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Zhang X, Ruan L, Wang H, Zhu J, Li T, Sun G, Dong Y, Wang Y, Berreby G, Shay A, Chen R, Ramachandran S, Dawson VL, Dawson TM, Li R. Enhancing mitochondrial proteolysis alleviates alpha-synuclein-mediated cellular toxicity. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:120. [PMID: 38906862 PMCID: PMC11192938 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00733-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction and accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn)-containing protein aggregates known as Lewy bodies (LB). Here, we investigated the entry of α-Syn into mitochondria to cause mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of cellular fitness in vivo. We show that α-Syn expressed in yeast and human cells is constitutively imported into mitochondria. In a transgenic mouse model, the level of endogenous α-Syn accumulation in mitochondria of dopaminergic neurons and microglia increases with age. The imported α-Syn is degraded by conserved mitochondrial proteases, most notably NLN and PITRM1 (Prd1 and Cym1 in yeast, respectively). α-Syn in the mitochondrial matrix that is not degraded interacts with respiratory chain complexes, leading to loss of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular fitness decline. Importantly, enhancing mitochondrial proteolysis by increasing levels of specific proteases alleviated these defects in yeast, human cells, and a PD model of mouse primary neurons. Together, our results provide a direct link between α-synuclein-mediated cellular toxicity and its import into mitochondria and reveal potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of α-synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zhang
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundation, New Orleans, LA, 70130-2685, USA
| | - Linhao Ruan
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Hu Wang
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Jin Zhu
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117411, Singapore
| | - Taibo Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Gordon Sun
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Yi Dong
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Yuhao Wang
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Gil Berreby
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Ashley Shay
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Rong Chen
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sreekumar Ramachandran
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Valina L Dawson
- Diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundation, New Orleans, LA, 70130-2685, USA
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Ted M Dawson
- Diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundation, New Orleans, LA, 70130-2685, USA
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Rong Li
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundation, New Orleans, LA, 70130-2685, USA.
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117411, Singapore.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117411, Singapore.
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Ni Y, Qiao Y, Tian X, Li H, Meng Y, Li C, Du W, Sun T, Zhu K, Huang W, Yan H, Li J, Zhou R, Ding C, Gao X. Unraveling the mechanism of thermotolerance by Set302 in Cryptococcus neoformans. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0420223. [PMID: 38874428 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04202-23] [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: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The underlying mechanism of thermotolerance, which is a key virulence factor essential for pathogenic fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans, is largely unexplored. In this study, our findings suggest that Set302, a homolog of Set3 and a subunit of histone deacetylase complex Set3C, contributes to thermotolerance in C. neoformans. Specifically, the deletion of the predicted Set3C core subunit, Set302, resulted in further reduction in the growth of C. neoformans at 39°C, and survival of transient incubation at 50°C. Transcriptomics analysis revealed that the expression levels of numerous heat stress-responsive genes altered at both 30°C and 39°C due to the lack of Set302. Notably, at 39°C, the absence of Set302 led to the downregulation of gene expression related to the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Based on the GFP-α-synuclein overexpression model to characterize misfolded proteins, we observed a pronounced accumulation of misfolded GFP-α-synuclein at 39°C, consequently inhibiting C. neoformans thermotolerance. Furthermore, the loss of Set302 exacerbated the accumulation of misfolded GFP-α-synuclein during heat stress. Interestingly, the set302∆ strain exhibited a similar phenotype under proteasome stress as it did at 39°C. Moreover, the absence of Set302 led to reduced production of capsule and melanin. set302∆ strain also displayed significantly reduced pathogenicity and colonization ability compared to the wild-type strain in the murine infection model. Collectively, our findings suggest that Set302 modulates thermotolerance by affecting the degradation of misfolded proteins and multiple virulence factors to mediate the pathogenicity of C. neoformans.IMPORTANCECryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic fungus that poses a potential and significant threat to public health. Thermotolerance plays a crucial role in the wide distribution in natural environments and host colonization of this fungus. Herein, Set302, a critical core subunit for the integrity of histone deacetylase complex Set3C and widely distributed in various fungi and mammals, governs thermotolerance and affects survival at extreme temperatures as well as the formation of capsule and melanin in C. neoformans. Additionally, Set302 participates in regulating the expression of multiple genes associated with the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). By eliminating misfolded proteins under heat stress, Set302 significantly contributes to the thermotolerance of C. neoformans. Moreover, Set302 regulates the pathogenicity and colonization ability of C. neoformans in a murine model. Overall, this study provides new insight into the mechanism of thermotolerance in C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ni
