotypic outcomes and lead to excessive oxidative DNA damage, neuronal cell death and eventually to loss of memory. Here we utilized a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model of human tauopathy to investigate the role of DNA glycosylases in disease development and progression. Transgenic nematodes expressing a pro-aggregate form of tau displayed altered mitochondrial content, decreased lifespan, and cognitive dysfunction. Genetic ablation of either of the two DNA glycosylases found in C. elegans, NTH-1 and UNG-1, improved mitochondrial function, lifespan, and memory impairment. NTH-1 depletion resulted in a dramatic increase of differentially expressed genes, which was not apparent in UNG-1 deficient nematodes. Our findings clearly show that in addition to its enzymatic activity, NTH-1 has non-canonical functions highlighting its modulation as a potential therapeutic intervention to tackle tau-mediated pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinod Tiwari
- Section on DNA Repair, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Elisabeth Buvarp
- Section on DNA Repair, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Fivos Borbolis
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece
| | - Chandrakala Puligilla
- Section for Telomere Maintenance, LGG, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Deborah L Croteau
- Section on DNA Repair, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Computational Biology & Genomics Core, LGG, NIA, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Konstantinos Palikaras
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece
| | - Vilhelm A Bohr
- Section on DNA Repair, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, 2200 N, Denmark
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3
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Moldovean-Cioroianu NS. Reviewing the Structure-Function Paradigm in Polyglutamine Disorders: A Synergistic Perspective on Theoretical and Experimental Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6789. [PMID: 38928495 PMCID: PMC11204371 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) disorders are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the excessive expansion of CAG (cytosine, adenine, guanine) repeats within host proteins. The quest to unravel the complex diseases mechanism has led researchers to adopt both theoretical and experimental methods, each offering unique insights into the underlying pathogenesis. This review emphasizes the significance of combining multiple approaches in the study of polyQ disorders, focusing on the structure-function correlations and the relevance of polyQ-related protein dynamics in neurodegeneration. By integrating computational/theoretical predictions with experimental observations, one can establish robust structure-function correlations, aiding in the identification of key molecular targets for therapeutic interventions. PolyQ proteins' dynamics, influenced by their length and interactions with other molecular partners, play a pivotal role in the polyQ-related pathogenic cascade. Moreover, conformational dynamics of polyQ proteins can trigger aggregation, leading to toxic assembles that hinder proper cellular homeostasis. Understanding these intricacies offers new avenues for therapeutic strategies by fine-tuning polyQ kinetics, in order to prevent and control disease progression. Last but not least, this review highlights the importance of integrating multidisciplinary efforts to advancing research in this field, bringing us closer to the ultimate goal of finding effective treatments against polyQ disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nastasia Sanda Moldovean-Cioroianu
- Institute of Materials Science, Bioinspired Materials and Biosensor Technologies, Kiel University, Kaiserstraße 2, 24143 Kiel, Germany;
- Faculty of Physics, Babeș-Bolyai University, Kogălniceanu 1, RO-400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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4
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Gu Y, Pope A, Smith C, Carmona C, Johnstone A, Shi L, Chen X, Santos S, Bacon-Brenes CC, Shoff T, Kleczko KM, Frydman J, Thompson LM, Mobley WC, Wu C. BDNF and TRiC-inspired reagent rescue cortical synaptic deficits in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 195:106502. [PMID: 38608784 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106502] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Synaptic changes are early manifestations of neuronal dysfunction in Huntington's disease (HD). However, the mechanisms by which mutant HTT protein impacts synaptogenesis and function are not well understood. Herein we explored HD pathogenesis in the BACHD mouse model by examining synaptogenesis and function in long term primary cortical cultures. At DIV14 (days in vitro), BACHD cortical neurons showed no difference from WT neurons in synaptogenesis as revealed by colocalization of a pre-synaptic (Synapsin I) and a post-synaptic (PSD95) marker. From DIV21 to DIV35, BACHD neurons showed progressively reduced colocalization of Synapsin I and PSD95 relative to WT neurons. The deficits were effectively rescued by treatment of BACHD neurons with BDNF. The recombinant apical domain of CCT1 (ApiCCT1) yielded a partial rescuing effect. BACHD neurons also showed culture age-related significant functional deficits as revealed by multielectrode arrays (MEAs). These deficits were prevented by BDNF, whereas ApiCCT1 showed a less potent effect. These findings are evidence that deficits in BACHD synapse and function can be replicated in vitro and that BDNF or a TRiC-inspired reagent can potentially be protective against these changes in BACHD neurons. Our findings support the use of cellular models to further explicate HD pathogenesis and potential treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingli Gu
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 150001, China; Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Alexander Pope
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Charlene Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States of America
| | - Christopher Carmona
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States of America; Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America; Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Aaron Johnstone
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Linda Shi
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States of America; Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America; Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Xuqiao Chen
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Sarai Santos
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | | | - Thomas Shoff
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America
| | - Korbin M Kleczko
- Department of Biology and Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5430, United States of America
| | - Judith Frydman
- Department of Biology and Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5430, United States of America
| | - Leslie M Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States of America; Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States of America; Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States of America; Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States of America
| | - William C Mobley
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America.
| | - Chengbiao Wu
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States of America.
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5
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Berk Ş, Özdemir S, Pektaş AN. Visualization of scientific production in Caenorhabditis elegans: a bibliometric analysis (1980-2023). Genomics Inform 2024; 22:3. [PMID: 38907345 PMCID: PMC11184956 DOI: 10.1186/s44342-024-00002-7] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a nematode and model organism whose entire genome has been mapped, which allows for easy observation of the organism's development due to its transparent structure, and which is appealing due to its ease of crossover, ease of culture, and low cost. Despite being separated by nearly a billion years of evolution, C. elegans homologs have been identified for the vast majority of human genes and are associated with C. elegans for many biological processes such as apoptosis, cell signaling, cell cycle, cell polarity, metabolism, and aging. A detailed bibliometric study is performed here to examine publication trends in this field. Data were taken from the Web of Science database and analyzed using the bibliometric application Biblioshiny (RStudio). In terms of publication, the results indicated a gradual increase each year between 1980 and 2023. A total of 20,322 records were issued in 96 countries, the majority of which were in the USA, China, and Japan. The most prolific writers, the journals most engaged in the area, the nations, institutions, and keywords used by authors were all determined using the Web of Science database and bibliometric rules. The number of papers in the C. elegans research field is increasing exponentially, and Genetics is the journal with the highest number of articles. This study presents how research patterns have evolved throughout time. As a result, worldwide cooperation and a potential field can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Şeyda Berk
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, 58140, Turkey.
- Advanced Technology Research and Application Center (CUTAM), Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, 58140, Turkey.
