1
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Vijayakumar S, DiGuiseppi JA, Dabestani PJ, Ryan WG, Quevedo RV, Li Y, Diers J, Tu S, Fleegel J, Nguyen C, Rhoda LM, Imami AS, Hamoud ARA, Lovas S, McCullumsmith RE, Zallocchi M, Zuo J. In silico transcriptome screens identify epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors as therapeutics for noise-induced hearing loss. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk2299. [PMID: 38896614 PMCID: PMC11186505 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk2299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a common sensorineural hearing impairment that lacks U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs. To fill the gap in effective screening models, we used an in silico transcriptome-based drug screening approach, identifying 22 biological pathways and 64 potential small molecule treatments for NIHL. Two of these, afatinib and zorifertinib [epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors], showed efficacy in zebrafish and mouse models. Further tests with EGFR knockout mice and EGF-morpholino zebrafish confirmed their protective role against NIHL. Molecular studies in mice highlighted EGFR's crucial involvement in NIHL and the protective effect of zorifertinib. When given orally, zorifertinib was found in the perilymph with favorable pharmacokinetics. In addition, zorifertinib combined with AZD5438 (a cyclin-dependent kinase 2 inhibitor) synergistically prevented NIHL in zebrafish. Our results underscore the potential for in silico transcriptome-based drug screening in diseases lacking efficient models and suggest EGFR inhibitors as potential treatments for NIHL, meriting clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarath Vijayakumar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Joseph A. DiGuiseppi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Parinaz Jila Dabestani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - William G. Ryan
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
| | - Rene Vielman Quevedo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Yuju Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Jack Diers
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Shu Tu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Jonathan Fleegel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Cassidy Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Lauren M. Rhoda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Ali Sajid Imami
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
| | | | - Sándor Lovas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Robert E. McCullumsmith
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
- Neurosciences Institute, ProMedica, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Marisa Zallocchi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Jian Zuo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
- Ting Therapeutics, University of California San Diego, 9310 Athena Circle, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
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2
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Pascarelli S, Laurino P. Inter-paralog amino acid inversion events in large phylogenies of duplicated proteins. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010016. [PMID: 35377869 PMCID: PMC9009777 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Connecting protein sequence to function is becoming increasingly relevant since high-throughput sequencing studies accumulate large amounts of genomic data. In order to go beyond the existing database annotation, it is fundamental to understand the mechanisms underlying functional inheritance and divergence. If the homology relationship between proteins is known, can we determine whether the function diverged? In this work, we analyze different possibilities of protein sequence evolution after gene duplication and identify “inter-paralog inversions”, i.e., sites where the relationship between the ancestry and the functional signal is decoupled. The amino acids in these sites are masked from being recognized by other prediction tools. Still, they play a role in functional divergence and could indicate a shift in protein function. We develop a method to specifically recognize inter-paralog amino acid inversions in a phylogeny and test it on real and simulated datasets. In a dataset built from the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) sequences found in 88 fish species, we identify 19 amino acid sites that went through inversion after gene duplication, mostly located at the ligand-binding extracellular domain. Our work uncovers an outcome of protein duplications with direct implications in protein functional annotation and sequence evolution. The developed method is optimized to work with large protein datasets and can be readily included in a targeted protein analysis pipeline. Proteins are critical components of living systems because they facilitate most biological processes like protein synthesis, DNA replication, chemical catalysis, etc. Proteins are encoded in their genes. During evolution, genes accumulate mutations that get translated at the protein level. These mutations can be “neutral” if they do not affect the protein function immediately and directly; otherwise, mutations can be functional if they directly modify protein function. An event that provides an opportunity to study protein function is gene duplication namely, when two copies of a