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Loeffelholz J, Meese E, Giovannini I, Ullibarri K, Momeni S, Merfeld N, Wessel J, Guidetti R, Rebecchi L, Boothby TC. An evaluation of thermal tolerance in six tardigrade species in an active and dry state. Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060485. [PMID: 39229830 PMCID: PMC11451804 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Tardigrades are known for their ability to survive extreme conditions. Reports indicate that tardigrade thermal tolerance is enhanced in the desiccated state; however, these reports have almost always used a single tardigrade species and drying/heating methods vary between studies. Using six different species of tardigrades we confirm that desiccation enhances thermal tolerance in tardigrades. Furthermore, we show that differences in thermal tolerance exist between tardigrade species both when hydrated and desiccated. While Viridiscus viridianus survives the highest temperatures in the hydrated state of any species tested here, under hydrated conditions, the thermal tolerance of V. viridianus is restricted to an acute transient stress. Furthermore, unlike other stresses, such as desiccation, where mild initial exposure preconditions some species to survive subsequent harsher treatment, for V. viridianus exposure to mild thermal stress in the hydrated state does not confer protection to harsher heating. Our results suggest that while tardigrades have the capacity to tolerate mild thermal stress while hydrated, survival of high temperatures in a desiccated state is a by-product of tardigrades' ability to survive desiccation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Loeffelholz
- University of Wyoming, Department of Molecular Biology, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Emma Meese
- University of Wyoming, Department of Molecular Biology, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Ilaria Giovannini
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Life Sciences, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Karsyn Ullibarri
- University of Wyoming, Department of Molecular Biology, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Sogol Momeni
- University of Alabama, Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Nicholas Merfeld
- University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | | | - Roberto Guidetti
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Life Sciences, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Lorena Rebecchi
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Life Sciences, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Thomas C. Boothby
- University of Wyoming, Department of Molecular Biology, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
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2
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Walton A, Herman JJ, Rueppell O. Social life results in social stress protection: a novel concept to explain individual life-history patterns in social insects. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1444-1457. [PMID: 38468146 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Resistance to and avoidance of stress slow aging and confer increased longevity in numerous organisms. Honey bees and other superorganismal social insects have two main advantages over solitary species to avoid or resist stress: individuals can directly help each other by resource or information transfer, and they can cooperatively control their environment. These benefits have been recognised in the context of pathogen and parasite stress as the concept of social immunity, which has been extensively studied. However, we argue that social immunity is only a special case of a general concept that we define here as social stress protection to include group-level defences against all biotic and abiotic stressors. We reason that social stress protection may have allowed the evolution of reduced individual-level defences and individual life-history optimization, including the exceptional aging plasticity of many social insects. We describe major categories of stress and how a colonial lifestyle may protect social insects, particularly against temporary peaks of extreme stress. We use the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) to illustrate how patterns of life expectancy may be explained by social stress protection and how modern beekeeping practices can disrupt social stress protection. We conclude that the broad concept of social stress protection requires rigorous empirical testing because it may have implications for our general understanding of social evolution and specifically for improving honey bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Walton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW 405, Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jacob J Herman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW 405, Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Olav Rueppell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW 405, Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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3
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Clark-Hachtel CM, Hibshman JD, De Buysscher T, Stair ER, Hicks LM, Goldstein B. The tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris dramatically upregulates DNA repair pathway genes in response to ionizing radiation. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1819-1830.e6. [PMID: 38614079 PMCID: PMC11078613 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Tardigrades can survive remarkable doses of ionizing radiation, up to about 1,000 times the lethal dose for humans. How they do so is incompletely understood. We found that the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris suffers DNA damage upon gamma irradiation, but the damage is repaired. We show that this species has a specific and robust response to ionizing radiation: irradiation induces a rapid upregulation of many DNA repair genes. This upregulation is unexpectedly extreme-making some DNA repair transcripts among the most abundant transcripts in the animal. By expressing tardigrade genes in bacteria, we validate that increased expression of some repair genes can suffice to increase radiation tolerance. We show that at least one such gene is important in vivo for tardigrade radiation tolerance. We hypothesize that the tardigrades' ability to sense ionizing radiation and massively upregulate specific DNA repair pathway genes may represent an evolved solution for maintaining DNA integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney M Clark-Hachtel
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC 28804, USA.
