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Abstract
It took several hundred million years of evolution, in order to develop the endocrine vitamin D signaling system, which is formed by a nuclear receptor, the transcription factor VDR (vitamin D receptor), its ligand, the vitamin D3 metabolite 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) and several metabolizing enzymes and transport proteins. Even within the nuclear receptor superfamily the affinity of VDR for 1,25(OH)2D3 is outstandingly high (KD = 0.1 nM). The activation of VDR by 1,25(OH)2D3 is the core mechanism of genomic signaling of vitamin D3, which results in the modulation of the epigenome at thousands of promoter and enhancer regions as well as finally in the activation or repression of hundreds of target gene transcription. In addition, rapid non-genomic actions of vitamin D are described, which are mechanistically far less understood. The main function of vitamin D is to keep the human body in homeostasis. This implies the control of calcium levels, which is essential for bone mineralization, as well as for pushing of innate immunity to react sufficiently strong to microbe infection and preventing overreactions of adaptive immunity, i.e., not to cause autoimmune diseases. This review will discuss whether genomic signaling is sufficient for explaining all physiological functions of vitamin D3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Carlberg
- Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-10748 Olsztyn, Poland; School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
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Zhang Y, Zhou XQ, Jiang WD, Wu P, Liu Y, Ren HM, Jin XW, Feng L. Vitamin D Promotes Mucosal Barrier System of Fish Skin Infected with Aeromonas hydrophila through Multiple Modulation of Physical and Immune Protective Capacity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11243. [PMID: 37511003 PMCID: PMC10379486 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate mucosal barrier comprises physical and immune elements, as well as bioactive molecules, that protect organisms from pathogens. Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for animals and is involved in immune responses against invading pathogens. However, the effect of vitamin D on the mucosal barrier system of fish, particularly in the skin, remains unclear. Here, we elucidated the effect of vitamin D supplementation (15.2, 364.3, 782.5, 1167.9, 1573.8, and 1980.1 IU/kg) on the mucosal barrier system in the skin of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Dietary vitamin D supplementation (1) alleviated A. hydrophila-induced skin lesions and inhibited oxidative damage by reducing levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl; (2) improved the activities and transcription levels of antioxidant-related parameters and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling; (3) attenuated cell apoptosis by decreasing the mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis factors involved death receptor and mitochondrial pathway processes related to p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling; (4) improved tight junction protein expression by inhibiting myosin light-chain kinase signaling; and (5) enhanced immune barrier function by promoting antibacterial compound and immunoglobulin production, downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and upregulating anti-inflammatory cytokines expression, which was correlated with nuclear factor kappa B and the target of rapamycin signaling pathways. Vitamin D intervention for mucosal barrier via multiple signaling correlated with vitamin D receptor a. Overall, these results indicate that vitamin D supplementation enhanced the skin mucosal barrier system against pathogen infection, improving the physical and immune barriers in fish. This finding highlights the viability of vitamin D in supporting sustainable aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Zhang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
| | - Xiao-Qiu Zhou
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
| | - Wei-Dan Jiang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
| | - Pei Wu
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
| | - Hong-Mei Ren
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
| | - Xiao-Wan Jin
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
| | - Lin Feng
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Fish Nutrition and Safety Production University Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611100, China