gene encoding the same protein appear. One copy of the protein often retains the same function while the other is free to diverge and specialize to a different function. This work sheds light on an alternative outcome of gene duplication that might be critical to discern between neutral and functional mutations. By looking at 88 fish genomes, we found proteins in which the evolution of their sequences does not follow the expected pattern of divergence after gene duplication. In this case, the protein sequence of a subgroup of species diverges in the copy expected to retain its function, while the sequence is retained in the expectedly divergent one. We called this event “inter-paralog amino acid inversion”. Our data shows that this “inversion” event is correlated to function, and its detection has to be considered for assigning protein functions correctly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Pascarelli
- Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Paola Laurino
- Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
- * E-mail:
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3
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Stanic B, Petrovic J, Basica B, Kaisarevic S, Schirmer K, Andric N. Characterization of the ERK1/2 phosphorylation profile in human and fish liver cells upon exposure to chemicals of environmental concern. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 88:103749. [PMID: 34547448 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We developed phospho-ERK1/2 ELISA for human and rainbow trout liver cells, employing HepG2 and RTL-W1 cell lines as models. The assay was applied to detect changes in ERK1/2 activity for nine chemicals, added over a wide concentration range and time points. Cell viability was measured to separate ERK1/2 regulation from cytotoxicity. Perfluorooctane sulfonate and carbendazim did not change ERK1/2 activity; influence on ERK1/2 due to cytotoxicity was indicated for tributyltin and cypermethrin. Mancozeb, benzo[a]pyrene, and bisphenol A stimulated ERK1/2 up to ∼2- (HepG2) and 1.5 (RTL-W1)-fold, though the kinetics differed between chemicals and cell lines. Bisphenol A and benzo[a]pyrene were the most potent concentration-wise, altering ERK1/2 activity in pM (HepG2) to nM (RTL-W1) range. While atrazine and ibuprofen increased ERK1/2 activity by ∼2-fold in HepG2, they did not initiate an appreciable response in RTL-W1. This assay proved to be a sensitive, medium- to high-throughput tool for detecting unrecognized ERK1/2-disrupting chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojana Stanic
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Serbia
| | - Jelena Petrovic
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Serbia
| | - Branka Basica
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Serbia
| | - Sonja Kaisarevic
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Serbia
| | - Kristin Schirmer
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; ETH Zürich, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland; EPF Lausanne, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nebojsa Andric
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Serbia.
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4
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Pascarelli S, Merzhakupova D, Uechi GI, Laurino P. Binding of single-mutant epidermal growth factor (EGF) ligands alters the stability of the EGF receptor dimer and promotes growth signaling. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:100872. [PMID: 34126069 PMCID: PMC8259408 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100872] [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: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a membrane-anchored tyrosine kinase that is able to selectively respond to multiple extracellular stimuli. Previous studies have indicated that the modularity of this system may be caused by ligand-induced differences in the stability of the receptor dimer. However, this hypothesis has not been explored using single-mutant ligands thus far. Herein, we developed a new approach to identify residues responsible for functional divergence by selecting residues in the epidermal growth factor (EGF) ligand that are conserved among orthologs yet divergent between paralogs. Then, we mutated these residues and assessed the mutants' effects on the receptor using a combination of molecular dynamics (MD) and biochemical techniques. Although the EGF mutants had binding affinities for the EGFR comparable with the WT ligand, the EGF mutants showed differential patterns of receptor phosphorylation and cell growth in multiple cell lines. The MD simulations of the EGF mutants indicated that mutations had long-range effects on the receptor dimer interface. This study shows for the first time that a single mutation in the EGF is sufficient to alter the activation of the EGFR signaling pathway at the cellular level. These results also support that biased ligand-receptor signaling in the tyrosine kinase receptor system can lead to differential downstream outcomes and demonstrate a promising new method to study ligand-receptor interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Pascarelli
- Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Dalmira Merzhakupova
- Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Gen-Ichiro Uechi
- Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Paola Laurino
- Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan.