| | - Jonathan D Hibshman
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Tristan De Buysscher
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Bioinformatics & Analytics Research Collaborative, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Evan R Stair
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Leslie M Hicks
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Bob Goldstein
- Biology Department, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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4
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Sanchez‐Martinez S, Nguyen K, Biswas S, Nicholson V, Romanyuk AV, Ramirez J, Kc S, Akter A, Childs C, Meese EK, Usher ET, Ginell GM, Yu F, Gollub E, Malferrari M, Francia F, Venturoli G, Martin EW, Caporaletti F, Giubertoni G, Woutersen S, Sukenik S, Woolfson DN, Holehouse AS, Boothby TC. Labile assembly of a tardigrade protein induces biostasis. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4941. [PMID: 38501490 PMCID: PMC10949331 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Tardigrades are microscopic animals that survive desiccation by inducing biostasis. To survive drying tardigrades rely on intrinsically disordered CAHS proteins, which also function to prevent perturbations induced by drying in vitro and in heterologous systems. CAHS proteins have been shown to form gels both in vitro and in vivo, which has been speculated to be linked to their protective capacity. However, the sequence features and mechanisms underlying gel formation and the necessity of gelation for protection have not been demonstrated. Here we report a mechanism of fibrillization and gelation for CAHS D similar to that of intermediate filament assembly. We show that in vitro, gelation restricts molecular motion, immobilizing and protecting labile material from the harmful effects of drying. In vivo, we observe that CAHS D forms fibrillar networks during osmotic stress. Fibrillar networking of CAHS D improves survival of osmotically shocked cells. We observe two emergent properties associated with fibrillization; (i) prevention of cell volume change and (ii) reduction of metabolic activity during osmotic shock. We find that there is no significant correlation between maintenance of cell volume and survival, while there is a significant correlation between reduced metabolism and survival. Importantly, CAHS D's fibrillar network formation is reversible and metabolic rates return to control levels after CAHS fibers are resolved. This work provides insights into how tardigrades induce reversible biostasis through the self-assembly of labile CAHS gels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K. Nguyen
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - S. Biswas
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - V. Nicholson
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - A. V. Romanyuk
- School of ChemistryUniversity of BristolBristolUK
- Max Planck‐Bristol Centre for Minimal BiologyUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - J. Ramirez
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - S. Kc
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - A. Akter
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - C. Childs
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - E. K. Meese
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
| | - E. T. Usher
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Center for Biomolecular CondensatesWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - G. M. Ginell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Center for Biomolecular CondensatesWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - F. Yu
- Quantitative Systems Biology ProgramUniversity of California MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
| | - E. Gollub
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of California MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
| | - M. Malferrari
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician”Università di BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - F. Francia
- Laboratorio di Biochimica e Biofisica Molecolare, Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, FaBiTUniversità di BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - G. Venturoli
- Laboratorio di Biochimica e Biofisica Molecolare, Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, FaBiTUniversità di BolognaBolognaItaly
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Fisiche della Materia (CNISM), c/o Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia (DIFA)Università di BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - E. W. Martin
- Department of Structural BiologySt. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - F. Caporaletti
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular SciencesUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - G. Giubertoni
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular SciencesUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - S. Woutersen
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular SciencesUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - S. Sukenik
- Quantitative Systems Biology ProgramUniversity of California MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of California MercedMercedCaliforniaUSA
| | - D. N. Woolfson
- School of ChemistryUniversity of BristolBristolUK
- Max Planck‐Bristol Centre for Minimal BiologyUniversity of BristolBristolUK
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences BuildingBristolUK
| | - A. S. Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Center for Biomolecular CondensatesWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - T. C. Boothby
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWyomingUSA
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5
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Kadamani KL, Logan SM, Pamenter ME. Does hypometabolism constrain innate immune defense? Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024; 240:e14091. [PMID: 38288574 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Many animals routinely make energetic trade-offs to adjust to environmental demands and these trade-offs often have significant implications for survival. For example, environmental hypoxia is commonly experienced by many organisms and is an energetically challenging condition because reduced oxygen availability constrains aerobic energy production, which can be lethal. Many hypoxia-tolerant species downregulate metabolic demands when oxygen is limited; however, certain physiological functions are obligatory and must be maintained despite the need to conserve energy in hypoxia. Of particular interest is immunity (including both constitutive and induced immune functions) because mounting an immune response is among the most energetically expensive physiological processes but maintaining immune function is critical for survival in most environments. Intriguingly, physiological responses to hypoxia and pathogens share key molecular regulators such as hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, through which hypoxia can directly activate an immune response. This raises an interesting question: do hypoxia-tolerant species mount an immune response during periods of hypoxia-induced hypometabolism? Unfortunately, surprisingly few studies have examined interactions between immunity and hypometabolism in such species. Therefore, in this review, we consider mechanistic interactions between metabolism and immunity, as well as energetic trade-offs between these two systems, in hypoxia-tolerant animals but also in other models of hypometabolism, including neonates and hibernators. Specifically, we explore the hypothesis that such species have blunted immune responses in hypometabolic conditions and/or use alternative immune pathways when in a hypometabolic state. Evidence to date suggests that hypoxia-tolerant animals do maintain immunity in low oxygen conditions, but that the sensitivity of immune responses may be blunted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Kadamani
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Samantha M Logan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthew E Pamenter
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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6
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Matskiv T, Martyniuk V, Khoma V, Yunko K, Orlova-Hudim K, Gnatyshyna L, Geffard A, Palos-Ladeiro M, Stoliar O. Biochemical basis of resistance to multiple contaminations in the native and invasive populations of Dreissena polymorpha. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 276:109803. [PMID: 38008240 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2023.109803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
The zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) is an invasive species and a valuable bioindicator in the inland waters. Nevertheless, the biochemical reasons for the unique competitiveness of zebra mussels are not clear. This study aimed to compare the native and invasive populations of D. polymorpha in their ability to withstand the same multiple environmental challenges (i.e. chemical: microplastics and caffeine; physical: temperatures). The specimens from the invasive population in west Ukraine (Tn) and native population at lower streams of river Dnipro (south Ukraine, Kh) were sampled in the August of 2021 y. Molluscs from both populations were treated simultaneously with microplastics (MP, 1 mg L-1, pore size 2 μm); caffeine (Caf, 20.0 μg L-1) at 18 °C, elevated temperature (25 °C) and MP and Caf combinations at 18 °C and 25 °C for 14 days. Untreated molluscs exposed at 18 °C represented control groups. A set of the 20 markers of oxidative stress, biotransformation, detoxification and apoptosis were assayed in the total soft tissues. From the two controls, Kh-group indicated lower stressful impact. However, both populations increased caspase-3 and GST activities and lysosomal instability in most exposures, and cholinesterase and phenoloxidase activities under the heating and combine exposures, indicating the remarkable properties to respond to new challenges and synergistic effect of mixtures. Inter-population differences were related to the metallothionein, cathepsin D, cytochrome P540 and oxidative stress responses that reflect population-dependent adverse outcome pathways. The discriminant analysis separated two populations with a substantially lesser magnitude of responses in the invasive population as a sign of higher resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetiana Matskiv
- Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, M. Kryvonosa Str. 2, 46027 Ternopil, Ukraine; I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Maidan Voli 1, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine.