| | - Serkan Özdemir
- Department of Forestry, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta, 32260, Turkey
| | - Ayşe Nur Pektaş
- Advanced Technology Research and Application Center (CUTAM), Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, 58140, Turkey
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6
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Kinger S, Jagtap YA, Kumar P, Choudhary A, Prasad A, Prajapati VK, Kumar A, Mehta G, Mishra A. Proteostasis in neurodegenerative diseases. Adv Clin Chem 2024; 121:270-333. [PMID: 38797543 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2024.04.002] [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: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Proteostasis is essential for normal function of proteins and vital for cellular health and survival. Proteostasis encompasses all stages in the "life" of a protein, that is, from translation to functional performance and, ultimately, to degradation. Proteins need native conformations for function and in the presence of multiple types of stress, their misfolding and aggregation can occur. A coordinated network of proteins is at the core of proteostasis in cells. Among these, chaperones are required for maintaining the integrity of protein conformations by preventing misfolding and aggregation and guide those with abnormal conformation to degradation. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy are major cellular pathways for degrading proteins. Although failure or decreased functioning of components of this network can lead to proteotoxicity and disease, like neuron degenerative diseases, underlying factors are not completely understood. Accumulating misfolded and aggregated proteins are considered major pathomechanisms of neurodegeneration. In this chapter, we have described the components of three major branches required for proteostasis-chaperones, UPS and autophagy, the mechanistic basis of their function, and their potential for protection against various neurodegenerative conditions, like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease. The modulation of various proteostasis network proteins, like chaperones, E3 ubiquitin ligases, proteasome, and autophagy-associated proteins as therapeutic targets by small molecules as well as new and unconventional approaches, shows promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Kinger
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Yuvraj Anandrao Jagtap
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Akash Choudhary
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Amit Prasad
- School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Simrol, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Gunjan Mehta
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Amit Mishra
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
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7
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Kim H, Park J, Roh SH. The structural basis of eukaryotic chaperonin TRiC/CCT: Action and folding. Mol Cells 2024; 47:100012. [PMID: 38280673 PMCID: PMC11004407 DOI: 10.1016/j.mocell.2024.100012] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Accurate folding of proteins in living cells often requires the cooperative support of molecular chaperones. Eukaryotic group II chaperonin Tailless complex polypeptide 1-Ring Complex (TRiC) accomplishes this task by providing a folding chamber for the substrate that is regulated by an Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis-dependent cycle. Once delivered to and recognized by TRiC, the nascent substrate enters the folding chamber and undergoes folding and release in a stepwise manner. During the process, TRiC subunits and cochaperones such as prefoldin and phosducin-like proteins interact with the substrate to assist the overall folding process in a substrate-specific manner. Coevolution between the components is supposed to consult the binding specificity and ultimately expand the substrate repertoire assisted by the chaperone network. This review describes the TRiC chaperonin and the substrate folding process guided by the TRiC network in cooperation with cochaperones, specifically focusing on recent progress in structural analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunmin Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Junsun Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Soung-Hun Roh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
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8
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Hunt LC, Nyamkondiwa K, Stephan A, Jiao J, Kavdia K, Pagala V, Peng J, Demontis F. The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2D/eff maintains a youthful proteome and ensures protein quality control during aging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.12.571303. [PMID: 38168249 PMCID: PMC10759998 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.12.571303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) are key for regulating protein function and turnover via ubiquitination but it remains undetermined which E2s maintain proteostasis during aging. Here, we find that E2s have diverse roles in handling a model aggregation-prone protein (huntingtin-polyQ) in the Drosophila retina: while some E2s mediate aggregate assembly, UBE2D/effete (eff) and other E2s are required for huntingtin-polyQ degradation. UBE2D/eff is key for proteostasis also in skeletal muscle: eff protein levels decline with aging, and muscle-specific eff knockdown causes an accelerated buildup in insoluble poly-ubiquitinated proteins (which progressively accumulate with aging) and shortens lifespan. Transgenic expression of human UBE2D2, homologous to eff, partially rescues the lifespan and proteostasis deficits caused by muscle-specific effRNAi by re-establishing the physiological levels of effRNAi-regulated proteins, which include several regulators of proteostasis. Interestingly, UBE2D/eff knockdown in young age reproduces part of the proteomic changes that normally occur in old muscles, suggesting that the decrease in UBE2D/eff protein levels that occurs with aging contributes to reshaping the composition of the muscle proteome. Altogether, these findings indicate that UBE2D/eff is a key E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that ensures protein quality control and helps maintain a youthful proteome composition during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam C. Hunt
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Kudzai Nyamkondiwa
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Anna Stephan
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jianqin Jiao
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Kanisha Kavdia
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Vishwajeeth Pagala
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Junmin Peng
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Fabio Demontis
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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9
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Anderton E, Chamoli M, Bhaumik D, King CD, Xie X, Foulger A, Andersen JK, Schilling B, Lithgow GJ. Amyloid β accelerates age-related proteome-wide protein insolubility. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.13.548937. [PMID: 37503138 PMCID: PMC10369951 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.13.548937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Loss of proteostasis is a highly conserved feature of aging across model organisms and typically results in the accumulation of insoluble protein aggregates. Protein insolubility is a central feature of major age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease (AD), where hundreds of insoluble proteins associate with aggregated amyloid beta (Aβ) in senile plaques. Moreover, proteins that become insoluble during aging in model organisms are capable of accelerating Aβ aggregation in vitro. Despite the connection between aging and AD risk, therapeutic approaches to date have overlooked aging-driven protein insolubility as a contributory factor. Here, using an unbiased proteomics approach, we questioned the relationship between Aβ and age-related protein insolubility. We demonstrate that Aβ expression drives proteome-wide protein insolubility in C. elegans and this insoluble proteome closely resembles the insoluble proteome driven by normal aging, suggesting the possibility of a vicious feedforward cycle of aggregation in the context of AD. Importantly, using human genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we show that the CIP is replete with biological processes implicated not only in neurodegenerative diseases but also across a broad array of chronic, age-related diseases (CARDs). This provides suggestive evidence that age-related loss of proteostasis could play a role in general CARD risk. Finally, we show that the CIP is enriched with proteins that modulate the toxic effects of Aβ and that the gut-derived metabolite, Urolithin A, relieves Aβ toxicity, supporting its use in clinical trials for dementia and other age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Anderton
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945
- USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90191
| | - Manish Chamoli
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945
| | - Dipa Bhaumik
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945
| | - Christina D. King
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945
| | - Xueshu Xie
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945
| | - Anna Foulger
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945
| | - Julie K. Andersen
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945
| | - Birgit Schilling
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945
| | - Gordon J. Lithgow
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA 94945
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10
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Clay KJ, Yang Y, Clark C, Petrascheck M. Proteostasis is differentially modulated by inhibition of translation initiation or elongation. eLife 2023; 12:e76465. [PMID: 37795690 PMCID: PMC10581687 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76465] [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: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent work has revealed an increasingly important role for mRNA translation in maintaining proteostasis. Here, we use chemical inhibitors targeting discrete steps of translation to compare how lowering the concentration of all or only translation initiation-dependent proteins rescues Caenorhabditis elegans from proteotoxic stress. We systematically challenge proteostasis and show that pharmacologically inhibiting translation initiation or elongation elicits a distinct protective profile. Inhibiting elongation protects from heat and proteasome dysfunction independently from HSF-1 but does not protect from age-associated protein aggregation. Conversely, inhibition of initiation protects from heat and age-associated protein aggregation and increases lifespan, dependent on hsf-1, but does not protect from proteotoxicity caused by proteasome dysfunction. Surprisingly, we find that the ability of the translation initiation machinery to control the concentration of newly synthesized proteins depends on HSF-1. Inhibition of translation initiation in wild-type animals reduces the concentration of newly synthesized proteins but increases it in hsf-1 mutants. Our findings suggest that the HSF-1 pathway is not only a downstream target of translation but also directly cooperates with the translation initiation machinery to control the concentration of newly synthesized proteins to restore proteostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalyd J Clay
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaUnited States
| | - Yongzhi Yang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaUnited States
| | - Christina Clark
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaUnited States
| | - Michael Petrascheck
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaUnited States
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11
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Moyano P, Sola E, Naval MV, Guerra-Menéndez L, Fernández MDLC, del Pino J. Neurodegenerative Proteinopathies Induced by Environmental Pollutants: Heat Shock Proteins and Proteasome as Promising Therapeutic Tools. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2048. [PMID: 37631262 PMCID: PMC10458078 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082048] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental pollutants' (EPs) amount and diversity have increased in recent years due to anthropogenic activity. Several neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are theorized to be related to EPs, as their incidence has increased in a similar way to human EPs exposure and they reproduce the main ND hallmarks. EPs induce several neurotoxic effects, including accumulation and gradual deposition of misfolded toxic proteins, producing neuronal malfunction and cell death. Cells possess different mechanisms to eliminate these toxic proteins, including heat shock proteins (HSPs) and the proteasome system. The accumulation and deleterious effects of toxic proteins are induced through HSPs and disruption of proteasome proteins' homeostatic function by exposure to EPs. A therapeutic approach has been proposed to reduce accumulation of toxic proteins through treatment with recombinant HSPs/proteasome or the use of compounds that increase their expression or activity. Our aim is to review the current literature on NDs related to EP exposure and their relationship with the disruption of the proteasome system and HSPs, as well as to discuss the toxic effects of dysfunction of HSPs and proteasome and the contradictory effects described in the literature. Lastly, we cover the therapeutic use of developed drugs and recombinant proteasome/HSPs to eliminate toxic proteins and prevent/treat EP-induced neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Moyano
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Emma Sola
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - María Victoria Naval
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy and Bothanic, Pharmacy School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucia Guerra-Menéndez
- Department of Physiology, Medicine School, San Pablo CEU University, 28003 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria De la Cabeza Fernández
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier del Pino
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
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12
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Ferlazzo GM, Gambetta AM, Amato S, Cannizzaro N, Angiolillo S, Arboit M, Diamante L, Carbognin E, Romani P, La Torre F, Galimberti E, Pflug F, Luoni M, Giannelli S, Pepe G, Capocci L, Di Pardo A, Vanzani P, Zennaro L, Broccoli V, Leeb M, Moro E, Maglione V, Martello G. Genome-wide screening in pluripotent cells identifies Mtf1 as a suppressor of mutant huntingtin toxicity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3962. [PMID: 37407555 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39552-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG-repeat expansions in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The resulting mutant HTT (mHTT) protein induces toxicity and cell death via multiple mechanisms and no effective therapy is available. Here, we employ a genome-wide screening in pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to identify suppressors of mHTT toxicity. Among the identified suppressors, linked to HD-associated processes, we focus on Metal response element binding transcription factor 1 (Mtf1). Forced expression of Mtf1 counteracts cell death and oxidative stress caused by mHTT in mouse ESCs and in human neuronal precursor cells. In zebrafish, Mtf1 reduces malformations and apoptosis induced by mHTT. In R6/2 mice, Mtf1 ablates motor defects and reduces mHTT aggregates and oxidative stress. Our screening strategy enables a quick in vitro identification of promising suppressor genes and their validation in vivo, and it can be applied to other monogenic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Maria Ferlazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, Campus Levi-Montalcini, 37135, Verona, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Gambetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Sonia Amato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Via Belzoni, 160, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Noemi Cannizzaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Angiolillo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Mattia Arboit
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Linda Diamante
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Carbognin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Patrizia Romani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Federico La Torre
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Galimberti
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Pflug
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mirko Luoni
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Giannelli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Paola Vanzani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Lucio Zennaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Vania Broccoli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, 20854, Vedrano al Lambro, Italy
| | - Martin Leeb
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Enrico Moro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Graziano Martello
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
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13
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Nanoparticulate air pollution disrupts proteostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0275137. [PMID: 36821635 PMCID: PMC9949623 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The proteostasis network comprises the biochemical pathways that together maintain and regulate proper protein synthesis, transport, folding, and degradation. Many progressive neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington's disease (HD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), are characterized by an age-dependent failure of the proteostasis network to sustain the health of the proteome, resulting in protein misfolding, aggregation, and, often, neurotoxicity. Although important advances have been made in recent years to identify genetic risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases, we still know relatively little about environmental risk factors such as air pollution. Exposure to nano-sized particulate air pollution, referred to herein as nanoparticulate matter (nPM), has been shown to trigger the accumulation of misfolded and oligomerized amyloid beta (Aβ) in mice. Likewise, air pollution is known to exacerbate symptoms of AD in people. We asked whether nPM contributes to the misfolded protein load, thereby overwhelming the proteostasis network and triggering proteostasis decline. To address this, we utilized C. elegans that express reporter proteins that are sensitive to changes in the protein folding environment and respond by misfolding and displaying readily scorable phenotypes, such as localized YFP fluorescence or paralysis. We found that nPM exacerbated protein aggregation in body wall muscle cells, increasing the number of large visible protein aggregates, the amount of high molecular weight protein species, and proteotoxicity. Taken together, the data point to nPM negatively impacting proteostasis. Therefore, it seems plausible that nPM exposure may exacerbate symptoms of AD and age-related dementia in a manner that is at least partially dependent on proteostasis decline.
