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Araujo NDS, Perez R, Willot Q, Defrance M, Aron S. Facing lethal temperatures: Heat-shock response in desert and temperate ants. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10438. [PMID: 37720060 PMCID: PMC10500329 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Global climate changes may cause profound effects on species adaptation, particularly in ectotherms for whom even moderate warmer temperatures can lead to disproportionate heat failure. Still, several organisms evolved to endure high desert temperatures. Here, we describe the thermal tolerance survival and the transcriptomic heat stress response of three genera of desert (Cataglyphis, Melophorus, and Ocymyrmex) and two of temperate ants (Formica and Myrmica) and explore convergent and specific adaptations. We found heat stress led to either a reactive or a constitutive response in desert ants: Cataglyphis holgerseni and Melophorus bagoti differentially regulated very few transcripts in response to heat (0.12% and 0.14%, respectively), while Cataglyphis bombycina and Ocymyrmex robustior responded with greater expression alterations (respectively affecting 0.6% and 1.53% of their transcriptomes). These two responsive mechanisms-reactive and constitutive-were related to individual thermal tolerance survival and convergently evolved in distinct desert ant genera. Moreover, in comparison with desert species, the two temperate ants differentially expressed thousands of transcripts more in response to heat stress (affecting 8% and 12.71% of F. fusca and Myr. sabuleti transcriptomes). In summary, we show that heat adaptation in thermophilic ants involved changes in the expression response. Overall, desert ants show reduced transcriptional alterations even when under high thermal stress, and their expression response may be either constitutive or reactive to temperature increase.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rémy Perez
- Department of Evolutionary Biology & EcologyUniversité Libre de BruxellesBrusselsBelgium
| | - Quentin Willot
- Department of Evolutionary Biology & EcologyUniversité Libre de BruxellesBrusselsBelgium
- Zoophysiology, Department of BiologyAarhus UniversityAarhus‐CDenmark
| | - Matthieu Defrance
- Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in BrusselsUniversité Libre de BruxellesBrusselsBelgium
| | - Serge Aron
- Department of Evolutionary Biology & EcologyUniversité Libre de BruxellesBrusselsBelgium
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Yang J, Wang D, Liu H, Wang L, Jin L, Ahola V, Xu C, Wang R. Three amino acid substitutions contributing to thermostability of phosphoglucose isomerase in the Glanville fritillary butterfly. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:758-770. [PMID: 36342954 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Temperature is one of the most important environmental factors that affect organisms, especially ectotherms, due to its effects on protein stability. Understanding the general rules that govern thermostability changes in proteins to adapt high-temperature environments is crucial. Here, we report the amino acid substitutions of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) related to thermostability in the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia, Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). The PGI encoded by the most common allele in M. cinxia in the Chinese population (G3-PGI), which is more thermal tolerant, is more stable under heat stress than that in the Finnish population (D1-PGI). There are 5 amino acid substitutions between G3-PGI and D1-PGI. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the combination of amino acid substitutions of H35Q, M49T, and I64V may increase PGI thermostability. These substitutions alter the 3D structure to increase the interaction between 2 monomers of PGI. Through molecular dynamics simulations, it was found that the amino acid at site 421 is more stable in G3-PGI, confining the motion of the α-helix 420-441 and stabilizing the interaction between 2 PGI monomers. The strategy for high-temperature adaptation through these 3 amino acid substitutions is also adopted by other butterfly species (Boloria eunomia, Aglais urticae, Colias erate, and Polycaena lua) concurrent with M. cinxia in the Tianshan Mountains of China, i.e., convergent evolution in butterflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianing Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Di Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Virpi Ahola
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Chongren Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Rongjiang Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Alagar Boopathy LR, Jacob-Tomas S, Alecki C, Vera M. Mechanisms tailoring the expression of heat shock proteins to proteostasis challenges. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101796. [PMID: 35248532 PMCID: PMC9065632 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
All cells possess an internal stress response to cope with environmental and pathophysiological challenges. Upon stress, cells reprogram their molecular functions to activate a survival mechanism known as the heat shock response, which mediates the rapid induction of molecular chaperones such as the heat shock proteins (HSPs). This potent production overcomes the general suppression of gene expression and results in high levels of HSPs to subsequently refold or degrade misfolded proteins. Once the damage or stress is repaired or removed, cells terminate the production of HSPs and resume regular functions. Thus, fulfillment of the stress response requires swift and robust coordination between stress response activation and completion that is determined by the status of the cell. In recent years, single-cell fluorescence microscopy techniques have begun to be used in unravelling HSP-gene expression pathways, from DNA transcription to mRNA degradation. In this review, we will address the molecular mechanisms in different organisms and cell types that coordinate the expression of HSPs with signaling networks that act to reprogram gene transcription, mRNA translation, and decay and ensure protein quality control.