| | - Viktoria Martyniuk
- Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, M. Kryvonosa Str. 2, 46027 Ternopil, Ukraine.
| | - Vira Khoma
- Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, M. Kryvonosa Str. 2, 46027 Ternopil, Ukraine.
| | - Kateryna Yunko
- Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, M. Kryvonosa Str. 2, 46027 Ternopil, Ukraine.
| | | | - Lesya Gnatyshyna
- I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Maidan Voli 1, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine.
| | - Alain Geffard
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Normandie Université, ULH, INERIS, SEBIO, UMR-I 02, Reims, France.
| | - Melissa Palos-Ladeiro
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Normandie Université, ULH, INERIS, SEBIO, UMR-I 02, Reims, France.
| | - Oksana Stoliar
- Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, M. Kryvonosa Str. 2, 46027 Ternopil, Ukraine.
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7
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Li Y, Zhang X, Tong R, Xu Q, Zhang N, Liao Q, Pan L. Mechanisms of ammonotelism, epithelium damage, cellular apoptosis, and proliferation in gill of Litopenaeus vannamei under NH 4Cl exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:15153-15171. [PMID: 38289553 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32111-9] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Excessive ammonia-N in coastal environment and aquaculture threatens the health of marine organisms. To explore the mechanism of gill damage induced by ammonia-N, transcriptome of Litopenaeus vannamei 's gill was carried out under 20 mg/L NH4Cl for 0, 6, and 48 h. K-means clustering analysis suggested that ammonia excretion and metabolism-related genes were elevated. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that glycosyltransferase activity and amino acid metabolism were affected by ammonia. Moreover, histological observation via three staining methods gave clues on the changes of gill after ammonia-N exposure. Increased mucus, hemocyte infiltration, and lifting of the lamellar epithelium suggested that gill epithelium was suffering damage under ammonia-N stress. Meanwhile, the composition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in connective tissue changed. Based on the findings of transcriptomic and histological analysis, we further investigated the molecular mechanism of gill damage under multiple concentrations of NH4Cl (0, 2, 10, 20 mg/L) for multiple timepoints (0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 h). First, ammonia excretion was elevated via ion channel, transporter, and exocytosis pathways, but hemolymph ammonia still kept at a high level under 20 mg/L NH4Cl exposure. Second, we focused on glycosaminoglycan metabolism which was related to the dynamics of ECM. It turned out that the degradation and biosynthesis of chondroitin sulfate (CS) were elevated, suggesting that the structure of CS might be destructed under ammonia-N stress and CS played an important role in maintaining gill structure. It was enlightening that the destructions occurred in extracellular regions were vital to gill damage. Third, ammonia-N stress induced a series of cellular responses including enhanced apoptosis, active inflammation, and inhibited proliferation which were closely linked and jointly led to the impairment of gill. Our results provided some insights into the physiological changes induced by ammonia-N and enriched the understandings of gill damage under environmental stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaobing Li
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruixue Tong
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiuhong Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Qilong Liao
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Luqing Pan
- The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Ramirez JF, Kumara U, Arulsamy N, Boothby TC. Water content, transition temperature and fragility influence protection and anhydrobiotic capacity. BBA ADVANCES 2024; 5:100115. [PMID: 38318251 PMCID: PMC10840120 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadva.2024.100115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Water is essential for metabolism and all life processes. Despite this, many organisms distributed across the kingdoms of life survive near-complete desiccation or anhydrobiosis. Increased intracellular viscosity, leading to the formation of a vitrified state is necessary, but not sufficient, for survival while dry. What properties of a vitrified system make it desiccation-tolerant or -sensitive are unknown. We have analyzed 18 different in vitro vitrified systems, composed of one of three protective disaccharides (trehalose, sucrose, or maltose) and glycerol, quantifying their enzyme-protective capacity and their material properties in a dry state. Protection conferred by mixtures containing maltose correlates strongly with increased water content, increased glass-transition temperature, and reduced glass former fragility, while the protection of glasses formed with sucrose correlates with increased glass transition temperature and the protection conferred by trehalose glasses correlates with reduced glass former fragility. Thus, in vitro different vitrified sugars confer protection through distinct material properties. Next, we examined the material properties of a dry desiccation tolerant and intolerant life stage from three different organisms. The dried desiccation tolerant life stage of all organisms had an increased glass transition temperature and reduced glass former fragility relative to its dried desiccation intolerant life stage. These results suggest in nature organismal desiccation tolerance relies on a combination of various material properties. This study advances our understanding of how protective and non-protective glasses differ in terms of material properties that promote anhydrobiosis. This knowledge presents avenues to develop novel stabilization technologies for pharmaceuticals that currently rely on the cold-chain. Statement of significance For the past three decades the anhydrobiosis field has lived with a paradox, while vitrification is necessary for survival in the dry state, it is not sufficient. Understanding what property(s) distinguishes a desiccation tolerant from an intolerant vitrified system and how anhydrobiotic organisms survive drying is one of the enduring mysteries of organismal physiology. Here we show in vitro the enzyme-protective capacity of different vitrifying sugars can be correlated with distinct material properties. However, in vivo, diverse desiccation tolerant organisms appear to combine these material properties to promote their survival in a dry state.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Ramirez
