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Lal R, Singh A, Watts S, Chopra K. Experimental models of Parkinson's disease: Challenges and Opportunities. Eur J Pharmacol 2024:176819. [PMID: 39029778 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176819] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a widespread neurodegenerative disorder occurs due to the degradation of dopaminergic neurons present in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Millions of people are affected by this devastating disorder globally, and the frequency of the condition increases with the increase in the elderly population. A significant amount of progress has been made in acquiring more knowledge about the etiology and the pathogenesis of PD over the past decades. Animal models have been regarded to be a vital tool for the exploration of complex molecular mechanisms involved in PD. Various animals used as models for disease monitoring include vertebrates (zebrafish, rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits and monkeys) and invertebrate models (Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans). The animal models most relevant for study of PD are neurotoxin induction-based models (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and agricultural pesticides (rotenone, paraquat), pharmacological models (reserpine or haloperidol treated rats), genetic models (α-synuclein, Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), DJ-1, PINK-1 and Parkin). Several non-mammalian genetic models such as zebrafish, Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegance have also gained popularity in recent years due to easy genetic manipulation, presence of genes homologous to human PD, and rapid screening of novel therapeutic molecules. In addition, in vitro models (SH-SY5Y, PC12, Lund human mesencephalic (LUHMES) cells, Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC), Neural organoids, organ-on-chip) are also currently in trend providing edge in investigating molecular mechanisms involved in PD as they are derived from PD patients. In this review, we explain the current situation and merits and demerits of the various animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshan Lal
- Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014 India
| | - Aditi Singh
- TR(i)P for Health Laboratory, Centre for Excellence in Functional Foods, Department of Food and Nutritional Biotechnology, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Knowledge City, Sector 81, SAS Nagar, Punjab 140306, India
| | - Shivam Watts
- Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014 India
| | - Kanwaljit Chopra
- Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014 India.
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2
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Müller L, Hoppe T. UPS-dependent strategies of protein quality control degradation. Trends Biochem Sci 2024:S0968-0004(24)00149-X. [PMID: 38945729 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2024.06.006] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The degradation of damaged proteins is critical for tissue integrity and organismal health because damaged proteins have a high propensity to form aggregates. E3 ubiquitin ligases are key regulators of protein quality control (PQC) and mediate the selective degradation of damaged proteins, a process termed 'PQC degradation' (PQCD). The degradation signals (degrons) that trigger PQCD are based on hydrophobic sites that are normally buried within the native protein structure. However, an open question is how PQCD-specialized E3 ligases distinguish between transiently misfolded proteins, which can be efficiently refolded, and permanently damaged proteins, which must be degraded. While significant progress has been made in characterizing degradation determinants, understanding the key regulatory signals of cellular and organismal PQCD pathways remains a challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Müller
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Thorsten Hoppe
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
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3
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Rani N, Alam MM, Jamal A, Bin Ghaffar U, Parvez S. Caenorhabditis elegans: A transgenic model for studying age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 91:102036. [PMID: 37598759 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a heterogeneous group of aging-associated ailments characterized by interrupting cellular proteostasic machinery and the misfolding of distinct proteins to form toxic aggregates in neurons. Neurodegenerative diseases, which include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), and others, are becoming an increasing threat to human health worldwide. The degeneration and death of certain specific groups of neurons are the hallmarks of these diseases. Over the past decades, Caenorhabditis eleganshas beenwidely used as a transgenic model to investigate biological processes related to health and disease. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has developed as a powerful tool for studying disease mechanisms due to its ease of genetic handling and instant cultivation while providing a whole-animal system amendable to several molecular and biochemical techniques. In this review, we elucidate the potential of C. elegans as a versatile platform for systematic dissection of the molecular basis of human disease, focusing on neurodegenerative disorders, and may help better our understanding of the disease mechanisms and search for new therapeutics for these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Rani
- Department of Toxicology, School of Chemical & Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Mohammad Mumtaz Alam
- Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Azfar Jamal
- Department of Biology, College of Science Al-Zulfi, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Usama Bin Ghaffar
- Department of Basic Science, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suhel Parvez
- Department of Toxicology, School of Chemical & Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India.
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Vozdek R, Wang B, Li KH, Pramstaller PP, Hicks AA, Ma DK. Fluorescent reporter of Caenorhabditis elegans Parkin: Regulators of its abundance and role in autophagy-lysosomal dynamics. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2023; 2:23. [PMID: 37811477 PMCID: PMC10556562 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.14235.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Background: Parkin, which when mutated leads to early-onset Parkinson's disease, acts as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. How Parkin is regulated for selective protein and organelle targeting is not well understood. Here, we used protein interactor and genetic screens in Caenorhabditis elegans ( C. elegans) to identify new regulators of Parkin abundance and showed their impact on autophagy-lysosomal dynamics and alpha-Synuclein processing. Methods: We generated a transgene encoding mCherry-tagged C. elegans Parkin - Parkinson's Disease Related 1 (PDR-1). We performed protein interactor screen using Co-immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry analysis to identify putative interacting partners of PDR-1. Ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) screen and an unbiased mutagenesis screen were used to identify genes regulating PDR-1 abundance. Confocal microscopy was used for the identification of the subcellular localization of PDR-1 and alpha-Synuclein processing. Results: We show that the mCherry::pdr-1 transgene rescues the mitochondrial phenotype of pdr-1 mutants and that the expressed PDR-1 reporter is localized in the cytosol with enriched compartmentalization in the autophagy-lysosomal system. We determined that the transgenic overexpression of the PDR-1 reporter, due to inactivated small interfering RNA (siRNA) generation pathway, disrupts autophagy-lysosomal dynamics. From the RNAi screen of putative PDR-1 interactors we found that the inactivated Adenine Nucleotide Translocator ant-1.1/hANT, or hybrid ubiquitin genes ubq-2/h UBA52 and ubl-1/h RPS27A encoding a single copy of ubiquitin fused to the ribosomal proteins L40 and S27a, respectively, induced PDR-1 abundance and affected lysosomal dynamics. In addition, we demonstrate that the abundant PDR-1 plays a role in alpha-Synuclein processing. Conclusions: These data show that the abundant reporter of C. elegans Parkin affects the autophagy-lysosomal system together with alpha-Synuclein processing which can help in understanding the pathology in Parkin-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Vozdek
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, 39100, Italy
| | - Bingying Wang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Kathy H. Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Peter P. Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, 39100, Italy
| | - Andrew A. Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, 39100, Italy
| | - Dengke K. Ma
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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Schwartz AZA, Tsyba N, Abdu Y, Patel MR, Nance J. Independent regulation of mitochondrial DNA quantity and quality in Caenorhabditis elegans primordial germ cells. eLife 2022; 11:e80396. [PMID: 36200990 PMCID: PMC9536838 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria harbor an independent genome, called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which contains essential metabolic genes. Although mtDNA mutations occur at high frequency, they are inherited infrequently, indicating that germline mechanisms limit their accumulation. To determine how germline mtDNA is regulated, we examined the control of mtDNA quantity and quality in C. elegans primordial germ cells (PGCs). We show that PGCs combine strategies to generate a low point in mtDNA number by segregating mitochondria into lobe-like protrusions that are cannibalized by adjacent cells, and by concurrently eliminating mitochondria through autophagy, reducing overall mtDNA content twofold. As PGCs exit quiescence and divide, mtDNAs replicate to maintain a set point of ~200 mtDNAs per germline stem cell. Whereas cannibalism and autophagy eliminate mtDNAs stochastically, we show that the kinase PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), operating independently of Parkin and autophagy, preferentially reduces the fraction of mutant mtDNAs. Thus, PGCs employ parallel mechanisms to control both the quantity and quality of the founding population of germline mtDNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron ZA Schwartz
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Nikita Tsyba
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt UniversityNashvilleUnited States
| | - Yusuff Abdu
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Maulik R Patel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt UniversityNashvilleUnited States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of MedicineNashvilleUnited States
- Diabetes Research and Training Center, Vanderbilt University School of MedicineNashvilleUnited States
| | - Jeremy Nance
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, NYU Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
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6
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Ma L, Li X, Liu C, Yan W, Ma J, Petersen RB, Peng A, Huang K. Modelling Parkinson's Disease in C. elegans: Strengths and Limitations. Curr Pharm Des 2022; 28:3033-3048. [PMID: 36111767 DOI: 10.2174/1381612828666220915103502] [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: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor system and progressively worsens with age. Current treatment options for PD mainly target symptoms, due to our limited understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of PD. A variety of preclinical models have been developed to study different aspects of the disease. The models have been used to elucidate the pathogenesis and for testing new treatments. These models include cell models, non-mammalian models, rodent models, and non-human primate models. Over the past few decades, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been widely adopted as a model system due to its small size, transparent body, short generation time and life cycle, fully sequenced genome, the tractability of genetic manipulation and suitability for large scale screening for disease modifiers. Here, we review studies using C. elegans as a model for PD and highlight the strengths and limitations of the C. elegans model. Various C. elegans PD models, including neurotoxin-induced models and genetic models, are described in detail. Moreover, met.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China.,Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Hospital for Psychotherapy, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi Li
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengyu Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wanyao Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Fourth Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinlu Ma
- Human Resources Department, Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China.,Human Resources Department, Wuhan Hospital for Psychotherapy, Wuhan, China
| | - Robert B Petersen
- Foundational Sciences, Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA
| | - Anlin Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Hospital of Wuhan, Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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7
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A dimer-monomer switch controls CHIP-dependent substrate ubiquitylation and processing. Mol Cell 2022; 82:3239-3254.e11. [PMID: 36027913 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The high substrate selectivity of the ubiquitin/proteasome system is mediated by a large group of E3 ubiquitin ligases. The ubiquitin ligase CHIP regulates the degradation of chaperone-controlled and chaperone-independent proteins. To understand how CHIP mediates substrate selection and processing, we performed a structure-function analysis of CHIP and addressed its physiological role in Caenorhabditis elegans and human cells. The conserved function of CHIP in chaperone-assisted degradation requires dimer formation to mediate proteotoxic stress resistance and to prevent protein aggregation. The CHIP monomer, however, promotes the turnover of the membrane-bound insulin receptor and longevity. The dimer-monomer transition is regulated by CHIP autoubiquitylation and chaperone binding, which provides a feedback loop that controls CHIP activity in response to cellular stress. Because CHIP also binds other E3 ligases, such as Parkin, the molecular switch mechanism described here could be a general concept for the regulation of substrate selectivity and ubiquitylation by combining different E3s.