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5
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Monroe JD, Basheer F, Gibert Y. Xmrks the Spot: Fish Models for Investigating Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling in Cancer Research. Cells 2021; 10:1132. [PMID: 34067095 PMCID: PMC8150686 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies conducted in several fish species, e.g., Xiphophorus hellerii (green swordtail) and Xiphophorus maculatus (southern platyfish) crosses, Oryzias latipes (medaka), and Danio rerio (zebrafish), have identified an oncogenic role for the receptor tyrosine kinase, Xmrk, a gene product closely related to the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is associated with a wide variety of pathological conditions, including cancer. Comparative analyses of Xmrk and EGFR signal transduction in melanoma have shown that both utilize STAT5 signaling to regulate apoptosis and cell proliferation, PI3K to modulate apoptosis, FAK to control migration, and the Ras/Raf/MEK/MAPK pathway to regulate cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Further, Xmrk and EGFR may also modulate similar chemokine, extracellular matrix, oxidative stress, and microRNA signaling pathways in melanoma. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Xmrk and EGFR signaling utilize STAT5 to regulate cell proliferation, and Xmrk may signal through PI3K and FasR to modulate apoptosis. At the same time, both activate the Ras/Raf/MEK/MAPK pathway to regulate cell proliferation and E-cadherin signaling. Xmrk models of melanoma have shown that inhibitors of PI3K and MEK have an anti-cancer effect, and in HCC, that the steroidal drug, adrenosterone, can prevent metastasis and recover E-cadherin expression, suggesting that fish Xmrk models can exploit similarities with EGFR signal transduction to identify and study new chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry D. Monroe
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
| | - Faiza Basheer
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia;
| | - Yann Gibert
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
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6
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Dornburg A, Wang Z, Wang J, Mo ES, López-Giráldez F, Townsend JP. Comparative Genomics within and across Bilaterians Illuminates the Evolutionary History of ALK and LTK Proto-Oncogene Origination and Diversification. Genome Biol Evol 2020; 13:5983394. [PMID: 33196781 PMCID: PMC7851593 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomic analyses have enormous potential for identifying key genes central to human health phenotypes, including those that promote cancers. In particular, the successful development of novel therapeutics using model species requires phylogenetic analyses to determine molecular homology. Accordingly, we investigate the evolutionary histories of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)—which can underlie tumorigenesis in neuroblastoma, nonsmall cell lung cancer, and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma—its close relative leukocyte tyrosine kinase (LTK) and their candidate ligands. Homology of ligands identified in model organisms to those functioning in humans remains unclear. Therefore, we searched for homologs of the human genes across metazoan genomes, finding that the candidate ligands Jeb and Hen-1 were restricted to nonvertebrate species. In contrast, the ligand augmentor (AUG) was only identified in vertebrates. We found two ALK-like and four AUG-like protein-coding genes in lamprey. Of these six genes, only one ALK-like and two AUG-like genes exhibited early embryonic expression that parallels model mammal systems. Two copies of AUG are present in nearly all jawed vertebrates. Our phylogenetic analysis strongly supports the presence of previously unrecognized functional convergences of ALK and LTK between actinopterygians and sarcopterygians—despite contemporaneous, highly conserved synteny of ALK and LTK. These findings provide critical guidance regarding the propriety of fish and mammal models with regard to model organism-based investigation of these medically important genes. In sum, our results provide the phylogenetic context necessary for effective investigations of the functional roles and biology of these critically important receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Dornburg
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina Charlotte
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven.,Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Junrui Wang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven.,Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Elizabeth S Mo
- Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven
| | | | - Jeffrey P Townsend
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven.,Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut.,Program in Microbiology, Yale University, New Haven
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7
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Serobyan V, Kontarakis Z, El-Brolosy MA, Welker JM, Tolstenkov O, Saadeldein AM, Retzer N, Gottschalk A, Wehman AM, Stainier DY. Transcriptional adaptation in Caenorhabditis elegans. eLife 2020; 9:50014. [PMID: 31951195 PMCID: PMC6968918 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional adaptation is a recently described phenomenon by which a mutation in one gene leads to the transcriptional modulation of related genes, termed adapting genes. At the molecular level, it has been proposed that the mutant mRNA, rather than the loss of protein function, activates this response. While several examples of transcriptional adaptation have been reported in zebrafish embryos and in mouse cell lines, it is not known whether this phenomenon is observed across metazoans. Here we report transcriptional adaptation in C. elegans, and find that this process requires factors involved in mutant mRNA decay, as in zebrafish and mouse. We further uncover a requirement for Argonaute proteins and Dicer, factors involved in small RNA maturation and transport into the nucleus. Altogether, these results provide evidence for transcriptional adaptation in C. elegans, a powerful model to further investigate underlying molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahan Serobyan
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Zacharias Kontarakis
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Mohamed A El-Brolosy
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Jordan M Welker
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Oleg Tolstenkov
- Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt - Macromolecular Complexes (CEF-MC), Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Amr M Saadeldein
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Nicholas Retzer
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Alexander Gottschalk
- Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt - Macromolecular Complexes (CEF-MC), Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.,Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), Goethe University, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Ann M Wehman
- Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Didier Yr Stainier
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
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8
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Lee DA, Liu J, Hong Y, Lane JM, Hill AJ, Hou SL, Wang H, Oikonomou G, Pham U, Engle J, Saxena R, Prober DA. Evolutionarily conserved regulation of sleep by epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaax4249. [PMID: 31763451 PMCID: PMC6853770 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax4249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The genetic bases for most human sleep disorders and for variation in human sleep quantity and quality are largely unknown. Using the zebrafish, a diurnal vertebrate, to investigate the genetic regulation of sleep, we found that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is necessary and sufficient for normal sleep levels and is required for the normal homeostatic response to sleep deprivation. We observed that EGFR signaling promotes sleep via mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase and RFamide neuropeptide signaling and that it regulates RFamide neuropeptide expression and neuronal activity. Consistent with these findings, analysis of a large cohort of human genetic data from participants of European ancestry revealed that common variants in genes within the EGFR signaling pathway are associated with variation in human sleep quantity and quality. These results indicate that EGFR signaling and its downstream pathways play a central and ancient role in regulating sleep and provide new therapeutic targets for sleep disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Lee
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Justin Liu
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Young Hong
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Jacqueline M. Lane
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Andrew J. Hill
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Sarah L. Hou
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Heming Wang
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Grigorios Oikonomou
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Uyen Pham
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Jae Engle
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Richa Saxena
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David A. Prober
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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9
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Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are essential components of cell communication pathways utilized from the embryonic to adult stages of life. These transmembrane receptors bind polypeptide ligands, such as growth factors, inducing signalling cascades that control cellular processes such as proliferation, survival, differentiation, motility and inflammation. Many viruses have acquired homologs of growth factors encoded by the hosts that they infect. Production of growth factors during infection allows viruses to exploit RTKs for entry and replication in cells, as well as for host and environmental dissemination. This review describes the genetic diversity amongst virus-derived growth factors and the mechanisms by which RTK exploitation enhances virus survival, then highlights how viral ligands can be used to further understanding of RTK signalling and function during embryogenesis, homeostasis and disease scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zabeen Lateef
- a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand
| | - Lyn M Wise
- a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand
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10
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Yuan Y, Hong Y. Medaka insulin-like growth factor-2 supports self-renewal of the embryonic stem cell line and blastomeres in vitro. Sci Rep 2017; 7:78. [PMID: 28250437 PMCID: PMC5428361 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00094-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) regulate diverse processes including energy metabolism, cell proliferation and embryonic development. They activate the IGF signaling pathway via binding to cell surface receptors. Here we report an essential role of IGF2 in maintaining the pluripotency of embryonic stem (ES) cell from medaka (Oryzias latipes). The medaka igf2 gene was cloned for prokaryotically expression of IGF2 ligand and green fluorescent protein-tagged IGF2 namely IGF2:GFP. With flow cytometry analysis, we demonstrated that the IGF2:GFP can bind to the cultured ES cells from medaka and zebrafish respectively. We also verified that IGF2 is able to activate the phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and Akt, and sustain the viability and pluripotency of medaka ES cells in culture. Furthermore, we characterized the binding of IGF2:GFP to freshly isolated blastomeres by fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy. Most importantly, we revealed the important role of IGF2 in supporting the derivation of blastomeres in short-term culture. Therefore, Medaka IGF2 is essential for the self-renewal of cultured ES cells and blastomeres from fish embryos. This finding underscores a conserved role of the IGF signaling pathway in stem cells from fish to mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongming Yuan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Yunhan Hong
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.
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11
