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Plaitakis A, Sidiropoulou K, Kotzamani D, Litso I, Zaganas I, Spanaki C. Evolution of Glutamate Metabolism via GLUD2 Enhances Lactate-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity and Complex Cognition. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5297. [PMID: 38791334 PMCID: PMC11120665 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105297] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Human evolution is characterized by rapid brain enlargement and the emergence of unique cognitive abilities. Besides its distinctive cytoarchitectural organization and extensive inter-neuronal connectivity, the human brain is also defined by high rates of synaptic, mainly glutamatergic, transmission, and energy utilization. While these adaptations' origins remain elusive, evolutionary changes occurred in synaptic glutamate metabolism in the common ancestor of humans and apes via the emergence of GLUD2, a gene encoding the human glutamate dehydrogenase 2 (hGDH2) isoenzyme. Driven by positive selection, hGDH2 became adapted to function upon intense excitatory firing, a process central to the long-term strengthening of synaptic connections. It also gained expression in brain astrocytes and cortical pyramidal neurons, including the CA1-CA3 hippocampal cells, neurons crucial to cognition. In mice transgenic for GLUD2, theta-burst-evoked long-term potentiation (LTP) is markedly enhanced in hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses, with patch-clamp recordings from CA1 pyramidal neurons revealing increased sNMDA receptor currents. D-lactate blocked LTP enhancement, implying that glutamate metabolism via hGDH2 potentiates L-lactate-dependent glia-neuron interaction, a process essential to memory consolidation. The transgenic (Tg) mice exhibited increased dendritic spine density/synaptogenesis in the hippocampus and improved complex cognitive functions. Hence, enhancement of neuron-glia communication, via GLUD2 evolution, likely contributed to human cognitive advancement by potentiating synaptic plasticity and inter-neuronal connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Plaitakis
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
| | - Kyriaki Sidiropoulou
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece;
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dimitra Kotzamani
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
| | - Ionela Litso
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
| | - Ioannis Zaganas
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
- Neurology Department, PaGNI University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Cleanthe Spanaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
- Neurology Department, PaGNI University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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2
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Xing L, Gkini V, Nieminen AI, Zhou HC, Aquilino M, Naumann R, Reppe K, Tanaka K, Carmeliet P, Heikinheimo O, Pääbo S, Huttner WB, Namba T. Functional synergy of a human-specific and an ape-specific metabolic regulator in human neocortex development. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3468. [PMID: 38658571 PMCID: PMC11043075 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47437-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolism has recently emerged as a major target of genes implicated in the evolutionary expansion of human neocortex. One such gene is the human-specific gene ARHGAP11B. During human neocortex development, ARHGAP11B increases the abundance of basal radial glia, key progenitors for neocortex expansion, by stimulating glutaminolysis (glutamine-to-glutamate-to-alpha-ketoglutarate) in mitochondria. Here we show that the ape-specific protein GLUD2 (glutamate dehydrogenase 2), which also operates in mitochondria and converts glutamate-to-αKG, enhances ARHGAP11B's ability to increase basal radial glia abundance. ARHGAP11B + GLUD2 double-transgenic bRG show increased production of aspartate, a metabolite essential for cell proliferation, from glutamate via alpha-ketoglutarate and the TCA cycle. Hence, during human evolution, a human-specific gene exploited the existence of another gene that emerged during ape evolution, to increase, via concerted changes in metabolism, progenitor abundance and neocortex size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xing
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
| | - Vasiliki Gkini
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE - Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anni I Nieminen
- FIMM Metabolomics Unit, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hui-Chao Zhou
- Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB-KU Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matilde Aquilino
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE - Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ronald Naumann
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katrin Reppe
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kohichi Tanaka
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Oskari Heikinheimo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Svante Pääbo
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Human Evolutionary Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Onna-son, Japan
| | - Wieland B Huttner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Takashi Namba
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE - Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Aleshina YA, Aleshin VA. Evolutionary Changes in Primate Glutamate Dehydrogenases 1 and 2 Influence the Protein Regulation by Ligands, Targeting and Posttranslational Modifications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4341. [PMID: 38673928 PMCID: PMC11050691 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084341] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
There are two paralogs of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in humans encoded by the GLUD1 and GLUD2 genes as a result of a recent retroposition during the evolution of primates. The two human GDHs possess significantly different regulation by allosteric ligands, which is not fully characterized at the structural level. Recent advances in identification of the GDH ligand binding sites provide a deeper perspective on the significance of the accumulated substitutions within the two GDH paralogs. In this review, we describe the evolution of GLUD1 and GLUD2 after the duplication event in primates using the accumulated sequencing and structural data. A new gibbon GLUD2 sequence questions the indispensability of ancestral R496S and G509A mutations for GLUD2 irresponsiveness to GTP, providing an alternative with potentially similar regulatory features. The data of both GLUD1 and GLUD2 evolution not only confirm substitutions enhancing GLUD2 mitochondrial targeting, but also reveal a conserved mutation in ape GLUD1 mitochondrial targeting sequence that likely reduces its transport to mitochondria. Moreover, the information of GDH interactors, posttranslational modification and subcellular localization are provided for better understanding of the GDH mutations. Medically significant point mutations causing deregulation of GDH are considered from the structural and regulatory point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia A. Aleshina
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vasily A. Aleshin
- Belozersky Institute of Physicochemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biochemistry, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119048 Moscow, Russia
