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Thomas MH, Gui Y, Garcia P, Karout M, Gomez Ramos B, Jaeger C, Michelucci A, Gaigneaux A, Kollmus H, Centeno A, Schughart K, Balling R, Mittelbronn M, Nadeau JH, Sauter T, Williams RW, Sinkkonen L, Buttini M. Quantitative trait locus mapping identifies a locus linked to striatal dopamine and points to collagen IV alpha-6 chain as a novel regulator of striatal axonal branching in mice. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 20:e12769. [PMID: 34453370 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Dopaminergic neurons (DA neurons) are controlled by multiple factors, many involved in neurological disease. Parkinson's disease motor symptoms are caused by the demise of nigral DA neurons, leading to loss of striatal dopamine (DA). Here, we measured DA concentration in the dorsal striatum of 32 members of Collaborative Cross (CC) family and their eight founder strains. Striatal DA varied greatly in founders, and differences were highly heritable in the inbred CC progeny. We identified a locus, containing 164 genes, linked to DA concentration in the dorsal striatum on chromosome X. We used RNAseq profiling of the ventral midbrain of two founders with substantial difference in striatal DA-C56BL/6 J and A/J-to highlight potential protein-coding candidates modulating this trait. Among the five differentially expressed genes within the locus, we found that the gene coding for the collagen IV alpha 6 chain (Col4a6) was expressed nine times less in A/J than in C57BL/6J. Using single cell RNA-seq data from developing human midbrain, we found that COL4A6 is highly expressed in radial glia-like cells and neuronal progenitors, indicating a role in neuronal development. Collagen IV alpha-6 chain (COL4A6) controls axogenesis in simple model organisms. Consistent with these findings, A/J mice had less striatal axonal branching than C57BL/6J mice. We tentatively conclude that DA concentration and axonal branching in dorsal striatum are modulated by COL4A6, possibly during development. Our study shows that genetic mapping based on an easily measured Central Nervous System (CNS) trait, using the CC population, combined with follow-up observations, can parse heritability of such a trait, and nominate novel functions for commonly expressed proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie H Thomas
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.,Luxembourg Centre of Neuropathology (LCNP), Luxembourg
| | - Yujuan Gui
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Pierre Garcia
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.,Luxembourg Centre of Neuropathology (LCNP), Luxembourg.,National Center of Pathology (NCP), Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Mona Karout
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Borja Gomez Ramos
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.,Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Christian Jaeger
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Alessandro Michelucci
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.,Neuro-Immunology Group, Department of Oncology (DONC), Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Anthoula Gaigneaux
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Heike Kollmus
- Department of Infection Genetics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Arthur Centeno
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Klaus Schughart
- Department of Infection Genetics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.,University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Rudi Balling
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Michel Mittelbronn
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.,Luxembourg Centre of Neuropathology (LCNP), Luxembourg.,Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg.,National Center of Pathology (NCP), Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange, Luxembourg.,Neuro-Immunology Group, Department of Oncology (DONC), Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Joseph H Nadeau
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA
| | - Thomas Sauter
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Robert W Williams
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Lasse Sinkkonen
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM), University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Manuel Buttini
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.,Luxembourg Centre of Neuropathology (LCNP), Luxembourg
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Tran Q, Sudasinghe A, Jones B, Xiong K, Cohen RE, Sharlin DS, Hartert KT, Goellner GM. FAM171B is a novel polyglutamine protein widely expressed in the mammalian brain. Brain Res 2021; 1766:147540. [PMID: 34052262 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147540] [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: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Mutation in proteins containing polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts has been shown to underlie a number of severe human neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington's Disease and Spinocerebellar Ataxia. In this study, we identify and describe FAM171B as a novel polyQ protein containing fourteen consecutive glutamine residues in its National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) referenced sequence. Utilizing western blotting, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate that FAM171B is widely expressed in mouse brain with pronounced localization in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex. Furthermore, immunofluorescence experiments reveal that FAM171B predominantly localizes to vesicle-like structures in the cytoplasm of neurons. Finally, bioinformatic analysis suggests that FAM171B is robustly expressed in human brain, and (similar to other polyQ disease genes) its polyQ tract is polymorphic within the general human population. Thus, as a polyQ protein that is expressed in brain, FAM171B should be considered a candidate gene for an as yet molecularly uncharacterized neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Tran
- Department of Biological Sciences, Trafton South 242, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 56001, United States
| | - Ashani Sudasinghe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Trafton South 242, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 56001, United States
| | - Brooke Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, Trafton South 242, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 56001, United States
| | - Ka Xiong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Trafton South 242, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 56001, United States
| | - Rachel E Cohen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Trafton South 242, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 56001, United States
| | - David S Sharlin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Trafton South 242, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 56001, United States
| | - Keenan T Hartert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Trafton South 242, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 56001, United States
| | - Geoffrey M Goellner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Trafton South 242, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 56001, United States.