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Zhao SS, Su XL, Yang HQ, Zheng GD, Zou SM. Functional exploration of SNP mutations in HIF2αb gene correlated with hypoxia tolerance in blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2023; 49:239-251. [PMID: 36859574 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-023-01173-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) is sensitive to hypoxia environment. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is the most critical factor in the HIF pathway, which strictly regulates the hypoxia stress process of fish. In this study, we found six hifα genes in blunt snout bream that demonstrated different expressions under hypoxia conditions. In HEK293T cells, all six hifαs were detected to activate the HRE region by luciferase reporter assay. More importantly, we identified two linkage-disequilibrium SNP sites at exon 203 and 752 of the hif2αb gene in blunt snout bream. Haplotype II (A203A752) and its homozygous diplotype II (A203A203A752A752) appeared frequently in a selected strain of blunt snout bream with hypoxia tolerance. Diplotype II has a lower oxygen tension threshold for loss of equilibrium (LOEcrit) over a similar range of temperatures. Moreover, its erythrocyte number increased significantly (p < 0.05) than those in diplotype I and diplotype III strains at 48 h of hypoxia. The enzymes related with hypoxia tolerant traits, i.e., reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, were also significantly (p < 0.05) induced in diplotype II than in diplotype I or III. In addition, the expression of epo in the liver of diplotype II was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that in the diplotype I or III strains at 48 h of hypoxia. Taken together, our results found that the hypoxia-tolerant-related diplotype II of hif2αb has the potential to be used as a molecular marker in future genetic breeding of hypoxia-tolerant strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Shan Zhao
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Genetics and Breeding Center for Blunt Snout Bream, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
- Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhejiang, 316022, China
| | - Xiao-Lei Su
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Genetics and Breeding Center for Blunt Snout Bream, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Hui-Qi Yang
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Genetics and Breeding Center for Blunt Snout Bream, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Guo-Dong Zheng
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Genetics and Breeding Center for Blunt Snout Bream, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
| | - Shu-Ming Zou
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Genetics and Breeding Center for Blunt Snout Bream, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
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Lan Y, Shao R, Zhang J, Liu J, Liao X, Liang S, Mai K, Ai Q, Wan M. Vitamin D 3 enhances the antibacterial ability in head-kidney macrophages of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) through C-type lectin receptors. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 132:108491. [PMID: 36503059 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.108491] [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: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
It has been known that vitamin D3 (VD3) not only plays an important role in regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism in animals, but also has extensive effects on immune functions. In this study, the mechanism how VD3 influences bactericidal ability in turbot was explored. The transcriptomic analysis identified that dietary VD3 significantly upregulated the gene expression of C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), including mannose receptors (mrc1, mrc2, pla2r1) and collectins (collectin 11 and collectin 12) in turbot intestine. Further results obtained from in vitro experiments confirmed that the gene expression of mannose receptors and collectins in head-kidney macrophages (HKMs) of turbot was induced after the cells were incubated with different concentrations of VD3 (0, 1, 10 nM) or 1,25(OH)2D3 (0, 10, 100 pM). Meanwhile, both phagocytosis and bactericidal functions of HKMs were significantly improved in VD3 or 1,25(OH)2D3-incubated HKMs. Furthermore, phagocytosis and bacterial killing of HKMs decreased after collectin 11 was knocked down. Moreover, VD3-enhanced antibacterial activities diminished in collectin 11-interfered cells. Interestingly, the evidence was provided in the present study that inactive VD3 could be metabolized into active 1,25(OH)2D3 via hydroxylases encoded by cyp27a1 and cyp27b1 in fish macrophages. In conclusion, VD3 could be metabolized to 1,25(OH)2D3 in HKMs, which promoted the expression of CLRs in macrophages, leading to enhanced bacterial clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Lan
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Nutrition and Feed, Ministry of Agriculture & Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Rui Shao
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Nutrition and Feed, Ministry of Agriculture & Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Jinjin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Nutrition and Feed, Ministry of Agriculture & Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiayu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Nutrition and Feed, Ministry of Agriculture & Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xinmeng Liao