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8
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Chandler R, Cogo S, Lewis P, Kevei E. Modelling the functional genomics of Parkinson's disease in Caenorhabditis elegans: LRRK2 and beyond. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:BSR20203672. [PMID: 34397087 PMCID: PMC8415217 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20203672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, Parkinson's disease (PD) cases have been genetically categorised into familial, when caused by mutations in single genes with a clear inheritance pattern in affected families, or idiopathic, in the absence of an evident monogenic determinant. Recently, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed how common genetic variability can explain up to 36% of PD heritability and that PD manifestation is often determined by multiple variants at different genetic loci. Thus, one of the current challenges in PD research stands in modelling the complex genetic architecture of this condition and translating this into functional studies. Caenorhabditis elegans provide a profound advantage as a reductionist, economical model for PD research, with a short lifecycle, straightforward genome engineering and high conservation of PD relevant neural, cellular and molecular pathways. Functional models of PD genes utilising C. elegans show many phenotypes recapitulating pathologies observed in PD. When contrasted with mammalian in vivo and in vitro models, these are frequently validated, suggesting relevance of C. elegans in the development of novel PD functional models. This review will discuss how the nematode C. elegans PD models have contributed to the uncovering of molecular and cellular mechanisms of disease, with a focus on the genes most commonly found as causative in familial PD and risk factors in idiopathic PD. Specifically, we will examine the current knowledge on a central player in both familial and idiopathic PD, Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) and how it connects to multiple PD associated GWAS candidates and Mendelian disease-causing genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susanna Cogo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AH, U.K
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35121, Italy
| | - Patrick A. Lewis
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, NW1 0TU, U.K
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, U.K
| | - Eva Kevei
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AH, U.K
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9
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PINK1 and parkin shape the organism-wide distribution of a deleterious mitochondrial genome. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109203. [PMID: 34077728 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In multiple species, certain tissue types are prone to acquiring greater loads of mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) mutations relative to others, but the mechanisms that drive these heteroplasmy differences are unknown. We find that the conserved PTEN-induced putative kinase (PINK1/PINK-1) and the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase parkin (PDR-1), which are required for mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy), underlie stereotyped differences in heteroplasmy of a deleterious mitochondrial genome mutation (ΔmtDNA) between major somatic tissues types in Caenorhabditis elegans. We demonstrate that tissues prone to accumulating ΔmtDNA have lower mitophagy responses than those with low mutation levels. Moreover, we show that ΔmtDNA heteroplasmy increases when proteotoxic species that are associated with neurodegenerative disease and mitophagy inhibition are overexpressed in the nervous system. These results suggest that PINK1 and parkin drive organism-wide patterns of heteroplasmy and provide evidence of a causal link between proteotoxicity, mitophagy, and mtDNA mutation levels in neurons.
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10
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Burkewitz K, Feng G, Dutta S, Kelley CA, Steinbaugh M, Cram EJ, Mair WB. Atf-6 Regulates Lifespan through ER-Mitochondrial Calcium Homeostasis. Cell Rep 2021; 32:108125. [PMID: 32905769 PMCID: PMC8030272 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Individually, dysfunction of both the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria has been linked to aging, but how communication between these organelles might be targeted to promote longevity is unclear. Here, we provide evidence that, in Caenorhabditis elegans, inhibition of the conserved unfolded protein response (UPRER) mediator, activating transcription factor (atf)-6, increases lifespan by modulating calcium homeostasis and signaling to mitochondria. Atf-6 loss confers longevity via downregulation of the ER calcium buffer, calreticulin. ER calcium release via the inositol triphosphate receptor (IP3R/itr-1) is required for longevity, while IP3R/itr-1 gain of function is sufficient to extend lifespan. Highlighting coordination between organelles, the mitochondrial calcium import channel mcu-1 is also required for atf-6 longevity. IP3R inhibition leads to impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics and hyperfusion, which is sufficient to suppress long life in atf-6 mutants. This study reveals the importance of organellar calcium handling as a critical output for the UPRER in determining the quality of aging. Burkewitz et al. show that modulating subcellular calcium compartmentalization and signaling is a mechanism of both aging and longevity. The loss of ATF-6, a conserved mediator of the unfolded protein response, disrupts calcium retention in the ER; subsequently, ER calcium release triggers lifespan extension by stimulating mitochondrial dynamics and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristopher Burkewitz
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Gaomin Feng
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, USA
| | - Sneha Dutta
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Michael Steinbaugh
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Erin J Cram
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - William B Mair
- Department of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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11
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Baesler J, Michaelis V, Stiboller M, Haase H, Aschner M, Schwerdtle T, Sturzenbaum SR, Bornhorst J. Nutritive Manganese and Zinc Overdosing in Aging C. elegans Result in a Metallothionein-Mediated Alteration in Metal Homeostasis. Mol Nutr Food Res 2021; 65:e2001176. [PMID: 33641237 PMCID: PMC8224813 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202001176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
SCOPE Manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) are not only essential trace elements, but also potential exogenous risk factors for various diseases. Since the disturbed homeostasis of single metals can result in detrimental health effects, concerns have emerged regarding the consequences of excessive exposures to multiple metals, either via nutritional supplementation or parenteral nutrition. This study focuses on Mn-Zn-interactions in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model, taking into account aspects related to aging and age-dependent neurodegeneration. METHODS AND RESULTS Chronic co-exposure of C. elegans to Mn and Zn increases metal uptake, exceeding levels of single metal exposures. Supplementation with Mn and/or Zn also leads to an age-dependent increase in metal content, a decline in overall mRNA expression, and metal co-supplementation induced expression of target genes involved in Mn and Zn homeostasis, in particular metallothionein 1 (mtl-1). Studies in transgenic worms reveal that mtl-1 played a prominent role in mediating age- and diet-dependent alterations in metal homeostasis. Metal dyshomeostasis is further induced in parkin-deficient nematodes (Parkinson's disease (PD) model), but this did not accelerate the age-dependent dopaminergic neurodegeneration. CONCLUSIONS A nutritive overdose of Mn and Zn can alter interactions between essential metals in an aging organism, and metallothionein 1 acts as a potential protective modulator in regulating homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Baesler
- Food Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
- Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Nuthetal, Germany
- TraceAge – DFG Research Unit FOR 2558, Berlin-Potsdam-Jena, Germany
| | - Vivien Michaelis
- Food Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Michael Stiboller
- Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Hajo Haase
- TraceAge – DFG Research Unit FOR 2558, Berlin-Potsdam-Jena, Germany
- TU Berlin, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Neuroscience, and Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tanja Schwerdtle
- Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Nuthetal, Germany
- TraceAge – DFG Research Unit FOR 2558, Berlin-Potsdam-Jena, Germany
| | - Stephen R. Sturzenbaum
- Department of Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Bornhorst
- Food Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
- TraceAge – DFG Research Unit FOR 2558, Berlin-Potsdam-Jena, Germany
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12
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Rolland SG, Schneid S, Schwarz M, Rackles E, Fischer C, Haeussler S, Regmi SG, Yeroslaviz A, Habermann B, Mokranjac D, Lambie E, Conradt B. Compromised Mitochondrial Protein Import Acts as a Signal for UPR mt. Cell Rep 2020; 28:1659-1669.e5. [PMID: 31412237 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.07.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The induction of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) results in increased transcription of the gene encoding the mitochondrial chaperone HSP70. We systematically screened the C. elegans genome and identified 171 genes that, when knocked down, induce the expression of an hsp-6 HSP70 reporter and encode mitochondrial proteins. These genes represent many, but not all, mitochondrial processes (e.g., mitochondrial calcium homeostasis and mitophagy are not represented). Knockdown of these genes leads to reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and, hence, decreased protein import into mitochondria. In addition, it induces UPRmt in a manner that is dependent on ATFS-1 but that is not antagonized by the kinase GCN-2. We propose that compromised mitochondrial protein import signals the induction of UPRmt and that the mitochondrial targeting sequence of ATFS-1 functions as a sensor for this signal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra Schneid
- Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Melanie Schwarz
- Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Christian Fischer
- Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; Center for Integrated Protein Science, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Simon Haeussler
- Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Saroj G Regmi
- Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Assa Yeroslaviz
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Computational Systems Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Bianca Habermann
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Computational Systems Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Dejana Mokranjac
- Biomedical Center Munich - Physiological Chemistry, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Eric Lambie
- Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Barbara Conradt
- Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; Center for Integrated Protein Science, LMU Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
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13