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Barberán S, Martín-Durán JM, Cebrià F. Evolution of the EGFR pathway in Metazoa and its diversification in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28071. [PMID: 27325311 PMCID: PMC4914847 DOI: 10.1038/srep28071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The EGFR pathway is an essential signaling system in animals, whose core components are the epidermal growth factors (EGF ligands) and their trans-membrane tyrosine kinase receptors (EGFRs). Despite extensive knowledge in classical model organisms, little is known of the composition and function of the EGFR pathway in most animal lineages. Here, we have performed an extensive search for the presence of EGFRs and EGF ligands in representative species of most major animal clades, with special focus on the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. With the exception of placozoans and cnidarians, we found that the EGFR pathway is potentially present in all other analyzed animal groups, and has experienced frequent independent expansions. We further characterized the expression domains of the EGFR/EGF identified in S. mediterranea, revealing a wide variety of patterns and localization in almost all planarian tissues. Finally, functional experiments suggest an interaction between one of the previously described receptors, Smed-egfr-5, and the newly found ligand Smed-egf-6. Our findings provide the most comprehensive overview to date of the EGFR pathway, and indicate that the last common metazoan ancestor had an initial complement of one EGFR and one putative EGF ligand, which was often expanded or lost during animal evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Barberán
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona and Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Av. Diagonal 643, edifici Prevosti, planta 1, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - José M Martín-Durán
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Thormøhlensgate 55, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Francesc Cebrià
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona and Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Av. Diagonal 643, edifici Prevosti, planta 1, 08028 Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
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12
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Tine M, Kuhl H, Teske PR, Tschöp MH, Jastroch M. Diversification and coevolution of the ghrelin/growth hormone secretagogue receptor system in vertebrates. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:2516-35. [PMID: 27066235 PMCID: PMC4797157 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut hormone ghrelin is involved in numerous metabolic functions, such as the stimulation of growth hormone secretion, gastric motility, and food intake. Ghrelin is modified by ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) or membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain-containing 4 (MBOAT4) enabling action through the growth hormone secretagogue receptors (GHS-R). During the course of evolution, initially strong ligand/receptor specificities can be disrupted by genomic changes, potentially modifying physiological roles of the ligand/receptor system. Here, we investigated the coevolution of ghrelin, GOAT, and GHS-R in vertebrates. We combined similarity search, conserved synteny analyses, phylogenetic reconstructions, and protein structure comparisons to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the ghrelin system. Ghrelin remained a single-gene locus in all vertebrate species, and accordingly, a single GHS-R isoform was identified in all tetrapods. Similar patterns of the nonsynonymous (dN) and synonymous (dS) ratio (dN/dS) in the vertebrate lineage strongly suggest coevolution of the ghrelin and GHS-R genes, supporting specific functional interactions and common physiological pathways. The selection profiles do not allow confirmation as to whether ghrelin binds specifically to GOAT, but the ghrelin dN/dS patterns are more similar to those of GOAT compared to MBOAT1 and MBOAT2 isoforms. Four GHS-R isoforms were identified in teleost genomes. This diversification of GHS-R resulted from successive rounds of duplications, some of which remained specific to the teleost lineage. Coevolution signals are lost in teleosts, presumably due to the diversification of GHS-R but not the ghrelin gene. The identification of the GHS-R diversity in teleosts provides a molecular basis for comparative studies on ghrelin's physiological roles and regulation, while the comparative sequence and structure analyses will assist translational medicine to determine structure-function relationships of the ghrelin/GHS-R system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mbaye Tine
- Genome Centre at Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10D-50829 Köln Germany; Molecular Zoology Laboratory Department of Zoology University of Johannesburg Kingsway Campus Auckland Park 2006 South Africa
| | - Heiner Kuhl
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics Ihnestrasse 63-73 14195 Berlin Germany
| | - Peter R Teske
- Molecular Zoology Laboratory Department of Zoology University of Johannesburg Kingsway Campus Auckland Park 2006 South Africa
| | - Matthias H Tschöp
- Helmholtz Diabetes Center & German Diabetes Center (DZD) Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Division of Metabolic Diseases Technische Universität München 80333 Munich Germany
| | - Martin Jastroch
- Helmholtz Diabetes Center & German Diabetes Center (DZD) Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Division of Metabolic Diseases Technische Universität München 80333 Munich Germany
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13
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Evolutionary Fate of the Androgen Receptor-Signaling Pathway in Ray-Finned Fishes with a Special Focus on Cichlids. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2015; 5:2275-83. [PMID: 26333839 PMCID: PMC4632047 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.020685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of the steroid system is coupled to the evolution of multicellular animals. In vertebrates in particular, the steroid receptor repertoire has been shaped by genome duplications characteristic to this lineage. Here, we investigate for the first time the composition of the androgen receptor–signaling pathway in ray-finned fish genomes by focusing in particular on duplicates that emerged from the teleost-specific whole-genome duplication. We trace lineage- and species-specific duplications and gene losses for the genomic and nongenomic pathway of androgen signaling and subsequently investigate the sequence evolution of these genes. In one particular fish lineage, the cichlids, we find evidence for differing selection pressures acting on teleost-specific whole-genome duplication paralogs at a derived evolutionary stage. We then look into the expression of these duplicated genes in four cichlid species from Lake Tanganyika indicating, once more, rapid changes in expression patterns in closely related fish species. We focus on a particular case, the cichlid specific duplication of the rac1 GTPase, which shows possible signs of a neofunctionalization event.