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Nutrition and Feed, Ministry of Agriculture & Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Shufei Liang
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Nutrition and Feed, Ministry of Agriculture & Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Kangsen Mai
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Nutrition and Feed, Ministry of Agriculture & Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China; Pilot National Laboratory of Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Qinghui Ai
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Nutrition and Feed, Ministry of Agriculture & Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China; Pilot National Laboratory of Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Min Wan
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Nutrition and Feed, Ministry of Agriculture & Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China; Pilot National Laboratory of Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
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Liu R, Lu Y, Peng X, Jia J, Ruan Y, Shi S, Shu T, Li T, Jin X, Zhai G, He J, Lou Q, Yin Z. Enhanced insulin activity achieved in VDRa/b ablation zebrafish. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1054665. [PMID: 36864841 PMCID: PMC9972578 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1054665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1α,25[OH]2VD3) is a hormone known for its key roles in calcium absorption and nutrient metabolism. In teleost fishes, 1α,25(OH)2VD3 insufficiency causes impaired glucose metabolism and lipid oxidation. However, the cascade and mechanisms of 1α,25(OH)2VD3 and the vitamin d receptor (VDR) signaling are unclear. RESULTS In this study, two genes (vdra and vdrb) encoding paralogs of VDRs were genetically knocked out in zebrafish. Growth retardation and accumulated visceral adipose tissue have been observed in vdra -/-;vdrb -/- deficient line. In the liver elevated accumulation of triglycerides and suppressed lipid oxidation were detected. Morover significantly elevated 1α,25(OH)2VD3 levels were detected in vdra-/-;vdrb-/- zebrafish due to cyp24a1 transcription repression. Furthermore VDRs ablation Enhanced insulin signaling including elevated insulin/insra trancriptional levels, glycolysis, lipogenesis and promoted AKT/mTOR activity. DISCUSSION In conclusion, our present studies provides a zebrafish model with an elevated 1α,25(OH)2VD3 levels in vivo. The 1α,25(OH)2VD3/VDRs signaling promote lipid oxidation activity. However 1α,25(OH)2VD3 activity of regulation of glucose homeostasis through Insulin/Insr was independent of nuclear VDRs in teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruolan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuyan Peng
- The Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zheng Zhou, China
| | - Jingyi Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yonglin Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shengchi Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Tianhui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xia Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Gang Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiangyan He
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiyong Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Qiyong Lou,
| | - Zhan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Vitamin D in the Context of Evolution. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14153018. [PMID: 35893872 PMCID: PMC9332464 DOI: 10.3390/nu14153018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
For at least 1.2 billion years, eukaryotes have been able to synthesize sterols and, therefore, can produce vitamin D when exposed to UV-B. Vitamin D endocrinology was established some 550 million years ago in animals, when the high-affinity nuclear receptor VDR (vitamin D receptor), transport proteins and enzymes for vitamin D metabolism evolved. This enabled vitamin D to regulate, via its target genes, physiological process, the first of which were detoxification and energy metabolism. In this way, vitamin D was enabled to modulate the energy-consuming processes of the innate immune system in its fight against microbes. In the evolving adaptive immune system, vitamin D started to act as a negative regulator of growth, which prevents overboarding reactions of T cells in the context of autoimmune diseases. When, some 400 million years ago, species left the ocean and were exposed to gravitation, vitamin D endocrinology took over the additional role as a major regulator of calcium homeostasis, being important for a stable skeleton. Homo sapiens evolved approximately 300,000 years ago in East Africa and had adapted vitamin D endocrinology to the intensive exposure of the equatorial sun. However, when some 75,000 years ago, when anatomically modern humans started to populate all continents, they also reached regions with seasonally low or no UV-B, i.e., and under these conditions vitamin D became a vitamin.
