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Xie Y, Tan Y, Wen X, Deng W, Yu J, Li M, Meng F, Wang X, Zhu D. The Expression and Function of Notch Involved in Ovarian Development and Fecundity in Basilepta melanopus. INSECTS 2024; 15:292. [PMID: 38667422 PMCID: PMC11050577 DOI: 10.3390/insects15040292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Basilepta melanopus is a pest that severely affects oil tea plants, and the Notch signaling pathway plays a significant role in the early development of insect ovaries. In this study, we explored the function of the notch gene within the Notch signaling pathway in the reproductive system of B. melanopus. The functional domains and expression patterns of Bmnotch were analyzed. Bmnotch contains 45 epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domains, one negative regulatory region, one NODP domain and one repeat-containing domain superfamily. The qPCR reveals heightened expression in early developmental stages and specific tissues like the head and ovaries. The RNA interference (RNAi)-based suppression of notch decreased its expression by 52.1%, exhibiting heightened sensitivity to dsNotch at lower concentrations. Phenotypic and mating experiments have demonstrated that dsNotch significantly impairs ovarian development, leading to reduced mating frequencies and egg production. This decline underscores the Notch pathway's crucial role in fecundity. The findings advocate for RNAi-based, Notch-targeted pest control as an effective and sustainable strategy for managing B. melanopus populations, signifying a significant advancement in forest pest control endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Xie
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (Y.X.); (Y.T.); (F.M.)
- Institute of Forestry and Grassland Protection, Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha 410018, China; (W.D.); (J.Y.); (M.L.)
| | - Yifan Tan
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (Y.X.); (Y.T.); (F.M.)
| | - Xuanye Wen
- Center for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110031, China;
| | - Wan Deng
- Institute of Forestry and Grassland Protection, Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha 410018, China; (W.D.); (J.Y.); (M.L.)
| | - Jinxiu Yu
- Institute of Forestry and Grassland Protection, Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha 410018, China; (W.D.); (J.Y.); (M.L.)
| | - Mi Li
- Institute of Forestry and Grassland Protection, Hunan Academy of Forestry, Changsha 410018, China; (W.D.); (J.Y.); (M.L.)
| | - Fanhui Meng
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (Y.X.); (Y.T.); (F.M.)
| | - Xiudan Wang
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (Y.X.); (Y.T.); (F.M.)
| | - Daohong Zhu
- Laboratory of Insect Behavior and Evolutionary Ecology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; (Y.X.); (Y.T.); (F.M.)
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Mizuta I, Nakao-Azuma Y, Yoshida H, Yamaguchi M, Mizuno T. Progress to Clarify How NOTCH3 Mutations Lead to CADASIL, a Hereditary Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. Biomolecules 2024; 14:127. [PMID: 38254727 PMCID: PMC10813265 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is conserved in C. elegans, Drosophila, and mammals. Among the four NOTCH genes in humans, NOTCH1, NOTCH2, and NOTCH3 are known to cause monogenic hereditary disorders. Most NOTCH-related disorders are congenital and caused by a gain or loss of Notch signaling activity. In contrast, cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) caused by NOTCH3 is adult-onset and considered to be caused by accumulation of the mutant NOTCH3 extracellular domain (N3ECD) and, possibly, by an impairment in Notch signaling. Pathophysiological processes following mutant N3ECD accumulation have been intensively investigated; however, the process leading to N3ECD accumulation and its association with canonical NOTCH3 signaling remain unknown. We reviewed the progress in clarifying the pathophysiological process involving mutant NOTCH3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikuko Mizuta
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; (I.M.)
| | - Yumiko Nakao-Azuma
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; (I.M.)
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hideki Yoshida
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Yamaguchi
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
- Kansai Gakken Laboratory, Kankyo Eisei Yakuhin Co., Ltd., 3-6-2 Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Kyoto 619-0237, Japan
| | - Toshiki Mizuno
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; (I.M.)
