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Yuan X, Zhang S, Shang H, Tang Y. A novel mutation in SORD gene associated with distal hereditary motor neuropathies. BMC Med Genomics 2024; 17:169. [PMID: 38915017 PMCID: PMC11194961 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-024-01940-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) is a heterogeneous group of hereditary diseases caused by the gradual degeneration of the lower motor neuron. More than 30 genes associated with dHMN have been reported, while 70-80% of those with the condition are still unable to receive a genetic diagnosis. METHODS A 26-year-old man experiencing gradual weakness in his lower limbs was referred to our hospital, and data on clinical features, laboratory tests, and electrophysiological tests were collected. To identify the disease-causing mutation, we conducted whole exome sequencing (WES) and then validated it through Sanger sequencing for the proband and his parents. Silico analysis was performed to predict the pathogenesis of the identified mutations. A literature review of all reported mutations of the related gene for the disease was performed. RESULTS The patient presented with dHMN phenotype harboring a novel homozygous variant c.361G > C (p.Ala121Pro) in SORD, inherited from his parents, respectively. A121 is a highly conserved site and the mutation was categorized as "likely pathogenic" according to the criteria and guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). A total of 13 published articles including 101 patients reported 18 SORD variants. Almost all described cases have the homozygous deletion variant c.757delG (p.A253Qfs*27) or compound heterozygous state of a combination of c.757delG (p.A253Qfs*27) with another variant. The variant c.361G > C (p.Ala121Pro) detected in our patient was the second homozygous variant in SORD-associated hereditary neuropathy. CONCLUSION One novel homozygous variant c.361G > C (p.Ala121Pro) in SORD was identified in a Chinese patient with dHMN phenotype, which expands the mutation spectrum of SORD-associated hereditary neuropathy and underscores the significance of screening for SORD variants in patients with undiagnosed hereditary neuropathy patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqin Yuan
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Mianyang Central Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621000, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Mianyang Central Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621000, China
| | - Huifang Shang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
| | - Yufeng Tang
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Mianyang Central Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, Sichuan, 621000, China.
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2
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Connell M, Xie Y, Deng X, Chen R, Zhu S. Kin17 regulates proper cortical localization of Miranda in Drosophila neuroblasts by regulating Flfl expression. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113823. [PMID: 38386552 PMCID: PMC10980573 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113823] [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: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
During asymmetric division of Drosophila larval neuroblasts, the fate determinant Prospero (Pros) and its adaptor Miranda (Mira) are segregated to the basal cortex through atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) phosphorylation of Mira and displacement from the apical cortex, but Mira localization after aPKC phosphorylation is not well understood. We identify Kin17, a DNA replication and repair protein, as a regulator of Mira localization during asymmetric cell division. Loss of Kin17 leads to aberrant localization of Mira and Pros to the centrosome, cytoplasm, and nucleus. We provide evidence to show that the mislocalization of Mira and Pros is likely due to reduced expression of Falafel (Flfl), a component of protein phosphatase 4 (PP4), and defects in dephosphorylation of serine-96 of Mira. Our work reveals that Mira is likely dephosphorylated by PP4 at the centrosome to ensure proper basal localization of Mira after aPKC phosphorylation and that Kin17 regulates PP4 activity by regulating Flfl expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Connell
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Yonggang Xie
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Xiaobing Deng
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Sijun Zhu
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
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Oliveira MT, Anhezini L, Araujo HM, Oliveira MF, Couto-Lima CA. Boosting life sciences research in Brazil: building a case for a local Drosophila stock center. Genet Mol Biol 2024; 47:e20230202. [PMID: 38446983 PMCID: PMC10917079 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2023-0202] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster is undoubtedly one of the most useful model organisms in biology. Initially used in solidifying the principles of heredity, and establishing the basic concepts of population genetics and of the synthetic theory of evolution, it can currently offer scientists much more: the possibility of investigating a plethora of cellular and biological mechanisms, from development and function of the immune system to animal neurogenesis, tumorigenesis and beyond. Extensive resources are available for the community of Drosophila researchers worldwide, including an ever-growing number of mutant, transgenic and genomically-edited lines currently carried by stock centers in North America, Europe and Asia. Here, we provide evidence for the importance of stock centers in sustaining the substantial increase in the output of Drosophila research worldwide in recent decades. We also discuss the challenges that Brazilian Drosophila scientists face to keep their research projects internationally competitive, and argue that difficulties in importing fly lines from international stock centers have significantly stalled the progression of all Drosophila research areas in the country. Establishing a local stock center might be the first step towards building a strong local Drosophila community that will likely contribute to all areas of life sciences research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos T. Oliveira
- Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias de Jaboticabal, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucas Anhezini
- Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Histologia e Embriologia, Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Helena M. Araujo
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Programa de Graduação em Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcus F. Oliveira
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos A. Couto-Lima
- Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias de Jaboticabal, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
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Liu M, Yang S, Yang J, Feng P, Luo F, Zhang Q, Yang L, Jiang H. BubR1 controls starvation-induced lipolysis via IMD signaling pathway in Drosophila. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:3257-3279. [PMID: 38334966 PMCID: PMC10929803 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Lipolysis, the key process releasing fat acids to generate energy in adipose tissues, correlates with starvation resistance. Nevertheless, its detail mechanisms remain elusive. BubR1, an essential mitotic regulator, ensures proper chromosome alignment and segregation during mitosis, but its physiological functions are largely unknown. Here, we use Drosophila adult fat body, the major lipid storage organ, to study the functions of BubR1 in lipolysis. We show that both whole body- and fat body-specific BubR1 depletions increase lipid degradation and shorten the lifespan under fasting but not feeding. Relish, the conserved regulator of IMD signaling pathway, acts as the downstream target of BubR1 to control the expression level of Bmm and modulate the lipolysis upon fasting. Thus, our study reveals new functions of BubR1 in starvation-induced lipolysis and provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of lipolysis mediated by IMD signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyou Liu
- Laboratory for Aging and Cancer Research, Frontiers Science Center Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Clinical Trial Center, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drugs, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Shengye Yang
- Laboratory for Aging and Cancer Research, Frontiers Science Center Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jingsi Yang
- Laboratory for Aging and Cancer Research, Frontiers Science Center Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Ping Feng
- Clinical Trial Center, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drugs, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Feng Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Qiaoqiao Zhang
- Laboratory for Aging and Cancer Research, Frontiers Science Center Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Li Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Sichuan University-University of Oxford Huaxi Joint Centre for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Laboratory for Aging and Cancer Research, Frontiers Science Center Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
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Chou J, Ramroop JR, Saravia-Butler AM, Wey B, Lera MP, Torres ML, Heavner ME, Iyer J, Mhatre SD, Bhattacharya S, Govind S. Drosophila parasitoids go to space: Unexpected effects of spaceflight on hosts and their parasitoids. iScience 2024; 27:108759. [PMID: 38261932 PMCID: PMC10797188 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
While fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and humans exhibit immune system dysfunction in space, studies examining their immune systems' interactions with natural parasites in space are lacking. Drosophila parasitoid wasps modify blood cell function to suppress host immunity. In this study, naive and parasitized ground and space flies from a tumor-free control and a blood tumor-bearing mutant strain were examined. Inflammation-related genes were activated in space in both fly strains. Whereas control flies did not develop tumors, tumor burden increased in the space-returned tumor-bearing mutants. Surprisingly, control flies were more sensitive to spaceflight than mutant flies; many of their essential genes were downregulated. Parasitoids appeared more resilient than fly hosts, and spaceflight did not significantly impact wasp survival or the expression of their virulence genes. Previously undocumented mutant wasps with novel wing color and wing shape were isolated post-flight and will be invaluable for host-parasite studies on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Chou
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Johnny R. Ramroop
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
| | - Amanda M. Saravia-Butler
- KBR NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Brian Wey
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Matthew P. Lera
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Medaya L. Torres
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Bionetics, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Mary Ellen Heavner
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Janani Iyer
- KBR NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Universities Space Research Association, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
| | - Siddhita D. Mhatre
- KBR NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | | | - Shubha Govind
- Biology Department, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
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6
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Steinmetz EL, Noh S, Klöppel C, Fuhr MF, Bach N, Raffael ME, Hildebrandt K, Wittling F, Jann D, Walldorf U. Generation of Mutants from the 57B Region of Drosophila melanogaster. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2047. [PMID: 38002990 PMCID: PMC10671637 DOI: 10.3390/genes14112047] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The 57B region of Drosophila melanogaster includes a cluster of the three homeobox genes orthopedia (otp), Drosophila Retinal homeobox (DRx), and homeobrain (hbn). In an attempt to isolate mutants for these genes, we performed an EMS mutagenesis and isolated lethal mutants from the 57B region, among them mutants for otp, DRx, and hbn. With the help of two newly generated deletions from the 57B region, we mapped additional mutants to specific chromosomal intervals and identified several of these mutants from the 57B region molecularly. In addition, we generated mutants for CG15651 and RIC-3 by gene targeting and mutants for the genes CG9344, CG15649, CG15650, and ND-B14.7 using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. We determined the lethality period during development for most isolated mutants. In total, we analysed alleles from nine different genes from the 57B region of Drosophila, which could now be used to further explore the functions of the corresponding genes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Louise Steinmetz
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
- Zoology & Physiology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building B2.1, D-66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Sandra Noh
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Christine Klöppel
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Martin F. Fuhr
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Bach
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Mona Evelyn Raffael
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Hildebrandt
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Fabienne Wittling