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - U.G.V.S.S. Kumara
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | | | - Thomas C. Boothby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
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9
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Ramirez JF, Kumara U, Arulsamy N, Boothby TC. Water content, transition temperature and fragility influence protection and anhydrobiotic capacity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.30.547256. [PMID: 38014150 PMCID: PMC10680572 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.30.547256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Water is essential for metabolism and all life processes. Despite this, many organisms distributed across the kingdoms of life survive near-complete desiccation or anhydrobiosis (Greek for "life without water"). Increased intracellular viscosity, leading to the formation of a vitrified state is necessary, but not sufficient, for survival while dry. What properties of a vitrified system make it desiccation-tolerant or -sensitive are unknown. We have analyzed 18 different in vitro vitrified systems, composed of one of three protective disaccharides (trehalose, sucrose, or maltose) and varying amounts of glycerol, quantifying their enzyme-protective capacity and their material properties in a dry state. We find that protection conferred by mixtures containing maltose correlates strongly with increased water content, increased glass-transition temperature, and reduced glass former fragility, while the protection of glasses formed with sucrose correlates with increased glass transition temperature and the protection conferred by trehalose glasses correlates with reduced glass former fragility. Thus, in vitro different vitrified sugars confer protection through distinct material properties. Extending on this, we have examined the material properties of a dry desiccation tolerant and intolerant life stage from three different organisms. In all cases, the dried desiccation tolerant life stage of an organism had an increased glass transition temperature relative to its dried desiccation intolerant life stage, and this trend is also seen in all three organisms when considering reduced glass former fragility. These results suggest that while drying of different protective sugars in vitro results in vitrified systems with distinct material properties that correlate with their enzyme-protective capacity, in nature organismal desiccation tolerance relies on a combination of these properties. This study advances our understanding of how protective and non-protective glasses differ in terms of material properties that promote anhydrobiosis. This knowledge presents avenues to develop novel stabilization technologies for pharmaceuticals that currently rely on the cold-chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Ramirez
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming. Laramie, WY 82071
| | - U.G.V.S.S. Kumara
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming. Laramie, WY 82071
| | | | - Thomas C. Boothby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming. Laramie, WY 82071
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10
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Grčić A, Ilijin L, Filipović A, Matić D, Mrdaković M, Todorović D, Vlahović M, Perić-Mataruga V. Digestive enzyme activity and macromolecule content in the hemolymph of differentially adapted Lymantria dispar L. populations after short-term increases in ambient temperature. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 236:116461. [PMID: 37343759 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Global, unpredictable temperature increases have strong effects on all organisms, especially insects. Elucidating the effects of short-term temperature increases on midgut digestive enzymes (α-glucosidase, lipase, trypsin, and leucine aminopeptidase - LAP) and metabolic macromolecules in the hemolymph (proteins, lipids, and trehalose) of phytophagous pest larvae of Lymantria dispar is important for general considerations of insect adaptation to a warming climate and potential pest control options. We also wanted to determine whether the different adaptations of L. dispar populations to environmental pollution might affect their ability to cope with heat stress using larvae from the undisturbed, Kosmaj forest and disturbed, Lipovica forest. Heat treatments at 28 °C increased α-glucosidase activity in both larval populations, inhibited LAP activity in larvae from the polluted forest, and had no significant effect on trypsin and lipase activities, regardless of larval origin. The concentration of proteins, lipids, and trehalose in the hemolymph of larvae from the disturbed forest increased, whereas the population from the undisturbed forest showed only an increase in proteins and lipids after the heat treatments. Larval mass was also increased in larvae from the undisturbed forest. Our results suggest a higher sensitivity of digestive enzymes and metabolism to short-term heat stress in L. dispar populations adapted to pollution in their forest habitat, although climate warming is not beneficial even for populations from unpolluted forests. The digestive and metabolic processes of L. dispar larvae are substantially affected by sublethal short-term increases in ambient temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Grčić
- Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Despot Stefan Blvd.142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Larisa Ilijin
- Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Despot Stefan Blvd.142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Filipović
- Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Despot Stefan Blvd.142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dragana Matić
- Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Despot Stefan Blvd.142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Mrdaković
- Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Despot Stefan Blvd.142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dajana Todorović
- Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Despot Stefan Blvd.142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milena Vlahović
- Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Despot Stefan Blvd.142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vesna Perić-Mataruga