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14
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Peroxiredoxin 6 triggers melanoma cell growth by increasing arachidonic acid-dependent lipid signalling. Biochem J 2015; 471:267-79. [PMID: 26285655 DOI: 10.1042/bj20141204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Tumour cells are reported to display an imbalance in the levels of ROS (reactive oxygen species). Frequently, elevated ROS production goes along with compensatory up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes. Accordingly, we found in a previous study that protein levels of several peroxiredoxins, including PRDX6 (peroxiredoxin 6), are highly elevated in experimentally induced melanomas. In the present study, we investigated the functional role of PRDX6 in human melanoma cells. PRDX6 is a bifunctional enzyme, which harbours iPLA2 (Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A2) activity in addition to its peroxidase function. Our results show that PRDX6 is strongly expressed in most melanoma cells and its expression levels are maintained in a post-transcriptional manner, particularly by EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)-dependent signalling. PRDX6 enhances cell viability mainly by enhancing proliferation, which goes along with activation of Src family kinases. Interestingly, we were able to show that the phospholipase activity of the enzyme mediates the pro-proliferative effect of PRDX6. We identified AA (arachidonic acid) as a crucial effector of PRDX6-dependent proliferation and inducer of Src family kinase activation. These results support further the biological importance of the emerging field of lipid signalling in melanoma and highlight the particular functional relevance of PRDX6-dependent phospholipase activity.
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15
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Meierjohann S. Hypoxia-independent drivers of melanoma angiogenesis. Front Oncol 2015; 5:102. [PMID: 26000250 PMCID: PMC4419834 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2015.00102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor angiogenesis is a process which is traditionally regarded as the tumor’s response to low nutrient supply occurring under hypoxic conditions. However, hypoxia is not a pre-requisite for angiogenesis. The fact that even single tumor cells or small tumor cell aggregates are capable of attracting blood vessels reveals the early metastatic capability of tumor cells. This review sheds light on the hypoxia-independent mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Meierjohann
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany ; Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg , Würzburg , Germany
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16
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In vitro evidence for senescent multinucleated melanocytes as a source for tumor-initiating cells. Cell Death Dis 2015; 6:e1711. [PMID: 25837487 PMCID: PMC4650540 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2015.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Revised: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenic signaling in melanocytes results in oncogene-induced senescence (OIS), a stable cell-cycle arrest frequently characterized by a bi- or multinuclear phenotype that is considered as a barrier to cancer progression. However, the long-sustained conviction that senescence is a truly irreversible process has recently been challenged. Still, it is not known whether cells driven into OIS can progress to cancer and thereby pose a potential threat. Here, we show that prolonged expression of the melanoma oncogene N-RAS61K in pigment cells overcomes OIS by triggering the emergence of tumor-initiating mononucleated stem-like cells from senescent cells. This progeny is dedifferentiated, highly proliferative, anoikis-resistant and induces fast growing, metastatic tumors. Our data describe that differentiated cells, which are driven into senescence by an oncogene, use this senescence state as trigger for tumor transformation, giving rise to highly aggressive tumor-initiating cells. These observations provide the first experimental in vitro evidence for the evasion of OIS on the cellular level and ensuing transformation.
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17
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Developmental defects in zebrafish for classification of EGF pathway inhibitors. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2013; 274:339-49. [PMID: 24262764 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2013.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Revised: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
One of the major challenges when testing drug candidates targeted at a specific pathway in whole animals is the discrimination between specific effects and unwanted, off-target effects. Here we used the zebrafish to define several developmental defects caused by impairment of Egf signaling, a major pathway of interest in tumor biology. We inactivated Egf signaling by genetically blocking Egf expression or using specific inhibitors of the Egf receptor function. We show that the combined occurrence of defects in cartilage formation, disturbance of blood flow in the trunk and a decrease of myelin basic protein expression represent good indicators for impairment of Egf signaling. Finally, we present a classification of known tyrosine kinase inhibitors according to their specificity for the Egf pathway. In conclusion, we show that developmental indicators can help to discriminate between specific effects on the target pathway from off-target effects in molecularly targeted drug screening experiments in whole animal systems.