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarland University, Building E8.1, D-66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Doris Jann
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
- Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 45.2, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Walldorf
- Developmental Biology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology), Saarland University, Building 61, D-66421 Homburg, Germany
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Martin M, Gutierrez-Avino F, Shaikh MN, Tejedor FJ. A novel proneural function of Asense is integrated with the sequential actions of Delta-Notch, L'sc and Su(H) to promote the neuroepithelial to neuroblast transition. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010991. [PMID: 37871020 PMCID: PMC10621995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In order for neural progenitors (NPs) to generate distinct populations of neurons at the right time and place during CNS development, they must switch from undergoing purely proliferative, self-renewing divisions to neurogenic, asymmetric divisions in a tightly regulated manner. In the developing Drosophila optic lobe, neuroepithelial (NE) cells of the outer proliferation center (OPC) are progressively transformed into neurogenic NPs called neuroblasts (NBs) in a medial to lateral proneural wave. The cells undergoing this transition express Lethal of Scute (L'sc), a proneural transcription factor (TF) of the Acheate Scute Complex (AS-C). Here we show that there is also a peak of expression of Asense (Ase), another AS-C TF, in the cells neighboring those with transient L'sc expression. These peak of Ase cells help to identify a new transitional stage as they have lost NE markers and L'sc, they receive a strong Notch signal and barely exhibit NB markers. This expression of Ase is necessary and sufficient to promote the NE to NB transition in a more robust and rapid manner than that of l'sc gain of function or Notch loss of function. Thus, to our knowledge, these data provide the first direct evidence of a proneural role for Ase in CNS neurogenesis. Strikingly, we found that strong Delta-Notch signaling at the lateral border of the NE triggers l'sc expression, which in turn induces ase expression in the adjacent cells through the activation of Delta-Notch signaling. These results reveal two novel non-conventional actions of Notch signaling in driving the expression of proneural factors, in contrast to the repression that Notch signaling exerts on them during classical lateral inhibition. Finally, Suppressor of Hairless (Su(H)), which seems to be upregulated late in the transitioning cells and in NBs, represses l'sc and ase, ensuring their expression is transient. Thus, our data identify a key proneural role of Ase that is integrated with the sequential activities of Delta-Notch signaling, L'sc, and Su(H), driving the progressive transformation of NE cells into NBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Martin
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernandez, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
| | - Francisco Gutierrez-Avino
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernandez, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
| | - Mirja N. Shaikh
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernandez, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
| | - Francisco J. Tejedor
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Miguel Hernandez, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
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Garcia-Vaquero ML, Heim M, Flix B, Pereira M, Palin L, Marques TM, Pinto FR, de Las Rivas J, Voigt A, Besse F, Gama-Carvalho M. Analysis of asymptomatic Drosophila models for ALS and SMA reveals convergent impact on functional protein complexes linked to neuro-muscular degeneration. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:576. [PMID: 37759179 PMCID: PMC10523761 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09562-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) share phenotypic and molecular commonalities, including the fact that they can be caused by mutations in ubiquitous proteins involved in RNA metabolism, namely SMN, TDP-43 and FUS. Although this suggests the existence of common disease mechanisms, there is currently no model to explain the resulting motor neuron dysfunction. In this work we generated a parallel set of Drosophila models for adult-onset RNAi and tagged neuronal expression of the fly orthologues of the three human proteins, named Smn, TBPH and Caz, respectively. We profiled nuclear and cytoplasmic bound mRNAs using a RIP-seq approach and characterized the transcriptome of the RNAi models by RNA-seq. To unravel the mechanisms underlying the common functional impact of these proteins on neuronal cells, we devised a computational approach based on the construction of a tissue-specific library of protein functional modules, selected by an overall impact score measuring the estimated extent of perturbation caused by each gene knockdown. RESULTS Transcriptome analysis revealed that the three proteins do not bind to the same RNA molecules and that only a limited set of functionally unrelated transcripts is commonly affected by their knock-down. However, through our integrative approach we were able to identify a concerted effect on protein functional modules, albeit acting through distinct targets. Most strikingly, functional annotation revealed that these modules are involved in critical cellular pathways for motor neurons, including neuromuscular junction function. Furthermore, selected modules were found to be significantly enriched in orthologues of human neuronal disease genes. CONCLUSIONS The results presented here show that SMA and ALS disease-associated genes linked to RNA metabolism functionally converge on neuronal protein complexes, providing a new hypothesis to explain the common motor neuron phenotype. The functional modules identified represent promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets, namely given their alteration in asymptomatic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina L Garcia-Vaquero
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Medicine and Cytometry General Service-15 Nucleus, Cancer Research Centre (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), CIBERONC, 16 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Marjorie Heim
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, 06108, Nice, Inserm, France
| | - Barbara Flix
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Marcelo Pereira
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Lucile Palin
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, 06108, Nice, Inserm, France
| | - Tânia M Marques
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Francisco R Pinto
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Javier de Las Rivas
- Cancer Research Center (CiC-IBMCC, CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and University of Salamanca (USAL), 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Aaron Voigt
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Florence Besse
- Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, 06108, Nice, Inserm, France
| | - Margarida Gama-Carvalho
- BioISI - Institute for Biosystems and Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
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Sharma Y, Jacobs JS, Sivan-Loukianova E, Lee E, Kernan MJ, Eberl DF. The retrograde IFT dynein is required for normal function of diverse mechanosensory cilia in Drosophila. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1263411. [PMID: 37808471 PMCID: PMC10556659 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1263411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cilia biogenesis relies on intraflagellar transport (IFT), a conserved transport mechanism which functions bi-directionally to bring protein complexes to the growing ciliary tip and recycle signaling and transport proteins between the cilium and cell body. In Drosophila, anterograde IFT is critical for assembly of sensory cilia in the neurons of both chordotonal (ch) organs, which have relatively long ciliary axonemes, and external sensory (es) organs, which have short axonemal segments with microtubules in distal sensory segments forming non-axonemal bundles. We previously isolated the beethoven (btv) mutant in a mutagenesis screen for auditory mutants. Although many btv mutant flies are deaf, some retain a small residual auditory function as determined both by behavior and by auditory electrophysiology. Results Here we molecularly characterize the btv gene and demonstrate that it encodes the IFT-associated dynein-2 heavy chain Dync2h1. We also describe morphological changes in Johnston's organ as flies age to 30 days, and we find that morphological and electrophysiological phenotypes in this ch organ of btv mutants become more severe with age. We show that NompB protein, encoding the conserved IFT88 protein, an IFT complex B component, fails to be cleared from chordotonal cilia in btv mutants, instead accumulating in the distorted cilia. In macrochaete bristles, a class of es organ, btv mutants show a 50% reduction in mechanoreceptor potentials. Discussion Thus, the btv-encoded Dync2h1 functions as the retrograde IFT motor in the assembly of long ciliary axonemes in ch organs and is also important for normal function of the short ciliary axonemes in es organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashoda Sharma
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Julie S. Jacobs
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | | | - Eugene Lee
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Maurice J. Kernan
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Daniel F. Eberl
- Department of Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
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10
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Rocha JJ, Jayaram SA, Stevens TJ, Muschalik N, Shah RD, Emran S, Robles C, Freeman M, Munro S. Functional unknomics: Systematic screening of conserved genes of unknown function. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002222. [PMID: 37552676 PMCID: PMC10409296 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The human genome encodes approximately 20,000 proteins, many still uncharacterised. It has become clear that scientific research tends to focus on well-studied proteins, leading to a concern that poorly understood genes are unjustifiably neglected. To address this, we have developed a publicly available and customisable "Unknome database" that ranks proteins based on how little is known about them. We applied RNA interference (RNAi) in Drosophila to 260 unknown genes that are conserved between flies and humans. Knockdown of some genes resulted in loss of viability, and functional screening of the rest revealed hits for fertility, development, locomotion, protein quality control, and resilience to stress. CRISPR/Cas9 gene disruption validated a component of Notch signalling and 2 genes contributing to male fertility. Our work illustrates the importance of poorly understood genes, provides a resource to accelerate future research, and highlights a need to support database curation to ensure that misannotation does not erode our awareness of our own ignorance.
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Affiliation(s)
- João J. Rocha
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tim J. Stevens
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Rajen D. Shah
- Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sahar Emran
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Cristina Robles
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Freeman
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Munro
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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11
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Singh AK, Amar I, Ramadasan H, Kappagantula KS, Chavali S. Proteins with amino acid repeats constitute a rapidly evolvable and human-specific essentialome. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112811. [PMID: 37453061 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112811] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein products of essential genes, indispensable for organismal survival, are highly conserved and bring about fundamental functions. Interestingly, proteins that contain amino acid homorepeats that tend to evolve rapidly are enriched in eukaryotic essentialomes. Why are proteins with hypermutable homorepeats enriched in conserved and functionally vital essential proteins? We solve this functional versus evolutionary paradox by demonstrating that human essential proteins with homorepeats bring about crosstalk across biological processes through high interactability and have distinct regulatory functions affecting expansive global regulation. Importantly, essential proteins with homorepeats rapidly diverge with the amino acid substitutions frequently affecting functional sites, likely facilitating rapid adaptability. Strikingly, essential proteins with homorepeats influence human-specific embryonic and brain development, implying that the presence of homorepeats could contribute to the emergence of human-specific processes. Thus, we propose that homorepeat-containing essential proteins affecting species-specific traits can be potential intervention targets across pathologies, including cancers and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali K Singh
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Ishita Amar
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Harikrishnan Ramadasan
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Keertana S Kappagantula
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Sreenivas Chavali
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, Andhra Pradesh, India.