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yue Qiao
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xing Tian
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hailong Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yang Meng
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Chao Li
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Du
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Tianshu Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
- Medical Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
| | - Keting Zhu
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - He Yan
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Renjie Zhou
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chen Ding
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xindi Gao
- Department of Emergency, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Ólafsson G, Haase MAB, Boeke JD. Humanization reveals pervasive incompatibility of yeast and human kinetochore components. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 14:jkad260. [PMID: 37962556 PMCID: PMC10755175 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Kinetochores assemble on centromeres to drive chromosome segregation in eukaryotic cells. Humans and budding yeast share most of the structural subunits of the kinetochore, whereas protein sequences have diverged considerably. The conserved centromeric histone H3 variant, CenH3 (CENP-A in humans and Cse4 in budding yeast), marks the site for kinetochore assembly in most species. A previous effort to complement Cse4 in yeast with human CENP-A was unsuccessful; however, co-complementation with the human core nucleosome was not attempted. Previously, our lab successfully humanized the core nucleosome in yeast; however, this severely affected cellular growth. We hypothesized that yeast Cse4 is incompatible with humanized nucleosomes and that the kinetochore represented a limiting factor for efficient histone humanization. Thus, we argued that including the human CENP-A or a Cse4-CENP-A chimera might improve histone humanization and facilitate kinetochore function in humanized yeast. The opposite was true: CENP-A expression reduced histone humanization efficiency, was toxic to yeast, and disrupted cell cycle progression and kinetochore function in wild-type (WT) cells. Suppressors of CENP-A toxicity included gene deletions of subunits of 3 conserved chromatin remodeling complexes, highlighting their role in CenH3 chromatin positioning. Finally, we attempted to complement the subunits of the NDC80 kinetochore complex, individually and in combination, without success, in contrast to a previous study indicating complementation by the human NDC80/HEC1 gene. Our results suggest that limited protein sequence similarity between yeast and human components in this very complex structure leads to failure of complementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guðjón Ólafsson
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Max A B Haase
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Jef D Boeke
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 14 11201, USA
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Sirati N, Shen Z, Olrichs NK, Popova B, Verhoek IC, Lagerwaard IM, Braus GH, Kaloyanova DV, Helms JB. GAPR-1 Interferes with Condensate Formation of Beclin 1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167935. [PMID: 36586462 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167935] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Golgi-Associated plant Pathogenesis Related protein 1 (GAPR-1) acts as a negative regulator of autophagy by interacting with Beclin 1 at Golgi membranes in mammalian cells. The molecular mechanism of this interaction is largely unknown. We recently showed that human GAPR-1 (hGAPR-1) has amyloidogenic properties resulting in the formation of protein condensates upon overexpression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we show that human Beclin 1 (hBeclin 1) has several predicted amyloidogenic regions and that overexpression of hBeclin 1-mCherry in yeast also results in the formation of fluorescent protein condensates. Surprisingly, co-expression of hGAPR-1-GFP and hBeclin 1-mCherry results in a strong reduction of hBeclin 1 condensates. Mutations of the known interaction site on the hGAPR-1 and hBeclin 1 surface abolished the effect on condensate formation during co-expression without affecting the condensate formation properties of the individual proteins. Similarly, a hBeclin 1-derived B18 peptide that is known to bind hGAPR-1 and to interfere with the interaction between hGAPR-1 and hBeclin 1, abolished the reduction of hBeclin 1 condensates by co-expression of hGAPR-1. These results indicate that the same type of protein-protein interactions interfere with condensate formation during co-expression of hGAPR-1 and hBeclin 1 as previously described for their interaction at Golgi membranes. The amyloidogenic properties of the B18 peptide were, however, important for the interaction with hGAPR-1, as mutant peptides with reduced amyloidogenic properties also showed reduced interaction with hGAPR-1 and reduced interference with hGAPR-1/hBeclin 1 condensate formation. We propose that amyloidogenic interactions take place between hGAPR-1 and hBeclin 1 prior to condensate formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafiseh Sirati
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ziying Shen
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Nick K Olrichs
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Blagovesta Popova
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Iris C Verhoek
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ilse M Lagerwaard
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dora V Kaloyanova
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - J Bernd Helms