- Department of Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Despot Stefan Blvd.142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia
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11
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Sanchez-Martinez S, Ramirez JF, Meese EK, Childs CA, Boothby TC. The tardigrade protein CAHS D interacts with, but does not retain, water in hydrated and desiccated systems. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10449. [PMID: 37369754 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37485-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tardigrades are a group of microscopic animals renowned for their ability to survive near complete desiccation. A family of proteins, unique to tardigrades, called Cytoplasmic Abundant Heat Soluble (CAHS) proteins are necessary to mediate robust desiccation tolerance in these animals. However, the mechanism(s) by which CAHS proteins help to protect tardigrades during water-loss have not been fully elucidated. Here we use thermogravimetric analysis to empirically test the proposed hypothesis that tardigrade CAHS proteins, due to their propensity to form hydrogels, help to retain water during desiccation. We find that regardless of its gelled state, both in vitro and in vivo, a model CAHS protein (CAHS D) retains no more water than common proteins and control cells in the dry state. However, we find that while CAHS D proteins do not increase the total amount of water retained in a dry system, they interact with the small amount of water that does remain. Our study indicates that desiccation tolerance mediated by CAHS D cannot be simply ascribed to water retention and instead implicates its ability to interact more tightly with residual water as a possible mechanism underlying its protective capacity. These results advance our fundamental understanding of tardigrade desiccation tolerance which could provide potential avenues for new technologies to aid in the storage of dry shelf-stable pharmaceuticals and the generation of stress tolerant crops to ensure food security in the face of global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John F Ramirez
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Emma K Meese
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Charles A Childs
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Thomas C Boothby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA.
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12
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Packebush MH, Sanchez-Martinez S, Biswas S, Kc S, Nguyen KH, Ramirez JF, Nicholson V, Boothby TC. Natural and engineered mediators of desiccation tolerance stabilize Human Blood Clotting Factor VIII in a dry state. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4542. [PMID: 36941331 PMCID: PMC10027729 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31586-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Biologics, pharmaceuticals containing or derived from living organisms, such as vaccines, antibodies, stem cells, blood, and blood products are a cornerstone of modern medicine. However, nearly all biologics have a major deficiency: they are inherently unstable, requiring storage under constant cold conditions. The so-called 'cold-chain', while effective, represents a serious economic and logistical hurdle for deploying biologics in remote, underdeveloped, or austere settings where access to cold-chain infrastructure ranging from refrigerators and freezers to stable electricity is limited. To address this issue, we explore the possibility of using anhydrobiosis, the ability of organisms such as tardigrades to enter a reversible state of suspended animation brought on by extreme drying, as a jumping off point in the development of dry storage technology that would allow biologics to be kept in a desiccated state under not only ambient but elevated temperatures. Here we examine the ability of different protein and sugar-based mediators of anhydrobiosis derived from tardigrades and other anhydrobiotic organisms to stabilize Human Blood Clotting Factor VIII under repeated dehydration/rehydration cycles, thermal stress, and long-term dry storage conditions. We find that while both protein and sugar-based protectants can stabilize the biologic pharmaceutical Human Blood Clotting Factor VIII under all these conditions, protein-based mediators offer more accessible avenues for engineering and thus tuning of protective function. Using classic protein engineering approaches, we fine tune the biophysical properties of a protein-based mediator of anhydrobiosis derived from a tardigrade, CAHS D. Modulating the ability of CAHS D to form hydrogels make the protein better or worse at providing protection to Human Blood Clotting Factor VIII under different conditions. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of tardigrade CAHS proteins and other mediators of desiccation tolerance at preserving the function of a biologic without the need for the cold-chain. In addition, our study demonstrates that engineering approaches can tune natural products to serve specific protective functions, such as coping with desiccation cycling versus thermal stress. Ultimately, these findings provide a proof of principle that our reliance on the cold-chain to stabilize life-saving pharmaceuticals can be broken using natural and engineered mediators of desiccation tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sourav Biswas
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Shraddha Kc
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Kenny H Nguyen
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - John F Ramirez
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Vincent Nicholson
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Thomas C Boothby
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
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13
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Wang HT, Miyairi S, Kitamura M, Iizuka K, Asano Y, Yoshimura T, Kon N. Real time monitoring of cold Ca 2+ dependent transcription and its modulation by NCX inhibitors. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17325. [PMID: 36243739 PMCID: PMC9569354 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22166-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Real-time monitoring of cellular temperature responses is an important technique in thermal biology and drug development. Recent study identified that Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX)-dependent Ca2+ influx transduces cold signals to circadian clock in mammalian cultured cells. The finding raised an idea that cellular responses to the cold signals can be analyzed by monitoring of clock gene expression. We found that Per1 and Per2 were up-regulated after culture at 27 °C compared to 37 °C in Rat-1 fibroblasts. In order to monitor cold-Ca2+-dependent transcription in living cells, we developed a luciferase-based real-time reporting system by using Per1 promoter, Per2 promoter, Ca2+/cAMP-response elements (CRE) or NFAT-binding elements. We found that benzyloxyphenyl NCX inhibitor KB-R7943 and SN-6, but not SEA-0400 or YM-244769 inhibited the cold induction of Per2. Our study established a real-time monitoring system for cold Ca2+ signaling which can be applied to evaluation of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-tzu Wang
- grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan ,grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XLaboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan ,grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Biological Science, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan
| | - Shiori Miyairi
- grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan ,grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XLaboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Miho Kitamura
- grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan ,grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XLaboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Kosuke Iizuka
- grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan ,grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XLaboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Asano
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Biological Science, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan
| | - Takashi Yoshimura
- grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan ,grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XLaboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Naohiro Kon
- grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan ,grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XLaboratory of Animal Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan ,Suntory Rising Stars Encouragement Program in Life Sciences (SunRiSE), 8-1-1 Seikadai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto, 619-0284 Japan
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14
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Nguyen K, Kc S, Gonzalez T, Tapia H, Boothby TC. Trehalose and tardigrade CAHS proteins work synergistically to promote desiccation tolerance. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1046. [PMID: 36182981 PMCID: PMC9526748 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04015-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tardigrades are microscopic animals renowned for their ability to survive extreme desiccation. Unlike many desiccation-tolerant organisms that accumulate high levels of the disaccharide trehalose to protect themselves during drying, tardigrades accumulate little or undetectable levels. Using comparative metabolomics, we find that despite being enriched at low levels, trehalose is a key biomarker distinguishing hydration states of tardigrades. In vitro, naturally occurring stoichiometries of trehalose and CAHS proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins with known protective capabilities, were found to produce synergistic protective effects during desiccation. In vivo, this synergistic interaction is required for robust CAHS-mediated protection. This demonstrates that trehalose acts not only as a protectant, but also as a synergistic cosolute. Beyond desiccation tolerance, our study provides insights into how the solution environment tunes intrinsically disordered proteins’ functions, many of which are vital in biological contexts such as development and disease that are concomitant with large changes in intracellular chemistry. The disaccharide trehalose is a synergistic cosolute and key biomarker of desiccation tolerance in tardigrades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenny Nguyen
- University of Wyoming, Department of Molecular Biology, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Shraddha Kc
- University of Wyoming, Department of Molecular Biology, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Tyler Gonzalez
- University of Wyoming, Department of Molecular Biology, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Hugo Tapia
- California State University-Channel Islands, Biology Program, Camarillo, CA, USA
| | - Thomas C Boothby
- University of Wyoming, Department of Molecular Biology, Laramie, WY, USA.
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15
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Pharmacological Effect of Panax notoginseng Saponins on Cerebral Ischemia in Animal Models. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:4281483. [PMID: 35968235 PMCID: PMC9371884 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4281483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), bioactive compounds, are commonly used to treat ischemic heart and cerebral diseases in China and other Asian countries. Most previous studies of PNS have focused on the mechanisms underlying their treatment of ischemic cardiovascular diseases but not cerebral ischemic diseases. This study sought to explore the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of PNS in treating cerebral ischemic diseases. Different experimental cerebral ischemia models (including middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and the blockade of four arteries in rats, collagen-adrenaline-induced systemic intravascular thrombosis in mice, thrombosis of carotid artery-jugular vein blood flow in the bypass of rats, and hypoxia tolerance in mice) were used to investigate the mechanisms underlying the actions of PNS on cerebral ischemia. The results indicated that (1) PNS improved neurological function and reduced the cerebral ischemia infraction area in MCAO rats; (2) PNS improved motor coordination function in rats with complete cerebral ischemia (blockade of four arteries), decreased Ca2+ levels, and ameliorated energy metabolism in the brains of ischemia rats; (3) PNS reduced thrombosis in common carotid artery-jugular vein blood flow in the bypass of rats; (4) PNS provided significant promise in antistroke hemiplegia and hypoxia tolerance in mice. In conclusion, PNS showed antagonistic effects on ischemic stroke, and pharmacological mechanisms are likely to be associated with the reduction of cerebral pathological damage, thrombolysis, antihypoxia, and improvement in the intracellular Ca2+ overload and cerebral energy metabolism.