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Spanaki C, Sidiropoulou K, Petraki Z, Diskos K, Konstantoudaki X, Volitaki E, Mylonaki K, Savvaki M, Plaitakis A. Glutamate-specific gene linked to human brain evolution enhances synaptic plasticity and cognitive processes. iScience 2024; 27:108821. [PMID: 38333701 PMCID: PMC10850756 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The human brain is characterized by the upregulation of synaptic, mainly glutamatergic, transmission, but its evolutionary origin(s) remain elusive. Here we approached this fundamental question by studying mice transgenic (Tg) for GLUD2, a human gene involved in glutamate metabolism that emerged in the hominoid and evolved concomitantly with brain expansion. We demonstrate that Tg mice express the human enzyme in hippocampal astrocytes and CA1-CA3 pyramidal neurons. LTP, evoked by theta-burst stimulation, is markedly enhanced in the CA3-CA1 synapses of Tg mice, with patch-clamp recordings from CA1 pyramidal neurons revealing increased sNMDA currents. LTP enhancement is blocked by D-lactate, implying that GLUD2 potentiates L-lactate-mediated astrocyte-neuron interaction. Dendritic spine density and synaptogenesis are increased in the hippocampus of Tg mice, which exhibit enhanced responses to sensory stimuli and improved performance on complex memory tasks. Hence, GLUD2 likely contributed to human brain evolution by enhancing synaptic plasticity and metabolic processes central to cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleanthe Spanaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
- PaGNI University Hospital of Irakleio, Neurology Department, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Sidiropoulou
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), Iraklion, Greece
| | - Zoe Petraki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Diskos
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), Iraklion, Greece
| | | | - Emmanouela Volitaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Konstantina Mylonaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Maria Savvaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Andreas Plaitakis
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
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Zhuang XL, Shao Y, Chen CY, Zhou L, Yao YG, Cooper DN, Zhang GJ, Wang W, Wu DD. Divergent Evolutionary Rates of Primate Brain Regions as Revealed by Genomics and Transcriptomics. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae023. [PMID: 38314830 PMCID: PMC10881106 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae023] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the primate brain contains numerous functionally distinct structures that have experienced diverse genetic changes during the course of evolution and development, these changes remain to be explored in detail. Here we utilize two classic metrics from evolutionary biology, the evolutionary rate index (ERI) and the transcriptome age index (TAI), to investigate the evolutionary alterations that have occurred in each area and developmental stage of the primate brain. We observed a higher evolutionary rate for those genes expressed in the non-cortical areas during primate evolution, particularly in human, with the highest rate of evolution being exhibited at brain developmental stages between late infancy and early childhood. Further, the transcriptome age of the non-cortical areas was lower than that of the cerebral cortex, with the youngest age apparent at brain developmental stages between late infancy and early childhood. Our exploration of the evolutionary patterns manifest in each brain area and developmental stage provides important reference points for further research into primate brain evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Lin Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China
| | - Yong Shao
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China
| | - Chun-Yan Chen
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Long Zhou
- Center of Evolutionary & Organismal Biology, and Women's Hospital at Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Yong-Gang Yao
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Center, and National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - David N Cooper
- Institute of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Guo-Jie Zhang
- Center of Evolutionary & Organismal Biology, and Women's Hospital at Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Wen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Dong-Dong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution & Animal Models, Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
- National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Center, and National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
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6
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Litso I, Plaitakis A, Fadouloglou VE, Providaki M, Kokkinidis M, Zaganas I. Structural Evolution of Primate Glutamate Dehydrogenase 2 as Revealed by In Silico Predictions and Experimentally Determined Structures. Biomolecules 2023; 14:22. [PMID: 38254622 PMCID: PMC10812971 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010022] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) interconverts glutamate to a-ketoglutarate and ammonia, interconnecting amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. In humans, two functional GDH genes, GLUD1 and GLUD2, encode for hGDH1 and hGDH2, respectively. GLUD2 evolved from retrotransposition of the GLUD1 gene in the common ancestor of modern apes. These two isoenzymes are involved in the pathophysiology of human metabolic, neoplastic, and neurodegenerative disorders. The 3D structures of hGDH1 and hGDH2 have been experimentally determined; however, no information is available about the path of GDH2 structure changes during primate evolution. Here, we compare the structures predicted by the AlphaFold Colab method for the GDH2 enzyme of modern apes and their extinct primate ancestors. Also, we analyze the individual effect of amino acid substitutions emerging during primate evolution. Our most important finding is that the predicted structure of GDH2 in the common ancestor of apes was the steppingstone for the structural evolution of primate GDH2s. Two changes with a strong functional impact occurring at the first evolutionary step, Arg443Ser and Gly456Ala, had a destabilizing and stabilizing effect, respectively, making this step the most important one. Subsequently, GDH2 underwent additional modifications that fine-tuned its enzymatic properties to adapt to the functional needs of modern-day primate tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ionela Litso
- Neurology/Neurogenetics Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (I.L.); (A.P.)
| | - Andreas Plaitakis
- Neurology/Neurogenetics Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (I.L.); (A.P.)
| | - Vasiliki E. Fadouloglou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece;
| | - Mary Providaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece; (M.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Michael Kokkinidis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece; (M.P.); (M.K.)
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Vasilika Vouton, 71409 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ioannis Zaganas
- Neurology/Neurogenetics Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Greece; (I.L.); (A.P.)