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12
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Molina López E, Kabanova A, Winkel A, Franze K, Palacios IM, Martín-Bermudo MD. Constriction imposed by basement membrane regulates developmental cell migration. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002172. [PMID: 37379333 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The basement membrane (BM) is a specialized extracellular matrix (ECM), which underlies or encases developing tissues. Mechanical properties of encasing BMs have been shown to profoundly influence the shaping of associated tissues. Here, we use the migration of the border cells (BCs) of the Drosophila egg chamber to unravel a new role of encasing BMs in cell migration. BCs move between a group of cells, the nurse cells (NCs), that are enclosed by a monolayer of follicle cells (FCs), which is, in turn, surrounded by a BM, the follicle BM. We show that increasing or reducing the stiffness of the follicle BM, by altering laminins or type IV collagen levels, conversely affects BC migration speed and alters migration mode and dynamics. Follicle BM stiffness also controls pairwise NC and FC cortical tension. We propose that constraints imposed by the follicle BM influence NC and FC cortical tension, which, in turn, regulate BC migration. Encasing BMs emerge as key players in the regulation of collective cell migration during morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Molina López
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo CSIC-University Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Anna Kabanova
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo CSIC-University Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
- Department Physiology of Cognitive Processes, MPI for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Winkel
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kristian Franze
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Institute of Medical Physics and Micro-Tissue Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Isabel M Palacios
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - María D Martín-Bermudo
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo CSIC-University Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
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13
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Bui KC, Kamiyama D. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in in ebony gene using a PCR product donor template in Drosophila. GENE AND GENOME EDITING 2023; 5:100025. [PMID: 37426904 PMCID: PMC10327816 DOI: 10.1016/j.ggedit.2023.100025] [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] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been a powerful tool for gene editing in Drosophila, particularly for knocking in base-pair mutations or a variety of gene cassettes into endogenous gene loci. Among the Drosophila community, there has been a concerted effort to establish CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in protocols that decrease the amount of time spent on molecular cloning. Here, we report the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated insertion of a ~50 base-pair sequence into the ebony gene locus, using a linear double-stranded DNA (PCR product) donor template By circumventing the cloning step of the donor template, our approach suggests the PCR product as a useful alternative knock-in donor format.
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14
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Vaikakkara Chithran A, Allan DW, O'Connor TP. Adult expression of Semaphorins and Plexins is essential for motor neuron survival. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5894. [PMID: 37041188 PMCID: PMC10090137 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32943-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Axon guidance cues direct the growth and steering of neuronal growth cones, thus guiding the axons to their targets during development. Nonetheless, after axons have reached their targets and established functional circuits, many mature neurons continue to express these developmental cues. The role of axon guidance cues in the adult nervous system has not been fully elucidated. Using the expression pattern data available on FlyBase, we found that more than 96% of the guidance genes that are expressed in the Drosophila melanogaster embryo continue to be expressed in adults. We utilized the GeneSwitch and TARGET systems to spatiotemporally knockdown the expression of these guidance genes selectively in the adult neurons, once the development was completed. We performed an RNA interference (RNAi) screen against 44 guidance genes in the adult Drosophila nervous system and identified 14 genes that are required for adult survival and normal motility. Additionally, we show that adult expression of Semaphorins and Plexins in motor neurons is necessary for neuronal survival, indicating that guidance genes have critical functions in the mature nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarya Vaikakkara Chithran
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, 3402-2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Douglas W Allan
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Timothy P O'Connor
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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15
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Messina G, Celauro E, Marsano RM, Prozzillo Y, Dimitri P. Epigenetic Silencing of P-Element Reporter Genes Induced by Transcriptionally Active Domains of Constitutive Heterochromatin in Drosophila melanogaster. Genes (Basel) 2022; 14:genes14010012. [PMID: 36672753 PMCID: PMC9858095 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Reporter genes inserted via P-element integration into different locations of the Drosophila melanogaster genome have been routinely used to monitor the functional state of chromatin domains. It is commonly thought that P-element-derived reporter genes are subjected to position effect variegation (PEV) when transposed into constitutive heterochromatin because they acquire heterochromatin-like epigenetic modifications that promote silencing. However, sequencing and annotation of the D. melanogaster genome have shown that constitutive heterochromatin is a genetically and molecularly heterogeneous compartment. In fact, in addition to repetitive DNAs, it harbors hundreds of functional genes, together accounting for a significant fraction of its entire genomic territory. Notably, most of these genes are actively transcribed in different developmental stages and tissues, irrespective of their location in heterochromatin. An open question in the genetic and molecular studies on PEV in D. melanogaster is whether functional heterochromatin domains, i.e., heterochromatin harboring active genes, are able to silence reporter genes therein transposed or, on the contrary, can drive their expression. In this work, we provide experimental evidence showing that strong silencing of the Pw+ reporters is induced even when they are integrated within or near actively transcribed loci in the pericentric regions of chromosome 2. Interestingly, some Pw+ reporters were found insensitive to the action of a known PEV suppressor. Two of them are inserted within Yeti, a gene expressed in the deep heterochromatin of chromosome 2 which carries active chromatin marks. The difference sensitivity to suppressors-exhibited Pw+ reporters supports the view that different epigenetic regulators or mechanisms control different regions of heterochromatin. Together, our results suggest that there may be more complexity regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying PEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Messina
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Emanuele Celauro
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | | | - Yuri Prozzillo
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Patrizio Dimitri
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Roma, Italy
- Correspondence:
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16
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Kumar A, Baker NE. The CRL4 E3 ligase Mahjong/DCAF1 controls cell competition through the transcription factor Xrp1, independently of polarity genes. Development 2022; 149:dev200795. [PMID: 36278853 PMCID: PMC9845748 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200795] [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: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cell competition, the elimination of cells surrounded by more fit neighbors, is proposed to suppress tumorigenesis. Mahjong (Mahj), a ubiquitin E3 ligase substrate receptor, has been thought to mediate competition of cells mutated for lethal giant larvae (lgl), a neoplastic tumor suppressor that defines apical-basal polarity of epithelial cells. Here, we show that Drosophila cells mutated for mahjong, but not for lgl [l(2)gl], are competed because they express the bZip-domain transcription factor Xrp1, already known to eliminate cells heterozygous for ribosomal protein gene mutations (Rp/+ cells). Xrp1 expression in mahj mutant cells results in activation of JNK signaling, autophagosome accumulation, eIF2α phosphorylation and lower translation, just as in Rp/+ cells. Cells mutated for damage DNA binding-protein 1 (ddb1; pic) or cullin 4 (cul4), which encode E3 ligase partners of Mahj, also display Xrp1-dependent phenotypes, as does knockdown of proteasome subunits. Our data suggest a new model of mahj-mediated cell competition that is independent of apical-basal polarity and couples Xrp1 to protein turnover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Nicholas E. Baker
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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17
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Liu D, De Schutter K, Chen P, Smagghe G. The N-glycosylation-related genes as potential targets for RNAi-mediated pest control of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:3815-3822. [PMID: 34821017 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND N-glycosylation is one of the most common and important post-translational modifications in the eukaryotic cell. The study of protein N-glycosylation in several model insects confirmed the importance of this process in insect development, immunity, survival and fertility. The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) (CPB) is a common pest of Solanaceae crops. With the infamous title of champion of insecticide resistance, novel pest control strategies for this insect are needed. Luckily this pest insect is reported as very sensitive for the post-genomic technology of RNA interference (RNAi). RESULTS In this project, we investigated the importance of N-glycosylation in the survival and development of CPB using RNAi-mediated gene silencing of N-glycosylation-related genes (NGRGs) during the different transition steps from the larva, through the pupa to the adult stage. High mortality was observed in the larval stage with the silencing of early NGRGs, as STT3a, DAD1 and GCS1. With dsRNA against middle NGRGs, abnormal phenotypes at the ecdysis process and adult formation were observed, while the silencing of late NGRGs did not cause mortality. CONCLUSION The lethal phenotypes observed on silencing of the genes involved in the early processing steps of the N-glycosylation pathway suggest these genes are good candidates for RNAi-mediated control of CPB. Next to the gene-specific mechanism of RNAi for biosafety and possible implementation in integrated pest management, we believe these early NGRGs provide a possible alternative to the well-known target genes Snf7 and vacuolar ATPases that are now used in the first commercial RNAi-based products and thus they may be useful in the context of proactive resistance management. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Liu
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kristof De Schutter
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pengyu Chen
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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18
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Huang G, Dierick HA. The need for unbiased genetic screens to dissect aggression in Drosophila melanogaster. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:901453. [PMID: 35979224 PMCID: PMC9377312 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.901453] [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: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggression is an evolutionarily conserved behavior present in most animals and is necessary for survival when competing for limited resources and mating partners. Studies have shown that aggression is modulated both genetically and epigenetically, but details of how the molecular and cellular mechanisms interact to determine aggressive behavior remain to be elucidated. In recent decades, Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a powerful model system to understand the mechanisms that regulate aggression. Surprisingly most of the findings discovered to date have not come from genetic screens despite the fly's long and successful history of using screens to unravel its biology. Here, we highlight the tools and techniques used to successfully screen for aggression-linked behavioral elements in Drosophila and discuss the potential impact future screens have in advancing our knowledge of the underlying genetic and neural circuits governing aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Huang
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Herman A Dierick
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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19