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McCaffrey TA, St Laurent G, Shtokalo D, Antonets D, Vyatkin Y, Jones D, Battison E, Nigg JT. Biomarker discovery in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: RNA sequencing of whole blood in discordant twin and case-controlled cohorts. BMC Med Genomics 2020; 13:160. [PMID: 33115496 PMCID: PMC7594430 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-020-00808-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A variety of DNA-based methods have been applied to identify genetic markers of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the connection to RNA-based gene expression has not been fully exploited. Methods Using well defined cohorts of discordant, monozygotic twins from the Michigan State University Twin Registry, and case-controlled ADHD cases in adolescents, the present studies utilized advanced single molecule RNA sequencing to identify expressed changes in whole blood RNA in ADHD. Multiple analytical strategies were employed to narrow differentially expressed RNA targets to a small set of potential biomarkers of ADHD.
Results RNA markers common to both the discordant twin study and case-controlled subjects further narrowed the putative targets, some of which had been previously associated with ADHD at the DNA level. The potential role of several differentially expressed genes, including ABCB5, RGS2, GAK, GIT1 and 3 members of the galactose metabolism pathway (GALE, GALT, GALK1) are substantiated by prior associations to ADHD and by established mechanistic connections to molecular pathways relevant to ADHD and behavioral control. Conclusions The convergence of DNA, RNA, and metabolic data suggests these may be promising targets for diagnostics and therapeutics in ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A McCaffrey
- Division of Genomic Medicine, Department of Medicine, The George Washington University, 2300 Eye St., Washington, DC, 20037, USA. .,The St. Laurent Institute, Vancouver, WA, USA.
| | | | - Dmitry Shtokalo
- The St. Laurent Institute, Vancouver, WA, USA.,A.P. Ershov Institute of Informatics Systems, Novosibirsk, Russia.,AcademGene, LLC, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Denis Antonets
- A.P. Ershov Institute of Informatics Systems, Novosibirsk, Russia.,AcademGene, LLC, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | | | | | - Joel T Nigg
- Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Chase KA, Mallari JE, Tan Y, Sittig L. Behavioral Effects of Neuronal, Parent-specific Commd1 Knockout in Mice. Neuroscience 2020; 434:1-7. [PMID: 32200079 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In this study we focused on gene expression and behavioral differences in mice with brain-specific Commd1 knockout. Commd1 is an imprinted gene with preferential maternal expression, residing within a larger genomic region previously found to affect sensorimotor gating. In this study, individuals harboring a conditional Commd1 mutant allele were bred with Syn1-Cre animals, paying special attention to the parent of origin of the Commd1 mutation. Analysis of mRNA levels of Commd1 and phenotypic tests, including the open field, sensorimotor gating, and the forced swim test, were conducted on offspring with either maternally or paternally derived Commd1 knockout. We found that measurable Commd1 mRNA knockout occurred only in the maternally derived line and affected stereotypy and depressive-like behavior without differences in total locomotion compared to controls. Interestingly, we found that maternal knockout animals exhibited decreased time swimming and increased time immobile when compared to maternal and paternal wild type, and paternal knockout animals. However, there were no differences in climbing behavior between genotypes. This study demonstrates an in vivo behavioral role for Commd1 for the first time and demonstrates the need for careful interpretation of experimental results involving Cre-based knockout systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla A Chase
- University of California, Department of Psychiatry, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, 900 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60612, United States.
| | - Jazlene E Mallari
- University of California, Department of Psychiatry, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Yvette Tan
- University of California, Department of Psychiatry, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Laura Sittig
- University of California, Department of Psychiatry, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
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Parker CC, Gopalakrishnan S, Carbonetto P, Gonzales NM, Leung E, Park YJ, Aryee E, Davis J, Blizard DA, Ackert-Bicknell CL, Lionikas A, Pritchard JK, Palmer AA. Genome-wide association study of behavioral, physiological and gene expression traits in outbred CFW mice. Nat Genet 2016; 48:919-26. [PMID: 27376237 PMCID: PMC4963286 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Although mice are the most widely used mammalian model organism, genetic studies have suffered from limited mapping resolution due to extensive linkage disequilibrium (LD) that is characteristic of crosses among inbred strains. Carworth Farms White (CFW) mice are a commercially available outbred mouse population that exhibit rapid LD decay in comparison to other available mouse populations. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of behavioral, physiological and gene expression phenotypes using 1,200 male CFW mice. We used genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to obtain genotypes at 92,734 SNPs. We also measured gene expression using RNA sequencing in three brain regions. Our study identified numerous behavioral, physiological and expression quantitative trait loci (QTLs). We integrated the behavioral QTL and eQTL results to implicate specific genes, including Azi2 in sensitivity to methamphetamine and Zmynd11 in anxiety-like behavior. The combination of CFW mice, GBS and RNA sequencing constitutes a powerful approach to GWAS in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa C. Parker
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Psychology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA
| | - Shyam Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Museum of Natural History, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Carbonetto
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- AncestryDNA, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
| | | | - Emily Leung
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Yeonhee J Park
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Emmanuel Aryee
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Joe Davis
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - David A. Blizard
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Cheryl L. Ackert-Bicknell
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14624, USA
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14624, USA
| | - Arimantas Lionikas
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill Aberdeen, Scotland UK
| | - Jonathan K. Pritchard
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Abraham A. Palmer
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA
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