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18
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VÄSTERMARK Å, RASK-ANDERSEN M, SAWANT RS, REITER JL, SCHIÖTH HB, WILLIAMS MJ. Insulin receptor-like ectodomain genes and splice variants are found in both arthropods and human brain cDNA. JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 51:664-670. [PMID: 27375681 PMCID: PMC4926259 DOI: 10.1111/jse.12048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Truncated receptor ectodomains have been described for several classes of cell surface receptors, including those that bind to growth factors, cytokines, immunoglobulins, and adhesion molecules. Soluble receptor isoforms are typically generated by proteolytic cleavage of the cell surface receptor or by alternative splicing of RNA transcripts arising from the same gene encoding the full-length receptor. Both the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the insulin receptor (INSR) families produce soluble receptor splice variants in vertebrates and truncated forms of insulin receptor-like sequences have previously been described in Drosophila. The EGFR and INSR ectodomains share significant sequence homology with each other suggestive of a common evolutionary origin. We discovered novel truncated insulin receptor-like variants in several arthropod species. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of the conserved extracellular receptor L1 and L2 subdomains in invertebrate species. While the segregation of insulin receptor-like L1 and L2 domains indicated that an internal domain duplication had occurred only once, the generation of truncated insulin receptor-like sequences has occurred multiple times. The significance of this work is the previously unknown and widespread occurrence of truncated isoforms in arthropods, signifying that these isoforms play an important functional role, potentially related to such isoforms in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Åke VÄSTERMARK
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Rahul S. SAWANT
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jill L. REITER
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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19
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Loire N, Barbeau E, Lemkine GF, Léonard MA, Tindall AJ. Optimizing fluorescent protein choice for transgenic embryonic medaka models. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2013; 32:2396-2401. [PMID: 23832705 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Early-life-stage transgenic medaka are recognized as a pertinent model by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and are noncompliant with the European definition of a laboratory animal. However, autofluorescence confounds readout of fluorescent biomarkers. The authors determined the fluorescence emission spectrum of different embryonic stages of medaka submitted to a range of excitation wavelengths. This allows selection of high signal-to-noise ratio fluorescent proteins and combining multiple biomarkers within a single embryo.
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20
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Paixão-Côrtes VR, Salzano FM, Bortolini MC. Evolutionary history of chordate PAX genes: dynamics of change in a complex gene family. PLoS One 2013; 8:e73560. [PMID: 24023886 PMCID: PMC3759438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Paired box (PAX) genes are transcription factors that play important roles in embryonic development. Although the PAX gene family occurs in animals only, it is widely distributed. Among the vertebrates, its 9 genes appear to be the product of complete duplication of an original set of 4 genes, followed by an additional partial duplication. Although some studies of PAX genes have been conducted, no comprehensive survey of these genes across the entire taxonomic unit has yet been attempted. In this study, we conducted a detailed comparison of PAX sequences from 188 chordates, which revealed restricted variation. The absence of PAX4 and PAX8 among some species of reptiles and birds was notable; however, all 9 genes were present in all 74 mammalian genomes investigated. A search for signatures of selection indicated that all genes are subject to purifying selection, with a possible constraint relaxation in PAX4, PAX7, and PAX8. This result indicates asymmetric evolution of PAX family genes, which can be associated with the emergence of adaptive novelties in the chordate evolutionary trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Rodrigues Paixão-Côrtes
- Departamento de Genética and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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21
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Muñoz I, Sepulcre MP, Meseguer J, Mulero V. Molecular cloning, phylogenetic analysis and functional characterization of soluble Toll-like receptor 5 in gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 35:36-45. [PMID: 23571319 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2013.03.374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Revised: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Two forms of TLR5, one membrane-anchored and one soluble, have been described in some teleost fish species. However, the exact role of each form has been poorly studied. In the present study, we show that the mRNA levels of soluble gilthead seabream TLR5 (sbTLR5S) are highly induced in head kidney, spleen, liver and blood after Vibrio anguillarum infection, suggesting an important role for sbTLR5S in the innate immune response against bacteria. Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses revealed a co-evolution pattern of both genes across fish species and a proximal location in their genomes, further suggesting a functional link between them. To further investigate this issue, the coding sequence of the sbTLR5S was cloned and the corresponding recombinant protein was produced in HEK293 cells. The gene product was secreted to the culture medium as a soluble factor and a physical interaction between flagellin and sbTLR5S was demonstrated. Collectively, these results suggest that sbTLR5S plays an important role in modulating the flagellin-mediated immune response in seabream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iciar Muñoz
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
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22