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Mao J, Wang Y, Wang B, Li J, Zhang C, Zhang W, Li X, Li J, Zhang J, Li H, Zhang Z. High-quality haplotype-resolved genome assembly of cultivated octoploid strawberry. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad002. [PMID: 37077373 PMCID: PMC10108017 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa), a perennial herb belonging to the family Rosaceae, is a complex octoploid with high heterozygosity at most loci. However, there is no research on the haplotype of the octoploid strawberry genome. Here we aimed to obtain a high-quality genome of the cultivated strawberry cultivar, "Yanli", using single molecule real-time sequencing and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture technology. The "Yanli" genome was 823 Mb in size, with a long terminal repeat assembly index of 14.99. The genome was phased into two haplotypes, Hap1 (825 Mb with contig N50 of 26.70 Mb) and Hap2 (808 Mb with contig N50 of 27.51 Mb). Using the combination of Hap1 and Hap2, we obtained for the first time a haplotype-resolved genome with 56 chromosomes for the cultivated octoploid strawberry. We identified a ~ 10 Mb inversion and translocation on chromosome 2-1. 104 957 and 102 356 protein-coding genes were annotated in Hap1 and Hap2, respectively. Analysis of the genes related to the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway revealed the structural diversity and complexity in the expression of the alleles in the octoploid F. × ananassa genome. In summary, we obtained a high-quality haplotype-resolved genome assembly of F. × ananassa, which will provide the foundation for investigating gene function and evolution of the genome of cultivated octoploid strawberry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Baotian Wang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Strawberry Breeding and Cultivation, College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Jiqi Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Strawberry Breeding and Cultivation, College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Strawberry Breeding and Cultivation, College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Wenshuo Zhang
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xue Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Strawberry Breeding and Cultivation, College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Jie Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Strawberry Breeding and Cultivation, College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Junxiang Zhang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Strawberry Breeding and Cultivation, College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Shenyang Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - He Li
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Strawberry Breeding and Cultivation, College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
- Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Shenyang Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang 110866, China
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Barish S, Senturk M, Schoch K, Minogue AL, Lopergolo D, Fallerini C, Harland J, Seemann JH, Stong N, Kranz PG, Kansagra S, Mikati MA, Jasien J, El-Dairi M, Galluzzi P, Ariani F, Renieri A, Mari F, Wangler MF, Arur S, Jiang YH, Yamamoto S, Shashi V, Bellen HJ. The microRNA processor DROSHA is a candidate gene for a severe progressive neurological disorder. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:2934-2950. [PMID: 35405010 PMCID: PMC9433733 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
DROSHA encodes a ribonuclease that is a subunit of the Microprocessor complex and is involved in the first step of microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. To date, DROSHA has not yet been associated with a Mendelian disease. Here, we describe two individuals with profound intellectual disability, epilepsy, white matter atrophy, microcephaly and dysmorphic features, who carry damaging de novo heterozygous variants in DROSHA. DROSHA is constrained for missense variants and moderately intolerant to loss-of-function (o/e = 0.24). The loss of the fruit fly ortholog drosha causes developmental arrest and death in third instar larvae, a severe reduction in brain size and loss of imaginal discs in the larva. Loss of drosha in eye clones causes small and rough eyes in adult flies. One of the identified DROSHA variants (p.Asp1219Gly) behaves as a strong loss-of-function allele in flies, while another variant (p.Arg1342Trp) is less damaging in our assays. In worms, a knock-in that mimics the p.Asp1219Gly variant at a worm equivalent residue causes loss of miRNA expression and heterochronicity, a phenotype characteristic of the loss of miRNA. Together, our data show that the DROSHA variants found in the individuals presented here are damaging based on functional studies in model organisms and likely underlie the severe phenotype involving the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Barish
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mumine Senturk
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kelly Schoch
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Amanda L Minogue
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Diego Lopergolo
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Chiara Fallerini
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Jake Harland
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jacob H Seemann
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nicholas Stong
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Peter G Kranz
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Duke Health, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sujay Kansagra
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Mohamad A Mikati
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Joan Jasien