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Sigüeiro R, Bianchetti L, Peluso-Iltis C, Chalhoub S, Dejaegere A, Osz J, Rochel N. Advances in Vitamin D Receptor Function and Evolution Based on the 3D Structure of the Lamprey Ligand-Binding Domain. J Med Chem 2022; 65:5821-5829. [PMID: 35302785 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) regulates many physiological processes in vertebrates by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that jawless fishes are the most basal vertebrates exhibiting a VDR gene. To elucidate the mechanism driving VDR activation during evolution, we determined the crystal structure of the VDR ligand-binding domain (LBD) complex from the basal vertebratePetromyzon marinus, sea lamprey (lVDR). Comparison of three-dimensional crystal structures of the lVDR-1,25D3 complex with higher vertebrate VDR-1,25D3 structures suggests that 1,25D3 binds to lVDR similarly to human VDR, but with unique features for lVDR around linker regions between H11 and H12 and between H9 and H10. These structural differences may contribute to the marked species differences in transcriptional responses. Furthermore, residue co-evolution analysis of VDR across vertebrates identifies amino acid positions in H9 and the large insertion domain VDR LBD specific as correlated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Sigüeiro
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), 67400 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de La Santé et de La Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1258, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7104, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Laurent Bianchetti
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), 67400 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de La Santé et de La Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1258, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7104, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Carole Peluso-Iltis
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), 67400 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de La Santé et de La Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1258, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7104, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Sandra Chalhoub
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), 67400 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de La Santé et de La Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1258, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7104, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Annick Dejaegere
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), 67400 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de La Santé et de La Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1258, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7104, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Judit Osz
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), 67400 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de La Santé et de La Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1258, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7104, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Natacha Rochel
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), 67400 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de La Santé et de La Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1258, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7104, 67400 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
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Knockdown of vitamin D receptor genes impairs touch-evoked escape behavior in zebrafish. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1017/exp.2021.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone well-known for its role in calcium homeostasis and bone health. Biological actions of vitamin D are mediated through the vitamin D receptor (VDR) present in various cells and tissues. Vitamin D has been implicated in multiple aspects of neuromuscular functions. This study aimed to investigate the role of VDR signaling during early stage of locomotor development utilizing a gene knockdown approach. Zebrafish larvae deficient in VDR showed severe motor impairment and no obvious response to touch. These results indicate that VDR signaling is indispensable for the correct neuromuscular development and touch-evoked escape swimming behavior in zebrafish.
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Goksøyr SØ, Goldstone J, Lille-Langøy R, Lock EJ, Olsvik PA, Goksøyr A, Karlsen OA. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons modulate the activity of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) vitamin D receptor paralogs in vitro. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 238:105914. [PMID: 34304057 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Vitamin D receptor (VDR) mediates the biological function of the steroid hormone calcitriol, which is the metabolically active version of vitamin D. Calcitriol is important for a wide array of physiological functions, including calcium and phosphate homeostasis. In contrast to mammals, which harbor one VDR encoding gene, teleosts possess two orthologous vdr genes encoding Vdr alpha (Vdra) and Vdr beta (Vdrb). Genome mining identified the vdra and vdrb paralogs in the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) genome, which were further characterized regarding their phylogeny, tissue-specific expression, and transactivational properties induced by calcitriol. In addition, a selected set of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and 7-methylbenzo[a]pyrene, were assessed for their ability to modulate the transcriptional activity of gmVdra and gmVdrb in vitro. Both gmVdra and gmVdrb were activated by calcitriol with similar potencies, but gmVdra produced significantly higher maximal fold activation. Notably, none of the tested PAHs showed agonistic properties towards the Atlantic cod Vdrs. However, binary exposures of calcitriol together with phenanthrene, fluorene, or pyrene, antagonized the activation of gmVdra, while chrysene and BaP significantly potentiated the calcitriol-mediated activity of both receptors. Homology modeling, solvent mapping, and docking analyses complemented the experimental data, and revealed a putative secondary binding site in addition to the canonical ligand-binding pocket (LBP). Calcitriol was predicted to interact with both binding sites, whereas PAHs docked primarily to the LBP. Importantly, our in vitro data suggest that PAHs can interact with the paralogous gmVdrs and interfere with their transcriptional activities, and thus potentially modulate the vitamin D signaling pathway and contribute to adverse effects of crude oil and PAH exposures on cardiac development and bone deformities in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jed Goldstone