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Liang JJH, McKinnon IA, Rankin CH. The contribution of C. elegans neurogenetics to understanding neurodegenerative diseases. J Neurogenet 2020; 34:527-548. [DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2020.1803302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J. H. Liang
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Issa A. McKinnon
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Catharine H. Rankin
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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14
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Haeussler S, Köhler F, Witting M, Premm MF, Rolland SG, Fischer C, Chauve L, Casanueva O, Conradt B. Autophagy compensates for defects in mitochondrial dynamics. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008638. [PMID: 32191694 PMCID: PMC7135339 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Compromising mitochondrial fusion or fission disrupts cellular homeostasis; however, the underlying mechanism(s) are not fully understood. The loss of C. elegans fzo-1MFN results in mitochondrial fragmentation, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and the induction of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt). We performed a genome-wide RNAi screen for genes that when knocked-down suppress fzo-1MFN(lf)-induced UPRmt. Of the 299 genes identified, 143 encode negative regulators of autophagy, many of which have previously not been implicated in this cellular quality control mechanism. We present evidence that increased autophagic flux suppresses fzo-1MFN(lf)-induced UPRmt by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential rather than restoring mitochondrial morphology. Furthermore, we demonstrate that increased autophagic flux also suppresses UPRmt induction in response to a block in mitochondrial fission, but not in response to the loss of spg-7AFG3L2, which encodes a mitochondrial metalloprotease. Finally, we found that blocking mitochondrial fusion or fission leads to increased levels of certain types of triacylglycerols and that this is at least partially reverted by the induction of autophagy. We propose that the breakdown of these triacylglycerols through autophagy leads to elevated metabolic activity, thereby increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and restoring mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Haeussler
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fabian Köhler
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Witting
- Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Analytical Food Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Madeleine F. Premm
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Christian Fischer
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Center for Integrated Protein Science, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Laetitia Chauve
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Olivia Casanueva
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Conradt
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Center for Integrated Protein Science, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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15
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Haroon S, Li A, Weinert JL, Fritsch C, Ericson NG, Alexander-Floyd J, Braeckman BP, Haynes CM, Bielas JH, Gidalevitz T, Vermulst M. Multiple Molecular Mechanisms Rescue mtDNA Disease in C. elegans. Cell Rep 2019; 22:3115-3125. [PMID: 29562168 PMCID: PMC6106782 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.02.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic instability of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) plays an important role in human aging and disease. Thus far, it has proven difficult to develop successful treatment strategies for diseases that are caused by mtDNA instability. To address this issue, we developed a model of mtDNA disease in the nematode C. elegans, an animal model that can rapidly be screened for genes and biological pathways that reduce mitochondrial pathology. These worms recapitulate all the major hallmarks of mtDNA disease in humans, including increased mtDNA instability, loss of respiration, reduced neuromuscular function, and a shortened lifespan. We found that these phenotypes could be rescued by intervening in numerous biological pathways, including IGF-1/insulin signaling, mitophagy, and the mitochondrial unfolded protein response, suggesting that it may be possible to ameliorate mtDNA disease through multiple molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suraiya Haroon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Annie Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jaye L Weinert
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Clark Fritsch
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nolan G Ericson
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Bart P Braeckman
- Laboratory of Aging Physiology and Molecular Evolution, Biology Department, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Cole M Haynes
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jason H Bielas
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Tali Gidalevitz
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Marc Vermulst
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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16
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Breger LS, Fuzzati Armentero MT. Genetically engineered animal models of Parkinson's disease: From worm to rodent. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 49:533-560. [PMID: 30552719 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterised by aberrant accumulation of insoluble proteins, including alpha-synuclein, and a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The extended neurodegeneration leads to a drop of striatal dopamine levels responsible for disabling motor and non-motor impairments. Although the causes of the disease remain unclear, it is well accepted among the scientific community that the disorder may also have a genetic component. For that reason, the number of genetically engineered animal models has greatly increased over the past two decades, ranging from invertebrates to more complex organisms such as mice and rats. This trend is growing as new genetic variants associated with the disease are discovered. The EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) has promoted the creation of an online database aiming at summarising the different features of experimental models of Parkinson's disease. This review discusses available genetic models of PD and the extent to which they adequately mirror the human pathology and reflects on future development and uses of genetically engineered experimental models for the study of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludivine S Breger
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, CNRS UMR 5293, Centre Broca Nouvelle Aquitaine, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux cedex, France
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17
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Caldwell KA, Thies JL, Caldwell GA. No Country for Old Worms: A Systematic Review of the Application of C. elegans to Investigate a Bacterial Source of Environmental Neurotoxicity in Parkinson's Disease. Metabolites 2018; 8:metabo8040070. [PMID: 30380609 PMCID: PMC6315381 DOI: 10.3390/metabo8040070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
While progress has been made in discerning genetic associations with Parkinson's disease (PD), identifying elusive environmental contributors necessitates the application of unconventional hypotheses and experimental strategies. Here, we provide an overview of studies that we conducted on a neurotoxic metabolite produced by a species of common soil bacteria, Streptomyces venezuelae (S. ven), indicating that the toxicity displayed by this bacterium causes stress in diverse cellular mechanisms, such as the ubiquitin proteasome system and mitochondrial homeostasis. This dysfunction eventually leads to age and dose-dependent neurodegeneration in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Notably, dopaminergic neurons have heightened susceptibility, but all of the neuronal classes eventually degenerate following exposure. Toxicity further extends to human SH-SY5Y cells, which also degenerate following exposure. Additionally, the neurons of nematodes expressing heterologous aggregation-prone proteins display enhanced metabolite vulnerability. These mechanistic analyses collectively reveal a unique metabolomic fingerprint for this bacterially-derived neurotoxin. In considering that epidemiological distinctions in locales influence the incidence of PD, we surveyed soils from diverse regions of Alabama, and found that exposure to ~30% of isolated Streptomyces species caused worm dopaminergic neurons to die. In addition to aging, one of the few established contributors to PD appears to be a rural lifestyle, where exposure to soil on a regular basis might increase the risk of interaction with bacteria producing such toxins. Taken together, these data suggest that a novel toxicant within the Streptomyces genus might represent an environmental contributor to the progressive neurodegeneration that is associated with PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.
- Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Nathan Shock Center for Research on the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Jennifer L Thies
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.
| | - Guy A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.
- Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Nathan Shock Center for Research on the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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18
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Cooper JF, Spielbauer KK, Senchuk MM, Nadarajan S, Colaiácovo MP, Van Raamsdonk JM. α-synuclein expression from a single copy transgene increases sensitivity to stress and accelerates neuronal loss in genetic models of Parkinson's disease. Exp Neurol 2018; 310:58-69. [PMID: 30194957 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by the formation of α-synuclein-containing protein aggregates called Lewy bodies within the brain. A crucial role for α-synuclein in the pathogenesis of PD is also suggested by the fact that point mutations, increased copy number, or polymorphisms in the α-synuclein gene SNCA all cause or contribute to the development of PD. In addition to SNCA, an increasing number of other genes have been implicated in PD. While mutations in at least some of these genes have been shown to cause the formation of Lewy bodies, the role of α-synuclein in these genetic forms of PD remains poorly defined. Since C. elegans do not have a homolog of α-synuclein, this organism provides the opportunity to identify synergism between α-synuclein and other genes implicated in PD. To do this, we generated a novel C. elegans model in which wild-type α-synuclein is ubiquitously expressed from a single copy transgene, and examined the resulting effect on phenotypic deficits in PD deletion mutants affecting PARK2/pdr-1, PINK1/pink-1, DJ-1/djr-1.1 and ATP13A2/catp-6. While the PD deletion mutants exhibit only mild phenotypic deficits in absence of α-synuclein, expression of wild-type α-synuclein caused increased sensitivity to multiple stresses, induced deficits in dopamine-dependent behavior, and accelerated loss of dopamine neurons. Overall, these results suggest that the recessive loss of function mutations act together with α-synuclein to cause PD, and that α-synuclein lowering strategies may be effective in genetic forms of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason F Cooper
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Katie K Spielbauer
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Megan M Senchuk
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | | | | | - Jeremy M Van Raamsdonk
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada.