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Mays El-Dairi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke Health, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Paolo Galluzzi
- Department of Medical Genetics, NeuroImaging and NeuroInterventional Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera e Universitaria, Senese, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Francesca Ariani
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Alessandra Renieri
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Francesca Mari
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Michael F Wangler
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Swathi Arur
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yong-Hui Jiang
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Vandana Shashi
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Hugo J Bellen
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, BCM, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Broit N, Johansson PA, Rodgers CB, Walpole S, Hayward NK, Pritchard AL. Systematic review and meta-analysis of genomic alterations in acral melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2022; 35:369-386. [PMID: 35229492 PMCID: PMC9540316 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Acral melanoma (AM) tumors arise on the palms, soles, fingers, toes, and nailbeds. A comprehensive systematic meta-analysis of AM genomic aberrations has not been conducted to date. A literature review was carried out to identify studies sequencing AM. Whole-genome/exome data from 181 samples were identified. Targeted panel sequencing data from MSK-IMPACT were included as a validation cohort (n = 92), and studies using targeted hot spot sequencing were also collated for BRAF (n = 26 studies), NRAS (n = 21), and KIT (n = 32). Statistical analysis indicated BRAF, NRAS, PTEN, TYRP1, and KIT as significantly mutated genes. Frequent copy-number aberrations were also found for important cancer genes, such as CDKN2A, KIT, MDM2, CCND1, CDK4, and PAK1, among others. Mapping genomic alterations within the context of the hallmarks of cancer identified four components frequently altered, including (i) sustained proliferative signaling and (ii) evading growth suppression, (iii) genome instability and mutation, and (iv) enabling replicative immortality. This analysis provides the largest analysis of genomic aberrations in AM in the literature to date and highlights pathways that may be therapeutically targetable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasa Broit
- Oncogenomics GroupQIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Peter A. Johansson
- Oncogenomics GroupQIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Chloe B. Rodgers
- Genetics and Immunology GroupUniversity of the Highlands and IslandsInvernessUK
| | - Sebastian T. Walpole
- Oncogenomics GroupQIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Nicholas K. Hayward
- Oncogenomics GroupQIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Antonia L. Pritchard
- Oncogenomics GroupQIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
- Genetics and Immunology GroupUniversity of the Highlands and IslandsInvernessUK
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Fu X, Yang Y, Zhang D. Molecular mechanism of albumin in suppressing invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver Int 2022; 42:696-709. [PMID: 34854209 PMCID: PMC9299813 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of death in people. Albumin (ALB) is considered as an important indicator for HCC prognosis, and evidence has shown HCC cell growth can be regulated by ALB. However, the role of ALB in hepatocarcinogenesis and the mechanism of action is still unknown. METHODS The expression of ALB was determined by clinical profiles, immunohistochemistry, and western blot. Wound healing and Transwell assays were conducted to evaluate the effects of ALB during migration and invasion in HCC. We used mass spectrometry coupled isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-technology to identify secretory differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in ALB knockdown HepG2 cells. Western blot, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques were used for verification. RESULTS We suggested that ALB was associated with aggressive metastasis and depleting ALB significantly promoted invasion and migration of HCC. A total of 210 DEPs were identified after silencing of ALB. We observed that a negative correlation between ALB and urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor (uPAR) expression levels. CONCLUSIONS ALB acts as a tumour suppressor and plays a key role in HCC progression, particularly in invasion and metastasis. Suppression of ALB promoted migration and invasion of HCC cells by increasing uPAR, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP2), and MMP9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Fu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yixuan Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Dazhi Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