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | | | - Erik-Jan Lock
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Norway; Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - Pål A Olsvik
- Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway; Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
| | - Anders Goksøyr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Norway
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10
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Conant GC. The lasting after-effects of an ancient polyploidy on the genomes of teleosts. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231356. [PMID: 32298330 PMCID: PMC7161988 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The ancestor of most teleost fishes underwent a whole-genome duplication event three hundred million years ago. Despite its antiquity, the effects of this event are evident both in the structure of teleost genomes and in how the surviving duplicated genes still operate to drive form and function. I inferred a set of shared syntenic regions that survive from the teleost genome duplication (TGD) using eight teleost genomes and the outgroup gar genome (which lacks the TGD). I then phylogenetically modeled the TGD's resolution via shared and independent gene losses and applied a new simulation-based statistical test for the presence of bias toward the preservation of genes from one parental subgenome. On the basis of that test, I argue that the TGD was likely an allopolyploidy. I find that duplicate genes surviving from this duplication in zebrafish are less likely to function in early embryo development than are genes that have returned to single copy at some point in this species' history. The tissues these ohnologs are expressed in, as well as their biological functions, lend support to recent suggestions that the TGD was the source of a morphological innovation in the structure of the teleost retina. Surviving duplicates also appear less likely to be essential than singletons, despite the fact that their single-copy orthologs in mouse are no less essential than other genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin C. Conant
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
- Program in Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States of America
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Zhang W, Xie HQ, Li Y, Zou X, Xu L, Ma D, Li J, Ma Y, Jin T, Hahn ME, Zhao B. Characterization of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) Pathway in Anabas testudineus and Mechanistic Exploration of the Reduced Sensitivity of AhR2a. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:12803-12811. [PMID: 31566365 PMCID: PMC6832778 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b04181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Field investigations have revealed the ability of the climbing perch Anabas testudineus to survive in highly contaminated water bodies. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway is vital in mediating the toxicity of aromatic hydrocarbon contaminants, and genotypic variation in the AhR can confer resistance to these contaminants. Thus, we characterized the AhR pathway in A. testudineus in order to understand the mechanism(s) underlying the resistance of this species to contaminants and to broaden current knowledge on teleost AhR. In A. testudineus, four AhRs, two AhR nuclear translocators (ARNTs), and one AhR repressor (AhRR) were found. Transient transfection assays revealed that AhR1a, AhR1b, and AhR2b were functional, whereas AhR2a was poorly activated by the potent agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Two ARNTs (partner of AhR) and one AhRR (repressor of AhR) all were functional with each of the active AhR. As a major form, the insensitivity of AhR2a might serve as a potential mechanism for A. testudineus' reduced sensitivity to severe contamination. We explored the key residues that may account for AhR2a's insensitivity in silico and then functionally validated them in vitro. Two sites (VCS322-324, M370) in its ligand-binding domain (LBD) were proved critical for its sensitivity to TCDD. This systematic exploration of the AhR pathway showed that most members have maintained their traditional functions as expected, whereas a nonfunctionalization event has occurred for AhR2a.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanglong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Heidi Qunhui Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yunping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xianghui Zou
- School of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou 521041, China
| | - Li Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Dan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yongchao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tao Jin
- China National Genebank-Shenzhen, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
- BGI-Qingdao, Qingdao 266510, China
| | - Mark E. Hahn
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
- Boston University Superfund Research Program, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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12
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Vitamin D Receptor Signaling Regulates Craniofacial Cartilage Development in Zebrafish. J Dev Biol 2019; 7:jdb7020013. [PMID: 31234506 PMCID: PMC6630938 DOI: 10.3390/jdb7020013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Revised: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D plays essential roles in supporting the skeletal system. The active form of vitamin D functions through the vitamin D receptor (VDR). A hereditary vitamin-D-resistant rickets with facial dysmorphism has been reported, but the involvement of VDR signaling during early stages of craniofacial development remains to be elucidated. The present study investigated whether VDR signaling is implicated in zebrafish craniofacial cartilage development using a morpholino-based knockdown approach. Two paralogous VDR genes, vdra and vdrb, have been found in zebrafish embryos. Loss-of-vdra has no discernible effect on cartilage elements, whereas loss-of-vdrb causes reduction and malformation of craniofacial cartilages. Disrupting both vdra and vdrb leads to more severe defects or complete loss of cartilage. Notably, knockdown of vdrb results in elevated expression of follistatin a (fsta), a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist, in the adjacent pharyngeal endoderm. Taken together, these findings strongly indicate that VDR signaling is required for early craniofacial cartilage development in zebrafish.