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19
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Williams JA, Ding WX. Mechanisms, pathophysiological roles and methods for analyzing mitophagy - recent insights. Biol Chem 2018; 399:147-178. [PMID: 28976892 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2017-0228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In 2012, we briefly summarized the mechanisms, pathophysiological roles and methods for analyzing mitophagy. As then, the mitophagy field has continued to grow rapidly, and many new molecular mechanisms regulating mitophagy and molecular tools for monitoring mitophagy have been discovered and developed. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to update information regarding these advances in mitophagy while focusing on basic molecular mechanisms of mitophagy in different organisms and its pathophysiological roles. We also discuss the advantage and limitations of current methods to monitor and quantify mitophagy in cultured cells and in vivo mouse tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Williams
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Wen-Xing Ding
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
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20
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Cooper JF, Van Raamsdonk JM. Modeling Parkinson's Disease in C. elegans. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2018; 8:17-32. [PMID: 29480229 PMCID: PMC5836411 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-171258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is an adult onset neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by selective degeneration of neurons primarily in the substantia nigra. At present, the pathogenesis of PD is incompletely understood and there are no neuroprotective treatments available. Accurate animal models of PD provide the opportunity to elucidate disease mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets. This review focuses on C. elegans models of PD, including both genetic and toxicant models. This microscopic worm offers several advantages for the study of PD including ease of genetic manipulation, ability to complete experiments rapidly, low cost, and ability to perform large scale screens for disease modifiers. A number of C. elegans models of PD have been generated including transgenic worms that express α-synuclein or LRRK2, and worms with deletions in PRKN/pdr-1, PINK1/pink-1, DJ-1/djr-1.1/djr-1.2 and ATP13A2/catp-6. These worms have been shown to exhibit multiple phenotypic deficits including the loss of dopamine neurons, disruption of dopamine-dependent behaviors, increased sensitivity to stress, age-dependent aggregation, and deficits in movement. As a result, these phenotypes can be used as outcome measures to gain insight into disease pathogenesis and to identify disease modifiers. In this way, C. elegans can be used as an experimental tool to elucidate mechanisms involved in PD and to find novel therapeutic targets that can subsequently be validated in other models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason F. Cooper
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Jeremy M. Van Raamsdonk
- Laboratory of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
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21
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Ma L, Zhao Y, Chen Y, Cheng B, Peng A, Huang K. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system for target identification and drug screening against neurodegenerative diseases. Eur J Pharmacol 2017; 819:169-180. [PMID: 29208474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decades, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been widely used as a model system because of its small size, transparent body, short generation time and lifespan (~3 days and 3 weeks, respectively), completely sequenced genome and tractability to genetic manipulation. Protein misfolding and aggregation are key pathological features in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Animal models, including C. elegans, have been extensively used to discover and validate new drugs against neurodegenerative diseases. The well-defined and genetically tractable nervous system of C. elegans offers an effective model to explore basic mechanistic pathways of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent progress in high-throughput drug screening also provides a powerful approach for identifying chemical modulators of biological processes. Here, we summarize the latest progress of using C. elegans as a model system for target identification and drug screening in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yudan Zhao
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yuchen Chen
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Biao Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430014, China
| | - Anlin Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Center for Biomedicine Research, Wuhan Institute of Biotechnology, Wuhan 430075, China.
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22
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Smita SS, Raj Sammi S, Laxman TS, Bhatta RS, Pandey R. Shatavarin IV elicits lifespan extension and alleviates Parkinsonism in Caenorhabditis elegans. Free Radic Res 2017; 51:954-969. [PMID: 29069955 DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2017.1395419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Shatavarin IV (SIV), a steroidal saponin, is a major bioactive phytomolecule present in roots of Asparagus racemosus (Liliaceae) known for its anticancer activity. Age-associated neurodegenerative Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterised by alpha-synuclein aggregation in dopaminergic neuron resulting in neurodegeneration. The invention of bioactive molecules that delay aging and age-associated disorders endorses development of natural phytomolecule as a therapeutic agent for curing age-related diseases. Therefore, the present study for the first time explores the potential of SIV against aging and Parkinsonism utilising Caenorhabditis elegans model system. SIV significantly attenuated oxidative stress in terms of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as oxidative damage including protein carbonylation and also promotes longevity. SIV also significantly increased the mRNA expression of stress responsive genes namely sod-1, sod-2, sod-3, gst-4, gst-7 and ctl-2 suggesting its anti-oxidant property that might be contributed in the modulation of oxidative stress and promoting lifespan. Additionally, SIV improved PD symptoms by reducing the alpha-synuclein aggregation, lipid accumulation and enhancing dopamine level. Altogether, present findings indicate that SIV possibly utilising ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal system and attenuating oxidative stress by up-regulating PD-associated genes pdr-1, ubc-12 and pink-1. Therefore, this study is a forward step in exploring the anti-aging and anti-Parkinsonism potential of bioactive compound SIV in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shachi Shuchi Smita
- a Laboratory of Aging Biology, Department of Microbial Technology and Nematology , Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research , Lucknow , India
| | - Shreesh Raj Sammi
- a Laboratory of Aging Biology, Department of Microbial Technology and Nematology , Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research , Lucknow , India
| | - Tulsankar S Laxman
- b Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism Division , Central Drug Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research , Lucknow , India
| | - Rabi S Bhatta
- b Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism Division , Central Drug Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research , Lucknow , India
| | - Rakesh Pandey
- a Laboratory of Aging Biology, Department of Microbial Technology and Nematology , Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research , Lucknow , India
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23
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Maulik M, Mitra S, Bult-Ito A, Taylor BE, Vayndorf EM. Behavioral Phenotyping and Pathological Indicators of Parkinson's Disease in C. elegans Models. Front Genet 2017; 8:77. [PMID: 28659967 PMCID: PMC5468440 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2017.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms that progressively worsen with age. Pathologically, PD is characterized by the aggregation of α-synuclein in cells of the substantia nigra in the brain and loss of dopaminergic neurons. This pathology is associated with impaired movement and reduced cognitive function. The etiology of PD can be attributed to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. A popular animal model, the nematode roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, has been frequently used to study the role of genetic and environmental factors in the molecular pathology and behavioral phenotypes associated with PD. The current review summarizes cellular markers and behavioral phenotypes in transgenic and toxin-induced PD models of C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malabika Maulik
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Swarup Mitra
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Abel Bult-Ito
- Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Barbara E Taylor
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long BeachLong Beach, CA, United States
| | - Elena M Vayndorf
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK, United States
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24
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Knowlton WM, Hubert T, Wu Z, Chisholm AD, Jin Y. A Select Subset of Electron Transport Chain Genes Associated with Optic Atrophy Link Mitochondria to Axon Regeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:263. [PMID: 28539870 PMCID: PMC5423972 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of mitochondria within injured neurons is an area of active interest since these organelles are vital for the production of cellular energy in the form of ATP. Using mechanosensory neurons of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to test regeneration after neuronal injury in vivo, we surveyed genes related to mitochondrial function for effects on axon regrowth after laser axotomy. Genes involved in mitochondrial transport, calcium uptake, mitophagy, or fission and fusion were largely dispensable for axon regrowth, with the exception of eat-3/Opa1. Surprisingly, many genes encoding components of the electron transport chain were dispensable for regrowth, except for the iron-sulfur proteins gas-1, nduf-2.2, nduf-7, and isp-1, and the putative oxidoreductase rad-8. In these mutants, axonal development was essentially normal and axons responded normally to injury by forming regenerative growth cones, but were impaired in subsequent axon extension. Overexpression of nduf-2.2 or isp-1 was sufficient to enhance regrowth, suggesting that mitochondrial function is rate-limiting in axon regeneration. Moreover, loss of function in isp-1 reduced the enhanced regeneration caused by either a gain-of-function mutation in the calcium channel EGL-19 or overexpression of the MAP kinase DLK-1. While the cellular function of RAD-8 remains unclear, our genetic analyses place rad-8 in the same pathway as other electron transport genes in axon regeneration. Unexpectedly, rad-8 regrowth defects were suppressed by altered function in the ubiquinone biosynthesis gene clk-1. Furthermore, we found that inhibition of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response via deletion of atfs-1 suppressed the defective regrowth in nduf-2.2 mutants. Together, our data indicate that while axon regeneration is not significantly affected by general dysfunction of cellular respiration, it is sensitive to the proper functioning of a select subset of electron transport chain genes, or to the cellular adaptations used by neurons under conditions of injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy M Knowlton
- Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of CaliforniaSan Diego, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Hubert
- Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of CaliforniaSan Diego, CA, USA
| | - Zilu Wu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of CaliforniaSan Diego, CA, USA
| | - Andrew D Chisholm
- Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of CaliforniaSan Diego, CA, USA
| | - Yishi Jin
- Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of CaliforniaSan Diego, CA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of CaliforniaSan Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of CaliforniaSan Diego, CA, USA
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25
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Srivastava S, Sammi SR, Laxman TS, Pant A, Nagar A, Trivedi S, Bhatta RS, Tandon S, Pandey R. Silymarin promotes longevity and alleviates Parkinson’s associated pathologies in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Funct Foods 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2017.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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26
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C. elegans neurons jettison protein aggregates and mitochondria under neurotoxic stress. Nature 2017; 542:367-371. [PMID: 28178240 PMCID: PMC5336134 DOI: 10.1038/nature21362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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27
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Barodia SK, Creed RB, Goldberg MS. Parkin and PINK1 functions in oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. Brain Res Bull 2016; 133:51-59. [PMID: 28017782 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in the genes encoding Parkin and PINK1 are causally linked to autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease (PD). Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and PINK1, a mitochondrial-targeted kinase, function together in a common pathway to remove dysfunctional mitochondria by autophagy. Presumably, deficiency for Parkin or PINK1 impairs mitochondrial autophagy and thereby increases oxidative stress due to the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria that release reactive oxygen species. Parkin and PINK1 likely have additional functions that may be relevant to the mechanisms by which mutations in these genes cause neurodegeneration, such as regulating inflammation, apoptosis, or dendritic morphogenesis. Here we briefly review what is known about functions of Parkin and PINK1 related to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep K Barodia
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States
| | - Rose B Creed
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States
| | - Matthew S Goldberg
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States; Department of Neurobiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States.