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Rzepnikowska W, Kaminska J, Kochański A. Validation of the Pathogenic Effect of IGHMBP2 Gene Mutations Based on Yeast S. cerevisiae Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179913. [PMID: 36077311 PMCID: PMC9456350 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) is a heritable neurodegenerative disease characterized by rapid respiratory failure within the first months of life and progressive muscle weakness and wasting. Although the causative gene, IGHMBP2, is well defined, information on IGHMBP2 mutations is not always sufficient to diagnose particular patients, as the gene is highly polymorphic and the pathogenicity of many gene variants is unknown. In this study, we generated a simple yeast model to establish the significance of IGHMBP2 variants for disease development, especially those that are missense mutations. We have shown that cDNA of the human gene encodes protein which is functional in yeast cells and different pathogenic mutations affect this functionality. Furthermore, there is a correlation between the phenotype estimated in in vitro studies and our results, indicating that our model may be used to quickly and simply distinguish between pathogenic and non-pathogenic mutations identified in IGHMBP2 in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Rzepnikowska
- Neuromuscular Unit, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Kaminska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrzej Kochański
- Neuromuscular Unit, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
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Absence of Gem1 (mammalian Miro/Rhot) mitigates alpha-synuclein toxicity in a yeast model of Parkinson's disease. Mol Cell Neurosci 2022; 122:103757. [PMID: 35843531 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2022.103757] [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: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein aggregation is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mutants A30P and A53T alpha-synuclein are known to exacerbate the toxicity of alpha-synuclein, which includes oxidative stress, mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast) is a cellular model widely used to investigate mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders, such as PD. In yeast, Gem1 (Miro/Rhot mammalian orthologue) coordinates mitochondrial dynamics and ER homeostasis, which is impaired in the presence of mutant alpha-synuclein and can lead to cell death. In this study, A30P or A53T alpha-synuclein were expressed in wild type or ΔGem (deletion of Gem1 gene) yeast strains. ΔGem cells presented decreased viability and increased mitochondrial H2O2 production and ER stress compared to wild type cells. However, in the presence of mutant alpha-synuclein, ΔGem cells showed increased growth compared to cells that do not express mutant alpha-synuclein. ΔGem cells expressing A53T alpha-synuclein also presented reduced ER stress and increased ability to deal with oxidative stress. Together, our results suggest that deletion of Gem1 activates pathways that strengthen cells against other stressful agents such as the presence of mutant alpha-synuclein.
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Sangkaew A, Kojornna T, Tanahashi R, Takagi H, Yompakdee C. A novel yeast-based screening system for potential compounds that can alleviate human α-synuclein toxicity. J Appl Microbiol 2021; 132:1409-1421. [PMID: 34448525 PMCID: PMC9291589 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Aims This study aimed to establish a yeast‐based screening system for potential compounds that can alleviate the toxicity of α‐synuclein (α‐syn), a neuropathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, either inhibition of α‐syn aggregation or promotion of ubiquitin‐mediated degradation of α‐syn. Methods and Results A powerful yeast‐based screening assay using the rsp5A401E‐mutant strain, which is hypersensitive to α‐syn aggregation, was established by two‐step gene replacement and further overexpressed the GFP‐fused α‐syn in the drug‐sensitive yeast strain with a galactose‐inducible multicopy plasmid. The rsp5A401E‐mutant strain treated with baicalein, a known α‐syn aggregation inhibitor, showed better α‐syn toxicity alleviation than the same background wild type strain as accessed by comparison on the reduction kinetics of viable dye resazurin fluorometrically (λex540/λem590 nm). The rsp5A401E‐mutant yeast‐based assay system showed high sensitivity as it could detect as low as 3.13 µmol l−1 baicalein, the concentration that lower than previously report detected by the in vitro assay. Conclusions Our yeast‐based system has been effective for screening potential compounds that can alleviate α‐syn toxicity with high sensitivity and specificity. Significance and Impact of the Study Yeast‐based assay system can be used to discover novel neuroprotective drug candidates which may be either efficiently suppress‐α‐syn aggregation or enhance ubiquitin‐dependent degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anyaporn Sangkaew
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanaporn Kojornna
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ryoya Tanahashi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takagi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara, Japan
| | - Chulee Yompakdee
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Yeast as a Tool to Understand the Significance of Human Disease-Associated Gene Variants. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12091303. [PMID: 34573285 PMCID: PMC8465565 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, the great challenge in human genetics is to provide significance to the growing amount of human disease-associated gene variants identified by next generation DNA sequencing technologies. Increasing evidences suggest that model organisms are of pivotal importance to addressing this issue. Due to its genetic tractability, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae represents a valuable model organism for understanding human genetic variability. In the present review, we show how S. cerevisiae has been used to study variants of genes involved in different diseases and in different pathways, highlighting the versatility of this model organism.