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7
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Vedelek V, Vedelek B, Lőrincz P, Juhász G, Sinka R. A comparative analysis of fruit fly and human glutamate dehydrogenases in Drosophila melanogaster sperm development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1281487. [PMID: 38020911 PMCID: PMC10652781 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1281487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamate dehydrogenases are enzymes that take part in both amino acid and energy metabolism. Their role is clear in many biological processes, from neuronal function to cancer development. The putative testis-specific Drosophila glutamate dehydrogenase, Bb8, is required for male fertility and the development of mitochondrial derivatives in spermatids. Testis-specific genes are less conserved and could gain new functions, thus raising a question whether Bb8 has retained its original enzymatic activity. We show that while Bb8 displays glutamate dehydrogenase activity, there are significant functional differences between the housekeeping Gdh and the testis-specific Bb8. Both human GLUD1 and GLUD2 can rescue the bb8 ms mutant phenotype, with superior performance by GLUD2. We also tested the role of three conserved amino acids observed in both Bb8 and GLUD2 in Gdh mutants, which showed their importance in the glutamate dehydrogenase function. The findings of our study indicate that Drosophila Bb8 and human GLUD2 could be novel examples of convergent molecular evolution. Furthermore, we investigated the importance of glutamate levels in mitochondrial homeostasis during spermatogenesis by ectopic expression of the mitochondrial glutamate transporter Aralar1, which caused mitochondrial abnormalities in fly spermatids. The data presented in our study offer evidence supporting the significant involvement of glutamate metabolism in sperm development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Vedelek
- Department of Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Balázs Vedelek
- Department of Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Hungarian Research Network, Biological Research Centre, Developmental Genetics Unit, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Péter Lőrincz
- Department of Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Juhász
- Department of Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Hungarian Research Network, Biological Research Centre, Institute of Genetics, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Rita Sinka
- Department of Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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Tuncay IO, DeVries D, Gogate A, Kaur K, Kumar A, Xing C, Goodspeed K, Seyoum-Tesfa L, Chahrour MH. The genetics of autism spectrum disorder in an East African familial cohort. CELL GENOMICS 2023; 3:100322. [PMID: 37492102 PMCID: PMC10363748 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex neurodevelopmental conditions affecting communication and social interaction in 2.3% of children. Studies that demonstrated its complex genetic architecture have been mainly performed in populations of European ancestry. We investigate the genetics of ASD in an East African cohort (129 individuals) from a population with higher prevalence (5%). Whole-genome sequencing identified 2.13 million private variants in the cohort and potentially pathogenic variants in known ASD genes (including CACNA1C, CHD7, FMR1, and TCF7L2). Admixture analysis demonstrated that the cohort comprises two ancestral populations, African and Eurasian. Admixture mapping discovered 10 regions that confer ASD risk on the African haplotypes, containing several known ASD genes. The increased ASD prevalence in this population suggests decreased heterogeneity in the underlying genetic etiology, enabling risk allele identification. Our approach emphasizes the power of African genetic variation and admixture analysis to inform the architecture of complex disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam Oguz Tuncay
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Darlene DeVries
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ashlesha Gogate
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Kiran Kaur
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Chao Xing
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Kimberly Goodspeed
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | | | - Maria H Chahrour
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Center for the Genetics of Host Defense, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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9
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Wang Z, An X, Yang Y, Zhang L, Jiao T, Zhao S. Comprehensive Analysis of the Longissimus Dorsi Transcriptome and Metabolome Reveals the Regulatory Mechanism of Different Varieties of Meat Quality. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:1234-1245. [PMID: 36601774 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c07043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The beef quality significantly varies between breeds. Pingliang Red Cattle resembles Wagyu in fat deposition and flavor. To screen key factors affecting beef quality, we performed meat quality trait testing, RNA-seq, and metabolomics on the longissimus dorsi of Pingliang Red Cattle, Wagyu cross F1 generation, and Simmental cattle. The gene and metabolite expression profiles were similar between Pingliang Red Cattle and Wagyu cross F1 generation. Genes such as FASN, ACACA, PLIN1, and FABP4 were significantly upregulated in the Pingliang Red Cattle and Wagyu cross F1 generation (P < 0.05). Similarly, numerous metabolites, such as 3-iodo-l-tyrosine, arachidonic acid, and cis-aconitate, which may improve the beef quality such as fat deposition and tenderness, were found in higher levels in the Pingliang Red Cattle and Wagyu cross F1 generation. This study revealed differences in the transcriptional and metabolic levels between Pingliang Red Cattle and premium beef breeds, suggesting that Pingliang Red Cattle harbors the genetic potential for breeding high-grade beef cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengwen Wang
- College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Xuejiao An
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Yonghui Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Lingyun Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Ting Jiao
- College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Shengguo Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
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10
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Integrated Analysis of Transcriptome and Metabolome Reveals Distinct Responses of Pelteobagrus fulvidraco against Aeromonas veronii Infection at Invaded and Recovering Stage. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710121. [PMID: 36077519 PMCID: PMC9456318 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) is an important aquaculture fish susceptible to Aeromonas veronii infection, which causes acute death resulting in huge economic losses. Understanding the molecular processes of host immune defense is indispensable to disease control. Here, we conducted the integrated and comparative analyses of the transcriptome and metabolome of yellow catfish in response to A. veronii infection at the invaded stage and recovering stage. The crosstalk between A. veronii-induced genes and metabolites uncovered the key biomarkers and pathways that strongest contribute to different response strategies used by yellow catfish at corresponding defense stages. We found that at the A. veronii invading stage, the immune defense was strengthened by synthesizing lipids with energy consumption to repair the skin defense line and accumulate lipid droplets promoting intracellular defense line; triggering an inflammatory response by elevating cytokine IL-6, IL-10 and IL-1β following PAMP-elicited mitochondrial signaling, which was enhanced by ROS produced by impaired mitochondria; and activating apoptosis by up-regulating caspase 3, 7 and 8 and Prostaglandin F1α, meanwhile down-regulating FoxO3 and BCL6. Apoptosis was further potentiated via oxidative stress caused by mitochondrial dysfunction and exceeding inflammatory response. Additionally, cell cycle arrest was observed. At the fish recovering stage, survival strategies including sugar catabolism with D-mannose decreasing; energy generation through the TCA cycle and Oxidative phosphorylation pathways; antioxidant protection by enhancing Glutathione (oxidized), Anserine, and α-ketoglutarate; cell proliferation by inducing Cyclin G2 and CDKN1B; and autophagy initiated by FoxO3, ATG8 and ATP6V1A were highlighted. This study provides a comprehensive picture of yellow catfish coping with A. veronii infection, which adds new insights for deciphering molecular mechanisms underlying fish immunity and developing stage-specific disease control techniques in aquaculture.
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Wei X, Su R, Yang M, Pan B, Lu J, Lin H, Shu W, Wang R, Xu X. Quantitative proteomic profiling of hepatocellular carcinoma at different serum alpha-fetoprotein level. Transl Oncol 2022; 20:101422. [PMID: 35430532 PMCID: PMC9034393 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Serum AFP equal to 400 ng/mL is a pivotal turning point not only in prognosis but also metabolic and invasion associated pathways. Adjacent noncancerous tissues are not biological normal components at protein level. Four druggable targets (C1QBP, HSPE1, CHDH, ITGAL) are identified as potential prognostic biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Purpose Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by a poor long-term prognosis and high mortality rate. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels show great prognostic value in patients undergoing hepatectomy. This study aims to explore proteomic profiling in HCC samples based on AFP subgroups and identify potential key targets involved in HCC progression. Methods Twelve paired tumor and adjacent noncancerous tissue samples were collected from patients with HCC who underwent primary curative resection from January 2012 to December 2013. Clinical information was curated from four tissue microarrays to conduct survival analysis based on serum AFP levels. TMT-based quantitative proteomic analyses and bioinformatics analyses were performed to comprehensively profile molecular features. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to validate protein expression of identified targets. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to assess the overall survival and recurrence-free survival based on protein expressions. Results AFP (400 ng/mL) was a turning point in prognosis, metabolic- and invasion-associated pathways. The mass spectrometry analysis yielded a total of 5573 identified proteins. Annotations of 151 differentially expressed proteins in tumors and 95 proteins in paracancerous tissues (1.2-fold) showed similarities in biological processes, cellular components, molecular functions. Furthermore, differentially expressed hub proteins with five innovatively nominated druggable targets (C1QBP, HSPE1, GLUD2 for tumors and CHDH, ITGAL for paracancerous tissues), of which four (C1QBP, HSPE1, CHDH, ITGAL) targets were associated with poor overall survival (all Log-rank P < 0.05). Conclusions Our quantitative proteomics analyses identified four key prognostic biomarkers in HCC and provide opportunities for translational medicine and new treatment.