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Involvement of heat shock proteins on Mn-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2016; 17:54. [PMID: 27802836 PMCID: PMC5090951 DOI: 10.1186/s40360-016-0097-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND All living cells display a rapid molecular response to adverse environmental conditions, and the heat shock protein family reflects one such example. Hence, failing to activate heat shock proteins can impair the cellular response. In the present study, we evaluated whether the loss of different isoforms of heat shock protein (hsp) genes in Caenorhabditis elegans would affect their vulnerability to Manganese (Mn) toxicity. METHODS We exposed wild type and selected hsp mutant worms to Mn (30 min) and next evaluated further the most susceptible strains. We analyzed survival, protein carbonylation (as a marker of oxidative stress) and Parkinson's disease related gene expression immediately after Mn exposure. Lastly, we observed dopaminergic neurons in wild type worms and in hsp-70 mutants following Mn treatment. Analysis of the data was performed by one-way or two way ANOVA, depending on the case, followed by post-hoc Bonferroni test if the overall p value was less than 0.05. RESULTS We verified that the loss of hsp-70, hsp-3 and chn-1 increased the vulnerability to Mn, as exposed mutant worms showed lower survival rate and increased protein oxidation. The importance of hsp-70 against Mn toxicity was then corroborated in dopaminergic neurons, where Mn neurotoxicity was aggravated. The lack of hsp-70 also blocked the transcriptional upregulation of pink1, a gene that has been linked to Parkinson's disease. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our data suggest that Mn exposure modulates heat shock protein expression, particularly HSP-70, in C. elegans. Furthermore, loss of hsp-70 increases protein oxidation and dopaminergic neuronal degeneration following manganese exposure, which is associated with the inhibition of pink1 increased expression, thus potentially exacerbating the vulnerability to this metal.
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Kim DK, Kim TH, Lee SJ. Mechanisms of aging-related proteinopathies in Caenorhabditis elegans. Exp Mol Med 2016; 48:e263. [PMID: 27713398 PMCID: PMC5099420 DOI: 10.1038/emm.2016.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is the most important risk factor for human neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Pathologically, these diseases are characterized by the deposition of specific protein aggregates in neurons and glia, representing the impairment of neuronal proteostasis. However, the mechanism by which aging affects the proteostasis system and promotes protein aggregation remains largely unknown. The short lifespan and ample genetic resources of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) have made this species a favorite model organism for aging research, and the development of proteinopathy models in this organism has helped us to understand how aging processes affect protein aggregation and neurodegeneration. Here, we review the recent literature on proteinopathies in C. elegans models and discuss the insights we have gained into the mechanisms of how aging processes are integrated into the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Kyu Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae Ho Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
| | - Seung-Jae Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Knuppertz L, Osiewacz HD. Orchestrating the network of molecular pathways affecting aging: Role of nonselective autophagy and mitophagy. Mech Ageing Dev 2016; 153:30-40. [PMID: 26814678 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Revised: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy is best known as a mechanism involved in cellular recycling of biomolecules during periods of nutritional starvation. More recently, an additional function of autophagy emerged: the selective degradation of functionally impaired or surplus proteins, organelles and invading bacteria. With this function autophagy is integrated in a network of pathways involved in molecular and cellular quality control with a key impact on development and aging. Impairments in the autophagic machinery lead to accelerated aging and the development of diseases. Here we focus on the role of nonselective autophagy and mitophagy, the selective autophagic degradation of mitochondria, on aging and lifespan of biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Knuppertz
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt Macromolecular Complexes, Department of Biosciences, J. W. Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Heinz D Osiewacz
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt Macromolecular Complexes, Department of Biosciences, J. W. Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany.
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31
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Jagmag SA, Tripathi N, Shukla SD, Maiti S, Khurana S. Evaluation of Models of Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurosci 2016; 9:503. [PMID: 26834536 PMCID: PMC4718050 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Animal models have contributed a large part to our understanding and therapeutics developed for treatment of PD. There are several more exhaustive reviews of literature that provide the initiated insights into the specific models; however a novel synthesis of the basic advantages and disadvantages of different models is much needed. Here we compare both neurotoxin based and genetic models while suggesting some novel avenues in PD modeling. We also highlight the problems faced and promises of all the mammalian models with the hope of providing a framework for comparison of various systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shail A Jagmag
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India
| | - Naveen Tripathi
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India
| | - Sunil D Shukla
- Department of Zoology, Government Meera Girl's College Udaipur, India
| | - Sankar Maiti
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India
| | - Sukant Khurana
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India
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32
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Chen X, Barclay JW, Burgoyne RD, Morgan A. Using C. elegans to discover therapeutic compounds for ageing-associated neurodegenerative diseases. Chem Cent J 2015; 9:65. [PMID: 26617668 PMCID: PMC4661952 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-015-0143-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-associated neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease are a major public health challenge, due to the demographic increase in the proportion of older individuals in society. However, the relatively few currently approved drugs for these conditions provide only symptomatic relief. A major goal of neurodegeneration research is therefore to identify potential new therapeutic compounds that can slow or even reverse disease progression, either by impacting directly on the neurodegenerative process or by activating endogenous physiological neuroprotective mechanisms that decline with ageing. This requires model systems that can recapitulate key features of human neurodegenerative diseases that are also amenable to compound screening approaches. Mammalian models are very powerful, but are prohibitively expensive for high-throughput drug screens. Given the highly conserved neurological pathways between mammals and invertebrates, Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a powerful tool for neuroprotective compound screening. Here we describe how C. elegans has been used to model various human ageing-associated neurodegenerative diseases and provide an extensive list of compounds that have therapeutic activity in these worm models and so may have translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool, L69 3BX UK ; Centre for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, MI 49503 USA
| | - Jeff W Barclay
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool, L69 3BX UK
| | - Robert D Burgoyne
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool, L69 3BX UK
| | - Alan Morgan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool, L69 3BX UK
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Martinez BA, Kim H, Ray A, Caldwell GA, Caldwell KA. A bacterial metabolite induces glutathione-tractable proteostatic damage, proteasomal disturbances, and PINK1-dependent autophagy in C. elegans. Cell Death Dis 2015; 6:e1908. [PMID: 26469957 PMCID: PMC4632299 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2015.270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Gene-by-environment interactions are thought to underlie the majority of idiopathic cases of neurodegenerative disease. Recently, we reported that an environmental metabolite extracted from Streptomyces venezuelae increases ROS and damages mitochondria, leading to eventual neurodegeneration of C. elegans dopaminergic neurons. Here we link those data to idiopathic disease models that predict loss of protein handling as a component of disorder progression. We demonstrate that the bacterial metabolite leads to proteostatic disruption in multiple protein-misfolding models and has the potential to synergistically enhance the toxicity of aggregate-prone proteins. Genetically, this metabolite is epistatically regulated by loss-of-function to pink-1, the C. elegans PARK6 homolog responsible for mitochondrial maintenance and autophagy in other animal systems. In addition, the metabolite works through a genetic pathway analogous to loss-of-function in the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS), which we find is also epistatically regulated by loss of PINK-1 homeostasis. To determine remitting counter agents, we investigated several established antioxidants and found that glutathione (GSH) can significantly protect against metabolite-induced proteostasis disruption. In addition, GSH protects against the toxicity of MG132 and can compensate for the combined loss of both pink-1 and the E3 ligase pdr-1, a Parkin homolog. In assessing the impact of this metabolite on mitochondrial maintenance, we observe that it causes fragmentation of mitochondria that is attenuated by GSH and an initial surge in PINK-1-dependent autophagy. These studies mechanistically advance our understanding of a putative environmental contributor to neurodegeneration and factors influencing in vivo neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- B A Martinez
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - H Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - A Ray