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Bang S, Lee S, Choi N, Kim HN. Emerging Brain-Pathophysiology-Mimetic Platforms for Studying Neurodegenerative Diseases: Brain Organoids and Brains-on-a-Chip. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2002119. [PMID: 34028201 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202002119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders characterized by progressive degeneration of the structural and functional integrity of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Millions of people suffer from degenerative brain diseases worldwide, and the mortality continues to increase every year, causing a growing demand for knowledge of the underlying mechanisms and development of therapeutic targets. Conventional 2D-based cell culture platforms and animal models cannot fully recapitulate the pathophysiology, and this has limited the capability for estimating drug efficacy. Recently, engineered platforms, including brain organoids and brain-on-a-chip, have emerged. They mimic the physiology of brain tissue and reflect the fundamental pathophysiological signatures of neurodegenerative diseases, such as the accumulation of neurotoxic proteins, structural abnormalities, and functional loss. In this paper, recent advances in brain-mimetic platforms and their potential for modeling features of neurodegenerative diseases in vitro are reviewed. The development of a physiologically relevant model should help overcome unresolved neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seokyoung Bang
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Songhyun Lee
- Department of Medical Engineering Yonsei University College of Medicine Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- KU‐KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Nam Kim
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio‐Medical Science & Technology KIST School Korea University of Science and Technology (UST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
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10
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Rogov AG, Goleva TN, Epremyan KK, Kireev II, Zvyagilskaya RA. Propagation of Mitochondria-Derived Reactive Oxygen Species within the Dipodascus magnusii Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10010120. [PMID: 33467672 PMCID: PMC7830518 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10010120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are considered to be the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell. It was shown that in cardiac myocytes exposed to excessive oxidative stress, ROS-induced ROS release is triggered. However, cardiac myocytes have a network of densely packed organelles that do not move, which is not typical for the majority of eukaryotic cells. The purpose of this study was to trace the spatiotemporal development (propagation) of prooxidant-induced oxidative stress and its interplay with mitochondrial dynamics. We used Dipodascus magnusii yeast cells as a model, as they have advantages over other models, including a uniquely large size, mitochondria that are easy to visualize and freely moving, an ability to vigorously grow on well-defined low-cost substrates, and high responsibility. It was shown that prooxidant-induced oxidative stress was initiated in mitochondria, far preceding the appearance of generalized oxidative stress in the whole cell. For yeasts, these findings were obtained for the first time. Preincubation of yeast cells with SkQ1, a mitochondria-addressed antioxidant, substantially diminished production of mitochondrial ROS, while only slightly alleviating the generalized oxidative stress. This was expected, but had not yet been shown. Importantly, mitochondrial fragmentation was found to be primarily induced by mitochondrial ROS preceding the generalized oxidative stress development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton G. Rogov
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of Sciences 33, bld. 2 Leninsky Ave., Moscow 119071, Russia; (A.G.R.); (T.N.G.); (K.K.E.)
| | - Tatiana N. Goleva
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of Sciences 33, bld. 2 Leninsky Ave., Moscow 119071, Russia; (A.G.R.); (T.N.G.); (K.K.E.)
| | - Khoren K. Epremyan
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of Sciences 33, bld. 2 Leninsky Ave., Moscow 119071, Russia; (A.G.R.); (T.N.G.); (K.K.E.)
| | - Igor I. Kireev
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorobyevy Gory 1, Moscow 119992, Russia;
| | - Renata A. Zvyagilskaya
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of Sciences 33, bld. 2 Leninsky Ave., Moscow 119071, Russia; (A.G.R.); (T.N.G.); (K.K.E.)
- Correspondence:
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11
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Derf A, Verekar SA, Jain SK, Deshmukh SK, Bharate SB, Chaudhuri B. Radicicol rescues yeast cell death triggered by expression of human α-synuclein and its A53T mutant, but not by human βA4 peptide and proapoptotic protein bax. Bioorg Chem 2019; 85:152-158. [PMID: 30612081 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2018.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Aggregation/misfolding of α-synuclein and βA4 proteins cause neuronal cell death (NCD) associated with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. It has been suggested that a heat shock protein-90 (Hsp90) inhibitor can prevent NCD by activating the heat shock transcription factor-1 which, in turn, upregulates molecular chaperones such as Hsp70 that targets aggregated/misfolded proteins for refolding/degradation. We have isolated radicicol, an Hsp90 inhibitor, from a fungus occurring in the crevices of marble rocks of Central India. Radicicol, which was found to be a strong antioxidant, was tested for its ability to rescue yeast cells from death induced by expression of wild-type α-synuclein, its more toxic A53T mutant, and βA4. It effectively overcomes wild-type/mutant α-synuclein mediated yeast cell death, concomitantly diminishes ROS levels, reverses mitochondrial dysfunction and prevents nuclear DNA-fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis. Surprisingly however, radicicol is unable to rescue yeast cells from death triggered by expression of secreted βA4. Moreover, although radicicol acts as an antioxidant it fails to prevent yeast cell death inflicted by the proapoptotic protein, Bax. Our results indicate that radicicol specifically targets aggregated/misfolded α-synuclein's toxicity and opens up the possibility of using multiple yeast assays to screen natural product libraries for compounds that would unambiguously target α-synuclein aggregation/misfolding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Derf
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
| | - Shilpa A Verekar
- Piramal Life Sciences Limited, Goregaon (East), Mumbai 400 063, India
| | - Shreyans K Jain
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Sunil K Deshmukh
- Piramal Life Sciences Limited, Goregaon (East), Mumbai 400 063, India
| | - Sandip B Bharate
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India.
| | - Bhabatosh Chaudhuri
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK.