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14
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Pinho-Correia LM, Prokop A. Maintaining essential microtubule bundles in meter-long axons: a role for local tubulin biogenesis? Brain Res Bull 2023; 193:131-145. [PMID: 36535305 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.12.005] [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: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Axons are the narrow, up-to-meter long cellular processes of neurons that form the biological cables wiring our nervous system. Most axons must survive for an organism's lifetime, i.e. up to a century in humans. Axonal maintenance depends on loose bundles of microtubules that run without interruption all along axons. The continued turn-over and the extension of microtubule bundles during developmental, regenerative or plastic growth requires the availability of α/β-tubulin heterodimers up to a meter away from the cell body. The underlying regulation in axons is poorly understood and hardly features in past and contemporary research. Here we discuss potential mechanisms, particularly focussing on the possibility of local tubulin biogenesis in axons. Current knowledge might suggest that local translation of tubulin takes place in axons, but far less is known about the post-translational machinery of tubulin biogenesis involving three chaperone complexes: prefoldin, CCT and TBC. We discuss functional understanding of these chaperones from a range of model organisms including yeast, plants, flies and mice, and explain what is known from human diseases. Microtubules across species depend on these chaperones, and they are clearly required in the nervous system. However, most chaperones display a high degree of functional pleiotropy, partly through independent functions of individual subunits outside their complexes, thus posing a challenge to experimental studies. Notably, we found hardly any studies that investigate their presence and function particularly in axons, thus highlighting an important gap in our understanding of axon biology and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Maria Pinho-Correia
- The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biology, Manchester, UK
| | - Andreas Prokop
- The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biology, Manchester, UK.
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15
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Sap KA, Geijtenbeek KW, Schipper-Krom S, Guler AT, Reits EA. Ubiquitin-modifying enzymes in Huntington's disease. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1107323. [PMID: 36926679 PMCID: PMC10013475 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1107323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the N-terminus of the HTT gene. The CAG repeat expansion translates into a polyglutamine expansion in the mutant HTT (mHTT) protein, resulting in intracellular aggregation and neurotoxicity. Lowering the mHTT protein by reducing synthesis or improving degradation would delay or prevent the onset of HD, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) could be an important pathway to clear the mHTT proteins prior to aggregation. The UPS is not impaired in HD, and proteasomes can degrade mHTT entirely when HTT is targeted for degradation. However, the mHTT protein is differently ubiquitinated when compared to wild-type HTT (wtHTT), suggesting that the polyQ expansion affects interaction with (de) ubiquitinating enzymes and subsequent targeting for degradation. The soluble mHTT protein is associated with several ubiquitin-modifying enzymes, and various ubiquitin-modifying enzymes have been identified that are linked to Huntington's disease, either by improving mHTT turnover or affecting overall homeostasis. Here we describe their potential mechanism of action toward improved mHTT targeting towards the proteostasis machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen A Sap
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Karlijne W Geijtenbeek
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sabine Schipper-Krom
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Arzu Tugce Guler
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Eric A Reits
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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16
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Strauch A, Rossa B, Köhler F, Haeussler S, Mühlhofer M, Rührnößl F, Körösy C, Bushman Y, Conradt B, Haslbeck M, Weinkauf S, Buchner J. The permanently chaperone-active small heat shock protein Hsp17 from Caenorhabditis elegans exhibits topological separation of its N-terminal regions. J Biol Chem 2022; 299:102753. [PMID: 36442512 PMCID: PMC9800568 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Small Heat shock proteins (sHsps) are a family of molecular chaperones that bind nonnative proteins in an ATP-independent manner. Caenorhabditis elegans encodes 16 different sHsps, among them Hsp17, which is evolutionarily distinct from other sHsps in the nematode. The structure and mechanism of Hsp17 and how these may differ from other sHsps remain unclear. Here, we find that Hsp17 has a distinct expression pattern, structural organization, and chaperone function. Consistent with its presence under nonstress conditions, and in contrast to many other sHsps, we determined that Hsp17 is a mono-disperse, permanently active chaperone in vitro, which interacts with hundreds of different C. elegans proteins under physiological conditions. Additionally, our cryo-EM structure of Hsp17 reveals that in the 24-mer complex, 12 N-terminal regions are involved in its chaperone function. These flexible regions are located on the outside of the spherical oligomer, whereas the other 12 N-terminal regions are engaged in stabilizing interactions in its interior. This allows the same region in Hsp17 to perform different functions depending on the topological context. Taken together, our results reveal structural and functional features that further define the structural basis of permanently active sHsps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Strauch
- Center for Protein Assemblies and Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany
| | - Benjamin Rossa
- Center for Protein Assemblies and Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany
| | - Fabian Köhler
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Simon Haeussler
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Moritz Mühlhofer
- Center for Protein Assemblies and Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany
| | - Florian Rührnößl
- Center for Protein Assemblies and Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany
| | - Caroline Körösy
- Center for Protein Assemblies and Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany; Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Yevheniia Bushman
- Center for Protein Assemblies and Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany
| | - Barbara Conradt
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Martin Haslbeck
- Center for Protein Assemblies and Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany
| | - Sevil Weinkauf
- Center for Protein Assemblies and Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany
| | - Johannes Buchner
- Center for Protein Assemblies and Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany.