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Nomiyama H, Osada N, Yoshie O. Systematic classification of vertebrate chemokines based on conserved synteny and evolutionary history. Genes Cells 2012; 18:1-16. [PMID: 23145839 PMCID: PMC3568907 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2012] [Accepted: 08/22/2012] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The genes involved in host defences are known to undergo rapid evolution. Therefore, it is often difficult to assign orthologs in multigene families among various vertebrate species. Chemokines are a large family of small cytokines that orchestrate cell migration in health and disease. Herein, we have surveyed the genomes of 18 representative vertebrate species for chemokine genes and identified a total of 553 genes. We have determined their orthologous relationships and classified them in accordance with the current systematic chemokine nomenclature system. Our study reveals an interesting evolutionary history that gave origin and diversification to the vertebrate chemokine superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisayuki Nomiyama
- Department of Molecular Enzymology, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
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23
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Chung CK, Ge W. Epidermal growth factor differentially regulates activin subunits in the zebrafish ovarian follicle cells via diverse signaling pathways. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2012; 361:133-42. [PMID: 22503865 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2012.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2011] [Revised: 03/28/2012] [Accepted: 03/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) promotes oocyte maturation in the zebrafish and its effect is mediated via the activin system. However, the mechanisms by which EGF regulates activin subunits in the follicle cells remain unknown. The present study demonstrated that EGF controlled expression of three activin subunits (inhbaa, inhbab and inhbb) in the follicle cells via diverse signaling pathways. The expression of inhbaa and inhbb was often co-regulated via similar pathways. Suppression of MAPK3/1, p38 MAPK, PKC and PKA each blocked or partially reduced the stimulatory effects of EGF on the expression of inhbaa and inhbb while up-regulated that of inhbab. Conversely, inhibition of PI3K did not have any effect on the expression of inhbaa and inhbb but significantly suppressed the stimulatory effect of EGF on inhbab. In summary, EGF action in the zebrafish ovary involves activin system and its regulation of activin subunits is mediated by diverse signaling pathways downstream of EGFR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Kin Chung
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Cell and Developmental Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
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24
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Hyperactivation of constitutively dimerized oncogenic EGF receptors by autocrine loops. Oncogene 2012; 32:2403-11. [PMID: 22751127 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2012.267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) has a key role in normal embryonic development, adult tissue homeostasis and many pathological processes, in particular tumour formation. Aberrant EGFR activation occurs in many cancer types, and inhibition of this receptor is a promising anti-tumour strategy. Besides overexpression of the wild-type receptor, mutated oncogenic EGFR variants are often associated with malignant transformation. In human non-small-cell lung cancers, kinase mutants of the EGFR are rather common. Human glioblastoma often express the truncated EGFRvIII version as well as other dimerized and permanently activated mutants of the receptor, which are considered as tumour drivers. Similarly, the mutated and dimerized EGFR variant Xiphophorus melanoma receptor kinase (Xmrk) is causative for the development of malignant pigment cell tumours in medaka and Xiphophorus melanoma models. It is generally believed that oncogenic receptors that are active due to dimerizing mutations are ligand independent. Here, we show that different EGFR variants from fish and human efficiently induce autocrine loops by inducing EGFR ligands such as amphiregulin and HB-EGF. Importantly, the pre-dimerized oncogenic EGFR versions Xmrk from Xiphophorus and human EGFR(C600F), though already active in absence of ligands, respond to ligand stimulation with enhanced oncogenic signalling. In summary, our data show that autocrine or paracrine loops are still acting on pre-dimerized oncogenic EGFRs and contribute to their pro-tumorigenic signalling.
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25
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Waller-Evans H, Prömel S, Langenhan T, Dixon J, Zahn D, Colledge WH, Doran J, Carlton MBL, Davies B, Aparicio SAJR, Grosse J, Russ AP. The orphan adhesion-GPCR GPR126 is required for embryonic development in the mouse. PLoS One 2010; 5:e14047. [PMID: 21124978 PMCID: PMC2987804 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2010] [Accepted: 10/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Adhesion-GPCRs provide essential cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in development, and have been implicated in inherited human diseases like Usher Syndrome and bilateral frontoparietal polymicrogyria. They are the second largest subfamily of seven-transmembrane spanning proteins in vertebrates, but the function of most of these receptors is still not understood. The orphan Adhesion-GPCR GPR126 has recently been shown to play an essential role in the myelination of peripheral nerves in zebrafish. In parallel, whole-genome association studies have implicated variation at the GPR126 locus as a determinant of body height in the human population. The physiological function of GPR126 in mammals is still unknown. We describe a targeted mutation of GPR126 in the mouse, and show that GPR126 is required for embryonic viability and cardiovascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Waller-Evans
- Department of Biochemistry and Magdalen College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Prömel
- Department of Biochemistry and Magdalen College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tobias Langenhan
- Department of Biochemistry and Magdalen College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - John Dixon
- Takeda Cambridge Ltd, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Dirk Zahn
- Takeda Cambridge Ltd, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - William H. Colledge
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Ben Davies
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel A. J. R. Aparicio
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and BC Cancer Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Andreas P. Russ
- Department of Biochemistry and Magdalen College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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