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12
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Abstract
The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) has been a remarkable experimental model for the discovery of fundamental biological processes. The high degree of conservation of cellular and molecular processes between the budding yeast and higher eukaryotes has made it a valuable system for the investigation of the molecular mechanisms behind various types of devastating human pathologies. Genetic screens in yeast provided important insight into the toxic mechanisms associated with the accumulation of misfolded proteins. Thus, using yeast genetics and high-throughput screens, novel molecular targets with therapeutic potential have been identified. Here, we describe a yeast screen protocol for the identification of genetic modifiers of alpha-synuclein (aSyn) toxicity, thereby accelerating the identification of novel potential targets for intervention in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Caldeira Brás
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Blagovesta Popova
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Tiago F Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
- Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Goettingen, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany.
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13
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Derf A, Sharma A, Bharate SB, Chaudhuri B. Aegeline, a natural product from the plant Aegle marmelos, mimics the yeast SNARE protein Sec22p in suppressing α-synuclein and Bax toxicity in yeast. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2018; 29:454-460. [PMID: 30579794 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2018.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we have identified yeast Sec22p (ySec22p), a SNARE protein essential for endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi trafficking, as a suppressor of Bax-induced yeast apoptosis and corroborated published observations that ySec22p suppresses α-synuclein's toxicity in yeast. It has been suggested that compounds which enhance expression, in neurons, of human homologues of ySec22p (Sec22Bp/Sec22p/Sec22A) would prevent synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease. With the aim of finding a small molecule that would mimic ySec22p, a library of natural products consisting of 394-compounds was screened using yeast cells that express either human α-synuclein or human Bax. The antioxidant aegeline, an alkaloid-amide occurring in the leaves of the plant Aegle marmelos Correa, was the only molecule that overcame apoptosis induced by both α-synuclein and Bax in yeast. Besides, aegeline also prevented growth block in cells expressing the more toxic A53T α-synuclein mutant. Restoration of cell growth occurred through inhibition of increased ROS levels, mitochondrial membrane potential loss and nuclear DNA fragmentation, characteristics of apoptosis manifested in α-synuclein or Bax-expressing cells. These results highlight the importance of yeast systems to identify rapidly molecules that may prevent the onset of apoptosis that occurs in Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Derf
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
| | - Ankita Sharma
- Medicinal Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Sandip B Bharate
- Medicinal Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India.
| | - Bhabatosh Chaudhuri
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK.
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14
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Pichler H, Emmerstorfer-Augustin A. Modification of membrane lipid compositions in single-celled organisms – From basics to applications. Methods 2018; 147:50-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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15
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Derf A, Mudududdla R, Akintade D, Williams IS, Abdullaha M, Chaudhuri B, Bharate SB. Nonantioxidant Tetramethoxystilbene Abrogates α-Synuclein-Induced Yeast Cell Death but Not That Triggered by the Bax or βA4 Peptide. ACS OMEGA 2018; 3:9513-9532. [PMID: 31459084 PMCID: PMC6645319 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b01154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The overexpression of α-synuclein (α-syn) and its aggregation is the hallmark of Parkinson's disease. The α-syn aggregation results in the formation of Lewy bodies that causes neuronal cell death. Therefore, the small molecules that can protect neuronal cells from α-syn toxicity or inhibit the aggregation of α-syn could emerge as anti-Parkinson agents. Herein, a library of methoxy-stilbenes was screened for their ability to restore the cell growth from α-syn toxicity, using a yeast strain that stably expresses two copies of a chromosomally integrated human α-syn gene. Tetramethoxy-stilbene 4s, a nonantioxidant, was the most capable of restoring cell growth. It also rescues the more toxic cells that bear three copies of wild-type or A53T-mutant α-syn, from cell growth block. Its EC50 values for growth restoration of the 2-copy wild-type and the 3-copy mutant α-syn strains are 0.95 and 0.35 μM, respectively. Stilbene 4s mitigates mitochondrial membrane potential loss, negates ROS production, and prevents nuclear DNA-fragmentation, all hallmarks of apoptosis. However, 4s does not rescue cells from the death-inducing effects of Bax and βA4, which suggest that 4s specifically inhibits α-syn-mediated toxicity in the yeast. Our results signify that simultaneous use of multiple yeast-cell-based screens can facilitate revelation of compounds that may have the potential for further investigation as anti-Parkinson's agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Derf
- Leicester
School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K.