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16
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Macdougall LJ, Hoffman TE, Kirkpatrick BE, Fairbanks BD, Bowman CN, Spencer SL, Anseth KS. Intracellular Crowding by Bio-Orthogonal Hydrogel Formation Induces Reversible Molecular Stasis. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2202882. [PMID: 35671709 PMCID: PMC9377388 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202202882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
To survive extreme conditions, certain animals enter a reversible protective stasis through vitrification of the cytosol by polymeric molecules such as proteins and polysaccharides. In this work, synthetic gelation of the cytosol in living cells is used to induce reversible molecular stasis. Through the sequential lipofectamine-mediated transfection of complementary poly(ethylene glycol) macromers into mammalian cells, intracellular crosslinking occurs through bio-orthogonal strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition click reactions. This achieves efficient polymer uptake with minimal cell death (99% viable). Intracellular crosslinking decreases DNA replication and protein synthesis, and increases the quiescent population by 2.5-fold. Real-time tracking of single cells containing intracellular crosslinked polymers identifies increases in intermitotic time (15 h vs 19 h) and decreases in motility (30 µm h-1 vs 15 µm h-1 ). The cytosol viscosity increases threefold after intracellular crosslinking and results in disordered cytoskeletal structure in addition to the disruption of cellular coordination in a scratch assay. By incorporating photodegradable nitrobenzyl moieties into the polymer backbone, the effects of intracellular crosslinking are reversed upon exposure to light, thereby restoring proliferation (80% phospho-Rb+ cells), protein translation, and migration. Reversible intracellular crosslinking provides a novel method for dynamic manipulation of intracellular mechanics, altering essential processes that determine cellular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Macdougall
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Timothy E Hoffman
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Bruce E Kirkpatrick
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Benjamin D Fairbanks
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Material Science and Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Christopher N Bowman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Material Science and Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Sabrina L Spencer
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Material Science and Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
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17
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Intergenerational Patterns of DNA Methylation in Procambarus clarkii Following Exposure to Genotoxicants: A Conjugation in Past Simple or Past Continuous? TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9110271. [PMID: 34822662 PMCID: PMC8618669 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9110271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Epigenome is susceptible to modulation by environmental pressures—namely, through alterations in global DNA methylation, impacting the organism condition and, ultimately, reverberating on the phenotype of the subsequent generations. Hence, an intergenerational study was conducted, aiming to clarify the influence of genotoxicants on global DNA methylation of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Two subsequent generations were exposed to the herbicide penoxsulam (Px; 23 µg·L−1) and to the genotoxicant model ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS; 5 mg·L−1). Px did not induce changes in DNA methylation of adult crayfish (F0). However, the hypomethylation occurring in unexposed F1 juveniles demonstrated that the history of exposure per se can modulate epigenome. In F1 descendants of the Px-exposed group, methylome (hypermethylated) was more affected in males than in females. EMS-induced hypomethylation in adult females (F0), also showed gender specificity. In addition, hypomethylation was also observed in the unexposed F1 crayfish, indicating an intergenerational epigenetic effect. The modulatory role of past exposure to penoxsulam or to EMS also showed a dependency on the crayfish developmental stage. Overall, this research revealed that indirect experiences (events occurring in a predecessor generation) can have an impact even greater than direct experiences (present events) on the epigenetic dynamics.
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18
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Sokolova I. Bioenergetics in environmental adaptation and stress tolerance of aquatic ectotherms: linking physiology and ecology in a multi-stressor landscape. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:224/Suppl_1/jeb236802. [PMID: 33627464 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.236802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Energy metabolism (encompassing energy assimilation, conversion and utilization) plays a central role in all life processes and serves as a link between the organismal physiology, behavior and ecology. Metabolic rates define the physiological and life-history performance of an organism, have direct implications for Darwinian fitness, and affect ecologically relevant traits such as the trophic relationships, productivity and ecosystem engineering functions. Natural environmental variability and anthropogenic changes expose aquatic ectotherms to multiple stressors that can strongly affect their energy metabolism and thereby modify the energy fluxes within an organism and in the ecosystem. This Review focuses on the role of bioenergetic disturbances and metabolic adjustments in responses to multiple stressors (especially the general cellular stress response), provides examples of the effects of multiple stressors on energy intake, assimilation, conversion and expenditure, and discusses the conceptual and quantitative approaches to identify and mechanistically explain the energy trade-offs in multiple stressor scenarios, and link the cellular and organismal bioenergetics with fitness, productivity and/or ecological functions of aquatic ectotherms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna Sokolova
- Marine Biology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany .,Department of Maritime Systems, Interdisciplinary Faculty, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany
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19
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Abstract
Extreme environments constitute the largest habitat on earth, but our understanding of life in such environments is rudimentary. The hostility of extreme environments such as the deep sea, earth’s crust, and toxic lakes limits the sampling, culturing, and studying of extremophiles, the organisms that live in these habitats. Thus, in terms of ecological research, extreme environments are the earth’s final frontier. A growing body of data suggests that nematodes are the most common animal taxon in different types of extreme settings such as the deep-subsurface and sediments in the deep sea. Notably, the reasons for the abundance of nematodes in extreme habitats remain mostly unknown. I propose that a unique combination of several characteristics of nematodes may explain, additively or synergistically, their successful adaptation to extreme habitats. Novel functional genetic and genomic approaches are expected to reveal molecular mechanisms of adaptation of nematodes to the many fascinating extreme environments on earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Sapir