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Zimmermann M, Reichert AS. Rapid metabolic and bioenergetic adaptations of astrocytes under hyperammonemia - a novel perspective on hepatic encephalopathy. Biol Chem 2021; 402:1103-1113. [PMID: 34331848 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2021-0172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a well-studied, neurological syndrome caused by liver dysfunctions. Ammonia, the major toxin during HE pathogenesis, impairs many cellular processes within astrocytes. Yet, the molecular mechanisms causing HE are not fully understood. Here we will recapitulate possible underlying mechanisms with a clear focus on studies revealing a link between altered energy metabolism and HE in cellular models and in vivo. The role of the mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase and its role in metabolic rewiring of the TCA cycle will be discussed. We propose an updated model of ammonia-induced toxicity that may also be exploited for therapeutic strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Zimmermann
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas S Reichert
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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13
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Dimovasili C, Fadouloglou VE, Kefala A, Providaki M, Kotsifaki D, Kanavouras K, Sarrou I, Plaitakis A, Zaganas I, Kokkinidis M. Crystal structure of glutamate dehydrogenase 2, a positively selected novel human enzyme involved in brain biology and cancer pathophysiology. J Neurochem 2021; 157:802-815. [PMID: 33421122 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mammalian glutamate dehydrogenase (hGDH1 in human cells) interconverts glutamate to α-ketoglutarate and ammonia while reducing NAD(P) to NAD(P)H. During primate evolution, humans and great apes have acquired hGDH2, an isoenzyme that underwent rapid evolutionary adaptation concomitantly with brain expansion, thereby acquiring unique catalytic and regulatory properties that permitted its function under conditions inhibitory to its ancestor hGDH1. Although the 3D-structures of GDHs, including hGDH1, have been determined, attempts to determine the hGDH2 structure were until recently unsuccessful. Comparison of the hGDH1/hGDH2 structures would enable a detailed understanding of their evolutionary differences. This work aimed at the determination of the hGDH2 crystal structure and the analysis of its functional implications. Recombinant hGDH2 was produced in the Spodoptera frugiperda ovarian cell line Sf21, using the Baculovirus expression system. Purification was achieved via a two-step chromatography procedure. hGDH2 was crystallized, X-ray diffraction data were collected using synchrotron radiation and the structure was determined by molecular replacement. The hGDH2 structure is reported at a resolution of 2.9 Å. The enzyme adopts a novel semi-closed conformation, which is an intermediate between known open and closed GDH1 conformations, differing from both. The structure enabled us to dissect previously reported biochemical findings and to structurally interpret the effects of evolutionary amino acid substitutions, including Arg470His, on ADP affinity. In conclusion, our data provide insights into the structural basis of hGDH2 properties, the functional evolution of hGDH isoenzymes, and open new prospects for drug design, especially for cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Dimovasili
- Neurology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics of Neurodegeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vasiliki E Fadouloglou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Kefala
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Mary Providaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dina Kotsifaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Kanavouras
- Neurology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Department of Neurology, "G. Gennimatas" General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Iosifina Sarrou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Center for Free-Electron Laser Science/DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Plaitakis
- Neurology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Ioannis Zaganas
- Neurology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Michael Kokkinidis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.,Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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14
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Drews L, Zimmermann M, Westhoff P, Brilhaus D, Poss RE, Bergmann L, Wiek C, Brenneisen P, Piekorz RP, Mettler-Altmann T, Weber APM, Reichert AS. Ammonia inhibits energy metabolism in astrocytes in a rapid and glutamate dehydrogenase 2-dependent manner. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:dmm047134. [PMID: 32917661 PMCID: PMC7657470 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.047134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocyte dysfunction is a primary factor in hepatic encephalopathy (HE) impairing neuronal activity under hyperammonemia. In particular, the early events causing ammonia-induced toxicity to astrocytes are not well understood. Using established cellular HE models, we show that mitochondria rapidly undergo fragmentation in a reversible manner upon hyperammonemia. Further, in our analyses, within a timescale of minutes, mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis were hampered, which occurred in a pH-independent manner. Using metabolomics, an accumulation of glucose and numerous amino acids, including branched chain amino acids, was observed. Metabolomic tracking of 15N-labeled ammonia showed rapid incorporation of 15N into glutamate and glutamate-derived amino acids. Downregulating human GLUD2 [encoding mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase 2 (GDH2)], inhibiting GDH2 activity by SIRT4 overexpression, and supplementing cells with glutamate or glutamine alleviated ammonia-induced inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. Metabolomic tracking of 13C-glutamine showed that hyperammonemia can inhibit anaplerosis of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates. Contrary to its classical anaplerotic role, we show that, under hyperammonemia, GDH2 catalyzes the removal of ammonia by reductive amination of α-ketoglutarate, which efficiently and rapidly inhibits the TCA cycle. Overall, we propose a critical GDH2-dependent mechanism in HE models that helps to remove ammonia, but also impairs energy metabolism in mitochondria rapidly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Drews
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marcel Zimmermann
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp Westhoff
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Plant Metabolism and Metabolomics Laboratory, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dominik Brilhaus
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Plant Metabolism and Metabolomics Laboratory, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Rebecca E Poss
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Laura Bergmann
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Constanze Wiek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head/Neck Surgery (ENT), Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Peter Brenneisen
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Roland P Piekorz
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tabea Mettler-Altmann
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Plant Metabolism and Metabolomics Laboratory, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas P M Weber
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Plant Metabolism and Metabolomics Laboratory, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas S Reichert
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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Functional validation of a human GLUD2 variant in a murine model of Parkinson's disease. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:897. [PMID: 33093440 PMCID: PMC7582183 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03043-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by Lewy body formation and progressive dopaminergic neuron death in the substantia nigra (SN). Genetic susceptibility is a strong risk factor for PD. Previously, a rare gain-of-function variant of GLUD2 glutamate dehydrogenase (T1492G) was reported to be associated with early onset in male PD patients; however, the function and underlying mechanism of this variant remains elusive. In the present study, we generated adeno-associated virus expressing GLUD2 and its mutant under the control of the glial fibrillary acidic protein promotor and injected the virus into the SN pars compacta of either untreated mice or 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD model mice. Our results demonstrate that GLUD2 mutation in MPTP-induced PD mice exacerbates movement deficits and nigral dopaminergic neuron death and reduces glutamate transporters expression and function. Using GC-Q-TOF/MS-based metabolomics, we determined that GLUD2 mutation damages mitochondrial function by decreasing succinate dehydrogenase activity to impede the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the SN of MPTP-induced PD mice. Accordingly, GLUD2 mutant mice had reduced energy metabolism and increased apoptosis, possibly due to downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor/nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 signaling in in vitro and in vivo PD models. Collectively, our findings verify the function of GLUD2 in PD and unravel a mechanism by which a genetic variant in human GLUD2 may contribute to disease onset.