- CYP
Design Ltd, Innovation Centre, 49 Oxford Street, Leicester LE1 5XY, U.K.
| | - Ramesh Mudududdla
- Medicinal
Chemistry Division, Indian Institute of
Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
- Academy
of Scientific & Innovative Research, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Damilare Akintade
- Leicester
School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K.
| | - Ibidapo S. Williams
- Leicester
School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K.
| | - Mohd Abdullaha
- Medicinal
Chemistry Division, Indian Institute of
Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
- Academy
of Scientific & Innovative Research, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Bhabatosh Chaudhuri
- Leicester
School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K.
- CYP
Design Ltd, Innovation Centre, 49 Oxford Street, Leicester LE1 5XY, U.K.
| | - Sandip B. Bharate
- Medicinal
Chemistry Division, Indian Institute of
Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
- Academy
of Scientific & Innovative Research, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
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16
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Synthetic biology toolkits and applications in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biotechnol Adv 2018; 36:1870-1881. [PMID: 30031049 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2018.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biologists construct biological components and systems to look into biological phenomena and drive a myriad of practical applications that aim to tackle current global challenges in energy, healthcare and the environment. While most tools have been established in bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli, recent years have seen parallel developments in the model yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae, one of the most well-understood eukaryotic biological system. Here, we outline the latest advances in yeast synthetic biology tools based on a framework of abstraction hierarchies of parts, circuits and genomes. In brief, the creation and characterization of biological parts are explored at the transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels. Using characterized parts as building block units, the designing of functional circuits is elaborated with examples. In addition, the status and potential applications of synthetic genomes as a genome level platform for biological system construction are also discussed. In addition to the development of a toolkit, we describe how those tools have been applied in the areas of drug production and screening, study of disease mechanisms, pollutant sensing and bioremediation. Finally, we provide a future outlook of yeast as a workhorse of eukaryotic genetics and a chosen chassis in this field.
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17
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Rzepnikowska W, Flis K, Muñoz-Braceras S, Menezes R, Escalante R, Zoladek T. Yeast and other lower eukaryotic organisms for studies of Vps13 proteins in health and disease. Traffic 2017; 18:711-719. [PMID: 28846184 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Human Vps13 proteins are associated with several diseases, including the neurodegenerative disorder Chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc), yet the biology of these proteins is still poorly understood. Studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Dictyostelium discoideum, Tetrahymena thermophila and Drosophila melanogaster point to the involvement of Vps13 in cytoskeleton organization, vesicular trafficking, autophagy, phagocytosis, endocytosis, proteostasis, sporulation and mitochondrial functioning. Recent findings show that yeast Vps13 binds to phosphatidylinositol lipids via 4 different regions and functions at membrane contact sites, enlarging the list of Vps13 functions. This review describes the great potential of simple eukaryotes to decipher disease mechanisms in higher organisms and highlights novel insights into the pathological role of Vps13 towards ChAc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Rzepnikowska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Flis
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Regina Menezes
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal.,Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Escalante
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols" (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa Zoladek
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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18
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Moosavi B, Mousavi B, Macreadie IG. Yeast Model of Amyloid-β and Tau Aggregation in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 47:9-16. [PMID: 26402750 DOI: 10.3233/jad-150173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and the phosphorylated protein tau have been widely implicated in Alzheimer's disease and are the focus of most research. Both agents have been extensively studied in mammalian cell culture and in animal studies, but new research is focusing on yeast models. Yeast are eukaryotes, just like us, and are amenable to effects and expression of Aβ and tau and appear able to 'report' with considerable relevance on the effects of these biomolecules. The use of yeast enables powerful new approaches to understanding how to overcome the effects of Aβ and tau, and such advances could lead to new therapies to prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behrooz Moosavi
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Bibimaryam Mousavi
- Laboratory of Organometallics, Catalysis and Ordered Materials, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Ian G Macreadie
- School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
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19
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Transport of pyruvate into mitochondria is involved in methylmercury toxicity. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21528. [PMID: 26899208 PMCID: PMC4761912 DOI: 10.1038/srep21528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously demonstrated that the overexpression of enzymes involved in the production of pyruvate, enolase 2 (Eno2) and D-lactate dehydrogenase (Dld3) renders yeast highly sensitive to methylmercury and that the promotion of intracellular pyruvate synthesis may be involved in intensifying the toxicity of methylmercury. In the present study, we showed that the addition of pyruvate to culture media in non-toxic concentrations significantly enhanced the sensitivity of yeast and human neuroblastoma cells to methylmercury. The results also suggested that methylmercury promoted the transport of pyruvate into mitochondria and that the increased pyruvate concentrations in mitochondria were involved in intensifying the toxicity of methylmercury without pyruvate being converted to acetyl-CoA. Furthermore, in human neuroblastoma cells, methylmercury treatment alone decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, and the addition of pyruvate led to a further significant decrease. In addition, treatment with N-acetylcysteine (an antioxidant) significantly alleviated the toxicity of methylmercury and significantly inhibited the intensification of methylmercury toxicity by pyruvate. Based on these data, we hypothesize that methylmercury exerts its toxicity by raising the level of pyruvate in mitochondria and that mitochondrial dysfunction and increased levels of reactive oxygen species are involved in the action of pyruvate.