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - G A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.,Departments of Neurobiology and Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - K A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.,Departments of Neurobiology and Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Schiavi A, Maglioni S, Palikaras K, Shaik A, Strappazzon F, Brinkmann V, Torgovnick A, Castelein N, De Henau S, Braeckman BP, Cecconi F, Tavernarakis N, Ventura N. Iron-Starvation-Induced Mitophagy Mediates Lifespan Extension upon Mitochondrial Stress in C. elegans. Curr Biol 2015; 25:1810-22. [PMID: 26144971 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.05.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Revised: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Frataxin is a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein involved in the biogenesis of Fe-S-cluster-containing proteins and consequently in the functionality of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Similar to other proteins that regulate mitochondrial respiration, severe frataxin deficiency leads to pathology in humans--Friedreich's ataxia, a life-threatening neurodegenerative disorder--and to developmental arrest in the nematode C. elegans. Interestingly, partial frataxin depletion extends C. elegans lifespan, and a similar anti-aging effect is prompted by reduced expression of other mitochondrial regulatory proteins from yeast to mammals. The beneficial adaptive responses to mild mitochondrial stress are still largely unknown and, if characterized, may suggest novel potential targets for the treatment of human mitochondria-associated, age-related disorders. Here we identify mitochondrial autophagy as an evolutionarily conserved response to frataxin silencing, and show for the first time that, similar to mammals, mitophagy is activated in C. elegans in response to mitochondrial stress in a pdr-1/Parkin-, pink-1/Pink-, and dct-1/Bnip3-dependent manner. The induction of mitophagy is part of a hypoxia-like, iron starvation response triggered upon frataxin depletion and causally involved in animal lifespan extension. We also identify non-overlapping hif-1 upstream (HIF-1-prolyl-hydroxylase) and downstream (globins) regulatory genes mediating lifespan extension upon frataxin and iron depletion. Our findings indicate that mitophagy induction is part of an adaptive iron starvation response induced as a protective mechanism against mitochondrial stress, thus suggesting novel potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of mitochondrial-associated, age-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Schiavi
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Maglioni
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostic, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Konstantinos Palikaras
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece
| | - Anjumara Shaik
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostic, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Flavie Strappazzon
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Vanessa Brinkmann
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Alessandro Torgovnick
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Sasha De Henau
- Biology Department, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Francesco Cecconi
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; Unit of Cell Stress and Survival, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nektarios Tavernarakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece; Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece
| | - Natascia Ventura
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostic, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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35
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Chakraborty S, Chen P, Bornhorst J, Schwerdtle T, Schumacher F, Kleuser B, Bowman AB, Aschner M. Loss of pdr-1/parkin influences Mn homeostasis through altered ferroportin expression in C. elegans. Metallomics 2015; 7:847-56. [PMID: 25769119 DOI: 10.1039/c5mt00052a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Overexposure to the essential metal manganese (Mn) can result in an irreversible condition known as manganism that shares similar pathophysiology with Parkinson's disease (PD), including dopaminergic (DAergic) cell loss that leads to motor and cognitive impairments. However, the mechanisms behind this neurotoxicity and its relationship with PD remain unclear. Many genes confer risk for autosomal recessive, early-onset PD, including the parkin/PARK2 gene that encodes for the E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin. Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as an invertebrate model that conserves the DAergic system, we previously reported significantly increased Mn accumulation in pdr-1/parkin mutants compared to wildtype (WT) animals. For the current study, we hypothesize that this enhanced accumulation is due to alterations in Mn transport in the pdr-1 mutants. While no change in mRNA expression of the major Mn importer proteins (smf-1-3) was found in pdr-1 mutants, significant downregulation in mRNA levels of the putative Mn exporter ferroportin (fpn-1.1) was observed. Using a strain overexpressing fpn-1.1 in worms lacking pdr-1, we show evidence for attenuation of several endpoints of Mn-induced toxicity, including survival, metal accumulation, mitochondrial copy number and DAergic integrity, compared to pdr-1 mutants alone. These changes suggest a novel role of pdr-1 in modulating Mn export through altered transporter expression, and provides further support of metal dyshomeostasis as a component of Parkinsonism pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudipta Chakraborty
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Valenci I, Yonai L, Bar-Yaacov D, Mishmar D, Ben-Zvi A. Parkin modulates heteroplasmy of truncated mtDNA in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mitochondrion 2014; 20:64-70. [PMID: 25462019 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Revised: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Parkin, which is mutated in most recessive Parkinsonism, is a key player in the selective removal of damaged mitochondria via mitophagy. Damaged mitochondria may carry mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, thus creating a mixed mtDNA population within cells (heteroplasmy). It was previously shown that Parkin over-expression reduced the level of heteroplasmic mutations that alter mitochondrial membrane potential in human cytoplasmic hybrids. However, it remained unclear whether Parkin serves a similar role at the entire living organism, and whether this role is evolutionarily conserved. Here, we show that mutation in the Caenorhabditis elegans orthologue of Parkin (pdr-1) modulates the level of a large heteroplasmic mtDNA truncation. Massive parallel sequencing revealed that the mtDNAs of C. elegans wild type and pdr-1(gk448) mutant strains were virtually deprived of heteroplasmy, thus reflecting strong negative selection against dysfunctional mitochondria. Therefore, our findings show that the role of Parkin in the modulation of heteroplasmy is conserved between human and worm and raise the interesting possibility that mitophagy modulates the striking lack of heteroplasmy in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itay Valenci
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel; The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Lital Yonai
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel; The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Dan Bar-Yaacov
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Dan Mishmar
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Anat Ben-Zvi
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel; The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel.
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Alexander AG, Marfil V, Li C. Use of Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Front Genet 2014; 5:279. [PMID: 25250042 PMCID: PMC4155875 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in research and technology has increased our quality of life, allowed us to combat diseases, and achieve increased longevity. Unfortunately, increased longevity is accompanied by a rise in the incidences of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is the sixth leading cause of death, and one of the leading causes of dementia amongst the aged population in the USA. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the prevalence of extracellular Aβ plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, derived from the proteolysis of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the hyperphosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau, respectively. Despite years of extensive research, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the pathology of AD remain unclear. Model organisms, such as the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, present a complementary approach to addressing these questions. C. elegans has many advantages as a model system to study AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Like their mammalian counterparts, they have complex biochemical pathways, most of which are conserved. Genes in which mutations are correlated with AD have counterparts in C. elegans, including an APP-related gene, apl-1, a tau homolog, ptl-1, and presenilin homologs, such as sel-12 and hop-1. Since the neuronal connectivity in C. elegans has already been established, C. elegans is also advantageous in modeling learning and memory impairments seen during AD. This article addresses the insights C. elegans provide in studying AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we explore the advantages and drawbacks associated with using this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adanna G Alexander
- Department of Biology, City College of New York New York, NY, USA ; Department of Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York New York, NY, USA
| | - Vanessa Marfil
- Department of Biology, City College of New York New York, NY, USA
| | - Chris Li
- Department of Biology, City College of New York New York, NY, USA ; Department of Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York New York, NY, USA
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Alternative splicing generates different parkin protein isoforms: evidences in human, rat, and mouse brain. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:690796. [PMID: 25136611 PMCID: PMC4124806 DOI: 10.1155/2014/690796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson protein 2, E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (PARK2) gene mutations are the most frequent causes of autosomal recessive early onset Parkinson's disease and juvenile Parkinson disease. Parkin deficiency has also been linked to other human pathologies, for example, sporadic Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, autism, and cancer. PARK2 primary transcript undergoes an extensive alternative splicing, which enhances transcriptomic diversification. To date several PARK2 splice variants have been identified; however, the expression and distribution of parkin isoforms have not been deeply investigated yet. Here, the currently known PARK2 gene transcripts and relative predicted encoded proteins in human, rat, and mouse are reviewed. By analyzing the literature, we highlight the existing data showing the presence of multiple parkin isoforms in the brain. Their expression emerges from conflicting results regarding the electrophoretic mobility of the protein, but it is also assumed from discrepant observations on the cellular and tissue distribution of parkin. Although the characterization of each predicted isoforms is complex, since they often diverge only for few amino acids, analysis of their expression patterns in the brain might account for the different pathogenetic effects linked to PARK2 gene mutations.