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17
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Irfan Z, Khanam S, Karmakar V, Firdous SM, El Khier BSIA, Khan I, Rehman MU, Khan A. Pathogenesis of Huntington's Disease: An Emphasis on Molecular Pathways and Prevention by Natural Remedies. Brain Sci 2022; 12:1389. [PMID: 36291322 PMCID: PMC9599635 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12101389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease is an inherited autosomal dominant trait neuro-degenerative disorder caused by changes (mutations) of a gene called huntingtin (htt) that is located on the short arm (p) of chromosome 4, CAG expansion mutation. It is characterized by unusual movements, cognitive and psychiatric disorders. OBJECTIVE This review was undertaken to apprehend biological pathways of Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis and its management by nature-derived products. Natural products can be lucrative for the management of HD as it shows protection against HD in pre-clinical trials. Advanced research is still required to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of the known organic products and their isolated compounds in HD experimental models. SUMMARY Degeneration of neurons in Huntington's disease is distinguished by progressive loss of motor coordination and muscle function. This is due to the expansion of CAG trinucleotide in the first exon of the htt gene responsible for neuronal death and neuronal network degeneration in the brain. It is believed that the factors such as molecular genetics, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroglia dysfunction, protein aggregation, and altered UPS leads to HD. The defensive effect of the natural product provides therapeutic efficacy against HD. Recent reports on natural drugs have enlightened the protective role against HD via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and neurofunctional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab Irfan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Brainware University, Kolkata 700125, West Bengal, India
| | - Sofia Khanam
- Department of Pharmacology, Calcutta Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology & AHS, Howrah 711316, West Bengal, India
| | - Varnita Karmakar
- Department of Pharmacology, Eminent College of Pharmaceutical Technology, Barasat 700126, West Bengal, India
| | - Sayeed Mohammed Firdous
- Department of Pharmacology, Calcutta Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology & AHS, Howrah 711316, West Bengal, India
| | | | - Ilyas Khan
- Department of Mathematics, College of Science Al-Zulfi, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muneeb U. Rehman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Andleeb Khan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
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18
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Chauhan P, Wadhwa K, Singh G. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system to evaluate neuroprotective potential of nano formulations. FRONTIERS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2022.1018754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of neurodegenerative illnesses on society is significant, but the mechanisms leading to neuronal malfunction and death in these conditions remain largely unknown despite identifying essential disease genes. To pinpoint the mechanisms behind the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, several researchers have turned to nematode C. elegans instead of using mammals. Since C. elegans is transparent, free-living, and amenable to culture, it has several benefits. As a result, all the neurons in C. elegans can be easily identified, and their connections are understood. Human proteins linked to Neurodegeneration can be made to express in them. It is also possible to analyze how C. elegans orthologs of the genes responsible for human neurodegenerative diseases function. In this article, we focused at some of the most important C. elegans neurodegeneration models that accurately represent many elements of human neurodegenerative illness. It has been observed that studies using the adaptable C. elegans have helped us in better understanding of human diseases. These studies have used it to replicate several aspects of human neurodegeneration. A nanotech approach involves engineering materials or equipments interacting with biological systems at the molecular level to trigger physiological responses by increasing stimulation, responding, and interacting with target sites while minimizing side effects, thus revolutionizing the treatment and diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. Nanotechnologies are being used to treat neurological disorders and deliver nanoscale drugs. This review explores the current and future uses of these nanotechnologies as innovative therapeutic modalities in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases using C elegans as an experimental model.
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19
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Morphis AC, Edwards SL, Erdenebat P, Kumar L, Li J. Auxin-Inducible Degron System Reveals Temporal-Spatial Roles of HSF-1 and Its Transcriptional Program in Lifespan Assurance. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2022; 3:899744. [PMID: 35899092 PMCID: PMC9309338 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2022.899744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
HSF-1 is a key regulator of cellular proteotoxic stress response and is required for animal lifespan. In C. elegans, HSF-1 mediated heat shock response (HSR) declines sharply on the first day of adulthood, and HSF-1 was proposed to function primarily during larval stages for lifespan assurance based on studies using RNAi. The tissue requirement for HSF-1 in lifespan, however, is not well understood. Using the auxin-inducible degron (AID) system, we manage to uncouple the roles of HSF-1 in development and longevity. In wild-type animals, we find HSF-1 is required during the whole self-reproductive period for lifespan. This period is extended in long-lived animals that have arrested germline stem cells (GSC) or reduced insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS). While depletion of HSF-1 from any major somatic tissues during development results in severe defects, HSF-1 primarily functions in the intestine and likely neural system of adults to support lifespan. Finally, by combining AID and genome-wide transcriptional analyses, we find HSF-1 directly activates the transcription of constitutively-expressed chaperone and co-chaperone genes among others in early adulthood, which underlies its roles in longevity assurance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jian Li
- Aging and Metabolism Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma, OK, United States
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20
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Naranjo-Galindo FJ, Ai R, Fang EF, Nilsen HL, SenGupta T. C. elegans as an Animal Model to Study the Intersection of DNA Repair, Aging and Neurodegeneration. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2022; 3:916118. [PMID: 35821838 PMCID: PMC9261396 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2022.916118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Since its introduction as a genetic model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans has yielded insights into the causes of aging. In addition, it has provided a molecular understanding of mechanisms of neurodegeneration, one of the devastating effects of aging. However, C. elegans has been less popular as an animal model to investigate DNA repair and genomic instability, which is a major hallmark of aging and also a cause of many rare neurological disorders. This article provides an overview of DNA repair pathways in C. elegans and the impact of DNA repair on aging hallmarks, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, telomere maintenance, and autophagy. In addition, we discuss how the combination of biological characteristics, new technical tools, and the potential of following precise phenotypic assays through a natural life-course make C. elegans an ideal model organism to study how DNA repair impact neurodegeneration in models of common age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco José Naranjo-Galindo
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Ruixue Ai
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Evandro Fei Fang
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hilde Loge Nilsen
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- *Correspondence: Hilde Loge Nilsen, ; Tanima SenGupta,
| | - Tanima SenGupta
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Section of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- *Correspondence: Hilde Loge Nilsen, ; Tanima SenGupta,
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21
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Sinnige T. Molecular mechanisms of amyloid formation in living systems. Chem Sci 2022; 13:7080-7097. [PMID: 35799826 PMCID: PMC9214716 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc01278b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrillar protein aggregation is a hallmark of a variety of human diseases. Examples include the deposition of amyloid-β and tau in Alzheimer's disease, and that of α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease. The molecular mechanisms by which soluble proteins form amyloid fibrils have been extensively studied in the test tube. These investigations have revealed the microscopic steps underlying amyloid formation, and the role of factors such as chaperones that modulate these processes. This perspective explores the question to what extent the mechanisms of amyloid formation elucidated in vitro apply to human disease. The answer is not yet clear, and may differ depending on the protein and the associated disease. Nevertheless, there are striking qualitative similarities between the aggregation behaviour of proteins in vitro and the development of the related diseases. Limited quantitative data obtained in model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans support the notion that aggregation mechanisms in vivo can be interpreted using the same biophysical principles established in vitro. These results may however be biased by the high overexpression levels typically used in animal models of protein aggregation diseases. Molecular chaperones have been found to suppress protein aggregation in animal models, but their mechanisms of action have not yet been quantitatively analysed. Several mechanisms are proposed by which the decline of protein quality control with organismal age, but also the intrinsic nature of the aggregation process may contribute to the kinetics of protein aggregation observed in human disease. The molecular mechanisms of amyloid formation have been studied extensively in test tube reactions. This perspective article addresses the question to what extent these mechanisms apply to the complex situation in living cells and organisms.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Sinnige
- Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University Padualaan 8 3584 CH Utrecht The Netherlands
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22
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Navarro-Hortal MD, Romero-Márquez JM, Osta S, Jiménez-Trigo V, Muñoz-Ollero P, Varela-López A. Natural Bioactive Products and Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology: Lessons from Caenorhabditis elegans Transgenic Models. Diseases 2022; 10:diseases10020028. [PMID: 35645249 PMCID: PMC9149938 DOI: 10.3390/diseases10020028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-dependent, progressive disorder affecting millions of people. Currently, the therapeutics for AD only treat the symptoms. Although they have been used to discover new products of interest for this disease, mammalian models used to investigate the molecular determinants of this disease are often prohibitively expensive, time-consuming and very complex. On the other hand, cell cultures lack the organism complexity involved in AD. Given the highly conserved neurological pathways between mammals and invertebrates, Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a powerful tool for the investigation of the pathophysiology of human AD. Numerous models of both Tau- and Aβ-induced toxicity, the two prime components observed to correlate with AD pathology and the ease of performing RNA interference for any gene in the C. elegans genome, allow for the identification of multiple therapeutic targets. The effects of many natural products in main AD hallmarks using these models suggest promising health-promoting effects. However, the way in which they exert such effects is not entirely clear. One of the reasons is that various possible therapeutic targets have not been evaluated in many studies. The present review aims to explore shared therapeutical targets and the potential of each of them for AD treatment or prevention.