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Vafaee-Shahi M, Farhadi M, Razmara E, Morovvati S, Ghasemi S, Abedini SS, Bagher Z, Alizadeh R, Falah M. Novel phenotype and genotype spectrum of NARS2 and literature review of previous mutations. Ir J Med Sci 2022; 191:1877-1890. [PMID: 34374940 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-021-02736-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mutations in NARS2 (MIM: 612803) are associated with combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency 24 (COXPD24; MIM: 616239) that is a rare mitochondrial and a multisystem autosomal recessive disorder. AIMS We aimed to detect the underlying genetic factors in two siblings with progressive ataxia, epilepsy, and severe-to-profound hearing impairment. METHODS After doing medical assessments and pertinent tests (i.e., auditory brainstem responses, pure tone otoacoustic emission test, cardiac examinations, computed tomography, and electroencephalogram), because of the clinical and probable genetic heterogeneity, whole-exome sequencing was performed, and co-segregation analysis was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Biological impacts of the novel variant were evaluated using sequence-to-function bioinformatics tools. RESULTS A novel homozygous missense variant, NM_024678.6:c.545 T > A; p.(Ile182Lys), in exon 5 of NARS2 was identified in both patients and verified by Sanger sequencing. In silico analyses introduced this variant as pathogenic. Mitral valve prolapses with mild regurgitation, brachymetatarsia, severe hallux valgus, and clubbed fingers were reported as novel manifestations in association with NARS2 gene. By doing a literature review, we also underscored the high heterogeneity of disease phenotype. CONCLUSIONS Herein, we report some novel phenotype and genotype features of two female patients in an Iranian consanguineous family with COXPD24, caused by a variant in NARS2-NM_024678.6: c.545 T > A; p.(Ile182Lys). Moreover, our data expanded the phenotype and genotype spectrum of NARS2-related disorder and confirmed an unpredictable nature of genotype-phenotype correlation in COXPD24.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Vafaee-Shahi
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Pediatric Growth and Development Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Farhadi
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Razmara
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Morovvati
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeide Ghasemi
- Ali Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Sedigheh Abedini
- Genetics Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Bagher
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rafieh Alizadeh
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Falah
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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20
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Fang J, Lerit DA. Orb-dependent polyadenylation contributes to PLP expression and centrosome scaffold assembly. Development 2022; 149:275606. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.200426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
As the microtubule-organizing centers of most cells, centrosomes engineer the bipolar mitotic spindle required for error-free mitosis. Drosophila Pericentrin-like protein (PLP) directs formation of a pericentriolar material (PCM) scaffold required for PCM organization and microtubule-organizing center function. Here, we investigate the post-transcriptional regulation of Plp mRNA. We identify conserved binding sites for cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) proteins within the Plp 3′-untranslated region and examine the role of the CPEB ortholog Oo18 RNA-binding protein (Orb) in Plp mRNA regulation. Our data show that Orb interacts biochemically with Plp mRNA to promote polyadenylation and PLP protein expression. Loss of orb, but not orb2, diminishes PLP levels in embryonic extracts. Consequently, PLP localization to centrosomes and its function in PCM scaffolding are compromised in orb mutant embryos, resulting in genomic instability and embryonic lethality. Moreover, we find that PLP overexpression restores centrosome scaffolding and rescues the cell division defects caused by orb depletion. Our data suggest that Orb modulates PLP expression at the level of Plp mRNA polyadenylation and demonstrates that the post-transcriptional regulation of core, conserved centrosomal mRNAs is crucial for centrosome function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junnan Fang
- Emory University School of Medicine Department of Cell Biology , , Atlanta, GA 30322 , USA
| | - Dorothy A. Lerit
- Emory University School of Medicine Department of Cell Biology , , Atlanta, GA 30322 , USA
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21
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Kinetic principles underlying pioneer function of GAGA transcription factor in live cells. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:665-676. [PMID: 35835866 PMCID: PMC10177624 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00800-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
How pioneer factors interface with chromatin to promote accessibility for transcription control is poorly understood in vivo. Here, we directly visualize chromatin association by the prototypical GAGA pioneer factor (GAF) in live Drosophila hemocytes. Single-particle tracking reveals that most GAF is chromatin bound, with a stable-binding fraction showing nucleosome-like confinement residing on chromatin for more than 2 min, far longer than the dynamic range of most transcription factors. These kinetic properties require the full complement of GAF's DNA-binding, multimerization and intrinsically disordered domains, and are autonomous from recruited chromatin remodelers NURF and PBAP, whose activities primarily benefit GAF's neighbors such as Heat Shock Factor. Evaluation of GAF kinetics together with its endogenous abundance indicates that, despite on-off dynamics, GAF constitutively and fully occupies major chromatin targets, thereby providing a temporal mechanism that sustains open chromatin for transcriptional responses to homeostatic, environmental and developmental signals.
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22
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Kanca O, Zirin J, Hu Y, Tepe B, Dutta D, Lin WW, Ma L, Ge M, Zuo Z, Liu LP, Levis RW, Perrimon N, Bellen HJ. An expanded toolkit for Drosophila gene tagging using synthesized homology donor constructs for CRISPR-mediated homologous recombination. eLife 2022; 11:e76077. [PMID: 35723254 PMCID: PMC9239680 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we described a large collection of Drosophila strains that each carry an artificial exon containing a T2AGAL4 cassette inserted in an intron of a target gene based on CRISPR-mediated homologous recombination. These alleles permit numerous applications and have proven to be very useful. Initially, the homologous recombination-based donor constructs had long homology arms (>500 bps) to promote precise integration of large constructs (>5 kb). Recently, we showed that in vivo linearization of the donor constructs enables insertion of large artificial exons in introns using short homology arms (100-200 bps). Shorter homology arms make it feasible to commercially synthesize homology donors and minimize the cloning steps for donor construct generation. Unfortunately, about 58% of Drosophila genes lack a suitable coding intron for integration of artificial exons in all of the annotated isoforms. Here, we report the development of new set of constructs that allow the replacement of the coding region of genes that lack suitable introns with a KozakGAL4 cassette, generating a knock-out/knock-in allele that expresses GAL4 similarly as the targeted gene. We also developed custom vector backbones to further facilitate and improve transgenesis. Synthesis of homology donor constructs in custom plasmid backbones that contain the target gene sgRNA obviates the need to inject a separate sgRNA plasmid and significantly increases the transgenesis efficiency. These upgrades will enable the targeting of nearly every fly gene, regardless of exon-intron structure, with a 70-80% success rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oguz Kanca
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Jonathan Zirin
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Yanhui Hu
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Burak Tepe
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Debdeep Dutta
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Wen-Wen Lin
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Liwen Ma
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Ming Ge
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Zhongyuan Zuo
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children HospitalHoustonUnited States
| | - Lu-Ping Liu
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Robert W Levis
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for ScienceBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
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23
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Rayat S, Farhadi M, Emamdjomeh H, Morovvati S, Falah M. Analysis of TMIE gene mutations including the first large deletion of exon 1 with autosomal recessive non-syndromic deafness. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:133. [PMID: 35710363 PMCID: PMC9204965 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01287-9] [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: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transmembrane inner ear (TMIE) protein is an essential component of the mechanotransduction complex. In collaboration with other components, TMIE aids the maintenance and function of the sensory hair cells. Autosomal recessive deafness-6 (DFNB6) is caused by mutated TMIE, a gene in the high genetic heterogeneity spectrum of deafness. Hearing loss has a significant impact on the global economy and the quality of life of affected persons, their families, and society. Here, three unrelated families with TMIE variants are presented. All three cases were found while studying the genetic causes of an Iranian cohort of subjects with cochlear implants. Methods Whole exome sequencing was performed to find possible genetic etiology in probands of families after a comprehensive medical evaluation for hearing loss. Co-segregation analysis in probands and other family members was performed by Sanger sequencing. The variants were interpreted per the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Results Three different variants associated with TMIE were confirmed as reasons for autosomal recessive non-syndromic deafness. The first novel ~ 10-kb deletion surrounding exon 1 of TMIE along with two previously reported variants co-segregated with families including a frameshift variant c.122_125dup (p.Pro43fs) and a missense variant c.250 C > T; p.(Arg84Trp) in exons 2, and 3, respectively. Conclusion This study increases the mutational spectrum of the TMIE gene and highlights the importance of the large deletion of this gene as a reason for hearing loss. Moreover, an efficient and simple multiplex PCR assay was developed to determine the exact breakpoints of the TMIE deletion. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-022-01287-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sima Rayat
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Biology, School of Basic Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Farhadi
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hessamaldin Emamdjomeh
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Morovvati
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Masoumeh Falah
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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24
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Teresi SJ, Teresi MB, Edger PP. TE Density: a tool to investigate the biology of transposable elements. Mob DNA 2022; 13:11. [PMID: 35413944 PMCID: PMC9004194 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-022-00264-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transposable elements (TEs) are powerful creators of genotypic and phenotypic diversity due to their inherent mutagenic capabilities and in this way they serve as a deep reservoir of sequences for genomic variation. As agents of genetic disruption, a TE's potential to impact phenotype is partially a factor of its location in the genome. Previous research has shown TEs' ability to impact the expression of neighboring genes, however our understanding of this trend is hampered by the exceptional amount of diversity in the TE world, and a lack of publicly available computational methods that quantify the presence of TEs relative to genes. RESULTS Here, we have developed a tool to more easily quantify TE presence relative to genes through the use of only a gene and TE annotation, yielding a new metric we call TE Density. Briefly defined as the proportion of TE-occupied base-pairs relative to a window-size of the genome. This new pipeline reports TE density for each gene in the genome, for each type descriptor of TE (order and superfamily), and for multiple positions and distances relative to the gene (upstream, intragenic, and downstream) over sliding, user-defined windows. In this way, we overcome previous limitations to the study of TE-gene relationships by focusing on all TE types present in the genome, utilizing flexible genomic distances for measurement, and reporting a TE presence metric for every gene in the genome. CONCLUSIONS Together, this new tool opens up new avenues for studying TE-gene relationships, genome architecture, comparative genomics, and the tremendous diversity present of the TE world. TE Density is open-source and freely available at: https://github.com/sjteresi/TE_Density .