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Chee WKD, Yeoh JW, Dao VL, Poh CL. Thermogenetics: Applications come of age. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 55:107907. [PMID: 35041863 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Temperature is a ubiquitous physical cue that is non-invasive, penetrative and easy to apply. In the growing field of thermogenetics, through beneficial repurposing of natural thermosensing mechanisms, synthetic biology is bringing new opportunities to design and build robust temperature-sensitive (TS) sensors which forms a thermogenetic toolbox of well characterised biological parts. Recent advancements in technological platforms available have expedited the discovery of novel or de novo thermosensors which are increasingly deployed in many practical temperature-dependent biomedical, industrial and biosafety applications. In all, the review aims to convey both the exhilarating recent technological developments underlying the advancement of thermosensors and the exciting opportunities the nascent thermogenetic field holds for biomedical and biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai Kit David Chee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117583, Singapore; NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Jing Wui Yeoh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117583, Singapore; NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Viet Linh Dao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117583, Singapore; NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Chueh Loo Poh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117583, Singapore; NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore.
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Varliero G, Rafiq M, Singh S, Summerfield A, Sgouridis F, Cowan DA, Barker G. Microbial characterisation and Cold-Adapted Predicted Protein (CAPP) database construction from the active layer of Greenland's permafrost. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:fiab127. [PMID: 34468725 PMCID: PMC8445667 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Permafrost represents a reservoir for the biodiscovery of cold-adapted proteins which are advantageous in industrial and medical settings. Comparisons between different thermo-adapted proteins can give important information for cold-adaptation bioengineering. We collected permafrost active layer samples from 34 points along a proglacial transect in southwest Greenland. We obtained a deep read coverage assembly (>164x) from nanopore and Illumina sequences for the purposes of i) analysing metagenomic and metatranscriptomic trends of the microbial community of this area, and ii) creating the Cold-Adapted Predicted Protein (CAPP) database. The community showed a similar taxonomic composition in all samples along the transect, with a solid permafrost-shaped community, rather than microbial trends typical of proglacial systems. We retrieved 69 high- and medium-quality metagenome-assembled clusters, 213 complete biosynthetic gene clusters and more than three million predicted proteins. The latter constitute the CAPP database that can provide cold-adapted protein sequence information for protein- and taxon-focused amino acid sequence modifications for the future bioengineering of cold-adapted enzymes. As an example, we focused on the enzyme polyphenol oxidase, and demonstrated how sequence variation information could inform its protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Varliero
- School of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Ave, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Natural Sciences 2 Building, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Airport Road, Baleli, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Bristol BS8 1RL, United Kingdom
| | - Swati Singh
- School of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Ave, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Cl, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Annabel Summerfield
- School of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Ave, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - Fotis Sgouridis
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Bristol BS8 1RL, United Kingdom
| | - Don A Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Natural Sciences 2 Building, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Gary Barker
- School of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Ave, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
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Evolution of Protein Structure and Stability in Global Warming. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249662. [PMID: 33352933 PMCID: PMC7767258 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on the molecular signatures of protein structures in relation to evolution and survival in global warming. It is based on the premise that the power of evolutionary selection may lead to thermotolerant organisms that will repopulate the planet and continue life in general, but perhaps with different kinds of flora and fauna. Our focus is on molecular mechanisms, whereby known examples of thermoresistance and their physicochemical characteristics were noted. A comparison of interactions of diverse residues in proteins from thermophilic and mesophilic organisms, as well as reverse genetic studies, revealed a set of imprecise molecular signatures that pointed to major roles of hydrophobicity, solvent accessibility, disulfide bonds, hydrogen bonds, ionic and π-electron interactions, and an overall condensed packing of the higher-order structure, especially in the hydrophobic regions. Regardless of mutations, specialized protein chaperones may play a cardinal role. In evolutionary terms, thermoresistance to global warming will likely occur in stepwise mutational changes, conforming to the molecular signatures, such that each "intermediate" fits a temporary niche through punctuated equilibrium, while maintaining protein functionality. Finally, the population response of different species to global warming may vary substantially, and, as such, some may evolve while others will undergo catastrophic mass extinction.
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Yu H, Wu W, Lin X, Feng Y. Polysaccharide-Based Nanomaterials for Ocular Drug Delivery: A Perspective. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:601246. [PMID: 33363130 PMCID: PMC7758246 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.601246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ocular drug delivery is one of the most challenging issues in ophthalmology because of the complex physiological structure of the eye. Polysaccharide-based nanomaterials have been extensively investigated in recent years as ideal carriers for enhancing the bioavailability of drugs in the ocular system because of their biocompatibility and drug solubilization. From this perspective, we discuss the structural instability of polysaccharides and its impact on the synthesis process; examine the potential for developing bioactive polysaccharide-based ocular drug nanocarriers; propose four strategies for designing novel drug delivery nanomaterials; and suggest reviewing the behavior of nanomaterials in ocular tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haozhe Yu
- Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wenyu Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yun Feng
- Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
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