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Yang SA, Salazar JL, Li-Kroeger D, Yamamoto S. Functional Studies of Genetic Variants Associated with Human Diseases in Notch Signaling-Related Genes Using Drosophila. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2472:235-276. [PMID: 35674905 PMCID: PMC9396741 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2201-8_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rare variants in the many genes related to Notch signaling cause diverse Mendelian diseases that affect myriad organ systems. In addition, genome- and exome-wide association studies have linked common and rare variants in Notch-related genes to common diseases and phenotypic traits. Moreover, somatic mutations in these genes have been observed in many types of cancer, some of which are classified as oncogenic and others as tumor suppressive. While functional characterization of some of these variants has been performed through experimental studies, the number of "variants of unknown significance" identified in patients with diverse conditions keeps increasing as high-throughput sequencing technologies become more commonly used in the clinic. Furthermore, as disease gene discovery efforts identify rare variants in human genes that have yet to be linked to a disease, the demand for functional characterization of variants in these "genes of unknown significance" continues to increase. In this chapter, we describe a workflow to functionally characterize a rare variant in a Notch signaling related gene that was found to be associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease. This pipeline involves informatic analysis of the variant of interest using diverse human and model organism databases, followed by in vivo experiments in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The protocol described here can be used to study variants that affect amino acids that are not conserved between human and fly. By "humanizing" the almondex gene in Drosophila with mutant alleles and heterologous genomic rescue constructs, a missense variant in TM2D3 (TM2 Domain Containing 3) was shown to be functionally damaging. This, and similar approaches, greatly facilitate functional interpretations of genetic variants in the human genome and propel personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-An Yang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jose L Salazar
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David Li-Kroeger
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Development, Disease Models and Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Singh R, Smit RB, Wang X, Wang C, Racher H, Hansen D. Reduction of Derlin activity suppresses Notch-dependent tumours in the C. elegans germ line. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009687. [PMID: 34555015 PMCID: PMC8491880 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulating the balance between self-renewal (proliferation) and differentiation is key to the long-term functioning of all stem cell pools. In the Caenorhabditis elegans germline, the primary signal controlling this balance is the conserved Notch signaling pathway. Gain-of-function mutations in the GLP-1/Notch receptor cause increased stem cell self-renewal, resulting in a tumour of proliferating germline stem cells. Notch gain-of-function mutations activate the receptor, even in the presence of little or no ligand, and have been associated with many human diseases, including cancers. We demonstrate that reduction in CUP-2 and DER-2 function, which are Derlin family proteins that function in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD), suppresses the C. elegans germline over-proliferation phenotype associated with glp-1(gain-of-function) mutations. We further demonstrate that their reduction does not suppress other mutations that cause over-proliferation, suggesting that over-proliferation suppression due to loss of Derlin activity is specific to glp-1/Notch (gain-of-function) mutations. Reduction of CUP-2 Derlin activity reduces the expression of a read-out of GLP-1/Notch signaling, suggesting that the suppression of over-proliferation in Derlin loss-of-function mutants is due to a reduction in the activity of the mutated GLP-1/Notch(GF) receptor. Over-proliferation suppression in cup-2 mutants is only seen when the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is functioning properly, suggesting that the suppression, and reduction in GLP-1/Notch signaling levels, observed in Derlin mutants may be the result of activation of the UPR. Chemically inducing ER stress also suppress glp-1(gf) over-proliferation but not other mutations that cause over-proliferation. Therefore, ER stress and activation of the UPR may help correct for increased GLP-1/Notch signaling levels, and associated over-proliferation, in the C. elegans germline. Notch signaling is a highly conserved signaling pathway that is utilized in many cell fate decisions in many organisms. In the C. elegans germline, Notch signaling is the primary signal that regulates the balance between stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Notch gain-of-function mutations cause the receptor to be active, even when a signal that is normally needed to activate the receptor is absent. In the germline of C. elegans, gain-of-function mutations in GLP-1, a Notch receptor, results in over-proliferation of the stem cells and tumour formation. Here we demonstrate that a reduction or loss of Derlin activity, which is a conserved family of proteins involved in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD), suppresses over-proliferation due to GLP-1/Notch gain-of-function mutations. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a surveillance mechanism utilized in cells to monitor and react to proteins that are not folded properly (Unfolded Protein Response-UPR) must be functioning well in order for the loss of Derlin activity to supress over-proliferation caused by glp-1/Notch gain-of-function mutations. This suggests that activation of the UPR may be the mechanism at work for suppressing this type of over-proliferation, when Derlin activity is reduced. Therefore, decreasing Derlin activity may be a means of reducing the impact of phenotypes and diseases due to certain Notch gain-of-function mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Ryan B. Smit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Chris Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Hilary Racher