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La Cognata V, Iemmolo R, D'Agata V, Scuderi S, Drago F, Zappia M, Cavallaro S. Increasing the Coding Potential of Genomes Through Alternative Splicing: The Case of PARK2 Gene. Curr Genomics 2014; 15:203-16. [PMID: 24955028 PMCID: PMC4064560 DOI: 10.2174/1389202915666140426003342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2014] [Revised: 04/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The completion of the Human Genome Project aroused renewed interest in alternative splicing, an efficient and widespread mechanism that generates multiple protein isoforms from individual genes. Although our knowledge about alternative splicing is growing exponentially, its real impact on cellular life is still to be clarified. Connecting all splicing features (genes, splice transcripts, isoforms, and relative functions) may be useful to resolve this tangle. Herein, we will start from the case of a single gene, Parkinson protein 2, E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (PARK2), one of the largest in our genome. This gene is implicated in the pathogenesis of autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism and it has been recently linked to cancer, leprosy, autism, type 2 diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease. PARK2 primary transcript undergoes an extensive alternative splicing, which enhances transcriptomic diversification and protein diversity in tissues and cells. This review will provide an update of all human PARK2 alternative splice transcripts and isoforms presently known, and correlate them to those in rat and mouse, two common animal models for studying human disease genes. Alternative splicing relies upon a complex process that could be easily altered by both cis and trans-acting mutations. Although the contribution of PARK2 splicing in human disease remains to be fully explored, some evidences show disruption of this versatile form of genetic regulation may have pathological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina La Cognata
- 1Functional Genomics Center, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Italian National Research Council, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Rosario Iemmolo
- 1Functional Genomics Center, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Italian National Research Council, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Velia D'Agata
- 2Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Soraya Scuderi
- 2Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Filippo Drago
- 3Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, Section of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Mario Zappia
- 4Department "G.F. Ingrassia", Section of Neuroscience, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- 1Functional Genomics Center, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Italian National Research Council, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95125, Catania, Italy
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Ogundele OM, Okunnuga AA, Fabiyi TD, Olajide OJ, Akinrinade ID, Adeniyi PA, Ojo AA. NMDA-R inhibition affects cellular process formation in Tilapia melanocytes; a model for pigmented adrenergic neurons in process formation and retraction. Metab Brain Dis 2014; 29:541-51. [PMID: 24242214 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-013-9447-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease has long been described to be a product of dopamine and (or) melanin loss in the substanstia nigra (SN). Although most studies have focused on dopaminergic neurons, it is important to consider the role of pigment cells in the etiology of the disease and to create an in vitro live cell model for studies involving pigmented adrenergic cells of the SN in Parkinsonism. The Melanocytes share specific features with the pigmented adrenergic neurons as both cells are pigmented, contain adrenergic receptors and have cellular processes. Although the melanocyte cellular processes are relatively short and observable only when stimulated appropriately by epinephrine and other factors or molecules. This study employs the manipulation of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (NMDA-R), a major receptor in neuronal development, in the process formation pattern of the melanocyte in order to create a suitable model to depict cellular process elongation and shortening in pigmented adrenergic cells. NMDA-R is an important glutamate receptor implicated in neurogenesis, neuronal migration, maturation and cell death, thus we investigated the role of NMDA-R potentiation by glutamate/KCN and its inhibition by ketamine in the behavior of fish scale melanocytes in vitro. This is aimed at establishing the regulatory role of NMDA-R in this cell type (melanocytes isolated form Tilapia) in a similar manner to what is observable in the mammalian neurons. In vitro live cell culture was prepared in modified Ringer's solution following which the cells were treated as follows; Control, Glutamate, Ketamine, Glutamate + Ketamine, KCN + Ketamine and KCN. The culture was maintained for 10 min and the changes were captured in 3D-Time frame at 0, 5 and 10 min for the control and 5, 7 and 10 min for each of the treatment category. Glutamate treatment caused formation of short cellular processes localized directly on the cell body while ketamine treatment (inhibition of NMDA-R) facilitated elongation of secondary cellular processes (highly branched) from primary major processes (Less branched); co-incubation of glutamate and ketamine induced short and highly branched process formation. Cyanide toxicity induced degeneration and reduction of cell size while co-treatment of cyanide and ketamine gave changes similar to that observed in glutamate-ketamine co-incubation. NMDA-R is present in the melanocytes. Activation of the receptor reduced elongation process, while inhibition of the receptor facilitated cell process elongation and branching. This confirms that like pigmented adrenergic cells of the nervous system, this cell contains NMDA-R and this receptor also regulates cell process elongation. The study also showed that inhibition of NMDA-R in melanocytes gave opposite outcomes to the role of the receptor in developing neurons; a function that is protective in adult neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olalekan Michael Ogundele
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria,
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Cabello J, Sämann J, Gómez-Orte E, Erazo T, Coppa A, Pujol A, Büssing I, Schulze B, Lizcano JM, Ferrer I, Baumeister R, Dalfo E. PDR-1/hParkin negatively regulates the phagocytosis of apoptotic cell corpses in Caenorhabditis elegans. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1120. [PMID: 24625979 PMCID: PMC3973248 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Revised: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Apoptotic cell death is an integral part of cell turnover in many tissues, and proper corpse clearance is vital to maintaining tissue homeostasis in all multicellular organisms. Even in tissues with high cellular turnover, apoptotic cells are rarely seen because of efficient clearance mechanisms in healthy individuals. In Caenorhabditis elegans, two parallel and partly redundant conserved pathways act in cell corpse engulfment. The pathway for cytoskeletal rearrangement requires the small GTPase CED-10 Rac1 acting for an efficient surround of the dead cell. The CED-10 Rac pathway is also required for the proper migration of the distal tip cells (DTCs) during the development of the C. elegans gonad. Parkin, the mammalian homolog of the C. elegans PDR-1, interacts with Rac1 in aged human brain and it is also implicated with actin dynamics and cytoskeletal rearrangements in Parkinsons's disease, suggesting that it might act on engulfment. Our genetic and biochemical studies indicate that PDR-1 inhibits apoptotic cell engulfment and DTC migration by ubiquitylating CED-10 for degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Cabello
- CIBIR (Centre for Biomedical Research of La Rioja), C/Piqueras 98, Logroño 26006, Spain
| | - J Sämann
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics (Faculty of Biology), Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Research (Faculty of Medicine), Schänzlestrasse 1, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | - E Gómez-Orte
- CIBIR (Centre for Biomedical Research of La Rioja), C/Piqueras 98, Logroño 26006, Spain
| | - T Erazo
- Institut de Neurociències, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - A Coppa
- Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory, Institut D'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08907, Spain
| | - A Pujol
- 1] Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory, Institut D'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08907, Spain [2] ICREA (Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis avançats), Barcelona, Spain [3] Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospitall Bellvitge - University of Barcelona - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Ciberned, Spain [4] CIBERER (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Enfermedades Raras), C/ Álvaro de Bazán, 10 Bajo, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - I Büssing
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics (Faculty of Biology), Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Research (Faculty of Medicine), Schänzlestrasse 1, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | - B Schulze
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics (Faculty of Biology), Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Research (Faculty of Medicine), Schänzlestrasse 1, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | - J M Lizcano
- Institut de Neurociències, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - I Ferrer
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospitall Bellvitge - University of Barcelona - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Ciberned, Spain
| | - R Baumeister
- 1] Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics (Faculty of Biology), Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Research (Faculty of Medicine), Schänzlestrasse 1, Freiburg 79104, Germany [2] Centre for Biological Signaling Studies (bioss), University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79104, Germany [3] FRIAS Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, Section Life Sciences (LIFENET), University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | - E Dalfo
- 1] Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics (Faculty of Biology), Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Research (Faculty of Medicine), Schänzlestrasse 1, Freiburg 79104, Germany [2] Neurometabolic Diseases Laboratory, Institut D'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08907, Spain [3] Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospitall Bellvitge - University of Barcelona - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Ciberned, Spain [4] CIBERER (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Enfermedades Raras), C/ Álvaro de Bazán, 10 Bajo, Valencia 46010, Spain
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Chakraborty S, Bornhorst J, Nguyen TT, Aschner M. Oxidative stress mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease-associated neurodegeneration in C. elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:23103-28. [PMID: 24284401 PMCID: PMC3856108 DOI: 10.3390/ijms141123103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Revised: 10/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress is thought to play a significant role in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Although it is currently considered a hallmark of such processes, the interweaving of a multitude of signaling cascades hinders complete understanding of the direct role of oxidative stress in neurodegeneration. In addition to its extensive use as an aging model, some researchers have turned to the invertebrate model Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in order to further investigate molecular mediators that either exacerbate or protect against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated neurodegeneration. Due to their fully characterized genome and short life cycle, rapid generation of C. elegans genetic models can be useful to study upstream markers of oxidative stress within interconnected signaling pathways. This report will focus on the roles of C. elegans homologs for the oxidative stress-associated transcription factor Nrf2, as well as the autosomal recessive, early-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD)-associated proteins Parkin, DJ-1, and PINK1, in neurodegenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudipta Chakraborty