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Ceglie G, Vinci M, Carai A, Rossi S, Colafati GS, Cacchione A, Tornesello A, Miele E, Locatelli F, Mastronuzzi A. Infantile/Congenital High-Grade Gliomas: Molecular Features and Therapeutic Perspectives. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:E648. [PMID: 32872331 PMCID: PMC7555400 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10090648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors in infants account for less than 10% of all pediatric nervous system tumors. They include tumors diagnosed in fetal age, neonatal age and in the first years of life. Among these, high-grade gliomas (HGGs) are a specific entity with a paradoxical clinical course that sets them apart from their pediatric and adult counterparts. Currently, surgery represents the main therapeutic strategy in the management of these tumors. Chemotherapy does not have a well-defined role whilst radiotherapy is rarely performed, considering its late effects. Information about molecular characterization is still limited, but it could represent a new fundamental tool in the therapeutic perspective of these tumors. Chimeric proteins derived from the fusion of several genes with neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase mutations have been described in high-grade gliomas in infants as well as in neonatal age and the recent discovery of targeted drugs may change the long-term prognosis of these tumors, along with other target-driven therapies. The aim of this mini review is to highlight the recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of high-grade gliomas in infants with a particular focus on the molecular landscape of these neoplasms and future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Ceglie
- Department of Onco-Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS), Piazza Sant’Onofrio 4, 00146 Rome, Italy; (M.V.); (A.C.); (E.M.); (F.L.)
| | - Maria Vinci
- Department of Onco-Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS), Piazza Sant’Onofrio 4, 00146 Rome, Italy; (M.V.); (A.C.); (E.M.); (F.L.)
| | - Andrea Carai
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS), Piazza Sant’Onofrio 4, 00146 Rome, Italy;
| | - Sabrina Rossi
- Pathology Unit, Department of Laboratories, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS), Piazza Sant’Onofrio 4, 00146 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Stefania Colafati
- Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Imaging, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS), Piazza Sant’Onofrio 4, 00146 Rome, Italy;
| | - Antonella Cacchione
- Department of Onco-Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS), Piazza Sant’Onofrio 4, 00146 Rome, Italy; (M.V.); (A.C.); (E.M.); (F.L.)
| | - Assunta Tornesello
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Ospedale Vito Fazzi, Piazza Filippo Muratore, 1, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Evelina Miele
- Department of Onco-Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS), Piazza Sant’Onofrio 4, 00146 Rome, Italy; (M.V.); (A.C.); (E.M.); (F.L.)
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Onco-Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS), Piazza Sant’Onofrio 4, 00146 Rome, Italy; (M.V.); (A.C.); (E.M.); (F.L.)
- Department of Maternal, Infantile, and Urological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department of Onco-Hematology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS), Piazza Sant’Onofrio 4, 00146 Rome, Italy; (M.V.); (A.C.); (E.M.); (F.L.)
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Novel genetic features of human and mouse Purkinje cell differentiation defined by comparative transcriptomics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:15085-15095. [PMID: 32546527 PMCID: PMC7334519 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2000102117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative transcriptomics between differentiating human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and developing mouse neurons offers a powerful approach to compare genetic and epigenetic pathways in human and mouse neurons. To analyze human Purkinje cell (PC) differentiation, we optimized a protocol to generate human pluripotent stem cell-derived Purkinje cells (hPSC-PCs) that formed synapses when cultured with mouse cerebellar glia and granule cells and fired large calcium currents, measured with the genetically encoded calcium indicator jRGECO1a. To directly compare global gene expression of hPSC-PCs with developing mouse PCs, we used translating ribosomal affinity purification (TRAP). As a first step, we used Tg(Pcp2-L10a-Egfp) TRAP mice to profile actively transcribed genes in developing postnatal mouse PCs and used metagene projection to identify the most salient patterns of PC gene expression over time. We then created a transgenic Pcp2-L10a-Egfp TRAP hPSC line to profile gene expression in differentiating hPSC-PCs, finding that the key gene expression pathways of differentiated hPSC-PCs most closely matched those of late juvenile mouse PCs (P21). Comparative bioinformatics identified classical PC gene signatures as well as novel mitochondrial and autophagy gene pathways during the differentiation of both mouse and human PCs. In addition, we identified genes expressed in hPSC-PCs but not mouse PCs and confirmed protein expression of a novel human PC gene, CD40LG, expressed in both hPSC-PCs and native human cerebellar tissue. This study therefore provides a direct comparison of hPSC-PC and mouse PC gene expression and a robust method for generating differentiated hPSC-PCs with human-specific gene expression for modeling developmental and degenerative cerebellar disorders.