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Zhang W, Xie HQ, Li Y, Jin T, Li J, Xu L, Zhou Z, Zhang S, Ma D, Hahn ME, Zhao B. Transcriptomic analysis of Anabas testudineus and its defensive mechanisms in response to persistent organic pollutants exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 669:621-630. [PMID: 30893621 PMCID: PMC6581032 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The freshwater climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) can tolerate water environments contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The mechanisms underlying this tolerance are unknown. We used de novo transcriptomic analysis to investigate the defensive mechanisms of A. testudineus against POPs based on its genetic features and biological responses to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure. Our results revealed a specific expansion of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A subfamily, which may be involved in the elimination of certain POPs. In xenobiotic responses, the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway represents a critical signaling mechanism, and we characterized four AhR and two AhR nuclear translocator homologs and one AhR repressor (AhRR) gene in A. testudineus. TCDD-induced AhRR and CYP1A mRNA upregulation suggests that negative-feedback regulation of AhR signaling through AhRR helps avoid excessive xenobiotic responses. Furthermore, liver and gill transcriptomic profiles were markedly altered after TCDD exposure, with some of the altered genes being related to common defensive responses reported in other species. Based on the newly identified TCDD-altered genes, several A. testudineus-specific responses are proposed, such as enhanced fatty acid β-oxidation. The genetic features of CYP3A subfamily and AhR pathway and the TCDD-induced defensive biological processes elucidated here enhance our understanding of A. testudineus defensive responses against POPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanglong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Heidi Qunhui Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yunping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tao Jin
- China National Genebank-Shenzhen, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Qingdao, Qingdao 266510, China
| | - Jiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Li Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhiguang Zhou
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Dioxin Pollution Control, National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Songyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Dan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mark E Hahn
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA; Boston University Superfund Research Program, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center of Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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14
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Temperature-dependent vitamin D signaling regulates developmental trajectory associated with diapause in an annual killifish. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:12763-12768. [PMID: 30446615 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1804590115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms that integrate environmental signals into developmental programs remain largely uncharacterized. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-regulated transcription factors that orchestrate the expression of complex phenotypes. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is an NR activated by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], a hormone derived from 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC). VDR signaling is best known for regulating calcium homeostasis in mammals, but recent evidence suggests a diversity of uncharacterized roles. In response to incubation temperature, embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus can develop along two alternative trajectories: active development and diapause. These trajectories diverge early in development, from a biochemical, morphological, and physiological perspective. We manipulated incubation temperature to induce the two trajectories and profiled changes in gene expression using RNA sequencing and weighted gene coexpression network analysis. We report that transcripts involved in 1,25(OH)2D3 synthesis and signaling are expressed in a trajectory-specific manner. Furthermore, exposure of embryos to vitamin D3 analogs and Δ4-dafachronic acid directs continuous development under diapause-inducing conditions. Conversely, blocking synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3 induces diapause in A. limnaeus and a diapause-like state in zebrafish, suggesting vitamin D signaling is critical for normal vertebrate development. These data support vitamin D signaling as a molecular pathway that can regulate developmental trajectory and metabolic dormancy in a vertebrate. Interestingly, the VDR is homologous to the daf-12 and ecdysone NRs that regulate dormancy in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila We suggest that 7-DHC-derived hormones and their associated NRs represent a conserved pathway for the integration of environmental information into developmental programs associated with life history transitions in animals.