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Ghozlan H, Cox A, Nierenberg D, King S, Khaled AR. The TRiCky Business of Protein Folding in Health and Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:906530. [PMID: 35602608 PMCID: PMC9117761 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.906530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of the cellular proteome or proteostasis is an essential process that when deregulated leads to diseases like neurological disorders and cancer. Central to proteostasis are the molecular chaperones that fold proteins into functional 3-dimensional (3D) shapes and prevent protein aggregation. Chaperonins, a family of chaperones found in all lineages of organisms, are efficient machines that fold proteins within central cavities. The eukaryotic Chaperonin Containing TCP1 (CCT), also known as Tailless complex polypeptide 1 (TCP-1) Ring Complex (TRiC), is a multi-subunit molecular complex that folds the obligate substrates, actin, and tubulin. But more than folding cytoskeletal proteins, CCT differs from most chaperones in its ability to fold proteins larger than its central folding chamber and in a sequential manner that enables it to tackle proteins with complex topologies or very large proteins and complexes. Unique features of CCT include an asymmetry of charges and ATP affinities across the eight subunits that form the hetero-oligomeric complex. Variable substrate binding capacities endow CCT with a plasticity that developed as the chaperonin evolved with eukaryotes and acquired functional capacity in the densely packed intracellular environment. Given the decades of discovery on the structure and function of CCT, much remains unknown such as the scope of its interactome. New findings on the role of CCT in disease, and potential for diagnostic and therapeutic uses, heighten the need to better understand the function of this essential molecular chaperone. Clues as to how CCT causes cancer or neurological disorders lie in the early studies of the chaperonin that form a foundational knowledgebase. In this review, we span the decades of CCT discoveries to provide critical context to the continued research on the diverse capacities in health and disease of this essential protein-folding complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba Ghozlan
- Division of Cancer Research, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Amanda Cox
- Division of Cancer Research, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Daniel Nierenberg
- Division of Cancer Research, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Stephen King
- Division of Neuroscience, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Annette R. Khaled
- Division of Cancer Research, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
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24
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Costa MD, Maciel P. Modifier pathways in polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases: from genetic screens to drug targets. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:274. [PMID: 35503478 PMCID: PMC11071829 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04280-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases include a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders caused by unstable expansions of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the coding region of specific genes. Such genetic alterations produce abnormal proteins containing an unusually long PolyQ tract that renders them more prone to aggregate and cause toxicity. Although research in the field in the last years has contributed significantly to the knowledge of the biological mechanisms implicated in these diseases, effective treatments are still lacking. In this review, we revisit work performed in models of PolyQ diseases, namely the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and provide a critical overview of the high-throughput unbiased genetic screens that have been performed using these systems to identify novel genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases. These approaches have revealed a wide variety of cellular processes that modulate the toxicity and aggregation of mutant PolyQ proteins, reflecting the complexity of these disorders and demonstrating how challenging the development of therapeutic strategies can be. In addition to the unbiased large-scale genetic screenings in non-vertebrate models, complementary studies in mammalian systems, closer to humans, have contributed with novel genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases, revealing neuronal function and inflammation as key disease modulators. A pathway enrichment analysis, using the human orthologues of genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases clustered modifier genes into major themes translatable to the human disease context, such as protein folding and transport as well as transcription regulation. Innovative genetic strategies of genetic manipulation, together with significant advances in genomics and bioinformatics, are taking modifier genetic studies to more realistic disease contexts. The characterization of PolyQ disease modifier pathways is of extreme relevance to reveal novel therapeutic possibilities to delay disease onset and progression in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Daniela Costa
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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25
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Claesson K, Chew YL, Ecroyd H. Exploiting flow cytometry for the unbiased quantification of protein inclusions in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Neurochem 2022; 161:281-292. [PMID: 35170035 PMCID: PMC9541147 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The aggregation of proteins into inclusions or plaques is a prominent hallmark of a diverse range of pathologies including neurodegenerative diseases. The quantification of such inclusions in Caenorhabditis elegans models of aggregation is usually achieved by fluorescence microscopy or other techniques involving biochemical fractionation of worm lysates. Here, we describe a simple and rapid flow cytometry-based approach that allows fluorescently tagged inclusions to be enumerated in whole worm lysate in a quantitative and unbiased fashion. We demonstrate that this technique is applicable to multiple C. elegans models of aggregation and importantly, can be used to monitor the dynamics of inclusion formation in response to heat shock and during ageing. This includes the characterisation of physicochemical properties of inclusions, such as their apparent size, which may reveal how aggregate formation is distinct in different tissues or at different stages of pathology or ageing. This new method can be used as a powerful technique for the medium- to high-throughput quantification of inclusions in future studies of genetic or chemical modulators of aggregation in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Claesson
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular BioscienceUniversity of WollongongWollongongNSWAustralia
- Illawarra Health & Medical Research InstituteWollongongNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Yee Lian Chew
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular BioscienceUniversity of WollongongWollongongNSWAustralia
- Illawarra Health & Medical Research InstituteWollongongNew South WalesAustralia
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public HealthFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Heath Ecroyd
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular BioscienceUniversity of WollongongWollongongNSWAustralia
- Illawarra Health & Medical Research InstituteWollongongNew South WalesAustralia
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26
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Invited review: Unearthing the mechanisms of age-related neurodegenerative disease using Caenorhabditis elegans. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 267:111166. [PMID: 35176489 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As human life expectancy increases, neurodegenerative diseases present a growing public health threat, for which there are currently few effective treatments. There is an urgent need to understand the molecular and genetic underpinnings of these disorders so new therapeutic targets can be identified. Here we present the argument that the simple nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful tool to rapidly study neurodegenerative disorders due to their short lifespan and vast array of genetic tools, which can be combined with characterization of conserved neuronal processes and behavior orthologous to those disrupted in human disease. We review how pre-existing C. elegans models provide insight into human neurological disease as well as an overview of current tools available to study neurodegenerative diseases in the worm, with an emphasis on genetics and behavior. We also discuss open questions that C. elegans may be particularly well suited for in future studies and how worms will be a valuable preclinical model to better understand these devastating neurological disorders.
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27
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Neuropeptide signaling and SKN-1 orchestrate differential responses of the proteostasis network to dissimilar proteotoxic insults. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110350. [PMID: 35139369 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The protein homeostasis (proteostasis) network (PN) encompasses mechanisms that maintain proteome integrity by controlling various biological functions. Loss of proteostasis leads to toxic protein aggregation (proteotoxicity), which underlies the manifestation of neurodegeneration. How the PN responds to dissimilar proteotoxic challenges and how these responses are regulated at the organismal level are largely unknown. Here, we report that, while torsin chaperones protect from the toxicity of neurodegeneration-causing polyglutamine stretches, they exacerbate the toxicity of the Alzheimer's disease-causing Aβ peptide in neurons and muscles. These opposing effects are accompanied by differential modulations of gene expression, including that of three neuropeptides that are involved in tailoring the organismal response to dissimilar proteotoxic insults. This mechanism is regulated by insulin/IGF signaling and the transcription factor SKN-1/NRF. Our work delineates a mechanism by which the PN orchestrates differential responses to dissimilar proteotoxic challenges and points at potential targets for therapeutic interventions.
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28
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Traa A, Machiela E, Rudich PD, Soo SK, Senchuk MM, Van Raamsdonk JM. Identification of Novel Therapeutic Targets for Polyglutamine Diseases That Target Mitochondrial Fragmentation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413447. [PMID: 34948242 PMCID: PMC8703635 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is one of at least nine polyglutamine diseases caused by a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion, all of which lead to age-onset neurodegeneration. Mitochondrial dynamics and function are disrupted in HD and other polyglutamine diseases. While multiple studies have found beneficial effects from decreasing mitochondrial fragmentation in HD models by disrupting the mitochondrial fission protein DRP1, disrupting DRP1 can also have detrimental consequences in wild-type animals and HD models. In this work, we examine the effect of decreasing mitochondrial fragmentation in a neuronal C. elegans model of polyglutamine toxicity called Neur-67Q. We find that Neur-67Q worms exhibit mitochondrial fragmentation in GABAergic neurons and decreased mitochondrial function. Disruption of drp-1 eliminates differences in mitochondrial morphology and rescues deficits in both movement and longevity in Neur-67Q worms. In testing twenty-four RNA interference (RNAi) clones that decrease mitochondrial fragmentation, we identified eleven clones—each targeting a different gene—that increase movement and extend lifespan in Neur-67Q worms. Overall, we show that decreasing mitochondrial fragmentation may be an effective approach to treating polyglutamine diseases and we identify multiple novel genetic targets that circumvent the potential negative side effects of disrupting the primary mitochondrial fission gene drp-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Traa
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (A.T.); (P.D.R.); (S.K.S.)
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
- Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Emily Machiela
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; (E.M.); (M.M.S.)
| | - Paige D. Rudich
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (A.T.); (P.D.R.); (S.K.S.)
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
- Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Sonja K. Soo
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (A.T.); (P.D.R.); (S.K.S.)
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
- Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Megan M. Senchuk
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; (E.M.); (M.M.S.)
| | - Jeremy M. Van Raamsdonk
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; (A.T.); (P.D.R.); (S.K.S.)
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
- Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; (E.M.); (M.M.S.)
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Correspondence:
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29
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Gkekas I, Gioran A, Boziki MK, Grigoriadis N, Chondrogianni N, Petrakis S. Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration: Interconnected Processes in PolyQ Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10091450. [PMID: 34573082 PMCID: PMC8471619 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10091450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative polyglutamine (polyQ) disorders are caused by trinucleotide repeat expansions within the coding region of disease-causing genes. PolyQ-expanded proteins undergo conformational changes leading to the formation of protein inclusions which are associated with selective neuronal degeneration. Several lines of evidence indicate that these mutant proteins are associated with oxidative stress, proteasome impairment and microglia activation. These events may correlate with the induction of inflammation in the nervous system and disease progression. Here, we review the effect of polyQ-induced oxidative stress in cellular and animal models of polyQ diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the interplay between oxidative stress, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation using as an example the well-known neuroinflammatory disease, Multiple Sclerosis. Finally, we review some of the pharmaceutical interventions which may delay the onset and progression of polyQ disorders by targeting disease-associated mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Gkekas
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Anna Gioran
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 11635 Athens, Greece; (A.G.); (N.C.)
| | - Marina Kleopatra Boziki
- 2nd Neurological Department, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.K.B.); (N.G.)
| | - Nikolaos Grigoriadis
- 2nd Neurological Department, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.K.B.); (N.G.)
| | - Niki Chondrogianni
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 11635 Athens, Greece; (A.G.); (N.C.)
| | - Spyros Petrakis
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2311257525
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30
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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.