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18
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Grogan KE, Perry GH. Studying human and nonhuman primate evolutionary biology with powerful in vitro and in vivo functional genomics tools. Evol Anthropol 2020; 29:143-158. [PMID: 32142200 PMCID: PMC10574139 DOI: 10.1002/evan.21825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, tools for functional genomic studies have become increasingly feasible for use by evolutionary anthropologists. In this review, we provide brief overviews of several exciting in vitro techniques that can be paired with "-omics" approaches (e.g., genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) for potentially powerful evolutionary insights. These in vitro techniques include ancestral protein resurrection, cell line experiments using primary, immortalized, and induced pluripotent stem cells, and CRISPR-Cas9 genetic manipulation. We also discuss how several of these methods can be used in vivo, for transgenic organism studies of human and nonhuman primate evolution. Throughout this review, we highlight example studies in which these approaches have already been used to inform our understanding of the evolutionary biology of modern and archaic humans and other primates while simultaneously identifying future opportunities for anthropologists to use this toolkit to help answer additional outstanding questions in evolutionary anthropology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E. Grogan
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - George H. Perry
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
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Petraki Z, Droubogiannis S, Mylonaki K, Chlouverakis G, Plaitakis A, Spanaki C. Transgenic expression of the positive selected human GLUD2 gene improves in vivo glucose homeostasis by regulating basic insulin secretion. Metabolism 2019; 100:153958. [PMID: 31400387 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2019.153958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (GDH1) contributes to glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in murine β-cells, but not to basic insulin release. The implications of these findings for human biology are unclear as humans have two GDH-specific enzymes: hGDH1 (GLUD1-encoded) and hGDH2 (GLUD2-encoded), a novel enzyme that is highly activated by ADP and L-leucine. Here we studied in vivo glucose homeostasis in transgenic (Tg) mice generated by inserting the GLUD2 gene and its putative regulatory elements into their genome. Using specific antibodies, we observed that hGDH2 was co-expressed with the endogenous murine GDH1 in pancreatic β-cells of Tg mice. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were lower and of a narrower range in Tg (95% CI: 90.6-96.8 mg/dl; N = 26) than in Wt mice (95% CI: 136.2-151.4 mg/dl; N = 23; p < 0.0001), closely resembling those of healthy humans. GLUD2 also protected the host mouse from developing diabetes with advancing age. Tg animals maintained 2.6-fold higher fasting serum insulin levels (mean ± SD: 1.63 ± 0.15 ng/ml; N = 12) than Wt mice (0.63 ± 0.05 ng/ml; N = 12; p < 0.0001). Glucose loading (1 mg/g, given i.p.) induced comparable serum insulin increases in Tg and Wt mice, suggesting no significant GLUD2 effect on glucose-stimulated insulin release. L-leucine (0.25 mg/g given orally) induced a 2-fold increase in the serum insulin of the Wt mice, implying significant activation of the endogenous GDH1. However, L-leucine had little effect on the high insulin levels of the Tg mice, suggesting that, under the high ADP levels that prevail in β-cells in the fasting state, glutamate flux through hGDH2 is close to maximal. Hence, the present data, showing that GLUD2 expression in Tg mice improves in vivo glucose homeostasis by boosting fasting serum insulin levels, suggest that evolutionary adaptation of hGDH2 has enabled humans to achieve narrow-range euglycemia by regulating glutamate-mediated basal insulin secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Petraki
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes Place, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Stavros Droubogiannis
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes Place, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Konstantina Mylonaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes Place, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Gregory Chlouverakis
- Department of Social Medicine, Biostatistics Lab, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes Place, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Andreas Plaitakis
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes Place, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Cleanthe Spanaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes Place, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
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20
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Wang W, Wang GZ. Understanding Molecular Mechanisms of the Brain Through Transcriptomics. Front Physiol 2019; 10:214. [PMID: 30930788 PMCID: PMC6428721 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain is the most complicated organ in the human body with more than ten thousand genes expressed in each region. The molecular activity of the brain is divergent in various brain regions, both spatially and temporally. The function of each brain region lies in the fact that each region has different gene expression profiles, the possibility of differential RNA splicing, as well as various post-transcriptional and translational modification processes. Understanding the overall activity of the brain at the molecular level is essential for a comprehensive understanding of how the brain works. Fortunately, the development of next generation sequencing technology has made it possible to measure the molecular activity of a specific tissue as a daily routine approach of research. Therefore, at the molecular level, the application of sequencing technology to investigate the molecular organization of the brain has become a novel field, and significant progress has been made recently in this field. In this paper, we reviewed the major computational methods used in the analysis of brain transcriptome, including the application of these methods to the research of human and non-human mammal brains. Finally, we discussed the utilization of transcriptome methods in neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guang-Zhong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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21
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Dai Q, Likes CE, Luz AL, Mao L, Yeh JS, Wei Z, Kuchibhatla M, Ilkayeva OR, Koves TR, Price TM. A Mitochondrial Progesterone Receptor Increases Cardiac Beta-Oxidation and Remodeling. J Endocr Soc 2019; 3:446-467. [PMID: 30746505 PMCID: PMC6364628 DOI: 10.1210/js.2018-00219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone is primarily a pregnancy-related hormone, produced in substantial quantities after ovulation and during gestation. Traditionally known to function via nuclear receptors for transcriptional regulation, there is also evidence of nonnuclear action. A previously identified mitochondrial progesterone receptor (PR-M) increases cellular respiration in cell models. In these studies, we demonstrated that expression of PR-M in rat H9c2 cardiomyocytes resulted in a ligand-dependent increase in oxidative cellular respiration and beta-oxidation. Cardiac expression in a TET-On transgenic mouse resulted in gene expression of myofibril proteins for remodeling and proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid metabolism. In a model of increased afterload from constant transverse aortic constriction, mice expressing PR-M showed a ligand-dependent preservation of cardiac function. From these observations, we propose that PR-M is responsible for progesterone-induced increases in cellular energy production and cardiac remodeling to meet the physiological demands of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qunsheng Dai
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Creighton E Likes
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Anthony L Luz
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Lan Mao
- Division of Cardiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jason S Yeh
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Zhengzheng Wei
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Maragatha Kuchibhatla
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Olga R Ilkayeva
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Timothy R Koves
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.,Division of Geriatrics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Thomas M Price
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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22