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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20
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Vaiserman A, Cuttler JM, Socol Y. Low-dose ionizing radiation as a hormetin: experimental observations and therapeutic perspective for age-related disorders. Biogerontology 2021; 22:145-164. [PMID: 33420860 PMCID: PMC7794644 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-020-09908-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hormesis is any kind of biphasic dose-response when low doses of some agents are beneficial while higher doses are detrimental. Radiation hormesis is the most thoroughly investigated among all hormesis-like phenomena, in particular in biogerontology. In this review, we aimed to summarize research evidence supporting hormesis through exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR). Radiation-induced longevity hormesis has been repeatedly reported in invertebrate models such as C. elegans, Drosophila and flour beetles and in vertebrate models including guinea pigs, mice and rabbits. On the contrary, suppressing natural background radiation was repeatedly found to cause detrimental effects in protozoa, bacteria and flies. We also discussed here the possibility of clinical use of LDIR, predominantly for age-related disorders, e.g., Alzheimer's disease, for which no remedies are available. There is accumulating evidence that LDIR, such as those commonly used in X-ray imaging including computer tomography, might act as a hormetin. Of course, caution should be exercised when introducing new medical practices, and LDIR therapy is no exception. However, due to the low average residual life expectancy in old patients, the short-term benefits of such interventions (e.g., potential therapeutic effect against dementia) may outweigh their hypothetical delayed risks (e.g., cancer). We argue here that assessment and clinical trials of LDIR treatments should be given priority bearing in mind the enormous economic, social and ethical implications of potentially-treatable, age-related disorders.
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21
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Boddy AM, Harrison TM, Abegglen LM. Comparative Oncology: New Insights into an Ancient Disease. iScience 2020; 23:101373. [PMID: 32738614 PMCID: PMC7394918 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer has deep evolutionary roots and is an important source of selective pressure in organismal evolution. Yet, we find a great deal of variation in cancer vulnerabilities across the tree of life. Comparative oncology offers insights into why some species vary in their susceptibility to cancer and the mechanisms responsible for the diversity of cancer defenses. Here we provide an overview for why cancer persists across the tree of life. We then summarize current data on cancer in mammals, reptiles, and birds in comparison with commonly reported human cancers. We report on both novel and shared mechanisms of cancer protection in animals. Cross-discipline collaborations, including zoological and aquarium institutions, wildlife and evolutionary biologists, veterinarians, medical doctors, cancer biologists, and oncologists, will be essential for progress in the field of comparative oncology. Improving medical treatment of humans and animals with cancer is the ultimate promise of comparative oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Boddy
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
| | - Tara M Harrison
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Lisa M Abegglen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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22
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Voronina TA, Nesmelov AA, Kondratyeva SA, Deviatiiarov RM, Miyata Y, Tokumoto S, Cornette R, Gusev OA, Kikawada T, Shagimardanova EI. New group of transmembrane proteins associated with desiccation tolerance in the anhydrobiotic midge Polypedilum vanderplanki. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11633. [PMID: 32669703 PMCID: PMC7363813 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68330-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Larvae of the sleeping chironomid Polypedilum vanderplanki are known for their extraordinary ability to survive complete desiccation in an ametabolic state called "anhydrobiosis". The unique feature of P. vanderplanki genome is the presence of expanded gene clusters associated with anhydrobiosis. While several such clusters represent orthologues of known genes, there is a distinct set of genes unique for P. vanderplanki. These include Lea-Island-Located (LIL) genes with no known orthologues except two of LEA genes of P. vanderplanki, PvLea1 and PvLea3. However, PvLIL proteins lack typical features of LEA such as the state of intrinsic disorder, hydrophilicity and characteristic LEA_4 motif. They possess four to five transmembrane domains each and we confirmed membrane targeting for three PvLILs. Conserved amino acids in PvLIL are located in transmembrane domains or nearby. PvLEA1 and PvLEA3 proteins are chimeras combining LEA-like parts and transmembrane domains, shared with PvLIL proteins. We have found that PvLil genes are highly upregulated during anhydrobiosis induction both in larvae of P. vanderplanki and P. vanderplanki-derived cultured cell line, Pv11. Thus, PvLil are a new intriguing group of genes that are likely to be associated with anhydrobiosis due to their common origin with some LEA genes and their induction during anhydrobiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taisiya A Voronina
- Extreme Biology laboratory, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Alexander A Nesmelov
- Extreme Biology laboratory, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Sabina A Kondratyeva
- Extreme Biology laboratory, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Ruslan M Deviatiiarov
- Extreme Biology laboratory, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Yugo Miyata
- Division of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Institute of Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shoko Tokumoto
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Richard Cornette
- Division of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Institute of Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Oleg A Gusev
- Extreme Biology laboratory, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
- KFU-RIKEN Translational Genomics Unit, RIKEN Cluster for Science, Technology and Innovation Hub, RIKEN, Yokohama, Japan
- Laboratory for Transcriptome Technology, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, RIKEN, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kikawada
- Division of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Institute of Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Japan.
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan.
| | - Elena I Shagimardanova
- Extreme Biology laboratory, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia.
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