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Mahapatra D, Franzosa JA, Roell K, Kuenemann MA, Houck KA, Reif DM, Fourches D, Kullman SW. Confirmation of high-throughput screening data and novel mechanistic insights into VDR-xenobiotic interactions by orthogonal assays. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8883. [PMID: 29891985 PMCID: PMC5995905 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27055-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
High throughput screening (HTS) programs have demonstrated that the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is activated and/or antagonized by a wide range of structurally diverse chemicals. In this study, we examined the Tox21 qHTS data set generated against VDR for reproducibility and concordance and elucidated functional insights into VDR-xenobiotic interactions. Twenty-one potential VDR agonists and 19 VDR antagonists were identified from a subset of >400 compounds with putative VDR activity and examined for VDR functionality utilizing select orthogonal assays. Transient transactivation assay (TT) using a human VDR plasmid and Cyp24 luciferase reporter construct revealed 20/21 active VDR agonists and 18/19 active VDR antagonists. Mammalian-2-hybrid assay (M2H) was then used to evaluate VDR interactions with co-activators and co-regulators. With the exception of a select few compounds, VDR agonists exhibited significant recruitment of co-regulators and co-activators whereas antagonists exhibited considerable attenuation of recruitment by VDR. A unique set of compounds exhibiting synergistic activity in antagonist mode and no activity in agonist mode was identified. Cheminformatics modeling of VDR-ligand interactions were conducted and revealed selective ligand VDR interaction. Overall, data emphasizes the molecular complexity of ligand-mediated interactions with VDR and suggest that VDR transactivation may be a target site of action for diverse xenobiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debabrata Mahapatra
- Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jill A Franzosa
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kyle Roell
- Department of Chemistry, Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Melaine Agnes Kuenemann
- Department of Chemistry, Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Keith A Houck
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - David M Reif
- Department of Chemistry, Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Denis Fourches
- Department of Chemistry, Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Seth W Kullman
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. .,Program in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
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16
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Kollitz EM, Zhang G, Hawkins MB, Whitfield GK, Reif DM, Kullman SW. Evolutionary and Functional Diversification of the Vitamin D Receptor-Lithocholic Acid Partnership. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168278. [PMID: 27942020 PMCID: PMC5152921 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution, molecular behavior, and physiological function of nuclear receptors are of particular interest given their diverse roles in regulating essential biological processes. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is well known for its canonical roles in calcium homeostasis and skeletal maintenance. Additionally, VDR has received an increased amount of attention due to the discovery of numerous non-calcemic functions, including the detoxification of lithocholic acid. Lithocholic acid is a toxic metabolite of chenodeoxycholic acid, a primary bile acid. The partnership between the VDR and lithocholic acid has been hypothesized to be a recent adaptation that evolved to mediate the detoxification and elimination of lithocholic acid from the gut. This partnership is speculated to be limited to higher vertebrates (birds and mammals), as lower vertebrates do not synthesize the parent compound of lithocholic acid. However, the molecular functions associated with the observed insensitivity of basal VDRs to lithocholic acid have not been explored. Here we characterize canonical nuclear receptor functions of VDRs from select species representing key nodes in vertebrate evolution and span a range of bile salt phenotypes. Competitive ligand binding assays revealed that the receptor's affinity for lithocholic acid is highly conserved across species, suggesting that lithocholic acid affinity is an ancient and non-adaptive trait. However, transient transactivation assays revealed that lithocholic acid-mediated VDR activation might have evolved more recently, as the non-mammalian receptors did not respond to lithocholic acid unless exogenous coactivator proteins were co-expressed. Subsequent functional assays indicated that differential lithocholic acid-mediated receptor activation is potentially driven by differential protein-protein interactions between VDR and nuclear receptor coregulator proteins. We hypothesize that the vitamin D receptor-lithocholic acid partnership evolved as a by-product of natural selection on the ligand-receptor partnership between the vitamin D receptor and the native VDR ligand: 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the biologically active metabolite of vitamin D3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin M. Kollitz