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; E-Mail:
- Center in Molecular Toxicology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Julia Bornhorst
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Thuy T. Nguyen
- Center in Molecular Toxicology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; E-Mail:
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Center in Molecular Toxicology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; E-Mail:
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; E-Mail:
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +1-718-430-2317
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Li J, Le W. Modeling neurodegenerative diseases in Caenorhabditis elegans. Exp Neurol 2013; 250:94-103. [PMID: 24095843 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Revised: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases which include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington disease (HD), and others are becoming an increasing threat to human health worldwide. The degeneration and death of certain specific groups of neurons are the hallmarks of these diseases. Despite the research progress in identification of several disease-related genes, the mechanisms underlying the neurodegeneration in these diseases remain unclear. Given the molecular conservation in neuronal signaling between Caenorhabditis elegans and vertebrates, an increasing number of research scientists have used the nematode to study this group of diseases. This review paper will focus on the model system that has been established in C. elegans to investigate the pathogenetic roles of those reported disease-related genes in AD, PD, ALS, HD and others. The progress in C. elegans provides useful information of the genetic interactions and molecular pathways that are critical in the disease process, and may help better our understanding of the disease mechanisms and search for new therapeutics for these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Li
- Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China
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Raslan AA, Kee Y. Tackling neurodegenerative diseases: animal models of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Genes Genomics 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s13258-013-0116-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Martinez-Finley EJ, Chakraborty S, Slaughter JC, Aschner M. Early-life exposure to methylmercury in wildtype and pdr-1/parkin knockout C. elegans. Neurochem Res 2013; 38:1543-52. [PMID: 23609499 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-013-1054-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Revised: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We examined the impact of early-life exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) on Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) pdr-1 mutants, addressing gene-environment interactions. We tested the hypothesis that early-life exposure to MeHg and knockout (KO) of pdr-1 (mammalian: parkin/PARK2) exacerbates MeHg toxicity and damage to the dopaminergic (DAergic) system. pdr-1KO worms showed increased lethality and decreased lifespan following MeHg exposure. Mercury (Hg) content, measured with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was increased in pdr-1KO worms compared to wildtype (N2) controls. 2'7' dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay revealed a significant increase in reactive oxygen species in both strains following MeHg exposure; however, while N2 worms showed an increase in skn-1 transcript levels following MeHg exposure, there was no difference in skn-1 induction in pdr-1KO worms. Dopamine-dependent behavioral analysis revealed an effect of MeHg on N2 wildtype worms, but no effect on pdr-1KO worms. Taken together, these results suggest that pdr-1KO worms are more sensitive to MeHg than wildtype worms, but MeHg does not exacerbate behavioral changes related to the absence of pdr-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebany J Martinez-Finley
- Division of Pediatric Toxicology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 11425 MRB IV, 2215-B Garland Ave., Nashville, TN, 37232-0414, USA.
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Baptista MS, Duarte CB, Maciel P. Role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in nervous system function and disease: using C. elegans as a dissecting tool. Cell Mol Life Sci 2012; 69:2691-715. [PMID: 22382927 PMCID: PMC11115168 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-012-0946-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2011] [Revised: 02/13/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
In addition to its central roles in protein quality control, regulation of cell cycle, intracellular signaling, DNA damage response and transcription regulation, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays specific roles in the nervous system, where it contributes to precise connectivity through development, and later assures functionality by regulating a wide spectrum of neuron-specific cellular processes. Aberrations in this system have been implicated in the etiology of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we provide an updated view on the UPS and highlight recent findings concerning its role in normal and diseased nervous systems. We discuss the advantages of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans as a tool to unravel the major unsolved questions concerning this biochemical pathway and its involvement in nervous system function and dysfunction, and expose the new possibilities, using state-of-the-art techniques, to assess UPS function using this model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márcio S Baptista
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
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Abstract
Animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) have been widely used in the past four decades to investigate the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of this neurodegenerative disorder. These models have been classically based on the systemic or local (intracerebral) administration of neutoxins that are able to replicate most of the pathological and phenotypic features of PD in mammals (i.e. rodents or primates). In the last decade, the advent of the 'genetic era' of PD has provided a phenomenal enrichment of the research possibilities in this field, with the development of various mammalian (mice and, more recently, rats) and non-mammalian transgenic models that replicate most of the disease-causing mutations identified for monogenic forms of familial PD. Both toxic and transgenic classes of animal PD models have their own specificities and limitations, which must be carefully taken into consideration when choosing the model to be used. If a substantial and reproducible nigrostriatal lesion is required (e.g. for testing therapeutic interventions aimed at counteracting PD-related cell death), a classic toxic model such as one based on the administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine or 6-hydroxydopamine will adequately serve the purpose. On the other hand, if selected molecular mechanisms of PD pathogenesis must be investigated, transgenic models will offer invaluable insights. Therefore, until the 'perfect' model is developed, indications to use one model or another will depend on the specific objectives that are being pursued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Blandini
- Interdepartmental Research Center for Parkinson's Disease, IRCCS National Neurological Institute C. Mondino, Pavia, Italy.
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Hoppe T. Too salty for worms: hypertonic stress challenges proteostasis networks. Focus on "Hypertonic stress induces rapid and widespread protein damage in C. elegans". Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2011; 301:C555-6. [PMID: 21715701 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00206.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Pandey UB, Nichols CD. Human disease models in Drosophila melanogaster and the role of the fly in therapeutic drug discovery. Pharmacol Rev 2011; 63:411-36. [PMID: 21415126 DOI: 10.1124/pr.110.003293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 658] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a well studied and highly tractable genetic model organism for understanding molecular mechanisms of human diseases. Many basic biological, physiological, and neurological properties are conserved between mammals and D. melanogaster, and nearly 75% of human disease-causing genes are believed to have a functional homolog in the fly. In the discovery process for therapeutics, traditional approaches employ high-throughput screening for small molecules that is based primarily on in vitro cell culture, enzymatic assays, or receptor binding assays. The majority of positive hits identified through these types of in vitro screens, unfortunately, are found to be ineffective and/or toxic in subsequent validation experiments in whole-animal models. New tools and platforms are needed in the discovery arena to overcome these limitations. The incorporation of D. melanogaster into the therapeutic discovery process holds tremendous promise for an enhanced rate of discovery of higher quality leads. D. melanogaster models of human diseases provide several unique features such as powerful genetics, highly conserved disease pathways, and very low comparative costs. The fly can effectively be used for low- to high-throughput drug screens as well as in target discovery. Here, we review the basic biology of the fly and discuss models of human diseases and opportunities for therapeutic discovery for central nervous system disorders, inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. We also provide information and resources for those interested in pursuing fly models of human disease, as well as those interested in using D. melanogaster in the drug discovery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udai Bhan Pandey
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1901 Perdido St., New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Hisahara S, Shimohama S. Toxin-induced and genetic animal models of Parkinson's disease. PARKINSONS DISEASE 2010; 2011:951709. [PMID: 21234368 PMCID: PMC3014721 DOI: 10.4061/2011/951709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2010] [Accepted: 10/31/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The major pathological hallmarks of PD are the selective loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and the presence of intraneuronal aggregates termed Lewy bodies (LBs), but the pathophysiological mechanisms are not fully understood. Epidemiologically, environmental neurotoxins such as pesticides are promising candidates for causative factors of PD. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by these toxins could contribute to the progression of PD. While most cases of PD are sporadic, specific mutations in genes that cause familial forms of PD have led to provide new insights into its pathogenesis. This paper focuses on animal models of both toxin-induced and genetically determined PD that have provided significant insight for understanding this disease. We also discuss the validity, benefits, and limitations of representative models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Hisahara
- Department of Neurology, Sapporo Medical University, South1, West17, chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan
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