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Mathioudakis L, Bourbouli M, Daklada E, Kargatzi S, Michaelidou K, Zaganas I. Localization of Human Glutamate Dehydrogenases Provides Insights into Their Metabolic Role and Their Involvement in Disease Processes. Neurochem Res 2018; 44:170-187. [PMID: 29943084 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-018-2575-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) catalyzes the reversible deamination of L-glutamate to α-ketoglutarate and ammonia. In mammals, GDH contributes to important processes such as amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, energy production, ammonia management, neurotransmitter recycling and insulin secretion. In humans, two isoforms of GDH are found, namely hGDH1 and hGDH2, with the former being ubiquitously expressed and the latter found mainly in brain, testis and kidney. These two iso-enzymes display highly divergent allosteric properties, especially concerning their basal activity, ADP activation and GTP inhibition. On the other hand, both enzymes are thought to predominantly localize in the mitochondrial matrix, even though alternative localizations have been proposed. To further study the subcellular localization of the two human iso-enzymes, we created HEK293 cell lines stably over-expressing hGDH1 and hGDH2. In these cell lines, immunofluorescence and enzymatic analyses verified the overexpression of both hGDH1 and hGDH2 iso-enzymes, whereas subcellular fractionation followed by immunoblotting showed their predominantly mitochondrial localization. Given that previous studies have only indirectly compared the subcellular localization of the two iso-enzymes, we co-expressed them tagged with different fluorescent dyes (green and red fluorescent protein for hGDH1 and hGDH2, respectively) and found them to co-localize. Despite the wealth of information related to the functional properties of hGDH1 and hGDH2 and the availability of the hGDH1 structure, there is still an ongoing debate concerning their metabolic role and their involvement in disease processes. Data on the localization of hGDHs, as the ones presented here, could contribute to better understanding of the function of these important human enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lambros Mathioudakis
- Neurology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Mara Bourbouli
- Neurology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Elisavet Daklada
- Neurology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Sofia Kargatzi
- Neurology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Kleita Michaelidou
- Neurology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Ioannis Zaganas
- Neurology Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. .,Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
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23
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Transgenic Mice Carrying GLUD2 as a Tool for Studying the Expressional and the Functional Adaptation of this Positive Selected Gene in Human Brain Evolution. Neurochem Res 2018; 44:154-169. [DOI: 10.1007/s11064-018-2546-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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24
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Hardingham GE, Pruunsild P, Greenberg ME, Bading H. Lineage divergence of activity-driven transcription and evolution of cognitive ability. Nat Rev Neurosci 2017; 19:9-15. [PMID: 29167525 DOI: 10.1038/nrn.2017.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Excitation-transcription coupling shapes network formation during brain development and controls neuronal survival, synaptic function and cognitive skills in the adult. New studies have uncovered differences in the transcriptional responses to synaptic activity between humans and mice. These differences are caused both by the emergence of lineage-specific activity-regulated genes and by the acquisition of signal-responsive DNA elements in gene regulatory regions that determine whether a gene can be transcriptionally induced by synaptic activity or alter the extent of its inducibility. Such evolutionary divergence may have contributed to lineage-related advancements in cognitive abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giles E Hardingham
- UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Medical School, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Priit Pruunsild
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael E Greenberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Hilmar Bading
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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25
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Casola C, Betrán E. The Genomic Impact of Gene Retrocopies: What Have We Learned from Comparative Genomics, Population Genomics, and Transcriptomic Analyses? Genome Biol Evol 2017; 9:1351-1373. [PMID: 28605529 PMCID: PMC5470649 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evx081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene duplication is a major driver of organismal evolution. Gene retroposition is a mechanism of gene duplication whereby a gene's transcript is used as a template to generate retroposed gene copies, or retrocopies. Intriguingly, the formation of retrocopies depends upon the enzymatic machinery encoded by retrotransposable elements, genomic parasites occurring in the majority of eukaryotes. Most retrocopies are depleted of the regulatory regions found upstream of their parental genes; therefore, they were initially considered transcriptionally incompetent gene copies, or retropseudogenes. However, examples of functional retrocopies, or retrogenes, have accumulated since the 1980s. Here, we review what we have learned about retrocopies in animals, plants and other eukaryotic organisms, with a particular emphasis on comparative and population genomic analyses complemented with transcriptomic datasets. In addition, these data have provided information about the dynamics of the different "life cycle" stages of retrocopies (i.e., polymorphic retrocopy number variants, fixed retropseudogenes and retrogenes) and have provided key insights into the retroduplication mechanisms, the patterns and evolutionary forces at work during the fixation process and the biological function of retrogenes. Functional genomic and transcriptomic data have also revealed that many retropseudogenes are transcriptionally active and a biological role has been experimentally determined for many. Finally, we have learned that not only non-long terminal repeat retroelements but also long terminal repeat retroelements play a role in the emergence of retrocopies across eukaryotes. This body of work has shown that mRNA-mediated duplication represents a widespread phenomenon that produces an array of new genes that contribute to organismal diversity and adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Casola
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, TX
| | - Esther Betrán
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
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26
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The Glutamate Dehydrogenase Pathway and Its Roles in Cell and Tissue Biology in Health and Disease. BIOLOGY 2017; 6:biology6010011. [PMID: 28208702 PMCID: PMC5372004 DOI: 10.3390/biology6010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is a hexameric enzyme that catalyzes the reversible conversion of glutamate to α-ketoglutarate and ammonia while reducing NAD(P)⁺ to NAD(P)H. It is found in all living organisms serving both catabolic and anabolic reactions. In mammalian tissues, oxidative deamination of glutamate via GDH generates α-ketoglutarate, which is metabolized by the Krebs cycle, leading to the synthesis of ATP. In addition, the GDH pathway is linked to diverse cellular processes, including ammonia metabolism, acid-base equilibrium, redox homeostasis (via formation of fumarate), lipid biosynthesis (via oxidative generation of citrate), and lactate production. While most mammals possess a single GDH1 protein (hGDH1 in the human) that is highly expressed in the liver, humans and other primates have acquired, via duplication, an hGDH2 isoenzyme with distinct functional properties and tissue expression profile. The novel hGDH2 underwent rapid evolutionary adaptation, acquiring unique properties that enable enhanced enzyme function under conditions inhibitory to its ancestor hGDH1. These are thought to provide a biological advantage to humans with hGDH2 evolution occurring concomitantly with human brain development. hGDH2 is co-expressed with hGDH1 in human brain, kidney, testis and steroidogenic organs, but not in the liver. In human cerebral cortex, hGDH1 and hGDH2 are expressed in astrocytes, the cells responsible for removing and metabolizing transmitter glutamate, and for supplying neurons with glutamine and lactate. In human testis, hGDH2 (but not hGDH1) is densely expressed in the Sertoli cells, known to provide the spermatids with lactate and other nutrients. In steroid producing cells, hGDH1/2 is thought to generate reducing equivalents (NADPH) in the mitochondria for the biosynthesis of steroidal hormones. Lastly, up-regulation of hGDH1/2 expression occurs in cancer, permitting neoplastic cells to utilize glutamine/glutamate for their growth. In addition, deregulation of hGDH1/2 is implicated in the pathogenesis of several human disorders.