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott J Teresi
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Genetics and Genome Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Patrick P Edger
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
- Genetics and Genome Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
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25
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Pathak RU, Bihani A, Sureka R, Varma P, Mishra RK. In situ nuclear matrix preparation in Drosophila melanogaster embryos/tissues and its use in studying the components of nuclear architecture. Nucleus 2022; 13:116-128. [PMID: 35239464 PMCID: PMC8896195 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2022.2043608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of nuclear matrix (NuMat) over the last 40 years has been limited to either isolated nuclei from tissues or cells grown in culture. Here, we provide a protocol for NuMat preparation in intact Drosophila melanogaster embryos and its use in dissecting the components of nuclear architecture. The protocol does not require isolation of nuclei and therefore maintains the three-dimensional milieu of an intact embryo, which is biologically more relevant compared to cells in culture. One of the advantages of this protocol is that only a small number of embryos are required. The protocol has been extended to larval tissues like salivary glands with little modification. Taken together, it becomes possible to carry out such studies in parallel to genetic experiments using mutant/transgenic flies. This protocol, therefore, opens the powerful field of fly genetics to cell biology in the study of nuclear architecture. Summary: Nuclear Matrix is a biochemically defined entity and a basic component of the nuclear architecture. Here we present a protocol to isolate and visualize Nuclear Matrix in situ in the Drosophila melanogaster and its potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi U Pathak
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, India
| | - Ashish Bihani
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Parul Varma
- Present Address: Department of Neuroscience, Development and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Rakesh K Mishra
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, India.,Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, Bangalore, India
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26
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Chekunova AI, Sorokina SY, Sivoplyas EA, Bakhtoyarov GN, Proshakov PA, Fokin AV, Melnikov AI, Kulikov AM. Episodes of Rapid Recovery of the Functional Activity of the ras85D Gene in the Evolutionary History of Phylogenetically Distant Drosophila Species. Front Genet 2022; 12:807234. [PMID: 35096018 PMCID: PMC8790561 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.807234] [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: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As assemblies of genomes of new species with varying degrees of relationship appear, it becomes obvious that structural rearrangements of the genome, such as inversions, translocations, and transposon movements, are an essential and often the main source of evolutionary variation. In this regard, the following questions arise. How conserved are the regulatory regions of genes? Do they have a common evolutionary origin? And how and at what rate is the functional activity of genes restored during structural changes in the promoter region? In this article, we analyze the evolutionary history of the formation of the regulatory region of the ras85D gene in different lineages of the genus Drosophila, as well as the participation of mobile elements in structural rearrangements and in the replacement of specific areas of the promoter region with those of independent evolutionary origin. In the process, we substantiate hypotheses about the selection of promoter elements from a number of frequently repeated motifs with different degrees of degeneracy in the ancestral sequence, as well as about the restoration of the minimum required set of regulatory sequences using a conversion mechanism or similar.
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Affiliation(s)
- A I Chekunova
- Evolutionary Genetics of Development, N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - S Yu Sorokina
- Evolutionary Genetics of Development, N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - E A Sivoplyas
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Biology and Chemistry of Moscow Pedagogical State University (MPGU), Moscow, Russia
| | - G N Bakhtoyarov
- Laboratory of Genetics of DNA Containing Viruses, Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera», Moscow, Russia
| | - P A Proshakov
- Evolutionary Genetics of Development, N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - A V Fokin
- Evolutionary Genetics of Development, N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - A I Melnikov
- Evolutionary Genetics of Development, N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - A M Kulikov
- Evolutionary Genetics of Development, N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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27
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Yang Q, De Schutter K, Chen P, Van Damme EJM, Smagghe G. RNAi of the N-glycosylation-related genes confirms their importance in insect development and α-1,6-fucosyltransferase plays a role in the ecdysis event for the hemimetabolous pest insect Nilaparvata lugens. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:91-99. [PMID: 33860636 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Recently N-glycosylation was found to be required for the postembryonic development and metamorphosis of the holometabolous beetle Tribolium castaneum. However, the role of N-glycosylation in the development of hemimetabolous insects is unknown. To further elucidate the role of N-glycosylation in the development of insects, a functional characterization of the N-glycosylation-related genes (NGRGs) was performed in a model insect for hemimetabolous development, namely the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens. In this project, we report the effects of RNAi-mediated silencing of 15 NGRGs on the postembryonic development of N. lugens. Two major observations were made. First, interruption of the early steps of N-glycan processing led to a lethal phenotype during the transition from nymph to adult as was observed in T. castaneum. Second, we report here on an essential function for the α-1,6-fucosyl transferase in the ecdysis event of N. lugens between nymphal instars, since gene-silencing by RNAi led to failure of ecdysis and subsequent mortality of the treated insect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun Yang
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Kristof De Schutter
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Pengyu Chen
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Els J M Van Damme
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
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28
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Super-resolution microscopy reveals stochastic initiation of replication in Drosophila polytene chromosomes. Chromosome Res 2022; 30:361-383. [PMID: 35226231 PMCID: PMC9771856 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-021-09679-w] [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: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Studying the probability distribution of replication initiation along a chromosome is a huge challenge. Drosophila polytene chromosomes in combination with super-resolution microscopy provide a unique opportunity for analyzing the probabilistic nature of replication initiation at the ultrastructural level. Here, we developed a method for synchronizing S-phase induction among salivary gland cells. An analysis of the replication label distribution in the first minutes of S phase and in the following hours after the induction revealed the dynamics of replication initiation. Spatial super-resolution structured illumination microscopy allowed identifying multiple discrete replication signals and to investigate the behavior of replication signals in the first minutes of the S phase at the ultrastructural level. We identified replication initiation zones where initiation occurs stochastically. These zones differ significantly in the probability of replication initiation per time unit. There are zones in which initiation occurs on most strands of the polytene chromosome in a few minutes. In other zones, the initiation on all strands takes several hours. Compact bands are free of replication initiation events, and the replication runs from outer edges to the middle, where band shapes may alter.
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29
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Mo D, Shen J, Zhang J. Use of FLP/FRT System to Screen for Notch Signaling Regulators in the Drosophila Wing. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2472:39-48. [PMID: 35674890 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2201-8_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mutations of genes encoding key components of the Notch signaling pathways often result in lethality at early developmental stages, making it difficult to decipher how they regulate the formation of specific cell types or organs. Mosaic analysis using the FLP/FRT system allows investigating the roles of essential genes during wing development in Drosophila melanogaster. This chapter describes the practical methods to isolate Notch signaling regulators by somatic mosaic screen. The fly stocks, cross schemes, and screen parameters are summarized. We also explain how to validate the roles of potential Notch signaling regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqing Mo
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Shen
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Junzheng Zhang
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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30
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Beder T, Aromolaran O, Dönitz J, Tapanelli S, Adedeji E, Adebiyi E, Bucher G, Koenig R. Identifying essential genes across eukaryotes by machine learning. NAR Genom Bioinform 2021; 3:lqab110. [PMID: 34859210 PMCID: PMC8634067 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqab110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying essential genes on a genome scale is resource intensive and has been performed for only a few eukaryotes. For less studied organisms essentiality might be predicted by gene homology. However, this approach cannot be applied to non-conserved genes. Additionally, divergent essentiality information is obtained from studying single cells or whole, multi-cellular organisms, and particularly when derived from human cell line screens and human population studies. We employed machine learning across six model eukaryotes and 60 381 genes, using 41 635 features derived from the sequence, gene function information and network topology. Within a leave-one-organism-out cross-validation, the classifiers showed high generalizability with an average accuracy close to 80% in the left-out species. As a case study, we applied the method to Tribolium castaneum and Bombyx mori and validated predictions experimentally yielding similar performances. Finally, using the classifier based on the studied model organisms enabled linking the essentiality information of human cell line screens and population studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Beder
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Olufemi Aromolaran
- Department of Computer & Information Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
- Covenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe), Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Jürgen Dönitz
- Department of Evolutionary Developmental Genetics, GZMB, University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Medical Bioinformatics, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), 37099 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sofia Tapanelli
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Eunice O Adedeji
- Covenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe), Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Ezekiel Adebiyi
- Department of Computer & Information Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
- Covenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe), Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Gregor Bucher
- Department of Evolutionary Developmental Genetics, GZMB, University of Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rainer Koenig
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
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31
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An ELISA-based method for rapid genetic screens in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2107427118. [PMID: 34686600 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107427118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila is a powerful model in which to perform genetic screens, but screening assays that are both rapid and can be used to examine a wide variety of cellular and molecular pathways are limited. Drosophila offer an extensive toolbox of GFP-based transcriptional reporters, GFP-tagged proteins, and driver lines, which can be used to express GFP in numerous subpopulations of cells. Thus, a tool that can rapidly and quantitatively evaluate GFP levels in Drosophila tissue would provide a broadly applicable screening platform. We developed a GFP-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that can detect GFP in Drosophila lysates collected from whole animals and dissected tissues across all stages of Drosophila development. We demonstrate that this assay can detect membrane-localized GFP in a variety of neuronal and glial populations and validate that it can identify genes that change the morphology of these cells, as well as changes in STAT and JNK transcriptional activity. We found that this assay can detect endogenously GFP-tagged proteins, including Draper, Cryptochrome, and the synaptic marker Brp. This approach is able to detect changes in Brp-GFP signal during developmental synaptic remodeling, and known genetic regulators of glial synaptic engulfment could be identified using this ELISA method. Finally, we used the assay to perform a small-scale screen, which identified Syntaxins as potential regulators of astrocyte-mediated synapse elimination. Together, these studies establish an ELISA as a rapid, easy, and quantitative in vivo screening method that can be used to assay a wide breadth of fundamental biological questions.