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Dave Hansen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Dutta D, Sharma V, Mutsuddi M, Mukherjee A. Regulation of Notch signaling by E3 ubiquitin ligases. FEBS J 2021; 289:937-954. [PMID: 33644958 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that is widely used for multiple cellular events during development. Activation of the Notch pathway occurs when the ligand from a neighboring cell binds to the Notch receptor and induces cleavage of the intracellular domain of Notch, which further translocates into the nucleus to activate its downstream genes. The involvement of the Notch pathway in diverse biological events is possible due to the complexity in its regulation. In order to maintain tight spatiotemporal regulation, the Notch receptor, as well as its ligand, undergoes a series of physical and biochemical modifications that, in turn, helps in proper maintenance and fine-tuning of the signaling outcome. Ubiquitination is the post-translational addition of a ubiquitin molecule to a substrate protein, and the process is regulated by E3 ubiquitin ligases. The present review describes the involvement of different E3 ubiquitin ligases that play an important role in the regulation and maintenance of proper Notch signaling and how perturbation in ubiquitination results in abnormal Notch signaling leading to a number of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debdeep Dutta
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Vartika Sharma
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Mousumi Mutsuddi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Ashim Mukherjee
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
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Shah PA, Huang C, Li Q, Kazi SA, Byers LA, Wang J, Johnson FM, Frederick MJ. NOTCH1 Signaling in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cells 2020; 9:cells9122677. [PMID: 33322834 PMCID: PMC7764697 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomarker-driven targeted therapies are lacking for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which is common and lethal. Efforts to develop such therapies are hindered by a genomic landscape dominated by the loss of tumor suppressor function, including NOTCH1 that is frequently mutated in HNSCC. Clearer understanding of NOTCH1 signaling in HNSCCs is crucial to clinically targeting this pathway. Structural characterization of NOTCH1 mutations in HNSCC demonstrates that most are predicted to cause loss of function, in agreement with NOTCH1's role as a tumor suppressor in this cancer. Experimental manipulation of NOTCH1 signaling in HNSCC cell lines harboring either mutant or wild-type NOTCH1 further supports a tumor suppressor function. Additionally, the loss of NOTCH1 signaling can drive HNSCC tumorigenesis and clinical aggressiveness. Our recent data suggest that NOTCH1 controls genes involved in early differentiation that could have different phenotypic consequences depending on the cancer's genetic background, including acquisition of pseudo-stem cell-like properties. The presence of NOTCH1 mutations may predict response to treatment with an immune checkpoint or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. The latter is being tested in a clinical trial, and if validated, it may lead to the development of the first biomarker-driven targeted therapy for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja A. Shah
- Department of Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (P.A.S.); (L.A.B.)
| | - Chenfei Huang
- Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (C.H.); (M.J.F.)
| | - Qiuli Li
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China;
| | - Sawad A. Kazi
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
| | - Lauren A. Byers
- Department of Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (P.A.S.); (L.A.B.)
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Jing Wang
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Faye M. Johnson
- Department of Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (P.A.S.); (L.A.B.)
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-713–792-6363; Fax: +1-713-792-1220
| | - Mitchell J. Frederick
- Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (C.H.); (M.J.F.)
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Sangiuliano LDC, de Oliveira Filho RS, de Oliveira DA, Gomes HC, Ferreira LM. Identification and quantification of notch receptors in human cutaneous melanoma using molecular biology techniques: literature review. SURGICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1186/s42047-020-00069-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The Notch signaling pathway and its modulators are directly related to growth, verticalization and metastasis in melanoma, being a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of this type of cancer. There are several methods of molecular biology to identify and quantify Notch receptors and it is essential to study them for understanding the different results, advantages and disadvantages of each.
Main body
The present study brings a bibliographic review on the molecular biology methods used in the identification and quantification of these molecules, aiming to facilitate research involving Notch receptors in human melanoma. We identified as main methods of molecular biology Western Blotting, Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and DNA microarrays. A brief description of these methodologies is made and the advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed. Results concerning the function of this pathway are also discussed.
Short conclusion
It is known that the activation of Notch receptors is tumorigenic in most cases, however, depending on the microenvironment, it can provide tumor suppression. The adequate choice and use of the methodology for identification and quantification of Notch receptors is essential for the progress of knowledge of this important signaling pathway, which, certainly, will allow advances in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma.
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