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27
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Nissen JD, Lykke K, Bryk J, Stridh MH, Zaganas I, Skytt DM, Schousboe A, Bak LK, Enard W, Pääbo S, Waagepetersen HS. Expression of the human isoform of glutamate dehydrogenase, hGDH2, augments TCA cycle capacity and oxidative metabolism of glutamate during glucose deprivation in astrocytes. Glia 2016; 65:474-488. [PMID: 28032919 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
A key enzyme in brain glutamate homeostasis is glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) which links carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism mediating glutamate degradation to CO2 and expanding tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle capacity with intermediates, i.e. anaplerosis. Humans express two GDH isoforms, GDH1 and 2, whereas most other mammals express only GDH1. hGDH1 is widely expressed in human brain while hGDH2 is confined to astrocytes. The two isoforms display different enzymatic properties and the nature of these supports that hGDH2 expression in astrocytes potentially increases glutamate oxidation and supports the TCA cycle during energy-demanding processes such as high intensity glutamatergic signaling. However, little is known about how expression of hGDH2 affects the handling of glutamate and TCA cycle metabolism in astrocytes. Therefore, we cultured astrocytes from cerebral cortical tissue of hGDH2-expressing transgenic mice. We measured glutamate uptake and metabolism using [3 H]glutamate, while the effect on metabolic pathways of glutamate and glucose was evaluated by use of 13 C and 14 C substrates and analysis by mass spectrometry and determination of radioactively labeled metabolites including CO2 , respectively. We conclude that hGDH2 expression increases capacity for uptake and oxidative metabolism of glutamate, particularly during increased workload and aglycemia. Additionally, hGDH2 expression increased utilization of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) during aglycemia and caused a general decrease in oxidative glucose metabolism. We speculate, that expression of hGDH2 allows astrocytes to spare glucose and utilize BCAAs during substrate shortages. These findings support the proposed role of hGDH2 in astrocytes as an important fail-safe during situations of intense glutamatergic activity. GLIA 2017;65:474-488.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob D Nissen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Kasper Lykke
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Jaroslaw Bryk
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, 02109, Germany
| | - Malin H Stridh
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Ioannis Zaganas
- Neurology Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dorte M Skytt
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Arne Schousboe
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Lasse K Bak
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Wolfgang Enard
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, 02109, Germany
| | - Svante Pääbo
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, 02109, Germany
| | - Helle S Waagepetersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
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28
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Spanaki C, Kotzamani D, Plaitakis A. Widening Spectrum of Cellular and Subcellular Expression of Human GLUD1 and GLUD2 Glutamate Dehydrogenases Suggests Novel Functions. Neurochem Res 2016; 42:92-107. [PMID: 27422263 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-016-1986-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian glutamate dehydrogenase1 (GDH1) (E.C. 1.4.1.3) is a mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the reversible oxidative deamination of glutamate to α-ketoglutarate and ammonia while reducing NAD+ and/or NADP+ to NADH and/or NADPH. It links amino acid with carbohydrate metabolism, contributing to Krebs cycle anaplerosis, energy production, ammonia handling and redox homeostasis. Although GDH1 was one of the first major metabolic enzymes to be studied decades ago, its role in cell biology is still incompletely understood. There is however growing interest in a novel GDH2 isoenzyme that emerged via duplication in primates and underwent rapid evolutionary selection concomitant with prefrontal human cortex expansion. Also, the anaplerotic function of GDH1 and GDH2 is currently under sharp focus as this relates to the biology of glial tumors and other neoplasias. Here we used antibodies specific for human GDH1 (hGDH1) and human GDH2 (hGDH2) to study the expression of these isoenzymes in human tissues. Results revealed that both hGDH1 and hGDH2 are expressed in human brain, kidney, testis and steroidogenic organs. However, distinct hGDH1 and hGDH2 expression patterns emerged. Thus, while the Sertoli cells of human testis were strongly positive for hGDH2, they were negative for hGDH1. Conversely, hGDH1 showed very high levels of expression in human liver, but hepatocytes were virtually devoid of hGDH2. In human adrenals, both hGDHs were densely expressed in steroid-producing cells, with hGDH2 expression pattern matching that of the cholesterol side chain cleavage system involved in steroid synthesis. Similarly in human ovaries and placenta, both hGDH1 and hGDH2 were densely expressed in estrogen producing cells. In addition, hGDH1, being a housekeeping enzyme, was also expressed in cells that lack endocrine function. Regarding human brain, study of cortical sections using immunofluorescence (IF) with confocal microscopy revealed that hGDH1 and hGDH2 were both expressed in the cytoplasm of gray and white matter astrocytes within coarse structures resembling mitochondria. Additionally, hGDH1 localized to the nuclear membrane of a subpopulation of astrocytes and of the vast majority of oligodendrocytes and their precursors. Remarkably, hGDH2-specific staining was detected in human cortical neurons, with different expression patterns having emerged. One pattern, observed in large cortical neurons (some with pyramidal morphology), was a hGDH2-specific labeling of cytoplasmic structures resembling mitochondria. These were distributed either in the cell body-axon or on the cell surface in close proximity to astrocytic end-feet that encircle glutamatergic synapses. Another pattern was observed in small cortical neurons with round dense nuclei in which the hGDH2-specific staining was found in the nuclear membrane. A detailed description of these observations and their functional implications, suggesting that the GDH flux is used by different cells to serve some of their unique functions, is presented below.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleanthe Spanaki
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, 71003, Greece
| | - Dimitra Kotzamani
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, 71003, Greece
| | - Andreas Plaitakis
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, 71003, Greece. .,Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, OneGustave L. Levy Place, New York, 10029, USA.
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