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32
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Ibaraki K, Nakatsuka M, Ohsako T, Watanabe M, Miyazaki Y, Shirakami M, Karr TL, Sanuki R, Tomaru M, Takano-Shimizu-Kouno T. A cross-species approach for the identification of Drosophila male sterility genes. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2021; 11:6288452. [PMID: 34849808 PMCID: PMC8496277 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Male reproduction encompasses many essential cellular processes and interactions. As a focal point for these events, sperm offer opportunities for advancing our understanding of sexual reproduction at multiple levels during development. Using male sterility genes identified in human, mouse, and fruit fly databases as a starting point, 103 Drosophila melanogaster genes were screened for their association with male sterility by tissue-specific RNAi knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis. This list included 56 genes associated with male infertility in the human databases, but not found in the Drosophila database, resulting in the discovery of 63 new genes associated with male fertility in Drosophila. The phenotypes identified were categorized into six distinct classes affecting sperm development. Interestingly, the second largest class (Class VI) caused sterility despite apparently normal testis and sperm morphology suggesting that these proteins may have functions in the mature sperm following spermatogenesis. We focused on one such gene, Rack 1, and found that it plays an important role in two developmental periods, in early germline cells or germline stem cells and in spermatogenic cells or sperm. Taken together, many genes are yet to be identified and their role in male reproduction, especially after ejaculation, remains to be elucidated in Drosophila, where a wealth of data from human and other model organisms would be useful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimihide Ibaraki
- Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Mihoko Nakatsuka
- Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Takashi Ohsako
- Advanced Technology Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Masahide Watanabe
- Department of Drosophila Genomics and Genetic Resources, Advanced Insect Research Promotion Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 616-8354, Japan
| | - Yu Miyazaki
- Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Machi Shirakami
- Applied Biology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Timothy L Karr
- Mass Spectroscopy Core Facility, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85257-7205, USA
| | - Rikako Sanuki
- Department of Drosophila Genomics and Genetic Resources, Advanced Insect Research Promotion Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 616-8354, Japan
- Faculty of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Tomaru
- Department of Drosophila Genomics and Genetic Resources, Advanced Insect Research Promotion Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 616-8354, Japan
- Faculty of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Takano-Shimizu-Kouno
- Department of Drosophila Genomics and Genetic Resources, Advanced Insect Research Promotion Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 616-8354, Japan
- Faculty of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
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Chen Z, Cordero J, Alqarni AM, Slack C, Zeidler MP, Bellantuono I. Zoledronate extends healthspan and survival via the mevalonate pathway in a FOXO-dependent manner. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 77:1494-1502. [PMID: 34137822 PMCID: PMC9373971 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Over recent decades, increased longevity has not been paralleled by extended healthspan, resulting in more years spent with multiple diseases in older age. As such, interventions to improve healthspan are urgently required. Zoledronate is a nitrogen containing bisphosphonate, which inhibits the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) enzyme, central to the mevalonate pathway. It is already used clinically to prevent fractures in osteoporotic patients, who have been reported to derive unexpected and unexplained survival benefits. Using Drosophila as a model we determined the effects of Zoledronate on lifespan, parameters of healthspan (climbing ability and intestinal dysplasia) and the ability to confer resistance to oxidative stress using a combination of genetically manipulated Drosophila strains and Western blotting. Our study shows that Zoledronate extended lifespan, improved climbing activity and reduced intestinal epithelial dysplasia and permeability with age. Mechanistic studies showed that Zoledronate conferred resistance to oxidative stress and reduced accumulation of X-ray-induced DNA damage via inhibition of FPPS. Moreover, Zoledronate was associated with inhibition of pAKT in the mTOR pathway downstream of the mevalonate pathway and required dFOXO for its action, both molecules associated with increased longevity. Taken together, our work indicates that Zoledronate, a drug already widely used to prevent osteoporosis and dosed only once a year, modulates important mechanisms of ageing. Its repurposing holds great promise as a treatment to improve healthspan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengqi Chen
- Healthy Lifespan Institute, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield
| | - Julia Cordero
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Beatson Institute for Cancer, Bearsden, Glasgow
| | - Adel M Alqarni
- Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield
| | - Cathy Slack
- School of Life & Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham
| | - Martin P Zeidler
- Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield
| | - Ilaria Bellantuono
- Healthy Lifespan Institute, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield
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34
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A novel deletion variant in CLN3 with highly variable expressivity is responsible for juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. Acta Neurol Belg 2021; 121:737-748. [PMID: 33783722 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-021-01655-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in CLN3 (OMIM: 607042) are associated with juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (JNCL)-a rare neurodegenerative disease with early retinal degeneration and progressive neurologic deterioration. The study aimed to determine the underlying genetic factors justifying the NCL phenotype in a large Iraqi consanguineous family. Four affected individuals with an initial diagnosis of NCL were recruited. By doing neuroimaging and also pertinent clinical examinations, e.g. fundus examination, due to heterogeneity of neurodevelopmental disorders, the proband was subjected to the paired-end whole-exome sequencing to identify underlying genetic factors. The candidate variant was also confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Various in silico predictions were used to show the pathogenicity of the variant. This study revealed a novel homozygous frameshift variant-NM_000086.2: c.1127del; p.(Leu376Argfs*15)-in the exon 14 of the CLN3 gene as the most likely disease-causing variant. Three out of 4 patients showed bilateral vision loss (< 7 years) and retinal degeneration with macular changes in both eyes. Electroencephalography demonstrated the loss of normal posterior alpha rhythm and also low amplitude multifocal slow waves. Brain magnetic resonance imaging of the patients with a high degree of deterioration showed mild cerebral and cerebellar cortical atrophy, mild ventriculomegaly, thinning of the corpus callosum and vermis, and non-specific periventricular white matter signal changes in the occipital area. The novel biallelic deletion variant of CLN3 was identified that most probably led to JNCL with variable expressivity of the phenotype. This study also expanded our understanding of the clinical and genetic spectrum of JNCL.
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Climent-Cantó P, Carbonell A, Tamirisa S, Henn L, Pérez-Montero S, Boros IM, Azorín F. The tumour suppressor brain tumour (Brat) regulates linker histone dBigH1 expression in the Drosophila female germline and the early embryo. Open Biol 2021; 11:200408. [PMID: 33947246 PMCID: PMC8097206 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Linker histones H1 are essential chromatin components that exist as multiple developmentally regulated variants. In metazoans, specific H1s are expressed during germline development in a tightly regulated manner. However, the mechanisms governing their stage-dependent expression are poorly understood. Here, we address this question in Drosophila, which encodes for a single germline-specific dBigH1 linker histone. We show that during female germline lineage differentiation, dBigH1 is expressed in germ stem cells and cystoblasts, becomes silenced during transit-amplifying (TA) cystocytes divisions to resume expression after proliferation stops and differentiation starts, when it progressively accumulates in the oocyte. We find that dBigH1 silencing during TA divisions is post-transcriptional and depends on the tumour suppressor Brain tumour (Brat), an essential RNA-binding protein that regulates mRNA translation and stability. Like other oocyte-specific variants, dBigH1 is maternally expressed during early embryogenesis until it is replaced by somatic dH1 at the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). Brat also mediates dBigH1 silencing at MZT. Finally, we discuss the situation in testes, where Brat is not expressed, but dBigH1 is translationally silenced too.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Climent-Cantó
- Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, CSIC, Barcelona 08028, Spain.,Institute for Research in Biomedicine, IRB Barcelona, The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Albert Carbonell
- Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, CSIC, Barcelona 08028, Spain.,Institute for Research in Biomedicine, IRB Barcelona, The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Srividya Tamirisa
- Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, CSIC, Barcelona 08028, Spain.,Institute for Research in Biomedicine, IRB Barcelona, The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Laszlo Henn
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of Szeged, Szeged 6726, Hungary
| | - Salvador Pérez-Montero
- Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, CSIC, Barcelona 08028, Spain.,Institute for Research in Biomedicine, IRB Barcelona, The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Imre M Boros
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of Szeged, Szeged 6726, Hungary.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged 6726, Hungary
| | - Fernando Azorín
- Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, CSIC, Barcelona 08028, Spain.,Institute for Research in Biomedicine, IRB Barcelona, The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
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36
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Novel manifestations of Warburg micro syndrome type 1 caused by a new splicing variant of RAB3GAP1: a case report. BMC Neurol 2021; 21:180. [PMID: 33910511 PMCID: PMC8080372 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-021-02204-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study aimed to determine the underlying genetic factors causing the possible Warburg micro syndrome (WARBM) phenotype in two Iranian patients. CASE PRESENTATION A 5-year-old female and a 4.5-year-old male were referred due to microcephaly, global developmental delay, and dysmorphic features. After doing neuroimaging and clinical examinations, due to the heterogeneity of neurodevelopmental disorders, we subjected 7 family members to whole-exome sequencing. Three candidate variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and allele frequency of each variant was also determined in 300 healthy ethnically matched people using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-PCR and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. To show the splicing effects, reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and RT-qPCR were performed, followed by Sanger sequencing. A novel homozygous variant-NM_012233.2: c.151-5 T > G; p.(Gly51IlefsTer15)-in the RAB3GAP1 gene was identified as the most likely disease-causing variant. RT-PCR/RT-qPCR showed that this variant can activate a cryptic site of splicing in intron 3, changing the splicing and gene expression processes. We also identified some novel manifestations in association with WARBM type 1 to touch upon abnormal philtrum, prominent antitragus, downturned corners of the mouth, malaligned teeth, scrotal hypoplasia, low anterior hairline, hypertrichosis of upper back, spastic diplegia to quadriplegia, and cerebral white matter signal changes. CONCLUSIONS Due to the common phenotypes between WARBMs and Martsolf syndrome (MIM: 212720), we suggest using the "RABopathies" term that can in turn cover a broad range of manifestations. This study can per se increase the genotype-phenotype spectrum of WARBM type 1.