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20
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Abstract
The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a unicellular eukaryotic model, has enabled major breakthroughs in our understanding of a plethora of cellular and molecular processes. Today, a 're-invention' of its use in fundamental and applied research is paving the way for a better understanding of the mechanisms causing neurodegeneration. The increasing emergence of neurodegenerative disorders is becoming more and more problematic in our ageing society. Most prevalent is Alzheimer's disease (AD), affecting more than 35 million people worldwide (Abbott, Nature 475, S2-S4, 2011) and causing an enormous burden on a personal and communal level. The disease is characterized by two major pathological hallmarks: extracellular amyloid plaques consisting mainly of deposits of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides, and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), consisting mainly of aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Despite the huge importance of thoroughly understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, progress has been slow. However, multiple complementary research methods are proving their value, particularly with the work done with S. cerevisiae, which combines well-established, fast genetic and molecular techniques with the ability to faithfully capture key molecular aspects of neurodegeneration. In this review chapter, we focus on the considerable progress made using S. cerevisiae as a model system for Alzheimer's disease.
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21
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Schönbach C, Horton P, Yiu SM, Tan TW, Ranganathan S. GIW and InCoB are advancing bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific. BMC Bioinformatics 2015; 16:I1. [PMID: 28102114 PMCID: PMC6389036 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-16-s18-i1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
GIW/InCoB2015 the joint 26th International Conference on Genome Informatics (GIW) and 14th International Conference on Bioinformatics (InCoB) held in Tokyo, September 9-11, 2015 was attended by over 200 delegates. Fifty-one out of 89 oral presentations were based on research articles accepted for publication in four BMC journal supplements and three other journals. Sixteen articles in this supplement and six articles in the BMC Systems Biology GIW/InCoB2015 Supplement are covered by this introduction. The topics range from genome informatics, protein structure informatics, image analysis to biological networks and biomarker discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schönbach
- Department of Biology, School of Science and Technology, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000 Republic of Kazakhstan
- Center for AIDS Research and International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811 Japan
| | - Paul Horton
- Computational Biology Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, 135-0064 Japan
- Department of Computational Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Siu-Ming Yiu
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, HKSAR
| | - Tin Wee Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599
| | - Shoba Ranganathan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
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22
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Moosavi B, Mousavi B, Yang GF. Actin, Membrane Trafficking and the Control of Prion Induction, Propagation and Transmission in Yeast. Traffic 2015; 17:5-20. [PMID: 26503767 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The model eukaryotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven a useful model system in which prion biogenesis and elimination are studied. Several yeast prions exist in budding yeast and a number of studies now suggest that these alternate protein conformations may play important roles in the cell. During the last few years cellular factors affecting prion induction, propagation and elimination have been identified. Amongst these, proteins involved in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and dynamic membrane processes such as endocytosis have been found to play a critical role not only in facilitating de novo prion formation but also in prion propagation. Here we briefly review prion formation and maintenance with special attention given to the cellular processes that require the functionality of the actin cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behrooz Moosavi
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P.R. China
| | - Bibimaryam Mousavi
- Laboratory of Organometallics, Catalysis and Ordered Materials, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Guang-Fu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P.R. China
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23
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D'hooge P, Coun C, Van Eyck V, Faes L, Ghillebert R, Mariën L, Winderickx J, Callewaert G. Ca(2+) homeostasis in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Impact of ER/Golgi Ca(2+) storage. Cell Calcium 2015; 58:226-35. [PMID: 26055636 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2015.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Revised: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Yeast has proven to be a powerful tool to elucidate the molecular aspects of several biological processes in higher eukaryotes. As in mammalian cells, yeast intracellular Ca(2+) signalling is crucial for a myriad of biological processes. Yeast cells also bear homologs of the major components of the Ca(2+) signalling toolkit in mammalian cells, including channels, co-transporters and pumps. Using yeast single- and multiple-gene deletion strains of various plasma membrane and organellar Ca(2+) transporters, combined with manipulations to estimate intracellular Ca(2+) storage, we evaluated the contribution of individual transport systems to intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis. Yeast strains lacking Pmr1 and/or Cod1, two ion pumps implicated in ER/Golgi Ca(2+) homeostasis, displayed a fragmented vacuolar phenotype and showed increased vacuolar Ca(2+) uptake and Ca(2+) influx across the plasma membrane. In the pmr1Δ strain, these effects were insensitive to calcineurin activity, independent of Cch1/Mid1 Ca(2+) channels and Pmc1 but required Vcx1. By contrast, in the cod1Δ strain increased vacuolar Ca(2+) uptake was not affected by Vcx1 deletion but was largely dependent on Pmc1 activity. Our analysis further corroborates the distinct roles of Vcx1 and Pmc1 in vacuolar Ca(2+) uptake and point to the existence of not-yet identified Ca(2+) influx pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra D'hooge
- The Yeast Hub Lab, KU Leuven, Campus Kulak, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Catherina Coun
- Functional Biology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Vincent Van Eyck
- The Yeast Hub Lab, KU Leuven, Campus Kulak, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Faes
- The Yeast Hub Lab, KU Leuven, Campus Kulak, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Ruben Ghillebert
- Functional Biology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Lore Mariën
- The Yeast Hub Lab, KU Leuven, Campus Kulak, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Joris Winderickx
- Functional Biology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Geert Callewaert
- The Yeast Hub Lab, KU Leuven, Campus Kulak, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium.