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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.
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31
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Feng D, Zhai Z, Shao Z, Zhang Y, Powell-Coffman JA. Crosstalk in oxygen homeostasis networks: SKN-1/NRF inhibits the HIF-1 hypoxia-inducible factor in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249103. [PMID: 34242227 PMCID: PMC8270126 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During development, homeostasis, and disease, organisms must balance responses that allow adaptation to low oxygen (hypoxia) with those that protect cells from oxidative stress. The evolutionarily conserved hypoxia-inducible factors are central to these processes, as they orchestrate transcriptional responses to oxygen deprivation. Here, we employ genetic strategies in C. elegans to identify stress-responsive genes and pathways that modulate the HIF-1 hypoxia-inducible factor and facilitate oxygen homeostasis. Through a genome-wide RNAi screen, we show that RNAi-mediated mitochondrial or proteasomal dysfunction increases the expression of hypoxia-responsive reporter Pnhr-57::GFP in C. elegans. Interestingly, only a subset of these effects requires hif-1. Of particular importance, we found that skn-1 RNAi increases the expression of hypoxia-responsive reporter Pnhr-57::GFP and elevates HIF-1 protein levels. The SKN-1/NRF transcription factor has been shown to promote oxidative stress resistance. We present evidence that the crosstalk between HIF-1 and SKN-1 is mediated by EGL-9, the prolyl hydroxylase that targets HIF-1 for oxygen-dependent degradation. Treatment that induces SKN-1, such as heat or gsk-3 RNAi, increases expression of a Pegl-9::GFP reporter, and this effect requires skn-1 function and a putative SKN-1 binding site in egl-9 regulatory sequences. Collectively, these data support a model in which SKN-1 promotes egl-9 transcription, thereby inhibiting HIF-1. We propose that this interaction enables animals to adapt quickly to changes in cellular oxygenation and to better survive accompanying oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingxia Feng
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Zhiwei Zhai
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Zhiyong Shao
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Jo Anne Powell-Coffman
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
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32
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Interactome Mapping Provides a Network of Neurodegenerative Disease Proteins and Uncovers Widespread Protein Aggregation in Affected Brains. Cell Rep 2021; 32:108050. [PMID: 32814053 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactome maps are valuable resources to elucidate protein function and disease mechanisms. Here, we report on an interactome map that focuses on neurodegenerative disease (ND), connects ∼5,000 human proteins via ∼30,000 candidate interactions and is generated by systematic yeast two-hybrid interaction screening of ∼500 ND-related proteins and integration of literature interactions. This network reveals interconnectivity across diseases and links many known ND-causing proteins, such as α-synuclein, TDP-43, and ATXN1, to a host of proteins previously unrelated to NDs. It facilitates the identification of interacting proteins that significantly influence mutant TDP-43 and HTT toxicity in transgenic flies, as well as of ARF-GEP100 that controls misfolding and aggregation of multiple ND-causing proteins in experimental model systems. Furthermore, it enables the prediction of ND-specific subnetworks and the identification of proteins, such as ATXN1 and MKL1, that are abnormally aggregated in postmortem brains of Alzheimer's disease patients, suggesting widespread protein aggregation in NDs.
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33
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RACK1 modulates polyglutamine-induced neurodegeneration by promoting ERK degradation in Drosophila. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009558. [PMID: 33983927 PMCID: PMC8118270 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine diseases are neurodegenerative diseases caused by the expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts within different proteins. Although multiple pathways have been found to modulate aggregation of the expanded polyQ proteins, the mechanisms by which polyQ tracts induced neuronal cell death remain unknown. We conducted a genome-wide genetic screen to identify genes that suppress polyQ-induced neurodegeneration when mutated. Loss of the scaffold protein RACK1 alleviated cell death associated with the expression of polyQ tracts alone, as well as in models of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) and Huntington's disease (HD), without affecting proteostasis of polyQ proteins. A genome-wide RNAi screen for modifiers of this rack1 suppression phenotype revealed that knockdown of the E3 ubiquitin ligase, POE (Purity of essence), further suppressed polyQ-induced cell death, resulting in nearly wild-type looking eyes. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that RACK1 interacts with POE and ERK to promote ERK degradation. These results suggest that RACK1 plays a key role in polyQ pathogenesis by promoting POE-dependent degradation of ERK, and implicate RACK1/POE/ERK as potent drug targets for treatment of polyQ diseases.
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34
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Walker AC, Bhargava R, Vaziriyan-Sani AS, Pourciau C, Donahue ET, Dove AS, Gebhardt MJ, Ellward GL, Romeo T, Czyż DM. Colonization of the Caenorhabditis elegans gut with human enteric bacterial pathogens leads to proteostasis disruption that is rescued by butyrate. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009510. [PMID: 33956916 PMCID: PMC8101752 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein conformational diseases are characterized by misfolding and toxic aggregation of metastable proteins, often culminating in neurodegeneration. Enteric bacteria influence the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases; however, the complexity of the human microbiome hinders our understanding of how individual microbes influence these diseases. Disruption of host protein homeostasis, or proteostasis, affects the onset and progression of these diseases. To investigate the effect of bacteria on host proteostasis, we used Caenorhabditis elegans expressing tissue-specific polyglutamine reporters that detect changes in the protein folding environment. We found that colonization of the C. elegans gut with enteric bacterial pathogens disrupted proteostasis in the intestine, muscle, neurons, and the gonad, while the presence of bacteria that conditionally synthesize butyrate, a molecule previously shown to be beneficial in neurodegenerative disease models, suppressed aggregation and the associated proteotoxicity. Co-colonization with this butyrogenic strain suppressed bacteria-induced protein aggregation, emphasizing the importance of microbial interaction and its impact on host proteostasis. Further experiments demonstrated that the beneficial effect of butyrate depended on the bacteria that colonized the gut and that this protective effect required SKN-1/Nrf2 and DAF-16/FOXO transcription factors. We also found that bacteria-derived protein aggregates contribute to the observed disruption of host proteostasis. Together, these results reveal the significance of enteric infection and gut dysbiosis on the pathogenesis of protein conformational diseases and demonstrate the potential of using butyrate-producing microbes as a preventative and treatment strategy for neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa C. Walker
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Rohan Bhargava
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Alfonso S. Vaziriyan-Sani
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Christine Pourciau
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Emily T. Donahue
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Autumn S. Dove
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Gebhardt
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Garrett L. Ellward
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Tony Romeo
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Daniel M. Czyż
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
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35
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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: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [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.
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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
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36
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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.
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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
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Caenorhabditis elegans Models to Investigate the Mechanisms Underlying Tau Toxicity in Tauopathies. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10110838. [PMID: 33187241 PMCID: PMC7697895 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The understanding of the genetic, biochemical, and structural determinants underlying tau aggregation is pivotal in the elucidation of the pathogenic process driving tauopathies and the design of effective therapies. Relevant information on the molecular basis of human neurodegeneration in vivo can be obtained using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). To this end, two main approaches can be applied: the overexpression of genes/proteins leading to neuronal dysfunction and death, and studies in which proteins prone to misfolding are exogenously administered to induce a neurotoxic phenotype. Thanks to the easy generation of transgenic strains expressing human disease genes, C. elegans allows the identification of genes and/or proteins specifically associated with pathology and the specific disruptions of cellular processes involved in disease. Several transgenic strains expressing human wild-type or mutated tau have been developed and offer significant information concerning whether transgene expression regulates protein production and aggregation in soluble or insoluble form, onset of the disease, and the degenerative process. C. elegans is able to specifically react to the toxic assemblies of tau, thus developing a neurodegenerative phenotype that, even when exogenously administered, opens up the use of this assay to investigate in vivo the relationship between the tau sequence, its folding, and its proteotoxicity. These approaches can be employed to screen drugs and small molecules that can interact with the biogenesis and dynamics of formation of tau aggregates and to analyze their interactions with other cellular proteins.