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Guzmán-Palma P, Contreras EG, Mora N, Smith M, González-Ramírez MC, Campusano JM, Sierralta J, Hassan BA, Oliva C. Slit/Robo Signaling Regulates Multiple Stages of the Development of the Drosophila Motion Detection System. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:612645. [PMID: 33968921 PMCID: PMC8097104 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.612645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurogenesis is achieved through a sequence of steps that include specification and differentiation of progenitors into mature neurons. Frequently, precursors migrate to distinct positions before terminal differentiation. The Slit-Robo pathway, formed by the secreted ligand Slit and its membrane bound receptor Robo, was first discovered as a regulator of axonal growth. However, today, it is accepted that this pathway can regulate different cellular processes even outside the nervous system. Since most of the studies performed in the nervous system have been focused on axonal and dendritic growth, it is less clear how versatile is this signaling pathway in the developing nervous system. Here we describe the participation of the Slit-Robo pathway in the development of motion sensitive neurons of the Drosophila visual system. We show that Slit and Robo receptors are expressed in different stages during the neurogenesis of motion sensitive neurons. Furthermore, we find that Slit and Robo regulate multiple aspects of their development including neuronal precursor migration, cell segregation between neural stem cells and daughter cells and formation of their connectivity pattern. Specifically, loss of function of slit or robo receptors in differentiated motion sensitive neurons impairs dendritic targeting, while knocking down robo receptors in migratory progenitors or neural stem cells leads to structural defects in the adult optic lobe neuropil, caused by migration and cell segregation defects during larval development. Thus, our work reveals the co-option of the Slit-Robo signaling pathway in distinct developmental stages of a neural lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Guzmán-Palma
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Esteban G Contreras
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Natalia Mora
- Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Inserm, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Macarena Smith
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - M Constanza González-Ramírez
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge M Campusano
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jimena Sierralta
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bassem A Hassan
- Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Inserm, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Carlos Oliva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Chang X, Zhang F, Li H, Mo D, Shen J, Zhang J. Characterization of a new mastermind allele identified from somatic mosaic screen. Cells Dev 2021; 165:203664. [PMID: 33993981 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2021.203664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway is highly conserved and regulates various fundamental development events. Activation of Notch signaling relies on production of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD), which assembles a transcription factor complex to turn on down-stream targets expression. The mastermind (mam) gene encodes an essential co-activator that permits NICD activity in the cell nucleus. During a somatic mosaic screen in Drosophila, an uncharacterized gene l(2)S9998 is identified as a positive regulator of the Notch signaling pathway. Genetic analysis demonstrates that l(2)S9998 functions at the level of transcriptional activation of Notch targets in the signal receiving cells. Whole genome sequencing reveals that l(2)S9998 is a novel allele of the mam gene, which is further confirmed by complementation tests. Along with three molecularly defined transposon insertions isolated from the screen, four mutants of mam are shown to modulate Notch signaling during fly wing development. Our analysis provides additional genetic resources for understanding mam function and Notch signaling regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Chang
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Fengchao Zhang
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Haomiao Li
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongqing Mo
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Shen
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Junzheng Zhang
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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Tu R, Duan B, Song X, Chen S, Scott A, Hall K, Blanck J, DeGraffenreid D, Li H, Perera A, Haug J, Xie T. Multiple Niche Compartments Orchestrate Stepwise Germline Stem Cell Progeny Differentiation. Curr Biol 2020; 31:827-839.e3. [PMID: 33357404 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The niche controls stem cell self-renewal and progenitor differentiation for maintaining adult tissue homeostasis in various organisms. However, it remains unclear whether the niche is compartmentalized to control stem cell self-renewal and stepwise progeny differentiation. In the Drosophila ovary, inner germarial sheath (IGS) cells form a niche for controlling germline stem cell (GSC) progeny differentiation. In this study, we have identified four IGS subpopulations, which form linearly arranged niche compartments for controlling GSC maintenance and multi-step progeny differentiation. Single-cell analysis of the adult ovary has identified four IGS subpopulations (IGS1-IGS4), the identities and cellular locations of which have been further confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization. IGS1 and IGS2 physically interact with GSCs and mitotic cysts to control GSC maintenance and cyst formation, respectively, whereas IGS3 and IGS4 physically interact with 16-cell cysts to regulate meiosis, oocyte development, and cyst morphological change. Finally, one follicle cell progenitor population has also been transcriptionally defined for facilitating future studies on follicle stem cell regulation. Therefore, this study has structurally revealed that the niche is organized into multiple compartments for orchestrating stepwise adult stem cell development and has also provided useful resources and tools for further functional characterization of the niche in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjun Tu
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Bo Duan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Song
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Shiyuan Chen
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Allison Scott
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Kate Hall
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Jillian Blanck
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Dustin DeGraffenreid
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Hua Li
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Anoja Perera
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Jeff Haug
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Ting Xie
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
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Kasinathan B, Colmenares SU, McConnell H, Young JM, Karpen GH, Malik HS. Innovation of heterochromatin functions drives rapid evolution of essential ZAD-ZNF genes in Drosophila. eLife 2020; 9:e63368. [PMID: 33169670 PMCID: PMC7655104 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Contrary to dogma, evolutionarily young and dynamic genes can encode essential functions. We find that evolutionarily dynamic ZAD-ZNF genes, which encode the most abundant class of insect transcription factors, are more likely to encode essential functions in Drosophila melanogaster than ancient, conserved ZAD-ZNF genes. We focus on the Nicknack ZAD-ZNF gene, which is evolutionarily young, poorly retained in Drosophila species, and evolves under strong positive selection. Yet we find that it is necessary for larval development in D. melanogaster. We show that Nicknack encodes a heterochromatin-localizing protein like its paralog Oddjob, also an evolutionarily dynamic yet essential ZAD-ZNF gene. We find that the divergent D. simulans Nicknack protein can still localize to D. melanogaster heterochromatin and rescue viability of female but not male Nicknack-null D. melanogaster. Our findings suggest that innovation for rapidly changing heterochromatin functions might generally explain the essentiality of many evolutionarily dynamic ZAD-ZNF genes in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavatharini Kasinathan
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington School of MedicineSeattleUnited States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate program, University of Washington School of MedicineSeattleUnited States
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
| | - Serafin U Colmenares
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
- Innovative Genomics InstituteBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Hannah McConnell
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
| | - Janet M Young
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
| | - Gary H Karpen
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
- Innovative Genomics InstituteBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Harmit S Malik
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
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41
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Connacher RP, Goldstrohm AC. Molecular and biological functions of TRIM-NHL RNA-binding proteins. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2020; 12:e1620. [PMID: 32738036 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The TRIM-NHL family of proteins shares a conserved domain architecture and play crucial roles in stem cell biology, fertility, and development. This review synthesizes new insights that have revolutionized our understanding of the molecular and biological functions of TRIM-NHL proteins. Multiple TRIM-NHLs have been shown to bind specific RNA sequences and structures. X-ray crystal structures of TRIM-NHL proteins in complex with RNA ligands reveal versatile modes of RNA recognition by the NHL domain. Functional and genetic analyses show that TRIM-NHL RNA-binding proteins negatively regulate the protein expression from the target mRNAs that they bind. This repressive activity plays a crucial role in controlling stem cell fate in the developing brain and differentiating germline. To highlight these paradigms, we focus on several of the most-extensively studied TRIM-NHL proteins, specifically Drosophila and vertebrate TRIM71, among others. Brat is essential for development and regulates key target mRNAs to control differentiation of germline and neural stem cells. TRIM71 is also required for development and promotes stem cell proliferation while antagonizing differentiation. Moreover, TRIM71 can be utilized to help reprogram fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells. Recently discovered mutations in TRIM71 cause the neurodevelopmental disease congenital hydrocephalus and emphasize the importance of its RNA-binding function in brain development. Further relevance of TRIM71 to disease pathogenesis comes from evidence linking it to several types of cancer, including liver and testicular cancer. Collectively, these advances demonstrate a primary role for TRIM-NHL proteins in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in crucial biological processes. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications Translation > Translation Regulation RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert P Connacher
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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42
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Mérel V, Boulesteix M, Fablet M, Vieira C. Transposable elements in Drosophila. Mob DNA 2020; 11:23. [PMID: 32636946 PMCID: PMC7334843 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-020-00213-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila has been studied as a biological model for many years and many discoveries in biology rely on this species. Research on transposable elements (TEs) is not an exception. Drosophila has contributed significantly to our knowledge on the mechanisms of transposition and their regulation, but above all, it was one of the first organisms on which genetic and genomic studies of populations were done. In this review article, in a very broad way, we will approach the TEs of Drosophila with a historical hindsight as well as recent discoveries in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Mérel
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Matthieu Boulesteix
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Marie Fablet
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Cristina Vieira
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
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43
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Presynaptic Homeostasis Opposes Disease Progression in Mouse Models of ALS-Like Degeneration: Evidence for Homeostatic Neuroprotection. Neuron 2020; 107:95-111.e6. [PMID: 32380032 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Progressive synapse loss is an inevitable and insidious part of age-related neurodegenerative disease. Typically, synapse loss precedes symptoms of cognitive and motor decline. This suggests the existence of compensatory mechanisms that can temporarily counteract the effects of ongoing neurodegeneration. Here, we demonstrate that presynaptic homeostatic plasticity (PHP) is induced at degenerating neuromuscular junctions, mediated by an evolutionarily conserved activity of presynaptic ENaC channels in both Drosophila and mouse. To assess the consequence of eliminating PHP in a mouse model of ALS-like degeneration, we generated a motoneuron-specific deletion of Scnn1a, encoding the ENaC channel alpha subunit. We show that Scnn1a is essential for PHP without adversely affecting baseline neural function or lifespan. However, Scnn1a knockout in a degeneration-causing mutant background accelerated motoneuron loss and disease progression to twice the rate observed in littermate controls with intact PHP. We propose a model of neuroprotective homeostatic plasticity, extending organismal lifespan and health span.