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24
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Qian Y, Kachroo AH, Yellman CM, Marcotte EM, Johnson KA. Yeast cells expressing the human mitochondrial DNA polymerase reveal correlations between polymerase fidelity and human disease progression. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:5970-85. [PMID: 24398692 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.526418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the human mitochondrial polymerase (polymerase-γ (Pol-γ)) are associated with various mitochondrial disorders, including mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion syndrome, Alpers syndrome, and progressive external opthamalplegia. To correlate biochemically quantifiable defects resulting from point mutations in Pol-γ with their physiological consequences, we created "humanized" yeast, replacing the yeast mtDNA polymerase (MIP1) with human Pol-γ. Despite differences in the replication and repair mechanism, we show that the human polymerase efficiently complements the yeast mip1 knockouts, suggesting common fundamental mechanisms of replication and conserved interactions between the human polymerase and other components of the replisome. We also examined the effects of four disease-related point mutations (S305R, H932Y, Y951N, and Y955C) and an exonuclease-deficient mutant (D198A/E200A). In haploid cells, each mutant results in rapid mtDNA depletion, increased mutation frequency, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mutation frequencies measured in vivo equal those measured with purified enzyme in vitro. In heterozygous diploid cells, wild-type Pol-γ suppresses mutation-associated growth defects, but continuous growth eventually leads to aerobic respiration defects, reduced mtDNA content, and depolarized mitochondrial membranes. The severity of the Pol-γ mutant phenotype in heterozygous diploid humanized yeast correlates with the approximate age of disease onset and the severity of symptoms observed in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Qian
- From the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology
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25
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Differences of cytotoxicity of orthodontic bands assessed by survival tests in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:143283. [PMID: 24511527 PMCID: PMC3912777 DOI: 10.1155/2014/143283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2013] [Revised: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 12/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity induced by orthodontic bands through survival tests on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a microorganism that presents several genetic and biochemical characteristics similar to human cells. Three groups of bands were evaluated: silver soldered (SSB), laser soldered (LSB), and bands without any solder (WSB). Yeast cells were directly exposed to the bands and indirectly, when a previous elution of the metals in artificial saliva was performed. The negative control was composed of yeast cells or artificial saliva not exposed to any kind of metal. In the direct exposure experiments, all tested groups of bands induced a slight reduction in yeast viability compared to the control. This effect was more intense for the SSB, although not statistically significant. For the indirect exposure experiments, the SSB induced a statistically significant decrease in cell viability compared to the LSB. There were no significant differences between the survival rates of the negative control and the LSB group in both direct and saliva tests. SSBs were cytotoxic, whilst LSBs were not, confirming that laser soldering may be a more biocompatible alternative for use in connecting wires to orthodontic appliances.
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26
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Dunham MJ, Fowler DM. Contemporary, yeast-based approaches to understanding human genetic variation. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2013; 23:658-64. [PMID: 24252429 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2013.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2013] [Revised: 10/01/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Determining how genetic variation contributes to human health and disease is a critical challenge. As one of the most genetically tractable model organisms, yeast has played a central role in meeting this challenge. The advent of new technologies, including high-throughput DNA sequencing and synthesis, proteomics, and computational methods, has vastly increased the power of yeast-based approaches to determine the consequences of human genetic variation. Recent successes include systematic exploration of the effects of gene dosage, large-scale analysis of the effect of coding variation on gene function, and the use of humanized yeast to model disease. By virtue of its manipulability, small genome size, and genetic tractability, yeast is poised to help us understand human genetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maitreya J Dunham
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Foege Building, Box 355065, 3720 15th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98195-5065, USA.
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