- Toxicology Program, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Guozhu Zhang
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Mary Beth Hawkins
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - G. Kerr Whitfield
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - David M. Reif
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Seth W. Kullman
- Toxicology Program, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
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17
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Kwon HJ. Vitamin D receptor signaling is required for heart development in zebrafish embryo. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 470:575-578. [PMID: 26797277 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.01.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Vitamin D has been found to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of vitamin D in heart development during embryonic period is largely unknown. Vitamin D induces its genomic effects through its nuclear receptor, the vitamin D receptor (VDR). The present study investigated the role of VDR on heart development by antisense-mediated knockdown approaches in zebrafish model system. In zebrafish embryos, two distinct VDR genes (vdra and vdrb) have been identified. Knockdown of vdra has little effect on heart development, whereas disrupting vdrb gene causes various cardiac phenotypes, characterized by pericardial edema, slower heart rate and laterality defects. Depletion of both vdra and vdrb (vdra/b) produce additive, but not synergistic effects. To determine whether atrioventricular (AV) cardiomyocytes are properly organized in these embryos, the expression of bmp4, which marks the developing AV boundary at 48 h post-fertilization, was examined. Notably, vdra/b-deficient embryos display ectopic expression of bmp4 towards the ventricle or throughout atrial and ventricular chambers. Taken together, these results suggest that VDR signaling plays an essential role in heart development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Joo Kwon
- Biology Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843-3258, United States; Biology Department, Princess Nourah University, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
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18
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Kollitz EM, Zhang G, Hawkins MB, Whitfield GK, Reif DM, Kullman SW. Molecular cloning, functional characterization, and evolutionary analysis of vitamin D receptors isolated from basal vertebrates. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122853. [PMID: 25855982 PMCID: PMC4391915 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 02/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate genome is a result of two rapid and successive rounds of whole genome duplication, referred to as 1R and 2R. Furthermore, teleost fish have undergone a third whole genome duplication (3R) specific to their lineage, resulting in the retention of multiple gene paralogs. The more recent 3R event in teleosts provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into how genes evolve through specific evolutionary processes. In this study we compare molecular activities of vitamin D receptors (VDR) from basal species that diverged at key points in vertebrate evolution in order to infer derived and ancestral VDR functions of teleost paralogs. Species include the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), a 1R jawless fish; the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), a cartilaginous fish that diverged after the 2R event; and the Senegal bichir (Polypterus senegalus), a primitive 2R ray-finned fish. Saturation binding assays and gel mobility shift assays demonstrate high affinity ligand binding and classic DNA binding characteristics of VDR has been conserved across vertebrate evolution. Concentration response curves in transient transfection assays reveal EC50 values in the low nanomolar range, however maximum transactivational efficacy varies significantly between receptor orthologs. Protein-protein interactions were investigated using co-transfection, mammalian 2-hybrid assays, and mutations of coregulator activation domains. We then combined these results with our previous study of VDR paralogs from 3R teleosts into a bioinformatics analysis. Our results suggest that 1, 25D3 acts as a partial agonist in basal species. Furthermore, our bioinformatics analysis suggests that functional differences between VDR orthologs and paralogs are influenced by differential protein interactions with essential coregulator proteins. We speculate that we may be observing a change in the pharmacodynamics relationship between VDR and 1, 25D3 throughout vertebrate evolution that may have been driven by changes in protein-protein interactions between VDR and essential coregulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin M. Kollitz
- Program in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Guozhu Zhang
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Mary Beth Hawkins
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - G. Kerr Whitfield
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - David M. Reif
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Seth W. Kullman
- Program in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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