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38
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Caldwell KA, Willicott CW, Caldwell GA. Modeling neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:13/10/dmm046110. [PMID: 33106318 PMCID: PMC7648605 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.046110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The global burden of neurodegenerative diseases underscores the urgent need for innovative strategies to define new drug targets and disease-modifying factors. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has served as the experimental subject for multiple transformative discoveries that have redefined our understanding of biology for ∼60 years. More recently, the considerable attributes of C. elegans have been applied to neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Transgenic nematodes with genes encoding normal and disease variants of proteins at the single- or multi-copy level under neuronal-specific promoters limits expression to select neuronal subtypes. The anatomical transparency of C. elegans affords the use of co-expressed fluorescent proteins to follow the progression of neurodegeneration as the animals age. Significantly, a completely defined connectome facilitates detailed understanding of the impact of neurodegeneration on organismal health and offers a unique capacity to accurately link cell death with behavioral dysfunction or phenotypic variation in vivo. Moreover, chemical treatments, as well as forward and reverse genetic screening, hasten the identification of modifiers that alter neurodegeneration. When combined, these chemical-genetic analyses establish critical threshold states to enhance or reduce cellular stress for dissecting associated pathways. Furthermore, C. elegans can rapidly reveal whether lifespan or healthspan factor into neurodegenerative processes. Here, we outline the methodologies employed to investigate neurodegeneration in C. elegans and highlight numerous studies that exemplify its utility as a pre-clinical intermediary to expedite and inform mammalian translational research. Summary: While unsurpassed as an experimental system for fundamental biology, Caenorhabditis elegans remains undervalued for its translational potential. Here, we highlight significant outcomes from, and resources available for, C. elegans-based research into neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA .,Departments of Neurobiology, Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, and Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Corey W Willicott
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Guy A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.,Departments of Neurobiology, Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, and Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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39
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Tittelmeier J, Nachman E, Nussbaum-Krammer C. Molecular Chaperones: A Double-Edged Sword in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:581374. [PMID: 33132902 PMCID: PMC7572858 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.581374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant accumulation of misfolded proteins into amyloid deposits is a hallmark in many age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Pathological inclusions and the associated toxicity appear to spread through the nervous system in a characteristic pattern during the disease. This has been attributed to a prion-like behavior of amyloid-type aggregates, which involves self-replication of the pathological conformation, intercellular transfer, and the subsequent seeding of native forms of the same protein in the neighboring cell. Molecular chaperones play a major role in maintaining cellular proteostasis by assisting the (re)-folding of cellular proteins to ensure their function or by promoting the degradation of terminally misfolded proteins to prevent damage. With increasing age, however, the capacity of this proteostasis network tends to decrease, which enables the manifestation of neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, there has been a plethora of studies investigating how and when chaperones interact with disease-related proteins, which have advanced our understanding of the role of chaperones in protein misfolding diseases. This review article focuses on the steps of prion-like propagation from initial misfolding and self-templated replication to intercellular spreading and discusses the influence that chaperones have on these various steps, highlighting both the positive and adverse consequences chaperone action can have. Understanding how chaperones alleviate and aggravate disease progression is vital for the development of therapeutic strategies to combat these debilitating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Tittelmeier
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eliana Nachman
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carmen Nussbaum-Krammer
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
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40
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Liang JJH, McKinnon IA, Rankin CH. The contribution of C. elegans neurogenetics to understanding neurodegenerative diseases. J Neurogenet 2020; 34:527-548. [DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2020.1803302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J. H. Liang
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Issa A. McKinnon
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Catharine H. Rankin
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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41
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Abstract
Sustaining a healthy proteome is a lifelong challenge for each individual cell of an organism. However, protein homeostasis or proteostasis is constantly jeopardized since damaged proteins accumulate under proteotoxic stress that originates from ever-changing metabolic, environmental, and pathological conditions. Proteostasis is achieved via a conserved network of quality control pathways that orchestrate the biogenesis of correctly folded proteins, prevent proteins from misfolding, and remove potentially harmful proteins by selective degradation. Nevertheless, the proteostasis network has a limited capacity and its collapse deteriorates cellular functionality and organismal viability, causing metabolic, oncological, or neurodegenerative disorders. While cell-autonomous quality control mechanisms have been described intensely, recent work on Caenorhabditis elegans has demonstrated the systemic coordination of proteostasis between distinct tissues of an organism. These findings indicate the existence of intricately balanced proteostasis networks important for integration and maintenance of the organismal proteome, opening a new door to define novel therapeutic targets for protein aggregation diseases. Here, we provide an overview of individual protein quality control pathways and the systemic coordination between central proteostatic nodes. We further provide insights into the dynamic regulation of cellular and organismal proteostasis mechanisms that integrate environmental and metabolic changes. The use of C. elegans as a model has pioneered our understanding of conserved quality control mechanisms important to safeguard the organismal proteome in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Hoppe
- Institute for Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD) and
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany and
| | - Ehud Cohen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), the Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
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42
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Gómez-Escribano AP, Bono-Yagüe J, García-Gimeno MA, Sequedo MD, Hervás D, Fornés-Ferrer V, Torres-Sánchez SC, Millán JM, Sanz P, Vázquez-Manrique RP. Synergistic activation of AMPK prevents from polyglutamine-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Pharmacol Res 2020; 161:105105. [PMID: 32739430 PMCID: PMC7755709 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Expression of abnormally long polyglutamine (polyQ) tracks is the source of a range of dominant neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington disease. Currently, there is no treatment for this devastating disease, although some chemicals, e.g., metformin, have been proposed as therapeutic solutions. In this work, we show that metformin, together with salicylate, can synergistically reduce the number of aggregates produced after polyQ expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. Moreover, we demonstrate that incubation polyQ-stressed worms with low doses of both chemicals restores neuronal functionality. Both substances are pleitotropic and may activate a range of different targets. However, we demonstrate in this report that the beneficial effect induced by the combination of these drugs depends entirely on the catalytic action of AMPK, since loss of function mutants of aak-2/AMPKα2 do not respond to the treatment. To further investigate the mechanism of the synergetic activity of metformin/salicylate, we used CRISPR to generate mutant alleles of the scaffolding subunit of AMPK, aakb-1/AMPKβ1. In addition, we used an RNAi strategy to silence the expression of the second AMPKβ subunit in worms, namely aakb-2/AMPKβ2. In this work, we demonstrated that both regulatory subunits of AMPK are modulators of protein homeostasis. Interestingly, only aakb-2/AMPKβ2 is required for the synergistic action of metformin/salicylate to reduce polyQ aggregation. Finally, we showed that autophagy acts downstream of metformin/salicylate-related AMPK activation to promote healthy protein homeostasis in worms.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Gómez-Escribano
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - J Bono-Yagüe
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - M A García-Gimeno
- Department of Biotechnology, Escuela Técnica Superior De Ingeniería Agronómica y Del Medio Natural (ETSIAMN), Universitat Politécnica De València, Valencia, Spain
| | - M D Sequedo
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - D Hervás
- Department of Biostatistics, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - V Fornés-Ferrer
- Tau Analytics, Parc Científic De La Universitat De València, Paterna, Spain
| | - S C Torres-Sánchez
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - J M Millán
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - P Sanz
- Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Instituto De Biomedicina De València, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - R P Vázquez-Manrique
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain.
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43
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Assessing motor-related phenotypes of Caenorhabditis elegans with the wide field-of-view nematode tracking platform. Nat Protoc 2020; 15:2071-2106. [PMID: 32433626 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-0321-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans is a valuable model organism in biomedical research that has led to major discoveries in the fields of neurodegeneration, cancer and aging. Because movement phenotypes are commonly used and represent strong indicators of C. elegans fitness, there is an increasing need to replace manual assessments of worm motility with automated measurements to increase throughput and minimize observer biases. Here, we provide a protocol for the implementation of the improved wide field-of-view nematode tracking platform (WF-NTP), which enables the simultaneous analysis of hundreds of worms with respect to multiple behavioral parameters. The protocol takes only a few hours to complete, excluding the time spent culturing C. elegans, and includes (i) experimental design and preparation of samples, (ii) data recording, (iii) software management with appropriate parameter choices and (iv) post-experimental data analysis. We compare the WF-NTP with other existing worm trackers, including those having high spatial resolution. The main benefits of WF-NTP relate to the high number of worms that can be assessed at the same time on a whole-plate basis and the number of phenotypes that can be screened for simultaneously.