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44
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Luo J, Ting CY, Li Y, McQueen P, Lin TY, Hsu CP, Lee CH. Antagonistic regulation by insulin-like peptide and activin ensures the elaboration of appropriate dendritic field sizes of amacrine neurons. eLife 2020; 9:50568. [PMID: 32175842 PMCID: PMC7075694 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Establishing appropriate sizes and shapes of dendritic arbors is critical for proper wiring of the central nervous system. Here we report that Insulin-like Peptide 2 (DILP2) locally activates transiently expressed insulin receptors in the central dendrites of Drosophila Dm8 amacrine neurons to positively regulate dendritic field elaboration. We found DILP2 was expressed in L5 lamina neurons, which have axonal terminals abutting Dm8 dendrites. Proper Dm8 dendrite morphogenesis and synapse formation required insulin signaling through TOR (target of rapamycin) and SREBP (sterol regulatory element-binding protein), acting in parallel with previously identified negative regulation by Activin signaling to provide robust control of Dm8 dendrite elaboration. A simulation of dendritic growth revealed trade-offs between dendritic field size and robustness when branching and terminating kinetic parameters were constant, but dynamic modulation of the parameters could mitigate these trade-offs. We suggest that antagonistic DILP2 and Activin signals from different afferents appropriately size Dm8 dendritic fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangnan Luo
- Section on Neuronal Connectivity, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Chun-Yuan Ting
- Section on Neuronal Connectivity, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Yan Li
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Philip McQueen
- Mathematical and Statistical Computing Laboratory, Center for Information Technology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Tzu-Yang Lin
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chao-Ping Hsu
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chi-Hon Lee
- Section on Neuronal Connectivity, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States.,Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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45
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Aromolaran O, Beder T, Oswald M, Oyelade J, Adebiyi E, Koenig R. Essential gene prediction in Drosophila melanogaster using machine learning approaches based on sequence and functional features. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:612-621. [PMID: 32257045 PMCID: PMC7096750 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Genes are termed to be essential if their loss of function compromises viability or results in profound loss of fitness. On the genome scale, these genes can be determined experimentally employing RNAi or knockout screens, but this is very resource intensive. Computational methods for essential gene prediction can overcome this drawback, particularly when intrinsic (e.g. from the protein sequence) as well as extrinsic features (e.g. from transcription profiles) are considered. In this work, we employed machine learning to predict essential genes in Drosophila melanogaster. A total of 27,340 features were generated based on a large variety of different aspects comprising nucleotide and protein sequences, gene networks, protein-protein interactions, evolutionary conservation and functional annotations. Employing cross-validation, we obtained an excellent prediction performance. The best model achieved in D. melanogaster a ROC-AUC of 0.90, a PR-AUC of 0.30 and a F1 score of 0.34. Our approach considerably outperformed a benchmark method in which only features derived from the protein sequences were used (P < 0.001). Investigating which features contributed to this success, we found all categories of features, most prominently network topological, functional and sequence-based features. To evaluate our approach we performed the same workflow for essential gene prediction in human and achieved an ROC-AUC = 0.97, PR-AUC = 0.73, and F1 = 0.64. In summary, this study shows that using our well-elaborated assembly of features covering a broad range of intrinsic and extrinsic gene and protein features enabled intelligent systems to predict well the essentiality of genes in an organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olufemi Aromolaran
- Department of Computer & Information Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
- Covenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe), Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Thomas Beder
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Marcus Oswald
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Jelili Oyelade
- Department of Computer & Information Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
- Covenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe), Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Ezekiel Adebiyi
- Department of Computer & Information Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
- Covenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe), Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Rainer Koenig
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
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Khan A, Paro S, McGurk L, Sambrani N, Hogg MC, Brindle J, Pennetta G, Keegan LP, O'Connell MA. Membrane and synaptic defects leading to neurodegeneration in Adar mutant Drosophila are rescued by increased autophagy. BMC Biol 2020; 18:15. [PMID: 32059717 PMCID: PMC7020516 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-0747-0] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In fly brains, the Drosophila Adar (adenosine deaminase acting on RNA) enzyme edits hundreds of transcripts to generate edited isoforms of encoded proteins. Nearly all editing events are absent or less efficient in larvae but increase at metamorphosis; the larger number and higher levels of editing suggest editing is most required when the brain is most complex. This idea is consistent with the fact that Adar mutations affect the adult brain most dramatically. However, it is unknown whether Drosophila Adar RNA editing events mediate some coherent physiological effect. To address this question, we performed a genetic screen for suppressors of Adar mutant defects. Adar5G1 null mutant flies are partially viable, severely locomotion defective, aberrantly accumulate axonal neurotransmitter pre-synaptic vesicles and associated proteins, and develop an age-dependent vacuolar brain neurodegeneration. Results A genetic screen revealed suppression of all Adar5G1 mutant phenotypes tested by reduced dosage of the Tor gene, which encodes a pro-growth kinase that increases translation and reduces autophagy in well-fed conditions. Suppression of Adar5G1 phenotypes by reduced Tor is due to increased autophagy; overexpression of Atg5, which increases canonical autophagy initiation, reduces aberrant accumulation of synaptic vesicle proteins and suppresses all Adar mutant phenotypes tested. Endosomal microautophagy (eMI) is another Tor-inhibited autophagy pathway involved in synaptic homeostasis in Drosophila. Increased expression of the key eMI protein Hsc70-4 also reduces aberrant accumulation of synaptic vesicle proteins and suppresses all Adar5G1 mutant phenotypes tested. Conclusions These findings link Drosophila Adar mutant synaptic and neurotransmission defects to more general cellular defects in autophagy; presumably, edited isoforms of CNS proteins are required for optimum synaptic response capabilities in the brain during the behaviorally complex adult life stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anzer Khan
- CEITEC Masaryk University, Kamenice 735/5, A35, CZ 62 500, Brno, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Simona Paro
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Leeanne McGurk
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Nagraj Sambrani
- CEITEC Masaryk University, Kamenice 735/5, A35, CZ 62 500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marion C Hogg
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - James Brindle
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Giuseppa Pennetta
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Hugh Robson Building, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Liam P Keegan
- CEITEC Masaryk University, Kamenice 735/5, A35, CZ 62 500, Brno, Czech Republic. .,MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
| | - Mary A O'Connell
- CEITEC Masaryk University, Kamenice 735/5, A35, CZ 62 500, Brno, Czech Republic. .,MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
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Modulating eIF6 levels unveils the role of translation in ecdysone biosynthesis during Drosophila development. Dev Biol 2019; 455:100-111. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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A GABAergic Maf-expressing interneuron subset regulates the speed of locomotion in Drosophila. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4796. [PMID: 31641138 PMCID: PMC6805931 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12693-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Interneurons (INs) coordinate motoneuron activity to generate appropriate patterns of muscle contractions, providing animals with the ability to adjust their body posture and to move over a range of speeds. In Drosophila larvae several IN subtypes have been morphologically described and their function well documented. However, the general lack of molecular characterization of those INs prevents the identification of evolutionary counterparts in other animals, limiting our understanding of the principles underlying neuronal circuit organization and function. Here we characterize a restricted subset of neurons in the nerve cord expressing the Maf transcription factor Traffic Jam (TJ). We found that TJ+ neurons are highly diverse and selective activation of these different subtypes disrupts larval body posture and induces specific locomotor behaviors. Finally, we show that a small subset of TJ+ GABAergic INs, singled out by the expression of a unique transcription factors code, controls larval crawling speed. Spinal interneurons (IN) coordinate motoneuron activity to modulate locomotion behavior. Here, the authors characterize a subset of IN subtypes expressing the Maf transcription factor Traffic Jam (TJ) and report the distinct effects of their activation on body posture and locomotion in Drosophila larvae.
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Tsai CR, Galko MJ. Casein kinase 1α decreases β-catenin levels at adherens junctions to facilitate wound closure in Drosophila larvae. Development 2019; 146:dev175133. [PMID: 31511254 PMCID: PMC6826034 DOI: 10.1242/dev.175133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Skin wound repair is essential to restore barrier function and prevent infection after tissue damage. Wound-edge epidermal cells migrate as a sheet to close the wound. However, it is still unclear how cell-cell junctions are regulated during wound closure (WC). To study this, we examined adherens junctions during WC in Drosophila larvae. β-Catenin is reduced at the lateral cell-cell junctions of wound-edge epidermal cells in the early healing stages. Destruction complex components, including Ck1α, GSK3β and β-TrCP, suppress β-catenin levels in the larval epidermis. Tissue-specific RNAi targeting these genes also caused severe WC defects. The Ck1αRNAi -induced WC defect is related to adherens junctions because loss of either β-catenin or E-cadherin significantly rescued this WC defect. In contrast, TCFRNAi does not rescue the Ck1αRNAi -induced WC defect, suggesting that Wnt signaling is not related to this defect. Direct overexpression of β-catenin recapitulates most of the features of Ck1α reduction during wounding. Finally, loss of Ck1α also blocked junctional E-cadherin reduction around the wound. Our results suggest that Ck1α and the destruction complex locally regulate cell adhesion to facilitate efficient wound repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Ru Tsai
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael J Galko
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Genetics & Epigenetics Graduate Program, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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50
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Feng XB, Zheng ZW, Zhang X, Gu J, Feng QL, Huang LH. Discovering genes responsible for silk synthesis in Bombyx mori by piggyBac-based random insertional mutagenesis. INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 26:821-830. [PMID: 29645353 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Silkworm mutants are valuable resources for both transgenic breeding and gene discovery. PiggyBac-based random insertional mutagenesis has been widely used in gene functional studies. In order to discover genes involved in silk synthesis, a piggyBac-based random insertional library was constructed using Bombyx mori, and the mutants with abnormal cocoon were particularly screened. By this means, a "thin cocoon" mutant was identified. This mutant revealed thinner cocoon shell and shorter posterior silk gland (PSG) compared with the wild type. The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of all the three fibroin genes, including Fib-H, Fib-L and P25, were significantly down-regulated in the PSG of mutants. Four piggyBac insertion sites were identified in Aquaporin (AQP), Longitudinals lacking protein-like (Lola), Glutamyl aminopeptidase-like (GluAP) and Loc101744460. The mRNA levels of all the four genes were significantly altered in the silk gland of mutants. In particular, the mRNA amount of AQP, a gene responsible for the regulation of osmotic pressure, decreased dramatically immediately prior to the spinning stage in the anterior silk gland of mutants. The identification of the genes disrupted in the "thin cocoon" mutant in this study provided useful information for understanding silk production and transgenic breeding of silkworms in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Bao Feng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zi-Wen Zheng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Gu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi-Li Feng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Hua Huang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Applied Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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