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44
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Rudich P, Snoznik C, Puleo N, Lamitina T. Measuring RAN Peptide Toxicity in C. elegans. J Vis Exp 2020. [PMID: 32420986 DOI: 10.3791/61024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
C. elegans is commonly used to model age-related neurodegenerative diseases caused by repeat expansion mutations, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington's disease. Recently, repeat expansion-containing RNA was shown to be the substrate for a novel type of protein translation called repeat-associated non-AUG-dependent (RAN) translation. Unlike canonical translation, RAN translation does not require a start codon and only occurs when repeats exceed a threshold length. Because there is no start codon to determine the reading frame, RAN translation occurs in all reading frames from both sense and antisense RNA templates that contain a repeat expansion sequence. Therefore, RAN translation expands the number of possible disease-associated toxic peptides from one to six. Thus far, RAN translation has been documented in eight different repeat expansion-based neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases. In each case, deciphering which RAN products are toxic, as well as their mechanisms of toxicity, is a critical step towards understanding how these peptides contribute to disease pathophysiology. In this paper, we present strategies to measure the toxicity of RAN peptides in the model system C. elegans. First, we describe procedures for measuring RAN peptide toxicity on the growth and motility of developing C. elegans. Second, we detail an assay for measuring postdevelopmental, age-dependent effects of RAN peptides on motility. Finally, we describe a neurotoxicity assay for evaluating the effects of RAN peptides on neuron morphology. These assays provide a broad assessment of RAN peptide toxicity and may be useful for performing large-scale genetic or small molecule screens to identify disease mechanisms or therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige Rudich
- Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology, University of Pittsburgh
| | - Carley Snoznik
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
| | - Noah Puleo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
| | - Todd Lamitina
- Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology, University of Pittsburgh; Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine;
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Lambert-Smith IA, Saunders DN, Yerbury JJ. The pivotal role of ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 (UBA1) in neuronal health and neurodegeneration. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2020; 123:105746. [PMID: 32315770 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2020.105746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1, UBA1, functions at the apex of the enzymatic ubiquitylation cascade, catalysing ubiquitin activation. UBA1 is thus of fundamental importance to the modulation of ubiquitin homeostasis and to all downstream ubiquitylation-dependent cellular processes, including proteolysis through the ubiquitin-proteasome system and selective autophagy. The proteasome-dependent and -independent functions of UBA1 contribute significantly to a range of processes crucial to neuronal health. The significance of UBA1 activity to neuronal health is clear in light of accumulating evidence implicating impaired UBA1 activity in a range of neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and spinal muscular atrophy. Moreover, ubiquitylation-independent functions of UBA1 of importance to neuronal functioning have been proposed. Here, we summarise findings supporting the significant role of UBA1 in regulating neuronal functioning, and discuss the detrimental consequences of UBA1 impairment that contribute to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella A Lambert-Smith
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | | | - Justin J Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
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46
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Thiruvalluvan A, de Mattos EP, Brunsting JF, Bakels R, Serlidaki D, Barazzuol L, Conforti P, Fatima A, Koyuncu S, Cattaneo E, Vilchez D, Bergink S, Boddeke EHWG, Copray S, Kampinga HH. DNAJB6, a Key Factor in Neuronal Sensitivity to Amyloidogenesis. Mol Cell 2020; 78:346-358.e9. [PMID: 32268123 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
CAG-repeat expansions in at least eight different genes cause neurodegeneration. The length of the extended polyglutamine stretches in the corresponding proteins is proportionally related to their aggregation propensity. Although these proteins are ubiquitously expressed, they predominantly cause toxicity to neurons. To understand this neuronal hypersensitivity, we generated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 and Huntington's disease patients. iPSC generation and neuronal differentiation are unaffected by polyglutamine proteins and show no spontaneous aggregate formation. However, upon glutamate treatment, aggregates form in neurons but not in patient-derived neural progenitors. During differentiation, the chaperone network is drastically rewired, including loss of expression of the anti-amyloidogenic chaperone DNAJB6. Upregulation of DNAJB6 in neurons antagonizes glutamate-induced aggregation, while knockdown of DNAJB6 in progenitors results in spontaneous polyglutamine aggregation. Loss of DNAJB6 expression upon differentiation is confirmed in vivo, explaining why stem cells are intrinsically protected against amyloidogenesis and protein aggregates are dominantly present in neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Thiruvalluvan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eduardo P de Mattos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jeanette F Brunsting
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Rob Bakels
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Despina Serlidaki
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Lara Barazzuol
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Paola Conforti
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, Milan, Italy
| | - Azra Fatima
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Seda Koyuncu
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Elena Cattaneo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare, Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, Milan, Italy
| | - David Vilchez
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Steven Bergink
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Erik H W G Boddeke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sjef Copray
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Harm H Kampinga
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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Rudich P, Watkins S, Lamitina T. PolyQ-independent toxicity associated with novel translational products from CAG repeat expansions. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227464. [PMID: 32240172 PMCID: PMC7117740 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Expanded CAG nucleotide repeats are the underlying genetic cause of at least 14 incurable diseases, including Huntington’s disease (HD). The toxicity associated with many CAG repeat expansions is thought to be due to the translation of the CAG repeat to create a polyQ protein, which forms toxic oligomers and aggregates. However, recent studies show that HD CAG repeats undergo a non-canonical form of translation called Repeat-associated non-AUG dependent (RAN) translation. RAN translation of the CAG sense and CUG anti-sense RNAs produces six distinct repeat peptides: polyalanine (polyAla, from both CAG and CUG repeats), polyserine (polySer), polyleucine (polyLeu), polycysteine (polyCys), and polyglutamine (polyGln). The toxic potential of individual CAG-derived RAN polypeptides is not well understood. We developed pure C. elegans protein models for each CAG RAN polypeptide using codon-varied expression constructs that preserve RAN protein sequence but eliminate repetitive CAG/CUG RNA. While all RAN polypeptides formed aggregates, only polyLeu was consistently toxic across multiple cell types. In GABAergic neurons, which exhibit significant neurodegeneration in HD patients, codon-varied (Leu)38, but not (Gln)38, caused substantial neurodegeneration and motility defects. Our studies provide the first in vivo evaluation of CAG-derived RAN polypeptides in a multicellular model organism and suggest that polyQ-independent mechanisms, such as RAN-translated polyLeu peptides, may have a significant pathological role in CAG repeat expansion disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige Rudich
- Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Simon Watkins
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Todd Lamitina
- Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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48
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Grantham J. The Molecular Chaperone CCT/TRiC: An Essential Component of Proteostasis and a Potential Modulator of Protein Aggregation. Front Genet 2020; 11:172. [PMID: 32265978 PMCID: PMC7096549 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chaperonin containing tailless complex polypeptide 1 (CCT) or tailless complex polypeptide 1 ring complex (TRiC) is an essential eukaryotic molecular chaperone. It is a multi-subunit oligomer of two rings of eight individual protein subunits. When assembled, each of the eight CCT subunits occupies a specific position within each chaperonin ring. Thus a geometrically defined binding interface is formed from the divergent sequences within the CCT subunit substrate binding domains. CCT is required for the folding of the abundant cytoskeletal proteins actin and tubulin, which in turn form assemblies of microfilaments and microtubules. CCT is also involved in the folding of some additional protein substrates and some CCT subunits have been shown to have functions when monomeric. Since observations were made in worms over a decade ago using an RNAi screen, which connected CCT subunits to the aggregation of polyglutamine tracts, a role for CCT as a potential modulator of protein aggregation has started to emerge. Here there will be a focus on how mechanistically CCT may be able to achieve this and if this potential function of CCT provides any insights and directions for developing future treatments for protein aggregation driven neurodegenerative diseases generally, many of which are associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Grantham
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Lam I, Hallacli E, Khurana V. Proteome-Scale Mapping of Perturbed Proteostasis in Living Cells. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2020; 12:cshperspect.a034124. [PMID: 30910772 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a034124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Proteinopathies are degenerative diseases in which specific proteins adopt deleterious conformations, leading to the dysfunction and demise of distinct cell types. They comprise some of the most significant diseases of aging-from Alzheimer's disease to Parkinson's disease to type 2 diabetes-for which not a single disease-modifying or preventative strategy exists. Here, we survey approaches in tractable cellular and organismal models that bring us toward a more complete understanding of the molecular consequences of protein misfolding. These include proteome-scale profiling of genetic modifiers, as well as transcriptional and proteome changes. We describe assays that can capture protein interactomes in situ and distinct protein conformational states. A picture of cellular drivers and responders to proteotoxicity emerges from this work, distinguishing general alterations of proteostasis from cellular events that are deeply tied to the intrinsic function of the misfolding protein. These distinctions have consequences for the understanding and treatment of proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Lam
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Disease, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Erinc Hallacli
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Disease, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Vikram Khurana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Disease, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.,New York Stem Cell Foundation - Robertson Investigator
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50
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Markaki M, Tavernarakis N. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system for human diseases. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 63:118-125. [PMID: 31951916 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans offers unique advantages that enable a comprehensive delineation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying devastating human pathologies such as stroke, ischemia and age-associated neurodegenerative disorders. Genetic models of human diseases that closely simulate several disease-related phenotypes have been established in the worm. These models allow the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches, in addition to large-scale genetic and pharmacological screenings, designed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms mediating pathogenesis and to identify targets and drugs for emergent therapeutic interventions. Such strategies have already provided valuable insights, highly relevant to human health and quality of life. This article considers the potential of C. elegans as a versatile platform for systematic dissection of the molecular basis of human disease, focusing on neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Markaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece
| | - Nektarios Tavernarakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece; Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece.
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